Chapter 5.2

“As I said, the Madam’s bedroom is located in the east wing of the hallway on the left, and the Master’s bedroom is located at the end of the right hallway and going to the west wing.”

Fortunately, they didn’t seem to be using a single room. A loving couple shared a room together, but there was no way for them to have such a relationship.

After walking for a long time following the maid chief, she arrived at the door that was finished smoothly as if it had chocolate spread on. The tightly closed door opened and the room came into view.

“Ah . . .”

Even Anne, who was not easily shaken, was surprised to see the Grand Duchess’s bedroom. It was spacious enough to be two or three times the size of the Count’s room, and the furniture and interior were quite luxuriously prepared.

Beige-toned wallpaper wrapped around the room cozy enough to offset the cold weather, and the furnishings were not decorated with expensive things, but with light luxury.

There were two large windows in front, and a door leading to the balcony next to it. It was pitch-black outside, but it looked like the front door was where she could see a light on at the end of the window.

“Because we have never had such a valuable guest, the hospitality is modest. First of all, we have prepared it so that it will not be inconvenient for you, but if there is anything you want, please let us know.

“This is great. Don’t worry about it.”

To Mrs. Wald’s polite question, Anne answered with a soft smile. There is no need to quarrel with the maid who manages the castle like a strict master. And she wasn’t in a position to come here in the first place with the intention of gathering luxury.

Mrs. Wald showed her one by one the clothes hanging in the dressing room and the items on the dressing table. Among them, there were some products that were not exactly the same as those used by the Countess, but were similar.

“You must have put a lot of effort into preparing for today.”

“The Master himself told me directly.”

“His Grace did?”

Anne, with bewildered eyes, pulled out one of the dresses from the hanger. There were no fancy dresses.

It must be a northern style that avoids bulky things. Anne slowly put the dress on her body, and it seemed to fit her body.

How did you know my measurements?

In conclusion, for a hastily prepared room, the room was perfectly equipped with everything.

“Are you done?”

Anne, startled by a cold voice suddenly heard from behind, turned around. She couldn’t even hear footsteps, let alone a human, and the Grand Duke, who she didn’t know when had come, was standing crookedly at the door. As Anne saw him staring at her with sunken eyes and arms crossed, her gaze fell on her own accord.

“I’ve explained almost everything.”

“Then leave.”

It was a simple yet high-pressure command. Mrs. Wald glanced at Anne’s face, bowed her head, and then left. As only Anne and the Grand Duke remained inside the closed door, the air subsided.

The Grand Duke, with his arms uncrossed, walked towards the center of the room. It felt like he was the owner of the room, not her, as he was striding without hesitation. Of course that wasn’t wrong, and Anne, who was intimidated, steered clear of him.

In an instant, the Grand Duke’s face was in front of her. When she met him up close, he was tall enough for her to have to raise her head high, so just looking at him made her neck stiff.

The Grand Duke’s eyes were intertwined with the red pupil under the black hair that flowed down on his eyes, staring down at her. Anne’s body hardened and she swallowed a gulp at the tension.

“I don’t plan on holding a wedding ceremony or anything of the sort.”

“Yes. I don’t think I need one either.”

She didn’t come in the name of reparation or anything, so she never expected from the beginning that she would have a festive wedding.

“But I have no intention of skipping the first night.”

“. . .”

Even though it was a set procedure because of their marriage, Anne struggled to twist her feverish face to one side at the strange words that came out of the Grand Duke’s mouth. Even though she had prepared her heart, she was afraid because it was the first time.

His gaze slowly went down. She could feel his gaze staring at her from head to toe. He probably was making sure she wore the dress he sent her.

The gaze of the man, who had been moving slowly, returned to Anne’s face. Even with his dry gaze, the place he touched tingled as if it had been stabbed. His tenacious gaze was more suffocating than the countless eyes that looked at her as if criticizing her at a nobles’ social gathering.

As Anne grabbed the hem of her skirt in tension, his lips slowly parted.

“Who dared to touch what belongs to me?”