Grand Duke, Please Stop Obsessing Over Your Wife! - Chapter 84

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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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84.

Platinum-colored hair spread in the wind, and laughter that sounded like soap bubbles bursting pierced his ears.

Annelize burst into laughter while riding the horse together behind Count Solariccen.

The Count pulled the reins to slow down. When the horse stopped, the laughter also subsided.

“Wasn’t that too fast? It’s been a while since you rode, so I couldn’t control myself.”

“It’s okay, Mother. It was fun.”

Annelize dismounted from the horse. Her mouth was still smiling.

The bright smile was truly beautiful, but since it wasn’t directed at him, it strangely made the Duke feel bitter.

Can’t you smile at me like that too?

“Duke.”

She discovered the Duke and quickly approached him.

“Mother gave me a horse ride. It was really wonderful.”

“So I see.”

Without realizing it, his response was mixed with sullenness.

Annelize quickly embraced him.

“I never imagined I could spend time with Mother like this. It’s all thanks to you, Duke. Thank you.”

Before he could come to his senses from the brief embrace, Annelize smiled brightly.

Was it because she had been riding and feeling the wind? Her cheeks were flushed.

Below her rosy cheeks, dimples appeared deeply.

She was so lovely it was enough to make him lose his mind.

“Really, is there nothing you want from me?”

The Duke barely managed to move his mouth.

“Just… keep smiling like that.”

At those words, Annelize’s eyes curved even deeper.

His hands twitched as if they might jump out at any moment.

The Duke unconsciously scanned her eyes. He couldn’t find a single trace of moisture.

It’s fortunate she’s not crying.

‘…Wouldn’t it have been okay if she shed just one tear?’

If so, he might have been able to kiss her once more.

He felt relief along with inexplicable regret.

Yesterday’s kiss was simply intended to stop her crying and had no other purpose whatsoever.

“You’re not crying this time.”

“You told me not to cry.”

The Duke asked back with a thoughtful expression.

“Yesterday you cried and kissed me. Why did you do that?”

“Just…”

Annelize mumbled evasively.

“I don’t know. Why are you asking about that?”

The Duke hesitated. Realization flashed across Annelize’s face.

“Don’t tell me you were planning to kiss me again if I cried this time?”

“It seemed to be effective.”

She made an expression of disbelief.

“You don’t need to force yourself if you don’t like it.”

The Duke responded as if asking what she was talking about.

“Why would you think I don’t like it? I like kissing you. It’s soft and tender. I especially like how I can feel your breath completely.”

That was as far as he got. Annelize’s palm covered the Duke’s mouth.

A flush that could have been anger or embarrassment spread to Annelize’s nape.

“Duke. I’m really pissed off. You know that?”

“What?”

“Humanly speaking, people shouldn’t act like that. Oh wait, you’re not human, right. Non-humanly speaking, you shouldn’t act like that.”

“What did I do?”

The Duke was genuinely wronged.

“I have absolutely no intention of kissing you ever again, so don’t worry. Let’s get in the carriage.”

She forcibly shoved the Duke into the carriage.

Even though the Duke was certainly much stronger than her, he obediently let himself be pushed into the carriage as she led.

Though he didn’t know why Annelize was acting like this.

Anyway, he had seen Annelize’s dimples.

For the Duke right now, that alone was enough.

* * *

The carriage stopped briefly on the way to the capital.

People gathered under a large tree behind Solariccen Manor.

It was for Lorel Solariccen’s funeral.

Since the body couldn’t be found, instead of digging a grave, they erected a small tombstone by the tree he used to love.

The Maid and a few others including family members quietly mourned his death.

While the Maid played a funeral dirge, the Duke also stood beside Annelize and kept his place.

After everyone left, Annelize and Count Solariccen remained.

“The Duke is a good person.”

In the silence, the Count spoke first.

“When I swore to do anything in exchange for healing my leg, do you know what the Duke demanded of me?”

“What condition did he mention?”

[Stay healthy and live as long as possible for as long as your lifespan allows. It would be good if you could avoid anything that might injure you. If you get hurt or die, my wife will be sad.]

The Count smiled while recalling the Duke’s words.

Even thinking about it again, it was a bewildering request.

“He said never to get hurt again and to live long and healthily. He threatened me to protect it with my life.”

“He’s originally a bit like that.”

Annelize answered awkwardly.

“No. Rather, I was relieved. When you first said you were marrying the Duke, I thought you were crazy. But you were right. The Duke is a decent person. As expected, you take after me and have an eye for husbands. He’s worth your love.”

Annelize looked at her mother in surprise.

“H-how did you know? I only realized it yesterday myself.”

The Count laughed heartily.

“How could I not know? Your eyes were exactly the same as mine when I fell in love with him.”

Is that so?

Annelize touched around her eyes with her hand.

“That’s ridiculous. I didn’t know it showed so obviously.”

“Among tens of thousands of people, meeting at the same time and place and loving each other is like a miracle. I’m glad it came to you too. Don’t lose it easily like I did.”

The Count’s gaze turned toward a distant place with longing.

“After losing your father, I… probably didn’t want to let go of that sadness. I just wanted to hold it tight inside me and keep it forever. I thought that if I wasn’t sad anymore, I wouldn’t love him anymore.”

The Count covered the tombstone with finishing soil.

“But now I should let him go.”

She gave her daughter a sad smile.

“Annelize. It’s late, but say goodbye to your father.”

Annelize approached the tree where her father’s belongings were buried and placed her hand on it.

“Rest in peace, Father.”

When she heard there was an underground prison that confined evil souls, she had once asked the Duke if her father’s soul was there.

Just in case, wondering what if her father was suffering without even finding peace.

Fortunately, her father wasn’t on the underground prison’s list.

She prayed that her father had found peaceful rest.

* * *

Underground of the Capital Cathedral.

Two mercenaries were walking through the underground space.

“This place gives me the creeps every time I come here.”

The sealed space without a breath of wind was terribly cold.

It wasn’t simply a matter of temperature. Staying here too long brought an instinctive fear of being devoured.

“Damn unlucky priests. No wonder they hired mercenaries to guard this place instead.”

The mercenaries crossed through the darkness, using candlesticks as their guide.

At the end of the long corridor, a large room appeared.

The older mercenary double-checked the request details.

“Hey, the Duke wants a corpse, right? He said any adult male corpse with blonde hair would do?”

“Yeah. Since they’re going to burn it anyway, we just need to pick one with the right height and build.”

“That’s easy enough.”

What on earth was the reason for specifically requesting a blonde corpse? Were they going to lie about someone’s death?

As expected, the thoughts of those in high places.

Once he gathered enough money, he’d leave this line of work. The mercenary set aside his doubts and entered the large room.

“Ugh, what the hell is this!”

The scene revealed by the candlelight was horrifying.

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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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