Chapter 70: Green-eyed Monster (1)

Gris’ cryptic response concerned Dirk, since he could not guess her mood.

“No… it’s not because I don’t like you,” he hastily added. “I just want to make sure that we will be suitable for each other.”

He seemed worried that he might have unintentionally hurt her. Gris, likewise, did not want to hurt him.

“Me too,” she replied with a low tone.

The reception room fell quiet again. To distract herself from the awkwardness, she continued to take sips from her tea, not realizing that the cup was already empty.

Dirk also gradually finished the rest of his drink.

What should I do now? She wondered if she should suggest he take a walk with her outside, but Dirk broke the silence first with a rather intimate question.

“Are you still using the same room? The room you used since you were young.”

“Room?” Gris paused. “… Yes.”

“Can I see it?”

Since they had nothing better to do at the moment, Gris nodded and led Dirk out of the reception room. The young man looked somewhat excited.

“I can still remember your room,” he reminisced with a smile. “There was always a square, black glass vase of wild chrysanthemums on a table by the window. And there was a rabbit doll on the bed. You said that your mother had made it for you.”

Gris was startled. The room that Dirk described was not far off from how it was now.

“You remember it all…?” she whispered.

Dirk nodded easily as if the memory resided within the forefront of his mind.

“That’s because you often locked me in that room. You did it to stop me from doing bad things and annoying you.”

Gris listened attentively to his words and tilted her head.

“My room is on the first floor. Couldn’t you have escaped through the window?”

Dirk shook his head and smiled with crinkled eyes.

“I liked it when you would show up later and hug me, even if it was late.”

From how fondly he described their interactions, Gris finally realized the secret he had been hiding.

“Ah…”

She lamented Dirk’s predicament and became filled with remorse over her role in it.

You… You’ve loved Yuliana since you were a child.

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The atmosphere between them clumsily subsided. Dirk decided to change the subject to Adele to lessen the awkwardness.

“That’s right, Adele wanted to give you a portrait as a present, so she prepared some oil painting supplies. I hope tomorrow is good. I mean, I hope the weather is pleasant tomorrow.”

Gris did not notice that they were already passing the lobby. She unconsciously peeked at the entrance where she caught sight of Duke Vianut recently returned from his errand.

She was momentarily surprised but then bowed her head to acknowledge his presence. The Grand Duke’s eyes immediately glanced at her pink skirt.

Gris wondered what the duke thought of the current situation. Did he also hope for Maria to capture Dirk as soon as possible so that the Byrenhags could reap the benefits of their alliance?

Vianut’s gaze was very intimidating. All she could do was exchange pleasantries with him and go through the motions of her role, as she usually did.

“Your Highness, was your trip to the port successful?”

Gris planned to just formally greet Vianut and then excuse herself from the room. The Grand Duke was about to approach the stairs but stopped and turned slightly to face them.

His expression was inordinately cold. Gris had been on the receiving end of many of his inhospitable looks before, but even she was unaccustomed to how frigid he was today. Well, she supposed there was no reason for there to be any warmth between them in the first place.

Gris stepped back and hid behind Dirk. Vianut motioned to greet Dirk, so Gris vacated her place. He welcomed Dirk and thanked him for coming to the Byrenhag estate.

“It’s nothing, Your Highness,” Dirk’s voice was kind as he shook the duke’s hand. “I am grateful to you for allowing me to meet your beautiful sister again. She has grown into a fine young woman.”

Gris wasn’t able to see over Dirk’s tall shoulder and catch what kind of reaction Duke Vianut had to his words. She just imagined his handsome face was full of weariness.

After finishing their simple exchange, Vianut proceeded up the stairs. As usual, he didn’t even look back.

♛

Several days passed Gris in the blink of an eye. Afraid that any abnormal or avoidant behaviors would reveal her identity, she agreed to be dragged around everywhere even though it was awkward for her.

It had been three days since their new guests arrived at the estate. Stephan had left for Talsbarg because of a problem within the marquis’ territory.

Dirk and Adele, who were raised as aristocrats, were far more pleasant and polite than Gris anticipated. Occasionally, Adele did complain about indigestion, which caused her to skip meals or become nauseous at the sight of food. Her condition had made the chef anxious over preparing their meals, but that was all.

Normally, Adele slept for more than half the day. As a result, Gris became more comfortable with paying most of her attention to Dirk, although she did struggle to suppress her nervousness every time she was alone with him.

Gris eventually developed an unconscious habit of touching her earrings from time to time. Fortunately, the piercings were healing well, and she strangely enjoyed the sensation of her sore earlobes. That sensation, however, was constantly accompanied by the thought of the Grand Duke’s hands on her ear and an ardent desire to feel his breath on her skin once more. It seemed like an injury that would not heal until the question was answered. .

She thought back to the rush of heady emotions that had consumed her when he had pierced her ears. Why had she felt that way? Why did he say those words with the lips that seemed to remain after deeply kissing…

“Goodbye, Maria.”

She wished she had seen his face when he bade her goodnight. She wanted to know if he genuinely meant it or if he was mocking her again by using her prostitute name…

Gris sat in front of her window, listening to the rain patter lazily against the glass. It had started raining around dawn and not yet let up, so the gardeners were given a reprieve from their work today. As a result, it was quiet outside.

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