The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 88

Chapter 88. Jealousy (1)

“They say the Grand Duke hasn’t left the manor for several days now.”

At the aide’s words, Ian made a puzzled expression.

“Really?”

The grand ducal manor had strict identity checks, so it wasn’t easy to plant spies inside. That was why he had ordered his men to hide outside the manor and keep watch.

Why hadn’t the Grand Duke gone out even once? There should definitely be matters that required him to go to the imperial palace….

He had also heard recently that the emperor had begun giving the Grand Duke training to prepare him as a successor.

Up until now, according to the reports he received from his subordinates, the Grand Duke had gone to the imperial palace almost every day before leaving on the inspection.

To strike at the Richert Empire, he needed to watch the Grand Duke’s movements. That was why he sent observers to the manor, but lately there was one more purpose in watching Louid. Only if the Grand Duke went out would the Grand Duchess’s outings increase, and only then would there be another chance to see Emilia.

He had come as a hostage by his own will with the aim of grasping the movements of the Richert Empire and creating internal cracks to bring it down. But now, the beautiful woman named Emilia had become another goal in his life. Of course, that didn’t mean he’d abandoned his intention to take over the Richert Empire. Wasn’t it fair to take it as compensation for what the Richert Empire had done to his country?

‘They said Emilia is the emperor’s niece.’

Since the emperor had no children, if he eliminated the Grand Duke and made Emilia his wife, the Richert Empire would naturally become his.

Imagining the day his plan would be fulfilled, Ian formed a smile full of mockery.

***

“Louid, are you alright now? You’ve gotten thinner,” the emperor said, examining his face after seeing him for the first time in a while.

“I apologize, Your Majesty. I suddenly came down with a fever and body aches,” Louid said with an embarrassed expression.

“I see. You’ve never been sick a day in your life, so it must have been bad this time. I’m glad you’ve recovered. Let’s have lunch together today.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After discussing with the emperor the measures to handle the regions he had inspected, Louid carried out state affairs in the annex palace office.

A pile of work he hadn’t been able to handle had accumulated.

There was no trace left of him having been ill. In truth, the poisoning symptoms had completely disappeared. But despite his perfectly fine physical condition, he found it hard to concentrate on his work.

‘Why don’t I want to be away from her?’

All day while handling state affairs, Emilia kept coming to Louid’s mind. He kept wondering what she was doing right now and what she was eating.

Is this withdrawal?

Maybe it was because they had been together the entire time while he was sick, and now they were apart.

‘In a few days, I’ll go back to normal.’

He didn’t think much of his symptoms.

After working nonstop all day, Louid suddenly looked at the wall clock. It was already late afternoon.

I should head back.

Putting the documents he’d been reviewing into the drawer, he stood up from his seat without hesitation. In the past, he would’ve been buried in work until late at night, but now he wanted to return to the manor as quickly as possible.

‘Emilia will be waiting. I can finish the rest tomorrow.’

Opening the office door and stepping out, he quickened his pace.

“Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

A voice called out to him from behind just as he left the office. When he turned around, the Marquess of Carrion was standing there.

“Marquess, what is it?”

“I came to the imperial palace because I have something to report to His Majesty, but His Majesty told me to report it to Your Highness instead, so I came to find you.”

Louid’s expression hardened. If he was going to come, he should’ve come earlier. Of all times, why come just as he was about to leave?

“Come in.”

Louid went back into the office.

“These are the types of events and the budget report for this founding festival.”

The Marquess of Carrion spoke as he held out the documents he had brought.

“Mm….”

Louid didn’t even read the documents he received and set them on top of the desk. It wasn’t an urgent matter, so it would be enough to review it tomorrow.

“By far more than I deserve, I’ve been put in charge of this founding festival event. This is the invitation list.”

“I’ll review it. Then I’ll be getting up now.”

Louid tried to end the meeting with the marquess and stand up. Then the marquess suddenly brought up something else.

“I heard there was an accident in Plumond? It’s truly a relief the Grand Duchess was safe.”

At the marquess’s words, Louid’s thick eyebrows twitched. His eyes sharpened and the color of his irises darkened.

“How did you know that?”

“I heard it from Lina.”

When he glared at him, the marquess’s voice trembled.

“Lady Carrion saved the Grand Duchess. I’m grateful.”

Louid spoke in an emotionless voice, as if he were reading a line.

“Lina said it wasn’t even that big of a deal, but she received praise far beyond what she deserved, so she didn’t know what to do with herself.”

