Grand Duke, Please Stop Obsessing Over Your Wife! - Chapter 13

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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13.

Annelize wanted to cry.

No, she was already crying in her heart.

‘I was prepared for this, but it’s more humiliating than I thought.’

It was true that she had made up her mind to enter the crowded ballroom while being carried like this.

But it was hard to endure the hundreds of gazes pouring down on her all at once with her eyes open.

The Duke seemed completely unbothered by the stares and remained composed.

He crossed the ballroom at a pace that was neither slow nor fast.

The closer they got to the center of the ballroom, the louder the murmuring became.

“The mask, look at the mask. My word! It’s Duke Aperhis!”

“But does anyone know why he’s with Count Solariccen’s daughter?”

The shocked people slowly backed away step by step as the Duke moved forward.

Even when she closed her eyes having nowhere to look, she could still feel the stinging gazes.

Oh well, whatever. Annelize gave up and raised her head.

‘I didn’t plan to spread rumors throughout the neighborhood like this, but that’s how it turned out. Everyone.’

I, Annelize Solariccen, am marrying this man.

The deed was already done. Being embarrassed in this situation would be amateur.

Annelize managed her expression, pretending to be natural and unbothered.

It was when they had completely walked up the stairs.

Annelize glared at the masked Duke and whispered.

“Please put me down now. I can walk by myself.”

This was enough. She needed to quickly settle the commotion before the Emperor arrived.

“Hmm.”

“You said you’d only escort me to the ballroom, didn’t you? You should keep your promise.”

The Duke reluctantly set Annelize down on the floor.

She looked around and clicked her tongue.

The red carpet laid out in a straight line from the main gate to the center of the ballroom. Candles placed on both sides.

This was a scene she had somewhat expected from the moment the Crown Prince said he would prepare a public proposal.

‘This guy’s taste for events hasn’t changed from then to now. Flashy, lacking substance, and not considering the other person’s feelings one bit.’

The Crown Prince’s face was deathly pale.

He seemed unable to believe this situation.

“An, Annel…!”

Crown Prince Robert approached Annelize in a daze.

‘He definitely won’t be able to think of making a noble lady who entered the ballroom in another man’s arms into the Crown Princess.’

If he was determined to make a public proposal, the plan was to make him give up before he even started.

Even if the Crown Prince whined, Kukseo, who cared about reputation, would block it well.

The effect was certain.

Instead, there would be the side effect of Annelize’s own reputation hitting rock bottom, but so what.

‘Having a good reputation in high society isn’t particularly helpful anyway. At best, you’d just become Crown Princess.’

Meanwhile, the Crown Prince spoke to the Duke.

“Duke Aperhis. What do you think you’re doing right now.”

People focused their attention on the intriguing three-way confrontation.

Fortunately, thanks to everyone being wary of the Duke, they didn’t come closer than a certain distance.

Annelize was relieved at the gap where voices couldn’t be heard.

“Duke. Right now, that hand of yours—”

Unlike the bold content, Crown Prince Robert’s voice was trembling mercilessly.

He couldn’t even look properly at the Duke’s mask.

The Duke looked down at the Crown Prince blocking his path as if he were pathetic.

“What.”

Unlike the emotional Crown Prince, the Duke’s tone was calm.

Even though it was a short word, the Crown Prince’s body flinched greatly.

“Tell me. Right now, that hand should what?”

“…N-no. Nothing.”

The Crown Prince bowed his head and stepped aside.

He was already completely defeated in terms of physique. A person who couldn’t even get close to the Duke out of fear couldn’t properly pick a fight in this situation.

‘That’s enough for the Crown Prince.’

Annelize quickly greeted him while the Crown Prince was in a daze.

“Annelize of Solariccen greets Your Highness the Crown Prince. I hope you have an enjoyable banquet.”

The Crown Prince barely listened to Annelize’s greeting. Perhaps his ears weren’t working due to the great shock.

After finishing the formal greeting, she appropriately stepped back.

The Duke followed behind Annelize and deliberately stepped on the roses that had fallen on the floor.

He didn’t need to go that way. It was one hundred percent intentional.

Even knowing this, Annelize didn’t stop the Duke.

Just then, the trumpet sound announcing the Emperor’s entrance rang out.

The gathered nobles began returning to their places one by one.

‘Phew.’

Only then did Annelize catch her breath.

The trumpet sound gradually grew louder.

“His Majesty the Emperor, His Highness Kukseo, and Her Highness the Princess are entering.”

