I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 66

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

Chapter 66

Clemente looked at Liriart and truly felt she was noble. Her upright posture without a hint of disorder and her gentle yet firm voice.

Perhaps the princesses from stories looked like this.

Then, hearing about looking for a special maid, she momentarily thought:

‘Special? Is it similar to the word for bereavement? What is it?’

It was a word she hadn’t memorized yet. But she could tell it didn’t mean bereavement. If Zephyrus’ fiancée was looking for a maid, it was probably her.

So she raised her hand.

However, it seemed her uncertain words had caused some misunderstanding.

“Favor also means being close, right? I am close with my master. That… special also means that, right?”

Seeing the strength leave the hand holding the fan, it seemed the misunderstanding was cleared. That she hadn’t answered uncertainly on purpose. Clemente smiled brightly and took a step closer.

“Master is still not feeling well. Perhaps when mother returns home, you’ll be able to see him together.”

That Zephyrus had shown his face had already spread throughout the entire domain.

What feelings, what resolve allowed him to leave his room was still unknown.

But coming out once doesn’t heal that pain all at once.

Clemente had been the same.

Though she hadn’t expected to lose control to the point of fainting this time.

‘This is probably the second time?’

The memories after the first rampage weren’t good, so she didn’t want to rampage again.

It was enough to experience once how the eyes of someone who had pitied her changed to look at a monster, no. At something that shouldn’t be alive.

After that, the heat she had been controlling well kept going awry, making things really difficult.

It took quite a long time to properly suppress it again.

That is, until Clemente could help people without fear and be okay even after hearing cold, hurtful words after helping.

‘Actually, I thought it would happen again this time after stopping the avalanche…’

Whether it was because fire spirits existed in the Northern Region, or because this place was cold and her constitution was helpful, something unexpected happened.

They accepted her as she was.

Though she had originally planned to live her whole life in the north, she resolved then to truly bury her bones in this place.

And to do that, she thought she should get along well with this person, the one who would live as Zephyrus’ wife. Even if she hadn’t met her as Zephyrus’ fiancée, she felt she would have wanted to become friends.

‘I should be good to her.’

Of course, they still might not become close. Then there’s nothing to be done. She planned to stay as long as Zephyrus needed her. She’d do her work while avoiding encounters as much as possible!

That would also reduce the time facing Zephyrus, but it couldn’t be helped. Originally, friends of the opposite sex grow distant when a wife or husband appears, according to books.

‘That might be a little lonely.’

Since growing distant from her first friend was becoming a foregone conclusion, Clemente resolved to definitely go on a picnic at least once.

Perhaps because she suddenly had many thoughts, she blurted out words she didn’t need to say.

“Just because I’m close with master doesn’t mean I’ll cause you much concern, my lady!”

Words the usual Clemente wouldn’t have said.

She realized her mistake after saying it. Liriart’s expression brightened, but somehow she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

“Are you saying I would be concerned about you? That I would, about a maid?”

“Ah, no. Not a maid, a friend.”

“A friend? His Highness and you? So you’re saying I’m narrow-minded enough to interfere with His Highness’ friendships?”

“Absolutely not! That’s not what I meant-“

“Enough.”

Liriart snapped her fan shut. Rossia had also finished talking with Gwen and was coming over to them.

Having an argument in a place with so many people would also be undignified.

Liriart turned her gaze away from Clemente and smiled at Rossia. Clemente scratched her head, thinking she had made a mistake.

“My lady! Please listen to just one more thing!”

Liriart sighed conspicuously and nodded.

“When it gets cold, please tell me. If you want warmth, call Clemente! It’ll be useful to remember!”

Clemente bowed toward Liriart with a refreshed face, having said everything.

“Then I wish you a Northern Region journey accompanied by fire spirits, my lady.”

“Wow! Perfect!”

Suddenly Rossia exclaimed in admiration and clapped.

Clemente’s practiced Northern greeting. The angle of her bow, the shape of her clasped hands, even the intonation of her greeting. If not for her exotic appearance, the greeting was polished enough to believe she was a Northerner.

