The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 33

Episode 33. Black Magic

“What is it?”

“The suspect just died, Your Highness.”

“…Dead?”

Louid’s face darkened.

“The man tried to say something, then suddenly vomited blood and died.”

Louid went to the interrogation room and looked at the man tied to the chair, dead with blood spilling from his mouth.

“Looks like black magic. They cast a spell so he couldn’t reveal anything.”

Black magic was a terrifying sorcery that let the caster control the victim’s mind, make them obey, and even kill them with a curse. Because of that, it had long been banned across the continent, including the Richert Empire. It was clearly suspicious, but with the suspect dead, the trail was cut off.

“That seems right. What should we do?”

“Find everyone who had contact with him.”

“Yes, understood.”

“And assign more guards to the Grand Duchess.”

“Yes!”

Strange.

It was too unusual a case to be called a mere setup.

Back in his office, Louid stood by the window with arms crossed, deep in thought.

***

That morning, Bella visited the Grand Duke’s castle.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, I heard you nearly suffered a disaster. I’m so relieved you are safe.”

“Thank you for your concern.”

“I heard your clothes were ruined by the fire, so I brought some things you’ll need right away.”

Bella had brought a generous supply of dresses and everyday clothes.

“Thank you. What about the dresses I ordered before?”

“They’re nearly finished. A fitting is needed. When you have time, could you visit the boutique?”

“Of course.”

Emilia gladly accepted Bella’s suggestion. It would be nice to go out after a long time, and to see the central district of the Grand Duchy.

“When we put the dresses Your Highness designed in the catalog, some noble ladies showed interest. So I was wondering, what if we produced and sold them?”

“Sell the clothes I designed?”

Emilia’s ears perked up at Bella’s words.

“If you draw slightly different designs for each dress, we’ll make and sell them. Naturally, a portion of the profit will go to Your Highness.”

“That’s a good idea. I’ll draw them quickly and show you.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Bella talked about the latest fashions, then left after saying that once the designs were ready, a formal contract would be drawn.

‘Goodness… the clothes I designed will be sold?’

This isn’t a dream, is it? Emilia slapped her cheek. It hurt. She had drawn those sketches just to fight off loneliness in the tower, and now such a good thing had come of them.

She was so grateful the drawings hadn’t burned. She decided to sketch more and show them to Bella when she visited the boutique.

Excited at the thought of becoming a designer, she paced the room, then went to the window. Outside, the servants were busy cleaning up after the annex fire. The third floor was completely charred, and soot covered the whole outer wall.

‘They’re working so hard in this cold…’

I wish I could help somehow…

She immediately went down to the first-floor dining hall.

“Your Highness, you’re here?”

When she entered, Head Chef Mark greeted her warmly.

“Hello, Mark.”

Mark was in high spirits these days, as the Grand Duchess always enjoyed the food he made.

“I heard you almost suffered a disaster last night, Your Highness.”

Mark, who had been away on vacation for a few days, said he had only just heard about the fire.

“Yes, but thankfully the flames didn’t spread further.”

“It’s a huge relief.”

“Mark, there’s something I want to make… but I’ve never tried it. I think I’ll need your help.”

“Yes, what can I help you with, Your Highness?”

“The big, wide bread from the knights’ banquet?”

“Ah, you mean rug bread?”

“Yes, rug bread. Why is it called that?”

Emilia tilted her head curiously. She hadn’t known its name at the banquet, but “rug bread” sounded amusing.

“Because it’s flat like a rug. Haha.”

“I see. In the south where I lived, I never saw bread like that.”

In truth, she had rarely eaten soft bread at all.

“Of course not. I invented rug bread myself,” Mark said proudly.

“Really? That’s wonderful. I’d like to try making it too. Will you teach me?”

“Yes, it would be an honor, Your Highness.”

“Oooh… this is so hard…”

Before long, groans came from Emilia’s mouth. She hadn’t known breadmaking was this difficult.

Mark said the dough had to be kneaded for a long time until it became smooth. She was now on her tenth batch, enough dough for ten rug breads.

Her wrists felt like they would burst. She glanced at Mark with pleading eyes, but he was busy at the fire making sauce.

Why did I brag that I’d do all the kneading myself… But she couldn’t take back what she’d said.

At that time, Louid stopped by the third floor to ask Emilia something.

“……?”

His bedroom was empty. He stood there for a moment, looking confused, then went to the next room. There, Helen was directing the servants in arranging furniture.

“Your Highness.”

