DDW 10

The young man, panting for breath, furrowed his brow.

‘…It’s completely different.’

With every violent movement, Mirane writhed, letting out dying groans between his lips. He was swallowing his bewilderment.

‘Why does this feel good?’

Short, light-brown curly hair, barely covering the nape of his neck, clung disarrayedly to a white forehead drenched in sweat. His gentle face was flushed like a crimson rose. A shadow loomed over the young man. The Grand Duke’s long, smooth black hair draped over him like a curtain.

Mirane twisted his hips once more as the object piercing through him split him open. Ah! He let out a moan, desperately clutching and twisting the snow-white bedsheets. Tears welled in his deep brown eyelashes, and his face was a mess.

‘My head is spinning.’

The moment the man covering him leaned in and their sweat-slicked chests met, a low groan escaped through parted lips.

“Hng!”

With desperate hands, he fumbled for the [visit our site]man’s shoulders, Read on Read BL Novelsscratching at the firm flesh that refused to yield [Read on Read BL Novels]to his nails. Feverish breaths flowed from Mirane’s lips.

Exhaling a sharp gasp, Mirane tightened his grip on the broad body. The pale moonlight shattered across the man’s back, which was covered in scratch marks. Red streaks marred the fair skin. The man’s lips, not hidden by the mask, parted slightly to let out a low groan.

“Ah, it hurts.”

Then, the man whispered.

“Wrap your arms around my neck.”

Mirane obeyed him readily.

“Lean your body against me.”

The Grand Duke whispered, pressing the bridge of his nose against Mirane’s damp hair.

“Mirane.”

He didn’t know why. The moment he heard his own name escape those lips, he ended up laughing. Mirane let out a laugh without realizing it. Looking up at the Grand Duke positioned above him, a faint smile lingered on his lips.

“Your Highness.”

Under the mask, the Grand Duke’s face froze in that instant.

Tweet, tweet, tweet.

The noisy chirping of birds. Warm sunlight squeezed through the half-open curtains. Light fell upon the naked body sprawled across the bed. A white glow traversed Mirane’s body, which was precariously covered by a single blanket.

Thick, light-brown eyelashes slowly fluttered open. Umm. A low groan escaped his lips. He pushed aside the darkness, revealing eyes of a warm emerald hue, holding a lush greenery.

A moan followed.

His eyes felt as if they were clouded by a thick fog. Even after waking, Mirane lay in bed for a long time, unable to move, simply blinking. It was because he couldn’t easily clear his mind from the lingering afterglow that tickled his heart.

Only after the events of last night flashed through his blurred vision did the fog in Mirane’s head lift. After a long silence, Mirane’s face flushed like a red apple.

“Ah.”

His voice was husky.

Closing his eyes tight, Mirane Raster curled his body up like a shrimp.

“Damn it.”

It took quite some time before Mirane could regain his composure.

Letting out a sigh, he rubbed his face with his hands and stood up.

Swallowing his panic, he repeated to himself internally.

‘Good is good.’

Yet, for some reason, the bitterness wouldn’t fade.

A look of perplexity crossed his face.

He was recalling the memories of last night.

‘Good is good.’

A sigh escaped Mirane’s lips.

Forcing himself to bury memories that were difficult to bring up, he looked for the man who had given him such a great shock last night.

Scanning the surroundings, Mirane realized the Grand Duke had left the place early. In the spot where no warmth remained, the sheets had been tidied up, leaving not even a trace of wrinkles.

After contemplating for a moment, Mirane got out of bed and approached the window. Opening the curtains, Mirane furrowed his brow at the piercing sunlight and gauged the time.

He thought it was morning, but looking at the position of the sun, it seemed close to noon.

“I overslept,” Mirane muttered softly, scanning the room. It seemed the Grand Duke had tidied the room before leaving. There were no scattered clothes or towels; everything was neat.

After a brief thought, Mirane dressed himself and stepped out of the room.

‘I need to see the Grand Duke.’

Mirane was instinctively searching for the Grand Duke.

When he opened the door and stepped into the hallway, unlike before the wedding, the people did not block him. From their reaction, Mirane could tell that he had finally been recognized as the new master of Wicker, even if only in a very small capacity.

The fact that it was only a 「very small capacity」 was something he realized when he [Read on Read BL Novels]stolen contentvisited [visit our site]the Grand Duke’s office.

Mirane did not get to meet the Grand Duke.

“His Highness has ordered that no one be admitted.”

“Hmm?”

“You cannot enter here. The Grand Duke has said to let no one inside.”

Mirane stared intently at the servant’s firm face. Then, he turned his head and glanced at the oak door.

Then, he spoke.

“Am I ‘no one’?”

No matter if he was the son of a political rival, he had come to Wicker as the Grand Duke’s spouse. He had given up many things to do so. He had been treated coldly by the Grand Duke the moment he arrived at Wicker, but that was before the marriage. Mirane was aware that after last night, he had become the true master of Wicker Castle.

However, the closed door did not open.

Narrowing his eyes slightly, the servant muttered.

“This is quite problematic.”

Still, the golden doorknob showed no sign of moving.

After waiting, Mirane spoke in a short tone.

“I am your spouse, Your Highness the Grand Duke.”

