Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 78.1

The move wasn’t that difficult.

My things consisted of a few dresses that Tambor was making and three sets of accessories. When I tried to put Frii in the carrier, it resisted so much that we ended up agreeing to wrap it around my neck instead.

It really didn’t want to go in, but normally, Frii would stay briefly around my neck before coming down, but now it was different.

“Shh! Shh!“

It was still staring at the carrier, not moving an inch. Cute.

“Are you uncomfortable?”

“No, it’s fine. It’s just a little shaky.”

Honestly, it wasn’t bad at all. In stories, when the carriage hit a bump, it was often portrayed as a moment when the heroine accidentally fell into the hero’s arms. The reality, of course, was never as romantic.

Well, I could still be held even without such an accident, but the excitement that came from those little accidents was part of the fun.

“…I’ll be by your side as much as possible in the mansion, but if anything happens, you must tell me right away.”

“What kind of thing?”

“It doesn’t matter what. Anything that made Chaperil feel uncomfortable or displeased.”

“Of course. Don’t you know my personality?”

I was tired of holding back and suppressing what I didn’t like. I was tired of having to watch my every move around others.

I never had to do that, but for some reason, I wasn’t planning to.

“That’s right.”

Enfrise smiled softly and reached for the cage. Sherry came closer and pecked his finger with its beak.

“Sherry is well-behaved.”

“It doesn’t fly well even when out of the cage. It only moves around when using its alert function; the rest of the time, it just sits on its perch.”

‘You’re a homebody, aren’t you, Sherry? Or should I say homebird?’

I wondered what gender it was.

“It’s like me.”

“Is that so?”

Enfrise looked back and forth between me and Sherry and chuckled. Then he uttered.

“Sherry seems to be better behaved than Chaperil.”

‘…This guy?!’

When did he start praising someone else compared to me?!

“…Also better than Enfrise…”

What’s better?

What’s there?

Hmm…

“…Better than Enfrise…”

Food? No matter what, you couldn’t compare eating with a person. It could do without food, but Enfrise was a different story. Frii? Frii was definitely cute and lovable, but Enfrise was handsome, charming, cute, lovable, and sexy…

I thought for a while but couldn’t come up with anything better than him.

Enfrise smiled and then cupped my cheek. He pressed his thumb to my lips and whispered.

“I still like that kind of Chaperil. The most in the world.”

….

Hmm. Well, if that was the case…

“Enfrise.”

“Yes?”

“I’ve been thinking carefully. Is there anything better than Enfrise?”

“…Yes.”

His expression darkened slightly. Why couldn’t he see the reason I was saying this?

‘This guy is so oblivious!’

“No matter how much I think about it, there’s nothing better than Enfrise.”

“….”

Ah, he was blushing.

Recently, when we had physical contact, he would become more sultry than blushing. This cuteness was a nice change.

“And I’m sure it will always be that way.”

I whispered that in a soft voice, and his thumb, which had been resting on my lips, trembled slightly. It moved gently, and then Enfrise, with a face that looked like he might cry, asked me.

“Chaperil, would it be alright if I kissed you?”

Instead of answering, I closed my eyes and puckered my lips. His rough finger then brushed across my lips as if confirming where they would meet.

And then came the soft sensation.

And then…

“Ppi—!“

Frii’s headbutt.

“….”

Startled by Frii’s voice, I opened my eyes to find Enfrise, who was a little farther away, looked dazed. We stared at each other, and then…

“…Ha.”

We both let out a laugh mixed with a sigh.

* * *

“Welcome, Your Highness.”

“Welcome.”

As we arrived at the mansion, the people waiting outside greeted us with polite bows. I knew how high the title of Grand Duke was, but it really hit me now. So, I had to pass through all these dozens of people, right?

This felt like torture. This was such a challenge for someone as introverted as me.

“It’s fine. I’m here with you.”

Enfrise whispered that before stepping down from the carriage. He then extended his hand toward me.

…Hoo.

I took a deep breath, grabbed his hand, and stepped out of the carriage…

My…

“….!”

I’ve hardly ever worn a long skirt. Even the last time I went out on a boat, I was either on a horse or almost carried by Enfrise, so my feet barely touched the ground. Now I get why noblewomen in stories lift their skirts while walking.

As I was thinking that, my body unexpectedly lurched forward. Enfrise easily caught my body and set me down on the ground.

“Are you okay?”

“…Yes.”

Well, I expected this.

Still, the sensation of nearly tripping on my skirt never quite goes away. My heart, belatedly realizing what happened, starts pounding.

Was this what they meant by the wobbly legs effect?!

Still holding Enfrise’s hand tightly, I lifted my skirt with my other hand. He chuckled softly and then took my hand in his, holding it tightly.