# 16
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“Brother, I'm so scared.”
A woman wearing a cute pink dress cooed, with an equally sweet voice. The man who was leading her towards the palace gate breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to her with a stern, feigned expression.
“Flora.”
She tilted her head, her eyes round and teary.
“I heard that the Duke kills monsters like a demon. Even monsters have precious lives, right? I...my heart can't even bear to kill a mosquito. "You know this."
“…Flora.”
“How could I marry such a scary man? Oh…I'm so scared.”
Her soft pink hair shook with the little movement of her head.
Flora, eldest daughter of the Count of Loewen, a vassal of the House of Richmond, was the princess of North-West society. There was no noble young man who did not adore her, and the girls imitated her in everything. Even her overly cute dress looked like it was made just for her.
At that moment, a maid who was arranging her hair ornaments accidentally pulled a lock.
"Yes!"
“Sorry, miss!”
The maid bowed quickly, but distress immediately appeared on Flora's face. She touched her hair, then looked at the back of the maid's head with disdain.
“Really… people like you are not good at anything.”
“I'm sorry...”
“Even hairdressing is difficult for you? Don't come tomorrow. Brother, send her to the stable.”
“Miss...!”
The maid cried, but Flora went on without heed.
“Okay, enough. Fix your expression. It seems that the Duke has reached the bridge. "Hurry up!"
“Really... uh...”
“There is no need to be afraid. The Duke will fall in love with you. Isn't there a man in Richmond who doesn't love you?'
Flora, the most beloved in Richmond, that was her pride. Even one of her friend's fiancé was charmed by her one day, but it wasn't her fault; The fault is always the fault of men. Kindness was her weapon.
She wiped her eyes with her handkerchief and followed her brother. With the sound of trumpets, people made way for them.
When they reached the gate under admiring glances, a wind blew from outside the palace, carrying the scent of horses. Flora's eyebrows furrowed automatically.
Since Empress Hetebe's influence increased, the status of knights was no longer the same. In the Duchy of Richmond in particular, their contempt was common.
Flora also didn't like knights. In her eyes, a knight who lives by the strength of his body is no different from a commoner who works with his hands, not to mention his brutality and bloodshed.
Therefore, whatever the Duke was, he seemed unpalatable to her. A knight leader, roaming the “Wall of Death”... must be thick, scary, primitive.
“……!”
But as soon as Flora's eyes fell on the Duke of Richmond, she froze.
● ● ●
Even the majestic front gate of the Duke's Palace seemed to lose its presence in front of this man. He was one of those who turned everything around them into mere background.
“That is…”
Flora muttered absently, and at that moment a woman appeared who was hidden inside the Duke's broad chest. The cream dress she was wearing, contrasting with the black abaya, looked strikingly white, like a wedding dress. However, that woman did not lose her presence while she was by his side.
Flora's eyes narrowed.
"What is this?"
● ● ●
As soon as Walter entered the inner palace garden, he glanced sideways to the left. Grace, who was walking beside him with light steps, raised her head to look at him. She blinked once, then again, then smiled lightly and said with a movement of her lips:
“Smile.”
At that moment, Walter couldn't help but laugh in astonishment. Immediately, the small hand that was holding his tightly tightened its grip.
Don't laugh sarcastically!
As if he heard a reprimanding voice whispering in his ear, he quickly adjusted his features.
This is the ninth time. He counted it inside himf. When they entered the palace building, he turned back to look at Grace. She looked at him furtively, looking somewhat embarrassed, then muttered:
“…Sir.”
His tone was very elegant, but it made his fingertips itch involuntarily. He was not the only one who felt this; Even those who had followed them like a cloud from Richmond's "thieves" began to whisper.
Thus, the tenth hour was completed.
On the horseback, Grace was leaning her head on his chest as if the matter did not concern her, and she said:
“Sir, please postpone my introduction as much as possible. And also tell the knights not to call me Miss for the time being.”
“Do you want to delay the news getting to Taylor?”
“This too. And most importantly... I now seem like someone who is easy to underestimate.”
“…Is this useful?”
"naturally. By the way, have you made a plan on how you're going to be nice to me?
«……»
With his eyes closed, he could explain how a monster is exterminated or how revenge is carried out, but how can he treat a woman he loves with kindness? He had nothing to say.
Even the idea of riding horses together was, in his eyes, a commendable achievement. So what next...?
When his silence lasted for a long time, Grace exhaled briefly and then issued an order in a commanding tone:
“He held my hand first. From the moment of crossing the gate until entering the inner palace exactly ten times he turned to me. Then, no one will need lengthy introductions. Everyone will understand...and guess as they please.”
He wondered if that was enough...and it was enough. It's all thanks to Grace's experience.
It wasn't a blatant representation. Every time he turned to her, she gave him a different reaction: at first she pretended not to notice, then with repeated glances she sometimes bit her lip, sometimes looked at him silently, sometimes smiled a barely perceptible smile. Even Walter, knowing this was an act, found himf turning around curiously to see what her next response would be.
From the reactions behind them, it was clear that no one had failed to realize that she was his lover. However, everyone was eagerly wondering: What will be her next location inside Richmond Palace? They must have already chosen a “suitable duchess” according to their whims.
