The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 2

Episode 2. The Woman Trapped in the Tower

To the south of the capital of the Richert Empire lay the Berthe Duchy. As befitting the domain of the Emperor’s maternal uncle and the Empire’s highest-ranking noble, the Berthe Duchy boasted vast plains that seemed endless and a large, grand castle.

There was a tower on both the east and west sides of the ducal castle, and in a small room at the top of the eastern tower lived a girl with golden hair who had resided there for a long time.

Emilia, who had turned twenty not long ago, was once again drawing today while looking at a book brought by the head butler, Simon. Though she had never received formal training, the lines of her drawings were as delicate as those of a professional painter, even when she only sketched outlines.

She had been confined to the top of the tower for eighteen years since she was two years old. She did not know the reason she had been locked away or what her parents looked like. She had learned from Simon that she was the granddaughter of Duke Berthe, the Empire’s most powerful man, but had never once met her grandfather.

In her childhood, her only joy was reading the books Simon brought her. Among them, she repeatedly looked through books with drawings of beautiful dresses—dresses she had neither worn nor seen in person.

“Simon, I want to draw. Can you bring me some supplies?”

“Yes, certainly.”

She asked Simon for the tools she needed to draw and attempted to replicate the dress illustrations. Though clumsy, by copying the pictures from the book, she managed to produce a fairly convincing result.

“My lady, if you’re bored, perhaps you could try embroidery.”

Then one day, Simon brought her a needle, thread, and cloth.

Rather than embroider, Emilia wanted to make clothes for her doll. She had one doll she had played with since childhood. She had heard it was a gift from her late father.

It was a doll of a young girl with long golden hair, resembling herself. After several days of effort, she managed to complete a rather decent doll outfit. Having found an interest in making clothes, she began drawing dress designs for the doll in different styles and colors each day.

“Cold…”

On a night in February, at the tail end of winter. Emilia shivered at the cold that crept steadily into her skin.

Simon was a loyal servant of the Duke who only carried out the orders he was given. He wasn’t particularly warm or friendly. He would visit the tower once a day to leave food and firewood, but it was never enough to last the day. So when the temperature dropped, she would often shiver from the cold that seeped into her very bones.

Knock, knock.

Just as she pulled the thin, worn blanket up to her chin and tried to fall asleep again, the sound of someone knocking on the iron door rang out.

“Come in.”

She sat up and answered without hesitation.

The only person who ever entered the tower was Simon, and he was the one who held the key to the first-floor entrance. Though he had never visited this late before, it couldn’t be anyone else.

“Young Lady.”

As expected, it was Simon who opened the iron door and entered.

“The Duke requests your presence.

“Grandfather is calling for me?”

Emilia’s eyes widened at the unexpected words. Her blue eyes sparkled like clear sapphires.

“Yes.”

Simon, who rarely showed emotion, spoke with an expression of deep emotion. After eighteen years, the Duke of Berthe had finally asked to see his granddaughter. Though he had never shown it, Simon—who had taken care of Emilia since she first arrived at the duchy—had long awaited this moment.

“…Why?”

In contrast, Emilia’s expression was uncertain. She felt more suspicion than joy. She couldn’t understand why the man who had never once called for her was suddenly seeking her out, and a part of her felt afraid.

“I’m not sure about the details either. For now, please come with me.”

“All right. Please wait a moment.”

Emilia slipped out from under the blanket and changed clothes in a corner, then stood in front of the small mirror on the wall to adjust her outfit. She originally only had two sets of everyday clothes. But a few days ago, Simon had brought her a large piece of fabric, and she had tried making clothes that fit her.

‘I’m glad I made new clothes.’

It was lucky she had finished the outfit today. Though it was made from plain, uncolored cotton, the clean, new clothes pleased her greatly.

“Let’s go.”

Having finished getting ready, Emilia spoke with a determined look. She was on her way to meet her family for the first time. Though afraid, she was also a little curious about what her grandfather would be like and whether he would welcome her.

“Yes, please follow me carefully.”

While she was changing, Simon had turned his back. He now opened the door. As Simon descended the stairs first, Emilia cautiously followed behind.

‘Was the tower always this tall?’

She thought she would reach the entrance soon, but they had to go down a long way through the narrow staircase. As she continued down the spiral steps, her vision grew dim and her head spun.

