I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 67

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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 67

‘No, wait. The Frigid Bedchamber?’

Clemente walked slowly while looking around her surroundings.

Wherever she passed, the transparent ice melted into water, and that water quickly disappeared as well.

“Master!”

“…Clemente. Where did you go?”

Zephyrus was sitting with a blanket pulled over him, only his eyes peeking out. Even the blanket was frozen solid, making him look like someone trapped inside an ice house.

“Did you have some kind of bad dream? What happened all of a sudden?”

Guilt appeared on Zephyrus’s face.

“The maid… asked why I didn’t save her too…”

It was heartbreaking. She had been able to live thanks to him, but it seemed Zephyrus still hadn’t escaped from the maid even after saving her.

She was the type who didn’t tell others it was okay on behalf of someone who was struggling with something.

But just this once, she wanted to say it.

“I’ll apologize to the maid on Master’s behalf.”

“Why would you? What right do you have?”

“As someone whose life was saved because of Master. Young Master’s only mistake was not being able to properly understand the power that came so suddenly.”

Zephyrus, who had been about to feel slightly moved, furrowed his brow. Hearing words about doing something wrong from Clemente’s mouth made him feel bad. He knew he had done wrong, but did she really need to point that out?

“Weren’t you trying to comfort me? Suddenly- Hmm.”

He suddenly came to his senses. This was acting spoiled. Acting spoiled because he wanted Clemente to always be on his side. Come to think of it, what did he look like right now? Wasn’t he cowering in fear with a blanket pulled over him?

“…Never mind. I’m fine now, so I should get to work.”

It was unseemly. He had shown an unsightly appearance. Zephyrus pushed away the blanket.

“Ah? What, what are you looking at!”

He should have kept in mind that his upper garment had burned away, leaving him practically bare.

He hurriedly covered his front with the blanket again.

“Master…”

“What. What is it.”

“Should I increase your meal portions? Aren’t you too thin?”

“It’s already enough. I don’t even move around, so if I eat more I’ll just gain weight.”

“You can go out now, so you can move around. Exercise too.”

Zephyrus waved his hand. At his gesture toward the wardrobe, Clemente moved naturally.

“I wonder. Will I be able to go out?”

He was still having nightmares like that.

His mouth tasted bitter.

When he went to save Clemente, maybe because he was focused on that one thing, it had been okay.

He thought it would be okay.

“Next time the maid appears, call me. I’ll block her for you.”

Clemente, who had brought clothes, looked at him and smiled confidently.

Clemente, who was kneeling on the bed and helping him dress from behind, said something strange.

“We sleep together next to each other anyway. I just need to reach out my hand.”

“Does that have anything to do with my dreams?”

“It might. Anyway, just trust me anytime. I’ll be with you even in dreams when Master is having a hard time.”

She would be with him even in dreams.

Well, if it was Clemente, she would probably be able to melt even the maid’s dark red ice.

The melted maid would be flustered and look back and forth between him and Clemente. Then Clemente would be triumphant and tell them to hold hands and make up.

Zephyrus forced down the corners of his mouth. As he imagined such things, he became curious about something.

“If that’s what I did wrong, do you think the maid did anything wrong too?”

“Recklessly reaching out to an unknown power.”

“That’s all?”

“Yes. Except for that, I think it’s all fate’s fault for suddenly giving Master something he couldn’t handle.”

It wasn’t comfort. Clemente was just acting according to her own thoughts.

Zephyrus found this calm attitude more touching instead.

Both had done wrong, but the biggest fault was fate’s.

“But I… honestly, this might be something the maid wouldn’t want to hear, but I think it’s fortunate that such bad fate came to Master.”

Clemente smiled faintly.

Although soon, or when Zephyrus gained control over his cold with near 100% certainty, they might not be able to stay as close as they were now.

Thanks to him being there, she too had been able to spend more peaceful days. That was enough.

“Ta-da! Finished dressing you!”

Clemente poked the cheek of Zephyrus, who was staring at her blankly.

Only then did Zephyrus come to his senses and get up from the bed-

“Hah, gasp!”

He held back a groan.

His whole body ached. His body, which had suddenly been overexerted, was screaming.

“As expected. It was good that I put pajamas on you.”

