I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 83

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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 83

Zephyrus Pruina.

He was an awkward person who had only begun properly communicating with the outside world 10 years after meeting Clemente.

He knew well that he was awkward and lacking.

But why was it so?

Just as he had left his cage and was practicing flapping his wings and learning to soar.

Someone appeared who tried to steal his position by using his vassals.

An avalanche occurred, trying to take away even Clemente.

Why wouldn’t the world leave him be?

Why did it keep throwing trials at him?

Yes. Even that much was fine. Trials were meant to be overcome.

As long as he had Clemente, who had helped him end his 10 years of isolation and come out, it didn’t matter. With her by his side, he felt like he could overcome any difficulty.

When they were in the room, it had been enough.

But seeing Clemente outside the room…

‘She’s bright.’

She was someone anyone would like.

To the point where it seemed strange that Clemente had been ostracized in the desert.

Clemente also liked people.

She was kind to everyone.

‘That’s probably why she readily stepped forward to help me.’

Zephyrus had also received help from Clemente’s kind nature. Help so great it changed his life.

If he let Clemente do as she wished, there would surely be other people who received such help.

Not only that.

If she set her mind to it, she would surely make countless friends.

‘Even now, there seemed to be many.’

She seemed especially close to a maid named Julay in the castle.

Rossia and Ruby, the mage, the physician.

Even his former fiancé who had come to break off the engagement was clinging to Clemente.

Yes, even that much could be considered fine.

‘But not the glass workshop craftsman.’

He said he’d seen her several times. That he’d see her several more times.

So they hug that intimately?

Even though he had told him not to hug her!

The sudden contract and fairy, the old dwarf spitting blood, the glass.

And Clemente laughing while embracing someone else.

Everything tangled up his heart.

There was only one thing that could make this mess normal.

Clemente.

In the end, it was Clemente.

Clemente who would embrace only him, his Clemente.

‘Ah.’

His head wasn’t working properly.

He didn’t even know what he was spouting right now.

Whether his ice was being controlled properly either.

His mind had turned white as a snowy field.

In that pure white place, there was only Clemente.

Clemente looking at him with clear golden eyes, warmly as usual.

He was reflected in her pupils.

Each time lightning struck, Zephyrus’s face was reflected—

‘…This is me?’

It was hideous. The face stained with twisted emotions was frightening.

He snapped back to his senses.

He hastily let go of Clemente and staggered backward.

Zephyrus covered his face with both hands.

“…I’m sorry.”

He had said he wouldn’t treat her like a tool.

But acting like this was no different from using Clemente as his personal fireplace.

Clemente was a person.

‘By her own will, she can make friends or lovers…’

Zephyrus unconsciously gritted his teeth.

‘She can make them.’

This was childish possessiveness. It was the tantrum of an immature person wanting a friend to be only his friend.

Thinking this way, he was overwhelmed with shame and didn’t know what to do with himself.

And Clemente quietly left Zephyrus alone.

Her initial instinct that she should comfort him wasn’t wrong.

It just wasn’t the right time then.

Zephyrus was someone who had told her not to refer to herself as a fireplace, and said he wouldn’t do such things either.

Though she didn’t know what was causing this, Clemente believed that Zephyrus would calm down soon.

Zephyrus lived up to that faith admirably.

However, her heart ached a little.

Because Zephyrus seemed to hate himself.

She embraced the shoulders of Zephyrus, who was covering his face and trembling slightly.

“Mm. Surprisingly, this isn’t so bad either.”

“What…?”

Zephyrus asked in a choked voice. His fingers parted slightly, and dejected silver eyes looked at Clemente.

“Are you… not upset?”

Clemente seemed completely unbothered. How could she be like that…?

“Puhaha! Ah, really, how does Master even speak with his eyes?”

“What?”

Clemente placed her hands over Zephyrus’s hands that were covering his face.

His fingertips were extremely cold.

“It’s okay.”

