The Grand Duke Has Awakened in a Strange Place Chapter 13

A few days later, Cynthia was called by Dale and visited his room.

“Tomorrow’s meeting will be at a restaurant owned by the Romanov family, located in the center of the capital. Including Lady Elizabeth’s meetings, this will already be your fourth meeting.”

“Oh, really? If we reach five meetings, that fulfills the minimum condition for a wedding, right? What happens if we meet all five times? Don’t tell me the contract ends?”

“……”

She asked with hope, but Dale simply adjusted his glasses and quietly looked away.

Again, again! Does he think I don’t notice how he avoids eye contact when it’s inconvenient for him?

“Well? What happens? Do we just keep meeting?”

“…By then, we should be able to reclaim the Litemper Guild.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We are working hard toward that goal, so please wait.”

Cynthia looked at Dale with a suspicious gaze.

“What if you can’t reclaim it?”

“……”

“No, I’m asking what happens if you can’t!”

As she raised her voice in frustration, Dale removed his glasses and wiped the lenses with a soft cloth before speaking.

“In that case, you may continue these meetings to buy time, or if the Grand Duke’s family wishes… it may lead to marriage.”

“Marriage?”

What? Did I hear that wrong?

Cynthia slammed both hands on the table and shot up from her seat.

“Marriage? That wasn’t in the contract!”

She was already starting to regret doing this ridiculous thing for money—if it led to marriage, it would be a real disaster. I thought I’d just pass time with Teshion…!

“The process of reclaiming the Litemper Guild is taking longer than expected. However, do not worry. The chances of it going that far are very low.”

“No marriage! This whole pretending-to-be-Elizabeth thing ends with the engagement! Honestly, I’m already nervous every day that my identity might be exposed…!”

“We have no intention of letting that happen either.”

Dale replied firmly.

“If your false identity is revealed after marriage, the Bailey family would also suffer significant damage.”

“Ha…”

Pretending to be a fraud is already exhausting enough—what sudden talk of marriage is this…

Cynthia slumped back into her seat with a sigh.

Dale leaned forward slightly and spoke in a low voice.

“So, when you go tomorrow, delay setting the next meeting as much as possible.”

“What?”

“Do not hastily make the next appointment. Delay it as much as you can! If you reach the fifth meeting, the next step really is marriage. We will also hurry as much as possible with the Litemper Guild matter.”

“Ugh, seriously…”

Cynthia pressed her aching forehead with her hand.

Every time she met Teshion, things went wrong—how was she supposed to control that…

 

 

****

 

 

“Uh…”

“I’m so sorry! I have no excuse, even if I had ten mouths!”

“H-how did this happen…?”

Cynthia pointed blankly at the blackened building in front of her.

What had surely been the finest restaurant in the capital just yesterday was now completely burned overnight, its grand structure reduced to charred remains.

W-wasn’t this the Grand Duke’s luxury restaurant…? How did no one notice until it burned down like this?

“Ruth, what were you doing without checking in advance?”

Beside her, Teshion asked coldly.

Ruth, standing next to him, broke into a cold sweat and bowed deeply.

“I-I’m sorry, Your Highness…! It seems the restaurant manager tried to handle it alone, so no report reached me…”

“You prepared an alternative, I assume.”

“Th-that…”

It was obvious he hadn’t.

After all, who would expect a landmark-level restaurant in the capital to burn down overnight?

As Ruth stammered, cracks appeared in Teshion’s usually calm expression. The tension in his jaw was clear.

Noticing this, Cynthia quickly spoke up.

“I-it’s okay! We can just go to another restaurant! It’s not like this is the only one, right?”

“I have shown you something unpleasant, my lady. I sincerely apologize.”

“No, really, it’s fine!”

Cynthia waved her hands quickly.

As the mood sank, she hurriedly thought.

The Bailey family, worried about her identity being exposed, had limited all meeting locations to their homes. This time, they had specially rented out an entire restaurant owned by the Romanov Grand Ducal family for a private meeting—but now it had completely burned down?

After a moment of thought, Cynthia spoke.

“Um… there’s also a restaurant run by the Bailey family not far from here. How about we go there?”

“A Bailey family restaurant?”

“It’s set to open next month, so it’s not officially taking guests yet. But I believe they have basic ingredients and a head chef for menu development… I can try contacting them quickly.”

“You don’t have to go that far. There’s a restaurant nearby that I know—”

Other restaurants won’t work!

Cynthia cut him off quickly.

“Actually, since I was invited to your residence last time, I thought it would be right for us to host this time.”

“But…”

“Violet! Could you contact the restaurant in advance and make a reservation? We’ll walk there slowly!”

“Ah, yes, my lady!”

Quick-witted, Violet immediately turned and ran off in the opposite direction.

The Bailey family’s restaurant was about a 10-minute walk from here… As long as they were careful on the way, once they arrived, Cynthia could freely show her face and talk.

She just hoped everything would be ready by the time they got there.

“Your Highness, shall we go this way?”

Cynthia pulled her hat down firmly and carefully took the Grand Duke’s arm.

At that moment, a clear tension appeared on Teshion’s face.

“Ah…!”

Seeing his stiff expression, Cynthia realized her mistake.

For Teshion, who could not see, walking an unfamiliar path was a heavy burden.

Oh no…!

Cynthia awkwardly looked ahead at the long road. It was a weekend afternoon, and there were more people than expected.

I messed up…

“My lady…”

“I’m sorry, Your Highness! Should we just go to the restaurant you mentioned? Or back to your residence? Or maybe we can reschedule—!”

“I’m fine.”

Teshion placed his large hand over Cynthia’s, which was gripping his arm.

Gently stroking the back of her hand, he reassured her.

“Would you walk in step with me? It’s been a long time since I’ve walked through such a crowded place, but if I move slowly with you, I think I can manage.”

“Your Highness…”

“Which direction?”

“Th-this way.”

Cynthia slowly turned toward the direction Violet had run.

Teshion tapped his long stick against the ground and began walking carefully.

“……”

Though he tried to sound calm, Teshion was extremely tense.

As he had said, since losing his sight as a child, he had never walked through such a crowded place without a carriage.

He focused all his senses on sound and touch, moving his stick and stepping cautiously.

The central streets of the capital were noisy and chaotic, filled with carriages and people. The overwhelming sounds poured into his ears.

“……”

‘Useless child!’

‘Crash!’

A memory suddenly surfaced in his mind, and Teshion tightened his grip on the stick.

‘You can’t even see the stone in front of you properly—!’

‘Open your eyes! Look properly!’

Memories of his childhood still haunted him.

As he walked slowly, his face gradually turned pale.

The hand holding the stick began to tremble.

Overwhelmed by the past, he struggled to breathe steadily.

“Ha…”

Once his composure broke, everything became uncontrollably confusing.

His sense of direction blurred, and the sensations in his stick and feet dulled.

Where am I…?

He couldn’t calm down.

Finally, unable to continue, Teshion stopped walking and lowered his head.

“My lady… I’m sorry, but I really can’t…”

—Crash!

At that moment, a loud sound of something breaking came from very close by.

Teshion flinched and instinctively stepped back.

His whole body stiffened with tension.

I can’t… I can’t go on…

“Your Highness!”

At that moment, a clear and steady voice reached his ears.

In the darkness of his vision, Teshion focused on that voice, his brows furrowing.