B Chapter 29

In the end, Chloe answered 'yes' and left the Grand Duke's bedchamber, stepping aside. A fragrant scent wafted from the woman as she passed by. She was a woman who would spend the night with the Grand Duke. Sniffing, Chloe gazed at the beauty's retreating figure with an admiring face.

'Even her back is pretty...'

A sensual figure with a prominent slender waist. A beautiful woman one couldn't help but look back at.

'She suits him well.'

If even she couldn't take her eyes off... let alone him. She remembered the armor she hadn't managed to bring out, but Chloe decided to politely take her leave. There was nothing more vulgar than loitering in front of a room with a man and woman inside.

'What perfect timing.'

A handsome man and beautiful woman meeting to spend a beautiful night together.

'That man is at his prime too. It just seems tense because of the atmosphere.'

Seeing the well-matched man and woman together suddenly made her feel lonely.

'I should go back to the laundry area.'

Just as she was reflecting on her solitary situation, something happened.

"Huh?"

Suddenly, a loud noise came from the Grand Duke's bedchamber. She turned around but saw nothing.

'What was that?'

Suddenly, slam, the door opened. There was a crash sound, and when she turned around again, the beauty was expelled in front of his bedchamber. Chloe's mouth fell open. Through the open bedchamber door, she could see the Grand Duke's fierce face.

"Get out immediately."

His threatening aura was like chasing out an assassin who had infiltrated the bedchamber. Chloe was startled and watched the situation, having never seen such violent behavior from him.

'What, what? Why is he acting like that?'

He scowled as if in warning. The beauty hurriedly got up and ran down the corridor as if fleeing. The moment she passed Chloe, whether intentionally or by mistake, she hit her shoulder hard.

"Ah...!"

Chloe, who staggered, rubbed her shoulder and stared at the Grand Duke again. His eyes were cold as ice.

"You, come here."

Sure enough, his voice was fierce.

'Will I really get beaten this time...'

The atmosphere was menacing. Chloe forced her unmoving legs to move. As the distance between them gradually narrowed, her knees trembled with suffocating tension.

'It's my first time seeing him so angry. This is serious.'

Finally standing before him, Chloe bit her teeth hard and lowered her head. Why was he so angry?

'Wasn't she pretty enough by his standards?'

He must have seen many beautiful women. Just as she held her breath, the Grand Duke said something unexpected.

"I don't like having strangers in my space."

His voice was calmer than expected.

"From now on, don't let anyone I don't know enter the bedchamber."

There was no physical punishment. Chloe quickly answered.

"Yes, I understand."

The Grand Duke casually returned to the bedchamber and sat on the sofa, picking up the book he'd been reading. She, who had prepared for reproach this time, sighed with relief.

'Thank goodness.'

Stealthily going to gather the armor, Chloe reconsidered the Grand Duke inwardly.

'Don't ordinary men usually take pride in being promiscuous?'

It was unexpected. He hadn't touched any woman during the entire ceremony journey. It wasn't for lack of opportunity. She had heard several other maids say they'd try to seduce him, and actually saw them strike up conversations.

'But nothing happened.'

Now that he could rest in a proper bed, she thought he wouldn't refuse a woman who came to him. But the Grand Duke expelled the woman without showing any sign of consideration.

'It's incomprehensible.'

Anyway, Chloe focused on polishing the armor. As she grunted lifting the heavy plates, the Grand Duke spoke from behind.

"Do that tomorrow, and write a letter to Jorge."

The startled woman quickly turned around. He gestured to the chair across from him.

"Sit."

It was a position where she'd make eye contact with the Grand Duke if she looked up.

'Another one of those burdensome seats...'

Hesitating, Chloe walked over and sat down awkwardly. Quills and papers were piled on the table. The moment she moved the chair, creak, a loud sound rang out. She quickly read the mood. Fortunately, he still didn't take his eyes off his book. Chloe quickly sat back down and grasped the quill. Looking at the blank paper, she became absorbed in thoughts of herbs again.