“Saving the Grand Duchess’s life isn’t a small matter. If you have something you want, tell me.”

“My daughter told me she wants to visit the grand ducal manor once. Would that be alright?”

She saved the Grand Duchess, and all she wants is to visit the manor….

“I’ll send an invitation.”

For a moment, he felt something was off, but to send Marquess Carrion away quickly, Louid accepted his request right away. And inviting Lady Carrion wasn’t difficult, and it seemed good to formally express his gratitude for saving Emilia.

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

The Marquess of Carrion’s face brightened.

***

Emilia stood by the bedroom window and kept looking outside from time to time. It was to check whether Louid was returning. During that time, she had been anxious in case Louid died, but it was a relief that he recovered completely as if it were a lie.

‘Why do I keep worrying about him?’

She tilted her head. Louid was better now, yet she kept worrying about him. Her feelings were strange.

It must be because my safety is in danger if he’s not here.

After thinking for a moment, she came to her own conclusion about her feelings. Without Louid, everything was uncomfortable. She still wasn’t ready to live independently on her own, and she also hadn’t decided where she would live.

In a relationship tied by blood to His Majesty the Emperor and Duke Berthe, Louid was her only support. Only if he was there could she cast everything aside and live comfortably.

‘Instead of waiting like this without thinking, if I go out and ride a horse, time will pass faster.’

No matter how long she waited, Louid didn’t return, so Emilia decided to do the horseback riding she had wanted in order to pass the time.

“Sir Jamie, I’m going to go ride a horse in the field, so you don’t need to follow me.”

Wearing her riding outfit, Emilia spoke to Jamie, who was in charge of her escort.

The field at the grand ducal manor was between the manor and the mountain behind it, and since the mountain was the Grand Duke’s hunting ground, people’s access was strictly controlled. So no one could enter the field without going through the manor.

Because of that, there was no need to worry about an intruder.

“Yes, then I’ll come to escort you back in a little while,” Jamie replied.

“Alright.”

Emilia went to the stables

“Welcome, Your Highness the Grand Duchess.”

Ben, the stableman, greeted her warmly.

“Ben, have you been well?”

“Yes. More than me, Zelda has been waiting for Your Highness the Grand Duchess for a long time.”

Heeheeheeng-

Zelda let out a loud whinny as if she was glad to see Emilia again after a long time.

“Hi, Zelda. Let’s run our fill today.”

After gently stroking Zelda’s white mane, Emilia rode Zelda out into the field. After getting to run again after a long time, Zelda was excited and dashed across the field at a fast speed.

‘Ah, this is nice.’

Emilia let out an exclamation of admiration at the enchanting scenery spread out before her. The blue sky without a single cloud and the green field filled with wildflowers looked as beautiful as a painting.

“Hmm.”

The wildflowers smelled like Louid.

Emilia breathed in the fresh wildflower scent until her lungs felt full. With beautiful scenery and good air entering her, it felt like her eyes and lungs were being purified.

A cool wind blew strongly from the direction of the forest where tall trees stood thickly. Then the clusters of wildflowers swayed with the wind, forming green and white waves. It was enough to make her feel as if she were standing in the middle of the sea where white waves were rising.

Her golden hair, which fell to her waist, also streamed long behind her in the wind. Emilia stayed in place for a long time while riding, enjoying the ticklish feeling of the wind brushing past the side of her face.

“Huh? What is that?”

Something suspicious caught her eye as she was intoxicated by the scenery of the beautiful field. A large brown horse appeared from beneath the mountain at the end of the field and came running toward her at a fast speed.

But the horse that had been running well suddenly raised its front legs high, and in an instant, a person fell off the horse. It happened in the blink of an eye.

“Gasp.”

Emilia urged Zelda and ran toward the mountain. When she got closer, a person was lying collapsed in the field.

She slowed Zelda’s speed and approached the fallen person slowly. As she approached, the brown horse fled toward the forest.

Heeheeheeng-

“Whoa, whoa.”

Emilia stroked Zelda to calm her down, excited by the appearance of a strange horse, then got off. Zelda stood quietly beside her.

“Hey. Are you alright?”

A man with light brown hair was lying collapsed in the grass. Judging by the fine clothes he was wearing, he seemed like a noble.

Kneeling on one knee, Emilia pulled the man’s shoulder toward her. His body slumped limply, then lay flat on his back toward the sky.

“Gasp, Prince.”

The person lying unconscious was Prince Ian. With a flustered expression, Emilia kept calling his name.