The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 71

Chapter 71. A Night Without Her

Simon tried to resign from his position as butler of the ducal estate not long after Damian left the estate.

“Why are you saying you’re quitting?”

But Duke Berthe wasn’t pleased with Simon’s resignation.

“I have a chronic illness, so I’m thinking of retiring and resting now. And because of my mistake, we also lost the payment for the reservoir construction.”

“Didn’t I say I wouldn’t hold you responsible for that? And what chronic illness? What illness came on so suddenly? I’ll speak to the physician. You can get examined.”

“Actually, I’ve had depression since my wife died, and it’s gotten worse recently.”

“Hmm….”

Originally, after killing Damian, Duke Berthe intended to quietly eliminate the butler as well, since he knew about the twins.

But Simon had served by his side for decades with unwavering loyalty. He was tight‑lipped and had never once spoken about the twins to anyone outside.

That was why even the people working in the duchy had known nothing about Emilia until she was revealed a short while ago, and even now, no one knew anything about Damian.

Regarding Damian this time as well, Simon had not hired any workers. He’d gone into the forest alone and disposed of the body so that it would become food for wild animals. That was how loyal and taciturn he was. Eliminating someone like that felt like too much of a waste.

“You can’t retire. Rest until your health improves, then return.”

“Your Grace, that’s a bit difficult. I want to retire….”

Simon stammered, flustered.

“You know full well I can’t do without you. Don’t worry about anything. Rest well and come back. Since you handled Damian’s matter well, I’ll consider the loss of the reservoir construction payment void. I’ll give you a generous bonus too, so go recuperate somewhere warm.”

There was no room for negotiation in the Duke’s words.

“…Yes, thank you, Your Grace.”

Unable to refuse the Duke’s will any longer, Simon bowed his head in gratitude.

After greeting the Duke and stepping outside, Simon wore a troubled expression.

“Ha, good grief.”

For now, the Duke had spared him, but it was impossible to know when the fickle man might decide to kill him.

Still, if he disappeared without a word and hid somewhere, the Duke would sense something was wrong and immediately come after him. If that happened, Young Master Damian could also be in danger. That was why he’d planned to retire under the pretext of illness.

But even that had become impossible.

“I wonder if he’s still alive….”

His plan to quit the butler’s position and head to the southern island to search for Damian had completely fallen apart.

***

“I get motion sickness, so go as slowly as possible.”

“Yes, understood.”

The duchy bordered the southern edge of the imperial capital’s outskirts, so if the carriage moved fast, the trip from the imperial palace to the ducal estate took less than half a day. But the distance from the Duke’s mansion was a bit farther, and Emilia had no desire to rush. So she stayed one night at an inn and had the carriage travel slowly.

Riding in the carriage along the wide road cutting across the fields, Emilia watched the two tall towers rising high through the window.

‘Was no one living in the western tower?’

She had lived in the eastern tower, and because its windows faced east, she’d never known there was another tower. But now she saw there were two. While she pondered that sudden curiosity, the carriage continued forward and entered the grounds of the ducal estate.

“Welcome, Your Highness. I’m Karl, the butler. His Grace the Duke has gone out and hasn’t returned yet. He’ll arrive before dinnertime.”

Karl, who had recently become the new butler in place of Simon, greeted Emilia.

“Where’s Simon?”

“Former Butler Simon isn’t well, so he’s recuperating far away.”

“Is that so? Alright.”

The fact that Simon, the only person she’d wanted to see, wasn’t here left her deflated.

“I’ll guide you to your bedroom. Rosie, escort Her Highness.”

“Yes. Your Highness, please follow me.”

Rosie, whom she was seeing for the first time in a while, looked weighed down with worry.

“Rosie, it’s good to see you. I’ll be in your care,” Emilia answered with a bright expression as they arrived at the bedroom.

“Yes, Your Highness. Please rest comfortably.”

After placing tea and refreshments on the table, Rosie bowed politely and moved to leave the room.

“Rosie, could you show me around the ducal estate a little later?”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Since she’d come back to her hometown, she wanted to look around the estate. She’d lived here for eighteen years, yet she’d never properly explored it, so she didn’t know what was where.

Emilia finished her tea and rose to slowly look around the bedroom. Of course, there were only luxurious furnishings, but nothing from her childhood or anything that might hold a memory.

When she opened the dressing room, several blue dresses were hanging neatly. It seemed Duke Berthe’s taste was firmly set on blue clothing.

Once she finished looking around the bedroom, she stepped outside. Rosie was waiting in the hallway. Emilia walked with her and toured the estate at a relaxed pace.

