The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 38

Episode 38. At the Log Cabin

Louid stood by the bed, watching Emilia with a troubled expression.

In truth, except for the day Emilia had moved to the adjoining bedroom, he had slept in her bedroom almost every night. She simply hadn’t known. He would go to her room after she fell asleep and leave before she woke up.

“Your Highness, here are the headache medicine and sleeping pills.”

That afternoon, the attending physician came to the office with a bottle of medicine.

“Hm.”

“How have you been feeling lately, Your Highness?”

“No headaches, and I sleep well.”

“What? Truly?”

The physician looked surprised at his answer.

“Am I cured?”

“That cannot be known yet, but if there’s something that brings you joy or if you are positively influenced by someone, your condition can improve. Your illness is partly due to poison, but it’s also psychological.”

“…I see.”

A positive influence, he said…

The illness had been caused by Duke Berthe, and yet being near his granddaughter eased it. The irony was not lost on him.

Lying quietly beside Emilia, Louid watched her until he fell asleep.

***

“From the investigation, there was no one who had contact with the arson suspect. The suspect stayed at a small inn a few days before coming to the castle. According to the innkeeper, the man only said he came from the east. He came on horseback and used no carriage.”

The next day, Louid listened to Alex’s report. His face grew serious. The Berthe duchy was located south of the capital.

“The claim that he came from the east is likely a deception, but investigate the full list of nobles in the east.”

“Yes, understood.”

After Alex left, Louid rose and looked out the window. From his office, the garden and walking path were clearly visible.

The long platinum-blonde woman once again let her hair flutter as she went to the large greenhouse, then lingered a while before heading to the small greenhouse. She was likely feeding the baby wyvern milk.

‘She doesn’t even know how terrifying wyverns are. Tsk.’

On her way back to the main castle, she greeted the servants working in the garden and even stopped by where the annex was being repaired. She diligently visited the library as well.

At lunch, she ate in the first-floor dining hall, chatting merrily, and now baked bread well enough after learning from Chef Mark. She sometimes drooled on the desk after falling asleep while drawing…

“Pfft!”

Louid burst into laughter, remembering Emilia asleep and drooling. A woman hard to keep close, yet hard to keep away.

“Eddie.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Eddie, carrying a mountain of documents into the office, answered.

“Buy more books on fashion.”

“The library already has almost all the books published in the Empire.”

“Bring in all the foreign books too. No matter the cost.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Oh, and tell the Grand Duchess to come to the riding ground now.”

***

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, His Highness has asked you to come to the riding ground.”

At that time, Emilia was preparing to go back to the greenhouse.

“Why?”

“I don’t know… but you’ll need to change into riding clothes.”

“All right.”

Though puzzled, Emilia put on the riding outfit Helen had chosen. She wore a vest, boots, and tied her hair up in a single knot.

‘I can’t ride horses… What if he makes me ride…?’

She had learned etiquette necessary for noble life from Baroness Shane, but with limited time, she hadn’t learned horseback riding or ballroom dance. With an anxious heart, she went to the riding ground.

When she arrived, Louid was waiting in riding clothes. Tall and handsome, he looked striking.

‘No. Don’t get swept away. We’re about to divorce.’

She reminded herself firmly and walked toward him.

“Emilia, have you ever ridden a horse?”

“N-no…”

As if he had expected it, Louid nodded and placed a riding hat on her head.

“It would be better to practice on a small horse, but since you need to learn quickly, we’ll use a large one.”

“…Why do I need to learn quickly?” Emilia asked, confused.

“To escape.”

Louid looked at her as if it were obvious.

“What?”

“When danger comes, you need to escape. So you must learn.”

“……”

As they talked, a groom led over a magnificent white horse.

“Her name is Zelda. Never go behind a horse.”

Worried an accident might occur, Louid warned her in advance.

“Yes.”

“She likes it when you stroke her neck. Try it.”

Emilia slowly approached the horse and hesitantly stretched out her hand.

“Huh?”

Her hand, hesitating near the horse’s neck, was suddenly covered by a large hand. He guided her to stroke the horse’s neck. Despite being touched by a stranger, Zelda stayed still. Thankfully, it was a gentle horse.

A moment later, Louid lifted her up onto the saddle.

“Ugh… I’m scared.” Emilia grimaced and shouted.

“It’s fine.”

From the ground to the horse’s back, the height was daunting.

“What if I fall?”

“Trust Zelda. Hold the reins tight.”

Louid whistled, and Zelda began to walk forward. Emilia’s body tensed, every muscle tight. Even in the chilly spring weather, sweat beaded on her forehead.

