Chapter 6
I realized then.
That’s how powerful the grand duke’s curse is.
“Since it’s my fist twime…… pwease take a good pictuwe of me!”
(Since it’s my first time…… please take a good picture of me!)
I grinned widely, desperate to break the cold silence.
The grand duke looked at me expressionlessly. Then he shook his head and let the photographer off the hook.
“I’ll tell you everything you need to know.”
Wyndert, who stood next to the grand duke that still carried me, explained.
Wyndert’s tone was rather stiff.
But he still tried to clarify the things that I must remember. It was admirable.
Standing at the entrance of the mansion, he stretched out his arm and pointed his finger.
“We are in the lobby right now. On the left is the dining room. Me and my father’s bedrooms are upstairs.”
I turned my head to the directions he pointed.
Yet no matter where I look, everything I see is so splendid that I’m afraid I’d go blind.
For the first time in my life, I saw feather decorations and fancy tiles. The mansion’s interior was colorful, but not over the top.
‘Everything is so pretty! If I damage something, I’m sure I’ll never be able to pay for it for the rest of my life.’
After explaining things to me, Wyndert began to walk. There was no doubt that Wyndert and the grand duke, who stood tall in this luxurious mansion, belong in this kind of environment.
However, I’m different. I made a firm commitment to stay safe and inconspicuous.
“You don’t have to know about the rest. If there’s a place you want to go to, I’ll go with you.”
Wyndert stopped walking and looked back at me.
I’m glad to hear that he would go with me.
He became a bit more sociable to me when we rode the carriage together.
‘But he will be busy with his successor classes.’
It seems like the probability of him escorting me is quite small.
“Look.”
The grand duke stopped at the center of the main hall and motioned around the mansion.
I looked around us.
“Wooww!”
All fancy and glamorous things are displayed in their full glory. It was the exact definition of visual pleasure.
A beautiful pattern was engraved on the walls and a fluffy, sumptuous rug was placed on the floor.
The paintings and sculptures placed in every corner were huge. As an outsider, I couldn’t help being entranced.
It was such a magnificent home. Even the ornament that hung on the door seemed more expensive than my ransom.
‘Ah, finally.’
The grand duke continued walking on the marble floor.
I tugged the grand duke’s robe, trying to pull as little of the cotton cloth as possible.
I thought it was useless to keep being carried so I decided to get off.
“What is it?”
“Pwease let me down.”
I whispered quietly. The grand duke placed me on the floor.
I carefully stepped on the floor before I started taking my shoes off.
Barefoot is one thing, but having my shoes on was worse.
A large hand came from above and prevented me from removing my shoes. It was Wyndert.
“What are you doing?”
Wyndert asked me with a curious look.
I hesitated for a moment before answering.
“My shoes awe vewy diwty…… They’ll weave footpwints behind if I don’t twake them off.”
(My shoes are very dirty…… They’ll leave footprints behind if I don’t take them off.)
“What?”
“Shouldn’t I twake them off?”
“I’ll cwean the pawts that got diwtied by my feet wate.” I whispered in a small voice.
The rug will be difficult because I’ve never cleaned one before. The marble floor, on the other hand, would be very easy.
“Sigh……”
“Sigh, seriously.”
Wyndert gave a small sigh, while the grand duke spoke in disbelief.
What? Did I do something wrong?
But there’s no reason for the grand duke to carry me.
Or maybe they’re worried that the floor will get sullied……
‘They are unexpectedly kind…… but I might be mistaken.’
At that moment, I remembered my time in the orphanage. Even though I was friendly to the orphans, I never let my guard down.
How did I even get here? They chose me right away that I didn’t even have to compete with the other kids to get selected.
“Even if you roll on the floor a hundred times with muddy clothes, you’re not going to clean it up. So your shoes…… hmm.”
The grand duke stopped speaking, stared at my worn-out shoes, and frowned.
Immediately after that, I saw someone from behind me holding a pretty and expensive-looking pair of shoes.
It was a grandpa dressed in a clean black uniform. He silently placed the new shoes in front of me.
“Right, change her shoes. By the way, this is Edgar, the head butler.”
The grandpa butler helped me change my shoes with a soft smile.
The beige-colored shoes were embroidered with cute flowers, but it would be a waste if they were worn by such dirty feet.
‘I’m sure it’ll cost more than my ransom.’
I wanted to scream because the shoes will get ruined, but unfortunately, I had to abandon my original shoes since the grand duke ordered someone to throw them away.
“Welcome, m’lady. I’m Edgar, the head butler of the White Rose Mansion.”
“Thwank you. Pwease wook aftew me, Ed.”
Edgar, who was changing my shoes, greeted me.
Since I’m going to wear them anyway, I should just thank him honestly instead of protesting.
I thanked Edgar with a big smile.
“If there is something troubling you, even if it’s the smallest matter, please feel free to tell me.”
“Thwank you!”