As Zephyrus calmed down, the thunder and lightning also subsided. In the quiet surroundings, only the hot and cold breathing of the two people spread out.

“Really. I didn’t know Master thought of me this deeply.”

“…I told you I cherish you.”

“I didn’t know it was to this extent, did I?”

“I’m sorry. It was a mistake.”

Zephyrus covered his eyes again. Clemente removed those hands and moved them behind her back. Zephyrus, who had inadvertently placed both arms on Clemente’s shoulders, trembled his eyelashes.

“Master, do you know something?”

“What.”

“Actually, earlier.”

“Earlier?”

Which ‘earlier’ was she talking about? Zephyrus’s eyes briefly looked upward before returning.

“I’m talking about when you said your first friend might not be me.”

“Ah, that.”

He hadn’t wanted to call them friends so he hadn’t said it properly, but it seemed there had been a few people he could have called friends when he was young.

Wasn’t he the Duke’s heir? He had spent time with children of similar age among the retainers’ children. Even Gwen had been someone he met that way.

“Why do you ask?”

Looking at Zephyrus’s face filled with pure curiosity, Clemente slightly lowered her head.

A gentle red embarrassment settled on her cheeks.

“Ah.”

While Zephyrus couldn’t take his eyes off that face, Clemente continued speaking.

“I felt a little… jealous.”

“Je, jealous? About what?”

“I should be Master’s first friend. I should be the closest friend. I had thoughts like that. This is really…”

A shy smile hung at the corners of Clemente’s lips. She slightly lowered her head and glanced up at Zephyrus with her eyes. Seeing his somewhat dazed expression, she pulled down his arm and held his hand.

“So, what I’m saying is, Master’s feelings aren’t strange at all. You even controlled them well. What could be the problem?”

She was sincere. She was actually happy. Wasn’t this proof that Clemente was that special to him? She was rather relieved that she wasn’t the only one who felt such emotions.

“…It seems I grabbed your arm too tightly.”

Having his feelings understood, Zephyrus confessed the next thing that concerned him.

Clemente smiled brightly and shook her head.

“That much doesn’t shock me at all.”

“…”

Zephyrus looked at his hand that Clemente was holding tightly. He had no intention of pulling away, but if he tried to, would he be able to?

The answer was no.

Clemente was that strong and Zephyrus was that weak.

“And Master, I wasn’t going to say this because it’s really embarrassing.”

“…What else is there?”

“Actually, you see.”

Clemente hesitated for a beat, then came a little closer and whispered as if telling the world’s greatest secret.

“I’m Master’s first friend too. So in any situation, Master has no choice but to be special to me.”

Special.

At that word, the anxiety, self-loathing, and all the negative emotions that had been clinging persistently melted away like snow.

The sun rose over Zephyrus’s dark, snowy field that had been nothing but white.

‘I shouldn’t show how happy I am too much.’

He was a Duke. He had to maintain his dignity. Even if they had a special relationship.

He pulled down his lips that were trying to rise to his ears and coldly pointed out the facts.

“That’s something I already knew.”

“Wh, what? Huh?”

His vision grew brighter and brighter. Clemente’s shocked face was etched in his eyes.

“What a funny expression.”

Zephyrus began walking toward the Duchy Castle first.

“No, no- how did you know that!”

Clemente followed him, continuing to mutter. Zephyrus glanced at her sideways and thought.

‘If this kind of emotion is natural… there’s no need to forcibly suppress it.’

However, control seemed important.

So that Clemente wouldn’t get tired of his childish possessiveness.

At the same time, Clemente looked at Zephyrus who seemed to be in a good mood, and laughed while continuing to threaten him to keep it secret.

‘Master looks best when he’s smiling.’

Though crying is pretty too, of course.

She hoped he would keep smiling if possible.

**

“One month. My request is to borrow Clemente.”

Liriart said leisurely while drinking tea.

Zephyrus’s brow furrowed deeply once again today.

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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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