Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 21
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 21
“….”
“….”
It was the first time…
The first time it had been this awkward with Enfrise… and it was also the first time he had touched me like this.
“If… you feel any pain or discomfort, please let me know.”
“Ku, kuhm… I’m fine.”
To be honest, it was a bit sore. Nevertheless, in this situation, it seemed odd to say such things, so I kept my mouth shut. Maybe it was because we hadn’t spoken for a long time, but my throat felt dry.
“Have you… done this sort of thing a lot, Grand Duke?”
“No. It’s my first time.”
“But you seem surprisingly skilled at it.”
Even though I managed to find words to start a conversation, Enfrise didn’t respond properly, likely concentrating. So, seeing him intensely focused as if he could pierce through metal, I chose to keep quiet again.
How much time has passed like this?
After finishing the last touch, he lifted my hand and examined it from different angles, soon smiling slightly, seemingly satisfied.
“It’s done. It might take a while to dry, so it’s better not to move too much.”
Nodding, I glanced at the nails.
They were neatly filled with a gleaming gold color. When I did it alone, they often had imperfections and uneven thickness.
“It looks so beautifully done!”
“If you move too much, it might shift to one side, so keep your hand horizontal and wait.”
Saying so, he took my other hand before he moved the small brush again with a focused expression. Hmm. His gaze seemed fiercer than usual. Perhaps it was because he was putting extra effort into his eyes?
I couldn’t help but smirk as I could see his efforts to paint it beautifully.
‘By the way, the nail polish has a somewhat unique smell?’
As I leaned in to sniff near the painted back of my hand, Enfrise spoke.
“Does it smell strange?”
“No. It smells fine.”
“They added peppermint to eliminate the glue smell.”
Ah, glue. It seemed like they added some dye or something to the mix. No wonder it looked a bit gooey, not just like water.
“Can you paint pictures with this?”
“Painting… I’m not sure. I don’t have much artistic talent. Would you like to learn?”
“Uum, maybe a little.”
In truth, it wasn’t so much about having a thirst for learning but more of needing something to do when Enfrise was away.
I wasn’t sure if the position of ‘Grand Duke’ in this novel referred to being the king of the kingdom or just the highest-ranking noble among the aristocrats. I honestly didn’t know because it hadn’t been clearly mentioned in the parts I’ve seen. However, regardless of which, Enfrise must be quite busy, and it wouldn’t be his sole activity to stay by my side all the time.
Moreover, according to what he said, there were only three people here.
Since there was only one maid in her middle years working in the Grand Duke’s mansion, this place was probably prepared to confine Chapheril while his work should be done at the Grand Duke’s residence.
Right now, he was stuck close here, fearing that I might run away. Still, to be honest, although I wish Enfrise could keep playing with me, it was impossible. If the family were to go bankrupt, this happy confinement life would come to an end.
So, I needed something to fill the time when Enfrise wasn’t around.
“I didn’t know… you were interested in painting.”
“I didn’t either. Though seeing this, it’s kind of interesting.”
The color was really pretty. It looked like it was made of real gold dust.
“What is this made of?”
“What do you mean?”
“This gold color. It sparkles just like real gold.”
“It is real gold.”
…Huh?
“Oh, right! It does sparkle like real gold!”
“Because it is real gold.”
…Huh?
“Real gold…?”
“Yes.”
“This is made of real gold?”
“Yes. It’s made by mixing gold dust into glue.”
…Wait a minute. Why?!
“Gold… The gold used for making rings or necklaces?”
“Is there any other type of gold?”
…Oh, maybe that was it.
“Is gold really cheap?”
“It’s not cheap. It has its value as a precious metal.”
Ugh.
So, let’s summarize… The sparkling gold thing on my fingernails right now was real gold? Enfrise just applied gold on my nails like it was nothing?
“Wait a moment, Grand Duke.”
“Why?”
Enfrise, who was concentrating, looked up at me. Seeing my contemplative look, his expression turned serious, as if realizing that something was wrong.
“Are you uncomfortable?”
“My nails feel too heavy…”
“It seems I applied it too thick. I’ll remove it and reapply.”
Remove it… If he removed it, could he make it gold again?
“How do you remove it?”
“I’ll have to discard it.”
“…No, no. Upon further thought, it’s fine.”
To make nail polish of this gold color, how much gold would it take? If it was just a tiny bit, it would be fine, but looking at the magnificent gold color, it didn’t seem like it was just a small amount…
Goodness. I never thought I’d have gold in my life, let alone put it on my nails.
