I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 47
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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 47
Clemente accepted Zephyrus’s request without a moment’s hesitation.
“Yes. Just tell me what to do this time too!”
“It’s something that requires going outside.”
“Warming the village also requires going outside.”
“…That’s true.”
Zephyrus lost his words for a moment before speaking again.
“There’s a place I’d like you to find.”
Zephyrus brought a book from his study. His white-gloved hands turned the pages of a book that had been preserved without a speck of dust.
“It’s a book that has been passed down through generations of Pruina Dukes. It’s closer to a map.”
Until now, he hadn’t thought to look at it properly. Maps were only useful when going outside, and until recently, Zephyrus had considered such imagination a luxury.
But now it was different. His inability to leave his room was ultimately an internal problem. As a method to solve that problem, Zephyrus had spread out the map of the Northern Region.
Partly because he couldn’t sleep well lately, but he wanted to memorize every direction of the Northern Region. More than he had been unable to go out all this time.
“The place you need to find is here.”
It was a location on the mountainside according to the map. Looking at the comments left by the previous Duke, it read:
The warmest place in the Northern Region. The Duke’s secret farm.
“I don’t really remember what was there…”
“Oh, have you been there?”
“Long ago, probably.”
From time to time, unknown places would come to mind.
Thick water mist and warm wind could be felt. And calloused, reliable hands.
Until now, he had always thought it was a dream.
But if that was his hazy memory, it meant he had visited that place holding his father’s hand.
To the place commonly called ‘Icetas’, which means summer in the Northern Region.
“I understand that only those with Pruina blood can enter.”
“Then I can’t enter.”
“I’ll assign Rossia and Gwen to you, so go together.”
Wouldn’t just those two be enough? Clemente had such doubts. And she doesn’t hold back.
“Tell me why I need to go.”
“It’s not certain whether Rossia can enter even if she goes.”
“I definitely can’t enter.”
“That’s why I’ll give you my blood.”
“Blood…?”
Zephyrus took out a small glass bottle from the drawer. It already contained red liquid.
Clemente made a strange face as she received it.
“Yes. From my memory, it seems Father parted the mist with blood.”
Something red seeped from Father’s finger and the mist disappeared.
If his blood was there, wouldn’t Icetas open? That’s what Zephyrus was saying.
Clemente nodded for now.
“Yes. And after entering?”
“Looking here, it says there’s something in Icetas that restores vitality.”
“That’s what’s needed. So people can stay healthy even if we reduce food supplies a bit.”
“Right. Just check for now.”
It wasn’t that there were no alternative plans, but he hoped for the best outcome.
It would be good for the vassals too. Above all, this memory that still seemed like a dream might become a beautiful recollection.
“You don’t need to overdo it.”
“I’m suddenly curious too. I’ll definitely find it.”
“Good.”
“And there’s something else I’m curious about.”
“You have many curiosities today too.”
“Of course!”
“That’s not a compliment.”
When Clemente lifted her chin, Zephyrus firmly denied it.
Clemente naturally didn’t care at all.
“Isn’t Master’s blood cold?”
“I know that if blood is cold, you die.”
“No, if we think like that, we’re all dead now. No, we’re already dead.”
“Anyway, I’m fine. Wait, don’t tell me you are?”
Clemente nodded.
“It would be faster to show you…”
Clemente, who had been looking around, picked up a used sharp pen nib.
At the same time, thump, Zephyrus’s hand grabbed Clemente’s hand.
Her heart fluttered.
“Why?”
“You don’t need to show me directly.”
Zephyrus, who spoke urgently without even breathing, looked at Clemente’s blank expression and suddenly felt something surge up.
“It would really just be a little.”
“Clemente.”
“Fine, I got it. I won’t do it.”
“Tell me in words. I can trust your words.”
His low voice contained sincerity different from usual. At the match between his face and voice, Clemente paused for a moment then smiled.
“Yes. Then I’ll tell you in words. When I bleed, hot steam rises up. And it becomes fire and disappears.”
Zephyrus, who had imagined it briefly, spoke heavily.
“That must have been quite troublesome.”
“It’s fine! Anyway, we finally found a difference. Between Master and me, I mean.”
