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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 12
Chapter Title: Will You Let Me Go?
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Roje placed one hand over her chest and bowed her head towards Grand Duke Arteum.
“Thank you, Grand Duke.”
Grand Duke Arteum glanced at Eric, who was standing idly by himself in the distance, then extended his hand to Roje.
“Let’s go.”
It seemed he had noticed that Eric had no intention of escorting Roje. Roje gazed down at Grand Duke Arteum’s hand. Watching the two from afar, Eric’s eyebrows twitched uncomfortably. It was because he was utterly appalled by Grand Duke Arteum touching what he considered his own. How dare he lay a hand on his possession… He strode forward, blocked the Grand Duke’s path, and snatched Roje’s left wrist.
“Ugh.”
A sharp pain shot through her wrist. Her wrist, injured because of Eric, throbbed. Roje bit her lower lip tightly and furrowed her brow.
“It seems you have a great deal of interest in my woman, Grand Duke.”
Eric’s voice was polite, yet laced with thorns. But as the Grand Duke’s cool eyes, which revealed nothing of his thoughts, fixed on him, Eric involuntarily flinched. Grand Duke Arteum’s gaze, which had been on Eric, shifted to Roje. Specifically, to her wrist.
‘Injured, I see.’
Roje’s hand, which had flinched, trembled uncontrollably.
“Because it seemed you were entirely lacking in interest.”
The Grand Duke, in a dry voice, snatched Eric’s hand. Eric, who had been holding Roje, ended up letting go of her wrist. Relieved from the pain, Roje massaged her wrist and took a steadying breath.
“What are you doing? Let go.”
And why was his grip so strong? He tried to pull his arm away by force, but he couldn’t easily escape. At that moment, the Grand Duke and Roje’s eyes met. For some reason, he seemed to be staring intently at her wrist.
‘Could it be… he knew I was hurt and did it on purpose?’
She had endured the pain without even letting out a gasp, not wanting to draw people's attention. But Roje shook her head.
‘No, it couldn’t be.’
In the novel, he wasn’t a particularly considerate person. Rather, he was cruel and ruthless. Roje didn't believe such a person would notice her injury, or even if he did, that he would step forward to help her like this.
“Thank you for the invitation. My wife and I will enjoy our time here.”
Eric, who had barely managed to swat away the Grand Duke’s hand, snarled, unable to hide his animosity towards him. Grand Duke Arteum subtly curved his lips upward and took a step closer to Eric.
“Count. A person, you see, must sometimes hide their claws to achieve their goals.”
The Grand Duke, who had whispered into Eric’s ear, stared at him with cold eyes.
“You are still but a mere fledgling.”
Eric’s eyes momentarily lost focus and wavered. Rage welled up at the Grand Duke’s mocking words, but he couldn’t say anything in front of Grand Duke Arteum, who overwhelmed him with his mere presence. He merely swallowed dryly. Grand Duke Arteum lightly brushed off Eric’s shoulder, then gripped it firmly. His grip was so strong that Eric almost let out an undignified sound.
“Be careful.”
The Grand Duke, whose lips were faintly curved into a half-smile, whispered to Eric with a chilling expression.
“If you ever look at me with such eyes again, I will pluck them out without a trace.”
At the Grand Duke’s chilling voice, Eric’s ears pricked up. It wasn’t an empty threat; it felt as if he would truly blind him. Eric was frozen in place, unable to utter a single word. Grand Duke Arteum turned his back on Eric after that last remark. Eric, who had been speechless in front of Grand Duke Arteum, finally let out a grumbling remark once the Grand Duke was out of sight.
“Ridiculous.”
Amusingly, Eric’s expression remained stiff as he muttered the low curse. Even after the Grand Duke released his grip, a dull ache lingered in his shoulder. Eric, massaging his shoulder, needlessly clenched his fists and trembled.
“He’ll be dead soon anyway… so I’ll let it slide.”
In truth, Eric didn’t harbor any particular ill will toward the Grand Duke. All he cared about were women and power. But he desperately wanted to be properly acknowledged by his parents. Just as Eric’s parents had killed the former Emperor and Empress, Eric now sought to inherit their will and kill their son, the Grand Duke. Though he had become a Count, Eric had yet to truly prove his capabilities. However, if he succeeded in this endeavor, he would not only gain his parents’ approval but also establish himself as a true Count. After standing there for a while, Eric suddenly whipped his head around and glared at Roje.
“You, come see me when we get back.”
Was he taking his frustration out on Roje? He needlessly raised his voice, then huffed and stormed into the ballroom.
“Yes, yes. Whatever you say.”
