Chapter 11

Vivian became more attentive towards her articulation as she placed the tray right onto his lap. A cloud of steam traveled to him through the plate as well as the tray, but the Grand Duke remained his consistent expression.

“And so. Why are you so angry that you can’t even contain yourself in front of me?”

“…it’s not something that requires Your Highness to worry about.”

Vivian couldn’t confess that everything was due to the Grand Duke himself as she quickly scooped some of the porridge with a spoon. To prevent him from talking any further, she carefully approached him after she had blown off some steam from the warm porridge.

“Please, do eat up. The servants are worried sick because of your ailing condition.”

“Aren’t you going to tell me?”

“It’s just a personal thing.”

“Hmmm, but I want to know more about you, though. As you already know, we are getting married soon.”

“Cough!”

Vivian let out a blaring cough, which was akin to a sore throat as she had never thought that he would be using her same words as yesterday, against herself. She felt embarrassed due to her immense coughing before she realized that a drop of warm porridge had fallen onto his chest, which made Vivian flustered as her eyes wide opened.

“Ah! What should I do!”

At that exact moment, Vivian no longer thought about who she really was. Instead, her head was filled with the dire thought of how she had been discourteous towards a higher-ranked person as her hand was briskly touching his chest in a reckless manner.

Vivian didn’t even realize that the Grand Duke’s eyes were filled with surprise when she continued to rub his chest against her sleeve. At the moment he felt her touch seeping through his thin pajamas, a low groan had escaped from the Grand Duke’s lips.

“Are you okay? Aren’t you feeling hot at all?”

Why would you say that all of a sudden?! Vivian quickly examined the Grand Duke’s complexion, despite she barely tried to endure her desire to blame him.

If this was the Young Lady Alexia, it was obvious that a hand would straight away fly across her cheek, landing a slap. She could only hope that the Grand Duke’s temperament would be different from that of Alexia’s.

It was right at that time when she tried to do everything within her power as she blew the heat that was remaining on his chest with her own breath.

“…what the hell are you thinking?”

Vivian’s eyes traveled to him only after she heard the Grand Duke’s words.

As she looked at his frowning face, Vivian began to tremble unconsciously. Through her many repeated lessons, fear started to overwhelm her body even without her being aware of it.

“I… I’m sorry.”

Even though he didn’t mean to scare her, she was shaking excessively, which had turned the Grand Duke’s expression into that of a questioning one.

Between her different attitudes from today and yesterday, the Grand Duke began to query whether or not she truly was the Young Lady of Britton. He reached his hand towards her, who was still stuttering in caution.

Her swollen cheeks could be felt entirely in his hands, which deepened his lines of frowning.

“Have you gotten hit before?”

Vivian couldn’t respond at all. If it was revealed that Alexia was the one behind this wound at any moment, her identity would definitely be disclosed as well, which ultimately held no guarantee towards her own life.

“…I heard that you were raised as a precious child.”

I guess that’s just nonsense. The Grand Duke didn’t really know how to ease his own expression upon the touch that was felt against his palm.

Didn’t they brag about how they were giving away their precious daughter? I never would’ve expected them to raise her this badly. That was the time he began to rack his brain in regards to what he was about to do towards them, who dared lie to him.

“Please, do keep silent about this matter.”

“Why should I?”

”…because I’m the one who did something wrong.”

It happened due to her own fault. If only she didn’t drop the porridge, she wouldn’t have been caught, and eventually, she would be able to return early, just like it was yesterday.