YSGD 18

Chapter 18

Damn it—what I meant to say and what came out were completely different!
But at this point, it was do-or-die.
I planted a hand on my hip and, instead, spoke boldly.

“You must have misheard.”

“How ridiculous. Everyone here heard you.”

“No, they didn’t. Right, girls?”

The Grand Duke looked dumbfounded, but I shrugged as if I had no idea what he was talking about and glanced around at the maids.
They were frightened, but whether they were truly on my side or not, the maids—who had been exchanging nervous looks—cautiously chimed in.

“W-we didn’t hear anything, ma’am.”
“Right, right. What did Her Ladyship even say?”
“She didn’t utter a single word!”

Of course, of course. Right, right.

Watching the 가나다 maid squad nod at one another, I felt our sense of comradeship grow even stronger.
With a satisfied expression, I turned back to the Grand Duke and said triumphantly,

“See?”

“…My, the maids are quite loyal.”

“They’re just like that.”

I turned my head primly and stole a glance at him.

And then…

“?!”

On his face—along with his bewilderment—there was, unbelievably, a spreading smile!
What is this situation? I’ve got a bad feeling about this.

Just then—

“So you say. Is it my hearing that’s faulty?”

The Grand Duke shrugged once and stepped aside.

And then—

“I pay my respects to Her Grace the Grand Duchess. My apologies for the late greeting.”

From behind his large frame, an elderly gentleman suddenly stepped forward!
That bastard—he hadn’t come alone?

What kind of comic-book timing is this?!
The world was really out to get me.

“M-Master Butler!”

Judging by the reaction, the old gentleman seemed to be the head butler of the Grand Ducal estate.
As the maids gasped in shock, the Grand Duke opened his mouth again.
A sly, faintly triumphant smile curved his lips.

“Kal, what did the Grand Duchess just say?”

“Yes, Your Grace. Approximately one minute and thirty seconds ago, Her Grace the Grand Duchess clearly said, ‘This is dirty and petty. I’d rather not go at all.’”

“……”

As expected of the head butler of such a vast estate.
His accuracy was beyond words!
So he even had the butler lying in wait? What is wrong with this Grand Duke?

I was biting my lip in pointless defeat when—

“Well, I’m not here to argue.”

Looking a little tired, the Grand Duke swept his bangs back.

Then what have we been doing all this time?

Just as I was preparing for round two of our verbal sparring, the Grand Duke struck first.

“You’ll lose anyway, so let this ‘dirty and petty’ man graciously give you a choice. Will you go to the festival? Or will you stay home alone? The maids are officially off duty, so they may return if they wish.”

I’d been too busy fighting him to notice, but the sky—once blazing red with sunset—had already deepened into a dark indigo.
There was still some time before the festival’s highlight, the lantern-lighting ceremony, but…

‘Should I just go? Ugh, it’d be awkward. We’re not exactly close enough to enjoy a festival together, so why is he suddenly like this?’

The Grand Duke’s attitude was mercurial in the extreme.
He told me not to draw attention, then suddenly invited me to a festival—just what tune am I supposed to dance to?

But no matter how much I agonized, I wasn’t getting an answer.
Besides, this festival only happened once a year.
Once a month would be one thing, but once a year? It felt like a shame to miss it.

“…I’ll go. Let’s go.”

Damn it—fine. I’ll go and pretend that jerk doesn’t exist.

Having made up my mind, I replied weakly.

“Not a bad choice.”

The Grand Duke grinned and extended one hand as if to escort me.
He seemed quite pleased with my answer.

I stared at his hand for a moment, then slapped it down like a low high-five.

“Oh my. Excuse me.”

Then, as if nothing had happened, I lightly took his hand again between my thumb and forefinger.
The Grand Duke looked at me as if he couldn’t believe what he was seeing, but what could he do?

No matter how oblivious this country might be, even I could tell he was putting his all into messing with me.
And besides…

Even if I slapped his hand, it probably didn’t even tickle—but the way his expression subtly changed in so many ways stirred up a strange sense of competitiveness in me.

“…Then let’s go.”

And so, that peculiar companionship began.

