The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 81

Chapter 81. Summer Vineyard

Asher, who was staying at the count’s castle on vacation, had been in an unusually buoyant mood for the past few days. That was because he’d received notice from Louid that after finishing the provincial inspection, he would stop by the count’s castle together with the Grand Duchess.

According to the letter Louid sent, today was the day the grand ducal couple would arrive. Asher, unlike his usual calm self, fidgeted restlessly and gave orders to the servants.

“Butler, make sure everything is prepared so that the grand ducal couple will be completely comfortable.”

“Yes, sir.”

***

Damian was once again driving a carriage loaded with wine toward the count’s castle. On both sides of the road leading to the castle stretched vineyards as vast as the sea. A whistle escaped his lips without him realizing it.

The summer vineyard formed a magnificent sight of green waves. There were still unripe green grapes, and there were also grapes ripening into a deep, dark color.

Damian felt happiness in cultivating grapes and making wine. When he had been locked away in the tower, he hadn’t known what hope was, but after coming here, he learned what hope in life was, and he also gained a purpose in life as a vineyard farmer.

Count Asher Dalton was a good employer who rewarded hard work accordingly. Meeting Martin, and meeting such a good employer, were both strokes of luck for him. And all of that luck came from Simon, who helped him escape from Duke Berthe.

‘Is he doing well? He has to be safe….’

From time to time, he thought of Simon. If Duke Berthe learned that Simon had helped him escape, he might harm him. Damian wanted to earn money quickly and bring Simon out of the duke’s residence.

‘To do that, I have to work hard.’

Neither making wine nor delivering it felt difficult to him. Being able to live while working hard was a truly great joy for someone who had once been trapped in a tower.

As the warm southern morning sunlight illuminated the vast vineyards of the count’s territory, a black luxury carriage arrived at the count’s castle.

Emilia stepped down from the carriage and passed right by Damian, who was unloading wine from another carriage. Completely absorbed in his work, Damian did not turn around in time.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. Welcome.”

At the sound coming from nearby, Damian turned around. A beautiful woman with platinum-blond hair cascading in waves down to her waist and pale blue eyes the same color as his own was exchanging greetings with the count.

‘So that’s Her Highness the Grand Duchess?’

She was the most beautiful woman Damian had ever seen in his life. He stood completely still, staring at Emilia.

***

“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duchess. I’ve been waiting for you.”

“It’s been a while, Count Asher.”

At Asher’s warm welcome, Emilia greeted him with a bright smile.

“Please, come inside.”

Asher smiled and guided her into the lobby.

“Do you not see me at all?”

“Hm? You’ve been here before, so just go in on your own.”

When Louid, who had been following behind Emilia, spoke curtly, Asher waved his hand as if it were a bother and replied. The two followed Asher up the central staircase and went to the reception room.

“Please sit here, Your Highness.”

“Thank you.”

“You’ve become even more beautiful.”

“Hehe, thank you. You’ve become even more handsome as well, Count.”

“Haha.”

At Emilia’s compliment, Asher laughed awkwardly. He poured tea into Emilia’s cup.

As Emilia sipped the tea, she thought of the vast vineyards of the count’s territory she had seen while riding in the carriage. The vineyards stretching endlessly across the fields and hills would not leave her mind.

‘What if, after divorcing Louid, I lived cultivating grapes and making wine?’

If she wanted to live in hiding without Duke Berthe or nobles who knew her face finding out, she felt she should only work on designing clothes until the divorce and then find another job.

If she raised grapes in the countryside, made wine, and hired only a few servants who could keep their mouths shut to handle selling it, there would be no worry of her existence becoming known outside.

“Count, I saw there were a lot of vineyards on the way here. Is growing grapes difficult?”

With a curious expression, Emilia asked Asher, who sat across from her.

“It will be difficult at first, but once you learn how to grow them, it’s doable.”

“I see. Do you happen to know how to make wine? Selgona wine is really delicious, so I want to learn how to make it.”

