My Dear Grand Duke on a Leash - Chapter 9
Chapter 5.1 — Princess Wedding (7)
Before Lariette was about to face the biggest crisis of her twenty years of life…
“Your Highness, it’s said that Princess Chalonné departed from the main palace.”
The attendant put the receiver down on the old-fashioned wall-mounted phone.
Narkissis didn’t even respond, as if he were an answering machine. It was Grand Duke Acheron who gave the signal that he had heard it, even if it was just with a wink of his eyes.
Because the Prince used the palace as his home whenever he came to Chalonné, the drawing room at the villa was decorated to his liking, and the gilded wooden and leather interior wasn’t like a royal parlor but a social club for members of upper-class gentlemen.
Narkissis let out a languid smile as he stretched out on the sofa.
“Do you know what the specialties of the Kingdom of Chalonné, Cain?”
He brazenly continued to speak to his cousin’s broad back, who didn’t give a single reply.
“It’s women. Among them, the Princess is the best. In terms of appearance alone, Chalonné Venus is the overwhelming winner, and although compared to her older sister, her appearance is modest, Lariette is coveted…”
“Your Highness Narkissis.”
“….”
Narkissis reflexively shut his mouth at the obvious name that flowed out from his mouth. He was only called by name, but he was overwhelmed by his emotions. Realizing the fact, he hid his agitated expression and held a pipe in his mouth.
“…If Beatrice had seduced His Majesty with that face, she would be my mother of the same age now. At this point, it’s evident that the Princess of the Kingdom of Chalonné is more innocent than the maidens of Helios. That’s why I like Chalonné.”
“Your Highness.”
“Why?”
“It smells bad.”
Cain stared at the prince with cold blue eyes as the smell of cigarettes permeating through the fibers of his shirt. He hated the gritty fumes that stung his nose.
“Prior to the reign of the Crown Prince, protect your human dignity first. The smell of the Helios royal family can’t leave a disgrace on the front page of a foreign newspaper.”
The attendant gasped, frightened.
What he was saying was indicating that the Prince’s human dignity stinked.
Grand Duke Acheron was always like this. His outward manners were impeccably polite, but he never had the temper to be considerate of other people’s feelings or flexibly lower his manners depending on the situation.
As the atmosphere between the two was so frightening that no one dared to intervene, the attendant swallowed nervously, unable to do anything.
Narkissis, who was staring at him, let out a laugh.
“You’re not in a position to mention reporters to me. I guess you can’t see things well after sticking with my twin sister for a long time. Oh, of course, politically.”
Cain got up from his seat, spilling those words behind his ears.
It was because it would be a waste of time to answer back.
The servant’s lips dried up at the gesture, which was more explicit than words. How could he always be so calm when anyone’s body would go numb at the terrifying anger welling up in the Prince’s red eyes?
In fact, both the attendant and Narkissis knew the answer.
It was because he was the Grand Duke of Acheron.
A family of contributors to the founding of the Millennium Empire, Helios, who defended the northern border during the war and now became a real power of the empire by taking over the military, steel companies, scholarships, and financial reign.
If it weren’t for Cain, Narkissis would have been the most brilliant royal blood among men his age.
“I didn’t say it was okay to get up, Grand Duke.”
“My lord is the Emperor of Helios, not Your Highness. Be qualified to give orders to me first.”
Kaisaros Acheron.
Every time he faced him, Narkissis’ stomach twisted with displeasure. Every time he received that rigid stare, he was overwhelmed with a sense of intimidation, like an incompetent general who faced an iron fortress on the way back… as always for twenty-five years.
As he approached the door in an instant with his tall, cool stride, Cain put on the suit jacket handed to him by the attendant and left the drawing room without hesitation.
Narkissis, who was about to spit out curse words, witnessed his familiar figure through the crack of the open door.
Compared to her older sister, her silhouette was quite plain but it had a very lovely side.
It was Lariette de Chalonné.
He was going to let them run into each other sooner or later, but it seemed that he was lucky.
On the other hand, Cain, still unaware of the schemes going on in his cousin’s sly mind, left the drawing room and shut the door. And at the same time, he paused his stride. It was because a small, fragile woman stopped his steps out of nowhere.
Did they say that Princess Chalonné was on her way to see His Highness?
‘If so, this person is…’
The round wheat-colored crown and green eyes were the first things he saw.
Pearl earrings, an ivory-tailored coat, silk gloves, and a skirt with a straight hem to a blouse… looking at the simple yet high-quality fabrics unique to the upper class rather than the flashy styles that were popular in the middle class, her status seemed to match that of a princess.
Venus of Chalonné.
It wasn’t an exaggerated title.
Cain was genuinely admiring her.
The Princess was as beautiful as a garden fairy born from dew. Like paint spread in water, only she was a clear oil painting in the midst of the blurry landscape. He didn’t even realize that the afternoon sunlight reflected on the marble tiles made the atmosphere around her seem brighter as well.
Did they say she was marrying a commoner with this mythical beauty? What a great man he would be.
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