I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - 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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Chapter 26

 

Snow falls softly, piling up layer by layer.

 

With no wind blowing, only the crunching sound of footsteps on snow could be heard, while a frail-looking man was visibly trembling.

 

“Did I… do something wrong? Did I touch something I shouldn’t have?”

 

A warm palm touched the back of the man who was biting his nails.

 

“Stop biting your nails. What wrong could someone who only does research all day have done to be summoned? If there’s a problem, it’s only that.”

 

“My glass…”

 

Ameti’s glass research wasn’t for any other reason. It was to maintain even a little warmth in the Northern Region, which lacked sunlight and was full of cold.

 

‘Just grind in a little magic stone and use a tiny bit of magic power…’

 

Ameti, who had been thinking, grabbed Ruby’s arm.

 

“Could it be, could it be that I was found out…? That I’m a mage…!”

 

Ruby covered Ameti’s hand and sighed.

 

“He already knows, so what are you talking about?”

 

“What? How!”

 

“I’m the housekeeper of the Duchy Castle. Not just a maid, but the housekeeper.”

 

They even investigate the family relationships of newcomers. How could they not know the background of someone being promoted to housekeeper?

 

The current Duke might be different, but the Dowager Duchess who served as regent wasn’t such an easy person. Of course, she was also kind enough to grant her requests.

 

‘The current Duke is…’

 

Ruby’s lips twitched.

 

Clemente laughing heartily with the children. The Duke looking at such Clemente with what seemed like resentment.

 

It was like watching a comedy.

 

After that day, a rumor spread in the village that ‘a dancing snowman lives in the Duchy Castle.’

 

It seemed to have been such an impressive day for the children. They enthusiastically told the story to everyone they met.

 

The Duke’s behavior was so different before and after Clemente’s arrival that Ruby hadn’t yet made a judgment about it.

 

“Anyway, His Grace was continuously examining your research materials yesterday, so it must be because of that. Don’t worry too much.”

 

Ameti, encouraged by Ruby, swallowed his tears.

 

Ruby and Ameti entered the Internal Affairs Department where Rossia worked. Rossia didn’t even notice the two had arrived and was looking at documents with a serious expression.

 

Ruby whispered to an administrator working with Rossia.

 

“Should we come back later?”

 

“Oh, it’s fine. That’s a report about the caravan schedule being delayed. They say they’ll somehow arrive before the nightmare of the snowy mountains…”

 

“I see. Come to think of it, they should have had plenty of time to come and go by now. I wonder what happened…”

 

“The road is blocked by stones, apparently.”

 

The administrator shrugged.

 

“What can we do about it? We can only wait.”

 

“That’s true. It must be frustrating.”

 

“Indeed. Oh, looks like she’s finished reading. Well then, I’ll be going.”

 

The administrator disappeared, clutching documents to his chest.

 

Ruby and Ameti, left behind again, were greeted by Rossia.

 

“Lady Rossia, then I’ll be going too.”

 

“H-honey…”

 

Ameti looked at her with moist eyes, but Ruby left without paying any attention.

 

Rossia guided him.

 

“Good that you came. Please sit over here.”

 

“Y-yes!”

 

As the two sat facing each other, refreshments were served.

 

“Please have some. It’s warm, so it’ll help you relax a bit.”

 

“Yes…”

 

After loosening the atmosphere for a while by talking about Ruby, whom they both knew, Rossia got to the point.

 

“I heard you were trying to make glass that concentrates heat?”

 

“Ah, yes, yes. What Lady Rossia is holding right now was just made by accident…! You could think of it as one of the processes toward the final result!”

 

Making what’s behind transparent could be used militarily in some ways.

 

‘It’s exactly the kind of thing nobles would love.’

 

Ameti hated getting involved with nobles like this.

 

That’s also why he hid being a mage.

 

“To be precise, it’s glass that makes heat linger longer… To use it in the Northern Region, it needs to be sturdier than anything else, so adding this and that, it seems to have turned out like this!”

 

If you want, I’ll just smash this glass!

 

As Ameti acted as if he would break the glass immediately, Rossia waved her hands.

 

“No, please calm down. I didn’t call you here to interrogate or blame you.”

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“Heat-concentrating glass means the glass literally stays hot, right?”

 

“That’s the concept for now. It won’t be hot enough to burn your hands, but I want to make it maintain warmth.”

 

“As expected!”

 

Northern Region glass is of good quality. But that’s as far as it goes. Glass that can’t be used for the greenhouse to be built in the Northern Region.

 

But the glass Ameti was trying to make was different. If it’s warm glass, snow wouldn’t pile up much even when it falls. Doesn’t that mean it’s also strong against cold?

