The Ruthless Circumstances of the Monstrous Duke - Chapter 31

Like rust forming on a polished brass bowl, like mold growing on luscious fruit, like insects clinging to the back of fresh leaves, he kept intruding unwelcomely into various parts of my daily life.

Lost in various thoughts, Marienne walked weakly and took off her shoes due to a stinging pain.

There was blood on the heel of her stocking, as if it had been rubbed.

Sighing, she put her shoes back on.

Now that she was conscious of the wound, it stung with every step.

But she couldn’t just take off her shoes anywhere like before. Not for a well-mannered lady who had heard it until her ears were calloused.

Marienne walked slowly, dragging her feet.

“Master, are you coming now?”

Marienne’s back straightened at the sense of the Duke’s presence behind her.

She pressed herself against the wall to avoid the Duke and his retainers.

Trying to walk without showing the pain, her forehead was covered in sweat.

As the Duke passed by, Marienne slightly bent her knees.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen you.”

He passed by with a light bow, without even a brief greeting.

The knights following him also greeted Marienne before following their lord.

Left alone desolately, Marienne watched his back as he climbed the stairs.

The minor wound seemed to sting and hurt even more after seeing him.

Marienne closed her eyes while leaning against the wall and repeated to herself.

Three hundred deniso, three silver coins, just that much, only up to there.

It was when Marienne opened her eyes, calming her precariously swaying heart,

That surprisingly, the Duke had approached.

“Did you have something to say to me……”

“Take off your shoes.”

Marienne subtly pulled back her injured foot under her skirt while glancing at the knights.

She didn’t want to show her feet hurt from learning ballroom dancing belatedly or her sweaty appearance.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Nigel, who had been looking at her coldly, knelt on one knee and reached under her skirt to pull out her left foot.

Hector inhaled sharply. Theo pushed his impulsive friend’s shoulder, signaling him to keep his mouth shut.

Ignoring the knights looking around, Nigel unhesitatingly took off Marienne’s shoe.

As expected, the heel of the white stocking was soaked red.

“No, let go.”

Marienne tried to pull her foot away with a bright red face while glancing at the knights.

But far from letting go of her foot, Nigel suddenly picked Marienne up in his arms.

The sound of shoes falling to the floor was drowned out by the knights’ awkward coughs.

“Your Grace!”

“I don’t like your precious body getting hurt. Don’t overdo it.”

“What?”

Nigel lowered his lips to the confused Marienne. It was a pure and brief kiss.

When her eyes widened, Nigel lifted the corner of his mouth charmingly.

“Bloody hell!”

A dramatic exclamation finally burst out from Hector.

“You all go ahead.”

“Yes, Commander.”

The knights all bowed their heads in unison.

Nigel carried Marienne and climbed the stairs as lightly as a feather.

Marienne was dazed until she was carried through dozens of steps to the third floor, along a long corridor, through an opening door, and laid on the bed.

Is this a dream?

“What’s with that stiff and sour expression? You’re awkward even in front of Louer’s knights, yet you think you can pretend to be a bella at the imperial palace? You think just learning to dance and poring over history books is enough?”

Ah…… so this is reality.

Marienne’s eyes cooled instantly.

“I’m trying. Even though you weren’t by my side, I tried. You said you’d teach me history, but I just read books alone. I practiced dancing with the servants taking turns instead of you. Does my stiff and sour expression bother you? Should I draw you on the wall and practice my expressions?”

He frowned, seemingly finding her ridiculous.

“Seems like you’ve got a lot pent up.”

“I can’t say I don’t. It’s true that you didn’t help. At least if we were a bella, if we were lovers, we would be close together……”

Nigel sat on the edge of the tall bed next to Marienne and leaned in.

She leaned back, distancing herself from the man right in front of her face.

“Why are you avoiding me? Didn’t you say to act like lovers up close?”

“You’re startling me by suddenly acting like this.”

Marienne glared at Nigel while pursing her lips primly.

“Would you please back off a bit? Unless you want a headbutt.”

Nigel chuckled and lowered his gaze, then stared at her intently again.

“You, why do you shake me up like this.”

“……”

“With provocative actions, with odd words, as if you’re deliberately doing it on purpose.”

