Grand Duke, Please Stop Obsessing Over Your Wife! - Chapter 39

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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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39.

 

The smell of blood and flower fragrance – that really is quite extreme.

 

“Well, scent preferences vary from person to person. Oh, don’t tell me the greenhouse was closed because of that flower too?”

 

Pamine nodded sadly.

 

“I didn’t know you disliked it so much. If I had known, I would have grown it secretly. It was the first camellia I ever discovered…”

 

She recalled the Duke’s expression when he frowned at the smell from the alcohol.

 

“Sir Pamine. Then will His Grace the Duke be alright? What if he’s allergic to that flower?”

 

“No, if my lord drank it, then it was fine. And besides, only a tiny amount of camellia went into the alcohol anyway.”

 

“Well, that’s a relief, but…”

 

“Sir Pamine is right. He said he accidentally found a camellia flower that had been burned and added some remaining root fragments.”

 

Still, she felt uneasy about it.

 

At least it was fortunate that it was an extremely rare plant.

 

“So there are no camellia flowers in the North now?”

 

“No. As far as I know, there’s exactly one flower remaining. There’s a shrine honoring Annelarion in the Village Across the River, and I heard there’s a camellia flower there.”

 

Elli, who was from the Village Across the River, was surprised.

 

“Oh, how did you know that?”

 

“I searched all over the North looking for camellia flowers, so of course I know.”

 

Pamine recalled his shameful past.

 

“I barely managed to sneak in, but the humans came out with clubs and chased me away. They called me a ruffian who dared to disturb the sacred ground of the first saint!”

 

The wounds from that time still seemed to sting.

 

Elli defended the villagers in a shrinking voice.

 

“You came in secretly. Everyone was just working hard to protect the flower that guards our village.”

 

‘A flower that guards the village.’

 

“Really? I’d like to investigate it myself too. But the villagers would hate that.”

 

‘How can I convince the villagers?’

 

Seeing Annelize lost in thought, Elli clasped her hands together resolutely.

 

“Don’t worry! Everyone will say it’s fine.”

 

“How?”

 

“Because the person who wants to do it is you, my lady. You’re the mistress of this North, and above all, a descendant of the first saint. If you come to the village personally to get it, the villagers will accept it willingly.”

 

‘This bloodline that I felt indifferent about is actually helpful at times like this.’

 

It was welcome news.

 

“Oh, right! My lady. But it might be difficult to see it right now.”

 

Elli said with a troubled expression.

 

“It’s kept in the Underground Shrine, and there’s a rule that the door can only be opened on nights with a lunar eclipse. The camellia flower only blooms then.”

 

The more she heard about it, the more fascinating the plant became.

 

“It only blooms during lunar eclipses? How unusual. I understand. It’s not urgent, so let me know when it’s possible. But why keep it in an Underground Shrine? Shouldn’t it get sunlight to grow well?”

 

Pamine began to explain.

 

“That’s exactly why I’m interested in camellia flowers. That flower has the characteristic of suddenly combusting spontaneously. Plus, it can survive by going dormant even without light.”

 

“That really is unusual. Does no one know when it catches fire?”

 

“Unfortunately, there aren’t enough camellia flowers to know that much.”

 

“I see… Elli. Then could you tell Village Chief Alriksen that I’ll visit the village when the shrine opens?”

 

“Yes, my lady! I’ll tell father about it. Of course, you’re welcome to come anytime before then too.”

 

Watching Elli’s back as she bounced away, Annelize smiled.

 

“She’s always so energetic. How cute.”

 

Pamine grumbled beside her.

 

“Still, please don’t pat her head.”

 

Annelize pretended not to hear Pamine’s words.

 

“Only! I alone! Have the right to receive Lady Annelize’s pats.”

 

Regardless, Pamine stubbornly made his claim.

 

“Yawn. A dog is barking somewhere.”

 

She stubbornly ignored him too.

 

* * *

 

There wasn’t much time left until dinner.

 

That meant she had to meet the Duke.

