I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 70

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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 70

Both Liriart and Zephyrus knew that wouldn’t happen.

“Don’t be stubborn. If you want to achieve your goal, you won’t have time to dwell on such things.”

At his words spoken with a furrowed brow, Liriart nodded gracefully.

“Will you help me?”

“I don’t want to interfere in another family’s internal affairs.”

“I expected you to say that. So I thought about what the Duchy House might gain when I become a marquis…”

Zephyrus skimmed through the documents Liriart had prepared and then closed them.

“Your Highness? Why are you closing them?”

“That’s enough for today.”

Liriart flinched and looked out the window.

A blizzard was raging, making it impossible to properly see the passage of time, but had so much time already passed?

Then she heard Clemente whispering to Zephyrus beside her.

“Not much time has passed yet, Master.”

“I know. Go stand behind me.”

Zephyrus waved his hand that had dropped below the desk.

Clemente went to stand behind Zephyrus, unable to dispel her confusion.

‘Ha.’

Liriart, who had seen all of this, clenched her hands placed on her knees.

How long must she endure this rudeness?

She had endured it because she was targeting the monopoly rights for crystal glass or glasswork, the Northern Region’s specialty, and needed letters to be sent to the Imperial Court in the Duke’s name.

It was a situation where Liriart was at a disadvantage.

But this was the limit.

She had to say what needed to be said.

“I find it uncomfortable for a maid to interfere in Your Highness’s and my conversation. I’ve allowed it until now knowing she’s a child you particularly cherish, but isn’t this a matter between families?”

Clemente should just serve refreshments and leave. That was a maid’s role.

“The same goes for Pruina’s Secret Place. I don’t think it’s something that should come from a maid’s mouth first.”

Clemente’s lips moved soundlessly before she finally closed them. Wasn’t this in the middle of being told not to interfere?

But Zephyrus asked an unexpected question.

“Young Lady. What makes you think I cherish Clemente particularly?”

Receiving Zephyrus’s question, Liriart almost acted in a way that violated etiquette.

She almost burst into hollow laughter.

Was he calling that a question? Of course, at first it was right to predict based on what she had heard.

But in that short time they had been talking.

If someone couldn’t tell how different his gaze was when looking at Liriart versus when looking at Clemente, they might as well have eyes on the soles of their feet.

When he looked at Liriart, it was like looking at a talking stone, and when he looked at Clemente…

Well, what was it? It was similar to the gaze of some young lady who said she both wanted to show off her favorite dress designer and keep her to herself.

Though it seemed to contain much deeper affection than that.

“Your Highness. You would know better. Why you can’t help but regard her that way.”

“You spoke to Clemente that way even before meeting me face to face.”

“That child must rely on Your Highness quite a lot. Enough to immediately share what happened.”

Clemente clasped her hands together behind her.

‘Ah. I see. It wasn’t a compliment.’

The very fact that she had said Zephyrus cherished her wasn’t meant as praise.

Imperial language was difficult. It might be even more so because there was no culture of speaking while hiding intentions in the desert.

“Yes. She was boasting.”

“Boasting…”

Liriart looked up at the ceiling for a moment.

“So, what answer did Your Highness want to hear by asking such a question?”

“Since your feeling is correct, I’d prefer you not make such presumptuous remarks to my maid.”

“…Presumptuous remarks?”

“In any situation, Clemente being by my side is as natural as ice freezing in the Northern Region.”

Clemente, who had been concentrating on the conversation between the two with all her might, stopped while holding her breath.

Suddenly the room’s temperature shot up.

Liriart, feeling hot, gracefully opened her fan and waved it gently as she retorted.

“You may do so now since this is Your Highness’s domain. But you won’t be able to bring a maid when conducting external activities.”

“That’s what I’m pondering. It’s not something for you to worry about either.”

“Wouldn’t it be worth worrying about from the standpoint of wanting to establish a new relationship with the Duchy House?”

