My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 33

Chapter 17.1 — How to create a child (3)

Remaining seated in her place, Riette swiftly pulled the blanket up to her chin. She tucked her hair behind her ear and glanced out the window in a futile attempt to look away, blushing slightly as she felt a tinge of embarrassment.

“Can you please bring my nightgown out of the closet over there? Because the fabric of what I’m wearing is a little sheer, it’s somewhat see-through up close.”

“….”

A moment of inexplicable silence lingered for a few seconds. Then, soon after, the sound of the closet door opening could be heard. The door softly closed with a click, followed by the sound of footsteps.

He came to a halt beside the bed.

“Here it is.”

Saying so, he placed the gown directly on her shoulders.

“Thank you…”

Riette murmured to herself as she awkwardly put on the robe, fumbling with the sleeves and crossing her arms.

Finally, she mustered the courage to turn and face him.

As he extended his long, lean legs and perched onto the plush stool, a gasp of astonishment escaped her mouth, overwhelmed by his commanding presence.

…Was this truly the man who had been caught in the devastating explosion last night?

His hair, meticulously combed back, resembled the first day of his arrival. He donned a crisply tailored shirt with sharp angles, devoid of any wrinkles, and a lounge suit that fit him flawlessly. The silver chain of his pocket watch added a touch of elegance to his ensemble.

Despite the remnants of the blast, visible through the gauze on his forehead and the bandage on the back of his hand, the man who had previously been drenched in blood and covered in gunpowder seemed to have vanished. Moreover, hadn’t he just returned from providing a report on last night’s terrorist attack to the Chalonné guards and the police?

Simultaneously, Riette harbored serious doubts about whether she should occupy the hospital bed. After all, she had merely stumbled in the hallway, and he had swiftly lifted her up and carried her…

“They said that since the shock was significant, the Princess should take complete rest for a while. I just came to check on your condition briefly, so I’ll soon leave you alone.”

“He said my muscles were surprised, but he didn’t say it was that extreme. I’m not Sister Bea, so you don’t have to treat me like a princess who will fly away at the slightest breeze.”

“Princess Lariette is also the Princess of Chalonné. It’s only appropriate to treat you with respect, so don’t humble yourself.”

“That’s not what I mean. It’s because I’m stronger than sister Bea…”

“The members of the Helios family, including myself, are all obligated to perform our duties. So, we are prepared for unexpected situations like this, but you’re still a princess, aren’t you? If an untrained civilian gets caught up in a terrorist attack, they may suffer from significant psychological trauma for a while. It’s a very natural reaction, so it’s best not to take it lightly. You should prioritize your own safety first. Every time something happens, you should think of yourself as…”

“Ah, I’ll lie down. I’ll lie down!”

Riette stifled her words as she slid into bed and lay down. With her lips pursed, she cast a fleeting glance at Cain.

“You’re not a cold Grand Duke but the admonishing Grand Duke. Do you always give these kinds of nagging lectures to your siblings like this all the time?”

“Nagging is an irresponsible word used by people who overlook basic and valid matters.”

“That’s what people who nag a lot would say…”

When Cain narrowed his eyes, Riette pursed her lips as a mischievous chuckle escaped her lips. The tension that had tightly gripped her heart seemed to melt away a bit, perhaps due to the playful exchange of words.

“But seriously, is it okay for you to wander around like this? You were in that room when the bomb went off. Anyone can see that the Grand Duke was much more seriously injured than I am.”

“It wasn’t a bomb that was meant to kill. Considering there were two explosions, the power was relatively weak.”

Even if it was an amateurish homemade bomb, there were numerous methods to enhance its lethality. For instance, filling it with sharp iron nails… If such had been the scenario, he would now be returning to Helios in the confines of the luggage compartment aboard the royal train.

In essence…

…The purpose of this act of terror was a mere warning directed at the Chalonnéroyal family.

The assailant claimed to be Beatrice’s stalker and insisted on executing the act alone. However, considering their complete disregard for sparing anyone, it was evident that there must be someone orchestrating the operation from the shadows.

Princess Lariette narrowly escaped becoming a victim of that explosion as well.

What if he arrived even one minute late?

….

Just by imagining it, a chilling wave coursed through his veins, causing his blood to cool from the top of his head.

Being trained and prepared, he had the ability to swiftly lower his body to shield himself. However, if it had been the Princess caught in the blast… the injuries would undoubtedly be severe, and the trauma of witnessing such a horrifying scene, where a bomb detonated beneath her sister’s chair, would haunt her for the remainder of her life.

This kind-hearted princess, unable to bear the sight of even a single dog perishing, would willingly sacrifice her precious being. Moreover, she could still vividly recall an incident from long ago when she rescued a stray dog from a fountain…

“Um, Grand Duke…”

Cain responded with a calm glance at the call.

“How did you know there was a bomb?”

It was one of the questions she was most curious about.

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