Please Be Patient, Grand Duke - Chapter 81

She couldn’t move as if her feet were glued. It felt like the time she was trying to think of a response was eternity. Canillia walked towards Claude. But she didn’t take her clothes off. She could see what would happen even if she did so. “Did I… do something wrong?” she asked.

Claude laughed as if he heard something absurd.

“I wanted to ask something,” he replied. “I was quite drunk yesterday.”

As she didn’t answer, Claude pulled the lever again. Warm water started to flow from the ceiling and soaked him.

“But you still remember everything about last night,” Lia said.

“Of course. I even remember your sleep talking.”

His smooth lips curved. She didn’t know what she said, but he was about to make fun of her for it. Lia walked around him like she was observing him. Claude’s eyes followed her as if he found it funny.

“I feel like an animal in a cage,” he remarked.

“You looked at me like this from time to time. With the eyes of an animal.”

She blinked her large eyes.

Claude liked how Canillia was being shameless.

“So, what are you thinking?” he asked.

“Pardon?”

“What do you think when you look at me with the eyes of an animal?”

Lia closed her mouth. She felt like she was being outplayed. It seems like the level of speech class increased with the title. She hasn’t beaten him once.

“Then what about you?” she retorted.

“I always think about how to swallow you all at once. You… Really feel like just one bite size. Small, soft and sweet.”

She gulped as he seemed to be reviewing her like some sort of food.

He chuckled while leaning against the wall as she looked scared. Lia realized that he was making fun of her, turned around and walked towards the bedroom.

“Whatever. I’m a person. One bite size. And… Listen carefully, sir. I was proposed to by Ian but I’m not marrying him. You also proposed to me but honestly, I still can’t imagine it. That I’ll be a grand duchess…”

That moment, her arm was grabbed.

He walked out from the water and looked at her.

“Claude. You call Sergio by his name just fine, but why am I sir? Claude. Claude. Claude. It’s not like you don’t remember my name. What’s the reason?”

Her arm hurt. She felt uncomfortable as his eyes looked solemn.

“If I call you by your name… You seem to… Get a little, a bit, a lot excited. So…”

Before she finished her sentence, she could hear his voice trying to suppress excitement.

“Excited.” He grabbed her small hand, licked it and pulled her into his embrace. His hot and hard body soaked her clothes. He was smiling. “Like this.”

Canillia’s heart throbbed at that. She was panting like she was out of air.

She was sick for sure. A disease that cannot be cured.

***

Wade and Rosina came together when Claude was readying his car to go back to Duke’s mansion. Canillia asked the maids to pack the dress Rosina had prepared and smiled brightly at Wade.

“Your Highness.”

“Hm, it’s Canillian, who’s so hard to see.”

“My apology. I should’ve visited you first.”

“It’s alright. I forgive you even if you’re disloyal. We’ll be family.”

Canillia kissed Wade’s hand and straightened up her top. As if he didn’t even like that, Claude’s eyes narrowed.

Rosina clicked her tongue at that sight and sipped the tea that the maid brought.

“Enough of greetings and more to the point. I know you must have heard the report, Grand Duke, but they started getting more aggressive since Sharon’s death. We also caught those who were circling around Canillia’s house and their objective was arson. The guards that were placed at Marquis Gliad’s place said this.”

Canillia was surprised, but Claude was casual as if he had known all along.

“So let’s make a decision. Are you going to reveal that you’re a woman? Canillian.”

Canillia was caressing her wrist at Wade’s question and pondered for a moment. But she already made her choice. She wanted to disappear quietly, but she also no longer wanted to be played by Anastasia. Even if her existence was painful for the Marchioness…

“Yes, I will.”

Wade nodded at Canillia’s answer.

“Then, what about your birth mother?”

“I want to… See her, but it’s just my wish. She’s happy in Louvre. But I do want to gift her a more comfortable life.”

“Then, it seems like Louvre has to become happy.”

Canillia’s face turned pale at such an unexpected answer.

“Father just wouldn’t acknowledge that Frank Ash is their leader. There will be…. Much to see today thanks to that.”

“We’ll talk in private about that.”

Claude got up and stopped Wade.

As two men grabbed cigarettes and headed to the terrace, Lia left the room with her stuff. The coat felt heavy as the weather became warm so she put it on her arm.

She was a little scared of becoming used to luxury. That she might forget about small happiness like most nobles. Like that blinding ceiling painting no longer excited her, that she would seek out happiness in bigger luxury.

“What were you thinking that you didn’t even notice I came?”

