Contract Marriage with the Devil Duke - Chapter 45

Dimidius paused for a moment, swallowing his breath before exhaling deeply.

“Hoo…… I was also scolded for having the wrong table manners. There were times when I had to use this vast space all by myself.”

Olentia nodded, imagining the somewhat rigid atmosphere at the dining table.

“I’ve also eaten here alone before, and it felt really lonely and desolate.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No! I didn’t mean for you to apologize.”

Just as Olentia waved her hands in embarrassment, Crown Prince Legalis and his friends appeared. It was an important moment when Dimidius was confiding in her, and Olentia greeted them, thinking it was a shame.

“You’re here? Did you rest well and comfortably?”

In response to Olentia’s formal question, Legalis smiled brightly, pulling the corners of his mouth.

“Yes! Thanks to you, I rested well. Thank you for preparing this banquet for us, lady.”

Olentia shook her head and spoke to Legalis, who was sitting across from her.

“It’s only natural when an important guest has arrived. I hope the food suits your taste.”

“I like Northern cuisine, so don’t worry.”

The response was refreshing and pleasing. Legalis seemed to be a person with good sense after all. He didn’t bring up the conversation they had when they met alone in front of Dimidius. It was truly fascinating, even though she hadn’t given him any separate instructions.

Olentia ate the escargot and canapés that came out as appetizers. They paired very well with the slightly sweet aperitif.

At that moment, Legalis ate the food and spoke to Olentia.

“What do you usually do at the Grand Duchy?”

Olentia blushed for a moment, feeling embarrassed as she didn’t manage the Grand Duchy since she wasn’t a real duchess. It was truly worrisome what to say.

She forcibly squeezed out an answer.

“I embroider or paint.”

During her month at the Grand Duchy, Olentia had actually tried to develop hobbies. She usually embroidered flowers or painted with oil paints.

At Olentia’s words, Legalis showed an expression full of curiosity. The corners of his mouth, which were already raised, rose even higher.

“Can you show me sometime later? I’m very curious.”

“No, it’s nothing special. It’s too embarrassing to show you.”

“Still, you must be busy just managing the Grand Duchy. I think it’s a good hobby.”

‘It’s probably possible because I don’t manage the Grand Duchy……’

But she couldn’t say that.

When Olentia smiled awkwardly, even Dexter, who was next to Legalis, chimed in.

“I’m curious too. Please show us.”

It was impossible to keep refusing when they kept asking to see it. Olentia nodded and then ate the main course. It was diverse, with dishes like sole meunière, steak, grilled lamb chops, and turkey. They didn’t insist on strictly Northern cuisine.

Legalis and his friends seemed to be eating well. Of course, it was a problem that Dimidius didn’t say a word, but they didn’t seem to mind much.

In fact, it was surprising enough that Dimidius came to the banquet hall and had a meal together.

At that moment, Legalis rotated his wine glass and spoke to Dimidius.

“Eating together like this reminds me of old times.”

Dimidius put down his cutlery and let out a deep sigh.

“What are you talking about?”

“There were a few formal dinners with your family. I’m saying it reminds me of those times.”

Olentia looked at the two alternately with an anxious face. She wondered what had happened at the formal dinners for the atmosphere to be so chilly.

But Dimidius was the first to drop the bomb.

“I can’t forget you, always sneering at me.”

Olentia looked at Legalis with surprised eyes. She couldn’t judge Legalis just by listening to one person’s words, but she didn’t think Dimidius would have lied. Dimidius was never that kind of person.

As Olentia’s gaze grew sharper, Legalis shook his head.

“No, lady. My elder brother misunderstood. I only said it out of concern.”

Legalis frowned as if he was wronged. Even that seemed a bit exaggerated. She doubted if he was really happy when he laughed, and she couldn’t figure out what kind of person Legalis was.

Olentia just swallowed the meat and spoke to Legalis and Dimidius.

“The issue between you two is for you to handle. I don’t know. It’s not something I can fully understand anyway.”

She couldn’t intervene rashly. Moreover, Olentia didn’t want to get caught between the two of them.

The atmosphere became quiet, and silence descended before long.

Olentia felt thirsty for some reason, so she asked the servant for cold water and gulped it down.

Then Dimidius spoke with a voice full of concern.

“If you keep drinking cold water like that, you’ll get a stomachache.”

Olentia fidgeted with her hands at the edge of the table and avoided his gaze.

“I’m fine.”

She drank cold water because she felt stuffy, so there was no other choice. Olentia finally looked at the maids bringing out the desserts. The thought of being able to return to her room after eating the desserts seemed to give her energy.

Olentia ate the crepe cake with a happy face. It was so sweet that it melted in her mouth. She had been stressed while in the banquet hall, but eating something sweet made her feel a bit better.

