Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 16
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 16
“You’ve already mastered it.”
“I’ve been studying strategies diligently on my own.”
I was about to add, ‘You left me hanging,’ but I stopped myself. If I teased him too much, the response would become uninteresting.
However, Enfrise’s expression darkened even though I hadn’t teased him.
“…I apologize for yesterday.”
He was such a quick-witted man. Still, why couldn’t he notice that the inside of Chaperil had changed?
Well, while I was used to these kinds of things from novels, for the people of this world, the concept of possession was probably difficult to grasp. It would be easier for them to think someone had gone mad or been possessed by a ghost, or perhaps they might think it was a trick.
So. that was why Enfrise became suspicious. In a way, it was understandable that other male leads would be just as suspicious.
“No, it’s my fault for being mean.”
Even though I had thought he might later insist that it wasn’t the case, he just readily admitted it.
“Ah.”
I made a mistake…
I shouldn’t have placed it here. If I placed it here, he could take the corner within two turns—!
When I glanced at Enfrise at the thought, I could see that he was looking at the game board with a serious face. Should I ask him to take a step back? Hmm, well, I suppose it was all about learning from mistakes.
“Grand Duke.”
“Yes.”
“Well…. can we redo that last move?”
“No, we cannot.”
Ugh, how frustrating.
Was there no way? If I placed it here… oh, but then he would take another corner. Here… well, it would only buy me some time.
Uhhh…
“….”
What should I do? How should I proceed?
Ummm…!
“Grand Duke.”
“Yes.”
“I’m just a beginner. Please let it slide.”
I pleaded for his sympathy.
No matter how much I think about it, there seemed to be no solution. Placing it in any position seemed too unfavorable. Besides, it was because I was lost in thought from the beginning, and since the culprit was Enfrise, he had an obligation to take a step back!
…But that was too far-fetched.
“You said you were studying strategies diligently.”
“Studying and real-life applications are different. No matter how well-versed you are in theory, unexpected situations can arise in practice!”
“Unexpected situations? I haven’t hindered you at all.”
…Uh, uhh.
“You brought it up, so our conversation yesterday crossed my mind.”
“Cross your mind, what do you mean?”
“Yesterday, Your Grace’s face turned red…”
“….!”
Although I didn’t want to be mean, if he kept asking, wouldn’t it be fair to respond? So, I wasn’t the one at fault here!
‘I’m definitely not doing this just to win the game!’
“…Constantly teasing someone about their feelings isn’t good behavior.”
Huh? Teasing…?
“Why would that be considered teasing?”
He seemed taken aback at my response. As Enfrise lifted his golden eyes from the game board to look at me, I met his gaze directly, taking the opportunity to look into those sparkling eyes under the sunlight.
“I said that yesterday. You seemed very cute, Your Grace.”
“Please… stop teasing me.”
“I’m not teasing, I’m serious! Do I look like I’m lying?”
There was no need to lie!
After my words, I deliberately leaned in, locking eyes with him. No, why was his self-esteem so low despite having such a good subject to brag about? If I were as good as this man, I would have caused a sensation. Whether it be modeling or entertainment…
Oh, wait. Were there no such things here?
Then, maybe I would have enjoyed the life of an influencer, being the center of the social circle, rather than just facing myself like this.
“…No.”
“Right? I mean it.”
“But, calling a grown man cute…”
“Still, how can I not find you cute? That’s why I keep remembering how your face turned red yesterday.”
Enfrise let out a small sigh. Was he tired of this? Or was he embarrassed, and that was why he was doing that?
I felt like I knew, yet I wasn’t sure.
“Anyway, now you understand why I asked you to step back, right?”
“I don’t know.”
“The Grand Duke made me place the wrong piece because of you! So you should step back!”
“…I refuse.”
“Uhh…”
It wasn’t working?
Then, nothing I could do about it. I needed to find a move that minimized the damage.
“Aren’t you thinking for too long?”
“Ah, no! Wait!”
I retorted to Enfrise’s urging and sank back into thought. If I left it here…
Enfrise closed the door carefully, making sure not to make any loud noises.
After contemplating for a while and ultimately losing, Chaperil was sullen and demanded a sweet treat. It seemed like thinking too much called for something sweet. When Tambor brought hot chocolate with marshmallows and fruits, her frowning face widened into a smile.
“…Pff.”