‘It’s just one mountain after another.’

Unable to hide his fatigue, Mirane pressed his temples.

Having crossed the great mountain that was the wedding night, now the Grand Duke was giving him the cold shoulder. Mirane, who had intended to ask to change his room this morning, felt as if he had been struck in the back of the head. His mood was extremely low.

He had been relieved that the Grand Duke was more moderate than expected, only to be blindsided like this.

‘As expected, is it because I’m the son of a political rival?’

After sitting with a darkened face for a while, Mirane began his visit our sitemeal [visit our site]once the table was filled with dishes.

He was eating a late breakfast-cum-lunch.

“I heard that the cuisine in the capital uses many spices. However, in Wicker, there are many dishes that bring out the natural flavor of the ingredients.”

Raisa kindly explained the food.

The Kyrgyz Mountains are rugged, so merchants rarely visit, and there is no way to obtain spices; instead, it is a place famous for fruit liqueurs, so there are many dishes boiled with wine.

The Chief Steward of Wicker continued the explanation in a gentle, affectionate voice.

Listening silently to the soft voice, Mirane suddenly swallowed a hollow laugh.

‘Somehow, she is an old woman I cannot hate.’

Mirane felt a fondness for Raisa’s soft and elegant demeanor. Though it wasn’t a situation where he should be growing attached, he didn’t know why his heart was drawn to her, and as a result, Mirane often showed a soft side to her.

After choosing his words for a moment, Mirane replied in a flat voice.

“I wonder if I’ll be able to use that crest?”

His gaze was fixed on the chimera crest pinned to the window.

“Pardon?”

“It seems the Grand Duke does not care for me.”

As he spoke, a sense of complexity lingered on Mirane’s face. Bewilderment flashed across Raisa’s face.

Mirane continued in a powerless voice.

“I know well that we cannot have a particularly good relationship… but still, it’s a bit of a shock. I thought it would be alright.”

Raisa let out a shallow moan and replied.

“The Grand Duke is a man with many scars.”

Mirane glanced at her.

There was a very deep, profoundly deep sigh contained in Raisa’s words.

“I have lived many years and once traveled throughout the continent. And among the numerous nobles I have met, the Grand Duke is one of the kindest. I hope that you, my Lord, can soothe his deep wounds.”

The old woman let out a sigh and muttered.

“This is the irreversible mistake of an impatient witch.”

It was the moment a strange light flickered in her pale green eyes. Mirane looked at Raisa with a mysterious expression. She was possessed by some thought with a shadowed face. In that moment, Mirane could guess.

That woman, the general manager of this mansion, knew the deep secrets of the Grand Duke and his former spouse. She knew the truth behind the rumors that shook the continent.

‘That woman might be in a more important position than I thought.’

Mirane spoke calmly.

“I appreciate the good advice. But sympathy beyond that would be troublesome for both the Grand Duke and myself.”

It was a firm statement. Despite the remark that could have been quite hurtful, Raisa immediately conceded and bowed her head.

“I have spoken senile nonsense in my old age.”

“I also spoke words I should not have said to you. Please forget today’s conversation.”

“Of course.”

Raisa added, “You will certainly be allowed to use the crest of the Grand Ducal house. You are strictly a member of the house. There is no one who would dare object to your use of the Crest of the Chimera Slayer.”

At those words, Mirane shifted his gaze to the banner hanging on the wall. With a smirk, he replied.

“What an honor. To be able to use the most honorable crest for a knight…”

That was not a hollow compliment.

Slaying the chimera had been the Grand Duke’s greatest achievement.

Receiving the Grand Duke’s favor was a matter of survival.

Right now, Mirane felt a sense of peril due to the Grand Duke’s cold treatment.

A silent meal continued.

Wicker Castle was large and magnificent, fitting for the vast lands of the North, but there were not many people inside. The employees lined up in the dining hall maintained their politeness without making a small sound, not even the sound of breathing.

‘It’s almost like Terratium, the capital’s communal cemetery.’

Mirane suddenly harbored such a thought.

In truth, the stern atmosphere of the North did not suit him well.

The Wicker dish of tender chicken boiled with wine suited Mirane’s palate, but he could not leave any impressions of the flavorful meal.

Mirane’s mind was filled solely with the image of the servant who had blocked his entry to the Grand Duke’s room.

Having finished his meal in silence, Mirane washed his hands in a basin and left the seat.

‘The fact that my house arrest was lifted and the use of the crest was permitted means he recognizes my status.’

He could find some solace in that fact.

‘The public opinion in Wicker isn’t good, which is why he didn’t even send knights. The Grand Duke probably can’t help [Read on Read BL Novels]but [stolen content]think of the secrets related to the previous Grand Duke.’

He wasn’t a marriage partner of equal standing, and in a marriage with such a vast difference in status, shouldn’t he be grateful just to be recognized as a spouse?

‘Considering the rumors I’ve heard and the political background, it’s only natural to be wary. Let’s not be anxious. It’s lucky enough that the Grand Duke isn’t as violent as the rumors say… As time passes, an opportunity to face him will be arranged somehow. I can get to know him better then… Yes, let’s not rush.’

However, it didn’t take long for Mirane to realize that his thoughts were wrong.

The Grand Duke had restricted his movements.