Chapter 57

Time flew by as they read children’s books and chatted with each other while drinking milk tea and Sachertorte made by the chef.

As darkness fell through the window, Leon’s words, who had been chirping around Grace’s side, slowed down to sleep little by little. Grace asked, smiling softly at Leon, whose head fell and rose from time to time.

“Shall we go to bed now, Leon?”

“…Yes, but…”

“Don’t you want to sleep?”

Leon seemed to ponder for a moment with a sleepy face, then hesitantly said.

“…Can’t you stay with me until I fall asleep?”

After that, she nodded at the sight of Leon who reached out and grabbed Grace’s hand with his small hands.

“Yes, I will.”

In response, Leon quickly climbed onto the bed and closed his eyes tightly on Grace’s bed, as if he had been enduring sleepiness.

In the meantime, Leon fumbled through the bed with his small hands while looking for Grace’s hand, and Grace gladly reached out her hand to the child. Then Leon, who held the hand tightly with both hands, soon fell into a deep sleep with a cute breath.

Grace affectionately patted the child’s body until Leon, who was sleeping soundly, naturally let go of her hand.

Soon after Leon let go of her hand, tossing and turning his body, Grace ruffled the sleeping Leon’s hair and kissed the exposed forehead briefly.

“Have a good dream, Leon. I’ll be right back.”

Grace got out of bed, walked to the closet, took out a thick coat hanging inside, put it on, and came out of the door.

Then Sally, who was standing in the hallway, caught her eyes. Sally was surprised to see Grace coming out in her coat and said to her.

“Are you going out at this hour?”

“Yes, wait. I’ll go and see Arthur, no, the Duke.”

“……..Ah. If that’s the case. Shall I follow you?”

“No, it’s fine. I want to be alone with him today.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Please look after Leon until I get back. If he wakes up and finds me, then come and call me.”

“Yes. Don’t worry.”

When Grace explained the situation, Sally smiled softly and gladly saw her off.

After entrusting Sally with Leon, Grace went down the stairs past the hallway where the candles were lit. The hallway on the first floor of the annex was as quiet as the day when she took her first-night walk with Arthur. Grace slowly pushed the closed door.

“You’re here, madam. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Arthur then, leaning against the pillar next to the door, found Grace who opened the door and greeted with a friendly smile.

Grace smiled shyly and looked at Arthur slowly approaching her and said.

“Have you been waiting long?”

“No, I just came out.”

“You’re lying, right? Your hands are cold.”

[T/N: Yes, it’s a lie that every gentleman says after waiting for his lady. (・ω・ )]

Grace rolls her eyes slightly and wraps her hands around Arthur’s cold hands. Arthur said, holding Grace’s little hand tightly around his own.

“Yes, it was a lie. Honestly, I’ve been waiting for a while.”

“… I’m sorry. I had to stay until Leon was completely asleep, so that’s.”

“It’s okay. Waiting for my wife is always a pleasure for me.”

“…….Arthur.”

“You just need to come out anytime, without forgetting that I’m waiting for you.”

Arthur only smiled sly, answering like that.

When Grace blushed again, as if embarrassed by the sight, Arthur said while gently pulling Grace’s hand, which he pretended not to see.

“As I passed by a while ago, the cineraria planted in the greenhouse in front of the west tower was in full bloom beautifully. Would you like to go see it?”

“Oh, yes! Sure!”

Grace readily accepted Arthur’s proposal and approached his side.

Arthur looked affectionately at Grace, who stood side by side with him. They slowly descended the stairs of the annex and came down the path in the mansion where darkness fell.

After that, the two of them took a slow walk to the west tower, looking at each other with loving eyes, stepping on the piled-up snow because it could not be cleared as at Felix Castle, it often snows.

How on earth can she talk about everything naturally? As she gradually approached the greenhouse in front of the west tower, Grace became quiet due to worries.

Before long, the two arrived in front of the greenhouse in front of the west tower. Arthur let go of Grace’s hand and said to her.

“Please wait a moment.”

He then took a bundle of keys from his pocket, pulled out one of the smallest of them, and slipped it into the lock on the locked greenhouse door.

Then, with a click, the greenhouse door opened, and Arthur, who went inside first, reached out to Grace. Grace gladly grabbed his hand and followed Arthur into the greenhouse.

“…..Oh my.”

Soon after, the scenery that caught Grace’s eyes was a “Spring Garden” that was completely red and blue.

