Chapter 68

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After that, the two locked the basement door and came up to the first floor holding their hands tightly like children who had been on a picnic.

[T/N: They are just two adults who love cuddling like children. o(≧∀≦)o]

Finally, after locking the first-floor door leading to the basement, they turned the corner of the hallway and met Sally and Robert, the butler of Felix’s house, who were waiting for them.

When Sally and Robert saw Arthur and Grace, they bowed deeply and said.

“As Your Highness ordered, we have prepared a meal for the two of you right away.”

“Thank you, Robert.”

“By the way, Madam’s attire is a mess. Shall we get the bath ready right away?”

“… … Ah.”

As Robert pointed out, Grace looked down awkwardly and examined her dress.

The hair that Arthur had brushed off a while ago was in good shape, but the dress she was wearing was a mess with white dust.

When Arthur saw this look, Grace released Arthur’s hand in embarrassment and answered.

“Well, yes. I suppose I should.”

“All right. Sally, please lead my wife to the second floor.”

“Yes. Robert. Madam, please follow me.”

“Yes, Sally.”

Grace, as Sally had requested last time, was awkward but determined in addressing Robert, the butler.

Then, as she tried to follow Sally, who led her to the second floor, Arthur grabbed Grace’s hand and said to Robert.

“My wife must be very hungry. Can’t we eat first?”

“… … No, Arthur. If you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower first. Arthur, aren’t you hungry?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Then give me a moment. Sally, can you attend to me?”

“Yes, as much as you want.”

Grace gently patted the back of Arthur’s hand holding her and followed Sally up to the second floor. Then, she took a quick bath in the warm bath water prepared by Sally.

After that, when Grace changed into a crimson evening dress and came down to the first floor, Robert, the butler, guided her to the banquet hall. As Grace entered the banquet hall, she could see Arthur and Leon, who had already arrived.

Leon was delighted to see Grace coming inside as the banquet hall door opened, and jumped out of the dining table and rushed into her arms.

“Oh, Leon! Did you finish your class? What about your meal?”

“Yes! I was just going to eat alone in the annex, but my brother asked to eat together! I saw that my sister-in-law was in the east tower, too!”

“Did you? Well done!”

Grace bent over to meet Leon’s eyes and greeted him.

Leon smiled brightly and poured out his words loudly. Grace found Leon so cute and patted her plump cheeks lightly, then grabbed Leon’s little hand and walked to the long table where Arthur was.

Arthur stood up from his chair and waited for them to say hello to each other. Then he grabbed Leon, who came back near the table and made him sit in the chair next to him. After that, he pulled out the chair next to him on the other side and spoke to Grace.

“Have a seat here, Madam.”

“Thank you, Arthur.”

[T/N: Arthur is such a gentleman. (～￣▽￣)～]

Grace gladly accepted Arthur’s favour and sat down in the chair he had taken out.

After Grace sat down and saw that she had put a napkin on her lap, Arthur, who was next to her, went back to his seat and waved a little bell beside him. Then, as if they were waiting, the servants put the prepared food on the long table where the three of them sat.

She said to Arthur, looking slightly tired with the dozens of dishes placed on a long table that would have been enough for thirty people to sit comfortably.

“Isn’t it too much for three people to eat?”

“I don’t usually tell them to prepare like this.”

“But?”

“……I’m ashamed, but I don’t know what my wife likes, so I ordered them to prepare as many different dishes as possible, and it ended up like this….”

“… … Ah.”

“I’m ashamed that I don’t know what my wife’s favourite food is, even though I’m your husband. Still, I did it because I thought it would be better than giving out something that didn’t suit my wife’s taste and making my wife uncomfortable to eat.”

Grace looked briefly absent-minded as Arthur explained to her why he had served enough food to fill the entire long table with a shy look.

[T/N: The reaction in Grace’s mind after hearing Arthur’s explanation would be like- Eh(*blush*)..eh(*blush*)…..eeehhhhhhh(*blush*).]

