Chapter 18: Strategy
After finishing my meal, I borrowed a few books from the library with Whitley’s help.
Unlike before, Whitley didn’t keep his distance from me.
Judging by his actions, it was clear that he was one of the few people who knew about the Duke’s curse. He also seemed to have been informed that the curse didn’t affect me.
Did he feel some kind of comradeship because we shared a secret?
Thanks to Whitley actively sharing information with me, I was able to ‘accidentally’ run into the Duke on his way back.
“I was just about to go for a walk. What perfect timing!”
Thankfully, the Duke bit his lip but didn’t push my hand away.
We walked through a desolate garden with only dry leaves, though spring was yet to come. The flowers didn’t seem like they would bloom even when spring arrived.
“So, Your Grace never lets the maids serve you?”
I asked, recalling how the maids had left the dining hall as if it was routine.
“Because of the curse?”
I had intended to whisper the last part only for his ears, but since he was so tall, I ended up speaking into his chest instead.
The Duke flinched and slightly stepped away from me.
“I don’t like being touched in the first place.”
Well, if touching someone could kill them, that would be a huge source of stress regardless of gender.
Feeling a bit sorry for him, I looked up and noticed that the cravat I had neatly tied for him in the morning had become slightly loose.
“Your cravat is messy, Your Grace.”
I stopped and reached up to fix it.
The Duke tensed at my touch and lifted his chin, revealing the thick veins on his neck.
“That’s strange. I tied it tightly.”
“That’s because…”
The Duke hesitated, looking guilty.
“I changed into my training uniform earlier…”
“You changed clothes?”
I tilted my head.
“But you tied the knot exactly the way I did?”
Does he have a good eye for details?
“I didn’t re-tie it…”
The Duke mumbled, avoiding my gaze.
A gentle breeze blew, causing his neatly pushed-back bangs to fall slightly forward. For a brief moment, a hint of youthful shyness flickered in his sharp eyes.
‘…No way.’
“Did you take it off without untying it and put it back on the same way?”**
As I moved closer, his cool, wintry scent brushed against my nose.
“What? Did you like the way I tied it that much?”
The thought of him struggling to take off the cravat without untying it made me smile.
“I just thought it would be rude to undo something you took the time to tie.”
The Duke awkwardly looked away.
“You can untie it, you know.”
I wrinkled my nose playfully.
“I’ll tie it for you again anytime.”
“…”
The Duke looked like he wanted to refuse but then shut his mouth tightly, as if afraid I’d say something even weirder.
His side profile was breathtakingly sharp, like a finely sculpted statue.
“By the way, Your Grace, you’re really handsome.”
The words slipped out naturally. The Duke stiffened as if he had heard something unbelievable.
“Why are you so surprised? Has no one ever told you that before?”
“I’ve never met a lady who would say such things so openly.”
The Duke muttered while staring off into the distance.
“You say it so easily, like it means nothing.”
“Nothing? I have really high standards, you know? I don’t just say this to anyone.”
Well, when I was a photographer, I did tell models they were beautiful all the time…
‘But I rarely say it with this much sincerity.’
The Duke glanced at me skeptically, then turned his head away again, exposing his elegant neckline.
‘If only he hadn’t been born into a cursed life in this world…he would have lived a life full of admiration and love.’
If he had been born in my previous world, he would have walked a flower-strewn path.
But instead, he was cursed, constantly battling monsters.
‘I should at least make sure he gets plenty of compliments and affection.’
I sighed inwardly but smiled at the Duke, who seemed stiff as he held his arm up, still not uncomfortable with my touch.
By nighttime, the moonlight shone brightly.
I headed to the Duke’s room on the third floor, determined to achieve my goal of seeing him three times a day.
Knock, knock.
“Your Grace, are you asleep?”
“…”
Crash!
Seriously, why does he always knock something over whenever I knock?
‘At this point, he might as well have an attendant.’
Unlike in the morning, I expected him to swing the door open, but this time, the door creaked open just slightly.
The Duke peeked out with a slightly flustered expression.
