I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 82

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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 82

There was a hand wiping Herald’s mouth as blood-mixed saliva flowed like a waterfall.

“Oh my… be gentle, you fool.”

Emile, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, was wiping Herald’s blood with a handkerchief from beside him.

“That’s why you shouldn’t shout like that. You might end up going to Father’s side today at this rate.”

“Keh, heh, hmph! What’s so precious about a child who left before his father that I’d go so quickly? That can’t happen.”

“Father inherited Grandmother’s blood more deeply, didn’t he?”

“His skills took after me though. Unlucky fellow.”

Watching Herald click his tongue at his own father, Emile scratched his head awkwardly.

It was exactly the same as how Herald scratched his head.

“Anyway, please calm down. The blood is coming out again, isn’t it?”

He carefully laid Herald down and looked at Zephyrus.

“With things like this, it seems we should stop the interesting old stories now. Since you’ve heard all about the important contract, I think you can go back.”

Zephyrus, who had been silently watching Herald without answering, finally nodded.

“The land blessed with fairy power, I’ll try my best to find it. It’s somewhere in this Northern Region, isn’t it?”

“Keh, kehehe. I’d be grateful if you would.”

Herald laughed. There was a rattling sound in his throat.

The effect of the tobacco had worn off.

“When I return to the Venerable Land… the contract will end too.”

His cloudy gaze turned toward Emile. His grandson who didn’t need to be confined here. Emile, who stayed to assist him despite having perhaps only a fingernail’s worth of dwarven blood mixed in.

Because Emile remained, all of his family was here too.

“You won’t need to stay in this underground workshop anymore.”

Saying that, he turned his eyes back to Zephyrus.

What he wanted to say was clear.

When I die, please take responsibility for the remaining family.

A craftsman not bound by contract was always welcome.

From the domain’s perspective, there was nothing bad about it.

But…

“If we find that land. Can you live?”

At Zephyrus’s question, Clemente also nodded vigorously.

“Right. You might be able to live much longer. We definitely need to find that land.”

“Heh, hehehe! Kehehe!”

Herald burst into laughter again. His expression showed he couldn’t help but find it amusing.

To think a Pruina would appear, frantically trying to find the fairy land only when on the verge of death.

But it was good.

Let them try whatever they wanted.

That was the privilege of youth.

Above all.

‘Since you possess fairy power, who knows. You might really find it.’

It wouldn’t be bad to go outside before dying.

Herald waved his hand dismissively.

“Pruina. I wish you good luck.”

With those words, Herald quickly fell asleep.

Clemente looked at Herald with heavy eyes, then soon rummaged through her bag as if she had a good idea.

What she took out was Raha.

“Grandfather. I don’t know how effective this will be, but your body should feel a little more comfortable. I hope so.”

Whispering, Clemente placed the Raha bottle next to the bedside table and left the room quietly but quickly.

She didn’t want to disturb his rest any further.

As soon as she came out, Emile spoke.

“Today might be the last time we have a conversation with the first workshop master.”

It was a calm tone without emotional highs and lows.

“He’s been ill for quite a long time. It’s been about thirty years already.”

Herald, who had already resigned himself considerably, had only one last attachment.

“The Previous Duke. As soon as he heard the news of Iden Pruina’s sudden death, the first master said this: ‘Ah. This must be my end soon.'”

Conveying the contract to Zephyrus.

There was no hope. However, there was something he could guess about why he was so obsessed with having the contract passed down.

Once, he had overheard his grandfather, drunk, speaking to his father’s urn.

Saying that things weren’t going as your mother wished, but he would do his best until the end. Though he didn’t know why he was telling this to his father.

That’s why Emile had urgently grabbed Zephyrus without missing the opportunity.

“Anyway, our work is done now. We won’t forget to send out this month’s crafts too. The next news will be either the Duke coming after finding the land, or me going out to deliver news of the first workshop master’s death. One of the two.”

“I’ll make sure to bring the former news.”

“I hope it goes as you wish.”

Emile bowed slowly and politely. He didn’t seem like the hearty fellow they had first met. That was probably his fabricated personality.

‘That would be much more dwarf-like.’

Both Clemente and Zephyrus thought the same thing.

Zephyrus nodded and accepted the greeting, while Clemente waved her hand widely.

“See you next time!”

Emile disappeared through the left wall.

“Phew, that was quite something. Shall we go out now, everyone?”

Then Elisa popped out from the opposite wall.

The way out didn’t involve going in circles. Walking straight in a line, they quickly reached the exit.

“An errand boy will bring the crafts made during the day.”

Though it was night and she should be sleepy, Elisa’s outfit was exactly the same as when she was crafting.

Clemente hesitated and then spoke up.

“Elisa, don’t you want to come outside?”

“Outside? Oh my, do you know who my father is?”

“…Father?”

“Yes. Emile Bael. The current workshop master is my father.”

Clemente tried counting on her fingers how many generations that would be.

Elisa burst out laughing and said.

“I even have a son. He’d be the 5th generation, I think?”

“Elisa has a son?”

No matter how she looked, she seemed to be Clemente’s age.

“I look pretty young, don’t I? I may look like this, but I’m in my 40s. My son is already almost an adult.”

“What…?”

“Uhahahaha!”

Seeing Clemente’s blank, surprised face, Elisa even shed tears of laughter before returning to the original question.

“So, phew, I do go outside. I wander around. Anyway, I have very little dwarven blood mixed in, so there’s no problem going out.”

“Ah, oh. Sorry. I asked based on my assumptions.”

“It’s okay. It hasn’t been long since I started going outside like Clemente thought. I don’t go out because I like touching glass more than going outside.”

Then she suddenly got close to Clemente. Her gaze was directed at Zephyrus.

Zephyrus and Elisa’s eyes met.

His eyes were blazing. How could such a cold color feel so hot?

‘So very interesting!’

She hugged Clemente once and naturally stepped away before Zephyrus could say anything.

“There. That was a farewell hug. See you again later.”

“It was nice meeting you, Elisa.”

Clemente also hugged Elisa once more and then waved her hand.

Coming out of the glass workshop like that, darkness greeted them.

“Wow. It’s really dark. Even though you’re right in front of me, I can’t see Your Highness’s face.”

Clemente playfully leaned her face closer. Zephyrus grabbed Clemente’s arm as she came near.

“You are…”

Zephyrus’s voice had dropped to a low tone.

It was different from the artificially cold voice he usually put on.

“You truly don’t listen to what you’re told.”

Dark and intense emotions were mixed within it.

Since she couldn’t see his face, she had to guess his emotions from his voice alone.

Clemente couldn’t tell what kind of emotion this was at all.

It wasn’t dislike or disgust. But his voice wasn’t bright either.

“Master, what’s wrong all of a sudden?”

She could feel Zephyrus’s hand gripping her arm with all his strength.

His calm but hot breath also reached her forehead.

They faced each other at close distance, as they always did.

But what was this feeling?

This mood.

A feeling that she needed to comfort him, though she didn’t know why.

If before they had embraced because it was warm and cool, because they were comfortable with each other, now it was different.

The purpose of being close like this seemed to be something else entirely.

“I told you not to embrace just anyone.”

“…Is it because I didn’t listen to your request, Master?”

“It’s not a request, it’s an order.”

Rumble…

Suddenly, the sound of the sky rumbling low could be heard.

At the same time, Zephyrus spoke as if chewing on his words.

“Your heat belongs to me. Mine alone.”

Flash—

Lightning split the sky and immediately came the sound of the torn heavens crying out with thunderous crashes!

Zephyrus’s eyes, filled with possessiveness, glared at Clemente as if he would devour 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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