The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 14

Episode 14. The Lady of the Grand Duke’s Castle

Having adjusted to life at the castle, Emilia often went to the dining room on the first floor of the main building.

“Hello, Mark.”

“Welcome, Your Highness. You look better today.”

Mark, the chef she had quickly become friendly with, greeted her warmly.

“Yes, I feel better with the sunlight. What’s for lunch today?”

“Sirloin steak, potato soup, and salad with grilled shrimp.”

“Sounds delicious. Thank you.”

At the mention of potato soup, she licked her lips. Potato soup was a dish she often had in the ducal tower where she had been confined. Although the coarse and hard bread she used to eat with it wasn’t available at the castle, she was glad to eat as much of her favorite potato soup as she wanted.

She felt that Mark’s skills were improving day by day and quickly emptied the soup bowl. After living alone in the ducal estate, it was truly pleasant to befriend and live among many people.

It’s nice to get along with people.

Except for one person. The cold face of her husband appeared in her mind again and then disappeared. One would think she’d forget it after not seeing him for so long, but lately, his face kept coming to mind.

“That was good.”

“Yes, have a nice day.”

After finishing her meal, she rose with a satisfied expression. Left at the table were an empty soup bowl, a half-eaten salad plate, and a steak she hadn’t touched.

After leaving the dining room, Emilia went for a walk. Since arriving at the castle, she hadn’t missed a single meal and walked regularly every day.

With enough sleep and plenty of sunshine during her walks, she felt her stamina had improved a lot.

The weather in the northern part of the continent, where the Grand Duchy was located, was very cold for walks, but Emilia thought such cold was bearable if it meant getting healthier.

She walked through the now-familiar castle with a light step. Though she had failed to find a secret passage, she was now familiar with every corner of the castle.

“You’re becoming more beautiful. And brighter than when you first arrived. You looked as if you might collapse at any moment when you came… His Highness should see you now.”

“He will soon. The monster hunt should be wrapping up around now.”

Butler Philip and the head maid exchanged smiles as they watched Emilia on her walk.

***

That afternoon, Emilia decided to visit the greenhouse. She had heard from Helen that there was a greenhouse in the castle. Fond of flowers, she had often asked Simon to pick wildflowers for her as a child, and he would sometimes bring her some.

‘So this is the greenhouse.’

Entering the glass greenhouse behind the main building, she looked around in awe. Various trees and flowers were planted inside. She sat at the table in the inner part of the greenhouse, drank tea, and admired the flowers.

The greenhouse was warm and cozy. Sensitive to the cold, she was very fond of the greenhouse.

‘It’s March, and yet there are so many flowers. How lovely.’

The greenhouse had many flowers she didn’t know. Red, purple, yellow… the colors and shapes were diverse.

“Helen, come join me for tea.”

Emilia called out to Helen, who was standing at the entrance of the greenhouse.

“Yes, Your Highness. Thank you.”

Emilia sat across from Helen, shared refreshments, and chatted.

“This place is wonderful. I didn’t know there was a place like this in the castle.”

“Yes, since the Grand Duchy is a cold region, we have to grow flowers and vegetables in greenhouses.”

“Do commoners also have greenhouses?”

“Yes. His Highness built many greenhouses for the territory’s people. The people of the Richert Grand Duchy either farm in greenhouses or craft gems mined from the mountains. Commerce has also developed a lot. His Highness and the knights worked very hard to make that happen.”

“I see…”

He must have still been a young boy of fifteen, yet he came to such a barren land. It must have been very difficult. Suddenly, she wanted to see what Louid looked like as a child.

“Is there a portrait of the Grand Duke I can see?”

“I heard His Highness hasn’t had a portrait painted yet. Maybe there’s one in the imperial palace, but I’m not sure.” Helen tilted her head as she answered.

“Is that so?”

Emilia felt a bit disappointed that she couldn’t see what Louid looked like as a child.

***

Time passed quickly, and quite a few days had already gone by since she came to the castle. Louid still had not returned.

They said monster hunting would last about a month, and it really seemed to be true.

Emilia assumed Louid was still out hunting monsters. If he had returned to the manor, Philip would have informed her, but there had been no word.

“Your Highness, His Highness the Grand Duke is returning today.”

Just as she was wondering about Louid’s whereabouts, Helen, who brought her breakfast, spoke.