“I’ve never done that.”

Marienne wanted to kick away her own heart that had started pounding and dancing. Her mouth went dry, afraid the thumping sound might be heard.

“Your eyes and lips, your hair and that scent……”

He paused for a moment, furrowing his brows as he spoke.

“I’m crazy about everything about you.”

Marienne raised her lowered gaze and fixed it on him.

It was overwhelming to accept such unbelievable words.

“Are you…… are you confessing that you like me?”

Nigel gently cupped Marienne’s cheek. Then he tilted his head and drew close to her lips.

Digging her nails into the sheets at his heavy scent, Marienne closed her eyes.

But their lips didn’t meet, and only a chuckle was heard.

“Is this enough satisfactory practice?”

Marienne opened her eyes in a daze, grasped the situation, and clutched the sheets.

“Yes. That’s enough.”

“It’s not easy to act without sincerity. But seeing you willing to try even by drawing pictures, I’ll help out occasionally.”

“Thank you.”

“No need. It’s for my sake anyway.”

Marienne forced a smile with trembling lips.

“How’s your foot?”

“It’s fine.”

“Take it off. I’ll check if you’ve strained a tendon.”

“You can stop practicing now. I can do it alone, so please go!”

Her voice rose sharply before she could help it.

Marienne hurriedly put on a smile.

“I’m sorry. I must be a bit irritable because I’m tired. Don’t worry, I’ll treat the wound.”

What a stubborn and willful man.

As expected, he ignored her words and pulled out her injured foot.

“Take off your stocking.”

“Please just go.”

“Should I do it?”

“Why are you really doing this? Is it fun to play with me?”

Nigel, holding Marienne’s foot, asked in a low voice.

“Does it look like I’m having fun?”

“Yes. It seems so. You’re cold then suddenly kind…… Is this practice too? If so, please tell me in advance. I’m not smart, so I get confused.”

“What are you confused about?”

Marienne’s eyes welled up as she clenched her teeth.

Nigel lifted her skirt and untied the ribbon holding up her stocking on her thigh.

“I don’t want to tell you.”

He rolled down her stocking along the line of her leg. Then he carefully peeled off the fabric stuck to the wound and examined whether her instep and ankle were injured.

“Fine. Don’t ever say it. I don’t want to hear about your feelings anyway.”

After confirming there was no major problem, Nigel let go of her foot and stood up.

“Soon we’ll have to go to Rockshield to introduce you to my mother. After that, we need to attend the Emperor’s birthday banquet. If you don’t want to embarrass me by limping, don’t be stupid and practice according to your physical condition. I mean don’t just go along with whatever the Baroness says. I’ll talk to her too.”

“I’m sorry for causing you concern.”

“Say that to your feet. Throw away shoes like these.”

“Yes.”

Marienne lowered her head weakly as she answered. Fatigue washed over her.

“How are you eating?”

“I eat at the dining hall where the knights eat.”

“With the Baroness?”

“No. The Baroness is unwell, so she eats in her room.”

“And you?”

Marienne answered quizzically to his probing question.

“I eat alone.”

He looked down at Marienne for a moment before making an unexpected suggestion.

“From today, have dinner with me in my room. It’s difficult to match times for breakfast or lunch.”

“Do I look pitiful to you? You don’t need to do that. I’m used to it.”

“I’m not leisurely enough to needlessly sympathize with others. I somewhat agree with your point that we need to practice together, so that’s why I’m making this offer. Rest for now, and when it’s time, come to me starting from today.”

“Alright.”

As Nigel left the room, Marienne flopped down on the bed.

She stared blankly at the ceiling, then bit her lip at the sudden wave of upset feelings.

She felt upset for being constantly shaken by a man who wouldn’t give even a fingernail’s worth of closeness.

She wanted to cut away her feelings cleanly. Or put them in a box and throw them somewhere they could never be found again.

“Nigel Bernac is a person whose life’s meaning is to extinguish the light in my eyes and erase the smile from my lips. To extinguish the light in my eyes and from my lips……”

Marienne kept muttering his th*rny words like a prayer.

So that she would never forget, so that she could never be mistaken. She said it over and over again.

She didn’t stop until her soft whimpers subsided into whispers.