“What?”

Zephyrus didn’t even know that what he was wearing were pajamas.

“There’s no way your fatigue would be gone yet. Just coming outside suddenly must have been difficult.”

Clemente gently pushed down such a Zephyrus to make him sit again and lifted his legs to lay him back down on the bed.

Despite Zephyrus’s blessed large frame, he still had no muscle to speak of. Naturally, he had to be in pain.

Someone who had lived his whole life without walking properly had made a round trip to the village.

It seemed she would have to hear about how he had been able to come out next time.

“Sleep more, and when you feel better, you should meet the young lady.”

After meeting with Liriart, that is.

“Young lady?”

When Zephyrus looked puzzled, Clemente added.

“The young lady who will become Master’s wife!”

“…Ah, did Liriart come?”

He didn’t understand for a moment, but since Clemente also knew that his fiancée was coming, she must have explained it that way. Though he didn’t know why she had drawn it out so long when there was a shorter word.

‘Come to think of it, did I tell Clemente that I was going to break off the engagement?’

His memory was hazy.

“The young lady really looks like a flower. There’s a cactus flower that blooms once every ten years in the desert, and she resembled that flower.”

While Zephyrus was trying to recall his memories, Clemente just said what she wanted to say and had already moved several steps away.

“Clemente?”

He reached out his hand. His trembling arm. Showing weakness was still embarrassing, but when he reached out like this, Clemente always took his hand. Always warm like the sun that was always there.

But why.

“We won’t be able to continue sharing the bedchamber forever, but still, you need me by your side for now. You have to do well so the young lady doesn’t feel bad. You understand, right? Then rest a bit more! I’ll bring food later!”

“Wait-“

Why isn’t she taking my hand this time?

‘Something’s strange.’

Her smiling face was definitely the same. The gracefully curved corners of her eyes, the depth of the dimple on one side.

But her behavior was different. He couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was, but he felt a sense of distance.

“It seems like something happened…”

He had no idea what it could be.

**

‘Why did I do that.’

Clemente, who had left the room as if fleeing, scrunched up her face.

Why had she wanted to quickly escape from his sight?

‘Saying “the person who will become his wife” too.’

She first thought about why she had drawn it out so long instead of using the efficient word “fiancée.”

She could find the reason quickly.

Because engagement and marriage were different things.

‘Just because we’re engaged doesn’t mean we’ll definitely become husband and wife.’

Deep down, she had hoped Zephyrus would deny the words about becoming husband and wife.

If Zephyrus got married, they wouldn’t be able to spend time together like they do now.

She thought she had already accepted it sufficiently, but apparently that wasn’t the case.

‘You’re really awful, Clemente. Why are you being like this?’

She scolded herself for the first time in a long while. It seemed like the first time since the day she decided to love herself because most of the world didn’t like her anyway.

Clemente took a deep breath. After scolding came understanding, and then reflection.

The emotion of not wanting to lose her first friend. She understood it. It was possible to feel that way. Zephyrus was her best friend after all. But she needed to be careful. That couldn’t be a reason to interfere with her friend’s life. Even if she felt disappointed, it wasn’t something to express.

She closed her eyes and slowly controlled her breathing. When emotions wouldn’t cooperate, blocking her vision and focusing on her breath was indeed the best method.

“That’s enough.”

Having finished several simulations, she would never again be swayed by such childish emotions.

There would be no more days like today when she ran away in embarrassment from Zephyrus!

With that thought, Clemente walked around the manor with her usual cheerful steps.

**

It’s cold.

Was the Northern Region always this cold?

Somehow it felt like it was getting colder and colder.

Liriart layered on clothes and piled thick blankets on top of each other, but it still wasn’t enough, so she pulled the cord to call a servant.

“Yes, you called for me?”

“Could you stoke the fireplace more?”

“Ah… I can add more firewood, but it won’t get any warmer than it is now.”

“Why not?”

“Because the firewood is already burning at maximum capacity.”

“I see. It can’t be helped then. Bring me some warm tea.”

“Understood. And if you’re too cold…”

“Is there another way?”

Liriart’s face brightened a little.

“Shall I call Clemente for you?”

Immediately, it darkened even more than it had brightened. As if a light had been extinguished.

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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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