The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 30

Episode 30. Left Alone in the Bedroom

Emilia quietly got up and tiptoed toward the sofa. She was frightened because she couldn’t tell who was lying there, but since the castle was full of knights and soldiers, she figured nothing dangerous could happen.

‘Louid?’

Louid was lying on the sofa. He had no pillow under his head and no blanket over him.

‘When did he come? Why is he here instead of sleeping in his bed?’

Tilting her head in curiosity, Emilia fetched a pillow and blanket from her bed. She placed the pillow beneath his head and pulled the blanket over him.

As she was about to return to her bed, she noticed strands of hair tangled on his forehead. Sitting down in front of the sofa, she gently smoothed his dark hair with her hand. Then, on a whim, she lightly touched his thick brows. They twitched slightly.

“Ah.”

Startled, she pulled her hand back, afraid he would wake. To cover it up, she patted his chest softly. Then her hand brushed his high nose.

His nose is so high… even his lips are handsome…

She recalled him standing stiffly in the rain of flower petals during the day and burst out laughing.

‘He must have been shocked. I doubt anyone has ever dared scatter flowers on the Grand Duke before.’

A moment later, Emilia lightly slapped her own cheek with the same hand that had touched him.

‘Get a hold of yourself. Touching someone without permission while they’re asleep is wrong.’

If he woke, he might be angry. Realizing her mistake, she quickly darted back to bed.

Hearing her hurried footsteps, Louid’s lips curved faintly. With a smile, he drifted back into sleep.

The next morning, when Emilia woke, she glanced toward the sofa where Louid had been. But he was gone, and both pillow and blanket were back in their original places.

‘It wasn’t a dream. It really was him.’

Well, there was nowhere in the castle he couldn’t go.

He was the lord of the castle and heir to the throne. Of course it wasn’t strange that he had been in her room.

‘If it’s so natural, then why do I feel disappointed?’

He had come all the way into her bedroom, yet he hadn’t slept beside her, choosing the sofa instead. She couldn’t understand it.

‘He must not like me.’

Her expression darkened. After all, she was raised in a tower, and unlike the noble ladies brought up in refinement, she was different. For someone of Louid’s noble background, disliking her was only natural.

‘It’s fine. I’ll do my best anyway.’

Though momentarily dejected, Emilia resolved to do her best as Grand Duchess, even if Louid never grew fond of her.

‘I need to study clothing more.’

After Bella had complimented her dress designs, Emilia decided to draw more. To learn about current fashions in the empire, she planned to visit the library.

“Helen, you said the library is in the west annex, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness. There’s no book the Grand Duke’s library doesn’t have. Should I accompany you?” Helen answered proudly.

“It’s fine. I’ll go alone.”

“Yes.”

The castle had grown so familiar that she could call it her home now. She didn’t want to trouble Helen, who was always busy.

At that time, Louid sat in his office, lost in thought.

‘I should look at some books.’

He was worrying about how to keep Emilia from feeling pain when they were together at night. He thought that Emilia, who should want an heir even more than he did, was keeping him from coming often because of the pain.

Of course, the biggest problem was that he was larger than most men, but since he couldn’t make himself smaller, he resolved to search the library thoroughly until he found a way.

***

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

“You’ve worked hard.”

Exchanging greetings with the librarian, Emilia entered the library.

‘Wow… this isn’t just a library, it’s a museum of books.’

She had expected something small, but the library was immense. The entire first through third floors of the west annex were filled with books.

Simon had once told her that books were rare and expensive in the empire. For Louid to have collected so many, his wealth was beyond imagination.

Where could the clothing books be…

She wandered between shelves crammed with books, searching. But there were so many that she couldn’t find any on fashion, even after combing the first, second, and third floors.

Just as she was about to ask the librarian, she spotted them—fashion books organized by era, placed on the highest shelves.

‘Ah… they’re too high. What should I do?’

She looked around. There was no stool or ladder nearby.

Stretching her hand toward the fashion books, she bounced on her toes, but they were still out of reach. Once again, she looked around.

“Oh?”

In a corner on the third floor, a tall, broad-shouldered man was choosing books. He pulled volumes from the topmost shelf with ease, flipping through them quickly before taking out another.

So envious. If only I were that tall, I could grab them without effort.

Then she noticed his profile. It was Louid.

She waited for him to notice her, but Louid remained focused, absorbed in selecting books with a grave expression.

‘Must be something important.’

Giving up on waiting, Emilia approached him quietly. Even when she came right up beside him, Louid didn’t lift his eyes from the book.

