Grand Duke, Please Stop Obsessing Over Your Wife! - Chapter 26

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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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26.

“Watch your words. Human? She’s the Duchess.”

“Didn’t our lord kidnap her?”

“What are you talking about? I told you. She came all the way to the North on her own two feet. Of her own will.”

“Why?”

“Who knows.”

“Excuse me, but could you whisper a bit more quietly? I don’t want to hear it, but I can hear everything.”

“Eek.”

What are you surprised about when you said it loud enough for everyone to hear?

The man avoided Annelize’s gaze and hid behind Isaiah’s back. Due to his larger build than Isaiah, his gray hair peeked out conspicuously.

Isaiah grabbed the back of his neck with one hand and dragged him to the side.

A clear voice rang out.

“Madam. Allow me to introduce myself for the first time. I am Pamine, in charge of the manor’s finances and food management.”

“Ha… How do you do.”

Pamine reluctantly bowed his head to Annelize.

“I’m Annelize Solariccen.”

“Yes…”

When their eyes met, he obviously averted his gaze.

At least he’s not fainting or vomiting.

I was worried since they said he was afraid of humans, but this is relatively manageable.

Pamine hid behind Isaiah again. The sound of the two whispering could be heard.

“Why did you bring her to me!”

“The greenhouse is your responsibility. Explain it to her.”

“You could just show her around yourself.”

Annelize watched the two with great interest.

‘They seem quite close. This is the first time I’ve seen Sir Isaiah speak informally.’

Despite their contrasting atmospheres, they seemed to get along well in their own way.

‘If Sir Isaiah is like a gentle, graceful prince, that one would be more like a strong knight commander.’

He had a handsome, masculine face, but his frowning expression and dark circles were eating away at his good looks.

‘It’s a bit much to call someone dog-like. But he definitely has that rough wild dog image.’

The whispering sounds gradually grew faster.

Unlike Isaiah who was smiling cheerfully, Pamine seemed to be increasingly cornered.

“I’m busy. I know you have nothing to do.”

“Why would I have nothing to do? Do you know how hard it was to hire servants this time too!”

“Ahaha. Want to struggle every single day?”

The conversation ended as Isaiah raised his fist in the air.

Pamine approached Annelize with a gloomy expression as if he were dying.

“Madam. From now on, Pamine will assist you with the tour. If you need anything, please command me.”

Isaiah left with a refreshing smile as if all problems had been solved.

“Phew.”

Once Isaiah left, Pamine sighed and put on a mask.

He maintained as much distance as possible from Annelize.

‘I feel sorry for him, but I can’t help it either.’

Annelize took out the greenhouse key from her bosom.

“I have no intention of harming you, so please calm down. Sir. His Grace said he’s reopened the greenhouse. I’d like you to guide me through the greenhouse.”

“Just maintain your distance please. The greenhouse is this way.”

Fortunately, he grumbled but still guided Annelize faithfully.

The greenhouse that had been closed for a long time felt dreary.

‘The facilities are better equipped than I thought?’

It even had an automatic drainage system, and the greenhouse walls blocked the cold air, making it less chilly.

Annelize was filled with anticipation as she looked at the barren field.

“Did Sir Pamine install all of this?”

“That’s correct.”

“You made it well. It’s impressive.”

Despite receiving praise, Pamine looked even more gloomy.

“How long will it take to restart the facilities? Can I plant seedlings today?”

“It’s possible in a day, but… are you really planning to grow plants here?”

“Of course.”

Pamine sighed.

“Madam. I understand what you’re thinking by coming here. I also had vain hopes at first. I’m giving you serious advice – it’s a waste of effort. The land itself is ruined.”

His voice was thick with resignation. She could imagine the countless failures he must have experienced.

“The very idea of trying to do something with my own hands in this living hell was wrong from the start…”

“Why is your self-esteem, no, land-esteem so low? The North would be hurt to hear this.”

“I’m stating objective facts!”

“It might not be the land’s problem. It could be different if we find plants suited to this soil.”

Even at her words, Pamine didn’t brighten his gloomy expression.

‘How do I win his heart?’

As she pondered, the flower pots in Pamine’s room flashed through her mind.

Pots with several plant nutrients stuck in them, but all the plants had withered and twisted, unable to grow properly.

Even though he said he’d given up, he was still trying.

“Sir Pamine. Will you trust me just once? If I can make flowers bloom in those pots, you’ll help me.”

“It’s futile. It won’t work anyway. If I can’t do it, how could a mere ordinary human?”

She had no choice but to show results.

“If it won’t work anyway, it doesn’t matter if you give me one pot. What, are you scared I might succeed?”

Pamine’s expression changed to bewilderment. He shook his head vigorously.

“Of course not! I was just worried you’d be disappointed, but since I bothered to warn you.”

Eventually, Pamine surrendered to her persistent persuasion.

“Fine, take whatever you want. If you really succeed, I’ll do whatever you tell me to.”

Do whatever she tells him to? He shouldn’t make such promises carelessly.

***

And so she brought one pot from Pamine’s office.

Annelize carefully observed the pot placed on the table in her room.

The withered pot dropped leaves at the mere touch.

‘It’s amazing that it’s still alive at all.’

It was time to test her power.

Annelize realized her power when she was twelve years old.

When Annelize was twelve and Anna Rose was nine.

[Sister! Let’s grow onions!]

Anna Rose brought two onions in glass cups.

‘One was the mean words onion, the other was the kind words onion.’

The sisters each took care of one onion.

Anna Rose took the kind words onion, Annelize took the mean words onion.

[The kind words onion will grow much better!]

However, the actual results were completely different from Anna Rose’s expectations.

‘Only the onion I grew was sturdy. It grew annoyingly well.’

She didn’t do much to the freesia flowers she gave to the Emperor either.

‘I just glared at them while whispering a few words of encouragement…’

They really did become more vibrant than before.

‘Whether it was vibrant in the sense of being fresh, or blue from being pale with fright, I’m not sure.’

Annelize picked up the watering can filled with water and watered the pot.

She poured water until the dry soil became moist, then set down the watering can.

Before using her ability, she first offered a small apology.

“Sorry. But for my work, I have no choice. I trust you’ll understand.”

Ahem. Annelize cleared her throat.

She whispered to the plant in the sharp voice she usually reserved for scolding someone.

“You. Why are you so withered and weak? Is this all you amount to as a plant?”

Then she took out a plant specimen she had brought from the Empire and waved it next to the pot.

“Look. Big leaves and a sturdy stem. This is what a plant’s duty looks like. You’re neglecting your responsibilities right now.”

Is this enough?

Annelize hesitated.

This was exactly why Annelize didn’t use her ability in front of other people.

‘An ability that makes plants flourish by scolding them.’

Wouldn’t the sight of her communicating with plants alone look too strange?

‘And it’s not even saying nice things to them, but giving them a stern talking-to.’

After saying it out loud, an inexplicable embarrassment washed over her.

She examined the plant in the pot.

‘No big changes yet.’

Annelize shook the watering can threateningly.

“You know you’ll rot if I give you too much water, right? You’d better behave yourself properly. If you don’t perk up quickly, I’ll dump all the water in this can on you at once…”

That should do it. About a week should be enough.

It would take quite a while for it to bloom.

Annelize delivered one final threat.

“Do it properly. Got it?”

This should be enough, right? I’ll check again tomorrow morning.

Annelize was about to set down the watering can when she stood up from her spot.

“Ah.”

The feeling of being watched hadn’t been her imagination.

When had the Duke entered the room?

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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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