Chapter 56. Why Does It Feel Strange?

* * *

Yuelina entered the dining room wearing a comfortable dress suitable for activities.

Theo had arrived early and was already seated at the table.

“You’re here early.”

Yuelina smiled warmly at him.

Theo stood up and pulled out her chair.

“Thank you, always.”

She sat down with a bright smile. Theo easily pushed in her chair.

“You sat down well.”

“Pardon?”

Yuelina tilted her head, wondering if she had misheard.

“Sitting in a chair properly is quite difficult. You did very well.”

Theo said calmly as he sat down across from her. Yuelina awkwardly nodded.

Though she wasn’t sure what sitting well meant, it felt odd to ask about it.

Soon after, the food started being served.

As usual, Yuelina looked at the elaborate and appetizing food placed on the table before tearing off a piece of appetizer bread and putting it in her mouth.

It was a savory bread that became sweeter the more she chewed.

Not wanting to miss this first taste, she always ate the appetizer bread first, even with other delicious dishes in front of her.

“You eat bread well. Very well done.”

“……?”

Yuelina blinked at Theo’s strange praise.

Theo stared intently at such a Yuelina.

“You blink your eyes very well.”

“……”

“It’s pretty.”

Suddenly, Yuelina’s cheeks turned red.

Though it was strange praise, Theo’s words were clearly full of affection for her.

“Try this too.”

Theo placed some grilled mushrooms on Yuelina’s plate as she lowered her head in embarrassment.

“Th-thank you.”

Yuelina picked up a mushroom with her fork and chewed it carefully.

“Would you like another?”

Theo moved all the mushrooms from his plate to Yuelina’s.

“You eat so well. It’s lovely to watch. You’re good and pretty.”

Theo openly praised Yuelina without changing his expression.

Yuelina didn’t know what to do with herself.

Usually, she was the one chattering during meals, but somehow the roles seemed reversed.

“Since you ate well, we should go for a walk.”

“A walk?”

“Yes. If you walk well, you can have delicious dessert too.”

Yuelina’s eyes widened.

Both the walk and dessert were things that Yuelina usually suggested to Theo first.

She shrugged her shoulders as she watched Theo listing all the things she liked.

Theo grinned.

Taming.

It was working.

* * *

Yuelina sat at the attic table with her chin propped on her arm.

With a dazed expression, she would take deep round breaths, chuckled occasionally, and fan herself as if feeling hot.

Maelyn, who was brewing tea, tilted her head as she looked at the somewhat flushed Yuelina.

“Your Highness, did something good happen?”

“Huh?”

“You keep smiling.”

At Maelyn’s question, Yuelina’s cheeks turned red.

“Well, His Highness the Grand Duke was a bit strange today…”

“Strange?”

Yuelina recalled Theo’s behavior.

During lunch, Theo had showered her with endless compliments.

Sudden remarks about how lovely it was to watch her eat, how elegant she looked holding her fork.

Encouraged by Theo’s praise, Yuelina ate a lot for lunch.

Usually, she would barely finish one plate, but today she easily cleared two.

And how about during their walk after lunch?

Yuelina walked alongside Theo all the way to the path in the hunting grounds.

“Theo, hydrangeas usually wilt quickly because their fragrance is light, but isn’t it interesting to see them blooming together with cosmos?”

“Indeed. You’re so smart, Yuna.”

Even during their usual conversation about flowers and trees, Theo praised Yuelina generously.

“Shall we go further?”

“Really?”

Not only that, but he walked with her for over two hours. They even went near the Black Mansion.

Afterward, he gave her dessert, saying she had walked very well.

It was a special chestnut pie made by the chef. The pie was a masterpiece with savory candied chestnuts as decoration and soft, sweet cream filling.

“You eat well.”

Theo patted Yuelina’s head gently.

She ate her meals well, walked well, and even got treats.

It was the best day for Yuelina.

But somehow it felt strange.

Yuelina touched her small head.

It wasn’t a light touch as if brushing something off her hair. It was just a gentle touch on her head.

Though it was an affectionate touch full of praise, why did it feel strange?

Just then, Maelyn served well-brewed tea in front of Yuelina.

Yuelina gestured for Maelyn to sit in the chair opposite her.

“Maelyn. His Highness praised me today, saying I walk well and eat well.”

“Really? His Highness the Grand Duke praised you?”

Maelyn’s eyes widened.

To Maelyn, Theo still seemed closer to the image of a fearsome Grand Duke.

Of course, thanks to Yuelina, she had been seeing new sides of Theo, but she still found him uncomfortable and scary.

Maelyn was Ulysse’s sister. Because of this, she often heard stories about Theo even when she didn’t want to.

Of course, Ulysse was typically quiet. He usually refrained from talking about his lord. But things were different when he was under anesthesia.

When Ulysse returned from war, he often came home severely wounded.

Maelyn frequently nursed him while treating his wounds. During those times, Ulysse would talk about the war while under the influence of anesthesia.

Everything Ulysse said about Theo while under anesthesia was cruel and terrible.

Maelyn found it hard to tell whether the Theo that Ulysse spoke of was human or truly a murderer.

Come on, how could a person be like that!

Maelyn would laugh off Ulysse’s words, not believing them.

However, the Grand Duke she actually encountered seemed capable of being exactly like that, and more.

His large build gave off a pressure like a mountain, his cold gaze. His expression made it impossible to know what he was thinking.

Every time his gaze fell on Maelyn, she would tremble without realizing it.

If it weren’t for the fact that she was next to the radiant and gentle Yuelina, Maelyn might have run away.

What was even more fortunate was that Theo became as docile as a lamb in front of his wife.

Though even that appearance seemed to Maelyn like a wolf wearing sheep’s clothing.

For such a Theo to praise Yuelina…

Maelyn was simply amazed.

“From what I know, His Highness the Grand Duke is stingy with praise!”

“Really?”

“Yes! Even with my brother, the times he’s said ‘well done’ can be counted on one hand. My brother would always grumble about it.”

Maelyn smiled brightly at Yuelina.

“I think His Highness the Grand Duke must really like Your Highness.”

“…You think so?”

“Of course! Since Your Highness arrived, His Highness has been taking walks around the mansion and even going to the plaza!”

Maelyn nodded vigorously as she continued.

“Before Your Highness came, His Highness’s daily routine was drinking and sleeping, drinking and sleeping…”

Maelyn paused and laughed awkwardly.

“Ha, ha, haha!! A-anyway, there’s no doubt that Your Highness is changing His Highness for the better.”

“Do you really think so?”

“Of course! They say marriage brings responsibility, and it seems that’s true!”

Yuelina touched her warm cheeks.

She had thought Theo’s praise felt a bit strange, but it seemed her concerns were unfounded.

Marriage.

Yuelina often forgot that she was married to Theo.

Though she had become his Grand Duchess, his wife through marriage, not much had changed.

Yuelina still stayed in the attic, and her time with Theo was limited to walks and meals.

Those times were precious to Yuelina, but they also felt bitter as they seemed like times that would never change.

But lately, Theo had been speaking to her with affection and praise.

That was a small, no, an enormous change.

It also meant that Theo’s feelings for her as his wife were growing stronger.

As that thought occurred to her, Yuelina gently brushed her hair back with a smile curving her lips.

She felt shy and her heart grew warm for no reason.