61 - The Bride of the Great Lord is a Warrior from Hell
The Duke's Bride is a Warrior of Hell 61
"You're trying to make them anxious. Because they're too shy to answer right away."
Henrik earnestly spouted advice from experience.
"Not once, but..."
Reikart, who was speaking without realizing it, suddenly stopped.
The face that had been uncomfortably frowning quickly turned nonchalant.
Well, if it weren't for the trembling in his throat, one might believe he hadn't said anything at all.
"Your Highness."
Henrik stared at Reikart with an astonished gaze.
"Leave."
Reikart said, covering his face with his hand as if to hide his furrowed brow.
The gesture of waving him away was urgent.
"You mustn't give up just because you've been rejected."
Henrik advised with a determined face.
Reikart's expression crumbled.
"Henrik."
"Your Highness is the Lady's fiancé. In the end, the Lady's partner will be Your Highness. But you mustn't become complacent just because you're engaged. You mustn't give up just because you've been rejected. Keep trying until she accepts you!"
"Get out."
"How about sending gifts?"
"I said leave."
Henrik suggested various methods.
Reikart waved his hand roughly, chasing Henrik away.
"Your Highness, a woman's pride...! Your Highness!"
Reikart stopped wallowing around, got up, and personally chased Henrik out of the room.
Henrik called out to him with a pitiful face.
The door was knocked urgently, and a sorrowful call followed.
Reikart pretended not to hear Henrik, who was probably lost in delusional worries, and threw himself onto the bed.
A sigh escaped involuntarily.
Henrik looked for Reikart for a while, but when there was no response, he retreated for the time being.
He would probably come running back soon with an amazing solution, but he decided to forget about it since he had gotten rid of him for now.
Henrik often said silly things, but his words had some merit.
"Pride."
Reikart rolled from one end of the bed to the other and muttered to himself.
The sound of his heart pounding when he hugged Alisha still rang clearly in his ears.
When he confessed, he recalled the face that seemed to have heard something incomprehensible.
Also, the face that shed tears at his absurd request.
He had no right to say anything to the whisper that she didn't like him.
"But..."
Suddenly opened lips stopped before they could finish the mutter.
The paused cheek twitched silently.
The closed lips twisted uncomfortably and then relaxed.
Reikart scratched his neck for no reason.
The face that seemed embarrassed even when alone quickly frowned.
"Treatment?"
Alicia Lane's treatment was excellent.
With just two kisses, she had eliminated the unpleasant noise that had plagued Reikart for over ten years.
The vanished noise showed no sign of returning, even after a full day and into the second.
"She's an amazing healer."
Reikart rolled over to his right and then to his left, trying to grasp the ominous premonition that suddenly descended.
But his mind was quiet.
He tossed and turned in complete peace before leaping out of bed.
"I will go to Ludern."
The sunset was spreading outside the window.
It was an ambiguous evening hour.
Alisha was refusing all external visitors.
But suddenly, a guest barged in.
The unannounced guest was someone who could usurp the seat of honor from Alisha, the owner of Ludern.
"I greet the Grand Duke."
Alisha greeted the man sitting in the seat of honor in the reception room of her own house.
"Have you been well? Please, sit."
Reikart, who had occupied the seat of honor in someone else's reception room, spoke as if he were the owner of the house.
"Has Your Highness been well?"
Alisha replied politely and sat down on a chair.
She had been reading a book in the study when she was suddenly dragged out upon hearing that the Grand Duke was waiting in the reception room.
She couldn't blame the Grand Duke for being rude, but it was difficult to suppress her displeasure.
As Daisy led her from the study to the reception room, Alisha had many thoughts about how she should act.
She was too flustered to think deeply.
She barely managed to recall her determination not to give the impression of being desperate.
Fortunately, Alisha didn't seem desperate.
But she kept blankly staring with a vacant gaze.
Alisha didn't want to do that either.
But from the moment she entered the reception room, she had been staring blankly at the seat of honor.
The sun was setting outside the window, but it felt like sunlight was pouring into the reception room.
It was because of the man sitting leisurely in the chair.
Reikart, who always dressed in a way that didn't deviate too far from etiquette, was dressed in formal attire as if he were going to a party.
His golden eyes stared at Alisha, occasionally offering a faint smile.
"Thanks to you."
Alisha finally came to her senses after meeting the gaze of the amber eyes that were staring intently at her.
The reception room felt strangely warmer than usual.
The weather must have gotten much milder.
Ahem.
Alisha cleared her throat silently, choosing her words as she raised her gaze.
Then she met Reikart's eyes again.
"Are you going to the party today?"
"No."
"Your outfit is pretty."
Alisha wanted to stop talking nonsense.
But whenever she came to her senses, she was either spouting foolish things or letting her gaze wander blankly.
She wasn't even sure what she had just said.
"Ah, because I have to look pretty."
Reikart said with a smile.
Alisha wanted to escape from her dazed state.
It seemed like he was talking to her, but she didn't quite understand.
"..."
Especially considering the Grand Duke's usual temperament.
Alisha encouraged herself, telling herself that as long as she didn't make any big mistakes, it would be fine.
"Aren't you going to give me a kiss today?"