Helen bowed politely when she saw him.

“Where is the Grand Duchess?”

“Her Highness went to the dining hall, Your Highness.”

“Ah, she went to eat.”

He quickly headed down to the first floor.

“What are you doing?”

“Oh my, you’re here?”

Emilia, who he thought would still be in shock from the fire, was wrestling with dough, her cheeks dusted white with flour.

“I’m trying to make bread. Hohoho.”

Unaware of the state of her own face, Emilia laughed brightly, and the sunlight streaming through the window made her shine even more.

“I didn’t know you could cook.”

“I’ve never tried before… but I want to now.”

Of course, no noble lady would ever have cooked before.

“All right, do your best.”

With no expectations, Louid nodded and turned to go back to his office. He had come to ask her something, but seeing her, he forgot entirely what he had meant to say.

“Sit down. Please taste what I made before you go.”

“……”

When Louid silently sat down, Emilia quickly rolled out the fermented dough with a rolling pin. Mark carefully spread sauce on the dough she rolled and baked it in the oven. Because it was thin bread, it baked quickly.

Emilia placed the finished bread on a plate and set it before Louid.

“Please eat.”

“You made it well.”

Surprisingly, the bread turned out fairly decent.

“This is something I like. It’s my first time eating it here, though.”

At her words, Louid’s brow arched slightly. He had thought she only liked potatoes, but apparently, she liked bread too. Ah, right, she also liked wine.

“Let’s eat together.”

“Yes.”

As if she had been waiting, Emilia pulled out a chair and sat down.

“You seemed to be making a lot?”

“I want to give it to the knights and servants as a special meal. They all worked hard yesterday.”

“…Yes. They did work hard.”

“How does it taste?”

“It’s good.”

Contrary to his words, Louid chewed the bread mechanically, like someone who couldn’t taste it. He disliked sweet things and didn’t like rug bread, but he cleaned the plate without leaving a crumb.

After finishing the bread, Emilia went up to the third floor.

“Ahh, I’m exhausted. This is no easy work. I need to build more stamina…”

Completely drained, she collapsed onto the bed. After lying with her eyes closed for a short while, she soon opened them again. Something had come to mind.

Getting up from the bed, she went to the fireplace and opened the cover. Inside, the logs were blazing brightly.

Emilia held out her right hand toward the fire. To her surprise, the flames bent backward, as if avoiding her hand.

“Huh?”

The fire moved away? She looked at her hand front and back.

‘Just an ordinary person’s hand…’

Is it because of this ring? She was wearing the ring her mother had left her. It was an old-looking blue ring, but because it was her mother’s keepsake, she always wore it.

‘Now that I see it, the ring looks like my eye color.’

At a glance, her eyes looked like Duke Berthe’s, but while his were a deep blue, hers were a light blue with a mysterious light.

She raised her left hand, with her wedding ring, toward the fire. This time, the flames stayed as they were.

‘So it’s because of this ring. What a mysterious ring. Then, can I extinguish the fire too?’

Emilia held out her right hand toward the fire and focused her strength. The flames slowly sank downward.

‘Huh? It’s really going out?’

“What are you doing, Your Highness?”

At that moment, Helen’s voice came from behind.

“Huh? Oh, the fire seemed weak, so I was going to add more logs.”

Emilia quickly began placing logs from the pile beside the fireplace into it.

“That’s what the servants are for. What if you hurt your hands?”

Helen was alarmed and tried to stop her. Though it was something Emilia always did in the tower, apparently, noble ladies didn’t do such things.

“Ah, right. I’ll have the servants do it next time.”

Emilia dusted her hands off and gave a sheepish smile.

“Please have your tea, Your Highness .”

“All right, thank you.”

Late at night.

After dismissing the maids who offered to attend her bath, Emilia washed alone. After finishing her bedtime preparations, she sat in the armchair, waiting for Louid. But no matter how long she waited, he didn’t come, so she sat at his desk instead.

He must be very busy these days.

Louid had been going out of the castle almost daily, and with the fire yesterday, he had to be extremely busy.

‘That’s better for me, anyway.’

Though she wanted a divorce quickly, she still felt burdened about the nights with him. The fact that he was busy was more comfortable for her.

On one side of the desk were paper and pens Helen had prepared. Emilia spread out the paper and deftly began sketching dresses. She was scheduled to go for a fitting at the boutique soon, and to give the designs to Bella then, she needed to work quickly.

How much time had passed? The bedroom door opened, and Louid strode in. His eyes went straight to the bed.