As if in confirmation of this, he felt a movement to his right, and the Marquise appeared with an artificial smile.
“Sir...”
As soon as Walter stopped, everyone stopped. The Marquise looked warily at Grace, then said:
“We will lead the attendant lady to the parlor temporarily. We did not receive advance notice of a guest’s arrival, so preparing the guest room may not be sufficient...”
“No need, Marquis Lenco's wife.”
A low, cold voice interrupted her. Walter stared into her eyes calmly, then turned his head to Grace. There was an innocent question in her clear eyes.
How well she pretends to be ignorant when she knows everything.
Walter tightened his grip on her hand and said softly:
“You will stay here, in the chandelier room.”
"What? “Gh… the chandelier room?”
At the same moment, muffled gasps erupted from all sides. The Marquise's eyes widened as if they were going to jump, and the Marquise opened his mouth wide. Even Flora, who was watching sharply, covered her mouth with both hands.
The Chandelier Room The bedroom used by the Dukes of Richmond over the generations.
“S-sir! That room...!”
“Why the surprise? Do I need permission?
"…no."
The Duke, who shocked everyone, stood up, shielding Grace with his body, and then turned back. His eyes, already sharp, became harsher as his chin tightened. The smile that was directed at Grace a moment ago evaporated like the morning dew. Even Joseph, who was watching from afar, felt a little disappointed.
Walter stared at the couple and the aristocrats with a look devoid of any humanity, then said in a lazy tone:
“This welcome is enough. They all left.”
Then he quietly walked up the stairs with Grace, leaving speechless faces behind him.
Only the nobles remained in the palace hall. The place the Duke left looked like it had been hit by a hurricane.
“What…what’s going on?”
Someone asked in amazement.
It was not strange; They did not even hear the name of the woman who came with him. Walter had not neglected to introduce them, but they had ignored them. No one dared to object. Isn't it normal for the owner of the house to have a guest enter his house without explaining everything?
The Marquis bit his lips and said in a low voice:
“It seems that the Duke is plotting a trick, but it will not go as he wishes. Don't worry.
Walter Richmond may think this mansion is his home, but it will never be.
The Marquis's eyes suddenly lit up and he said:
“To the meeting room, everyone. We have to have a meeting.”
"Yes!"
He was followed by nobles bearing the service badges of the House of Richmond. The Marquis walked down the corridor with the confidence of the palace owner, and the sound of shoe heels echoed in the cool air of the hall.
● ● ●
Jessie was walking behind Grace, staring at two maids who were pretending to be guiding while constantly peeking at Grace. Every time they turned around, they wiped her from head to toe. Jessie narrowed her eyes, memorizing their features.
“First: brown hair, brown eyes. Second: gray hair, blue eyes.”
At that moment
“Follow your duty.”
Jessie wasn't the only one who was upset; Walter let out a low warning. The two maids rose and bowed quickly.
“Yes, sir.”
After the warning, they no longer looked at Grace. But as soon as Walter and Grace entered the chandelier room, their faces changed, and they pressed their ears to the door and whispered:
“Is she noble?”
“It seems so... but she only brought one maid. Perhaps it was from fallen nobles? But even a penniless noblewoman...is it reasonable for her to become so attached to a man before marriage?”
“Even common women don't do that!” Thus the path to marriage is completely closed!
“Don't you think she's from next to the wall of death? The Duke spent years there... They said that fugitives live in those areas.”
"Oh, my God. In any case, is it appropriate for a woman of unknown parentage to be in the chandelier room?
"Don't worry. "When the Duke sees our Mademoile Flora, his mind will change."
Jessie was in the hallway, but they didn't care. Rather, they looked at her from top to bottom, and deliberately bumped into her shoulder as they passed.
"Yes."
"What? It hurts you? Don't you look in front of you? Move aside yourf.”
“Funny...she even came with what looked like a maid.”
“Oh, thank you for the kind words. maid? No, not even that. Listen, don't draw attention. You'll be fired soon, so don't get attached to the place. concept?"
Did they go crazy?
Jessie's anger slowly flared, and she glared at their backs as they walked away.
● ● ●
The two maids were not the only ones whose behavior changed when the door closed. The moment it was closed, Grace straightened up, turning away from Walter, released her hand from his, and then pressed her ear to the door and listened outside.
Walter subconsciously looked at his hand, opened and closed it, and then raised his head. Grace had turned to him. The shyness she had shown in front of people disappeared, and all that remained was a sharp, polished mind. Her gaze rose to the ceiling.
There was a beautiful chandelier hanging, befitting the name of the room. Hundreds of crystals sparkled like raindrops, scattering the sunlight entering through the window in every direction. Beneath it is a circular table, and above it is a bouquet of pure white lilies, no doubt placed today.
Grace moved slowly, contemplating the place.
In the ornate fireplace, firewood was stacked, and the bedding on the huge bed looked freshly made, soft and fluffy. Someone must have been planning to sleep here tonight.
Grace let out a light laugh, more like a sob.
“It seems I...unintentionally took over the room.”