The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 13

Episode 13. To the Grand Duke’s Castle

“We’ve arrived, Your Highness.”

Dragging her weary body from the long journey, Emilia finally stepped down from the carriage. With the support of the maid and the duke’s knight, she climbed the steps of the castle.

In the entrance hall, the servants of the castle were lined up, waiting for her.

A dignified elderly gentleman with a mustache stepped forward and bowed his head.

“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. I am Philip, the butler of the Grand Duke’s castle.”

“Nice to meet you, Philip.”

Following Philip, the head maid, aide, and other staff greeted her in turn.

“Hello, Your Highness. I am Helen, your personal maid.”

Lastly, a red-haired woman with freckles, appearing to be in her mid-twenties, greeted her with a bright smile.

“Nice to meet you, Helen.”

Regretting not bringing Lucy with her, Emilia was truly glad to meet Helen, as if meeting a savior.

“Would you please follow me?”

“All right. But I’m not feeling well, so I’ll need your help.”

“Yes. I’ll support you, Your Highness.”

“Well done, everyone. Rest for a few days before returning.”

“Yes, understood, Your Highness.”

After giving instructions to the knight and maid from the duke’s household, Emilia reached out to Helen. Helen supported her, swaying from dizziness, and led her to the annex bedroom next to the main building.

“His Highness instructed that you stay here from now on.”

“His Highness knew I was coming here?”

Surprised by the mention of the Grand Duke’s instruction, Emilia widened her eyes. According to what she heard from Philip in the lobby, the Grand Duke had not yet returned. It was puzzling that Louid, who wasn’t present, had already arranged where she should stay. Communication with the monster hunting grounds shouldn’t be easy…

“No. He left instructions in a letter before the wedding.”

“I see. Thank you.”

He must have given orders in case she came to the castle. To assign the Grand Duchess to a room in the annex rather than the main castle… Emilia could guess just how reluctant Louid was about this marriage.

But given her current situation, she couldn’t express dissatisfaction. Rather, it was a relief not to have to encounter him under the same roof.

Helen helped her change clothes and, before leaving, told her to rest.

“Helen, wait.”

“Yes?”

“When will His Highness return?”

“When he goes monster hunting, he usually returns after about a month.”

“I see. Thanks for letting me know.”

‘I’ve come all the way to the Grand Duke’s castle. Now what…’

Left alone in the room, Emilia sat in an armchair by the fireplace and thought about what to do next.

The marriage couldn’t be undone now, and no matter how she thought about it, divorce was the only option. But although Louid disliked her, he didn’t seem willing to divorce.

‘I need to at least secure a promise of divorce…’

If he kept refusing, she would have to find a way to gather funds and escape within a few months.

She rose from the armchair and walked to the window, looking outside. In the vast garden, as wide as the imperial palace’s, white statues and fountains were scattered, and large trees were lined up.

Soon, green leaves would flourish.

Once the weather warmed, it would become a beautiful garden.

There must be an escape route here too. Like that time.

Emilia recalled the day she first saw Louid.

“The escape route is that way.”

The smooth, pleasant voice sounded as if it were right beside her. That perfectly sculpted face.

“But so what? He hates me.”

She murmured weakly toward the window, then decided to familiarize herself with the layout of the castle to find an escape route.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

“Your Highness, shall I bring your meal now?”

At dusk, Helen returned to the room and asked.

“Yes.”

“Please wait a moment.”

Shortly after, Helen returned with a trolley full of food and laid it out on the bedroom table. Though exhausted, Emilia sat at the table and began to eat.

“Helen, I’d like to take a walk and look around the castle tomorrow morning….”

After the meal, Emilia asked Helen to guide her through the castle.

“Yes, I’ll guide you tomorrow.”

“Thanks. And the knight and maid who came with me, where are they staying?”

“They left earlier today.”

“…What? Why?”

After such a long journey, they didn’t even rest for a day? Emilia was stunned by the unexpected news.

“His Grace the Duke of Berthe instructed them to return immediately after escorting Your Highness.”

