I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 30

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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 30

 

The branch families of the Pruina Duchy were scattered throughout the Empire.

 

The branch families, who had been dissatisfied with Zephyrus for living without any external activities for the past 10 years, were mostly concentrated near the Capital.

 

Among them, the person who needed the most attention was Nerhi.

 

He was the brother of the previous Duke and Zephyrus’s uncle.

 

‘Nerhi’s movements are strange?’

 

He was originally suspicious anyway.

 

When Raisie, the previous Duchess, served as regent, he had been suppressed, but after Zephyrus ascended to the throne, he had erupted once.

 

A flood of protests and even suspicions about whether the Duke was really alive.

 

At that time, Raisie had somehow suppressed the protests, but the problem wasn’t resolved.

 

That was also why Rossia continued to gather information about the branch families.

 

‘A way for Zephyrus to be recognized for his authority without showing himself…’

 

Does such a thing exist?

 

“Rossia! I’m back again!”

 

Clemente appeared before Rossia, who was closing her eyes in contemplation.

 

Clemente waved her hand energetically and spoke with a bright face.

 

“Ameti says he doesn’t need me right away. Even if he does, at most twice a week?”

 

A bright complexion without a trace of darkness, overflowing energy, vivid eyes.

 

Looking at Clemente, who was even warm, made her heart feel cozy.

 

“I’m really glad Clemente is here…”

 

“Suddenly? Is something wrong?”

 

“My head is just complicated.”

 

“If you can talk about it, please tell me. Even if I can’t solve it, I can listen. That might help untangle some of the complexity.”

 

Clemente didn’t pry into things she wouldn’t talk about. That was fortunate.

 

There were things she wanted to say, but it would obviously be a burden.

 

“I will. Thank you. Oh, but before that, we need to write an additional contract. Let’s write it in advance!”

 

Clemente, who had rewritten the incentive contract related to the greenhouse business, smiled broadly and hugged the contract to her chest.

 

“Right. Should I give Clemente more firewood too?”

 

“No. I don’t need it.”

 

“It’s going to get colder. You’ll need it, won’t you?”

 

“Waaah!”

 

Clemente, who had been cheerful, quickly changed her expression and drooped her eyebrows.

 

“Everyone will have a hard time…”

 

Seeing that sudden change in expression, Rossia burst into laughter.

 

“Aren’t you curious about why it gets cold? You absolutely need to know this if you’re going to live in the Northern Region now.”

 

“Ah, I know! The Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains!”

 

“Oh my, how did you know? Did His Highness tell you?”

 

“I’ve been reading a lot of books about the Northern Region lately.”

 

She looked fondly at Clemente, who said there were lots of books in her master’s room and that her goal was to read all those books someday, pounding her chest proudly, and chuckled.

 

“Will you explain it? I’ll check if you understood it well.”

 

Clemente raised her chin as if it were too easy a question and answered.

 

The Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains.

 

It’s a period of about a week when unbearably harsh cold covers the Duchy.

 

Even monsters strong against cold often freeze to death.

 

“It’s estimated to have started about 20 years ago, but the cause of why this sudden cold occurs is still unknown! Right?”

 

“Yes, what else?”

 

“Um. First, the Ducal Palace empties. All the servants are sent home. They’re given food and firewood too. And…”

 

Clemente hesitated a little before speaking.

 

“I read that it’s the time when the most people leave.”

 

“That’s right. It’s such a harsh time. So…”

 

Rossia playfully winked.

 

“You never know what might happen. Clemente might feel cold too. There’s nothing wrong with preparing in advance, right?”

 

Clemente also laughed cheerfully and responded.

 

“Even when I’m next to my master, I only feel cool!”

 

Clemente was confident she would never be cold. Since the body’s owner thought so, Rossia had nothing more to say.

 

“Still, keep it well stored. If you get cold, I’ll come get some.”

 

Rossia said, touching Clemente’s arm. As expected, it was warm.

 

“Ah. Should I just sleep next to Clemente instead? That seems like it would be the warmest.”

 

“That’s…”

 

Rossia hesitated. Seeing Clemente awkwardly stepping back, she felt like she had made some mistake.

 

“That’s a grateful and touching thing to say. But it’s not allowed.”

 

“Oh my, I’m joking. I’m also someone who likes my own room best.”

 

Rossia raised her voice to lighten the mood. Clemente laughed along, but the strange awkwardness between them didn’t completely disappear.

 

“Well then, I’ll be going-”

 

Just as the awkward Clemente was about to say goodbye.

 

“Lady Rossia!”

