Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 3
Translator and Editor: Effe and Nabi
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Chapter 3
When you read novels, people always talked in a roundabout way and made a mess, so let’s say it straight up.
So, I spoke my thoughts openly.
“….”
Confusion seeped into his mesmerizing golden eyes, casting a wavering gaze that shimmered like water mixed with blades of grass in a delicate glass bottle.
No, perhaps it was even more enchanting than that?
“Well, I understand. Honestly, it’s strange that I can’t remember anything in the morning after I was fine until yesterday, but I’m in a really frustrating situation right now.”
As I let out an exaggerated sigh, the golden eyes stared blankly at me as if trying to ascertain the authenticity of my words.
“I can’t remember my name, let alone my house. If I go outside like this, I’ll freeze or starve to death… Anyway, won’t I just die in a strange land? Then you won’t feel good either. I might not have to beg you by holding on to your trousers not to kick me out, but trust me.”
Vague memories of the female lead’s family unfolded in my mind, along with the details had been explained in the background of the beginning of the story.
It all began with Chaperil, who was struck by a sudden and rare illness of unknown origin. While the exorbitant cost of medicine was not a significant burden for the influential Rivette family, who held the esteemed Marquisate title, as was often the case in novels, things took a turn for the worse.
Out of the blue, the Rivette family’s businesses crumbled, plunging into bankruptcy. Merchant ships they had invested in fell prey to ruthless pirates, leaving them without a single penny. Pests and plagues ravaged their lands, decimating their agricultural endeavors. Even the price of medicine continued to soar.
In an instant, their once-stable household was shaken to its core. Yet, even in the face of such turmoil, Chaperil’s parents clung desperately to their beloved Rivette family.
But misfortune, relentless in its pursuit, struck again, targeting the already vulnerable family. Thieves, emboldened by the weakened state of the private army that had been reduced almost to dissolution, launched an attack on the Rivette mansion.
The mansion descended into chaos.
Meanwhile, Chaperil, consumed by fever, lay unconscious. Her parents, unable to escape the onslaught and leaving her behind, fell victim to the merciless bandits.
As Chaperil, amidst the haze of her clouded mind, faintly heard her parents’ agonized screams, she opened her eyes only to find Enfrise standing before her.
“…You really don’t remember me?”
So, it was understandable that Enfrise found it difficult to trust me readily. Chaperil, despite enduring the aftermath of such a traumatic event while managing to retain her sanity, suffered a sudden loss of memory.
Moreover, even with her amnesia, she should be aware that her current state was far from ordinary. The visible restraints tightly clasping her neck and limbs were anything but normal. Consequently, it was only natural for him to harbor suspicions when I assured him that I had no intentions of escaping.
“Yes. Do you know anything about me? Can you teach me? Then, I think I can leave without being indebted to you.”
Of course, he couldn’t tell me.
Think carefully, Enfrise. No matter what I meant by this, were you going to miss this opportunity? A chance to imprison me under an agreement?
Weren’t you the depraved male lead?!
“….”
Enfrise pondered once more, his countenance shifting from a derisive sneer to a more enigmatic and shadowed expression. As per the passages in the novel, he was often depicted as casting cold gazes upon the female lead or bearing an inscrutable demeanor.
Looking at it like this, his emotions were rather all over his face.
However, unlike Chaperil, an aristocratic lady who was not bound by the need to be overly vigilant of her surroundings, I was a diligent office worker who had spent my life attentively observing others. So, this task should be a walk in the park for me.
Having only read the beginning of the novel, I did not possess every knowledge about him.
Furthermore, if the female lead were to discern too much, the story would come to a halt. It was customary, for the sake of the narrative’s progression, that the female lead remained unaware of certain details, even if they were known to all the readers.
“…Take this first.”
Enfrise held out a teacup. A strangely sweet scent wafted from the teacup where the misty steam was rising.
Wasn’t this what he used his lips to forcefully feed the female lead who refused to take it? The description of the kissing scene where Chaperil bit his lips, but he still put his tongue deep in her mouth and stirred…
…I couldn’t forget it.
Well, I have no intention of rejecting it. With my own throat feeling parched, I accepted the tea and took a sip. Its warmth made it easy to consume, and as I drank it down in one gulp, Enfrise gazed at me with a peculiar expression.
No, why was he looking at me like that? It was not the first time he had seen me drink tea.
“…Well, is there something?”
I didn’t drink while drooling, so was there anything to look at?
“Why do you think so?”
“Because you kept looking at me. Was it a bit ugly?”
“No. That’s not why I’m looking at you, but…”
Hmm.
Where did the sharp-tongued, sarcastic male lead go? Enfrise lost his words while perplexed. Well, the woman who was struggling to run away, saying she didn’t like him, suddenly changed like this, so it was understandable.
“Then, were you looking at me because I was so pretty?”
To wrap things out, I let out a silly joke.
Enfrise’s body jerked in surprise, and he quickly covered his mouth with a large hand. I noticed the prominent veins on the back of his hand, tinged with a bluish hue.
I knew this.
It was a common trope in novels when the male lead had something he wanted to say but couldn’t express it directly. Or perhaps he was trying to conceal his own embarrassment. However, I didn’t think he was blushing?
Oh, maybe…?
At the thought, I slowly turned and looked at him.