“Is that so? Since it’s the family business, I know it roughly, but since you’ve come all the way here, I’ll have an expert teach you how to make wine.”

Asher was pleased that Emilia showed interest in the vineyard. He thought she would be even happier if he let her hear an explanation from an expert.

“Oh my, thank you, Count. Hoho.”

Emilia didn’t hide her happy expression. Her clear laughter rang out even beyond the reception room.

“You must be tired from coming such a long way, right? I’ll have a servant guide you to your bedroom.”

“Yes, thank you, Count.”

Louid, who had been sitting on the sofa with a blunt expression, left out of their conversation, also stood up and followed the servant.

After Louid and Emilia left the reception room, Asher recalled the young man who had delivered the wine last time.

Maybe because he resembled Emilia, he remained vividly in Asher’s mind. It seemed fine to have that young man explain the wine-making method.

“Butler, if that young man who delivers the wine came today, bring him to me.”

“Lucian, you mean?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“Yes, understood.”

***

“Hey, Lucian. Come down for a moment.”

“Yes. What is it?”

After unloading the wine and getting ready to depart in the carriage, Damian stepped down from the carriage with a bewildered expression at the butler’s urgent call.

“The count is looking for you.”

“Me?”

“Yes. Follow me.”

“Yes.”

The butler led Damian into the main castle. Damian admired the inside of the grand castle in awe. Up to now, the places he had seen were the stables, the well, the garden, and the servants’ dining hall.

A short while later, Damian stood in front of the count’s office and swallowed hard, nervous. When he followed the butler inside, Count Dalton, whom he had seen before, was sitting on the sofa.

“You said your name is Lucian, right?”

“Yes, that’s right, Count.”

“Sit here.”

The count pointed to the sofa for Damian, who stood rigidly.

“Yes.”

The two sat facing each other. A servant brought warm tea, carefully set it on the sofa table, and left.

It was Damian’s first time receiving this kind of treatment, so everything felt unreal.

“Can you explain the wine-making method to Her Highness the Grand Duchess?”

After taking a sip of tea, Asher brought up the reason he had called him.

“…To Her Highness the Grand Duchess?”

Damian’s blue eyes widened, and his body froze in place. His heart pounded. He never imagined he would be able to meet the angelically beautiful woman in person.

“Yes, I can do that,” he answered without hesitation.

“Good. Then come here again tomorrow.”

Satisfied with his straightforward answer, Asher spoke with a pleased expression.

“Yes, understood.”

***

“Are His Highness the Grand Duke and the count close?”

That evening, after returning home, Damian asked Martin.

“Of course. The two of them have been best friends since they were young. I heard that whenever the count went to the imperial palace, the two of them were always together.”

“I see.”

Since the count was close with the Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess had visited the count’s castle. If that was the case, he might be able to see her often in the future too. The next day, Damian drove the carriage to the count’s castle with a fluttering heart.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, it’s a pleasure to meet you for the first time. I’m Lucian.”

Facing the Grand Duchess, Damian bowed his head and greeted Emilia politely.

“Nice to meet you, Lucian. But have we met before?” Emilia tilted her head.

“No. This is my first time meeting you.”

“I see.”

Emilia felt that the young man’s pale face in front of her was not unfamiliar. Somehow, it felt like she had met him somewhere before. But since he said he was seeing her for the first time, she thought it must be her mistake.

“Her Highness says she wants to know the wine-making method, so explain it well.”

Asher, who came up to Damian, said in a gentle voice.

“Yes, understood.”

Damian got into the carriage with Emilia and the count’s household and went to the wine-making facility attached to the vineyard. Inside the swaying carriage, sitting face to face with the Grand Duchess made his heart thump, thump.

The Grand Duchess had a bright personality and an appearance so beautiful it didn’t feel like she belonged to this world. He couldn’t believe he was sitting facing someone like that.

“Lucian, how old are you this year?”

“I’m twenty.”

“You’re the same age as me.”

He was going to answer if she asked his birthday, but she didn’t ask.

“Was your hair color always like that?”

It seemed like the Grand Duchess was curious about him.