Beast of the Frozen Night

“His Grace sent a doctor right away on the day you collapsed. After that, he went out for two days. He must have been busy.”

Emily seemed to be mincing her words because she found it difficult to tell her that the Grand Duke had not visited her. However, Anne didn’t care whether he came to see her or not. If he had any face, he wouldn’t dare to show his face.

Instead, she was going to visit him. She had no intentions of letting this go on like this. She was going to ask him properly and to receive an answer.

“No, where is he now?”

“Now . . . in the office . . . Mi . . . miss!”

Emily hurriedly rushed to support her.

The dizziness came upon her as she fully lifted her upper body and stretched her legs down to the floor. Anne held her forehead for a moment and caught her breath.

“I want to see him right now.”

“With this body? Are you in a hurry? Do it later . . . later.”

Emily was blocking her path, saying that Anne had to recover first, but Anne ordered Emily not to follow her, and resolutely left her room.

“Ha . . .”

She couldn’t even take a few steps, her breathing was hard, and the hallway spun. The slight fever was still there, and even though her body was in a cool state, hot breaths came out of her mouth.

She immediately remembered an event at a banquet where her mother had pushed her despite her being ill. She felt like she was going to collapse that day too, but with her mental strength, she endured with an undisturbed appearance until the very end.

“This is no problem . . .”

Anne bit her lips, leaned against the wall and began heading to the Grand Duke’s office.

As she reached the west building hallway, she met the eyes of Ashton, who had just exited the Grand Duke’ office. As though surprised by the Grand Duchess’ sudden appearance, he hurriedly approached and greeted her while shifting the papers he was holding into his other hand.

“What are you doing?”

“Out of my way. I have something to talk to him about.”

“That is . . . He is very busy with work right now.”

He raised his glasses with a very troubled expression. Anne sighed and looked at him.

“I am taking this as your demand that the not busy Grand Duchess get out of the west building.”

“Not that.”

“I was going to meet my husband . . . Is his aide blocking my way?”

She was not in a good condition, so her annoyance flared. However, since he was also a close aide to the Grand Duke, he didn’t look good in her eyes in the first place

“It’s not that . . . How is your body?”

“As you can see, I’m fine, so get out.”

Despite Ashton’s reluctance, Anne stormed into the office. What she saw through the open door was the Grand Duke’s face, who was leaning on a chair and staring softly out the window.

Even from a distance, he looked like the opposite of her, who was about to fall. He didn’t look bad at all.

Bang!

Anne, who was staring at the Grand Duke’s sideline, heavily closed the door as though letting out some of her uncomfortable feelings.

The Grand Duke slowly turned his head to her. He lowered his eyes shining like jewels in the light and belatedly picked up the pen that had been rolling on the desk with an indifferent expression. It looked like he was pretending to be busy on purpose.

What do you mean, ‘busy’?

Anne walked to the front of the Grand Duke’s desk. As she looked at his face, that humiliating moment resurfaced in her mind, and she became choked up.

“You have something to tell me.”

“You’re up.”

A piercing gaze could be felt from the Grand Duke who slowly raised his head. At this moment, she was disgusted by the terrifying glance that looked over her face.

“Did you think I would never wake up?”

“Oh dear. You lost more weight.”

The Grand Duke clicked his tongue in displeasure. He added that he had to tell her handmaiden to give her some medicine, acting like he wasn’t fully aware that her condition was caused by him.

“I know everything, so if you are capable of speech, please tell me properly.”

“What are you talking about?”

The Grand Duke pretended to be indifferent and asked back, tilting his sharp chin, but there was a hint of interest in his raised eyes. There was also the arrogant hint that he wouldn’t be impressed with whatever she said.

Anne hardened her expression and, rather recklessly, slammed her hands on the shiny desk.

“Duchy Mullite Masquerade. There must be something that comes to mind.”

“. . .”

The corners of the Grand Duke’s lips curled up slightly after a moment.

Was he smiling in this situation? As Anne, who felt that the whole thing was absurd, was about to continue her words, he waved his long fingers. The pen he was holding fell and rolled over the dry wooden desk. The unusual sound was somewhat eerie.