“What is it?”
“You’re still awake?”
I smiled, noticing his eyes briefly land on my nightgown before darting away.
“I… I was just about to sleep. Is it urgent?”
“Not really…”
“Then let’s talk tomorrow. It’s late. You should get some rest.”
“I just came to say goodnight…”
I glanced up at him cautiously.
Annétte wasn’t as breathtaking as Ladriel, but she had a delicate, pretty face.
I had practiced various expressions in the mirror, and I knew that when I pouted just right, I looked particularly pitiful.
“Can I come in for a moment?”
But instead of softening, the Duke tightened his grip on the door and closed it a bit more.
“My attire is not appropriate for receiving guests.”
The door creaked. Instinctively, I wedged my foot in the gap.
“What are you doing? That’s dangerous.”
The Duke furrowed his brows and grabbed the door in alarm.
“You’re not even undressed. What’s the big deal?”
I grinned.
“If anything, my outfit is more inappropriate than yours.”
“Obviously, your attire is inappropriate as well.”
He shot me a sharp look, clearly exasperated.
Tch.
“It’s really cold in the hallway. Can’t I come in for just a bit?”
I hugged my arms and shivered dramatically. The Duke let out a long sigh before reluctantly opening the door.
Like in the morning, I smoothly slipped inside his room.
“What do you really want?”
“I told you—I just came to say goodnight.”
“Is that truly the only reason?”
“Why? Were you afraid I came to sleep with you?”
The Duke bit his lower lip hard.
“Enough with the jokes. Go back to your room and sleep.”
But after just one day, I no longer felt awkward around the Grand Duke.
I walked toward the bedroom, which I hadn’t seen yesterday.
The small bedroom had its door open.
“Oh, so this is the bedroom.”
“Wh-where are you going?!”
“Can I take a look?”
Before the Grand Duke could answer, I stepped inside.
The room wasn’t much different from the sitting area.
The bedroom, like the sitting room, was unremarkable. Despite being the room of the Duke of the Castle, it had only a simple bed, a fireplace, a small table, and a single armchair.
The bed’s covers showed signs of being disturbed, as if someone had been lying there earlier.
“Oh my, Grand Duke, were you sleeping?”
“It’s late. You should return to your room—”
“Nope. I’ll help you sleep.”
The Grand Duke furrowed his brows, as if he couldn’t believe what he had just heard.
“Don’t say such ridiculous things.”
“I’m really good at helping people sleep.”
Back in my previous world, whenever I gave reports at work, the executives always ended up getting a great rest.
The Duke, realizing I was serious, stiffened slightly.
“Do you think I’m a child?”
In the original story, there was a scene where the saintess held the Grand Duke’s hand, easing his pain.
“As his consciousness faded, a warm touch landed on the back of his trembling hand. It was just a light touch, yet the unbearable pain that had been tearing through his body instantly vanished.”
It was something like that.
I figured the more physical contact I had with him, the less pain he would feel.
In fact, the Grand Duke already looked much more relaxed than when I had first seen him under the moonlight.
It wasn’t difficult for me, nor did it have any side effects.
Now that I knew I was the only one who could relieve his pain, I had no reason not to help.
And all I have to do is hold his hand? That’s a win-win for me.
Even if the Grand Duke had been as scary as the rumors claimed, I still would’ve helped him. If I could ease someone’s suffering, wasn’t it only right to do so?
Besides, he was actually a good person.
Even though he knew I was the only one who could ease his pain, he never tried to take advantage of me or force me to help him.
He’s probably not telling me because he doesn’t want to burden or scare me.
After all, he had tried to avoid me at first to keep me from getting hurt.
Since he had been kind enough to let me stay at the castle, I wanted to help him feel a little more comfortable—without making him feel pressured.
That’s why I came to his room late at night, using my bedtime greeting as an excuse.
But I didn’t actually think about how I’d convince him.
Rather than wasting time trying to persuade him, I chose the easiest option.
“I won’t leave this room until you lie down in bed.”
