My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 32

Chapter 16.2 — How to create a child (2)

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⎡ Helios Tribune Extra Edition ⎦

The Chalonné Royal Opera House bombing.

Last night at the Royal Opera House in Chalonné, the Grand Duke of Acheron saved Princess Beatrice, who nearly lost her life three days before her wedding. There were no casualties or injuries from the attack because of Grand Duke Acheron’s wisdom, and both Queen and Princess Chalonné are reportedly unharmed.

The terrorist was captured by the Grand Duke on the stairs of the Royal Palace as he fled. He was identified as a young Chalone man posing as a journalist for a daily newspaper. He used a bomb disguised as a pocket camera attached under a chair.

As a result, this exposed Chalonné’s lax security to the world. Ever since Venus’s marriage was finalized, Chalonné has carried the stigma of being a weak kingdom led by women and commoners…

The shocking news traveled over the phone lines, and within a day, the entire continent was shaken to its core. It was an unprecedented event in which a princess almost lost her life before her wedding. Large newspapers across the continent were scrambling to connect the call to anyone in Montbéliard* who had a telephone.
[ T/N: It was never fully mentioned the setting of the kingdom and everything in this novel, though Montbéliard is a real town in France. Usually, I’d steer clear of real-life references in novels since, most of the time, authors use fictitious names, but the author uses the word ‘몽벨리아르,’ and this is the only meaning I could find (；´∀｀) so if there are any changes in the future, I’ll mention it in another TL note when the time comes! ]

Riette was able to lie down on the bed in the treatment room only after her sister-in-law, Saint-Cyr, confidentially informed her that both her sister and the child were safe. Hearing that the unborn child was safe, the relief that this fact gave was truly enormous.

The royal physician stood up after examining her.

“You fell and strained your muscles from the shock, but there was no other trauma. Though, just in case, I recommend that you take a full day of rest today, Princess.”

“Yes, thank you. You can go visit sister and mother now.”

When the attending physician left, Riette was left alone in the treatment room. She could call her lady-in-waiting if she wanted, but instead, she just stared blankly at the ceiling.

She should be worried about her sister. After all, she was the one who was going to get married soon, and she was a mother. In addition, because Bea’s body was weak, even the slightest shock could cause severe pain, so it was normal for her to want to see her sister right away…

Though strangely enough, she didn’t. It was because someone else had suddenly taken the space that had always been the case so far.

Kaisaros Acheron.

Cain.

That man…

Against the background of the hallway of the Opera House, his image overlapped in front of her like a photograph as questions swirled around in her head.

How did the Grand Duke know the bomb was going to explode? Since he ran in a hurry, he must have noticed it on the spot, right? Besides, why did he run to the place where her sister and her were instead of the Prince? How could a man be so selfless, so quick to save others?

The way he came running, covered in gunpowder and bleeding, not even knowing he was injured himself.

The way his eyes were shaking…

Riette shuddered, squeezing her eyes shut. When she remembered the scene where the explosion hit the door, she still felt dizzy.

“Princess, do you only know how to care about others?”

His distorted eyes kept flickering as if he were angry.

‘…I never thought I’d hear that.’

She only fell, but wasn’t he trapped in the room where the bomb exploded? His face was even covered in blood…

Blue eyes that were lost… she knew that those eyes were searching through her. With his face covered in red blood and pungent explosives, his hands trembled, asking if she was okay.

Everyone ran to her sister, but it was only her who was left alone…

“….”

Riette squatted down like a shrimp, pulling the blanket over her head. The soles of her feet were itching, and her face felt like it was going to explode. Why was her heart beating so fast? Was it because she was startled? Because the bomb exploded loudly…

Her face was hot as if a blanket had been bathed and projected in golden sunlight. At the same time, it felt as if someone was inside her chest, tickling her ribs here and there with ostrich feathers.

“Ah, why do I keep thinking about his face!”

Riette struggled under the covers like a fish caught in a net.

She was certain she was surprised because he was handsome. And if asked if she was okay with such a handsome face…

“Princess, it’s the Grand Duke of Acheron.”

At the words of the lady-in-waiting outside the door, Riette threw down the blanket and pushed herself to her feet.

“Quickly, tell him to come in!”

The next moment, as she suddenly recognized winding strands of hair snooping around in her vision, Riette shouted as she scrambled to tidy up her hair.

“No, wait a minute, tell him to leave again!”

‘I need to tie my hair up, but ah, I’ve never tied my hair myself before… should I call a maid? But wouldn’t that take too long? No… This won’t do. Even if it’s messy, let’s tidy up a little. Ah, my clothes! My clothes are so messed up!’

She was only wearing one underdress.

‘I need to find a nightgown…’

When she turned her head to look around the treatment room, she stopped. It was because her eyes locked with Cain, who was standing in front of the door. Riette’s cheeks slowly grew red like tomatoes from her neck.

“….”

The chirping of larks beyond the window replaced the silence. Cain coughed once before he turned his head away.

“You asked me to leave after I came in, but I missed the timing. Pardon my bad manners.”

As if he was about to leave, he simply bowed and turned his head silently.

“Don’t go!”

Cain hesitated as he held the doorknob.

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