“Huh?”

Her eyes landed on a portrait hanging on the wall of the main building’s corridor.

That must be my father.

It was a portrait of a young man with blond hair and blue eyes. She had only ever heard about her father, but for some reason, she felt a sense of familiarity. His face looked so much like hers. It was no wonder the emperor had been surprised when he saw her.

“Isn’t there a portrait of my mother?”

She wanted to see her mother’s face too.

“No, there isn’t a portrait of her.”

There was a portrait of her father, yet not one of her mother. She wondered why, but if it didn’t exist, there was nothing to be done.

While touring the corridor, Emilia stepped outside to look around the area beyond the main building. Behind her, Jamie and several escort knights from the grand duchy followed her like shadows.

Passing through a garden filled with green trees and blooming flowers, she saw several annex buildings, the training grounds for the knights, and the stables.

“What’s over there?” Emilia pointed at the sharply rising western tower. It had piqued her curiosity ever since she’d seen it from the carriage.

“That place… I don’t know much about it either, Your Highness.”

Rosie answered with a flustered expression. That tower was a forbidden area for every servant in the ducal estate. She’d heard that no one had ever gone up there.

“Really?”

Tilting her head slightly, Emilia felt drawn toward the eastern tower instead. It was where she had spent the past eighteen years.

But the entrance to the tower staircase was blocked by iron bars and locked with a heavy padlock. She’d wanted to see it again after so long, but with the door locked, she couldn’t go up.

“You’re saying Emilia came alone? His Highness the Grand Duke didn’t come with her?”

Duke Berthe, who’d just returned from his outing, flew into a rage as he headed to his office.

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Karl, the newly appointed butler, fumbled nervously behind him. He still hadn’t adapted to the duke’s fiery temperament.

“I told her repeatedly to treat the Grand Duke well, yet she comes alone.”

If the two had a good relationship, there was no way Emilia would come alone on her first visit to the ducal estate after the marriage.

If the Grand Duke said he wouldn’t go, then she shouldn’t have come either. Why come alone? Foolish girl.

From the very start, she should’ve been doing everything she could to win the Grand Duke’s heart, yet she showed up alone. The duke felt like she had ruined his plans, and anger boiled inside him.

“Your Highness, His Grace the Duke requests that you join him for dinner.”

Rosie informed Emilia, who was resting in her bedroom after her walk. It seemed the Duke had already returned.

“Alright.”

Emilia answered with a disappointed expression, then after briefly dressing up, she went to the dining room. A stern-faced old man sat before a large, luxurious table.

“Have you been well, Your Grace?”

Emilia hid her displeasure and greeted him as calmly as she could.

“Yes, sit.”

“Yes.”

She sat at the far end of the table, the seat farthest from the Duke, facing him directly. As soon as she sat down, the servants began placing food on the table.

“Did His Highness the Grand Duke not come with you?”

The Duke, who clearly wasn’t in a good mood, glared at her and asked.

“He was busy, so I came alone.”

Emilia answered with an indifferent expression. There was no reason to mind the Duke’s mood now when she’d hardly have to see him in the future.

The Duke flinched at her bold attitude, then gestured toward the food with his chin.

“I see. Eat.”

“Yes.”

For a while, only the quiet sound of cutlery echoed through the dining room.

“You know well that His Majesty takes special interest in you. Make sure you don’t disappoint him,” said the Duke while cutting his steak.

“Yes.”

Just hearing his voice made Emilia feel like she’d lose her appetite, but she forced herself to keep a calm expression as she swallowed the food.

“You should put more effort into your appearance too. You look much better than you did at the wedding, but even at home, you should dress up glamorously so your husband doesn’t lose interest.”

“Yes.”

At her uninterested reply, the Duke glanced sharply at her while slicing his steak.

‘Was her personality always like this…?’

He had never once visited the tower while his grandchildren grew up. Now that Simon, who had cared for the twins, was gone, there was no one to ask about what Emilia had been like.

The Duke stared at Emilia, who said nothing and only ate her food, then lifted his glass and took a gulp of wine.

***

After Emilia left for the ducal estate, Louid couldn’t fall asleep. He tossed and turned restlessly. The empty bed felt strangely lonely, and even his head began to ache.

‘She must’ve arrived safely, right?’

He hadn’t gone with her because he didn’t want to see Duke Berthe, but now that she was gone, her face kept popping into his mind.

Without her at his side, his insomnia and headaches began creeping back. After a while, he closed his eyes and tried hard to fall asleep, but soon he shot upright.