“Oh my, thank you. I practiced hard.”

“What is this…”

Liriart unconsciously muttered to herself. She couldn’t understand either Rossia clapping for a greeting that a maid should naturally do well, or Clemente naturally accepting that applause.

Even Rossia, now clapping with a foolish face, didn’t seem like the person she knew.

Somehow her head ached.

“Rossia. I think I need to go in and rest.”

“Ah. Liri, let’s go in. I’ll show you to your room. Clemente, you follow too. People who originally lived in the south and came north catch colds quickly. You’ll need Clemente.”

“No.”

At Liriart’s firm refusal, Rossia blinked with a puzzled face.

“She’s His Highness’ personal maid, isn’t she? I, who am not yet special to His Highness, cannot use what belongs to His Highness, can I?”

“Hmm.”

Rossia noticed how Liriart thought of Clemente.

She didn’t know why, but decided not to interfere. This much wasn’t openly looking down on Clemente. Nor ignoring her. Most importantly, she felt Clemente could melt Liriart’s heart on her own.

“Alright, let’s do as Liri wants. Clemente, then please go to His Highness.”

“Yes. When master gets better and you recover from fatigue, let’s talk together. About master.”

The story of Zephyrus coming out of his room. Rossia firmly suppressed the suddenly rising emotions and nodded.

“My lady, don’t think about being close and please call me. I’m really good at warming things up now. I have Raha too.”

“…Let’s go, Rossia. Please show me the way.”

“Oh my, are you dizzy? Lean on me, Liri.”

Liriart pressed her forehead and leaned slightly on Rossia. Even that leaning posture reminded one of unbending bamboo.

‘She really has an impressive aura.’

Clemente thought this while watching Liriart enter the manor first.

That she would complement Zephyrus’ fragile parts and live well together.

“…?”

Suddenly her heart sank and she felt as if her dry eyes were becoming moist. Clemente tilted her head, dismissed it as nothing, and headed toward Zephyrus’ room.

**

“…Why is it colder inside?”

“That’s not it.”

“Pardon?”

“Everywhere except next to Clemente is cold. Outside would have been even colder.”

Liriart squeezed her eyes shut. She had come in because she didn’t want to think about Clemente anymore, but even here Clemente’s name came up.

“Rossia. I haven’t been active in social circles lately, so it’s difficult to understand the implications in your words.”

“Ah. Sorry. I’ve never talked about this topic with someone from outside the north. Clemente has a rather unique constitution. So…”

Rossia briefly explained what had happened.

Leaving out the curse story completely.

She made the rumors spread in the north into facts. The story that the manor suddenly froze and was about to affect the domain, so Zephyrus stopped it from inside.

And more Clemente praise, that thanks to Clemente’s arrival, they were gradually escaping from the transparent erosion approaching for unknown reasons.

Besides that, Clemente’s name appeared in everything.

Curing the Dowager Duchess’ illness, helping with the greenhouse business, being a great help in preventing threats from cadet branches, and sacrificing herself to stop an avalanche?

“Even if that maid is truly warm…”

It was strange that she could do all that.

Did it make sense that a mere maid was central to solving all the dangers occurring in the north?

This wasn’t a one-dimensional thought about her being noble and Clemente being common.

Clemente, who came from a desert kingdom where most commoners had no interest in education.

She was even still poor at Imperial language. She couldn’t properly understand hidden meanings in words. Meaning she was closer to incompetent than competent. And tactless too!

‘People seem rather naive from living in isolation.’

From her position of wanting to maintain good relations even after inheriting the title, a ducal house swayed by a maid had no appeal.

‘But what can I do. A family established at the same time as the Imperial Court won’t collapse.’

She also had confidence that since the Dowager Duchess was still in good health, she would step in to stop things if they truly went astray.

That’s what the elders and senior members of a family do, isn’t it.

**

Clemente had no idea what Liriart was thinking.

When she entered Zephyrus’ room, it was already a land of bitter cold.

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