Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 59.1

Hmm… Enfrise was acting strangely again.

“Frii, why is Enfrise acting like this?”

It was different from before, when he would avoid me out of embarrassment or because he couldn’t control his impulses. There was a certain firmness to him now.

Still, he didn’t make eye contact.

Even if our eyes met, he quickly looked away. He didn’t seem flustered or embarrassed; instead, he finished what he was saying calmly. The skinship that had become common recently had also decreased. He used to give me back hugs while teaching me letters, though he wouldn’t do that anymore.

This change started right after that night.

The night I seduced Enfrise.

“…Could he be sulking?”

If that were the case, it would likely show on his face or in his actions. Was he angry? Because I fell asleep alone after seducing him? Still, Tambor said Enfrise stayed in my room until dawn that night. If he were upset, it would probably show on his face.

So, what was it? Why was he suddenly distancing himself from me?

Could it be…

“Is he upset…?”

Enfrise had already tasted the thrill of secrecy and the joy of kissing Chaperil for the first time. Did my overly aggressive approach make him lose interest?

Could affection really fade just because of that? Wasn’t that a bit much? But thinking about it, it was quite common in possession stories for the original characters’ feelings or behaviors to change. Maybe my actions weren’t quite like Chaperil’s, causing his feelings to cool…

If that was the case, it made sense why he seems so indifferent now. It would mean he has no real feelings left for me.

“…Frii.”

“Ppi?”

“Is it true that unchanging feelings don’t exist?”

When a novel became reality, did it always end up like this? I wish I had read more of the original story. If I had, I might know how Chaperil acted, what she said… and why Enfrise’s feelings didn’t change.

Maybe this wouldn’t have happened.

“…Well.”

I tapped Frii’s nose with my fingertip. Frii flapped around and wiped its face with its little hands. I smiled at its cuteness and flopped down with a sigh.

“Lies always come to light in the end.”

No matter how hard I struggled, I could never truly imitate Chaperil.

The flower of high society. The saint. Chaperil was undoubtedly a lovely person. The appearance of a character reflects their personality, after all.

She must have been as beautiful and lovely as people described.

Even if I have taken her place and body, the essence of who I am remains. It was only natural that things would turn out this way. But somehow, Enfrise misunderstood and felt I was similar to the old Chaperil. That’s why our relationship has continued so far.

However… now that I’ve taken the initiative, he’s probably become disillusioned. He might think I was dirty or disgusting.

“Still, Enfrise… won’t just abandon me, right?”

Enfrise was kind and gentle. He would likely feel guilty about his cooling feelings and would try to treat me well. However, once my situation was resolved, he would likely send me away… under the pretense of letting Chaperil go freely.

To me, that would be the beginning of hell.

“Well, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

For now, or at least until I find a way to survive, I should be grateful that he was letting me stay here. Though, I wasn’t sure.

Could I endure it?

For the first time, I gave my heart. I was closer to Enfrise than the friends I kept at a distance, who would offer help but were pushed away because I didn’t want to be a burden. With him, I could ask for anything and be spoiled. I could speak freely without suppressing my feelings.

It was the first time I had ever told someone everything about me.

Would I ever meet someone like that again in my dream? Probably not. This might be the punishment for my greed.

“I was best at being quiet… just existing.”

Without being greedy, existing as if I wasn’t there and believing that I wasn’t truly part of this place and that I had somewhere else to go someday.

I was best at being there quietly.

…But my greed grew.

Enfrise and I were the same.

It was fine when I didn’t know. When I didn’t dream of such happiness because I didn’t know it existed in this world. Of course, I’ve seen it often in novels, comics, and dramas, but that was all fictional, right? It was the story of the main characters.

My life, not of a main character, was definitely one that barely appeared on the edges of the screen, like an extra, and then disappeared. But now, I’ve become the lead. I’ve discovered what it was like to be a lead. I’ve realized that such happiness exists in this world.

I wanted more, more.

Was it wrong to desire that? Was it just me?

“It must have been wrong.”

Not being satisfied with an extra’s life, wanting to escape from it. Being thrilled by the happiness in my hands and wielding it recklessly.