Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 76.1
“I see.”
Tuesday.
After updating Jaha on my current health and finishing the check-up, the conversation drifted to small talk. When I mentioned that I would be moving from the mansion to the Grand Duke’s residence, Jaha nodded.
“It’s not always ideal to stay in one place.”
“Why is that?”
“Well…”
For a moment, Jaha fell silent. I couldn’t help but respond sharply.
“I was planning to live here for the rest of my life.”
“Rest of your life…?”
“Everything is here. Enfrise, Tambor, all the delicious food, and everything I want. Why would I want to leave?”
It was my own little heaven, and I liked it that way. Well, it didn’t really matter. Even if I left, Tambor and Enfrise would be there.
“Oh, and Jaha, too.”
I quickly added, hoping not to upset him, and Jaha widened his eyes. Then, he smiled with a playful grin.
“You’re including me as well?”
“Of course. Thanks to you, I’ve learned how to paint.”
“…Thank you, but your painting skills haven’t improved much.”
….
Ouch, did he really have to poke at that? My chest hurts. Unconsciously, I pressed my hand against my sternum, and Jaha frowned slightly.
“Is something hurting?”
“Jaha just punched my sternum.”
“Pardon?”
“Well, you get the idea.”
It seemed I had absolutely no artistic talent. Even when I was in my original body, it was the same, and unfortunately, nothing has changed with Chaperil’s body either. Or maybe it was because my soul was in this body now.
The more I thought about it, the more frustrated I felt.
I couldn’t even read, and I didn’t know how to do anything useful. I wasn’t even in an extra character’s body—I was in the main character’s body. And yet, the only thing I could do was overproduce magic when I was stressed?
This d*mned possession.
They could at least give me some skills. It was funny that I was complaining about it now, though.
“Well, in that case, I suppose I don’t need to come anymore.”
“Huh?”
“If the Magic Tower and the Church are involved, there are more skilled doctors than me who could examine Chaperil’s condition and continue the research. I wouldn’t have a reason to come.”
“What are you talking about?”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Narrowing my eyes, I asked him again.
“What am I supposed to do if Jaha disappears?”
“So, the Magic Tower or the Church…”
“What is Jaha’s role?”
“A doctor…?”
“A doctor, a painting teacher, and my counselor!”
It felt like I was getting psychological counseling every Tuesday and Saturday! Why was he trying to take my oasis away from me?!
“Am I… doing that many things?”
“Of course. When I talk to Jaha, I feel at ease. Do you know how uncomfortable I felt when talking to Lord Elmare?”
“Well, I do serve him as my lord…”
“Ah, right. Ahem. Well, what does it matter? Even the king gets criticized in places where no one listens.”
“The king…?”
Ah, that word wasn’t used here. What should I call it instead? If I said ‘Emperor,’ I’d probably get scolded.
“Um… I mean… the master?”
“Sometimes Chaperil uses such interesting words. Where did you learn that?”
From Korea.
Of course, he wouldn’t understand if I said that, so, um…
“It just slipped out.”
“I see.”
This was why I like Jaha.
Even if it was clearly a strange excuse, he didn’t press when it seemed like I didn’t want to talk about something. Instead, he listened to whatever I said. It may seem like he wasn’t paying attention, but I knew he was actually listening.
— Regarding the book you asked about earlier…
— Book?
— The last time I visited, you asked if there were any materials on Chaperil’s condition.
— Oh! Yes, I did ask.
— After that, I asked at the Imperial Library, the imperial archives, noble families I know, and the Academy. Unfortunately, they said there’s no material on it.
It was kind of like…
When you casually said, “Oh, that looks pretty,” and a year later, someone came up and said, “You said this was pretty, right?” and gave it to you. At first, it felt a little disappointing, but now, even though it looked like he wasn’t really paying attention, I knew he was actually listening properly, so I didn’t mind.
“From now on, the stress will probably increase a lot, and I’ll need Jaha more than ever.”
“If you leave here, you’ll be exposed to even more variety, though. You might even find it a waste of time to talk with me like this.”
“Being exposed to variety just means more stress. For example, meeting with other nobles.”
“Ah…”
Just thinking about it made my head ache.
In the world of the imperial family and high society, where people eagerly dig into others’ weaknesses and gossip, they’d surely notice that I’d changed compared to before, just from my behavior and words.
High society loves to pounce on others’ flaws, rip them apart, and revel in them. They might pull me into their gossip session.
Ugh, suddenly my head…
“Chaperil?”
“Just thinking about it makes my head throb.”
“It’s not good to stress yourself out by worrying already. Don’t worry, nothing bad will happen to you. Neither the Crown Prince nor Grand Duke would allow it.”
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