My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 5

Chapter 3.1 — Princess Wedding (3)

There was nothing but the scenery of an empty detached castle in her sight.

Lariette captured the scenery of the palace, the pride of Chalonné as if appreciating it.

While the detached palace was more simple than the main palace, it was an elegant structure that fully utilized the atmosphere of Chalonné, where the weather was mild. A row of regularly arched windows let sunlight in diagonally onto the floor, and ivory-colored cushions were placed on all bay windows so that guests could rest at any time.

In addition, in the hallway between the windows, seasonal flowers were placed for each season so that a delicate scent always flowed.

…Did he really mistake her for her sister…?

Riette turned her gaze back and looked straight ahead.

“Are you the Grand Duke of Acheron? I’m Lariette de Chalonné. Princess Beatrice, who is getting married next week, is my older sister.”

As she smiled brightly, a fine crack appeared on his iron mask-like face, as his light blue eyes flickered for a moment. It was rather strange to see that expression on a wooden face as if embossed on a stone wall.

The man in front of her bent his large upper body without hesitation.

“I’ve committed a great disrespect, Princess Lariette.”

When Riette smiled lightly and tilted her head, her plentiful wheat-colored ponytails fluttered down, and she opened her mouth.

“No. Maybe it’s because you’re an imperial aristocrat, so your speech skills are amazing. It made me feel good to hear that you mistook me for my older sister. Thank you!”

As expected, even a man like this in the social world of a big country has a different level of speaking skill. She knew very well that she was pretty and cute in her own way, and that she was nothing compared to her older sister.

“No, it’s my fault. I sincerely apologize.”

Riette blinked at the sincere apology and looked at the back of his bowed head.

He… sincerely apologized.

Of course, the name mistake was a considerable disrespect. After all, it was a socialite style of speech, usually used to deliberately express hostility. Still, what was the point of going so far with a foreign grand duke whom she saw for the first time today?

Moreover, wasn’t it a good thing that she got confused with her sister and not with someone else? The noble ladies of the Empire would be proud if someone told them that they thought they were Princess Beatrice. Her sister was just as much an icon around the world. Besides, even if it wasn’t the case. If he was pretending to say that, he could just move on without bothering to bow his head and apologize to her like this.

The Grand Duke was truly a man of integrity.

“If you go that far, it’s all right. We can make enough mistakes in our first meeting, so let’s just move on.”

When Riette replied, the Grand Duke finally took a step back and opened the door. It was a natural movement, as if manners were ingrained in his body.

“Thank you for opening it for me.”

“It’s the right thing for me to do.”

It was a perfect but polite cut-off, leaving no room for even a single word to drag the conversation further. Rather than a gentleman in the age of civilization, he had the attitude of a knight long ago in a time of rampant warfare.

‘It isn’t particularly bad.’

Wouldn’t that mean that he respected the royal family of Chalonné as the Grand Duke of the empire? That was enough. Regardless, there was no need to be personally friendly.

Riette lightly nodded her head in response and entered the drawing room.

Even so.

‘Princess Beatrice is said to be the Venus of Chalonné… then, this must be Princess Lariette.’

That was usually the reaction of anyone she met in Riette’s entire life.

…For him to mistake her for her sister.

It was a little amusing.

˚ ·: * ✧ * :· ˚

“Hello, sweet Lariette. It’s been five years, but you’re still the same.”

A languid voice dispersed like fog in the drawing room.

Narkissis Nero Everto Helios.

Excluding his twin sister, the princess, he was the only remaining imperial descendant of the Helios Empire.

He was the most noble guest of all.

His noble blond hair glistened softly in the midday sun that came through the window. Along with his red eyes that were like jewels, his white, smooth skin was shiny like pearls. The sofa with gold-rimmed and bleached ivory-colored leather seats harmonized perfectly with his languid figure and his shirt undone. Perhaps because of the bright red apple in his hand, he even looked oddly coloured.

As someone had said, he looked like an ancient god who drove a golden chariot holding the sun.

Riette was the only woman under the sky who wasn’t impressed by his enchanting beauty. Perhaps, it was the virtue of living together with her older sister, who was born with the title of Venus of Chalonné, for twenty years.

“Are you teasing me about my height again, Your Highness Narkissis?”

She asked playfully and took a seat across from him.

Since they had known each other for fifteen years, they were still quite close and Riette was quite proud of it. In the popular expression, was he like a close brother? Or would it be more accurate to call him her sister’s friend?

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