Chapter 66

“Hello. I am Diana of the Nordic family.”

“Hello. I am Amanda of the Nordic family.”

Meia just smiled without saying anything. Instead, it was Ash who was flustered by her confident demeanor and smile.

“Could the young lady also introduce herself?”

At that moment, the door of the Grand Ducal residence opened.

“She is…”

Theodore walked out with an annoyed expression behind Meia and said,

“She is Lady Meia Hatzbellua of the Carpen Empire’s Hatzbellua Ducal family.”

Diana looked at Theodore in awe as he walked out. But the moment Theodore reached out his hand to Meia, Diana’s face turned to despair. Ash also looked at the two with a similar expression to Diana’s.

Lady Nordic signaled her son and daughter to come to their senses by poking their sides with her fan.

“So, you are a lady, haha.”

“You are the mage who came to the Grand Ducal house, hoho.”

Lady Nordic awkwardly laughed and quickly scanned Meia from head to toe.

“Butler Venable.”

Venable, who followed, bowed politely to Meia and replied.

“Yes, my lady.”

“Summon the knights at the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence and reassign them to knights who adhere to basic rules.”

“Understood, my lady.”

Lady Nordic had imagined the fateful first meeting of her daughter and Grand Duke Theodore immediately upon arrival at the office. However, that rosy first meeting did not occur.

Above all, Theodore was holding Meia’s hand and looking at her with the eyes of a man in love! Lady Nordic couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was going wrong.

Before Lady Nordic arrived.

<I will extend my right hand.>

<Do you really have to?>

<That’s the best way to intimidate them.>

<Extending your hand means allowing Young Master Ash to kiss your hand…>

Theodore said sulkily.

<It’s just one of the common etiquette in social circles.>

<I don’t like it. Just imagining another man’s lips touching your hand makes me want to kill him, Lady Meia.>

Meia felt her heart pounding as she looked at Theodore’s face, which had suddenly approached her own. Why did his words make her feel so good? Why did a smile naturally form? She wanted to touch his cheek.

<I feel ashamed of myself for being jealous.>

He raised one hand to caress Meia’s cheek.

<What are you doing?>

The usual gentle Theodore was nowhere to be seen. Yet, she keep smiling at his words of jealousy.

<Are you asking because you don’t know?>

<You’re touching my cheek.>

<It’s fortunate that you know, my lady.>

<I’m asking because I know. Why are you touching my cheek?>

<For the same reason you touch mine, my lady.>

Shrugging his shoulders, Theodore stroked her cheek as if he found Meia even more lovable.

In his straightforward black eyes, Meia saw her reflection.

Meia extended her hand to Theodore and said,

<Would you kiss the back of my hand?>

Theodore’s expression began to fill with surprise. Then, as if making a decision, he gently grasped Meia’s hand and kissed it. For a long time.

He didn’t let go of Meia’s hand for quite a while.

Meia’s heart fluttered every time she felt his breath and breathing on the back of her hand. It was the first time she felt such a strange sensation. His breath traveled from her wrist and arm to her shoulder, making her whole body tremble.

<Grand Duke Theodore.>

At Meia’s call, Theodore lifted his lips from the back of her hand and caressed her flushed cheek.

She accepted him touching her face and now even allowed him to kiss the back of her hand.

‘What on earth have I done? I must be out of my mind.’

His large palm covered the back of Meia’s hand.

<May I kiss the back of your hand again?>

<What?>

<You said yes.>

With those words, Theodore pulled Meia into his embrace.

Meia was so surprised and tense that she swallowed hard. Every time she tried to pull her body back, Theodore held her tighter and pulled her closer.

<Wait, wait a minute!>

The strength in his arms loosened. When she lifted her head, their eyes met. They didn’t avoid each other’s gaze. She should have scolded him for his rudeness in hugging her, but instead, Meia openly stroked his cheek.

She didn’t know why she acted that way. She just wanted to. Her mind and actions keep acting separately.

His black eyes persistently gazed at her.

She tried to withdraw her hand from his cheek, but Theodore grabbed Meia’s hand before she could, interlaced their fingers, and brought them to his lips. Meia, too surprised, tried to pull her hand away, but the more she tried, the more she felt his grip tighten.

<It was you who told me to kiss the back of your hand, Lady Meia.>

Every time she felt the soft touch of his lips, her heart kept pounding.