Reikart, sitting with the sunset behind him, said with a slight smile.
His silver-blonde hair caught the light of the sunset and scattered brilliantly.
"Huh? Yes..."
Alisha, flustered, blurted out whatever came to mind.
While she was fumbling, unable to decide what to say.
Clang!
A sharp sound rang out from beside the door.
Daisy, who was bringing in tea, dropped the tray and stood there blankly.
Realizing her mistake, Daisy was startled as if she had been burned.
"I, I apologize! I'll clean it up right away."
It was an uncharacteristic attitude for Daisy.
"Just leave it, Daisy. Let it be cleaned up later."
Alisha tried to chase Daisy away.
Although she couldn't pinpoint the exact reason, she felt as embarrassed as if her family had caught her acting foolish.
Like when she had applied three layers of blush, hoping to look pretty, only to see the disastrous result.
Or when she had tried a different makeup style and realized it looked terrible on her.
Perhaps it was an even worse situation than that.
"No, Miss. I'll clean it up!"
Daisy, who defined the best maid as an invisible, air-like presence, raised her voice.
It seemed like all of Daisy's attention was focused on her ears as she picked up the broken teacups.
"Just go out, Daisy."
Alisha ordered with a forced smile.
"Yes."
Daisy, looking sullen, slowly got up at the firm order.
It was an uncharacteristically sluggish movement for Daisy.
The reception room door closed slowly.
Alisha glared at the seat of honor with dissatisfaction.
She tried to send a clear message of genuine discomfort with her piercing gaze.
But confusion filled her eyes as she looked up.
Reikart, who had been in the seat of honor, got up and approached Alisha.
Reikart, who had come close enough that their clothes brushed against each other, lowered himself to meet the eyes of Alisha, who was sitting in the chair.
"First, I apologize."
"Your Highness..."
"I'm sorry for blaming you and not thanking you for staying by my side to help me, lost in my own thoughts."
Alisha looked at Reikart, who was asking for forgiveness, with difficulty.
"It's okay. It's already in the past. Please, get up."
Alisha tried to lift Reikart, who was kneeling in front of her, first.
So she briefly forgot the real reason he had blamed her.
"Alisha, I think you're misunderstanding something about me. I don't have anyone else I'm meeting in secret from my fiancée. I hope my fiancée doesn't have anyone like that either."
"I don't, I don't have anyone like that."
Alisha quickly replied to Reikart's words.
"To me, my fiancée is only Alicia Reine."
"To me, my fiancé is only Your Highness."
Alisha answered diligently to the words that seemed to be seeking confirmation.
"Go out with me..."
"No."
Alisha got up from her chair.
She felt like she had been betrayed.
No wonder he was dressed to the nines and flashing sweet smiles.
"Alisha."
"No."
Alisha threw another word of rejection at the man kneeling in front of her, who was trying to avoid her by standing to the side.
"I haven't finished speaking yet."
"No. Way."
Alisha said, enunciating each syllable.
"I love you."
At the sweet confession, Alisha took a breath and said.
Strictly, in an unwavering voice.
"I don't love Your Highness."
"I'd like to correct one thing here. Even if we don't get married and only date for the rest of our lives, no one will say that Alicia Lane is no different from a mistress. That's not what we are. Alicia Lane is my one and only legitimate fiancée."
"No."
Alisha said firmly.
"I love you."
Reikart whispered the confession as if he were picking a fight.
Alisha, who had been staring blankly at the face whispering that he loved her, hurriedly averted her gaze.
"...I don't love you."
"Did you know that my hearing is exceptionally good?"
Reikart said, looking intently at Alisha.
Alisha suppressed the urge to curse.
Right now, Alisha was feeling her heart, which felt like it was about to burst, with her whole body.
"I'm, I'm just surprised."
"You're surprised, so please sit down."
Reikart offered politely.
Alisha couldn't find a way to refuse, so she sat back down in the chair.
Reikart wasn't doing anything.
But just the sight of his face flickering in her vision seemed to make her head spin.
His face was indifferent, but the glimpses she caught seemed to exude sweetness.
"..."
Alisha almost waved her hand dismissively.
Damn it.
Alisha tried to pretend that the face she kept looking at didn't exist.
She tried to look elsewhere.
Of course, it was impossible.
Unlike her strong will, the face flowing around her gaze expressed its presence like a gentle spring breeze.
It was a situation similar to being brainwashed while tied hand and foot.
I think I'm going to confess.
Alisha strengthened her resolve every time.
"I'm not going to give up."
"Me neither."
Alisha said without backing down at Reikart's declaration of war.
"You said you thought you knew what my secret was. Excellent. I have no idea."
Reikart politely requested Alisha's hand, which was resting on her knee.
Alisha, who was about to say if he was mocking her, unconsciously reached out her hand.
Reikart brought the back of Alisha's hand to his lips and kissed it with a soft, audible sound.
Soft, tender lips landed on the back of Alisha's right hand.
Then, smiling lips landed on the back of her left hand.
"!"
A mesmerizing face was right in front of Alisha's nose.
They were almost breathing on each other.
"I didn't get a separate treatment today. It's like self-treatment."
Reikart rested his elbow on the armrest of the chair Alisha was sitting on and stared intently at her face.