“Hm, hm.”

Because Louid’s expression was so serious, instead of calling his name, she cleared her throat a few times.

Thud—

The book in his hand fell.

“What book is that?”

Emilia asked as Louid picked it up. He quickly shoved the book onto the highest shelf. His broad body blocked her view of the title.

“What brings you here?” Louid asked sternly.

He didn’t seem to be in a good mood, so Emilia hesitated about asking him to take down the fashion books.

“I came to look at clothing books, but they’re out of my reach. I’ll just ask the librarian. Excuse me, then.”

Emilia bowed her head and turned to leave. But Louid was faster. Striding to where the fashion books were displayed, he tilted his head, signaling her to come quickly.

“Which book do you need?”

“That one, and about ten more beside it.”

“You must be very interested in clothing.”

“Yes, I like drawing dresses.”

Without a word, Louid took down the books she pointed to.

“Thank you.”

“This is nothing. Do you need any other books? I’ll get them for you.”

“I want to look at history books from the empire, but…”

Her words trailed off as she glanced at him cautiously. She wasn’t sure if she should trouble a busy man any further.

“Follow me.”

With an indifferent expression, Louid strode away, holding the clothing books in his hand.

“Yes.”

Emilia hurried after him.

‘Like a squirrel.’

In Louid’s eyes, her frail body scurrying after him looked like a squirrel gathering food.

‘Has she gained a little weight?’

Her cheeks, once hollow like a sick person’s, had filled out slightly, and her pale face now carried a faint blush.

After picking out a history book, Emilia asked, “And you?”

“……?”

Louid blinked at her, not understanding what she meant.

“Didn’t you come to look at books too?”

“Ah… I came to look at some law books. This one.”

Looking awkward, Louid grabbed a random book. The cover had musical notes drawn on it.

“I see. Well, I’ll head back then. Please give me the books.” Emilia held out both hands to take the books.

“I’ll carry them.”

Louid didn’t hand her the books but turned toward the stairs.

“It’s fine, really.”

Despite her protest, Louid carried the heavy stack of books down the stairs. Emilia had no choice but to follow behind him.

***

The Grand Duke’s castle was vast, with endless matters to manage and countless servants. From time to time, those who left for personal reasons or retired from age had to be replaced, so new servants were hired regularly.

Recently, after a job posting from the castle, dozens of applicants came for interviews.

“From the East, age 40. This is your first time as a servant?”

In the interview hall, Philip asked the burly, strong-looking man.

The man answered loudly, “Yes, that’s right.”

“What work do you want?”

“I’ll do any work you assign me. My wife and child are ill. Even a few days would help, please hire me.”

He pleaded as he explained his hardships.

“Very well. If you work hard, we’ll make you a regular employee. For now, work in the greenhouse.”

“Thank you, Butler.”

The man bowed repeatedly, expressing his gratitude.

In spring, dead trees in the garden had to be uprooted and replaced with new ones, and the greenhouse soil for growing vegetables needed tilling, so strong workers were required.

“You in the garden, you in the kitchen.”

Philip assigned work to the newly hired servants.

Though it was late spring, in the northern lands the cold was unrelenting. Blizzards battered the castle, and fierce winds threatened to uproot trees.

Unable to go on walks for several days, Emilia spent her time drawing dresses in her room, referencing the clothing books from the library.

Louid didn’t come either.

She thought perhaps it was because she had asked him not to visit often. But it had been too long.

In truth, Louid did come to her bedroom at dawn and left before she woke, but Emilia didn’t know.

‘He must be busy.’

According to Helen, he had been inspecting the territory daily with the knights. With the thaw, levees had collapsed and landslides had destroyed bridges. Fortunately, there were no casualties, but the repairs kept him occupied from morning until late at night.

‘The lord has so much work. I thought nobles lived in comfort…’

I hope nothing happens. Emilia worried for Louid and the knights’ safety as she went to bed earlier than usual.

***

“Your Highness, wake up! Something terrible has happened!”

Mm… why is it so noisy?

In her sleep, a loud voice echoed in her ears.

In the pitch-black night, thick smoke filled the castle. Flames were devouring the east annex.

“Your Highness, there’s a fire! Wake up, Your Highness!”

That’s Helen’s voice.

Recognizing the familiar voice, Emilia’s eyes slowly opened.

“Your Highness, get up! We have to escape.”

Helen’s voice rang out again, joined by the frightened murmurs of other servants.

‘A fire?’

At last fully awake, Emilia bolted upright.