Clatter, clatter.

With the sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the unpaved road as background noise, I absentmindedly traced the patterns on the carriage ceiling with my eyes.

‘I wonder if Betty and the others are having fun on their own.’

Because of an unexpected intruder, the 가나다 maid squad had exited with fists to their mouths, swallowing their tears.
I shot a resentful glare at the Grand Duke sitting across from me.

He had his arms crossed and was staring endlessly out the window.
For someone who’d come so ambitiously to fetch me, he’d gone completely silent after achieving his goal.

‘Seriously, his mood swings are like boiling porridge. So irritating.’

Not to be outdone, I plastered myself against the opposite window and stared outside.
Still, it felt novel—this was the first time since arriving here that I’d left the Grand Ducal estate.

Passing through the vast grand garden, the carriage soon exited the gates of the Celeste Grand Ducal estate.
After crossing a gentle hill and turning onto a paved road, the carriage rounded a corner, and in the distance, the town square came into view.

At its center, a campfire was blazing, surrounded by people playing lively music and young folks dancing exuberantly to the rhythm.

“Wow!”

It really feels like a festival! I mean, it is a festival, but still!

When I let out an unconscious exclamation, one of the Grand Duke’s eyebrows twitched.
‘What, is he telling me to be quiet? Then why did he bring me along?’

His sensitivity was on par with a D-30 retaker at a study café who looks ready to annihilate anything that dares break the silence.
After getting scolded for muttering to myself, my mouth snapped shut.

Still, my heart thumped at the bustling sight of everyone laughing and chatting happily.
I might enjoy my homebody life, but isn’t there a certain charm in enjoying a local festival at least once?

I was staring blankly at the heart of the festival, unable to suppress my grin, when—

“…Huh?!”

In an instant, something grabbed my attention.

It was skewers.

In the distance, a kindly-looking woman was sweating as she grilled skewers directly over charcoal, over an open flame.

‘Amazing. She’s a master. A skewer master.’

My once-thumping heart began pounding like a drum.
After all, when you think of skewers, aren’t they the quintessential festival snack in romance-fantasy novels?

Even if I can’t remember every plot detail or protagonist’s name, I can proudly say I’ve read enough romance fantasy to rival anyone in sheer volume.
And now, that very cliché was unfolding right before my eyes!

‘Now this feels like a real romance-fantasy transmigration.’

I’d always been dying to know whether those skewers were chicken hearts, chicken skewers, lamb skewers, or some kind of meat I couldn’t even identify.
And today, I could finally find out.

Heee—

As I clutched my fluttering heart and fixed my gaze on the woman, the carriage stopped at just the right moment.
Soon after, the carriage door on my side opened, and the upright figure of the head butler, Kal, appeared.

“We have arrived at the square.”

“Good work.”

‘Hmph.’

Before the Grand Duke could step down first, I quickly beat him to it and hopped out.
The expressions on the two men watching were quite a sight.

The Grand Duke looked utterly dumbfounded, while the old gentleman seemed to be suppressing a smile, his face slightly reddened.
Then, to my surprise, a kindly and gentle air spread across the old man’s face, quite different from my first impression.

“Oh! Thank you.”

Kal’s hand, which had been hanging awkwardly in the air as if to escort me, looked a little embarrassed.
Realizing my mistake, I quickly took his hand with both of mine and shook it once or twice in thanks.

For the first time, a benevolent smile bloomed across Kal’s entire face.

“Your Grace, Your Grace the Grand Duchess. I hope you enjoy yourselves.”

His voice was filled with warmth, matching his expression.
My heart melted along with it, and I smiled brightly at him and nodded.

Having personally acted as the coachman, Kal bowed politely, withdrew, and drove the carriage away once more.
In that brief moment, my attention was completely stolen again by the aroma of skewers wafting from afar.

Just as I was about to stride forward without hesitation—

“Where are you going?”

The Grand Duke’s annoying question followed me like a shadow.
Instant irritation flared up.

‘Is he really planning to stick with me the whole time?’

I crossed my arms and turned back to face him.

But then…

‘Huh?’

Something about the Grand Duke seemed a little… off.