Shortly after, the Emperor entered the ballroom with Kukseo and the Princess.

Unlike the sharp-featured Kukseo, the Emperor was a middle-aged woman with a gentle impression.

The nobles in the ballroom all bowed their heads in unison.

Except for two people: Duke Aperhis and the Crown Prince.

The Emperor spotted the Duke standing tall among the people and offered a greeting.

“Oh. If it isn’t Duke Aperhis. It’s been a long time. How pleasant.”

“Yeah.”

Annelize listened carefully to their conversation.

The only being in this Empire who could treat the Emperor casually. She had only heard about it, but it was still surprising.

‘The first Emperor even left records for his descendants specifically telling them not to go against the Duke’s mood.’

The Emperor was well aware that the Empire was safe from magical beasts because of the North.

“Haha. You’re still the same, Duke.”

Even with the Duke’s consistently blunt words and actions, the Emperor didn’t mind and concluded the conversation.

Seeing the scented candles arranged in a line on the red carpet, the Emperor made a puzzled face.

“Hm? What is all this? Robert, is this your doing?”

Even though his mother had arrived, Crown Prince Robert was still in a daze.

Before he could come to his senses, Annelize quickly approached the Emperor.

After greeting the Princess and Kukseo, she bowed to the Emperor.

“Your Majesty. This is all my fault. I accidentally ruined the performance that His Highness the Crown Prince prepared for Your Majesty.”

Annelize raised her head and quickly looked at Princess Rosellia.

‘Your Highness. You’re prepared, right?’

When she sent a meaningful gaze, Princess Rosellia wrinkled her nose in response.

The Princess blocked the Crown Prince’s path and stepped forward.

“Mother. It’s not Annelize’s fault. It’s the fault of both of us for not properly preparing the surprise birthday event.”

Princess Rosellia smiled and placed the guitar that a servant was holding into Robert’s hands.

“Come on. Let’s start now, brother.”

“Huh? Start? Start what?”

“Sing.”

Princess Rosellia grabbed the Crown Prince’s shoulder and whispered ominously.

“Are you planning to ruin Mother’s birthday? The birthday song. Sing it. Right now.”

‘As expected of the Princess. She really has expertise in handling her brother.’

Annelize looked at the Princess with a pleased expression.

“Oh. A surprise event? You and Robert, Rosellia?”

The Emperor showed interest.

Robert still stood there with a dazed expression. Unable to bear watching any longer, Kukseo intervened.

“Actually, I had noticed it too. He said he wanted to present flowers directly to Your Majesty. Isn’t that right, Robert?”

Though he wore a smiling face, Kukseo’s words carried silent pressure.

Fortunately, Crown Prince Robert had at least that much sense.

He glanced at Kukseo’s expression and reluctantly nodded.

“Uh, yes, well, that’s right.”

Ding-a-ling. With a sullen face, he tuned his guitar.

Fortunately, the situation was being resolved as Annelize had expected.

‘To reduce the aftermath after rejecting the Crown Prince’s public proposal, this is the cleanest way. There’s no need to upset the Emperor by having his son embarrassed on his birthday.’

The nobles who witnessed the suspicious three-way confrontation would gossip enthusiastically, but most would be convinced by this excuse.

‘It’s not like the Crown Prince’s eccentric behavior is anything new. I’m glad the situation was resolved before he could pull out the proposal ring.’

Thus, the Crown Prince’s public proposal show was transformed into a fireworks filial piety event for the Emperor.

Princess Rosellia stepped forward again.

“We can’t use the rose bouquet anymore, but I prepared freesias instead. Your Majesty.”

At the Princess’s gesture, a maid from the Princess’s Palace brought a bouquet of yellow freesias.

A rich floral fragrance filled the ballroom. The bouquet that Annelize had touched remained as fresh as if just picked, despite the time that had passed.

“Happy birthday.”

“How fragrant.”

The Emperor’s expression visibly softened as he smelled the fragrance.

It was fortunate that she knew the Emperor loved the scent of freesias most.

‘That’s it. Being the mood-driven person he is, the Emperor won’t nitpick any further and will let it slide.’

Annelize let out a sigh of relief.

Cheerful music filled the ballroom, and the Crown Prince’s guitar began to play.

Just before singing, the Crown Prince cast his gaze toward Annelize.

Annelize coldly turned away from that earnest gaze.

The Crown Prince’s eyes grew moist.

Ding. He hung his head low.

A tear-soaked birthday song began.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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