I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 27

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 27

 

It was a sentence he had never even thought of in his dreams.

 

[The name of the glass is Ameti Glass.]

 

‘Ameti… Glass? You’re putting my name on it?’

 

Already? On a product that hasn’t even shown proper results yet?

 

This meant she wasn’t considering his failure at all.

 

Moreover, naming an invention meant honoring and remembering the inventor for life.

 

Everyone who used the glass he made would call out his name.

 

Usually, it would be named after the domain where the patron resided. Could such favorable conditions really make sense?

 

‘The deadline. I need to check the deadline. And the penalty fees too.’

 

If he failed to complete it within the timeframe, he might have to pay several times the cost. There was no way a noble would be this naive.

 

But.

 

‘There aren’t any.’

 

It was a contract with such generous terms that he wanted to sign it right away.

 

Ameti called out to Rossia.

 

“Um…”

 

“Yes. Go ahead.”

 

“Why are you going this far?”

 

“This far?”

 

“I’m sorry to say this, but I understand that the duchy’s situation isn’t very good. Yet if you support me unlimitedly like this…”

 

He felt burdened.

 

Ameti’s motivation for starting research on heat-concentrating glass wasn’t particularly grand.

 

It began when Ameti saw children constantly wanting to go outside and thought, ‘It would be nice to live in a house with big windows!’

 

It was for children who couldn’t go out yet because they couldn’t withstand the outside cold. Though his own children had grown enough to go out and play, he continued his research for the curious children who would be born in the future.

 

Because he thought that was his mission.

 

“Ameti just needs to produce results as quickly as possible.”

 

“Th-that’s not something that comes out just because you ask for it…”

 

“Ameti.”

 

Rossia interrupted him with an elegant smile.

 

“Do you think His Grace doesn’t know that?”

 

Rossia, the Pruina Duchy, already knew all of it. Because everything was written in the documents the Dowager Duchess had handed over, saying she hoped it would be helpful.

 

The person who had informed them was none other than Ruby.

 

The price for leaving Ameti, a mage, alone was information about him. Ruby had convinced the Dowager Duchess, saying he seemed unwilling to get involved with nobles.

 

After that day, the Dowager Duchess, who looked favorably upon Ruby, made her the housekeeper.

 

However, once Ameti was caught with the transparent glass that was a failed experiment, they couldn’t continue pretending not to know.

 

Too many people had already seen and heard about it.

 

So they were contracting with Ameti both to protect him and for the domain’s benefit.

 

“It’s a business we have to do anyway, and money we have to spend anyway. It’s rather fortunate that there’s such excellent talent in the domain.”

 

Ameti’s eyes trembled at Rossia’s gentle tone.

 

“And feel free to fail. We have ideas for the failed glass too.”

 

Moreover, the contract Rossia handed over was a magically certified contract. It was both the ducal house’s confidence that they would never act contrary to the contract and consideration for Ameti.

 

Tears finally flowed from his trembling eyes.

 

“I’ll work hard!”

 

Thus, Ameti came to conduct his research under the patronage of the nobility he had so disliked.

 

Clemente learned something new.

 

‘Good conditions can change even people who are afraid.’

 

Clemente shared her thoughts with Zephyrus when she returned to him.

 

“And I definitely thought information was important.”

 

“Information is always important.”

 

Though this was the first time she had actually confirmed its importance.

 

Zephyrus nodded.

 

“Please give me tasks like this next time too.”

 

“Was it fun?”

 

“Yes. It was a new experience.”

 

“I’ll think about it.”

 

Then Zephyrus, resting his chin on his desk, looked at Clemente with an unreadable expression.

 

“Why? Why are you looking at me like that?”

 

“Just. A personal maid who can communicate without reservation is surprisingly convenient.”

 

Clemente blinked and then burst into laughter.

 

“Thank you for the compliment.”

 

“It’s not a compliment. I’m saying you’re convenient as a tool-”

 

“I understand. You did well this time too, Master. Rossia said you wrote the contract well.”

 

Zephyrus shook his head. His swaying hair fell down, covering his flushed face.

 

“…If you’re going to say useless things, just bring me a book.”

 

“Oh, no! I have something to do.”

 

“What?”

 

“Ta-da!”

 

Zephyrus frowned when he saw what Clemente pulled out of her pocket.

 

“I refuse!”

 

“I already told Mother, so you can’t refuse~”

 

It was hair-cutting scissors.

