The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 89

Chapter 89. Jealousy (2)

That morning, Ian mounted his horse and left his residence. It was after he received a report from his subordinate early in the morning that the Grand Duke had gone to the imperial palace. The subordinate in charge of watching the grand duke’s manor frequently passed along the main road near the front gate of the manor while disguised as a public carriage driver. At times he even carried passengers, so no one suspected him

“Are you going out, Your Highness?”

Someone approached him as he exited the front gate. It was the official assigned to monitor him as a hostage. When he had first set foot in the Richert Empire as a hostage, the one who dispatched the official to him had been Louid. For a moment, Ian’s gaze sharpened, then quickly returned to calm.

“I’ve been honored with an invitation from the Grand Duchess.”

Ian took out a forged invitation he had prepared in advance from his pocket and handed it over.

“When will you return?”

After checking the invitation, the official asked in a businesslike tone.

“She might tell me to stay the night, so I’ll probably return in two or three days.”

“Yes, understood. Please be careful not to go outside the imperial capital.”

“Of course.”

It wasn’t unusual for him to go out, and since he hadn’t caused trouble until now, the official recorded his destination and let him pass without further comment. Ian urged his horse forward powerfully in the direction of the grand duke’s manor.

“Heh.”

After riding for a while, he let out a quiet chuckle. Even when the official let him pass, if there was any suspicion, soldiers dispatched from the imperial palace would follow behind him. But today, no one followed.

‘As expected, the gods are helping me.’

Having completely deceived the official, he increased his horse’s speed.

Behind the manor stretched a wide field, and beyond it lay a forest. It was a place Louid occasionally used for hunting. Ian had also learned that the Grand Duchess sometimes went horseback riding in the field.

He’d ordered his subordinate to find a way to secretly enter the forest behind the manor. A few days ago, he learned that there was a passage locked with a padlock in the fence surrounding the forest.

After passing well beyond lunchtime and arriving at the forest behind the manor, he waited for a time when no guards were present, broke the padlock, and passed through the passage while still on horseback. It was a very secluded spot where guards came by only once a day. They would probably discover the damaged padlock sometime tomorrow.

He planned to wait in the field for Emilia to appear, and if she didn’t, he intended to go all the way to the front of the manor. If he said he had gotten lost, no one would dare suspect him too harshly since he was a prince of the Kingdom of Billiot.

But perhaps the goddess of fortune was on his side, because as soon as he passed through the forest and entered the field, a beautiful woman appeared before his eyes. She was riding a white horse, her long golden hair streaming as she raced across the field. It felt as if he were gazing at a sparkling fairy.

After watching Emilia for a while, he lashed his horse, made it rear its front legs high, and then fell into a thicket filled with wildflowers.

***

“Prince! Please wake up. Prince Ian!”

Emilia shouted loudly. Looking around, she couldn’t see anyone. It seemed he had come alone without attendants. To check whether Ian was breathing, she placed her finger beneath his nose.

Fortunately, he was breathing.

‘They said he can’t leave the imperial capital because he’s a hostage….’

Oh, right. This area is still within the imperial capital.

The grand ducal manor was located at the very edge of the imperial capital.

“Prince. Please wake up.”

He was smaller than Louid, but he still had a huge build, and she couldn’t move him on her own. She also couldn’t just leave an injured person there. All she could do was wait until the prince woke up or wait for Jamie to come looking for her.

‘He doesn’t look like he’s hurt anywhere….’

When she examined the prince’s body, there didn’t seem to be anything wrong on the outside. But he might have internal injuries, so she couldn’t let her guard down.

“Prince! Prince!”

Emilia kept calling Ian and shook his body. After waiting a moment, Ian’s eyelids lifted. When he opened his eyes, maybe because he still hadn’t come to his senses, he stared at her without saying anything.

“Grand Duchess?”

After a long while, Ian called to her.

“Do you recognize me? Are you hurt anywhere?”

“My leg….”

“Your leg?”

Oh no. Could it be broken? She heard that falling off a horse was a serious accident. Didn’t the Crown Prince also meet his end because of a riding accident? She looked at Ian’s leg with worried eyes.

“Prince. How did you end up getting hurt here?”

“I was enjoying horseback riding, but the scenery was so beautiful that I got distracted looking around and ended up losing my way. I crossed over the fence and came through the forest, and then, would you believe it, there was a beautiful woman right before my eyes? I was distracted, thinking she must be a fairy, and I ended up falling from my horse.”

Ian spoke softly and put on an exaggerated smile.

“….”

He fell because of me. What am I supposed to say at a time like this….

At a loss for words, Emilia couldn’t say anything and just gave an awkward, faint smile.

“Where did the horse you rode here go?”

Emilia said as she looked around. The horse that ran away was nowhere to be seen, not even a trace.

Where did it go after throwing its owner off? Seriously.