I have received gold rings for my first birthday party before. My parents had a business, and with quite a number of guests coming, I seemed to have received more than fifteen. I’ve never seen them in person, though. I heard they were melted down when my younger brother was born.
My grandmother, who complained about why my parents were having such a feast for a daughter’s first birthday party, changed her mind at my younger brother’s first birthday party.
She said they needed to rent a hotel buffet, no, order a course meal, and even carefully select the guests. While my mom, who was overbearing by my grandmother’s energy, hastily booked a hotel and made invitation cards for the guests. My grandmother went out and came back with a bracelet made from my first birthday party gold rings.
Of course, seeing that would confirm that it was the gold I received…
— Why are you looking at it like that? Are you planning to steal it?”
My grandmother put it in a safe and hid it away, so I never saw it again. Occasionally, she would take my younger brother into the room and say, ‘All of this is yours.’
“Then, shall we continue again?”
“…Um, yes.”
At his words, I obediently extended my hand again. I fixed my hand after moving it around earlier on the table, completely immobilizing it. Just in case it dripped and he had to reapply again…
If that gold fell off, it would be all gone!
“Uhm, Grand Duke.”
“Yes?”
“What will you do with what’s left?”
“What’s left…?”
Enfrise’s eyes follow my gaze downward. He glanced at the nail polish inside the opaque glass bottle and then lifted his head.
“I have to discard it.”
…No, that, I understood.
I knew. I knew well that he was the Grand Duke and had a lot of wealth. I knew well that he wanted to do anything and everything for Chaperil. But I, the person inside Chaperil, felt guilty because I knew that I wasn’t really Chaperil.
What a waste! When I read novels and the male lead did something for the female lead, I used to vicariously enjoy it, but now that it was happening to me, it was really a waste!
“All of this?”
“I’m still not used to it, so I made a bit too much just in case I make a mistake. You don’t have to worry about it.”
Ugh, it was such a waste.
As I alternately gaze at the nail being painted and the bottle of nail polish, Enfrise’s nails catch my eye. I wonder if he’d dislike it if I asked him to do his as well?
“Can I do it, too?”
“To whom?”
“Of course, the Grand Duke.”
Who else was here besides him?
Thinking that way, I answered, and suddenly Enfrise’s hand twitched.
“Ah.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
The hand that was stiff a moment ago is now trembling as if in an earthquake. Did he hate it that much?
“Is it weird for a man to have his nails painted like this?”
I remembered reading that men used to wear nail polish when going to the battlefield or showing off their status. So, I thought it would be okay here.
“It’s not that it’s not okay…”
“No?”
“…It’s just that I feel nervous when I think you’ll be doing it.”
Enfrise carefully wiped off the excess gold polish with a towel soaked in water and let out a deep sigh. No, was it a deep breath? After that, he brought the brush to my nails again with steady hands.
Why did he feel so nervous when he did it perfectly in my hands?
“So, no?”
“…Can you wait until I finish applying this, and then you can ask the question? My hands keep shaking—”
“Alright.”
I may not understand, but not everything that people do can be understood. Some might find me frustrating if they see me from my past self. Some might think my current self was a thoughtless fool, while some might see me as a leech trying to live comfortably.
Nevertheless, everyone had their own thoughts, and they could overlap or differ. Forcing them to adopt my thoughts just because I couldn’t understand theirs would be excessive arrogance.
“….”
In silence, Enfrise’s hand, which had been painting for a while, stopped. He raised the finished hand, turning it around, and smiled again with satisfaction.
Hmm, what should I say?
“Your Grace, you have a truly beautiful smile.”
“Be…beautiful?”
Ah, maybe I shouldn’t say that to a man? But still, how could I deny the beauty?
“It would be nice if you smiled like that more often.”
“I didn’t smile. I just…”
Blushing and not knowing what to do, he abruptly stood up again. I knew this would happen. His behavior pattern was becoming clear now.
“Um, while waiting for your nails to dry, should I bring you something to drink?”
“Then, I would like apple juice.”
“I understand.”
His relieved expression somehow irritates me. He opened the door, and as he turned the handle, I played a little trick on him.
“When these are all dry, next will be Your Grace’s turn, right?”
“…I’ll be back!”
Before I could finish speaking, the door closed with a loud bang.
_
*) Context of the chapter:
So, one of the biggest birthdays in Korea is the first birthday, or the ‘dol.’ Relatives and friends would be invited and bring gifts. People used to bring gold rings to the first birthday party to wish the baby good fortune and good health.
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