The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 18

Episode 18. The Cure

Helen, who had brought tea, delivered surprising news.

“Really? All right.”

That Louid wished to dine with her, though unexpected, on second thought, it was not so strange. If the Grand Duke and Duchess continued living like strangers, odd rumors would surely spread, so perhaps he intended to prevent that by dining together.

“I’ll dress you up beautifully so the two of you can enjoy a lovely meal.”

Helen helped Emilia rise and sit before the vanity as she spoke.

“Uh… all right.”

Emilia had been about to tell her not to bother, but thought Helen might find it odd and held her tongue. Helen paid extra attention to her makeup, brushed her hair dozens of times until it shone, and was about to braid and pin it up.

“Just leave my hair down.”

“Ah… shall I?”

Helen looked disappointed, for she had wanted to show off her skills, but Emilia disliked updos—they felt heavy and gave her headaches.

When evening came, she chose one of the few blue dresses she owned, put it on, and followed Helen to the dining hall on the third floor of the main castle.

***

‘So this is where Louid lives.’

It was her first time on the third floor. Emilia walked down what felt like an endless corridor, gazing with fascination at the luxurious paintings hung along the walls. On the white walls decorated with golden patterns were portraits, seemingly of previous emperors and empresses.

‘Truly, there is no portrait of Louid…’

She wondered why the master of the castle had no portrait, when they arrived before a certain room.

“This is the dining room. It’s where His Highness usually dines. Next to it, there is a larger banquet hall as well.”

“I see.”

Guided by Helen, Emilia entered the dining room. Several servants were carrying food, and at the head of the long table sat Louid.

What should I say? How do you do? It has been a while?

Such greetings seemed strange between husband and wife, so Emilia simply gave a small nod and sat opposite him.

“Welcome.”

“Yes.”

Louid spoke in a blunt voice. His expression revealed nothing, but he hardly seemed eager for the meal. Still, she had been worrying about what to say, so she was relieved he spoke first.

“How’s your condition?”

“…I’m fine.”

Startled that he knew of her state, Emilia answered demurely.

“Eat.”

“Yes.”

After drinking some water, Emilia began her meal—and was taken aback. On the table were only meat dishes: meat soup, seafood salad, lamb steak. Not a single vegetable dish she liked. As she sampled each dish, she looked at Louid with a puzzled expression.

“I hate potatoes.”

As if noticing her silent protest, Louid winked playfully while cutting his steak. His expression said he found her reaction amusing.

“Ha…”

Emilia bit her lip and sighed softly.

“I like meat, so when you dine with me, change your taste accordingly.”

“…Yes, understood.”

So he had deliberately ordered only meat dishes, knowing she disliked them.

Emilia felt a rare flare of anger and tried to calm herself. She didn’t notice that Louid was staring intently at her flushed face. Then his voice came again.

“I was going to have them serve a meat cake for dessert, but I held back.”

“So there is even a meat cake in the castle?”

Drawing in a breath, Emilia looked straight at him.

“Of course. It’s my favorite. Do you know how delicious it is to place roasted meat pieces on top of cake?”

Louid winked again, teasingly. To use such a handsome face like that… she could only sigh.

“Yes… show me sometime, then.”

She gave up on conversation and ate.

‘It tastes good.’

When she had lived in the tower of the Berthe estate, she had eaten only potatoes and coarse bread, so meat had never suited her taste. But as she took one bite, then another, she found it delicious. Her expression gradually softened.

“The meat is really tender. Mark must be the finest chef in the Richert Empire.”

“Indeed. Eat plenty.”

At her unintentional exclamation of admiration, Louid smiled as if he himself had been praised. His boyish smile made Emilia’s heart pound.

“Cough.”

“Drink some water while you eat.”

“Yes.”

When she thumped her chest, Louid spoke. Perhaps because she had eaten meat she was unaccustomed to, Emilia felt she might get indigestion and drank water in gulps.