Sure enough, I could see a faint flush starting to spread on his cheeks. Just as expected, this was how the male lead in a romance behaves. It would be too obvious if his entire face were to turn red like that… even his earlobes were turning a shade of crimson. Only the readers would notice these subtle details, while the female lead remains oblivious.
The earlobe looks pretty, too.
“Haha, just kidding.”
Enfrise frowned as I let out a silly laugh, but his earlobe turned redder. Was he embarrassed?
“…Sir Halowell.”
Perhaps not wanting to deal with me anymore, he glanced away from me. In fact, it must be because if he continues to look at me, his emotions will be revealed.
How cute.
Still, he couldn’t hide his expression.
The twitching eyebrows and the ends of his lips were revealing his emotions… the face that was going crazy because he was worried about me.
If I had spat it out in real life, everyone would have chillingly hardened. It was quite interesting that a face genius* who would not have existed in reality reacted like that.
[ T/N: A term used to describe someone that’s very good looking ]
As expected, my thoughts were right.
Could it be that in romance stories, the female lead often feigns ignorance to create opportunities for interactions with the male lead? It’s possible that she takes pleasure in observing his reactions while pretending not to notice. Or perhaps the author intentionally wrote it that way to drive the plot forward.
However, in this case, how can I possibly overlook his blatant display?
“Yes.”
An old doctor called Halowellanswered.
The doctor glanced at me and put something like a stethoscope that he had used during the examination into his bag. After tidying up, he put one hand on his chest and lightly bowed his head.
“Then, take care of yourself, Lady. Don’t be too hasty. It may sound cold-hearted, but realistically speaking, there is a chance that the memory will never come back.”
…Oh, lady.
So cringe.
I didn’t mind when I read it in writing, but when I heard it with my ears, I felt my arms having goosebumps. Still, should I answer politely and dignifiedly like a ‘lady’?
Hmmhmm.
“Thank you, doctor.”
…What was courtesy? What is decency?
As I pondered on it, I realized that I lacked such a formal greeting in my repertoire. Considering the circumstances, it would be ideal to have one. Despite reading countless novels, why was I unable to apply any of those greetings?
It felt foolish, but what if my mind went blank and I couldn’t come up with anything suitable?
“….”
The doctor let out a small sigh and looked at Enfrise.
Well, there was really nothing to fret about. Skipping work tomorrow wouldn’t get me fired, and if I neglected cooking, no one would scream.
Still, there was a tinge of regret. It was that I wished I had some memories. In those transmigration scenarios, some individuals were blessed with memories, but I seemed to have drawn the short end of the stick.
Well, it didn’t matter. My lifelong wish had come true.
I have a single goal: to indulge in playtime and feasting while being confined by the Grand Duke.
…Uugg, just envisioning it now fills me with sheer happiness.
As I let out a contented sigh and fantasized about the rose-colored future that lay ahead, the doctor cast me a pitying glance and departed. In the meanwhile, the Grand Duke, without uttering a word, followed suit.
…Um, so what do I do now?
Tap, tap.
The face of the man knocking on the desk was not bright.
—It may sound cold-hearted, but realistically speaking, there is a chance that the memory will never come back
Halowell’s words were stuck in his heart like a thorn.
—It is highly likely that it was a defense mechanism to escape from extreme stress.
Stress.
Remembering the shackles that restrained her neck and limbs, Enfrise bit his lip. Why did it become like this?
He just…
—If I hadn’t listened to Your Grace’s story in advance, I would have reported it to the guards right away.
The old doctor, who had seen him for a long time, uttered those words with a cold expression he had never shown before.
—It’s better to release the lady’s restraints as soon as possible. She won’t be able to hold out like that.
He knew.
Even so, when he heard the word amnesia, he had a glimmer of hope.
—Even if she lost all her memories?
—You never know when her memory will come back, right? Besides, Lady is a smart person. She suddenly recognized that she was physically restrained and imprisoned, but deliberately didn’t mention it. She was doing this to avoid irritating Your Grace.
Perhaps so.
Enfrise let out a small sigh and closed his eyes tightly.
—Then, what will happen if the condition becomes more serious…
The voice was cold. Of course, he had no intention of denying what he had done.
But…
“Hoo…”
As he quietly closed his eyes, Enfrise remembered the day they first met.
—Hello, Grand Duke. I am Chaperil of County Rivette.
The flower of society.
The saintess.
The wise angel.
There were many words referring to her, but they all converged on a single focal point. She was cherished by all, and she reciprocated that love to everyone.
…Even if it was a ‘dirty b*stard who stole the blood of the imperial family.’
—It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lady.
Did Chaperil remember Enfrise that day? He’d rather she not remember. He must have looked ugly.
“I’m…”
Halowell was right. He had to resolve the situation quickly and set her free. Even though he understood it well, he couldn’t do it.
“Trash.”
Truthfully, his heart raced as he beheld her radiant smile directed at him. It wasn’t the visage of the resentful and reproachful Chaperil, but rather the pure and benevolent Chaperil he loved. Witnessing the person he loved in his embrace filled him with an inexplicable elation.
He, who was born trash, eventually grew up to be trash.
“…Ha.”
Enfrise reclined in his chair, gazing upwards at the ceiling. Something within his body seemed to wriggle and stir, akin to a tiny insect. Eventually, overwhelmed by the sensation, he sprang to his feet and hastily dashed out of the study.
…He missed her.
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Why isn’t there a ‘comedy’ tag for this one…? I haven’t stopped laughing since the smut ended.