It would be troublesome if he refused to work because he didn’t want to be separated from Clemente.

“Unnecessary worry. I’ll handle it myself. So you may rise now.”

“I was planning to do so even without you saying that. It suddenly became too hot.”

“Let’s talk again when Clemente won’t be a concern.”

Was this really the same person who had wanted to break off the engagement as quickly as possible?

Translating those words directly, they meant this:

‘Don’t mind whatever Clemente does.’

It was a cold threat that only then would Liriart be able to achieve her purpose for coming directly to the Northern Region.

Liriart bit the inside of her lip slightly, then slowly stood up.

“I’ll do that.”

And she bowed gracefully at the waist, just as when she had first entered the room.

“Then have a peaceful day.”

“Wait, Young Lady! Master asked me to prepare this, so please take it!”

Clemente handed Liriart a cloth-wrapped stone while opening the door for her. It was a stone she had warmed with sincere care.

Zephyrus looked at Clemente as if asking what she meant, but pretended not to know for now.

“Just now it was hot because I couldn’t control it properly, but it’ll be that much colder when you go outside. It’s small so it won’t be heavy either. It’s warmer than you’d think if you hold it close.”

Liriart looked at Clemente silently, then slowly accepted the stone. The claim that Zephyrus had given it seemed like a lie, but that lie created justification for accepting the stone.

“Well then.”

Clemente watched the disappearing Liriart with a complex expression, then closed the door and turned around. As soon as Zephyrus closed the door, he asked sarcastically.

“So, which master told you to give Demeter’s Daughter a gift?”

“I read Master’s heart perfectly.”

“Lie.”

At that firmness, Clemente’s shoulders drooped slightly.

“You’re right. This makes me feel a bit uncomfortable.”

Zephyrus sat in his chair as if he had expected this and nodded.

“It doesn’t suit you. Don’t read the room, Clemente.”

“What?”

“You’ve been a bit strange since the marquis’s daughter arrived.”

“In what way?”

“You keep trying to act like an ordinary maid.”

“Did I… do that?”

Zephyrus reached out his hand toward Clemente.

Clemente hesitated, then grasped that hand.

“See this. Normally you would have grabbed it right away and sat on my lap.”

That cool, familiar sensation made her unconsciously conflicted.

When she met Liriart yesterday, she had thought to just hold hands.

“…You’ll be marrying soon, so you should quickly control your cold energy to hold the Young Lady’s hand.”

“About that… Clemente.”

Zephyrus applied force to pull Clemente onto his lap.

But she didn’t budge.

All this time, being pulled by him had been Clemente going easy on him. After trying several more times, he had no choice but to grab her fingers and command.

“Come. Sit. I have something to say too.”

“We can do it like this. Or should I sit across from you?”

“Clemente.”

At Zephyrus’s firm call, Clemente pressed her lips together for a moment.

“…What’s with that expression.”

“What do you mean. It’s a commanding expression.”

“There’s a fox in the Desert with really big ears that’s super cute. That’s the expression it makes when it’s hungry.”

It was an expression that desperate and pitiful.

Feeling like they understood each other, Zephyrus unconsciously slipped two of his fingers between Clemente’s fingers.

“So you’re not coming over?”

“Fine. I’ll come.”

Clemente let out a sigh and plopped down on Zephyrus’s lap. Zephyrus immediately wrapped his arms around Clemente’s waist and took a deep breath.

“Your body temperature is refreshing, Master.”

“Then why didn’t you want to come over.”

“I should cut back. Since Master’s first female friend, you might get confused, but they say that once you’re married, you should focus on family rather than friends.”

“About that. I’ve been trying to tell you since earlier.”

Looking at Clemente’s puzzled face, Zephyrus spoke each word clearly and distinctly.

“I’m not getting married.”

“…What?”

Clemente blinked her eyes.

For a moment, a hot whirlwind formed around her.

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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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