Chapter 24
“There’s no need for that.”
The Grand Duke strode over in an instant with his long legs, slipping his hand between the pages of the book I was about to close and stopping me.
Then, without hesitation, he took the book, glanced over the title, and set it down on the table.
“Celeste and the Dragon’s Oath? An unexpected choice.”
“It was just there, so I picked it up…”
“Did I interrupt you?”
Obviously.
Instead of answering, I made an awkward expression. The Grand Duke suddenly let out a short chuckle.
I froze like I’d just witnessed something I wasn’t supposed to see.
That bastard is smiling again?
From the very beginning, hadn’t he made it clear he couldn’t stand me?
And since I felt the same way, I’d assumed the best strategy was to avoid getting tangled up with him as much as possible…
At first, I thought it was just mocking laughter.
Because usually, it was always followed by sarcasm or some unpleasant criticism.
But little by little, it started happening more often.
And gradually, the hostility seemed to fade from his smile.
Like right now.
But strangely, that made my stomach turn even colder.
They say when someone starts acting out of character, it means they’re about to die…
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Could it be that the Grand Duke had unknowingly reached the day of his death?
What kind of novel even is this?
While I was spiraling into confusion, the Grand Duke spoke indifferently.
“It’s a place that’s been abandoned anyway. Use it if you want.”
“Oh… really?”
“That’s a suspicious look.”
“It’s just weird that you’re suddenly being so agreeable. Last time, you even insisted on coming to the festival.”
“And didn’t that end with the ‘newlywed couple’s little escape’?”
“That would only make sense if we were actually a married couple, Your Grace.”
“You… really never let anything slide, do you?”
The Grand Duke sounded almost fed up.
But he wasn’t wrong.
Around him, I had a tendency to become childish too.
I’ll admit that much.
Was attitude contagious?
For some reason, I absolutely refused to lose to him.
No matter what it was about.
Suppressing my urge to keep arguing, I forced a smile.
“So… what brings you here, Your Grace?”
“To the library? What kind of question is that?”
“…You came to read books in a library you left abandoned for over ten years?”
“Of course.”
The Grand Duke answered casually, then began reading the very book I had been holding.
We weren’t exactly the kind of people who sat face-to-face reading together.
What was he plotting?
But time passed helplessly.
Not wanting to lose, I picked up another book.
But the black was just letters, and the white was just paper.
None of it entered my mind.
Then, still calm, the Grand Duke spoke quietly, his eyes never leaving the page.
“I heard you were sick.”
“Ah… yes. I was.”
Why was he suddenly checking on me?
Still suspicious, I quickly added,
“I wasn’t lying. Really! I was practically on death’s door!”
“…I didn’t think you were lying.”
“W-well… you could’ve doubted me. I was just clearing up any misunderstanding.”
“You’ve only added more misunderstanding just now.”
“Regrettable…”
I answered blandly, then suddenly paused.
What is this?
Why does this conversation flow so smoothly?
Some kind of casual back-and-forth with the Grand Duke?
Absolutely not. I would refuse even if I died.
Honestly, I had nothing more to say.
Then, as he continued reading, the Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed.
After several seconds of silence, he suddenly spoke.
“I’ll ask directly.”
His low voice cut slowly and heavily through the air.
“The man you met at the festival… who was he?”
“Huh?”
Startled, I snapped my head up.
The man at the festival…
Was he talking about Ternox?
Before I could stall, the Grand Duke’s sharp words followed.
“D-don’t tell me you don’t know.”
“….”
“Don’t underestimate the security of the Grand Duke’s estate. I’ve already received reports that he was seen with you.”
Already? Who reported that?!
Rumors spread fast!
But something didn’t add up.
That dragon had an incredible cheat skill: invisibility magic.
Even the maid group closest to me had no idea he existed.
So how could someone have seen him inside the estate?
Was I being watched 24/7?
While my head spun with possibilities—
“Reveal his identity.”
The Grand Duke’s pressure intensified.
Ugh… what do I say?
Perhaps sensing my hesitation, his expression darkened.
“Someone even reported that he might be your secret lover…”
What?! That ridiculous rumor?!
“He’s a dragon!”
I cut him off immediately and blurted out the truth in one breath.
“…What?”
The Grand Duke’s gaze snapped to me like a magnet.
Surprisingly…
He looked shocked.
“Are you serious?”
I nodded confidently.
“A secret lover? As if. You said it yourself—the estate security is so strict. How would I even sneak around with another man? I didn’t even come here willingly in the first place.”
“Then how did you meet him?”
“I was digging in the garden near my house and found this strange silver cup. I was going to throw it away, but it kept guiding me somewhere… and it led me straight to a man insisting he was a dragon. He even used magic! Teleportation and everything!”
I rattled off the facts without stopping.
Whether he believed me or not was up to him.
Besides, lying here would be weird, wouldn’t it?
And what? Me and that lizard being involved?
Absurd.
I’m not close enough to hide his identity for him, and it’s not like revealing it would hurt a dragon anyway.
He supposedly lived for hundreds of years.
What’s the worst that could happen if one human found out?
In most novels, the heroine would deny everything:
“I don’t know him!”
Misunderstandings would pile up endlessly.
The heroine would suffer, and the male lead would regret it later.
But—
I’m not the female protagonist, and I don’t want to be!
Why would I carefully stack misunderstandings?
Before I even understood what kind of world this novel was, getting entangled would be dangerous.
And that Grand Duke desperately clinging to me?
Hmm…
I looked at him.
His handsome face was filled with confusion.
Those sharp blue-violet eyes stared into empty space behind me.
And somehow, even that looked dramatic.
Like a still cut from an actor’s photoshoot.
“Tsk…”
Honestly… with that face, it really would make for a tasty romance plot—
No! No! What am I thinking?!
I shook my head hard to chase away the thought.
How could I ever imagine that terrifying mouth of his becoming some regretful male lead?
I must be insane!
I couldn’t forget.
He was the Duke of Fearful Mouth.
Every time he opened his mouth, only nasty words came out.
A pretty face didn’t mean I could lower my guard.
I needed to stay alert.
Then, after hesitating, the Duke finally spoke again.
“Tell me more.”
“Huh? About what?”
“About the dragon.”
He looked completely serious.
I scoffed, pretending not to care.
“Oh? You believe me?”
“You think I’m joking?”
“No, it’s true. I just thought it was surprising how seriously you’re listening when you usually argue with everything I say.”
“Ha… Rene Blanche. Do I look like I’m in the mood for wordplay right now?”
His voice turned ice-cold.
For a moment, my heart sank.
Had I crossed a line?
Then—
“…Your Grace!”
Suddenly, noisy voices came from outside the library door.
Multiple footsteps, too.
They were getting closer, louder.
“…Your Grace, His Grace said absolutely not…”
“…Ridiculous! There’s nowhere I can’t go…”
“But… this is really dangerous…”
What?
Before I could even process it, the door burst open.
“Xenos!”
And the person who charged in first was—
My maid.
“Ah! Th-th-that, um…”
…Wait.
What was her name again?
Why can I only think of ‘peacock’?!
