Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke! - Chapter 79.1
“Ugh, this is so annoying!”
Unable to hold back the rising anger, I threw myself onto the bed. I tried to straighten out the tangled blankets in frustration, kicking at the air a few times in a huff.
“Ppi?“
Frii, seemingly noticing something was off, stood a little further away, watching me with its two legs. When I reached out my hand, Frii scurried over and climbed up my arm.
“Frii! I don’t have enough Enfrise!”
I hadn’t realized it until now.
I didn’t know I had become this addicted to Enfrise! Back when we were in the small mansion, we were always together, reading books, eating snacks, and living a cozy, fun life. But now that we’ve moved to this huge mansion, I was like this.
I didn’t know there could be such difficulty!
“My back is cold! I can’t even read! Everything’s boring!”
We couldn’t even chat like we used to. We were always hugging, but now that I was alone, I felt like my bones were freezing.
It was like the saying that you didn’t notice the space someone fills until they left. It was exactly that. It was as if someone’s presence quietly seeped in, and now that they were gone, I couldn’t stand the emptiness.
Tambor brought over the finished dress and displayed it for me, but I was indifferent.
“Should I go meet him? But how do I even know where he is?”
It seemed like Enfrise had been gathering information, keeping an eye out, and lobbying for me here and there. I knew it was all for me.
But, I wondered… was this really for me?
That thought crossed my mind for a moment. This must be why the male and female leads in novels fought, misunderstood, and failed to understand each other. No matter how honestly you speak, some things just don’t get through. Or even if they do, there were things that couldn’t be accepted.
Enfrise didn’t know my past, and he couldn’t understand why I considered that little mansion a paradise. Even if he knew about my past, he probably still wouldn’t get it.
I also didn’t understand Enfrise.
Why did he insist on disrupting our happy times like this? Taking me out of that place, making me meet others, just in case I might leave him?
Surely, that wasn’t his goal.
“Frii, do you know where Enfrise is?”
“Ppi?“
Frii, sniffing and checking my scent, tilted its head. With its long body, it looked like a question mark. Come to think of it, I haven’t used it in a while, but Frii also has a communication feature.
Should I try it?
“…But, won’t I be a bother?”
“Ppi?“
The things I used to not worry about when we were alone started to bother me. This was exactly why I didn’t want to leave there.
…Ha.
There was no point in complaining forever. Ultimately, it was my decision to leave that place, and I promised myself I’d do my best here.
“First, I’ll call Tambor and ask about Enfrise’s schedule. That’s probably better.”
I decided on that and started to sit up, about to pull the string when—
“Chaperil, may I come in?”
The voice I’d been waiting for.
Just a moment ago, I was slouching, but now I immediately stood up and ran toward the door. Instead of answering, I flung the door open.
There stood Enfrise, looking at me with wide eyes as if surprised.
“Chaperil…?”
“Why are you just now here?!”
I had just promised myself that I’d do my best, but seeing Enfrise’s face, all that came out were words full of frustration. The next moment, I grabbed his waist tightly, and he paused for a moment before returning the hug.
“I’m sorry for leaving you alone.”
He knew what he did wrong.
Leaving me alone in this unfamiliar place, surrounded by unfamiliar people! I knew it wasn’t intentional, but still!
“Uh… Chaperil? There’s a guest.”
…Huh? A guest?
I came back to my senses and looked up.
A man, smiling awkwardly, was standing there, looking at me. He was a middle-aged man dressed like a scholar with large round glasses. He looked like something from a book.
He was handsome, too.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Lady Rivette. I’m Garham, a teacher of barrier magic at the Magic Tower.”
….
Oh, no. This wasn’t the time to be thinking he was handsome. Okay, calm down. It was fine. This was something that could easily happen between lovers, right? Enfrise must have brought him here because he knew a little about our situation.
Stay calm.
I loosened the arm I had wrapped around Enfrise’s waist.
I had changed clothes after Frii squished the peach earlier this morning, so my outfit wasn’t an issue. My hair might be a bit messy from earlier when I was struggling on the bed, but my hair was so soft that it probably didn’t look too bad.
‘It’s fine. Stay composed.’
Repeating this to myself, I made sure to give a light curtsy, just like I’d seen in books.
“It’s an honor to meet you, Garham… Sir?”
Oh, wait. I didn’t think of the proper title.
Unsure, I glanced at Enfrise, and he gave a small, amused smile and nodded slightly.