<Do you dislike me kissing the back of your hand?>

‘What is he saying? Dislike? No, rather, I…’

<If you dislike it, push me away and slap me.>

<I never said I disliked it.>

At those words, Theodore curved his lips into a smile and pulled Meia closer with more strength. Thanks to that, Meia’s upper body was completely buried in Theodore’s arms.

Theodore’s breath lingered near her ear, and his lips touched her earlobe.

<Please don’t dislike me. That’s all I ask. I will love you more.>

The heat gathered so much in her face that even the inside of her eyelids felt hot. It was… difficult to escape Theodore’s desperate embrace. No, it’s an excuse to say it was difficult. She didn’t want to escape.

His eyes softened and curved.

When Theodore’s arms loosened, Meia slipped out of his embrace. Seeing her quickly pull away, Theodore looked immensely disappointed.

<Lady Meia.>

His sweet voice, enough to make her dizzy, felt like it warmly caressed her cheek.

Meia was embarrassed to show Theodore her flushed face and turned her head.

But he cupped her cheeks and made her look at him.

Seeing Meia’s reddened cheeks, Theodore smiled brightly. Then he lowered his hand and pulled her waist closer.

Until Venable knocked, Theodore happily smiled at Meia, grateful for this miraculous moment.

In front of the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence where Lady Nordic arrived.

There was only one reason for calling the knights guarding the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence. It was because they failed to adhere to the basics.

<Master, Lady Nordic, Young Master and Young Lady Nordic have arrived in front of the mansion.>

Meia couldn’t hide her astonishment at Venable’s words.

<I permitted Lady Nordic’s visit, but she is currently on leave, Venable.>

<That is correct, Master.>

<Butler Venable.>

<Yes, my lady.>

<The people working at the Florence Grand Ducal residence lack manners towards their master.>

There are two reasons knights stand at the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence. One is to ensure the safety of visiting guests, and the other is to inform about the visiting guests. This is the basic duty of the knights guarding the entrance.

However, because they recognized Lady Nordic’s face, they immediately called for a carriage and opened the entrance door without reporting to Grand Duke Florence, whom they serve.

If they were retainers working at the Grand Ducal residence, they should have reported first before allowing entry.

Moreover, there were first-time visitors to the Grand Ducal residence, those Young Master and Young Lady Nordic.

<Venable, so they are in front of the mansion?>

<Yes, I did not receive an order from the master to let them into the mansion, so I told them to wait in front of the mansion and came up to report to you.>

It was only after Gerard Chesser and Drenison Chapel, who were guarding the entrance, ran to the mansion’s entrance.

Until then, Lady Nordic couldn’t understand why the knights at the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence were summoned and why they couldn’t enter the mansion.

“I am Gerard Chesser of the 1st Knight Order.”

“I am Drenison Chapel of the 1st Knight Order.”

Meia whispered softly to Theodore.

<I will punish the knights.>

<Lady Meia, if you don’t, I will.>

Meia stepped forward and coldly addressed the newly arrived knights.

“From today, the knights guarding the entrance will be changed. Sir Chesser and Sir Chapel will be disciplined for three months and have their pay reduced.”

Everyone present froze like stone at Meia’s sudden words.

Sir Chesser, who heard the story, asked in confusion.

“Wha-what do you mean! We haven’t done anything wrong. If we have, please tell us! Suddenly calling the knights at the entrance and reducing our pay and disciplining us!”

“That’s right.”

Theodore glared coldly at the protesting knights.

Seeing them claim injustice without even realizing their wrongdoing made reducing their pay and disciplining them seem insufficient. The knights seemed unaware of how generous a punishment Meia had given.

“Sir Chesser, since when did you start allowing visitors to bring carriages and come to the entrance of the Grand Ducal residence without reporting?”

Sir Chesser realized his mistake at Meia’s words.

“Well…”

Even if they were retainers, they should have informed Grand Duke Florence inside the mansion from the entrance.

“I forgot because I was happy to see Lady Nordic. I’m sorry.”

At Sir Chesser’s words, Meia continued.

“Young Master and Young Lady Nordic are first-time visitors here. If, by any chance, an assassin disguised themselves, could you take responsibility for any potential incidents?”

It’s a hundred times right. Assassins can disguise themselves in any way to infiltrate.

Therefore, they must thoroughly verify at the entrance and only open it after receiving permission.

Earlier, they acted in a way that put their lord, Theodore, in danger.

Sir Chapel and Sir Chesser bowed their heads and said.

“Three months of pay cut and discipline. Thank you for your generous treatment.”

“A mistake should happen only once, right?”

“We are sorry. Thank you for the generous discipline.”