I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 71

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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 71

‘How, how embarrassing.’

Playing both the drum and flute by herself.

Clemente split her tied-up hair in half to cover the lower part of her face. Her voluminous, curly hair covered everything except her eyes, hiding even her cheeks.

“Why… why aren’t you doing it? It’s an engagement that’s lasted 10 years.”

“When was it. Probably before the avalanche. I would have told you.”

Clemente’s eyes briefly traced back to the past.

“When you told me about the noble families deeply involved in the Central Region? You also told me about House of Demeter then, master.”

“Right. I said there was also a contract listing the terms both parties must observe while maintaining the engagement.”

“Yes, I remember. That’s why I thought this marriage was absolutely necessary.”

“Of course there was a time like that. But didn’t you come?”

Clemente made an X with her hair and asked cautiously.

“The engagement didn’t break because of me… did it?”

“Of course not. It was a relationship that should have ended long ago anyway. Do you think it’s possible for me to hold hands with and embrace an ordinary woman?”

“You’re doing well at it.”

This time she undid the crossed hair and curled the ends to make circles.

Zephyrus slightly raised the corners of his mouth and slipped his finger through the circle, gently wrapping her hair around it.

“I’m only ordinary when I’m with you, aren’t I?”

“Hmm. No, wait. This wasn’t the main topic. So you’re really breaking off the engagement?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did the young lady come? It didn’t seem like there was any talk of breaking the engagement in your conversation just now.”

She wondered if she had missed part of the conversation, but somehow she didn’t want to miss a single word of their conversation, so she had concentrated the whole time. Then had she failed to follow the flow? Could that be it?

Clemente’s thoughts spiraled endlessly.

“You really think a lot.”

“I’ve heard many times here that I’m simple.”

“That’s what people who don’t know you well say. To speak clearly so you won’t overthink it, you’re right that we didn’t have that conversation. More precisely, I couldn’t.”

Zephyrus wanted to resolve the engagement quickly. But it seemed the marquis’ daughter didn’t.

He felt like she quickly grasped what he wanted and tried to pull the atmosphere to her side. Her technique of switching to other topics whenever the word annulment came up was very skillful.

From Liriart’s perspective, she probably thought it would be better to break the engagement around the time she left the Northern Region rather than having it broken off now. After all, a former fiancé and a fiancé feel different from the start.

Evaluating this meeting briefly, he had revealed what he wanted to Liriart too quickly.

If a similar situation arose next time, he felt he could handle it more coldly.

‘But Clemente would have to be by my side then too.’

She must never disappear. Never.

For his body and mind to be stable, he absolutely could not let go of Clemente.

During this avalanche.

How dark the world became just from the thought of losing Clemente.

Clemente, who had been like a faint candlelight, had somehow become like sunlight in his life.

As an expression of his will not to let her escape from here, he hugged Clemente with all his strength.

“Oh. Master, did you put some strength in your arms?”

Clemente found it amusing and began grabbing and shaking his arms.

The frail Duke Zephyrus’ arms swayed without any resistance as Clemente wanted.

She wasn’t even applying much force.

“…I need to go outside soon.”

He needed stamina and strength. He couldn’t live forever with a body that was pushed around by Clemente. It didn’t preserve his dignity as a master.

Hearing Zephyrus’ muttering, Clemente asked.

“Can you try before the young lady leaves?”

“It doesn’t matter. Anyway, it’s beneficial to stay on good terms with House of Demeter…”

It might be better to package appropriate lies as truth when telling her. Like what had spread to the villages near the duchy, if he left out the word curse when conveying it, there shouldn’t be any loss.

She would understand why he hadn’t wanted to meet until now.

Clemente slowly tilted her head, then released Zephyrus’ arm and stood up.

“Well, fine! Let’s try it for now. Even if it’s not a dream, I’m here beside you, so if the maid says anything, tell me right away. I’ll shout as hard as I can. Got it!”

“You’ll probably look quite ridiculous.”

“It’s okay. Here.”

Clemente opened the door wide.

This time she spread both arms outside the door.

“It’s okay if you collapse from heartache. This time I’ll hold you!”

Clemente smiled brightly. Her hair fluttering in the wind looked like flames.

“…”

Zephyrus clenched his fists tightly and began moving his feet.

**

That night.

