The Troublemaker Daughter of the Grand Duke Wants To Live Alone

 

 

The meal was excellent.

 

The main ingredient was seafood, and there was a lot of rare seafood that I don’t see very often. Not only was the food cooked well, but the presentation was excellent, making it fun to eat and fun to look at. The drinks that accompanied the dishes were also constantly available. It seemed Sylvia’s earlier statement about them paying a lot of attention was indeed true.

 

Is this what they call cultural exchange—showing off their own country?

 

Sylvia, after receiving a promise to arrange a conversation time with Rex, was constantly beaming with joy. As she was the first to eat the carrot placed on the individual plate, Sylvia’s brother, Gabriel, who was by her side, wore a very surprised expression.

 

‘I’m sorry to Rex, but…’

 

Of course, Rex’s opinion is the most important, but I can still give Silvia a small chance. As I watched Rex eat his meal with no frills in front of me, one of his eyebrows rose.

 

I wonder if something is bothering him.

 

I tried to tilt my head gently with a big sisterly smile, but Rex gave me a stern look.

 

“Sis, you need to eat your carrots.”

 

No, I was going to eat it.

 

Demimore, who was beside me, lowered his head and secretly chuckled. It was so unfair, but I couldn’t find words to retort. Uh, I thought everything would taste good, but, unsurprisingly, the carrot was tasteless.

 

After finishing the meal, the Emperor of Larvian rose and rang a small bell. It was a signal that the ball would soon begin. Sylvia approached me with a regretful look, stood up, and said goodnight. When I gestured slightly to Rex, he greeted Sylvia. Sylvia’s cheeks turned a bit red, making her already adorable appearance even more charming.

 

I asked the maids who came to dress me up for the ball to take special care of me. The maids nodded vigorously, as if they had received special instructions. Perhaps my previous proposal had left a big impression on them as well.

 

My black hair is a rare color in Larvian. I felt a little embarrassed that the maids were so impressed. Finally freed from the intricate process of donning the white dress that fluttered beautifully with the current Larvian weather, I tightly clutched what I had brought from the Grand Duchy. It took much more time than I expected, despite my earnest requests for them to hurry.

 

Walking into the ballroom, I marveled at the lavish decorations with flowers adorning every corner, the harmonious blend of white marble columns, and the view of the sea beyond the balcony. It was not just beautiful, but enchanting.

 

‘I seem to be quite late.’

 

People were scattered throughout the grand ballroom. Demimore, too, was engaged in a pleasant conversation with the Emperor of Larvian.

 

On Demimore’s chest was the rose I had given him earlier.

 

Is she going to carry that around like that all the time? I felt embarrassed, as if he was asking me to look at it. With a stifled cough, I descended the gracefully curved staircase into the ballroom, avoiding the awkwardness. Demimore noticed me, gave me a slight wave, and beckoned for me to join him.

 

The band began to play a minuet. People began to dance in pairs. Since Demimore was still in conversation with the Emperor, I stood there helplessly.

 

Oh, wait. Come to think of it, where is Astina? I scanned the room for Astina and found her with Theodore, my brother. When did they become so close?

 

When I approached them to see what had brought them so close, I noticed a lily in Theodore’s hand.

 

It was a flower from the bouquet Astina had received earlier.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

I was too bewildered to approach them, so I turned to the refreshment room attached to the ballroom. Taking a sip of the prepared drink on the table, I calmed my bewildered thoughts.

 

‘No, Astina is too precious to me.’

 

For some reason, I recalled how awkward Astina had acted in front of Princess Sylvia earlier. I thought it was because she was worried about me, but it was probably because she thought of Theodore.

 

No, really. Since when? Why Astina?

 

I remembered Theodore, the one who had rescued Astina before. It was my fault. I shouldn’t have entrusted Astina to Theodore.

 

Despite thinking so, I couldn’t suppress my smile. I thought of Astina, who must have spent the entire time in the room debating whether or not to give it to him, and I thought of how cute she was. Even Theodore was blushing like I had never seen before.