Thousands of cineraria flowers with vivid blue and purple buds that are clear enough to be called the colour of the royal family bloomed densely. And it was so beautiful as if they were painted by a skilled artist. And even colourful butterflies fly over the blooming flowers that make the scenery even more beautiful.

Grace, who exclaimed at the scenery as if spring had only come here, looked back at Arthur with an excited face and said.

“Oh my God. It feels like spring has come only here, Arthur.”

“Do you like it?”

“Yes! It’s so pretty!”

Grace answered Arthur’s question with a broad smile.

Arthur held Grace’s hand and walked in front of the bench with the best view of the blooming flowers, took off his cape on it, and made her sit there.

After that, Arthur, sitting slightly upright to talk next to Grace on the bench, moved his gaze to follow her gaze towards the flower and said.

“This place was made by my father as a wedding gift for my mother.”

“Oh my, your father?”

“Yes. It was designed and built by my father himself for my mother, who loved flowers and butterflies.”

“…I see.”

In Arthur’s explanation, Grace nodded and observed the butterflies flying among the flowers in full bloom.

Indeed, butterflies flying among the flowers were a kind that she often saw when she lived in Alberton Castle, located in the capital.

Grace marvelled at the wealth of the previous Duke Felix and his heart towards his wife, who brought the “Spring of the Capital” into this cold Felix Castle.

Arthur glanced at Grace’s side and soon smiled faintly.

There was a moment of silence between the two.

Grace fixed her eyes on the colourful greenhouse scenery while picking what she wanted to say and what she had to say to Arthur.

How should she start talking? From where should she start to talk? How will the other person react when she reveals everything?

They fell in love with each other and she thought they could trust each other. So they decided to tell each other everything. But even after making up her mind, when she heard this story, she was worried that the other person might be reluctant or afraid of her.

After that, it was Arthur who broke the silence first. He let out a short, heavy sigh and then said hesitantly.

“……I don’t know where to start talking about it. First of all, I will tell you about the conversation I had with the Crown Prince this morning, which my wife was curious about.”

At that moment, Grace turned her gaze and looked at Arthur. Then Arthur calmly continued to talk.

“It wasn’t as great a conversation as my wife was worried about. He just asked me how much I love you, Grace, and I replied that I do a lot.”

“…Arthur.”

“Then His Highness said he also has you in his heart, and the night before I arrived at Alberton Castle, he enjoyed a secret tryst avoiding the eyes of others.”

“……..Nonsense! What does he mean by secret tryst?! I’ve never been to anything like that!”

At Arthur’s ensuing words, Grace with brimming rage stood up and shouted harshly.

What secret tryst, it was just that the Crown Prince had summoned her under the pretext of keeping the secret. Grace was so stunned that she was speechless.

‘No way, the reason Arthur’s expression was not good at that time was that he believed what he said.’

Grace’s expression darkened when her thoughts of it went crazy.

Of course, it was strange that the situation itself was not suspicious, but she swore to God that she did not commit any infidelity.

Grace was heartbroken at the thought that Arthur might have been hurt by believing in those words. While she was upset that he had only believed the Crown Prince’s words and blamed himself before hearing her explanation.

[T/N: Ah, the pain of trust issues…. (˘･_･˘)]

So Grace asked Arthur in a low-sinking voice.

“……I guess you didn’t believe that, Arthur?”

“Of course not. Wasn’t my wife angry with me when I was deliberately rude to my wife and said it was okay to make a lover?”

Arthur responded kindly to Grace’s question, and quietly reached out and grabbed her white hands. Grace clasped Arthur’s hand as he approached her and responded a little bluntly.

“…So you mean, you didn’t doubt my morality because you believed it?”

Then Arthur smiled without answering and averted his gaze. At that sight, a corner of Grace’s heart became frustrated.

‘Is this person not sure about my love?’

Thinking about it that way, she got even angrier than before. So Grace pulled Arthur’s hand, which she was holding, and made him look back at her with that strong force, and then shouted.

“Ah, listen to me carefully. The reason why I don’t care about anyone other than you is that I like you. Before my honour as a lady and morality as a human being, I just purely love you, so I don’t want to have that kind of emotional exchange with other people. Do you understand?”

“…My wife.”

“If you don’t believe me, I’ll tell you again and again. I like Arthur. I’ve never had anyone but you in my heart.”

Grace let go of Arthur’s hand, which she was holding, and spread her arms out and hugged Arthur’s neck, who was sitting next to her.

[T/N: Awww…. So sweet. o(〃＾▽＾〃)o]