Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 18
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 18
“Enfi.”
“Ppi—!”
Hmm, not this one?
Even though it wasn’t a threat, seeing the entire body raise its hair meant displeasure. I wanted to give it a name similar to Enfrise’s.
“It would have been nice if you could talk, too.”
“Kkwo, kkwo! Ppi!”
…Hmm, well.
“It’s not like being modified is a good thing. I’m sorry, my thinking was short.”
As I spoke, gazing at the black sunflower seed-like eyes, the little creature looked at me as well. Could it possibly understand?
“…Do you understand what I’m saying?”
When I asked but there was no response, I felt a bit foolish even asking. Just as I reached out my hand slightly the next moment, the creature sniffed and wiggled its nose.
Ah, its nose is pink. How cute.
“You look really cute.”
“….”
I gently placed my finger on its head. At the thought, I couldn’t help but wonder if it would stiffen again.
Just as I was about to remove my hand, the still-pink nose wiggled.
…Was it smelling something?
“Hey. Do you really dislike Enfi?”
“Ppi—!”
Hmm, it seems to understand… or maybe it somewhat grasped that I was naming it.
“Enri.”
“Ppi—!”
“Angel?”
Ah, I got bitten.
Although it didn’t draw blood, my finger, which was rubbing its forehead, got nibbled. Even though he mentioned it couldn’t cause physical harm…
If it didn’t draw blood, it could bite, huh?
“I’m sorry. I guess that was a bit much.”
I wasn’t sure if ‘angel’ meant angel here, but it didn’t seem to suit this little creature. Judging by appearances, it was more like a goblin.
“You don’t like Eni? Then how about ‘Fru’?”
“Ppi—! Ppi—!”
‘Oh, not that either? It’s quite picky.’
“How about ‘Frii’? It sounds pretty. How is it?”
Ah, but this name was the exact opposite. Was it ‘run away’? Attaching it to the little creature that still tried to attack Enfrise despite being several times its size didn’t quite seem right.
“….”
‘…Huh?’
No reaction? Was this okay?
“Frii?”
No reaction this time either. It just stared at me with its shiny black eyes.
Hmm, did it like it?
“Alright. I’ll call you Frii from now on.”
Frii glanced at me for a moment and then disappeared under the bed again. Wait a minute, there was barely any space there… so how did it fit in? The gap was barely two fingers wide, even narrower than Frii’s body.
“Frii, is that comfortable for you…?”
It probably needed a home. Where did weasels live anyway? Maybe it was in a book about creatures.
I’ll ask Enfrise later.
“Though there’s magic too, isn’t there? I wonder if I can use magic as well? That would be nice.”
I whispered in a small voice, just in case someone might hear. Frii didn’t react, but since it wasn’t chirping or squeaking, it probably wasn’t in a bad mood.
Magic, huh?
I used to dream about magic when I was young.
Was it Cinderella? It was a well-known cartoon that used to air on TV. Whether it was the kind fairy or the witch who helped Cinderella when she waved her wand, the broom and mop would start cleaning on their own, and the laundry would wash itself in a wooden bucket she made.
While scrubbing the floor, I would sometimes think of that scene, even after becoming an adult, lowering the volume on the TV almost to inaudible, afraid that my grandmother might hear.
…Mostly when I didn’t want to do household chores.
Right now, what kind of magic would I want to use? One thing was for sure: it wouldn’t be for household chores.
“Hmm, if I were to use magic, I think I’d want to be able to read the words.”
Then, I should start by making a home for Frii.
Even though Frii’s behavior was a bit more violent compared to Enfrise’s, strangely, it felt cute because it resembled him. Perhaps because I knew it wouldn’t harm me.
It barely hurt when it bit me.
“You see, Frii…”
I tapped the side of the bed frame.
“Isn’t this strange? You’re just an animal, and you don’t particularly like me, nor can we communicate properly…”
‘…Why is that? I feel so comfortable with you.’
With that thought, I closed my eyes quietly.
Hmm, what should I do?
“….”
“Sshh! Ssss!”
For some reason, I found myself pondering while looking at the two, no, one person and one animal glaring at each other.
Why was their relationship so bad?
Frii, now no longer a threat to me, just kept its distance. It was almost an indifferent feeling, and it spent most of its time under the bed. However, when Enfrise would come, it suddenly sprang out like a coiled spring and started to threaten fiercely… even going as far as biting his fingertips even if Enfrise ignored it.
“Frii, stop it.”
Although I tried to intervene, it didn’t seem to listen.
