The Grand Duchess Escape - Chapter 72

Asella’s failure to answer in a timely manner wasn’t entirely her fault.

Her mind was messed up from the dizzying stimulation she had never experienced before. Her eyes fluttered like a newborn calf as she repeated the words she heard again in her mind.

‘Oh..!’

Her ears immediately began to turn bright red.

Her expression was usually calm and she didn’t show many emotions so watching her expression change so rapidly into embarrassment made Calix feel strangely amused.

Suddenly he was curious about other expressions on her face that he had not seen yet. For example, her face when she felt joy, happiness, or pleasure.

“Sister, what’s a bridal chamber?”

A clear, innocent voice rang out. When Asella hurriedly turned her head, she was met with Mariel, tilting her head as she looked up at her with a face of pure innocence.

“Mariel, that’s…”

Asella’s mind went as pale as a blank sheet of paper due to the embarrassment that surged over her. How could she explain this to an innocent child who didn’t know anything?!

As Asella hesitated, trying to find something to say, Mariel’s face brightened and said, “Ah! I understand!” and nodded understandingly.

“His Highness, the Grand Duke made you a new room too, right?”

Asella tried to open her mouth but looking at Mariel, who looked proud like a puppy waiting to be praised, how could she say anything at this lovely sight? In the midst of all this, Mariel, thrilled by the fact that she had found out herself, exclaimed happily.

“Since you and His Highness are now a couple, I figured you’d be spending some quality time together! You know, get to know each other, talk and play together.”

“No, that’s…”

“But… what do you adults do for fun?”

“Pfft..!”

Suddenly there was laughter heard from one corner. Mariel’s eyes, which had been smiling brightly, grew round like those of a startled rabbit.

“Zeke.”

Ryzen, who was standing beside her, called out his name as if to warn him, but that didn’t prevent Zeke from laughing. Zeke smirked and spoke.

“You might not know this because you’re still young, My Lady, but I can tell you that newlyweds are the ones where sparks ignite just by making eye contact. Day after day, night after night. and every- Argh! Why are you hitting me!”

Zeke squealed, but Ryzen didn’t bat an eye when he hit his best friend in the back of the head. With a talkative mouth like his, he could go on and on for months.

“Stop spouting nonsense.”

“What did I say wrong?!”

After being hit, Zeke began to whine as he rubbed his head with the palm of his hand and closed his eyes, but Ryzen, who completely ignored his cold stare, added nonchalantly.

“If you want His Excellency to keep you around, go ahead and continue.”

“…Ha!”

Zeke, finally realizing what crime he had committed, trembled as if he had been splashed with cold water. His head, stiff as a malfunctioning wooden doll, turned slowly to the side.

“Eh… Ehhh…!”

Sure enough, Calix was twisting one corner of his mouth.

“Is this a new suicide method?”

“No! Never! Not at all!”

Crazy bastard. It was too harsh to comment on a friend, but Ryzen, who stopped Zeke from getting his head and body separated today, was qualified to say so.

He could bet on the cranberry candy he had hidden under his office desk that if he had left Zeke to speak for another second, it would have been his lord’s well-wielded sword, not the palm of his hand, that struck Zeke in the back of the head and the situation in hand would get ugly really quick! 

No one wanted this to happen, especially not on Her Highness’ first day in the residence! 

Fortunately, the butler had grasped the situation well in that short period of time and skillfully said the appropriate words for this situation.

“Your Excellency, the room for Lady Mariel has been prepared too.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes, how about we take a look there first?”

Calix turned his gaze away and looked at Asella. Her cheeks were still burning in embarrassment, and a red hue remained down to the nape of her neck, making it almost look like the neck of a fawn.

Shall we leave it at that? He enjoyed seeing her flustered, but that didn’t mean he wanted to overdo it with his teasing. 

“Sounds good.”

What if he pushed her a bit too hard and she burst into tears? He would be the one troubled if that happened.

He didn’t like the idea of her crying, even though there was no reason for him to be troubled.

“Why don’t you go check out your sister’s room?”

Asella blinked slowly several times, and after a moment nodded, looking visibly relieved.

A smile crept across Calix’s mouth. He turned his gaze to the gray-haired old butler.

“You will be responsible for showing them the way.”

“Yes, Your Excellency.”

At the loyal butler’s reply, Calix turned around. No, he tried to turn.

“Ah..!”