Chapter 69
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A villainess locked away in a desolate tower—I had possessed her body.
Chapter 69
The manga publication venture was progressing smoothly.
Lady Rainy's blackout curtain business, which she oversaw personally, had now evolved into a factory-scale operation to the point where I didn't need to monitor it anymore.
The tumbler and thermos business with the Magic Tower using partanium was likewise thriving.
Looking at just these accomplishments, there were no problems whatsoever.
And yet. Clearly, and yet....
Why did I feel so suffocated!?
"Arghhhhhh!!"
Even burying my head in the pillow and screaming did nothing to dispel the sensation of being utterly blocked.
I, who had once found the greatest happiness in never stepping foot outside my chamber!
I, who had been perfectly content sitting in bed all day, my only joy tasting new desserts!
How had I come to this—staring endlessly at a closed door....
Of course, I had given the matter considerable thought.
After all, time was the one thing I had in abundance lately.
And so I arrived at this conclusion:
'I was actually a person with a strong sense of responsibility.'
The inability to handle duties that still needed attending was driving me mad.
Both in the past and now, my tendency to shoulder every burden and volunteer myself as a slave was proof of this.
"Though it's not entirely bad, of course...."
In truth, my body at least was slowly recovering its condition as if it had always needed this rest.
Day by day, my shoulders—which had felt as heavy as if a ghost were perched upon them—grew lighter.
The problem was that even as my body recovered, my mind continued to race with anxiety, as if being chased.
'If I rest so carelessly, all the postponed tasks could come crashing down on me at once.'
Part of me wanted to kick open the door and dash out right then, but I couldn't.
Just days ago, unable to resist my impatience, I had attempted to sneak out and encountered Ian standing guard at the door—a most unfortunate mishap.
Ian blocked my path with an expression more stern than I had ever seen.
"Escape is not permitted."
"Ah, no, I was merely intending to take a walk...?"
"Your personal attendant is currently absent. Please wait."
"Even though it's just a simple walk!?"
I still couldn't forget the piercing gaze he had fixed upon me in that moment.
Moreover, when I had asked about working part-time, he had suddenly taken to standing guard outside my chamber at all hours, which seemed decidedly strange.
He had agreed to extend his work hours, but surely that didn't mean a twenty-four-hour shift—how was this even possible!?
'Could he have abandoned his main duties?'
Then again... thinking about it, Ian had even lost a friend over a similar matter, so perhaps my situation had triggered some trauma of his own.
'Well, I suppose I can let that slide.'
In any case, everyone these days—Bonita included—was treating me as though I might shatter like soft tofu at any moment.
But I couldn't possibly continue like this forever.
"Sigh...."
Even to catch a breath of fresh air, I found myself waiting for Bonita.
Yet knowing that all of this stemmed from her concern for me—this controlling behavior, if you could call it that—I couldn't bring myself to complain.
So I decided to remain obediently in my chamber.
'Just a little longer!'
.
.
.
That was what I'd told myself merely an hour ago.
"So, do you like the tea's fragrance?"
How had my peaceful stroll transformed into a tea time with the Grand Duke?
"Yes, of course. I do."
I offered an awkward smile and took a sip of the warm brew.
Bonita had finally returned—the very person I'd been waiting for desperately—and we'd left the chamber together, which was fine.
But the moment we'd taken a few steps, we encountered the Grand Duke near the Hall.
"Taking a stroll, I see."
Before I could even respond, he spoke as though he'd been waiting for this very moment, promptly extending his arm to escort me himself.
And Bonita, who usually clung to my side like glue to protect me...
"Hehe! Do enjoy your walk!"
She abandoned me to the Grand Duke without hesitation.
And so began that torturous stroll. But why did it have to extend into this awkward tea time, you ask? Well, the fault lay in my own careless words.
...There's much I could say, but the root cause was my slip of the tongue.
"I was reading through some letters we exchanged in the past, and it occurred to me—what if the Grand Duchy employed Golbro's mercenaries again for the castle wall construction project you're undertaking?"
"...I don't recall ever discussing the castle wall construction project with you. How did you learn of it?"
"Oh, I overheard your advisors talking as they passed by. So I gave it some thought as well."
I'd answered without much consideration, but the Grand Duke's expression grew peculiar. He seemed somewhat displeased.