…Of course not. Even when it was just the two of us, it didn’t listen. There was no way it would listen now, especially in this tense and excited state.
I glanced at the black part of its tail swaying back and forth and then shifted my gaze to Enfrise.
“Grand Duke.”
“Yes.”
“What to do with an animal you can’t even communicate with?”
He furrowed his eyebrows slightly and then let out a deep sigh. Finally, he seemed to give up the confrontation with Frii and came over to sit on the sofa.
“Sshh! Ssss!”
Frii approached, looking triumphant, and threatened Enfrise.
…Did it think Enfrise was retreating?
How adorable.
“….”
On the other hand, Enfrise’s expression darkened. Did his hand hurt a lot?
“Let me see your hand.”
“I’m fine.”
“Hey, it’s not like showing it will make it worse. Show it to me, okay?”
At my insistence, he eventually extended his hand reluctantly. His fingertips were marked with the shape of Frii’s teeth, and there was a slight trace of blood.
It seemed like Frii’s teeth were sharper than I thought.
“Is there any medicine or something in this room?”
“I’m fine.”
“Don’t just say you’re fine. You don’t look fine.”
I had no idea what was bothering him so much. His eyebrows furrowed in a way I had never seen before. In addition, he seemed to be clenching his jaw as if protesting against something. Still, why did Frii not like him so much when he was the one who brought it here?
“You named it Frii, right?”
“Yes? Oh, yes.”
“….”
Why was he so sullen? Was he upset that I named it after him?
Wait a minute, have I ever heard Enfrise’s name before?
“Sound’s good, right?”
“Is it? I’m not quite sure.”
He couldn’t have realized, could he? That I named it after Enfrise…
“I like it because it’s cute. I’ve tried all sorts of things, but Frii doesn’t seem to like them much.”
“….”
His ears turned slightly red. Oh, could that be it? Could he be feeling awkward because calling Frii was like calling his own name?
“By the way, what is the Grand Duke’s name?”
Enfrise didn’t answer right away.
…Was he afraid that if I heard his name, I would regain my memory? Was he afraid that I would once again reject him?
Despite these thoughts, he opened his mouth after a short while.
“I’m Enfrise de Blame.”
He said it willingly.
I nodded my head as if I was hearing his name for the first time. Strictly speaking, it was the first time I had heard it. I had only seen it in print.
“Aren’t you curious… about your name?”
Just a week ago, he would have said something like that while scrutinizing my expression. His expression would have implied that something was wrong. However, the current Enfrise was different. It felt like he was asking because he was genuinely curious.
While I wasn’t particularly curious, it would be strange if I didn’t ask at all.
“To be honest, I am curious. Even though I might not have a reason to call my name… not knowing one’s name feels a bit frustrating.”
As I smiled brightly, looking directly into his eyes, Enfrise spoke after a moment of thought.
“Your name is… Chaperil de Rivette.”
“Chaperil….”
…It might sound strange, but I suddenly realized.
I had truly become Chaperil.
Until now, neither Enfrise’s name nor Chaperil’s name had been directly mentioned. Perhaps that was why it didn’t feel real. It felt like I was witnessing a story from another world that had nothing to do with me.
A feeling of that sort remained within me.
Nonetheless, as I looked at Enfrise, who declared that my name was ‘Chaperil,’ it hit me that I had truly become Chaperil.
Now… the person named Kim Soo-hee had truly disappeared.
“…Do you remember anything?”
This man must not read novels very often… or perhaps memory loss wasn’t a common trope in the novels of this world. Where was the story where you regained your memory just by hearing your name? It wouldn’t even make it to the fifth episode, let alone ever become a series.
“Not at all. I just think it’s a beautiful name.”
“Indeed.”
As he replied, he gave a faint smile.
Was he truly so happy just from hearing Chaperil’s name? Why did he kidnap and imprison someone like me?
Would this man regret it later?
No, I had no intention of escaping from this confinement, so he probably wouldn’t regret it.
…Come to think of it, there was a story like that, too, a novel where the male lead, who forcibly initiated a conversation with the female lead without proper consent, later regretted it after the female lead gave her heart to him. Would he eventually become a man full of regrets?
Still, I couldn’t help but think that there must be a reason why Enfrise did what he did. Enfrise had shown me a side of him that was completely different from the one I had seen in the book. So, if he ever opened up to me more, he might tell me the truth about why he did this.
“The Grand Duke’s name is beautiful, too. Enfrise. It fits perfectly and has a beautiful sound to it.
In response, Enfrise covered his blushing face.
“Thank you.”
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