'What should I write today?'

But simultaneously with her pondering, someone knocked on the door again.

"Knight Commander Graham, are you inside?"

It was another woman's voice. The Grand Duke didn't take his eyes off his book as if he hadn't heard.

'What should I do? What should I do?'

Chloe, growing anxious, shifted her bottom.

'I should go say His Grace is resting.'

Meanwhile, the impatient uninvited guest turned the handle and opened the door herself. How dare she fearlessly enter the Grand Duke's bedchamber! If she were a commoner, she'd have no excuse even if her head were cut off. But the woman who opened the door and entered was someone who dared to do so.

'Good heavens.'

She was a beautiful silver-haired beauty wrapped in a golden evening dress that showed everything.

'Her chest is really big. I'm envious...'

A devastatingly beautiful woman one might see once in a lifetime. Chloe gaped and stared at her. She couldn't take her eyes away.

"Grand Duke Graham?"

Leisurely gestures, a beautiful smile.

'The Grand Duke is lucky. Women like that just come looking for him.'

The earlier beauty was also beautiful, but this woman had a different kind of beauty. Silver hair, golden dress, red-accented lips.

'Like a goddess.'

As expected of women who came to find the Empire's hero.

'Well, you'd have to be that beautiful to even speak to him.'

Chloe, quietly gauging the Grand Duke's mood, wondered what she should do.

'He said not to let just anyone in... I should tell her to leave.'

As she gently pushed back her chair to stand, creak, a sound rang out. At that moment, the Grand Duke closed his book.

"The star of the festival, the Knight Commander, wasn't visible at the banquet hall. I took the liberty of coming here despite the discourtesy."

Her slight wink as she finished speaking was so perfect it could enchant even Chloe, who was a woman. Her steps approaching the Grand Duke were like a butterfly's wing beats. He wouldn't refuse this time. She felt certain. If he refused even this time...

Suddenly, a cold voice flowed from the Grand Duke.

"The count is making a mistake."

'Gasp.'

She came just to see his face, yet he spoke so indifferently. But still, the woman demurely continued speaking.

"I am Lorence, who is indebted to Count Lambut. I've heard tales of your lordship's heroic deeds..."

"Leave."

He coldly cut off the woman's words. As if flustered, she moved her lips slightly.

"Your lordship, I received orders to serve you comfortably..."

"Go to your master. Tell him that if he does such pointless things one more time, I'll create a castle without a lord."

Overwhelmed by his fierce presence, Lorence could say nothing more. Frozen like ice, she withdrew the hand she had extended toward the Grand Duke.

"I apologize for the intrusion."

Lorence left the Grand Duke's bedchamber on her own without asking again. Chloe, who had been staring blankly at her retreating figure, looked back at the Grand Duke with a surprised face.

'What in the...'

Wasn't it strange that such remarkable beauties were tempting him and he didn't budge?

'Are his eyes crooked? Or is he acting like this because he's spoiled by luxury?'

A different kind of suspicion crossed her mind.

'Perhaps... there's a problem somewhere?'

Right. That's it! Such lovely women came directly to him, yet he couldn't treat them so harshly.

'He's actually kinder to Xanthos and Howl.'

While she pondered various thoughts alone, the Grand Duke picked up his book again.

'How tiresome.'

His mood was unpleasant. After finishing a brief congratulatory speech at the banquet hall, he had returned to his bedchamber in one stride. If Aaron had been there, he would have nagged him to spend more time at the banquet hall, but there was no one in this castle who could say such things.

He too was human, so the two-week journey was tiring. He intended to take quiet rest, having selected only a few books from the count's library. Tonight he planned to read his favorite books and sleep peacefully. But they came all the way to his bedchamber to disturb him? It was utterly unpleasant. Perhaps because he was still unmarried, even women meeting him for the first time invaded his bedchamber without hesitation.

'What do they take me for?'

He had no particular desires. He had never liked women.