“Are you all right?”

Seeing her falter, Simon turned around with a worried expression.

“I’m a bit dizzy, but I’m fine. It’s probably because it’s my first time outside.”

Just as Emilia said, it was her first time outside the tower since she’d been locked in.

Though she had moved around inside while sunlight streamed through the small window, she had never walked this much or stepped outside. Her body seemed startled by the sudden change. As she continued to stagger, Simon slowed his pace.

When they reached the first floor and exited the tower, the two of them walked quickly toward the entrance of the main castle building. Perhaps due to prior arrangements, no one was visible along their path.

“The people inside the castle don’t know about me, do they?”

As she followed Simon up the central staircase of the main castle, Emilia asked in a small voice.

“Yes, that is correct.”

Of course they wouldn’t. If anyone had known of her existence, she might have occasionally seen someone through the tower’s window. But until she had become an adult, she had never seen a single shadow of another person—except for one.

“This is the place.”

After walking down a long hallway, Simon finally stopped in front of a room. Standing beside him, Emilia swallowed nervously.

Knock, knock.

“Come in.”

When Simon knocked on the door, someone inside answered.

So that’s my grandfather!

At last hearing the voice of Duke Berthe, whom she had long been curious about, Emilia’s heart pounded even more nervously. Meeting a blood relative for the first time in her life, she felt no joy—only the desire to turn and flee.

“No matter what the Duke says, do not go against his words. I say this for your sake.”

Simon quietly whispered to her, covering his mouth with one hand.

That must be the only way to survive.

Understanding the meaning behind Simon’s words, Emilia gave a faint nod.

***

Following Simon inside, she saw a white-haired old man with a stern expression sitting in front of a large desk. Though it was their first meeting, the gaze he shot her was as cold as ice.

“I have brought her, Your Grace.”

As Simon bowed politely to the Duke, Emilia also bent her knees and lowered her head.

“You are Emilia?”

A cold and strict voice rang sharply through the quiet room.

“Yes, that is correct. It’s an honor to meet you for the first time, Your… Your Grace.”

She wasn’t sure what to call him. Emilia regretted not asking Simon in advance how to address the Duke and cautiously watched his reaction.

“When we are alone, call me ‘Your Grace.’ In front of others, call me ‘Grandfather.’”

For some reason, the Duke permitted her to call him grandfather. Though he didn’t seem pleased, it appeared he had no choice.

“Yes, understood. Grandfather,” Emilia answered calmly.

“Is that how a young lady of the ducal house should be dressed? Tsk tsk.”

Duke Berthe looked her up and down with a displeased gaze. His blue eyes, similar to hers, were filled with disgust.

“……”

Flustered, Emilia couldn’t say anything. She had never owned proper outerwear, and though she was wearing a newly made outfit, she had no idea what to say.

“M-my lady has excellent sewing skills. The outfit she’s wearing now was made by her own hands.”

Simon stammered as if flustered himself. It had likely been the Duke’s order not to give her new clothes, and now he was shifting the blame to Simon. Emilia, clever as she was, picked up on it.

“Even if she’s good at sewing, it’s useless. You wait outside.” The Duke gestured with his chin toward Simon.

“Yes, understood.”

“Your face resembles your father. That’s not bad.”

Once Simon left, Duke Berthe continued speaking without inviting her to sit. At the mention of her father, Emilia’s eyes widened.

Her birth mother had died of puerperal fever after giving birth to her, and her father, Dennis, had died in battle with the neighboring kingdom of Billiot when she was two—so Simon had told her.

She wanted to hear more about her father, but the Duke said no more.

“In a few days, you will accompany me to the Imperial Palace. I will present you to His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty is your father’s cousin.”

“I am aware.”

Emilia answered modestly. She had heard that the Duke’s late sister was the former empress. The current emperor, William V, was her son and Duke Berthe’s nephew.

“You must know that His Highness the Crown Prince recently passed away.”

At the mention of the Crown Prince, deep wrinkles formed on Duke Berthe’s forehead.

“That…”

Emilia trailed off. She hadn’t heard any recent news.

“If you didn’t know, now you do.”

Duke Berthe looked at her with a sigh of exasperation. Then he dropped a bombshell.

“You will marry Grand Duke Louid.”