“Please call me Ian. That one will run around freely and return tomorrow.”

Emilia’s body stiffened.

It was a bit difficult to call him by his name.

She even called Asher “Count,” so she couldn’t call a Prince Ian she wasn’t close with by his name.

Besides, they were enemies, so there was no reason to become close.

“No. I’m comfortable with the title ‘Prince.’ And if I call you ‘Prince,’ it feels kind of romantic too,” Emilia answered as if making an excuse.

“Romantic…. Haha. Then call me that,” Ian said with a hearty laugh. But inside, he was a little disappointed. If Emilia called him Ian, he was planning to call her Emilia too, but his plan had gone off track.

Ian pushed himself up with his hand and sprang to his feet. But he seemed badly hurt, because he limped.

What should we do? His horse ran away.

Emilia hesitated inside. She had little experience dealing with people, so she was at a loss about what to do at times like this.

“I know it’s rude to ask, but I hurt my leg, so may I ride together on your horse?”

As if he knew what she was thinking, Ian said shamelessly.

She couldn’t tell him no…. She couldn’t tell an injured person to leave without treating him.

“Alright. Ride behind me, Prince.”

After Emilia mounted the horse first, Ian got on behind her. It was a nimble movement for someone who claimed to be injured.

When Ian got on the horse, Emilia took the reins and was about to move the horse, but Ian spoke first.

“Grand Duchess, I haven’t been able to look around here yet. May we look around a little before we go? The scenery is truly beautiful.”

“But if you don’t treat your injured leg quickly, you might end up with lasting effects.”

“Since I hurt my leg, it seems like it’ll be hard to go out for a while. Even if it’s only for a little while, please.”

“…Yes. Then go ahead.”

As soon as she gave permission, Ian snatched the reins. With Emilia seated in front, he ran across the field. Being with her made him feel ecstatic, as if he’d come to heaven. He also took careful note of the terrain and layout of the grand ducal manor visible in the distance.

Emilia didn’t enjoy riding with Ian at all. The person sitting behind her bothered her, so the scenery didn’t even enter her eyes.

“Should we go now? If I don’t return, the escort knights will come looking for me.”

After a long while, Emilia spoke.

“Let’s do that.”

Even though Emilia hadn’t told him, Ian knew the way to the grand ducal manor. He skillfully guided the horse toward the manor.

***

After sending off the Marquess of Carrion, Louid hurriedly got into the carriage.

‘Will Emilia be waiting today too?’

Deep down, he hoped that today as well, Emilia would be waiting for him in the office.

What am I thinking?

In the returning carriage, he gave a small laugh as he looked over documents. Since being apart from her today, he realized he had been restless the entire time. It was like he had suddenly become a child.

‘Why is this happening?’

Is it because I’ve been with Emilia these past few days?

Since they went on the inspection together and he was cared for by her for several days, the time he spent with her became noticeably comfortable and good. Rather, it felt like he wasn’t used to being alone.

“Stop the carriage.”

Louid, who had been staring out the window absentmindedly, ordered the coachman. A cake shop famous in the imperial capital caught his eye. Louid got down from the carriage and went into the cake shop.

Inside the shop, various cakes were on display, like chocolate cake and strawberry cake. The head chef at the grand ducal manor also made desserts well, but he wanted to let Emilia taste cake from a shop with such a high reputation.

A short while later, he came out of the shop holding a large cake box.

When he arrived at the manor, he went into the lobby as if he might break into a run and climbed the stairs two steps at a time.

“Your Highness, you’ve returned.”

When the office attendant who had been working saw him, he sprang to his feet.

“Mm.”

Louid nodded at the attendant, then stopped himself from asking whether the Grand Duchess had come. If he knew in advance, the joy would be less.

After taking one deep breath, he opened the office door. His heart was thudding.

“…?”

The office was empty. He shifted his gaze and looked over the office as if sweeping it. There was no sign anywhere that Emilia had come and gone. All at once, it felt like strength was draining out of his body.

“Has the Grand Duchess not come?”

After coming out of the office, he asked the attendant.

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess hasn’t come.”

“….”

Louid went up to the third floor. Without seeing Emilia’s face, it felt like the emptiness wouldn’t go away.

“Emilia?”

But Emilia wasn’t in the bedroom either.

“Her Highness the Grand Duchess went out horseback riding.”

Helen, who was coming into the bedroom with two dry cloths for the bathroom, informed him.

“She went horseback riding? How long has it been?”

“She went out about two hours ago. She said she’d be back soon, but she still hasn’t returned.”

“Prepare tea for the Grand Duchess to drink.”

Louid handed the cake box he was holding to Helen.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After handing the cake to Helen, Louid immediately left the bedroom. He ran to the stables, mounted his black horse, Blian, and rode toward the rear of the grand ducal manor.