I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - 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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Chapter 21

Mother’s postscript wasn’t anything special. It was something any mother could reasonably say.

[P.S

Come to think of it, I told Clemente she could call me mother.

I noticed Clemente is 2 years older. She must have been lonely all by herself, so I hope you two can get along well like siblings, being like an older sister and younger brother.]

But why.

These few insignificant lines made Zephyrus feel uncomfortable.

Especially the words “siblings” and “younger brother” didn’t sit well with him.

‘Younger brother…?’

Clemente was treating him like a child while calling him master.

If she also planted the perception of him being a younger brother, he felt like he’d regret it in the future.

He didn’t know why, but that’s how he felt.

But holding each other’s hands?

Wouldn’t that be like a young child holding a guardian’s hand while learning to walk?

He needed to show her that he wasn’t a young child.

Of course, there might be better methods than embracing her like this. But one thing was certain for now.

The sense of security was as great as the embarrassment he felt.

Zephyrus tightened his arms around Clemente.

“Master. Are you trying to have a strength contest with me? I would win though?”

“…”

He recalled the memory of being thrown once before.

“I should exercise.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“But I don’t know how to do it.”

“You want me to do it with you? I haven’t tried exercising indoors either.”

“Then let’s think about it together.”

“I’ll ask the knights.”

Zephyrus hesitated, then spoke as if growling.

“No. Don’t do that.”

“Why? Aren’t knights the best among people who use their bodies?”

“I’ll figure it out myself, so don’t do that.”

Clemente frowned as she tried to understand the reason, then answered.

“Alright. Figure it out yourself.”

With those words, silence settled over them.

Scratch scratch, only the languid sound of Zephyrus moving his fountain pen echoed in their ears.

Time passed and his tense body relaxed. Their touching bodies felt warm and cool.

A refreshing feeling. He had thought about it briefly when he embraced her to comfort her, but this sensation was… like the stability felt when seeing a misaligned part find its proper place.

Clemente unconsciously leaned back against him and closed her eyes.

‘This is comfortable.’

Flinch.

The only flaw was that the chair kept moving as if bouncing.

It was a peaceful day.

**

A dark room. A single candle was the only light. Two women standing at a distance where they could barely see each other’s faces began their conversation.

“Zephyrus asked me to decide on a room for Clemente to use.”

“He must want to stay together with her all the time.”

“It’s a good thing. Zephyrus is working hard to come out of his room, but we all know.”

It’s not an easy task. Though Zephyrus’s progress seems fast now, they knew that what was visible wasn’t everything.

The real problem was him coming out of his room. And facing people other than Clemente.

“Does the Dowager Duchess intend to keep Clemente by His Highness’s side permanently?”

“I’m even thinking of her as a daughter-in-law.”

“…Daughter-in-law? But he’s already engaged. There would be strong opposition.”

“The engagement just hasn’t been broken off yet. It’s already a finished relationship. I feel sorry, but once His Highness starts proper activities, we can just return what we received.”

They had dragged it out longer than necessary because of food supplies. As long as Clemente’s solution was about controlling rather than solving the curse, Zephyrus wouldn’t even be able to hold hands with ordinary people.

“And opposition? Among the retainers, only Rossia has the qualification to oppose.”

“But…”

“Sigh. Sié. Let’s only talk about pleasant things. And actually, well…”

Raisie chuckled softly.

“Only by overcoming that opposition and obtaining it will he feel how precious it is.”

The resolve to overcome the inevitable opposition and bring Clemente in as the Grand Duchess.

Zephyrus’s love had to start from there.

The wife of the previous Duke and regent who led the Ducal Household until her son Zephyrus ascended to Duke.

Now Lacy Pruina, who assists the Duke as the Dowager Duchess.

Sié let out a groan at the momentum of the Northern Region’s greatest female knight who had won love.

“Oh my. I’m sorry. So where did we leave off.”

“Up to thinking of Clemente as a daughter-in-law.”

