CH 66.1

Soon after, the Grand Duke began to make excuses. As expected, he seemed to think that she was acting like this because of her family.

“Even if you don’t like it, I don’t think what I did was wrong. I spared their lives.”

“Why did you do that for me? I asked why you care so much about what happened to me.”

The Grand Duke looked dumbfounded for a moment.

In fact, this was not something a husband would do in an not affectionate couple. He cleared his throat, probably realizing it too late.

“Anyway, you are mine. Like it or not, we are a married couple.”

He spoke as if he had become a good husband, Anne bit her lips. Does he regret it now? His change of heart, talking about improvised excuses, was ridiculous.

“It was my mistake not to ask for your opinion, so I apologize. No matter what I do from now on, I will ask for your opinion, so stop locking yourself in your room.”

The Grand Duke ran his big hand through his hair. His neatly combed jet-black hair tumbled along his hand.

“Are you saying that you will listen to what I want?”

The Grand Duke, who read the light expectation in her questioning voice, entangled his eyes straight into Anne’s.

“Is there anything else you want?”

Anne looked into the Grand Duke’s red eyes, which shimmered deeply. She once loved those beautiful eyes, and not long ago, when those eyes looked at her, she felt a little excitement.

Feeling her stomach choking again, she swallowed a gulp and opened her lips. If she asked him to disappear from this world, he will treat her like a madman and laugh at her again.

Then there was only one thing to say.

“I want to cancel our marriage treaty and leave this castle. I want to live in a place where no one knows. Somewhere without you and your family…”

“…”

The grand duke, who looked as if he would listen to anything, hesitated for a moment. His chin stiffened, and after a moment of silence, he gave a weak answer.

“That is out of the question. You seem to be misunderstanding something. I have no intention of kicking you out just because I did that to the people of Libelois.”

He added, thinking that she misunderstood that she would be kicked out of the Grand Duke’s castle, but Anne didn’t care about it in the first place.

“No. I really meant it. Our marriage is nonsense in the first place.”

“That’s not even worth discussing.”

“Tell me so I can understand it.”

The debt would have been roughly recovered after dealing with the County, and there was no reason for him to refuse unless he really wanted a successor. Unless he really wants to annoy her.

The Grand Duke, who was staring at Anne, who was glaring at him, lifted his wine glass and poured it all at once, as if his throat was burning. The red wine looked like blood. Instead of speaking, he then reached out his arm and went to the bottle of wine and poured it into his glass.

Seeing him being a coward and avoiding to answer her, Anne felt that her suppressed anger was about to explode.

Tang!

Unable to hold it in any longer, Anne slammed the knife she was holding onto the plate. It made a terrible grinding noise as the blade touched the plate.

“There’s nothing more to hear. I’m done eating, so I’m leaving.”

“Sit down! I’m not done talking yet.”

Her body that was about to stand up was seized by the Grand Duke’s hand and was sat back down in an instant. It was a bit rough, so she was surprised.

“Were you such a faithless woman? You promised not to leave until you have a child!”

His smooth face had grown cold. His atmosphere had changed so much that anyone could see that he was exercising his patience.

“Other than that, you can do anything you want. Don’t even think about leaving here.”

Anne’s pink lips parted slightly at his piercing voice. He still intended to hold her for succession’s sake. When he mentioned a child, it was she who couldn’t stand it even more.

Anne raised her body and vigorously shook the Grand Duke’s hand, which was trying to grab her again. In that moment, her eyes spun and her knees buckled. The Grand Duke quickly got up and held her staggering body. Anne nearly fell over, but she slapped away the hand that was on her shoulder.

“I have said all my requests. I’ll give you a week to think about it.”

Anne turned her back not wanting to see her anymore. With the Grand Duke’s beckoning, one of the maids hurriedly helped her.

“I’m going on my own, so get your hands off me.”

Her cold hand hit the back of the innocent maid’s hand. The Grand Duchess’ cold reaction, which never made a loud fuss, made the maid look very surprised, but Anne didn’t feel sorry at all.

Anne’s feet, walking out of her dining room, veered out of her tracks. Standing impatiently, the maid looked at the Grand Duke and cautiously followed her.