Her emotions were written all over her face as though she had no intention of hiding them.
She was already an honest person, but surely, with her memories lost, any restraints or pretense she might have had also disappeared. She became even more candid and unrestrained than he had witnessed.
After finishing her snack, she demanded that he read her a book. When he said there was no book today, she asked him to recite some verses from the poem he remembered, so he recited a few lines from the poem he remembered.
Chaperil, who had initially been listening with sparkling eyes, soon began to doze off and eventually slumped to the side, fast asleep.
Just like last time.
Enfrise couldn’t help but bring out the blanket he had instructed Tambor to prepare and gently covered her with it before leaving quietly.
“The person you are…”
It took Enfrise four days to acknowledge the peculiarity of her condition. Clearly, the current Chaperil seemed to have no recollection of herself. No matter how much acting it might have been, she wasn’t someone who could conceal her emotions so skillfully.
Chaperil wasn’t that kind of person.
The hatred, mistrust, and anger that filled her red eyes, and the rejection that would bloom on her face every time she saw him…
If she had been able to hide all of that so well, she would’ve attempted to control it from the beginning to escape this situation. She escaped so many times, that she ended up wearing those chains.
“But…”
Enfrise looked down at his own hands.
Hands too rough for a nobleman. From a young age, he had desperately wielded a sword to earn his father’s approval. He also held a bow and learned the art of spearmanship. Since his academic prowess wasn’t great, he tried to earn recognition through martial arts.
Still, it was all in vain.
He was denied every opportunity to go out on public events. Despite his training and honed skills, he couldn’t even participate in sword-fighting competitions.
Nevertheless, it didn’t matter.
He didn’t train and hone his skills for the approval of others. Only one person. If only his father would acknowledge him…
However.
— Oh, Barca. You’re already able to ride and shoot a bow.
— The accuracy is still not very high, Father.
— What? That naturally increases as you grow larger and stronger. You are indeed my son.
No matter how hard he tried, his father never looked at him with approval.
Regardless, Enfrise couldn’t stop his training. It had become a habit, and not doing it would affect his physical well-being… yet the biggest reason was that there was nothing else for him.
It was because it was all he had.
He felt a sense of satisfaction as his hands roughened as if something was accumulating.
Training alone continuously, he could even give up hope of being acknowledged by someone someday. Nothing made him happier than running and wielding a sword to the point where no other thoughts came to mind.
— Can I take a look at your hand for a moment?’
That was how it was.
When Chaperil mentioned looking at his hand, he almost refused immediately. His hands were rough for a noble. What could she possibly think of these hands?
Perhaps… just perhaps…
Half with a fearful heart and half with anticipation, he reached out his hand to her. Her response exceeded his expectations.
— It’s not as big of a difference as I thought.
He felt his earlobes warm at the gentle touch on his hand.
Was it because he hadn’t had much contact with women before? Or was it because the person was Chaperil? Or perhaps it was because she had reached out her hand first? When she gently grasped his hand with hers…
Enfrise hid his palm as if concealing it. No, it even seemed as if he wanted to hide something. In truth, he wanted to grip that hand tightly. He wanted to pull her into his arms and hold her tightly.
And if possible…
Nonetheless, all he could do was spit out hurtful words… even though he thought she might get hurt. That was the only way he knew how to interact with others.
Unlike himself, who desired Chaperil, she didn’t want him.
— Because it’s the Grand Duke.
Chaperil.
She always said the words he wanted to hear most as if piercing through the childish desire to be special to someone. He must have expected those words from his father. Even though he desperately wished for them, she was the one who unraveled each and every one of the words that he didn’t say.
Now, even if it was a lie, it didn’t matter.
Even if it was all just a delusion, it was fine.
He wanted to believe that everything she had done for him was true. That was how much he…
“Chaperil.”
Something overwhelming clouds his resolution. He didn’t want to be hated by Chaperil. He wished she would smile.
He wanted to stay by her side forever.
He suppressed these feelings.
Didn’t he already make up his mind? Even if something happened, he would protect her. It was okay to be hated. It was okay if she hated him. It was okay to be misunderstood. Even if he were killed by her hand one day, that wouldn’t be so bad either.
He wanted to protect her, whatever the cost.
“I…”
‘…No matter what happens.’
With that resolve, Enfrise tightly closed his eyes.
—
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