 

An urgent voice was heard. The knocking sounded like it would break the door. At that urgency, Rossia opened the door herself. A messenger, sweating despite the cold weather, started to enter but hesitated.

 

“A message has come from the caravan.”

 

“Yes. What did they say to make you like this?”

 

She had set standards so they could handle most responses on their own. If it was urgent enough for this, it meant there was a problem.

 

“They said there’s a problem with preparations and they’ll likely arrive after the Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains ends!”

 

“…What?”

 

It was like a bolt from the blue for Rossia.

 

Food could somehow be managed by eating sparingly.

 

The problem was firewood.

 

“Where are they now? Tell them to go get it! They can’t have not even departed yet!”

 

She had to secure additional supplies somehow.

 

“Um, and I think you absolutely need to see this.”

 

Rossia roughly tore open the letter the messenger handed her, her eyes widened, then she immediately ground her teeth.

 

“The Noven Merchant Guild leader… right now…”

 

Unless he meets with the Duke, he won’t sell anything in this trade.

 

It was said in a roundabout, gentle way, but that was the meaning contained in the letter.

 

It was a proposal that the current Duchy House could never accept. Rossia thought so, then shook her head. Thinking sequentially, the meeting with Zephyrus wasn’t the problem – the Nightmare of the Snowy Mountains was the biggest obstacle.

 

“Derin, tell the vassals who are working now to stop what they’re doing and cut trees instead.”

 

“Trees are- no, never mind. Understood.”

 

The messenger, Derin, moved quickly. For a moment, Rossia closed her eyes and swayed.

 

“Rossia!”

 

“Thank you. Really… sigh.”

 

Clemente watched Rossia suppress her anger, then asked.

 

“May I ask what’s happening?”

 

“You know that caravans come to the domain periodically?”

 

“My master told me.”

 

“That caravan can’t come. Without the firewood they bring, we won’t be able to survive the entire week.”

 

“What about the letter?”

 

Rossia let out a small sigh and looked at Clemente.

 

“They want to meet His Highness. Maybe… no. Never mind.”

 

Rossia frowned and shook her head, then began hurriedly writing a report.

 

Clemente wasn’t someone who didn’t understand the atmosphere. She could fully understand what Rossia had wanted to say.

 

While Rossia wrote the letter, she also pondered for a moment.

 

‘Would it work?’

 

Zephyrus now spent longer periods in a peaceful state. With her by his side, even if dangerous situations arose, they could be resolved. Most importantly, she didn’t think Zephyrus would be unable to control his emotions to that extent.

 

Her master, friend, and student was quite intelligent after all. Seeing Rossia fold the report like a letter, Clemente spoke.

 

“Rossia, give it a try. I think it could work.”

 

“…Would it be possible?”

 

“Master will do well!”

 

“I believe in you, Clemente.”

 

“Yes. But please help me practice a bit. Rossia.”

 

“Me…?”

 

Without answering, Clemente grinned toward Rossia.

 

‘It’s warm. Definitely warm. But why do I feel chills…’

 

**

 

Crash!

 

The teacup fell from Zephyrus’s hand onto the desk.

 

“Ahhh! Master! Did your hand slip?”

 

“That’s not it.”

 

While Clemente cleaned up the spilled tea on the desk, she looked at Zephyrus with confusion as he suddenly turned cold.

 

“Why?”

 

“Who said you could decide on your own?”

 

“Ah, were you surprised because I didn’t tell you beforehand?”

 

“It’s not ‘were you surprised,’ it’s ‘were you surprised, sir’… Never mind. Go tell them I can’t do it.”

 

“Why can’t you do it?”

 

“I’m still lacking.”

 

Clemente tilted her head.

 

“I think you’re sufficient enough.”

 

“Even now, this situation is happening. I’m not ready yet.”

 

Just from being briefly shaken, ice fragments were forming around Zephyrus. Though they melted quickly from Clemente’s heat.

 

“That’s not true. Look here. The desk is fine. The floor isn’t frozen. The wall is intact. This level is very manageable.”

 

“You want me to show this appearance to outsiders?”

 

Clemente understood Zephyrus’s concern. His curse that he had hidden well until now. The worry that if it were revealed, who knows what harm might come to the domain.

 

“So what? Then Master just needs to work harder so it doesn’t show.”

 

“Do you think that’s as easy as it sounds?”

 

“It would be difficult. But really, so what? The caravan leader says if he doesn’t see Master, he won’t sell anything. Is there another way?”

 

Zephyrus pressed his lips tightly together and glared at Clemente.

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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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