16. Darius’s Slip of the Tongue  

“Yawn, just sitting here is so boring. I’ll take a short walk around and come back.”  

After finishing the audience with Gnome Gilbert, I quickly left my seat.  

I could feel Darius looking at me as if to say, ‘The person who was just passionately advocating for building ten more workshops is actually bored of the meeting?’ but I pretended not to notice.  

When I stepped outside the main hall, I spotted Gnome not far away, lingering near the vicinity.  

“Oh, Grand Duchess.”  

Perhaps due to the earlier discussion about the workshop expansion, Gnome’s eyes were full of trust as he looked at me.  

“I was surprised! I didn’t expect someone as young as you, my lady, to understand the importance of this industry so well!”  

“Age doesn’t matter when it comes to business. I’m glad the issue was resolved earlier. But actually, I have something to ask you.”  

“Yes, yes! Please, ask me anything! Anything at all!”  

“Is there anything hindering the business right now? If there’s something you couldn’t bring up in front of His Grace, feel free to tell me. I’ll make sure to report it properly.”  

Of course, I didn’t actually have the authority to do that. Oh no, I’m in trouble. Judging by how naturally I can bluff like this, maybe I’m destined to be in a high position.  

But then, the middle-aged man, who had been smiling brightly just moments ago, suddenly darkened. Aha, so there is something!  

“Well, I don’t know where you heard that, but my brother will come to his senses soon enough. How could he be in his right mind when his daughter has disappeared?”  

“His daughter disappeared?”  

My eyes widened in surprise at the unexpected revelation, and Gnome Gilbert seemed to realize his slip of the tongue.  

“Oh no, I thought you already knew, my lady.”  

He slapped his own mouth in regret, but it was too late; the words had already been spoken.  

“Actually, it was supposed to be the guild leader of the Blacksmith Guild who came to see you today, but he’s been drinking heavily these days.”  

So the person whose daughter disappeared was the highest-ranking member of the Blacksmith Guild.  

“It’s not something I should say in front of the Grand Duchess, but, well, young people naturally gravitate toward glamorous and comfortable lifestyles. A few months ago, when a traveling troupe visited this area, Anne declared she wanted to leave the north and move to the capital. She had a huge fight with her father over it, and then she disappeared.”  

The missing daughter’s name was Anne. Gnome explained that ever since the guild’s most skilled blacksmith had been distracted by worrying about his daughter, the production of refined iron had declined over the past few months.  

Gnome assumed that’s why I had come out to speak with him.  

“That’s not why I asked, but… people are more important than anything else. If his daughter is missing, it’s understandable. Is there any chance she was kidnapped?”  

“Oh, no, not at all. In this northern region, where everyone knows each other, kidnapping is unheard of. Young people are naturally drawn to the capital rather than this cold north. Even I wanted to leave this place when I was young. I’m sure Anne will send a letter once she’s settled in the city.”  

Hmm. It was curious how he couldn’t focus on work because he was worried, yet he wasn’t actively trying to find her either.  

‘Well, it’s not my place to meddle in someone else’s family matters. It’s not like I have a solution anyway.’  

“If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”  

“Your words alone mean a great deal, my lady.”  

After parting ways with him, I made my way back to the main hall.  

“Be cautious of Annette. Unnecessary kindness is dangerous.”  

But just before I opened the door to the hall, I heard a familiar voice in my ear.  

…Darius?  

* * *  

In addition to Gnome Gilbert, many other citizens of the Grand Duchy were waiting to meet Darius.  

“…So I wanted to inform Your Grace of this matter and seek your assistance…”  

A faint chuckle, uncharacteristic of Darius, escaped his lips.  

“Continue.”  

The person, who had been glancing nervously at the Grand Duke’s serious face, decided they must have misheard and continued speaking.  

〈That ridiculous armrest.〉

The memory of Annette glaring at him earlier suddenly popped into his head.  

Before entering the office, Annette had grabbed Darius’s arm and protested.  

‘Don’t misunderstand. I wasn’t holding your arm on purpose.’  

Her face had turned bright red, as if she had been deeply wronged.  

“…Ha.”  

Darius turned his head and let out a small scoff.  

‘She was definitely laughing just now, wasn’t she?’  

“Your Grace?”  

“I understand. Proceed as planned.”  

His momentary lapse was brief. Darius quickly returned to his cold demeanor.  

〈Although we’re married, I know we haven’t fully connected yet.〉

Last night, Annette had spoken resolutely.  

〈Until we have complete trust in each other, sharing a bed is out of the question.〉

She had meant that it was awkward to suddenly share a bed with a man just because they were married.  

〈You don’t have to go out of your way to hold me. I’m content just knowing that you’re here, Your Grace.〉

Although he hadn’t spent much time with her yet, the more Darius spoke with Annette, the more he felt they were well-suited for each other.  