It was difficult to express the feelings of being shy, happy, and embarrassed in words. Arthur then carefully tilted his head toward Grace.

“… … Why do you look like that?”

Arthur’s face when he asked that question seemed to see if Grace was angry with him. Seeing that, Grace smiled lightly and reached out and placed her hand on Arthur’s hand on the table and said.

“No. I’m just, um. Both happy and awkward. This is the first time someone has served me so much food.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. At Alberton Castle, I always had to eat the leftovers after my parents and sister had finished their meals. … It’s embarrassing, but the truth is, that’s why I eat everything well regardless of the food. I didn’t dare to judge my food on the subject of taste or the quality.”

Arthur’s expression hardened as he listened to Grace’s next words.

He turned his hand upside down, clasped Grace’s hand tightly which was on the back of his hand, and said while making eye contact with her.

“From now on, if you don’t like the taste or quantity of food, please feel free to tell me through Sally. You can be as picky as you want to be, my wife. If it doesn’t suit your taste, you can call the chef and order it to be made again right away, and if you want to eat anything, you can order him to get it.”

“… … Arthur.”

“Shall I tell him to keep bringing food here until we know what you like?”

“Oh, no! Don’t do that! Please also consider the hard work of the servants and maids preparing this food. And what about the financial resources you spend to prepare this food? It’s all the taxes of the common people of our province! I’ll hate hearing that the Duke of this land is a wicked lord. Never, never do that.”

“… … If you say so, yes. All right.”

When Grace was frightened and stopped him, Arthur looked reluctant, but he obeyed her.

Seeing that, Grace sighed in relief. It was fortunate that she broke his stubbornness. At the end of the day, she got so much food that she couldn’t finish eating at this long table even almost at every meal.

Thinking maybe Arthur will change his mind and say something about her meal in the annex, Grace spoke as if hurriedly changing the subject.

“Leon! What did you learn today?”

[T/N: Cute Leon is here to save the day! §(*￣▽￣*)§]

“Today I learned about the history of the Empire with Viscount Wellington!”

“Did you? Was it fun?”

“Yes! Viscount Wellington told me how God first created this world, and how magic came into the Empire. And how our forefather, the Duke of Felix, settled in this land!”

“Did Viscount Wellington tell you about our ancestors?”

“Yes, brother! He also told me how brave the first Duke Felix was and how he defeated the ice monsters living in the snowy mountains!”

“Really? It must have been fun!”

“Yes!”

As Grace opened up the door to the conversation, Leon started chattering away and began to confide in what he had learned today.

Arthur, too, seemed interested in Leon’s words and intervened in the conversation. Grace was content with the conversation that naturally shifted the subject as she intended, and continued to respond to Leon’s words.

In the meantime, the servants and maids prepared more food and brought it to the long table in front of the three of them.

When a plate full of crispy-skinned wild boar, grilled deer stuffed with assorted nuts and fruits, a creamy soup with a soft texture and a salad seasoned with wine vinegar and spices were placed in front of her, Grace quickly picked up a fork and a knife. 

Then she listened to Leon, who was chattering excitedly, while tasting the food that melted away in her mouth.

“And, and! And Viscount Wellington told me that too!”

“Which one?”

“My favourite story of ‘the Duke of Snowland’! It’s actually the story of our ancestors!”

“… … Oh! That fairy tale came down from here at Felix Castle?”

At Leon’s words, Grace opened her eyes slightly wide in surprise.

The story from the fairy tale that Leon had offered to read before he went to sleep last night, the story she loved the most as a child, the story of the duke living in the Snow Kingdom, who meets the Princess of the Spring Kingdom after many crises and meets a happy ending. Was it the story of Felix Castle?

Grace looked back at Arthur sitting next to me and said.

“Really, Arthur?”

Arthur then seemed to ponder for a moment what the fairy tale was like, and after that said with a short exclamation.

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