Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 60.1

Go, Frii!

I untangled Frii from around my neck and thrust it right in front of Enfrise’s face. As soon as the cute, white fluffball appeared, Enfrise was at a loss for words. Frii glared at him with a scowl, looking as if it might scratch at any moment.

…Hmm.

So, cute plus cute resulted in super cute, huh? This must be what they meant.

…No, this wasn’t the time for that!

“Please, just listen to me.”

“…Alright.”

Enfrise nodded obediently as if under a spell. Indeed, the magic of cuteness worked everywhere. Good job, Frii!

I put Frii back around my neck and gently patted its head.

“For now, I wasn’t dragged out against my will. I went out because I wanted to, um… spend time with the Grand Duke.”

Saying I was lured by a sandwich would make it sound…

…Like it would diminish my dignity as the female lead and as a person.

“And even if the Grand Duke hadn’t mentioned it, I might have begged you eventually.”

This was partly a lie.

If left to my own devices, I’d probably stay inside this mansion all the time. To be precise, almost exclusively in my room. I’m sure I could live in my room 90% of the time. Actually, I thought 95% was possible.

“The reason I was so angry was… well, seeing someone die right in front of me definitely had an impact.”

It was a brutal scene.

Enfrise’s sword skills must have been good to end it there. If there had been a prolonged battle, it might have been an even more horrific sight. But that alone was shocking enough for me, who had lived in a world so detached from such things.

But more than that…

“It wasn’t just that. After losing my memory, I was spending every day feeling detached from reality.”

Although it was more of a book world, in my mind, but there was no need to mention that.

“Then, I woke up in a strange situation, and suddenly, a very handsome man appeared and started talking to me. And I didn’t even remember anything. None of it felt real.”

Enfrise listened quietly to my story. He was now meeting my gaze properly, unlike the past few days when he had been avoiding it.

“But seeing someone die right in front of me… it suddenly made everything feel real. I realized I could end up like that if my magical power went haywire. It wasn’t just about feeling feverish; I could actually die. That’s what scared me and made me feel so heated.”

In an instant, fear surged up my spine. For no apparent reason, it came on suddenly.

I clung to Enfrise’s waist like a lifeline.

The warmth and firmness I felt from his body helped calm me down. Since I was already hugging him, I leaned my face against him. Then, Enfrise’s arms, which had been hanging limp, slowly rose. He tightened his embrace around my shoulders.

“It’s because of me.”

“No, it’s because I didn’t think deeply enough. It’s my own fault.”

Was it guilt that made me trouble him? I hoped what I was saying now helped in some way… I hoped it prevented him from pushing me away.

“If the Grand Duke hadn’t been here, I might not have been able to endure it.”

“That’s…”

It wasn’t just about kissing. If Enfrise weren’t here… I certainly wouldn’t have even considered doing something like that myself.

“I like the Grand Duke.”

“Chaperil….”

His grip on my shoulders tightened. I could feel Frii, who had been nestled around my neck, scurrying down my body. Maybe it was uncomfortable.

It slipped out through the slightly open door of the study that I hadn’t closed completely.

I hesitated between the urge to chase after it and the need to finish this conversation properly but decided to trust Frii’s intelligence. It often went off to catch mice on its own, so I was sure it could return to the room properly.

However, Enfrise might misunderstand again if I just leave like this.

“I’m not just saying this casually like before. Back then, I liked you as a person, and… I’m a fa—”

Wait a minute. Is there even a word for ‘fan’ in romance fantasy? I needed to find a better way to express this…

Come on, think quickly, you foolish head!

“A very, very deep affection for you that’s almost like an expression of unwavering faith!”

What was I even saying?

I didn’t know either. My brain was fried. Well, this was how things ended up in this mess. Ha, it couldn’t be helped. This was my limit.

“But what I mean by liking you now is a bit different.”

“How… is it different?”

I could sense both anticipation and resignation in Enfrise’s words. I wondered…

Could I fulfill his expectations?

“I want to know more about the Grand Duke.”

“…What would you like to know?”

“It’s not about specific things. I want to know everything about the Grand Duke. I want to hear stories about the Grand Duke’s childhood, see what the Grand Duke was like when you were younger, know what the Grand Duke likes and dislikes, and understand what the Grand Duke is thinking. I want to know what it means to you when you suppress something while looking at me.”