Grand Duke, Please Stop Obsessing Over Your Wife! - Chapter 53
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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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53.
After the misunderstanding was finally cleared up.
Elli hesitantly introduced her husband.
“I’m sorry… Here, this is my husband.”
“It’s my first time meeting you, my lady. My name is Narik.”
Anyone could see he looked like Alriksen’s son. He really resembled him.
It didn’t seem like they had come just to make introductions.
Narik’s expression was resolute.
He knelt before Annelize.
What kind of day is today? Is it some commemorative day where kneeling brings good luck or something?
“I’m being presumptuous, my lady. I heard that you learned Elli is a monster. Of course I understand your feelings! I was also afraid when I first learned her true identity, but after spending time with her, whether she’s a monster or human-“
“Wait, wait! Calm down. Elli, can you explain why your husband is acting like this?”
Elli answered restlessly.
“Well, that is… my lady… he keeps saying you might remove me from my position as your personal maid- My lady, I’m fine with whatever decision you make. Please don’t worry about it!”
“Me? Why would I?”
Annelize asked back in bewilderment.
Elli and Narik exchanged glances with equally confused faces.
“It’s natural for them to think that way.”
The Duke added, crossing his arms.
“Why?”
“Well, you wrote a will after learning about the servants’ identities.”
“My lady! You wrote a will!”
Elli staggered in shock and collapsed against her husband.
“What? No, that was… I just scribbled something while imagining the worst-case scenario.”
The Duke snorted at her words.
Oh. He’s sulking. He seems to be sulking.
“What was the worst-case scenario you imagined? Me killing you, or the people in the Duke’s Castle killing you?”
“That was…”
She had nothing to say. Because she really had imagined that.
“You said you’d see others differently. In the end, you also saw us the same way as those humans, as frightening monsters.”
“Your Grace, that’s not it.”
“It’s not?”
Tsk. The Duke twisted his lips.
He’s thoroughly sulking. He’s been keeping it to himself and watching for the right moment to bring it up.
Now that he’s treated her, it’s time to settle what needs to be settled, is that it?
‘I understand he’s hurt, but I had my own reasons too.’
Annelize opened her mouth in confusion.
“But you all were hiding the fact that you’re not human from me! It’s natural to be scared when I don’t know what purpose you had for doing that.”
‘I even found out that the Duke is the true form of the Frost Monster.’
At the mention of hiding things, the Duke flinched this time.
“That was… I just didn’t bother to mention it. And if you had known I wasn’t human, would you have married me?”
“Of course not!”
Humans already have many variables, let alone non-humans? She would have fled overseas immediately.
“See?”
The Duke waved his hand as if to say ‘what can you do?’
“And I never once said I was human. You just assumed it on your own.”
Ugh.
Annelize pressed her forehead.
“…That may be true. But how was I supposed to ask? ‘I can’t feel your heartbeat, so are you really a monster like the rumors say?’ That could have been rude and hurtful.”
She had tried her best to be considerate.
It’s just that the Duke was someone who didn’t particularly need such consideration.
“I don’t get hurt. I haven’t had a heart for quite a while.”
“Wow. I’m so relieved you’re telling me this now.”
No, this isn’t right. Let’s not get caught up in this childish argument.
Annelize recalled her conversation with Isaiah.
The story from when Isaiah briefly called her out just before her conversation with the Duke.
[Then what should I do now?]
[You’ve been getting along well all this time. Couldn’t you just continue as usual? Nothing has changed. The truth has always been here. The only thing that’s different is that you’ve learned the truth.]
‘Nothing has changed, and the only difference is that I’ve realized the truth.’
Those words were right.
Annelize grabbed Elli’s shoulders.
“Elli. I was just surprised. Whether you’re a monster or whatever, it doesn’t matter. You’ll still be my personal maid.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You’ll attend to me tomorrow too, right?”
“Of course! My lady!”
Elli ran out joyfully with her husband, as if she could fly.
“…How draining. It seems like everything is finished, so Your Grace, shall we return to the Duke’s Castle now?”
“What about me?”
Annelize turned around.
“Pardon?”
“Even though I’m not human, am I still your husband?”
“Well…”
Setting aside the Frost Monster, if she just looked at the Duke himself, of course.
“Of course Your Grace is my husband. Actually, I still don’t know exactly what kind of existence you are, but when I was trapped in the Frost Monster’s Barrier, you willingly came to rescue me.”
That was honestly touching.
He hesitated at Annelize’s words.
“About that time. Actually, I might not have been able to properly save you.”
The Duke made a pained expression as he recalled the memories from inside the barrier.
“That monster, no matter what tricks it tried, I wouldn’t fall asleep, so it attacked you instead of me.”
The Duke told her about the situation when she had lost consciousness.
“It controlled the air inside the barrier so you couldn’t breathe. I had no choice but to fall asleep. I couldn’t gamble with your life against that thing.”
The situation was more serious than she thought.
‘If the Duke had hesitated just a little longer, I might have died. How… how could it do such a thing to me?’
Annelize felt chills at the monster’s cruelty.
The only reason she didn’t die then was because the Duke had made a concession for her sake.
‘It must not have been an easy decision. If I hadn’t properly defeated the Frost Monster, the Duke wouldn’t have been safe either.’
According to Isaiah, he would have been ‘devoured.’
“If something had gone wrong, the worst-case scenario you mentioned could have really happened.”
Annelize looked at the Duke.
“No. Thanks to you, both I and Your Grace were able to remain safe like this. Now it doesn’t matter what Your Grace is. As long as you keep our contract.”
That was actually true. The Duke had risked his life fighting against the Frost Monster.
“Really?”
“Of course. Our contract is still valid, right?”
“Naturally.”
“Then Your Grace is my husband, and I am your wife. Just as we have been until now.”
At her words, the Duke finally showed a relieved expression.
“It’s still regrettable that I couldn’t defeat it myself, but I’m glad the Frost Monster was resolved. Now you’re okay. You’re safe. If there’s anything that targets you or hurts you, I’ll destroy it.”
The Duke made a vow to her.
“Never again, I’ll never let something like this happen again.”
“I understand.”
At her answer, the Duke’s last remaining anxiety disappeared.
‘The Frost Monster was targeting her. Just because she was a descendant of the first saint.’
How much mental anguish must she have endured alone?
But now it was alright.
The Frost Monster had disappeared, and Annelize had accepted the Duke even knowing he wasn’t human.
‘All the problems I was worried about have been resolved. Perfect.’
Only comfortable living would remain ahead.
Finally, he cast off all his tension. He felt relieved.
“Let’s go home, Annelize.”
The Duke embraced Annelize.
Without noticing that a subtle uneasiness remained in Annelize’s expression.
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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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