Chapter 37

It wasn’t the warmth of the Grand Duke’s hand that left her so unsteady. It was only when she faced him that the cold within her heart began to melt. Still, she couldn’t find the reason why.

“….”

In the end, Anais chose not to dig deeper into her feelings but to cover them over. After all, this was a marriage bound by a term, and if not, then before long she would die by the hand of this man who showed her nothing but tenderness. It was a strange and unfamiliar emotion, never before experienced, looming over a future so fraught with dread.

Her mind was thrown into disarray.

Finally, she closed her eyes, just like when she kissed him.

︵‿୨ ₊‧꒰ა ཐི༏ཋྀ ໒꒱ ˚₊ ୧‿︵

All the while they walked, the joined palms and the wounds upon them tingled with a strange sensation. Unable to endure it any longer, Anais released his hand the moment they reached the balcony.

“….”

The Grand Duke looked down at his empty hand, as though struck by a sense of futility. His crimson eyes wavered like the flame of a dying candle.

Seeing this, Anais, conscious that she had been the one to let go first, spoke.

“…Thank you.”

“Think nothing of it.”

He had already composed his expression, greeting her with a smile. Then he drew the curtain of the balcony alcove, shutting out the noise of the hall until it seemed to fade into distant silence.

“Have a seat and rest.”

Distraught, Anais sank onto the nearest sofa. The Orelcians she wished never to see again, and the Grand Duke, who was kind yet shrouded in suspicion. Her thoughts were still in turmoil.

“Stay here a while.”

The Grand Duke, having excused himself, returned with something from a servant. Sitting beside her before she had noticed, he held out his hand once more, just as he had earlier.

“It would be best to apply some medicine.”

Pressed by his urging gesture, she reluctantly gave him her hand. This time, he grasped it firmly, as though determined not to let it escape.

“….”

As he examined her hand, he furrowed his brow, his expression growing intent. Without a smile, his face shed an austere chill, sharp enough to seem almost lethal, as if he might cut someone down at any moment.

She looked down at her hand in nervous silence.

Yet, despite that blade-like gaze, he applied the ointment with great care, his movements painstakingly slow. His expression was so solemn, it seemed he was treating a grave wound.

“….”

At his careful touch, Anais felt her heart ease, though at the same time her lips grew dry. From her palm, a tingling sensation spread once more throughout her body. By the time the prickle had coursed past her heart and lingered at the edge of her lips, he had finished tending her hand.

After a pause, she parted her lips.

“I have something to say.”

The Grand Duke’s gaze, which had been fixed upon her hand, rose to meet hers. As their eyes met at such close distance, she couldn’t tell whether the trembling within her came from nervousness or from the way his eyes lingered upon her.

From the tumult of her thoughts, she forced out the words she needed to say.

“Viscount Orelcian will ask you for an investment in his business venture.”

The Grand Duke’s brow lifted, as though the subject was unexpected, but his voice remained calm just as before.

“I see. And what would you have me do?”

As though it were only natural, he asked again, waiting for her opinion. Anais felt that same tingling sensation stir near her heart. After steadying her breath, she answered without hesitation.

“Please refuse him.”

Recalling the future she had seen in her dream on the morning before leaving the viscount’s house, she continued.

“Even if you invest, you will gain nothing but loss. I hope you’ll avoid involvement with Viscount Orelcian as much as possible.”

“If that is what you wish, then I shall do so.”

The Grand Duke nodded, as though it were the simplest matter. However, Anais was remembering the words he had spoken in her dream.

“You’re the one I bought with my own money, all on the damned emperor’s orders. Who’d have thought you’d drag in a whole nest of rats with you.”
“….”
“Did I not tell you it would be better to set your affairs in order before coming here, wife?”

He had wished her to sever all ties, so that neither the Orelcians nor Ethel would trouble him. To change her future that ended only in death, she resolved to cut her ties with the Orelcians altogether.

To that end, she needed to forewarn him.