 

If such glass were used for the greenhouse, wouldn’t the cost of maintaining the greenhouse decrease?

 

Rossia and Zephyrus thought so.

 

“We need the research that Ameti was doing.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

At Rossia’s direct request, Ameti began trembling.

 

Rossia’s words sounded like she meant to take away his research results.

 

“Y-you can’t do that! It’s my research!”

 

As he stood up abruptly and shouted, Rossia also stood with a flustered expression.

 

“That’s not what I meant-”

 

“I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that!”

 

Knock knock.

 

He wanted to leave immediately, but unfortunately, a knocking sound was heard.

 

A moment of silence flowed, and sweat ran down Ameti’s spine.

 

He had caused trouble.

 

Only that thought filled his mind.

 

“Hello. I brought the contract~”

 

Clemente, who opened the door and entered, discovered him and tilted her head.

 

“Why are you like that?”

 

“Ah, well…”

 

Ameti slowly approached Clemente. Seeing his expression, Clemente laughed and teased Ameti.

 

“You must be really nervous. Why are you so stiff?”

 

As if she had no intention of hearing an answer, she immediately handed the contract to Rossia.

 

“The dancing snowman told me to deliver this.”

 

“Pffft!”

 

Rossia burst out laughing. She didn’t get to see the dancing after finishing work and going late, but she did see Zephyrus swaying around wearing the snowman costume inside out. Just thinking of that sight made her burst into laughter.

 

Only Ameti was rolling his eyes around. It was too late to storm out of there. Did he have no choice but to have his research taken away?

 

Clemente poked the back of Ameti, whose shoulders had drooped, and sat next to him.

 

“I’ll stay to watch the contract signing too. Ask if there’s anything you don’t understand.”

 

“Oh, right. There are two copies, so let’s look at them together.”

 

Ameti received the documents in bewilderment. Only after watching Rossia read silently did he lower his gaze.

 

White things are paper, black things are letters… He couldn’t concentrate, and the letters were spinning around.

 

“As expected. I knew it would be generous.”

 

Rossia shook her head as if she couldn’t stop him.

 

She had expected it. Zephyrus had been soft-hearted since childhood. It was even a contract with a mage who had experienced having his research results stolen by nobles. He would have wanted to give trust somehow.

 

“I know that Ameti doesn’t particularly like nobles. So I won’t make much conversation.”

 

But look at the contract.

 

Rossia said that.

 

“This is a dedicated contract that His Highness personally created for Mr. Ameti. I’ll at least require you to read the contract sincerely.”

 

“Ah, yes, yes. I’m sorry.”

 

Ameti immediately bowed his head.

 

Nobles were scary. Nobles had no mercy. Even though his research, like his own child, had been stolen, he was the one in the wrong.

 

Even his house had been taken away after being beaten nearly to death.

 

‘Back then I was at least alone, but now…!’

 

He had to submit. For his family’s sake.

 

“I’ll do everything as you say.”

 

His true feelings could be felt completely in his trembling voice. He was even about to stamp the contract without properly looking at it.

 

“Mr. Ameti. Look at it properly. After writing it with such difficulty, what would happen if you don’t even read it?”

 

Then Clemente stopped him.

 

“Yes, yes?”

 

“Or shall I read it for you?”

 

She closed her eyes.

 

The first thing that came to mind was being severely scolded by Zephyrus while gathering materials to draft the contract.

 

How coldly he had pressed her with that gentle face. She cleared her throat after erasing the memory of herself being scolded with his snorting.

 

“Ahem. Ameti is entrusted with the glass development for the greenhouse project. All costs including materials and labor expenses during development will be borne by the Pruina Duchy. However, product sales are only possible with Pruina’s permission.”

 

Ameti stared blankly at only Clemente’s lips.

 

In other words, the Duchy would only care about the glass distribution rights.

 

“Wow. Clemente, your word usage seems quite familiar?”

 

“This? I probably did it more than a hundred times because my master made me…”

 

“Still. The words must have been quite difficult.”

 

“That’s right! Yes, this is normal! Do you know how much my master tormented me for not knowing the words?”

 

Ameti picked up the contract, leaving Rossia and Clemente’s conversation behind.

 

His eyes carefully scanned down each and every letter.

 

[More than 5% of glass sales revenue shall be reinvested in product performance improvement.

 

The copyright and patent of the first glass will be registered under Pruina’s name.

 

However, Party A shall have the rights to subsequently developed products.]

 

Party A here was naturally Ameti. The more he read, the more unbelievable it was, making his hands tremble.

 

Then Ameti, who saw the last sentence of the contract, stopped abruptly.

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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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