Grand Duke, Please Stop Obsessing Over Your Wife! - Chapter 21

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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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21.

“What is it this time?”

“Can human eyes naturally emit light on their own?”

Isaiah blinked at the sudden question.

As soon as he brought Annelize, the Duke took her to his room.

And the first thing he said was something like that.

How very like his lord.

Isaiah had spent too much time by his side to struggle with guessing the intent behind his words.

He habitually traced back through his memories. He didn’t need to go far. It would obviously be a topic related to Annelize.

She was the only human his lord had ever shown interest in.

‘On the night of the ball, he was dazed while looking at Miss Annelize, saying her eyes were dazzling.’

His lord wasn’t normal to begin with, but his condition had worsened since then.

“Humans with glowing eyes? That’s impossible.”

At Isaiah’s answer, the Duke’s face became even more serious.

“Right. Then why are Annelize Solariccen’s eyes so dazzling? I can’t even look at them properly.”

Isaiah rolled his eyes at his lord’s muttering.

“In my opinion, my lord. There’s nothing wrong with Miss Annelize’s eyes. The problem lies with your eyesight. Why don’t you get an examination?”

He casually waved his hand in front of his lord’s face.

“What do you see?”

The Duke replied in an emotionless voice.

“I see your imminent death. It’s been fun, Isaiah.”

“Haha. What a joke.”

“It’s not a joke. That woman’s eyes sparkled brightly. It was the same at the Imperial Palace. Even though it was the middle of the night, they shone brighter than the sun. Bright enough to mistake it for daytime.”

At his lord’s age, it was natural for one function or another to develop problems.

Though in this situation, the problematic part wasn’t his body but his mind.

‘He’s completely smitten and lost his mind over her eyes, and he wants me to do something about it.’

Even if he told him the truth, his lord wouldn’t understand.

He didn’t particularly want to tell him either.

Originally, these kinds of things had to be realized on one’s own.

“Why don’t you ask Miss Annelize directly? Ask her to please stop sparkling so much.”

* * *

Unaware that Isaiah had passed the troublesome matter to her.

Annelize was waiting for the Duke.

A moment later, the Duke returned.

He put the dry firewood he was holding into the fireplace.

During this time, Annelize stared intently at the Duke.

As if conscious of her gaze, veins bulged on the Duke’s throat. Still, he stubbornly kept his eyes fixed on the fireplace.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing special. Why? Is there somewhere you feel uncomfortable?”

“Not particularly.”

That doesn’t seem right. He looks extremely uncomfortable.

In the silence, Annelize was the first to speak.

“Your Highness. If it’s not rude to ask, I’d like to know how long you plan to avoid looking at my face.”

Flinch. The Duke’s eyes trembled slightly.

“Do I have to look?”

“No. I’m not forcing you. But since someone who used to stare at me to an overwhelming degree is suddenly acting like this, I wondered if something happened.”

I don’t know what the problem is, but we can solve it together. Annelize hoped her intention was conveyed well.

“If there’s anything that makes you even slightly uncomfortable, please feel free to tell me. I’m prepared to accept it.”

After the silence, the Duke let out a long sigh.

His tense shoulders turned toward Annelize.

‘Whatever strange thing he says, I should nod and empathize while saying “I understand everything.”‘

She prepared to nod her head no matter what came out of the Duke’s mouth.

Finally, the Duke spoke.

“You’re too bothersome.”

His gaze passed over Annelize’s eyes. The Duke immediately frowned.

“At first it was just your eyes. But it’s gotten worse since I last saw you. Why is your hair acting like that too?”

“Ah. I see. I understand… everything.”

That was a lie. She didn’t understand anything.

Annelize composed herself.

‘Stay calm. Don’t be caught up in prejudice and respect things as they are. Like Father always told me.’

[Annelize. You shouldn’t judge easily based on appearances alone. If you cast aside prejudice and misunderstanding, you can truly communicate with others.]

‘I understand, Father. I can do this.’

Annelize nodded and began mechanical empathy.

“I see. So my eyes and hair bother you. That’s understandable. Specifically, how do they bother you?”

The Duke raised his hand to cover his eyes.

It was the kind of movement someone standing under the midday sun in summer would make.

“Can’t you do something about that sparkling?”

“Sparkling?”

What is he really talking about? No. Understanding comes later. Empathy first.

“I, I see. How difficult it must have been for you. Because I’m too sparkly…? Anyway, I’m sorry.”

