Chapter 21
To my surprise, an even more shocking statement came out of the Grand Duke’s softly smiling lips.
“Shall we turn a blind eye to a newlywed couple’s little escapade? If they’re my subjects, they should at least have that much sense.”
“Oh my!”
Cheers erupted from the crowd.
Fweeeet! Someone even stuck their fingers in their mouth and whistled.
What is this? This shameless attempt at forcing a romance isn’t even convincing.
As I stared at the Grand Duke in utter disbelief at his brazen attitude, my mouth hanging open, the man—who had suddenly been rebranded as a “clumsy but surprisingly affectionate husband”—personally closed my mouth for me.
Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he took my hand.
Unlike his face, which had been flushed earlier, his hand was ice-cold.
With a faint smile, he brushed my hair back behind my ear and whispered so quietly that only I could hear.
“For now, why don’t you play along?”
When it came to acting, I wasn’t about to lose.
Smiling sweetly at him, I threw my voice like a ventriloquist.
“Why should I? It’s not like Your Grace is particularly pretty.”
“What do you want?”
“Well… I’ll think about it. For now, this means you owe me one, right?”
“Ha… Fine.”
Yes!
I didn’t really need anything, but I felt oddly thrilled, like I’d landed a clean hit.
Turning toward the crowd, I smiled brightly—just like the Grand Duke wanted.
Then, in a cheerful voice, I announced,
“Everyone! Please enjoy watching our very first official date!”
When I followed it up with a playful wink, the crowd exploded with cheers.
Apparently this went beyond what the Grand Duke had anticipated—he froze for a moment, staring at me.
I smiled smugly.
You’re welcome, buddy.
If I was going to play along, I might as well go all out—fast tempo, full rhythm.
“Of course, of course!”
“Hahaha! The new Grand Duchess is absolutely adorable.”
“I never knew the Grand Duke could be so affectionate.”
After a good round of laughter, the townspeople finally lost interest in us and began moving toward the lantern festival by the river.
Still holding hands, the Grand Duke and I blended into the crowd heading downstream.
His hand was enormous.
It felt like he could easily envelop both of my hands in one.
I just came to enjoy a festival… how did it turn into this…?
Only now able to breathe again, I trudged forward, staring straight ahead as I replayed everything that had happened.
All I’d really done was eat a skewer, yet I was exhausted.
I’d wanted to come to this festival so badly, but now all I wanted was to go home.
Unfortunately, the glances constantly being thrown our way made that difficult.
I really dug my own grave…
I was paying the full price for a disaster of my own making.
When I glanced sideways with dead-fish eyes, the Grand Duke looked much the same.
We walked in silence for a while, until we finally reached the riverbank.
Those who had arrived earlier were already floating lanterns with lit candles onto the water, each making a wish.
“Wow…”
I stared, completely entranced, at the sight of countless colorful lanterns flickering atop the pitch-black river.
It was a scene more beautiful than anything I’d ever seen—even in my past life.
Against the dark sky and water, the softly bobbing lanterns formed a truly breathtaking spectacle.
Some had already drifted so far away they looked like tiny dots.
The way they dotted the river and slowly moved forward was almost…
Like the Milky Way in the night sky.
Just as I was lost in that romantic thought—
“Achoo!”
Though the weather had warmed, it was still chilly by the river.
When I sneezed without thinking, the Grand Duke glanced down at me and quickly released my hand.
Then he removed the cloak draped over his shoulders and wrapped it around me.
Because of our height difference, it looked less like I was wearing it and more like I’d been rolled up in it—like a kimbap.
Hng.
My pride took a small hit, but…
Accepting the physical difference with grace, I whispered to him,
“What is this? Is this part of the performance too?”
Unexpected as it was, it worked in my favor.
The cloak was incredibly warm.
Feeling the sudden rush of heat, I grinned at him.
The Grand Duke, still expressionless, said nothing.
“The lanterns are available here!”