Zephyrus had a dream.

The same beginning as usual.

The maid was in front of him, shedding tears of blood, freezing from that blood, and uttering words of resentment toward Zephyrus.

He wanted to say he was sorry.

But no voice came out.

While his lips only moved soundlessly, the maid froze completely and shattered, then became a sharp sword.

Ten-year-old Zephyrus in his young body ran around trying to escape her.

But this time was different.

As soon as the red-frozen maid appeared and tried to grab him, a fireball with voluminous hair burst out.

It rushed toward the maid and instantly blew away the ice and blood.

What remained in front was the maid just as he had seen her in childhood.

The fireball wiped the maid’s tears of blood with its hair and circled around her.

The maid’s red eyes turned toward Zephyrus.

She said something to the frightened him.

“…Maid. I’m sorry.”

For the first time, his voice came out.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry…!”

How long did he shout? No matter how much he shouted, the feeling of regret didn’t subside. When his voice became so hoarse it wouldn’t come out anymore.

A thread-thin voice was heard.

“It’s okay.”

**

“Ah.”

He woke up.

Feeling warmth on his cheek, he turned to the side to see Clemente wiping away tears flowing down his face.

“You didn’t scream today, master.”

“…You.”

“Yes.”

Zephyrus continued speaking in a half-muffled voice from just waking up.

“What you said to the maid during the day must have helped.”

“Did it?”

“Yes… she said it’s okay.”

“I see.”

“Right. Now… I don’t think I’ll have this dream anymore.”

Clemente patted Zephyrus’ chest with half-sleepy eyes.

“That’s a relief. Now our master can go outside well too… now you can do whatever you want.”

She closed her eyes. It seemed she had already fallen asleep again.

Zephyrus stared blankly at Clemente and recalled what had happened during the day.

**

When he tensed his whole body and took one step outside the door.

As always, the maid appeared.

His body stiffened with a jolt. His breath caught.

When even Clemente’s face, which had seemed radiant just moments before, was painted and stained a dark red.

“Stop now- –courage–!”

“Saved-“

He couldn’t quite understand what was being said. But whenever that warm voice was heard, the blood and darkness that had been covering the world began to disappear little by little.

His hand groped toward where the voice was coming from.

‘Yes. It’s okay. It will be okay.’

He would be sorry to the maid for the rest of his life. But thanks to this power, he had saved Clemente.

That was the only thought he had.

His hand went out, his waist bent as his shoulder crossed the line.

One step. Just one more step remained. He struggled desperately to move his foot that wouldn’t fall easily.

Sweat began flowing like a waterfall from Zephyrus’s entire body as he bit his lips until they bled.

Then.

“Master! You can do it!”

Louder than the maid’s resentful whispers in his ears, a fiery voice pierced his hearing.

His feet became light.

It felt as if the heavy weight attached to his ankles had been swept away by that voice and disappeared.

Whoosh!

His body shot forward as if putting strength into a sprint.

The black background disappearing like a whirlpool. The frozen maid. And.

Clemente’s surprised face visible at the center of the whirlpool.

That surprise soon became a pure white smile of joy.

“You succeeded!”

Clemente’s voice rang out loudly.

“Cle, mente?”

“Yes. I’m here. Master, you worked hard.”

“I, for the first time, with my own strength….”

He lifted his increasingly heavy eyelids and turned his head.

“Mother….”

“Yes, Zephyrus. My son. Well done.”

He blinked several times. His eyes welled up with tears, perhaps from dryness.

“There are more people here cheering for you, Master.”

Clemente lifted Zephyrus up and slowly turned him around in a circle. Due to their height difference, his feet dragged a little, but there was no problem moving.

“Your Highness!”

Rossia waved her two clenched fists at Zephyrus with tears glistening in her eyes.

Behind her, the Knight Order including Gwen bowed their heads respectfully.

Behind the Knight Order that had formed a circle around the entrance to the Duke’s Chamber, servants could also be seen. Ruby and the head butler were calming them as they stirred.

Behind them, the backs of two men were also visible.

Tei and Airite. It looked like Airite was dragging Tei away. It was understandable. Having seen this, he would want to go research medicine.

He smiled weakly with blurred eyes.

Everyone in the manor was looking at him.

Even Liriart, who was watching this place from far away with a strange expression.

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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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