Seeing that, Legalis smiled brightly again and said.

“You like desserts, Grand Duchess.”

It wasn’t a lie, so Olentia nodded.

“Yes, well. I like them.”

At that moment, Dimidius looked straight at Legalis and said.

“How long are you planning to stay?”

Come to think of it, Olentia still didn’t know how long they were staying. She looked at Legalis with an expression full of curiosity.

After a moment, Legalis’s lips parted.

“I’d like to stay for about a month.”

“No. The Grand Duchy is not a place for you to play around.”

Dimidius refused immediately.

Olentia also didn’t want to see this sight for a whole month. It would be suffocating enough to die.

As if sensing her gaze, Legalis rolled his eyes for a moment.

“It seems like my words were unwelcome to both of you. My, how disappointing.”

At the mention of being disappointed, Olentia paused for a moment. Thanks to that, she had met Saint Daphne, whom she respected, so she couldn’t help but be concerned.

Eventually, the dinner ended with the same awkward atmosphere. Dimidius disappeared without saying goodbye, and Olentia stood up and spoke to Legalis before leaving.

“If there’s anything inconvenient for you, please let me know at any time.”

She thought she could at least do that much as the Grand Duchess.

Then Legalis approached her and whispered quietly.

“I have something to tell you, so can you come to the indoor garden on the second floor when you’re alone? I’ll be waiting.”

Before she could answer, Legalis walked away first. He was joking with his friends as he left, so she couldn’t stop him.

‘Why is he talking so secretively again? What does he have to say to me?’

Olentia thought that she shouldn’t meet Legalis like this. Even though it was a contract marriage, she couldn’t meet him alone as a married woman. It was too uncomfortable.

‘Let’s go this time and tell him clearly.’

Olentia watched Podion, who was leaving after saying goodbye at night, and headed alone to the indoor garden on the second floor. The indoor garden on the second floor had a pretty terrace, so Olentia sometimes visited it too. Legalis was standing there with his hands behind his back.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince.”

At Olentia’s call, Legalis unclasped his hands and laughed heartily.

“You’re here! The indoor garden is truly beautiful.”

Olentia moistened her lips for a moment, looking troubled, and then spoke to Legalis carefully.

“Um, I’d rather you not call me out like this. Even if you don’t have any intention, it makes me a bit uncomfortable.”

Then Legalis slightly furrowed his brows for a moment but quickly relaxed his expression. It seemed like she had seen a ferocious face for a moment that didn’t even last three seconds. He was truly an incomprehensible person.

Legalis spoke in a slightly urgent voice.

“I see. But I’m saying this out of concern.”

“What concern?”

“It seems like you’re being forced into a marriage, and I feel sorry for you, lady.”

‘Did I look like that?’

Olentia looked at him with a surprised face. She wasn’t being forced into a marriage since she would divorce in four months anyway. Dimidius was always busy and didn’t bother her. Rather, the one being bothersome now was Legalis.

Olentia shrugged her shoulders.

“I’m not being forced into a marriage. If it looked that way, it’s a misunderstanding.”

Legalis, who had his arms crossed, paused for a moment and then spoke with a serious face.

“I don’t think I misunderstood. I’ve also heard things from Lady Daphne.”

Olentia thought he knew about Saint Daphne’s prophetic dream, which they had agreed to keep as a secret between the two of them.

She spoke in a sharp voice.

“No way! Do you know about the prophetic dream?”

“Yes. I know. Lady Daphne’s prophetic dreams have never been wrong. So please divorce.”

She couldn’t understand why everyone was so adamant about telling her to divorce.

She couldn’t say that she would divorce in four months, and it was truly frustrating.

‘By the way, why didn’t the Saint keep the secret?’

Olentia felt betrayed by Daphne and held her forehead with one hand. It felt like her head was suddenly getting hot.

Then Legalis looked at her with worried eyes.

“You must be very surprised. But isn’t it fortunate that you found out in advance?”

Olentia shook her head.

“No. I don’t think His Grace the Grand Duke will betray me.”

For now, she couldn’t find a reason for him to betray her. She also still remembered the prophetic dream she had directly, which was full of happiness.

She wasn’t ignoring the great Daphne’s prophetic dream, but she couldn’t make things difficult for Dimidius by telling him to divorce right away.

Olentia wrapped her arms around her shoulders and said to him.

“I’ll handle it myself, so don’t worry about the prophetic dream. And please don’t call me out like this in the future.”

With that, Olentia left the indoor garden. She found Legalis, who kept telling her to divorce, to be burdensome.

‘Why is he doing this to me? Is he usually this nosy?’

Olentia’s mind was filled with questions.