"...Sigh. It seems you cannot rid your mind of work matters. You love your duties far too much."
"I beg your pardon?"
"Then why don't we discuss it properly from the start."
"Y-yes, Your Grace!?"
Thus, somehow offended by the Grand Duke, I found myself thrust into this tea time, and I opened my mouth again in an attempt to dispel the awkward atmosphere.
"Um, but you wanted to discuss work...?"
"First, drink your tea."
"Yes, sir."
When your employer commands, you obey.
I picked up the teacup I'd just set down and moistened my parched throat.
And this tea... it's actually quite good?
"The fragrance is remarkably pleasant. Is this something regularly imported or distributed?"
"It was a gift. They say it's particularly effective for recovering from fatigue."
"Ah, I see...."
Silence settled between us after my words.
Having nothing to say, I pretended to look away while stealing glances at the Grand Duke's face.
'His expression does seem a bit better than before.'
Yet somehow, it felt even harder to strike up a conversation.
Besides, I'd thought his complexion had definitely improved since installing the blackout curtains...
'Why does he look like that?'
The dark circles beneath his eyes had deepened noticeably in the time I hadn't seen him.
His skin was rough as though he hadn't slept in days, and his pupils were slightly unfocused.
The exhaustion etched across his features was so pronounced it was like watching someone juggling a day job and midnight deliveries—a complete two-job grind!
'Is it simply because he's a workaholic?'
According to his aides, the Grand Duke was a workaholic who never stopped laboring.
I myself had never witnessed him taking rest.
He seemed to leave his Office only to eat and to march out against monster waves.
"Um, are you all right?"
"What do you mean?"
"Your complexion looks poor..."
"I'm simply tired lately. I'm fine."
Could it be that the one who needed rest wasn't me, but the Grand Duke?
As I was seriously contemplating this, dessert arrived right on cue.
"Wow."
Before the dessert even descended from the tray, the sweet fragrance wafting from it made my mouth water.
The real thing was even better. The elegant presentation of the vanilla panna cotta, studded with vanilla beans, was enough to make anyone salivate just looking at it.
"Go ahead."
"Yes!"
At the Grand Duke's invitation, I quickly pierced my portion with a fork and tasted it—the texture melted delicately on my tongue, and it was truly a flavor one could never forget after a single bite.
"It's, it's delicious."
Before I knew it, all awkwardness had vanished and I was lost in dessert bliss when I heard the Grand Duke's voice.
"I heard it would match the Princess's tastes."
"Oh, my tastes?"
Who?
Lifting my head to look at the Grand Duke across from me, I found him staring at me without having touched either tea or dessert.
"Based on the desserts the Princess reordered more than twice, your preferences were analyzed, and this vanilla panna cotta is the culmination of that collection."
As I listened quietly, I quickly caught something odd in his words.
"Thank you. But... why did you analyze my tastes?"
"To care for the Princess more attentively."
"So why would you...?"
I'm merely a guest, after all.
Well, not exactly a guest. Strictly speaking, I was a lodger.
In any case, the Grand Duke's claim that he'd even analyzed the preferences of a mere lodger differed greatly from what I understood to be common sense.
"And on top of that, this time you even reduced my room and board because I've been ill and using the services less frequently."
Was it yesterday?
The invoice Liam brought included a provision to reduce the monthly room and board by forty percent.
"Since the Princess has been unwell, the frequency of service utilization has been low, and His Grace the Grand Duke has ordered a temporary reduction in lodging fees, noting that her poor health may stem from inadequate home care."
Considering the situation more carefully, the kindness Blaire Grand Duke was showing me felt all the more strange.
He, who should treat me with an icy, cutting demeanor...
Why was the Grand Duke, who ought to be obsessed with recouping his investment in me, treating me with such generosity?
As my expression grew increasingly peculiar, the Grand Duke, who had been silent until then, suddenly parted his lips.
"Is that not acceptable?"
At his counter-question, I furrowed my brow.
His expression looked genuinely innocent, as though he understood nothing at all.
"It's not that it's unacceptable, but rather... why would Your Grace go to such lengths?"
"The Princess concerns me."
At his serious reply, I found myself momentarily at a loss for words.
Brought to you by Valir Scans! To support our team and enjoy the latest releases, please read directly on our official site: valirscans.org