Chapter 64 - A Complicated Relationship (1)

Gris felt dizzy as she approached the lobby. It seemed that Teer had gone out to see Vianut and his dog again while she wasn’t paying attention. It was already too late to reproach herself for not checking the room properly and making sure the curious puppy hadn’t escaped before she went out.

Bellin bowed in front of the Grand Duke, having also discovered Teer’s disappearance too late.

“Your Highness, I deeply apologize for committing another mistake.”

Duke Vianut was about to complete his descent to the first floor when he stopped. Curious about what was happening, he scanned the lobby and found Gris, half-hidden in one corner of the hall.

His concern was unexpected. Gris nervously touched the wall. He didn’t even look at her when they were having tea on his grandmother’s terrace, so why was he suddenly so interested now?

When her eyes met his sunken orbs, she felt a burning sensation arise in her breast similar to the one she had felt yesterday. Gris pressed a hand against her chest as she ran back to her room. To be accurate, both she and Duke Vianut were avoiding each other’s territory.

Luckily, only Bellin and Teer returned to the room with her.

“Fortunately, His Excellency did not reprehend us. I will be careful from now on. I’m sorry, my lady.”

Teer ran to Gris and busily wagged her tail. Gris scratched Teer’s head since she couldn’t scold the little beast for missing Vianut’s company.

♛

Two days had passed since their last meeting. Gris encountered the Grand Duke three other times, but during each instance she ran away.

For the time being, she wanted to avoid him. It seemed that the Grand Duke also wanted the same thing, and she surely didn’t want to go against his wishes. She only hoped that time would pass quickly and Vianut would forget about the nighttime encounter that happened between them a few days ago.

Unluckily for her, yet another incident happened one evening after all the work routines were finished. The head butler, Mr. Bram, came to the room to deliver some ominous news.

“My lady, His Highness is looking for you.”

Gris, who had just returned from dinner with Paola and felt stabilized, grew pale as she received the news. She wanted to ask what the Grand Duke wanted, but Mr. Bram would not have known his intentions.

She walked with heavy steps as they arrived in front of the Grand Duke’s study. It was a quiet place where only the sound of insects could be heard. It was also the place where she had felt how soft his lips were for the first time. Was it possible that he called for her because he had lusted for her?

Gris hurriedly adjusted the front of her dress. Bram feigned a cough as he cleared his voice and announced their arrival.

“Your Highness, I have brought Miss Yuliana with me.”

“Send her in.”

The door immediately opened right after the Duke’s command. She was not sure if she was feeling aroused as she felt a chill on her nape. The sensation gave her a bit of relief. Cold air usually helped to cool a person’s body temperature and also make them more alert to their surroundings. She felt that she would not run away defenseless like last time.

Gris felt relieved and went inside. She covered her chest with her arms by pretending to touch her lower lip. She found Vianut standing in front of his desk, but the moment he saw her, he settled himself against the edge.

Mr. Bram closed the door behind him as he left. Gris only stared at the flickering oil lamp on Vianut’s desk.

She could feel that the duke was staring at her face, but her body did not grow hot like the last time. The voice that emanated from him was too cold.

“Maria.”

Only that name was constant amidst the swaying shadows cast by various objects in the room. Maria. The name of a lady that she respects, or the name of the prostitute he despises.

Actually, that name belonged to a girl who quietly did the miscellaneous household chores in the brothel. People made her a laughing stock, calling her the deaf and dirty Maria. The people were also wary of her, believing that she might be carrying a skin disease.

Of course, Duke Vianut was also careful around her, but he was not cautious of her because he believed she had an infectious disease. His posture was overly rigid as he crossed his arms defensively. He stared at her like she was a demon who would defile a man’s pure soul in front of him.

But, wasn’t it a big contradiction to intimately call such a demon into the room?

Gris stepped back as she thought of that, because for her, Vianut Byrenhag was such a devil.

“I have to go to bed soon.”

Gris just wanted to know what Vianut wanted so that she could immediately go back to her room. She then vaguely heard a burst of mocking laughter.

“You are good at running away. Today as well.”

When she heard that, countless questions arose in her head. What was his motive for speaking like that? Did he mean to imply that he was chasing an object that kept on running away? Gris furrowed her brow as she shook her head.

The day after that night, he first acted coldly and avoided making eye contact with Gris, like that was what he truly wanted. Gris’ eyes trembled with confusion.

“I thought that it was for the best.”

“…”

“Was it not?”

A gentle wind swept through the window panes. Touching her chin with her hands, she rationally dismissed her own question.

“Yes, it’s not.”

Gris bowed her head, feeling a cold sweat forming on her forehead. Then what was the best solution in his mind? Why did he think that their current situation, where they simply avoided one another, wasn’t the best?

“So? ”

She coolly replied to him as if it was the natural thing to do.

“I have no reason to escape.”