I thought Butler Edgar would be stubborn, but it turned out that he’s a very kind person.
‘I don’t think he hates me.’
To be honest, I was prepared to be hated by some of the residents of this mansion.
I thought that would be the situation, considering my status as an orphan.
But just now, his attitude was perfectly nice. This is a better start than I thought.
“Oh my word! How can you be so skinny? M’lords, did you bring her here in this cold weather?”
“And…… that person is Lucy. She will be your personal maid. Lucy will assist you with most of your necessities.”
I was tapping my new shoes on the floor when the maid, who was also dressed neatly, walked towards me.
The maid, Lucy, seemed to be genuinely worried about me. Her chubby face looked troubled.
Her hand that carefully held my arm was very warm.
Delighted, I pursed my lips.
“No, it’s awight! I don’t have anythwing with me anyway.”
(No, it’s alright! I don’t have anything with me anyway.)
“Oh my goodness……”
Lucy covered me with the blanket she was holding with a look that said she was guessing what kind of environment the orphanage has.
“I prepared it because it’s a little chilly today, but I wish I prepared something thicker.”
It was exhilaratingly warm compared to the clothes I’m wearing. I shook my head.
“M’lady, are you hungry? I’ll prepare a meal for you right away.”
“A wittwe bit……”
(A little bit……)
Lucy looked at me affectionately.
“We’ll eat first and then take a bath. What kind of food do you like?”
Food! I’m sick and tired of potato soup.
I’ve now awakened to the fact that Lucy is the key to completely change my life.
It’s clear that the grand duke would have a healthy life if he captured Lucy’s heart.
However, I couldn’t answer Lucy because I did not know what to say. It’s a little embarrassing that I’ve never eaten properly before.
‘What if they make fun of me for not having enough knowledge?’
It somehow made me depressed and I unconsciously lowered my eyes.
“Prepare all the best dishes.”
While I was hesitating, the grand duke issued an order. Then Wyndert held my hand and squeezed it.
“I have to go upstairs. You should continue showing her around the mansion, then bring her to my office.”
“Yes, Father.”
The grand duke looked at me once more before he strode off and disappeared somewhere.
I stood there momentarily, looking at the direction he disappeared into, before wriggling my hand that was caught by Wyndert.
“I can walk awound without anyone howding my hand……”
(I can walk around without anyone holding my hand……)
“Rejected.”
Since it’s the grand duke’s order, isn’t Wyndert supposed to feel offended?
I made it clear that I can perfectly walk around on my own.
Unexpectedly, however, it seems that Wyndert intends to faithfully carry out the grand duke’s orders, in the same way as how a mother hen takes care of her chicks.
“Awe they wowied that I’d get lost?” I muttered in wonder.
But Wyndert pretended not to hear me. I waved my hand a couple of times for an answer.
“Do you have any idea how big this house is? A first-timer like you is perfect for getting lost.”
Although it is certainly a big house……
“You’re as small as a hamster. It will be hard to find you if you get lost.”
Wyndert said, crouching towards me.
‘A hamster……?’
I realized that he had no intention of letting go of my hand.
Therefore, I had no choice but to let him lead me.
A huge central staircase came into view on the first floor.
The handrails were delicately carved that it almost looked like an artwork.
But I could only blink when I couldn’t reach the handrail.
‘Too high……!’
Both the handrail and the stairs are not suited for my height.
My mouth fell open as I started to run out of patience.
‘These short legs are giving me a hard time……’
The width of the stairs is higher than the one in the orphanage. Maybe it’s because this place isn’t just for children.
I sighed as I looked at the distant and high stairs.
“Ah!”
Wyndert suddenly hugged me from behind. I blinked as he lifted me up.
It’s my first time going up the stairs while being carried.
There seemed to be nothing but surprises for me after coming to this mansion.
‘Aren’t I heavy?’
The grand duke is a robust adult, but Wyndert, on the other hand, is still an eleven-year-old boy.
But his physique is that of a fifteen-year-old boy.
Anyway, I didn’t think Wyndert would be willing to hug an unclean child, but he didn’t seem to care at all.
“Brother, aren’t I heavy?”
Wyndert didn’t answer me. Instead, he fixed the way he carried me. His other arm is holding me up, while the other one is wrapped around me.
We easily arrived on the second floor with the help of the kind Wyndert.
The second floor was more luxurious than the first floor because it is where the family members’ rooms are located.
While the first floor is luxurious in a lavish and extravagant way in consideration for the guests who visit, the second floor is opulent.
Wyndert seems willing to carry me up to the grand duke’s office.
‘This is awkward and comfortable at the same time.’
So this is how it feels to be hugged by someone.
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The feeling of someone so close to me was somehow intimate.
‘I shouldn’t get used to this kind of feeling.’
After all, this is just a one-month limited kindness.
This comfort I have right now will soon turn into a sense of loss in a month.
While I was determined to keep my walls up, I didn’t realize that my heart was already falling apart.