 

‘It’s really fortunate that we’ve cleared up our misunderstandings…’

 

The situation was taking a strange turn.

 

Annelize touched her forehead where the Duke’s lips had touched.

 

‘Even though that kind of greeting wasn’t the first time, maybe it’s because it’s been a while.’

 

It felt like the sensation was still there. It tickled.

 

‘It seems like a bleak married life is out of the question now.’

 

This wasn’t the future she had expected when she decided to marry the Duke. But it was still fine.

 

‘It means I’ve gained the Duke’s favor. Even if Kukseo or the Temple bothers me in the future, he’ll work hard to protect me.’

 

Nothing was changing.

 

‘I just need to live like this until the contract ends. Unlike love, I don’t need to feel burdened.’

 

The Duke simply found her cute.

 

Though the fact that his level of ‘finding her cute’ was quite extreme was somewhat concerning.

 

“What could happen?”

 

Thinking this way, Annelize stopped walking toward the Dining Hall.

 

The Duke was standing in the Corridor, looking out the window.

 

“Your Grace the Duke.”

 

Annelize carefully approached the Duke.

 

The moment he turned his head to look at her, the Duke’s complexion brightened.

 

“Annelize.”

 

The Duke noticed her tied hair and reached out his hand.

 

“You tied your hair.”

 

“Oh. My hair got in the way when I was working in the Greenhouse, so I tied it up.”

 

‘I forgot to untie my hair before meeting the Duke.’

 

He looked at the back of Annelize’s head as if it were fascinating.

 

Annelize quickly untied her hair.

 

The Duke’s lips twitched.

 

“Why did you untie it?”

 

Annelize was puzzled.

 

“Since I’m not in the Greenhouse anymore… Should I tie it again?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Alright.”

 

Right. If he wants it tied, I should tie it. It’s not difficult.

 

Annelize raised both arms to sweep up her hair.

 

The Duke watched this with tremendous concentration.

 

It was when she was rolling up a handkerchief to secure her hair in a bun.

 

Crack.

 

Fragments flew with a loud noise.

 

“What was that sound just now?”

 

What had been a door just seconds ago was now wood fragments under the Duke’s touch.

 

The Duke casually brushed off his fist.

 

‘This is a new pattern.’

 

Let’s understand the situation first. Annelize calmly asked.

 

“Why did you do that?”

 

“Because you looked cute with your hair tied.”

 

After a moment, the Duke, lost in thought, added.

 

“I don’t mean your untied hair isn’t cute. That’s cute too.”

 

“Could you explain the causal relationship between your impression that my tied-up hair is cute and the situation where Your Grace broke down the door?”

 

She couldn’t contain her pure curiosity.

 

As always, the Duke had a truly fascinating thought process.

 

“To regain my composure. Because you’re so cute I can’t control myself.”

 

“Hmm… I see.”

 

What do you mean ‘I see’?

 

Ignoring her inner voice, Annelize fell into thought.

 

‘Come to think of it, I think I heard something similar from the Duke before. Did he say he acts opposite to the emotions he’s feeling in order to maintain his reason?’

 

The logic of wanting to bite something because it’s too cute, that is.

 

“So you’re saying that because I was too cute, you broke the door to keep hold of your sanity?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“I understand.”

 

Annelize accepted his explanation.

 

‘Wouldn’t it be better for the door to break than for him to bite me?’

 

Whether I get hurt or objects get hurt. If she had to choose, the latter was obviously better.

 

‘Let’s support the Duke’s new impulse control method.’

 

Dinner time with the Duke began.

 

By the time the meal ended, one table, two chairs, and one display cabinet had been smashed to pieces by his hands.

 

The dining hall had been transformed into a miserable sight as if a herd of rhinoceros had passed through.

 

The reason was always the same.

 

[You were so cute I couldn’t stand it.]

 

‘Do you really think this is better than biting me? Are you sure?’

 

Maybe not…

 

In just one hour, Annelize revised her assessment of the Duke’s eccentric behavior.

 

At this rate, it seemed like not a single piece of furniture in the Duke’s Castle would survive.

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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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