“His Highness the Grand Duke?”

“Yes.”

News of his return came earlier than expected.

“When did you hear that?”

“The butler just found out too.”

“All right.”

Emilia hurried through breakfast and got ready to greet Louid. Even though they weren’t on affectionate terms, she couldn’t remain at ease when her husband, the Grand Duke, was returning.

“You may stay in your room, Your Highness.”

Helen, who was doing her hair, said with a worried expression. She was always concerned about Emilia’s frail health.

“Still, it’s been a while since the Grand Duke returned. I should go greet him.”

“Yes, then let’s do that.”

She couldn’t just stay in the bedroom while her husband returned from afar.

Helen dressed her in a soft sky-blue dress, brushed her beautiful curly hair dozens of times, and fixed it with a jeweled pin after half-tying it. Dressed up, Emilia looked at herself in the full-length mirror.

‘Wow… Is this really me?’

In the mirror was a radiant young woman with porcelain-white skin, platinum hair flowing down to her waist in soft waves, and light blue eyes.

She looked completely different from the woman who had been on the verge of death at the wedding.

While she was admiring her reflection, a trumpet sound announcing the Grand Duke’s arrival echoed from the outer castle.

‘He’s coming.’

Emilia slowly rose from the sofa and stepped out to greet her groom.

***

In the main castle’s first-floor lobby, the staff were lined up in an orderly manner to welcome his return.

As the Grand Duchess appeared in the lobby, the assembled staff all bowed their heads at once.

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

At the very front, Philip greeted her politely.

“Yes, thank you. I came to greet His Highness upon his return.”

“He should be arriving shortly.”

Emilia exchanged greetings with the head maid and other staff. She had become quite familiar with them during Louid’s absence.

Clatter! Clatter! Thud-thud-thud-thud!

The sound of hooves shaking the ground echoed from afar.

Soon, dozens of horses came to a halt in front of the main castle. From the largest black horse at the front, a man with dark black hair dismounted. He was tall and broad-shouldered, so much so that one had to crane their neck to look up at him. The servants standing in formation all bowed their heads as Louid approached.

Emilia swallowed hard. He was walking toward her.

“Welcome…”

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Louid walked right past her. Emilia tilted her head, unsure if he had seen her or not.

Without stopping, Louid strode across the lobby and headed toward the central staircase.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke, welcome back!”

Emilia called out loudly to him. Her voice echoed like a bell through the quiet lobby.

That should’ve been loud enough to hear.

Louid’s steps came to a sudden stop. Turning his head toward where she stood, he stared at her with piercing red eyes.

Emilia looked at him closely too. The two of them unintentionally met eyes, and tension filled the spacious lobby.

‘Just like at the wedding.’

The broad shoulders, the sculpted features—all the same as before. His face, slightly more tanned than at the wedding, had thick eyebrows, a high nose bridge, sharp jawline, firm lips, and red eyes more intense than the sun—all perfectly arranged. Truly a god-given face.

Step, step. Louid retraced his steps and approached her.

He stopped within arm’s reach and looked down at her with a cold expression.

‘A-A bit scary…’

Emilia’s body instinctively flinched. She had boldly called out to him, but hadn’t expected him to actually return.

Cold sweat formed on her forehead, and her heart pounded wildly. Emilia clenched her sweaty hands and swallowed hard.

“Why is the Grand Duchess here?”

Louid asked in a low voice. His red eyes were fixed on her, but the question was directed at the head butler.

Meeting Louid again after a month, he was more imposing and intimidating than she had imagined.

“Her Highness came out to welcome…”

“I came out.”

Emilia and the head butler answered at the same time.

Louid then looked down at her for a long moment. He said nothing, but his gaze was chilling. Emilia looked straight back at him. There was no reason to avoid his gaze, and there was nothing wrong with a wife coming out to greet her husband.

“You don’t need to come out to greet me,” he said, as if warning her.

“Yes, understood.”

As she replied, Louid firmly shut his lips and turned away, striding toward the central staircase.

“Phew…”

Once his cold gaze was withdrawn, Emilia let out a sigh of relief as the tension drained from her body.

And then her vision blurred.

“Your Highness!”

Helen’s sharp scream echoed through the lobby. Emilia had collapsed, unable to withstand the extreme tension.

Louid, who had been halfway up the stairs, came to an abrupt halt.