“…I see. Got it.”

Emilia could guess why the duke had given such an order and felt bitter. He probably feared she might change her mind and return to the capital, so he had the knights leave immediately. She had known what kind of person he was, but still, it left her feeling disheartened.

“Your Highness, shall I help with your bath?”

“No, I’ll do it myself today. Just prepare it.”

“Yes, understood.”

After the meal, the maids came in to help her bathe, but Emilia refused their service. She quickly finished her bath and changed into a thin slip and nightgown that Helen had prepared.

On her first night at the castle, Emilia lay alone in the large bed of the unfamiliar room and fell asleep.

***

The next morning, after breakfast, Emilia set out to explore the castle with Helen.

“Your Highness, shall we start with the main building?”

“Sure.”

Helen supported her frail body and led her toward the main building.

The eastern annex where Emilia was staying looked like an elegant building straight out of a romantic fairy tale. In contrast, the main building was massive and grand, with an intimidating presence. It reminded her of Louid himself.

“It’s magnificent.”

Emilia admired the main building. She hadn’t had a proper look at it yesterday, but the more she saw it, the more it looked like it had been built by a renowned architect—sophisticated and beautiful.

“His Highness the Grand Duke built it himself.”

Helen spoke proudly beside her.

“Really?”

“Yes. Ten years ago, when His Highness arrived here at the age of fifteen, this place was nothing but a cold wasteland. But he defeated the barbarian tribes who used to plunder the residents and hunted monsters to make this a livable place. Since then, the population has grown.”

“I see…”

Emilia nodded without realizing it. If it was Louid, he could have done it. There was nothing impossible for him.

On the first floor of the main building were the dining room, kitchen, grand banquet hall, and great dining hall. On the second floor were the Grand Duke’s office and dozens of rooms.

“What’s on the third floor?” Emilia asked with a curious expression.

“The third floor has His Highness the Grand Duke’s bedroom, dining room, and private quarters.”

“……”

“Would you like to go up?”

“…No. I’ve seen enough. Let’s go back.”

Emilia turned away from the second floor. She felt she shouldn’t step into the Grand Duke’s private space without permission.

‘I’m just a consort. If I go into his private area without permission, who knows what might happen…’

That day, Emilia explored almost the entire main building, but she never went up to the third floor.

***

At that time, Louid was wrapping up the monster hunt. All the monsters that were too large or too powerful for his subordinates to handle were taken care of by him. Over the course of a month, the corpses of slain monsters piled up in the mountain valley like a second mountain.

“There are wyvern eggs in the cave. What should we do?”

As the sun began to set, Alex approached and asked.

“How many?”

Louid, who had just defeated a large monster, asked indifferently. Monster blood was dripping from the sword in his hand, and even though it was winter, heat radiated from his body, rising through his clothes like steam.

“One.”

“Bring it back to the castle.”

“Yes, understood.”

Alex bowed his head and quickly disappeared.

Louid looked up at the blue sky, then soon straightened his expression and lowered his head.

“Reminds me of someone.”

The emerald sky was the same color as Emilia’s eyes.

‘Is that why her name is Emilia?’

He shook his head quickly to stop thinking about her again.

He occasionally brought monster eggs or younglings back to the castle. He trained them to obey and intended to use them in combat, though he had never succeeded yet.

If they couldn’t be properly trained, he would kill the monster younglings. Otherwise, they could harm people.

‘I’ll have to stay in the capital for a while, so I won’t be able to train that egg myself.’

He usually trained the monster younglings himself. But since Emilia was now waiting for him at the manor, he would have to go to the capital, whether he liked it or not. He couldn’t ignore the bride paired with him by the Emperor forever.

‘Maybe this one will train well.’

As he finished the monster hunt, the bride he had left behind kept appearing in his mind. Unconsciously, he began hurrying the hunt more than before.

“Well done, everyone. We return to the castle tomorrow.”

Two weeks later, he solemnly declared to the knights. It was a week earlier than originally planned.