Fortunately, dessert was a fresh cream cake topped with strawberries.

“Oh my!”

Tasting the cake, Emilia let out a small exclamation and eagerly scraped the plate clean. Seeing this, Louid gave a faint laugh and gestured to the servant to bring his portion to her.

“You won’t eat the cake?”

When Louid’s plate of cake was set before her, Emilia widened her blue eyes and looked at him.

“I cannot stand sweets.”

“You are a picky eater. Well then, I’ll eat it since it would be a shame to waste it.”

“Ha, haha.”

At her words, Louid burst into laughter. The servants, who had never seen the Grand Duke laugh, wore startled expressions. While Emilia ate the second cake, Louid sent the servants out of the room.

For a while, the two drank tea in silence.

“Let us dine together often. If bad rumors spread, it would benefit neither of us.”

As expected, Louid had worried about rumors regarding them.

“Yes, understood. And I…”

“……?”

“There’s something I wish to say.”

After taking a sip of tea, Emilia glanced cautiously at him. Since he seemed in a good mood today, he might listen.

“If it’s about divorce, you need not say it. I have no intention of divorcing.”

Somehow, once again, Louid knew what she was about to say. That must be why he had sent the servants away.

“May I at least ask why?”

She wanted to know why, despite his dislike for her, he refused to divorce.

“There’s no need for you to know.”

Louid cut her off. If she learned that he intended to take revenge on Duke Berthe through her, what expression would she make? To someone as delicately raised as she, it would never occur that this marriage was truly a mistake.

The boyish smile from moments ago vanished, replaced only with contempt on his face.

‘Can someone’s mood change so suddenly like that?’

This time, her heart pounded for another reason. She thought only of escaping before Louid’s mood worsened further.

“Yes, understood. I’ve eaten well. Then, if you’ll excuse me.”

She set down her napkin and tried to rise from her seat.

“Are you leaving?”

She had expected him to welcome her departure, but instead, unexpected words left his lips. Emilia looked at him with a puzzled expression.

They had eaten and had dessert. Was there more?

She tried recalling the etiquette lessons taught by Baroness Shane, but nothing more came to mind.

“Yes, do you have something more to say?”

She wondered if he had changed his mind.

“No. You may go.”

When she widened her eyes at him, Louid spoke curtly, as if it were nothing.

“Yes, then please rest well.”

Emilia placed her hands neatly together, gave a polite bow to her husband, and left the dining room. Somehow she felt the heat of his gaze on her back, but she simply returned to the annex with Helen, who had been waiting.

‘She just left…’

That night, Louid couldn’t sleep, suffering from a worse headache than usual. The image of Emilia turning her back and leaving the dining room lingered before his eyes. He hadn’t thought to stop her, nor had he any excuse to.

Then why did he feel so empty?

“Sigh…”

His head ached relentlessly. Even the medicine prescribed by the physician had no effect. It was the strongest medicine, so there was nothing stronger to take.

‘So the medicine no longer works.’

Wiping the cold sweat from his brow, he gave a bitter smile. His headaches had begun in childhood. Since he was young, he had suffered countless poisoning attempts, often life-threatening ones, led by Duke Berthe. After such long exposure to poisons, his body had become resistant, but he was left with a fever higher than normal and painful headaches. He had endured until now with painkillers, but it seemed he had reached his limit.

That night there was no headache.

He recalled his first night with Emilia. Though they had simply shared a bed, for the first time, he had felt his head clear. Even at the dining room earlier, he had felt his mind lighten and wished Emilia had stayed longer.

“Sigh…”

Sitting on the bed, clutching his head, he sank into deep thought. He needed Emilia. She was the cure for his insomnia and headaches. A mind tormented by long years of pain reached an irrational conclusion.

Dong—Dong—

The wall clock struck twelve times, announcing midnight. Staggering to his feet, he opened the wall beside the fireplace and entered a secret passage.