 

When I return to Britina, I’ll have more ammunition to counter his teasing.

 

Hehe.

 

Laughing to myself, I continued to sip the drink in my hand.

 

“I’ve been looking for you, Mary.”

 

Demimore leaned languidly by the door to the ballroom I was in.

 

I set down my drink with a gasp. Although I had thought he looked perfectly fine from a distance, now that he was so close, my heart raced. Instead of my racing heart, I clutched tightly to what was in my hand.

 

“Well, you don’t look too bad.”

 

Demimore scratched the back of his neck and smiled faintly.

 

“So, Mary, you’re…”

 

Demimore took a slow step toward me, and in his hand he held the single red rose I’d handed him earlier. Originally adorning her chest, it now lay in his slightly larger hand, which had grown unexpectedly. The rose looked somehow pitiful in his hands.

 

“It didn’t mean… anything, right?”

 

Perhaps it was because the owner of the hand was unable to exert strength for fear of even slightly damaging the flowers.

 

I couldn’t bring myself to meet the emotions reflected in those eyes, so I had to avert my gaze.

 

There, along with the azure sea, was an exotic landscape. Since it was a sight not seen in Britina, normally I wouldn’t easily tear my eyes away, but…

 

“I was so happy.”

 

“Demimore.”

 

For some reason, the man in front of me felt more beautiful and radiant, making the scenery in front of me seem meaningless.

 

I took a deep breath and turned my gaze back to him. Then, I stood up abruptly. The atmosphere was perfect. A beautiful exotic sea, a beautiful waltz—the two of us seemingly isolated from the rustling noise.

 

“Demimore.”

 

The flower petals that tickled me and floated in my stomach, finding it too narrow, finally burst out and slipped through my lips. It was his name.

 

Hearing his name, Demimore blinked slowly. His long, lush eyebrows moved delicately, resembling the graceful fluttering of young butterflies.

 

“Sorry, there was no meaning to that rose…”

 

Hearing my words, Demimore chuckled softly.

 

“Oh, I knew that; I was just teasing you a little, eh, Mary?”

 

With his affection trying not to make me uncomfortable, I kneeled on one knee in that spot, ignoring his kindness set aside for a moment. The normally languid eyes of Demimore widened more than I thought possible. He seemed unsure of what to do as he attempted to lift me, but I firmly shook my head.

 

“Please don’t do this, Mary. You didn’t do anything wrong; I just had unfounded expectations. This kind of apology is unnecessary.”

 

“It’s not an apology; it’s a confession.”

 

“……Confession?”

 

Demimore’s hand, wrapped around my shoulder, froze. Finding his visible reaction cute, I laughed. However, his face was so serious that I couldn’t postpone the words any longer. I pulled out the case I had been holding preciously and presented it to him.

 

“Our ring… We never got matching ones. I thought it would be nice to have a couple’s ring.”

 

“Mary.”

 

“And, truthfully, this ring contains a dark meaning.”

 

The sincerity I hadn’t managed to convey in the rose I handed him earlier.

 

“Demimore, will you marry me?”

 

“Ah…….”

 

Demimore, hearing my words, covered his face with both hands. It seemed like something sparkled faintly, like the glinting sea. Thinking he needed a moment to compose himself, I chuckled and waited for his answer.

 

Wait, he’s not going to say no, is he? No, I don’t think so.

 

I hope not. He shouldn’t. A concern I had never felt before started creeping in. Oh, do my legs feel a bit numb?

 

“……with pleasure.”

 

Hearing his acceptance, I finally relaxed and entrusted myself to the cautious touch helping me up. Demimore’s gaze upon me was incredibly affectionate, as if he were looking at something precious. What had I been worried about when he always looked at me with such eyes?

 

His face gradually approached mine, and I closed my eyes. A soft touch met my lips, and something warm and fervent flowed into my mouth. It was a careful yet urgent move.

 

I was grateful that the petals in my stomach could now be shared with him.

 

It seems I wasn’t destined to live alone after all.

 

-The End-

 

𝑺𝒖𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝑲𝒐-𝒇𝒊