-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 34
Chapter Title: Cake Bribes and Spy Games
-----------------------------------------------------------------
"Not at all."
As Duke Essel refuted him with a laugh, Elena played coy.
The fact that she went along with his casual speech showed just how close they really were.
'To think Mother would praise me like that.'
Well, I had been the perfect daughter-in-law lately.
I felt a swell of pride and forgot all about keeping my guard up against Duke Essel, my shoulders lifting with a little shimmy.
That was when it happened. A chill prickled from somewhere, and a cool voice cut into the conversation.
"What could be so amusing?"
"Your Grace."
Duke Essel spotted Grand Duke Hadellus and gave a polite bow.
Elena wiped the smile from her face as if it had never been there and turned to the Grand Duke. He looked sour—probably from a long day.
I scurried over and dipped into a curtsy.
"Out for a stroll, Father?"
"Yes. I thought a walk might help me rest, but it's only made me more tired."
The Grand Duke pressed his fingers to his brow as he answered. He'd been swamped catching up on work lately, and he looked the part.
Grand Duke Hadellus turned to Duke Essel with rote politeness.
"I trust your stay has been comfortable?"
"Of course. As you can see."
Duke Essel's expression darkened to match. For a moment, it even seemed like he despised the Grand Duke—which struck me as odd.
The warm atmosphere from moments ago chilled over in an instant.
'What's this? What's with the vibe?'
Clearly, Grand Duke Hadellus and Duke Essel weren't on good terms.
Then Duke Essel glanced at Elena and spoke.
"Well, work is work, but it's been fun catching up with an old friend. Someone keeps tossing my letters."
That "someone" sure sounded like Grand Duke Hadellus.
Sure enough, the Grand Duke's eyebrow twitched. He couldn't hold back any longer.
"Even if you're friends, isn't it rude to keep contacting a married woman?"
"They say the eye sees what it wants. Don't twist my pure friendship with Elena."
"Pure? Any purity froze to death long ago. You think I don't know you trailed after her like a puppy when you were kids?"
"You're one to talk, Demian."
Their words grew shorter, the air turning icier.
'Drama! This is a love triangle spat.'
I finally caught on to their bickering and my eyes sparkled with excitement.
I had no idea what the details were, but it was prime material for a romance novel.
No popcorn in sight, so I chewed my lip instead when Elena jumped in.
"Don't do anything misleading in front of the child."
And with that, she casually covered my eyes.
'Excuse me, Mother. I want to watch! Remove the hand.'
The two finally noticed me and held their tongues.
Just as it was getting good, Elena ruined it. She turned to Grand Duke Hadellus.
"Did you tamper with my letters, Your Grace?"
"A mistake."
"Two letters before he even arrived here—that's no 'mistake.'"
Duke Essel sniped, and the Grand Duke's eyes flashed. Elena cut him off and addressed the Grand Duke.
"Don't let it happen again."
"Would I?"
Demian answered Elena's plea with a quick grin—a smile clearly aimed at Duke Essel.
Spousal solidarity, I suppose. Duke Essel shrugged and turned to me warmly.
"Come to the capital sometime, and I'll introduce you to my daughter. She's your age—you'll get along."
Huh? The villainess?
I made a face, and Duke Essel continued.
"Sweet girl. A bit scatterbrained, but she'll make a fine friend. Right, Elena?"
"Cassie? Sure."
Elena shrugged in vague agreement.
But the villainess, sweet? No way...
Parental bias blinding them? Even Elena agreed, leaving me confused.
I nodded reluctantly, and Duke Essel grinned and bowed.
"Then I'll take my leave."
As Duke Essel departed, Elena fixed the Grand Duke with a flat stare.
"You have the letters, don't you?"
"No. I burned them already."
"Hah."
Elena looked exasperated.
"Why burn them?"
"I said it was a mistake."
"Handy how your 'mistakes' only hit Douglas's letters."
"Yes. Quite selective."
The Grand Duchess chewed her lower lip as he snarked back. Then Elena spoke, suspicion in her eyes.
"Don't tell me this is about the Eviss Mine..."
"Do I seem that petty to you, my dear?"
"Yes."
"Good eye. My stomach still hurts."
The Grand Duke answered promptly, clutching his belly in mock agony.
The Grand Duchess's lips twitched in disbelief.
I caught her muttering, "Knew it," so she'd seen through him but backed him anyway—for his pride, no doubt. Couldn't admit a stomachache publicly.
I watched their exchange with keen interest.
'Hmm, still at each other's throats.'
These days, I felt bored without their bickering.
But if it went on, sparks would fly again, so I stepped in as mediator.
"My legs hurt."
I hurried them along, and Demian offered Elena his arm.
"Shall I escort you?"
"Roena, let's go."
But Elena ignored it, grabbing my hand instead. I let her lead me away.
Glancing back, I saw the Grand Duke standing there, shoulders shaking with silent laughter. He found the whole thing hilarious.
'Typical. What a personality disaster.'
I shot him a weird look and faced forward again.
A lazy afternoon, and Grand Duke Hadellus suddenly summoned me.
"Seya."
"Yes, Father?"
"Seya."
"Yes? What is it?"
"Seya."
What? Am I talking to a broken recorder?
I eyed the Grand Duke warily in the study. Since I arrived, he'd done nothing but repeat "Seya."
I'd thought something urgent brought me here, but a tray sat ready with cake and fruit wafting sweet scents—clearly prepared for me.
I didn't drop my guard at the obvious snack spread.
His eyes screamed bribe!
I stopped responding, and he propped his chin, intoning the dreaded "Seya" again.
"Seya."
"Keep this up, and I'm leaving."
I stood abruptly, but he grabbed my hand. With a sigh, I flopped back onto the sofa.
"So impatient. I had dessert prepared just for you."
"You're just staring—won't let me eat."
"The Grand Duchess seems upset with me, don't you think?"
He ignored me and launched into his tale.
Yep—he held the fork himself, dangling the desserts out of reach to tease me.
'Not letting this slide.'
My fists trembled, but I held back for Aquid's sake. Breathe in, out.
Couldn't eat cake with my hands, so I stared longingly at the fork in his grip.
"No idea."
"No, she's been avoiding me lately."
Who wouldn't dodge you?}
I recalled his recent pranks. He'd pick fights whenever he saw the Grand Duchess, ruining any progress in their relationship.
Now she winced and backed away at the sight of him.
Took him this long to notice? Father's awareness must be in his soles.
The culprit who turned the desserts into a mirage got no sympathy from me.
I stared at him sullenly, and he muttered.
"Maybe it's because I burned Douglas's letters."
"Pardon?"
Duke Essel popping up out of nowhere made me tilt my head.
Letters aside, Father's loose-lipped antics pissed off the Grand Duchess more.
Did he really not know?
Or was he playing dumb on purpose?
What was wrong with his personality?
As I mentally roasted him, he speared a perfect bite and held it out.
"Ah."
"Ah."
I opened wide on command and took the bite. Starved for it, it tasted divine.
He fed me a couple more from different cakes.
No clue why he insisted on holding the fork, but I played along.
By the time one cake was gone, he grinned.
"So, here's the thing, Seya."
"?"
"Keep an eye on Duke Essel for me. He seems lenient with you, that guy."
What?!
His out-of-nowhere spy pitch widened my eyes.
This father thought a cake could buy me?
As I geared up to refuse firmly, he pulled something out.
'That's...!'