 

**

 

Swish.

 

With a light but careful sound, shimmering silver hair slipped through Clemente’s palm.

 

Enjoying the soft texture, she continued stroking it while asking Zephyrus.

 

“How short should I cut it?”

 

“I’ve never thought about it.”

 

“Last time you said you’d think about it.”

 

Did I?

 

Since Clemente’s arrival, he had spent the busiest and most fulfilling day so far.

 

His memory wasn’t exactly clear…

 

‘I do remember.’

 

It felt like it was when they had just met. Hair like clouds floating in the sunset sky remained in his memory.

 

“I don’t have time to think about such things.”

 

“Then let’s go with that. I’ll cut it however I want.”

 

Clemente chuckled. When Zephyrus flinched at an inexplicable chill, Clemente pressed down on the top of his head.

 

“Stay still. I’m holding scissors.”

 

Snip snip.

 

Clemente’s hands moved gently.

 

Each time, the sound of cutting hair could be heard, and the cut hair fell beside him.

 

It was an unfamiliar scene for Zephyrus.

 

Having someone standing behind him was strange enough. But when the sharp scissors occasionally came into his field of vision, he felt even more peculiar.

 

Without realizing it, his body tensed up.

 

“Master.”

 

“What.”

 

“Are you nervous?”

 

“Why would I be.”

 

Clemente paused her hands and looked down at Zephyrus’s feet.

 

Ice, water, evaporation. Ice, water, evaporation.

 

It kept repeating.

 

“This is your first time cutting your hair like this, right?”

 

“…I probably cut it when I was young.”

 

He didn’t remember well. At Zephyrus’s blunt words, Clemente hummed and focused on her work again.

 

Silence returned once more.

 

Zephyrus coldly broke that silence.

 

“What about you?”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“You wouldn’t have cut your hair alone when you were young either.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Clemente paused her hands for a moment. Her eyes, which had been wandering in the air briefly, traced over Zephyrus’s fine hair. The unevenly cut hair swayed at his waist.

 

How could there be such a difference in hair quality in similar situations? She grumbled inwardly before speaking.

 

“I just kept it long. Sometimes I’d burn it too.”

 

“You burned it?”

 

“When it got annoying!”

 

Clemente laughed heartily and moved the scissors again. As silence fell, she only needed to trim the ends to finish Zephyrus’s grooming. Just as Clemente was raising her concentration even higher.

 

“There’s too little information about you.”

 

“Oh.”

 

Clemente’s hands didn’t stop.

 

“As expected. I’ll need to interrogate you after all.”

 

“I see… What?”

 

Clemente, who belatedly understood Zephyrus’s words, momentarily tensed her hands.

 

Snip.

 

The length of hair that had been carefully matched to his shoulder line became uneven.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

An awkward atmosphere flowed between the two who sensed they were in trouble.

 

“…Are you going to interrogate this too?”

 

A question asking if he would blame her for the mistake. Clemente unconsciously grabbed Zephyrus’s fur coat and waited for his answer.

 

Zephyrus, who had opened and closed his lips several times, spoke.

 

“Was interrogation that shocking to you?”

 

“Investigating a criminal to reveal charges. That’s what it says in the dictionary.”

 

Clemente grumbled that he had used a scary word.

 

“Wasn’t the interrogation all finished when we first met?”

 

“That wasn’t enough.”

 

Clemente pouted and went back to the finishing work.

 

“I’ll just recut Master’s hair. I’ll be careful so the same thing doesn’t happen.”

 

“You mean stay quiet.”

 

“I didn’t say that.”

 

Even so, Clemente moved her hands even more delicately. This time, no matter what happened, she wouldn’t be shaken.

 

Clemente, who had even forgotten to breathe, finally let out a big sigh after finishing the last cut.

 

“Done! Master, how is it?”

 

She asked while combing through Zephyrus’s hair with her hands.

 

“It does feel light.”

 

“You look pretty!”

 

“That… watch your words!”

 

“But it’s true.”

 

It really was. Because she had cut it short enough to show his neckline, his pretty face seemed to show even better.

 

“Your jawline is pretty too, and Master, your neckline is beautiful!”

 

As soon as Clemente finished speaking, Zephyrus’s face turned bright red.

 

“Th-this is also subject to interrogation.”

 

When Zephyrus hunched his body, covered his neck, and shouted, Clemente jumped.

 

“Why!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————