Her mind raced quickly.

Annelize really wanted to get along well with the Duke.

To maintain a good business relationship where they could rely on each other, she was willing to compromise anytime.

But to stop sparkling?

How was she supposed to do that?

‘…Could it be?’

Annelize discreetly checked the pattern on her left ring finger.

‘It’s the same. It’s fine.’

The Duke said she sparkled too much and was dazzling to his eyes.

‘If I heard this from an ordinary person, I would have misunderstood it as being full of ulterior motives. But this is the Duke after all. He’s sincere.’

There was no way Annelize would suddenly glow like a flashlight. Then the cause of the problem lay with the Duke.

‘It would be rude to tell him to get an eye exam. I should secretly talk to Sir Isaiah about it later.’

For now, she should at least show she was making an effort.

Annelize pulled the Duke’s cloak that was draped around her body up over her head.

“How about this? Do your eyes feel more comfortable now?”

“It seems so.”

The Duke’s expression became softer than before.

But she couldn’t keep imitating a ghost and covering her whole body.

“Could you call Sir Isaiah for a moment?”

The Duke immediately granted her request.

Annelize sent the Duke outside, asking him to bring her luggage.

“Did you call for me?”

“Sir Isaiah. Don’t misunderstand, but what if you suggested His Highness get an eye examination next time? He might have developed an eye disease.”

Isaiah made a face that said he understood everything.

“I know what’s causing this, Miss Annelize. No, I should call you Madam now. We could try an examination as you suggest, but it won’t be useful. It’s a psychological issue.”

“A psychological issue?”

Isaiah wore an amused expression.

“His lordship has been mostly alone for a long period, experiencing only limited emotions. It takes time for him to accept unfamiliar feelings. Since you’re the first outsider he’s kept close in almost hundreds of years, he must be very confused.”

Hundreds of years. The exaggerated expressions typical of the North were refreshing to hear every time.

“Haven’t the members of the Duke’s Castle changed during that time either?”

“Yes. It was always the same. People from nearby villages would come occasionally, but I didn’t see them every day like this.”

Annelize sighed. She seemed to understand what the problem was.

“So you’re saying he’s being shy because I’m unfamiliar to him?”

‘He must be very conscious since he’s taken a stranger as his wife.’

After all, one-time encounters and long-term relationships carry different burdens.

‘Even if he was comfortable when we just met, it would be confusing to have a new person come to his home.’

It was certainly a situation where the Duke, who was awkward with human relationships, would struggle.

“I should help His Grace become accustomed to this over time.”

“It will gradually get better.”

As their conversation ended, the Duke returned carrying Annelize’s luggage.

‘First, let’s try a short-term solution.’

Annelize rummaged through her bag and pulled out a glasses case.

She handed the Duke a pair of sunglasses.

“Much better.”

The Duke looked satisfied. The dark sunglasses looked incredibly good on his tanned skin.

‘It’s even more ridiculous that this actually works.’

Next was the long-term solution.

Annelize patted the Duke’s broad shoulder encouragingly.

“Your Grace. You were confused because you suddenly felt that way, right? It’s because this situation is unfamiliar and awkward. It’s okay. As you continue to spend time with me, you’ll get used to it.”

“Will I get used to it if I see you often?”

The Duke asked back as if curious.

“Of course. My father also fainted from shock when he first saw my mother. But after living together, they eventually got married.”

“I see… So I just need to keep looking until I feel nothing at all.”

Today too, the Duke had learned one more thing about human society.

“How troublesome.”

He looked at Annelize while tilting his chin sideways.

“…Right. Since it was my choice to take you as my wife, I’ll have to endure it.”

His tone was filled with resignation.

“Cheer up. Human relationships are originally troublesome by nature. When I first attended a tea party at age five, it was awkward and difficult, but I eventually overcame it… Yawn.”

Warming herself by the fire made her sleepy. She must have been very tired.

“Should I carry you to bed?”

Annelize shook her head while suppressing a yawn.

“No. I’ll go by myself.”

“Well. You don’t look like you can walk on your own.”

A large hand touched her forehead as if checking her temperature.

She was too sleepy to continue thinking.

* * *

“As if you could go alone.”

The Duke clicked his tongue and carried Annelize to the bed.

The moment he set down her small body, his chest was suddenly pulled.

Annelize’s lips parted slightly.

“Don’t go…”

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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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