“…I’ll get them.”
At someone’s shout, he finally reacted, tossing out his words before hurrying off.
Huh?
His ears still looked red.
…Was I imagining it?
“It’s too dark to see clearly.”
Clicking my tongue, I waited obediently.
He soon returned, holding two lanterns—one red, one blue.
“Shall we float ours too?”
After all, that’s what we came here for. It’d be better if you joined me.
As if he understood the unspoken meaning, the Grand Duke nodded lightly.
We approached the river, lit the candles, and gently pushed our lanterns into the current.
The red lantern he’d handed me glimmered a warm orange as it drifted farther away.
This was the true highlight of the festival.
“It’s beautiful.”
The words slipped out of me without thinking.
Yes.
This was the sight I’d wanted to see.
The road here hadn’t exactly been smooth… but I’d achieved my first goal.
A natural smile curved my lips.
Then, unexpectedly, a reply followed.
“I see.”
When I turned my head, the Grand Duke was looking at me.
“…Right?”
Unable to endure awkward silence, I echoed the word stiffly, like a malfunctioning robot.
He said nothing for a moment.
Then he let out a small chuckle and turned back toward the river.
“……”
For just an instant—
I felt something strange.
* * *
“This is ridiculous!”
There was someone else who reacted with shock upon hearing about the two of them attending the festival together.
It was Katarina—who had never once shown interest in commoners’ festivals.
In all this time, she had never heard of Xenos attending a festival even once.
Yet now, rumors were spreading throughout the Grand Duke’s castle that he’d enjoyed a secret, private date with René Blanche.
If that was the reaction inside the castle, the uproar among the townspeople who’d witnessed it firsthand must be even worse.
Katarina’s delicate hand trembled as she clenched it tightly.
“If I’d known this would happen, I should have asked the Grand Duke to go to the festival with me first! That sly woman…!”
She could no longer contain herself.
Grinding her teeth, Katarina stormed to her desk and sat down.
Then she began scribbling a letter at furious speed.
Dear Lady Diana…
* * *
I leaned back against the bed and gazed out the window.
This place, once battered by biting winter winds, had softened overnight—as if by magic—after the spring festival, warmth finally seeping into the air.
The snow that once fell thick and white had melted away, breathing damp vitality into the soil.
Pale green buds prepared to sprout—the very awakening of spring.
Basking fully in the gentle sunlight brushing my cheeks, I enjoyed a leisurely morning.
“Spring really is here.”
“The flowers will bloom soon. Did you know most of the trees on the mountain behind us are flowering trees, milady?”
“Really?”
“Yes. There are many varieties, so once spring comes, everything turns beautifully colorful. It’s quite a sight.”
Betty said cheerfully as she wiped the window beside me.
Hearing that made me genuinely look forward to the coming spring.
Smiling back at her, I made a quiet vow.
Yeah. No matter how I think about it, I’ve been way too reckless lately. I need to keep a low profile and just… live quietly.
Getting tangled up with dragons, Grand Dukes, and the like—whether I wanted to or not—had drained me completely.
Why would I leave behind my beautiful forest cabin just to force myself into town?
I’d gone once—that was more than enough.
More than anything, I’d lost far too much from that single outing.
“Achoo!”
“Milady, are you still unwell?”
“No, just a sneeze…”
The weather had warmed, but apparently my health had melted along with it.
From the unexpected encounter with the Grand Duke on the festival day, to Ternox’s mischief—I’d been tense every second.
Above all, I’d seriously underestimated the cold by the river.
Or rather, I’d underestimated my own stamina the most.
All it took was one day out, and I ended up bedridden with a nasty cold for days.
What exactly is wrong with this body…?
No matter how I looked at it, without building some basic strength, anything I did would be pushing it.
Starting today, national calisthenics are back on.
Just as I was making that resolution, Betty noticed me shifting and shook her head gently.
Then she said something that made me practically jump.