Louid taught her to go left, to go right, and so on. For Emilia, keeping her back straight and thighs tight was pure torment.

“Huh?”

At some point, Louid suddenly leapt up behind her like lightning. With one hand holding the reins, he wrapped the other around her waist.

“We’ll run. Hold on tight.”

Hold on where? Terrified, Emilia grabbed Zelda’s mane with both hands.

Louid rode out of the castle and onto the lakeside road. Emilia squeezed her eyes shut in fear. Swoosh, swoosh. The sound of birch trees brushing in the cool wind reached her ears.

After a long while, she gathered the courage to open her eyes slightly.

‘Where is this?’

Zelda was running along a small forest path. Tall trees stood densely on both sides.

After galloping down the forest path for a while, a log cabin appeared. Louid stopped the horse and reached out his arm to her. Emilia practically fell into his arms as she dismounted.

“Where is this?”

“A place I sometimes come to alone.”

“Ah…”

“Let’s eat here before we return.”

“Yes.”

Louid tied Zelda in the stable and gave her water and feed. Inside the log cabin were a small room, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a tiny living room. The kitchen had cooking utensils and food supplies.

“There’s a small lake nearby.”

Louid skillfully gathered fishing tools from the shed.

Emilia trailed behind him as he strode down the forest path. Soon a small lake appeared beyond the trees.

“Wow…! It’s beautiful.”

She couldn’t believe such a place existed. It was like a lake where fairies from a fairy tale would live. Now that spring had come, the ice on the lake was nearly gone.

“Are there fish here too?”

“Quite a lot.”

Louid rolled up the sleeves of his black shirt and cast his fishing line with ease.

‘Oh my…. Look at those arm muscles.’

His firm, muscular arms were impressive.

It wasn’t a lie that the lake had plenty of fish. Before long, fish were being pulled up one after another. They were so large it was hard to believe they lived in such a small lake. From head to tail, each fish was as thick as his arm.

“Wow…”

Clapping beside him, Emilia exclaimed in awe. Curiously, he kept catching more fish.

“Whenever I come here, I can sort out my thoughts.”

He spoke as he gazed at the lake. In fact, he had come to the forest on impulse to clear his mind.

‘Why did I bring Emilia?’

He had only intended to teach her to ride, but before he knew it, they were already at the log cabin.

“Yes, it’s truly a wonderful place.” Emilia nodded, agreeing that she liked it too.

Louid turned to her and asked, “Is there somewhere you’d like to go?”

“I… want to see the sea.”

She wanted to see the sea she had only read about in books.

“I see. Then we’ll go someday.”

“Oh, really? I’d love that.”

Emilia was as delighted as a child. Seeing her happy lifted his spirits too.

In a short time, Louid had caught many fish. He released all but two back into the lake. He deftly gutted and cleaned the fish.

Back at the log cabin, he lit a fire in the fireplace and grilled the fish on skewers. The rich aroma filled the cabin, making Emilia swallow hard.

“Try it.”

Soon, he handed her fish grilled to perfection. Its golden brown surface looked delicious.

“It’s delicious.”

Emilia took a bite and marveled at the savory taste. She felt she would never find such flavor anywhere else.

“Eat plenty.”

Louid gazed at her quietly as she bit into the fish.

“You’ve been eating well lately. At the wedding…”

“At the wedding, what about me?”

“You looked like someone who didn’t eat even once a week.”

What? Was she that bad? Well, she had nearly died in an accident and had been dazed from strong painkillers, so she must have looked half-dead.

“Now I plan to eat well. If I’m to live alone, I need to stay healthy.” Emilia smiled with fish in both hands as she spoke.

“…Yes, do that.”

At her words, Louid’s shoulders twitched. Silently, he ate his fish.

“Let’s go back.”

After a while, Louid finished cleaning up.

“Yes.”

On the way back to the castle, Louid had Zelda trot slowly. Emilia’s fear of horses faded, and she was able to fully enjoy the scenery. With her stomach full and the fresh air, she felt refreshed.

‘So this is the joy of riding a horse…’

Yet she couldn’t help but feel conscious of Louid’s hand gripping her waist firmly behind her. With her back leaning against his broad, solid chest, she felt secure, but also strangely embarrassed.

‘Is he really so unaffected? I wish we’d hurry back…’

By the time they reached the castle, her face was flushed red.

“Emilia, continue practicing hard tomorrow.”

“Yes…”

Back at the castle, the kind Louid from the log cabin was gone, replaced by the strict instructor once more.