Lia looked up as she heard the voice while going down the stairs. Ian was there. It seemed he was just leaving the palace, as his servants were busy moving his stuff.

“Grand Duke Sergio.”

Canillia smiled as she was glad to see Ian.

As if he didn’t like the way she called him, Ian scoffed and stood in front of her. He was two steps lower, but their eyes were leveled.

“Isn’t there too many people in the way?” he asked coyly.

Lia bit her lips slightly and then smiled brightly.

“I’m glad you’re okay,” Lia said.

“Has it been 3 years?”

“Yes, it has.”

“You’ve… changed a lot.” His odd ash coloured eyes examined her. “You’ve become a lady, Canillia.”

Ian looked down at her closely. Lia was about to take a step back while looking away instinctively, but a large arm wrapped around her waist. The eyes that looked like dawn’s fog drew closer and the impulse that came fast kissed her lips.

She didn’t even have a chance to think.

She pushed Ian’s chest hard in surprise. Then turned her head to separate her lips. The place where his lips touched was hot. It was hot and it hurt.

She stared at the left side of the handrail and shook her head profusely.

“Don’t do it. I don’t like it.”

“Me? Or the kiss?”

Ian’s voice moved from her cheek to her temple then her ears.

“The kiss. I don’t like this kind of relationship!”

Her face must have been so red that it looks like it’ll explode. Ian’s hand around her waist froze at her fierce rejection. He looked at her trembling hands and took a step back.

Canillia wanted to believe that his impulse was a mistake. She felt like crying as she glared at Ian. But he was also staring at her with the same expression.

Ian Sergio slowly kneeled on one knee in front of her. Then he took her hand, kissed it.

“Forgive me, Canillia.”

Lia quickly took her hand away and then ran down the stairs. She hopped into her car and then rubbed her lips with her hand. She rubbed it until it became red while tears brimmed in her eyes. She felt scared.

She opened the window and calmed her face. If Claude saw this, he would definitely ask. She wasn’t sure she could deceive him.

It was the first time she felt scared of Ian.

No, she wasn’t scared of Ian. It was the pain and futility she felt that she lost a precious friend.

“Let’s go.”

Claude ordered the car to go the moment he got on. Lia looked out the window trying to look casual. She tried her best to look like she was in deep thought, and thankfully it seemed like he didn’t know what just happened.

“I sent people to move your stuff from your place. Your maids as well,” Claude said.

“Thank you for taking care of my people as well,” Lia replied weakly, trying so hard for her voice not to break.

“Your life depends on it. Honestly I just want to take you to Del Casa right now.”

Her heart started to melt as his soft words. As she quietly laughed, his large hand grabbed her small chin. Then he made her look at him. Claude brushed the tears off her eyes.

“Grand Duke Sergio was up there.”

“Ah, yes. I met him.”

“Is that it?”

“Yes, just greetings…”

He nodded and then caressed her face. Then kissed her. Her heart started to calm down.

Lia grabbed his sleeves.

***

The banquet that was being held in Marquis Gliad’s townhouse was basically its first. The high nobles like the Marquis didn’t need to host a banquet for social purposes.

The mansion opened its door for the first time since Kieran was admitted into the Academy with distinction.

Anastasia stood in the middle of the hall and looked around anxiously at the fancily decorated tapestry, table and the musicians that were hired.

“Is this really necessary?” Gliad asked as he stepped out of his study.

Anastasia looked at him as he was still in his indoor clothing and responded angrily, “I can’t let us be humiliated like that.”

“Why didn’t you listen when I said Canillian isn’t the culprit?”

“He is! What do you mean he isn’t. No way. Ha… He has to be the culprit. He’s from Louvre.”

“Anastasia…”

Gliad turned around looking tired. Anastasia glared at Marquis as he headed upstairs.

The Marquis became easily fatigued since the end of the war and he was usually stuck in his study. It seemed like his time as a prisoner was hard on him, but Anastasia no longer had the patience to understand his pain.

Today.

That child will attend bracing.

She knew that child was smart. And that she now has immense power. She couldn’t deal with someone like that personally.

Anastasia called a servant that was setting the table.

“Two grand dukes will be sitting there so be mindful.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Make sure to mark it properly too,” she added.

“Yes.”

Anastasia brushed the back of the chair with Canillian Vale’s name card on it.

Canillian Vale will become sick and disappear. He has to.

Anastasia went into the kitchen after. There was a red haired lady who was washing the potatoes. Beads of sweat trickled from her temples to her chin, but still was emitting a quite elegance atmosphere.

Anastasia approached the lady and gently put her hands on her shoulders.

“Marilyn, I have a favor to ask.”

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