“Right. My son won’t be difficult. He seems to have already fallen hard.”

“His Highness has?”

“Yes. It’s not hard to understand either. Setting aside that Clemente is pretty and lovely, she’s the first person to show him warmth.”

Raisie smiled bitterly.

Where did Zephyrus’s curse come from?

Thinking of her son who grew up alone with his door locked made her feel like her heart would break even after death.

“So I played a little trick.”

Knight Raisie. She was quick-witted. She grasped what feelings others harbored faster than the person themselves.

“I put a request in the letter that Zephyrus would hate. I don’t know why, but he’ll hate it terribly? He’ll want to act completely opposite.”

Sié burst into giggles at that childish behavior.

“I hope things go as the Dowager Duchess wishes.”

“I hope so too.”

But the important thing wasn’t Zephyrus’s heart.

It was Clemente’s heart.

“Even if Zephyrus’s efforts aren’t rewarded, someone needs to stay by his side. I just hope that someone is Clemente.”

“I understand what the Dowager Duchess means. Then shall we make Clemente’s room next to His Highness’s?”

“That’s a good idea. If they stick together regardless of morning, evening, or night, affection will develop.”

“Looking at His Highness’s character, any woman would have no choice but to like him.”

Raisie smiled proudly at Sié’s praise.

“Of course. He’s the child of me and that person.”

It wasn’t just his face. How smart and kind he was when he was young. Raisie began bragging about her child.

Though it was a story Sié had heard over a hundred times, she always reacted as if hearing it for the first time.

It wasn’t hard to listen to stories about a child she hadn’t seen for 10 years.

“Come to think of it, he really grew up looking just like he did as a child. He grew up much better than I imagined.”

And seeing this smiling face, should she say that all fatigue melts away?

Sié also told her step by step, meticulously, about what Zephyrus had done while Raisie was collapsed.

The two women’s laughter showed no signs of fading.

**

Quite some time had passed since Clemente entered the room she was assigned.

At first, when she heard it was the room next to Zephyrus’s, she wondered if this was right. It was even so spacious that it clearly wasn’t a maid’s room, so she asked if there had been a mistake in room assignment.

When told it was assigned as the adjacent room since she had to serve him regardless of time as Zephyrus’s personal maid, she put aside her doubts and moved in with a happy heart.

‘It’s still spacious…’

The room seemed like one, but it wasn’t just one.

Opening the door from the corridor revealed an office like Zephyrus’s room, with hidden rooms lined up next to it.

Bathroom, dressing room, study, bedroom.

‘That’s when I realized the master’s room structure would be similar too.’

Still, I thought it was too small for a room used by the lord of a domain. Since he’s a duke, he would use a much larger room than this. That’s what I guessed.

I couldn’t ask to tour his room out of curiosity, so guessing was all I could do.

Clemente opened the wardrobe.

There was too modest an amount of clothing inside compared to its size.

Three sets of maid uniforms given by the ducal household, one outfit from Ruby, and one outfit she had worn here.

She scratched her cheek and changed clothes. The exclusive maid outfit was more dress-like than what she usually wore.

A Northern Region dress. Stuffy clothing that covered everything from neck to hands.

Clemente boldly tore off the neck portion. The people of the ducal household knew about her constitution, so they didn’t say anything about her attire.

Even if they had said something, she wouldn’t have cared, but it felt like being understood.

She picked up any book from the study and went outside her room. It was nice that her workplace was right next door.

Tododododo.

Swoosh!

Clemente, who was heading to Zephyrus, turned around at the suspicious presence. There was nothing there.

‘…What was that?’

She definitely heard a small sound.

Did a mountain rabbit get in? Or what else?

“Clemente.”

While she was on full alert, Zephyrus’s voice was heard.

“Yes, I’m coming in.”

Did I mishear?

Click, the door opened and closed.

“For sure.”

“Woong.”

“We’re the ones looking for it. Got it.”

The corridor floor and walls moved as if rippling, then soon disappeared.

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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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