Since he had finally gained a wife, perhaps he should give her a gift.  

But what kind of gifts do women like?  

Tap, tap, tap. Lost in thought, Darius tapped the armrest of his chair. From the outside, his profile looked as serious as ever, as if he was fully focused on his work.  

While absentmindedly stamping documents, Darius’s eyes fell on Sir Daniel, who was standing nearby.  

A gentle demeanor, a warm personality. Combined with his status as a knight, the maids were quite fond of Daniel.  

“Daniel.”  

“Yes, Your Grace.”  

“What do women usually…”  

Just then, he recalled overhearing the maids comparing him to Daniel.  

〈The Grand Duke is handsome, but so what? He’s so cold. Thank goodness we have the warm and kind Sir Daniel!〉

“Your Grace?”  

His desire to ask vanished instantly.  

“Never mind, it’s nothing.”  

“Didn’t you call me because you had something to say?”  

“I thought I did, but I don’t. You may go.”  

It wasn’t because Daniel’s gentle and mild eyes suddenly looked annoying.  

It was because the idea of buying a gift for his wife based on another man’s advice was absurd.  

‘Oh my, Sir Daniel picked this gift for me? Of course, Your Grace paid for it, but Sir Daniel chose it just for me? I’m so happy!’  

Annette wouldn’t say something like that, would she?  

Still, the mere thought of it was irritating.  

Come to think of it, Daniel had been by his side in the south as well.  

〈Annette seems like a wonderful person.〉

Moreover, when Darius had been wary of Annette, it was Daniel who had opened up to her first.  

‘Haah, the first time I saw the Grand Duke, he was wearing a mask, so I couldn’t even see his face or hear his voice. But the knight from the north was so kind. I wish he were my husband instead of the Grand Duke.’  

If Annette had ever thought that, even once…  

“Now that I think about it, I’ve always found the Grand Duchess to be proactive, but she was particularly impressive today. The way she confidently voiced her opinions by Your Grace’s side was truly admirable.”  

Unaware of the fire he was stoking, Daniel praised Annette.  

“Daniel, you seem to be paying quite a lot of attention to the Grand Duchess.”  

“She is the Grand Duchess, after all.”  

“How long have you known her? Why are you constantly reporting to me about what she did well or what she did today?”  

Darius’s voice was displeased.  

“My apologies.”  

Daniel apologized immediately, though he wasn’t sure what he had done wrong. It was a sad habit of a subordinate.  

“Don’t take too much interest in her. She’s…”  

You’re my knight, and Annette is my wife. Saying that felt oddly irritating, so Darius rephrased it.  

“She’s a woman of the Poche family. If you’ve sworn loyalty to me, don’t let your guard down. How can you lower your guard before I do?”  

He had no intention of tolerating knights offering flowers or honor to noblewomen under the guise of chivalry. They could do that with the ladies who admired Daniel, not with Annette.  

‘Yes, the reason I’m annoyed right now is because Daniel, who warned me to be cautious of the south before the marriage, is now contradicting himself.’  

Darius nodded, justifying his feelings. No wonder he found Daniel lingering around Annette so annoying.  

Having identified the source of his irritation, Darius’s expression brightened.  

And just as he was calming himself and regaining his composure—  

Screech.  

A trembling hand quietly closed the slightly opened door. So quietly that no one noticed.  

‘What, what did I just hear?’  

It was Annette, who had returned with perfect timing to hear Darius badmouthing her.  

* * *  

“My walk took longer than expected. Nothing happened, right?”  

“Nothing at all. Except that if you hadn’t returned soon, I was about to send out knights to search the entire castle.”  

“That’s a funny joke.”  

I smiled at Darius and Sir Daniel as if I hadn’t heard anything. For some reason, Sir Daniel couldn’t meet my eyes.  

“Hehehe.”  

What a bad guy.  

I knew it from the moment he acted uncomfortable about sharing a bed with me.  

He’s pretending to support the authority of the Grand Duchess by accompanying me to work in the morning.  

What? Don’t be deceived by appearances and be wary of Annette?  

I didn’t believe him anyway. As if I’d care about some male lead!  

Even if the original story changes a little, it doesn’t seem like my fate as a neglected extra will change.  

If I were to draw a relationship chart for this novel, Darius and I would still be connected by an arrow of conflict.  

‘Hmph, hmph. You don’t need to talk behind my back like that. I’ll leave on my own when the time comes.’  

Since I can’t trust anyone, I’ll quietly prepare for divorce on my own.  

“Annette, your hands look cold.”  

Darius glanced at Sir Daniel and suddenly extended his hand toward me. Was he about to give me gloves?  

“No? I’m not cold at all. I’m perfectly fine.”  

‘Feeling guilty about badmouthing me and pretending to be nice now, huh?’  

I pouted and pulled my hand away.