Roje muttered to herself, watching his retreating figure with a pathetic gaze. Then, she stepped into the ballroom. As Roje entered the ballroom, her eyes widened in awe. She had thought the Count’s mansion was splendid, but the Grand Duke’s estate was incomparably more luxurious. Numerous nobles were already gathered in small groups, spending a boisterous time. As Roje stepped into the ballroom, the nobles glanced at her, then openly stared. The Count, paying no mind to Roje, was flirting with various noble ladies. No one approached her. They merely whispered about Roje amongst themselves.
“How did she even get here?”
“She probably just followed the Count around like a little chick.”
“How pathetic. Would anyone truly want to live like that?”
“I couldn’t live like that. She must have no pride.”
Roje, standing awkwardly alone, looked around the ballroom, wondering who she might speak to. But they not only refused to meet her gaze, but if their eyes did happen to meet hers, they would quickly turn their heads away as if they had seen something unpleasant.
‘It’s harder to strike up a conversation than I thought?’
Roje, who had intended to approach them first, felt with her entire being that high society was not so easily navigated.
‘It’s awkward just standing here, so maybe I should eat something first.’
Roje went to the table laden with finger foods and drinks and picked up a cocktail and some food. As this was practically her debut, Roje had been quite nervous and hadn’t eaten a proper meal until now.
‘This is good.’
She chewed the food in her mouth, a satisfied smile on her face. Perhaps it was because of the day-long tension and stress, but she found herself craving sweet foods even more. Deciding it was more natural to eat and observe her surroundings than to just stand still, Roje picked up a few more desserts in front of her. Then, to quench her thirst, she raised the glass she had been drinking from, when—
“It’s empty.”
The glass was completely empty; she hadn’t even realized when she’d finished it. Roje set the empty glass on the table and reached out to pick up another cocktail. Just as Roje was about to pick up a glass, someone offered her a cocktail.
“Thank you.”
Roje bowed in thanks to the person who had offered her the drink, then looked up, only for her face to stiffen as she saw the man’s face. She had intended to subtly try to strike up a conversation while thanking him…
‘Why is he here again?’
It was Grand Duke Arteum who had offered her the glass. Roje felt quite uncomfortable around the Grand Duke. He was intimidating, and she simply didn’t want to get involved with him. The Grand Duke, seemingly oblivious to Roje’s feelings, showed no intention of leaving.
“Whose taste is that, I wonder.”
“Pardon? Oh, you mean this cocktail?”
Roje lightly swirled the cocktail in her hand, then looked at the Grand Duke.
“No. Not the glass.”
The Grand Duke tapped Roje’s left wrist as he spoke. Roje’s wrist was visibly swollen at a glance. The Grand Duke stared intently at Roje’s hand.
‘He knew I was hurt?’
So, did he really help me earlier? Roje set the cocktail glass down and fiddled with her wrist. It had been uncertain before, but to think he had truly helped her. Roje, with a bewildered expression at the Grand Duke’s unexpected kindness, offered her thanks.
“Thank you for earlier. For catching me when I fell from the carriage…”
…and for helping me escape my husband’s grasp. Roje trailed off, then looked at the Grand Duke. She didn’t feel the need to elaborate on her personal family matters. The Grand Duke didn’t hear Roje’s unspoken words, but he seemed to understand what she wanted to say. He didn’t press further, smoothly shifting the conversation.
“How did you know Luna’s Tear was a fake?”
Roje was momentarily flustered by the Grand Duke’s sudden question. Because she only knew it from reading the novel. Roje, rolling her eyes, blurted out whatever came to mind.
“Um… the real Luna’s Tear shimmers with a reddish glow when light reflects off it, doesn’t it? Th-that wasn’t very visible.”
What nonsense was she even spouting? Roje, rambling incoherently, nervously glanced at the Grand Duke.
“Reddish glow?”
He stared intently at Roje, as if disbelieving. At the Grand Duke’s meaningful gaze fixed upon her, Roje’s heart began to pound uncontrollably. She had merely blurted out a phrase that vaguely came to mind, but for him to look at her with such eyes…
‘I didn’t say anything wrong, did I?’
Roje’s heart felt like it would shrivel up at any moment. Her eyelashes trembled faintly as she forced an awkward smile. The Grand Duke eyed Roje with narrowed eyes. She wanted to escape this place immediately. It was because the repercussions of the lie she had told to escape a momentary crisis felt somehow too significant.
‘…I just want to be alone.’
Please. She wished the Grand Duke would leave, but he showed no sign of going. Roje trembled like a baby bird, looking for an opportunity to distance herself from him. Just then, the music signaling the start of a waltz began to play. Seizing the moment, Roje bowed politely to the Grand Duke.
“Then, if you’ll excuse me.”
Roje, who had thought she could finally escape the Grand Duke, then saw his hand reaching out to hold her, and realized. That things in the world don’t always go as one wishes.
