Chapter 100: CH 50.1

When she saw the Grand Duke’s face, Anne felt an indescribable feeling. She felt relieved that she had lived and a faint feeling that she was lucky that he was the last person she saw.

“I’ve prepared medicine for her, so take it on time.”

The doctor was asking Marie for a favor. The door was flung, and someone burst into the room with wild steps.

“Everybody out.”

The three people without saying a word.

“Open your eyes. I know you woke up.”

Hearing the cold voice, Anne slowly opened her eyes to see the Grand Duke in his armor. Looking closely, his jawline, which had become sharper over the past few days, and his tousled black hair gave him a more sensitive impression.

Despite his rather stern expression, Anne was trying to lower her voice to thank him.

“Do you think that the Grand Duchess can do anything? Why did you do such useless things?”

“. . .”

Hearing his sudden reprimand, Anne blinked with a blank expression. Then she slowly raised her upper body and managed to speak her voice out.

“In Your Grace’s absence . . . I am the master of this castle, so it was right for me to go.”

Anne’s breathy voice was faint, but the Grand Duke only showed a cold expression.

“I didn’t leave my castle to do such troublesome things. Why are you being so selfish?”

“I thought you were worried about me.”

In response to his tone, Anne answered harshly without even realizing it. Her gratitude disappeared and seeing his accusing face drained her strength.

“Huh!”

In an instant, Anne’s body was helplessly dragged by his hand like a piece of paper. She felt his hot breath and the subtle scent of blood. As Anne’s nose wrinkled at the disgusting bloody smell, his face crumpled.

“If you are the Grand Duchess, live like the Grand Duchess. Lock yourself in the castle and wear jewels. Stop pretending to be a hero.”

“Heuh . . . I can do whatever I want,”

“You still have the strength to talk back?”

The Grand Duke, tilting his head, cut her off coldly. Her neck was painfully tightened. His intertwining eyes were as cold as a lifeless stone.

“Don’t get on my nerves. Don’t do as you please.”

“Huuh . . . I know, so I did this.”

“Listen, Angroanne. All you have to do in this castle is stay put and spread those pretty legs whenever I tell you to.”

Seeing her turn white in her hands, the Grand Duke put her clothes aside as if tossing them away. Anne’s slender arm was pushed against the pile of pillows.

There was a sharpness in the red eyes who looked at Anne’s pale face. He was terribly annoyed by the way she made fuss, not knowing that she was about to die.

I shouldn’t have let you go.

That was it. He should have done it the first time. It was right to push, tease and bully her as he originally thought. He would rather not give her unreasonable rights and freedoms.

Not too long ago, he would worry if he should step back. But now, he believed that he had given her too much slack. The present position was good. She didn’t need to be advantageous here, nor did she have to keep her nose up.

“Don’t get in my way. From now on, live as if you were dead.”

He coldly turned away from Anne and turned his back.

Anne, who was staring at the loudly closed door, grabbed the water glass to calm her swaying stomach. Even though she drank the whole cup, her body didn’t stop shaking.

“Live as if you were dead . . .”

Their conversations were always like this. There was never a question about if she was in pain. That’s why those particularly cruel words pierced her heart like a dagger.

Not too long ago, she didn’t mind his words. She was neither sad nor angry, just a little bit of agitation as a human being.

But at this moment, her heart was beating strangely. Anne felt her throbbing chest, like it was pricked with needles.

Anne was hurt by the fact that he, who had softened enough to sway her, turned cold again. She didn’t want to be fooled by him. She shouldn’t have expected anything from him in the first place. Just because he saved her, her heart went soft? There was no need for that.

As she blinked her stinging eyes, thick water droplets suddenly fell on the sheet. Anne, staring at the tears spreading to the white sheet, bit her lip, remembering the thunderous Grand Duke who just before.

“It can’t be. There’s no way my heart can be broken by his words.”

It was a ridiculous sadness, she thought with all her might, trying to pull herself together. She couldn’t have felt this emotional agitation from him . . .