“Right. There hasn’t been any particular progress until now, but after this matter ends, let’s quietly research it again.”
“Good. Then I’ll go out to prepare.”
“Wait, there’s more to say.”
Clemente stopped trying to leave and sat back down.
When she looked at him silently, Zephyrus cleared his throat.
She was waiting to hear what he would say, but he only moved his lips. No sound came out.
“Is it difficult to say?”
Unable to wait any longer, Clemente urged him. Zephyrus took a deep breath, then held it and spat out one word.
“Tonight…!”
Zephyrus’s voice, which had always been consistently cold and indifferent, was different now.
Hesitant and full of uncertainty, it seemed to even hold some dreamy heat.
In contrast, his expression trying its best to remain calm showed that all his nerves were focused on managing his expression.
Clemente became very curious about what Zephyrus was trying to say.
“Tonight!”
She excitedly chimed in. Zephyrus’s ears turned red.
“At night…”
“Yes, at night!”
“The fireplace…”
“Yes?”
His face and neck quickly turned red as an apple, then he squeezed his eyes shut and shouted.
“Would you be my fireplace!”
It was only for a moment that she blinked at the completely unexpected request.
“Yes!”
The answer was quick.
Unlike the difficult question.
It was a strong and warm answer.
**
An ordinary night with snow quietly falling.
Zephyrus sat at his desk with his eyes tightly shut, his legs trembling slightly.
It would diminish the Duke’s dignity, but right now he was alone.
While the tea on the desk repeatedly froze and thawed, Zephyrus finally pressed his forehead.
Ever since sleeping together beside Clemente, he absolutely couldn’t sleep alone anymore, so he ended up making an absurd request.
But when Clemente accepted it so nonchalantly, complex emotions came rushing in.
Then came the sound of knocking.
“Cr, ahem. Come in.”
A voice full of tension.
Even Clemente, who quietly entered and closed the door, found herself swallowing nervously in this atmosphere.
“Good evening.”
Clemente, wearing fur pajamas, pushed away that tension and waved her hand gently.
“Yes.”
A moment of silence passed. Clatter, the window shook in the wind. It seemed to be scolding them, asking what they were doing.
Clemente smiled awkwardly and asked.
“I came as a heater. What should I do?”
“A heater makes the surroundings warm.”
“Right?”
“What do you think you should do?”
“Um… warm up Master’s bedroom?”
“…There’s no need to heat the entire bedroom.”
“Then I just need to keep Master warm?”
“…”
Zephyrus silently stood up and extended his hand to Clemente.
Clemente’s outfit, which hadn’t been clearly visible with only the light source near the desk, could finally be seen up close.
Clemente’s clothes were something he’d never seen before.
It seemed to be made of Devil Rabbit fur, the same material as his pajamas,
A perfectly fitted outfit that came up slightly above the ankles with a collar tightly closed at the neck.
“Those clothes…”
“Ah. Mother gave them to me as a gift. She originally wanted to give them to me, but when I told her Master asked me to be a heater, she gave them to me right away today.”
“Wait, you told Mother?”
“Yes. Why?”
Clemente tilted her head.
“Why on earth…”
“Why? Because it’s a good thing.”
Zephyrus hesitated, then said quietly.
“Is sleeping with me a good thing for you?”
“It’s cool, isn’t it?”
Somehow it was disappointing. He didn’t know why, but it seemed like this wasn’t the answer he wanted.
Zephyrus raised and lowered his eyebrow once, then changed the subject.
“What was Mother’s reaction? No, never mind. Don’t tell me.”
He felt like he knew without hearing it. She must have been pleased. That’s why she even had clothes tailored.
“Anyway, how is it? Mother just says everything is pretty no matter what, so I can’t trust her opinion on this.”
Clemente asked again what she originally wanted to hear.
“Mother’s taste is rumored to be the best, so you can trust it.”
“No, not that. Not Mother’s taste, I’m curious about Master’s thoughts.”
As she spoke, perhaps getting warm, Clemente undid one button that had been fastened up to her neck.
Click, even though it was a small sound, it thundered in Zephyrus’s ears.
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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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