The Cold-Hearted Grand Duke Obsesses Over Me After My Death - Chapter 97

Chapter 97. Someone I’ll Divorce, But (2)

“We’ve arrived.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

After arriving at the villa near the river, Emilia dismounted skillfully, and Lina got down with the help of her escort knight, Jack.

“Shall we have tea on the terrace?”

Emilia said as she walked into the villa. There was a terrace on the side overlooking the river. But when she didn’t hear Lina following, she stopped as well.

“May we look from closer up? I don’t get to come here often.”

When Emilia turned back with a questioning look, Lina pointed toward the riverside with an earnest expression.

“Alright.”

A moment later, the two sat at a table set by the riverside and looked out at the scenery.

A gentle breeze brushed past their faces. It was the wind that had been carrying the scent of autumn flowers over the past few days.

‘Mm, this is nice.’

Emilia truly liked the scenery of the Aiden River. Although it was uncomfortable being with Lina, the weather and the view were still at their best.

“It’s truly beautiful. It’s far more beautiful than what I heard.”

Lina said in admiration as she looked at the wide river. Under the sky tinged with red by the sunset, the river flowing calmly looked like a famous painting brought to life.

“It is beautiful.”

Louid didn’t often invite people to the grand ducal manor, and the villa wasn’t a place just anyone could enter, so Emilia wondered who Lina had heard about it from, but she didn’t ask in detail. She would be leaving this place soon anyway, so there was no need to know such things deeply.

Still, the thought of having to leave made her feel sad.

Why am I like this? I wasn’t like this before.

Emilia’s face turned bitter as she looked at the river.

“Is it possible to ride a boat on the river?” Lina asked, setting down her teacup and pointing at the small boat by the dock.

“It is, but why do you ask?” Emilia replied with a puzzled expression.

“I’d like to ride a boat on those beautiful waves. It feels like it would be as comforting as being in my mother’s arms. Your Highness can stay here. I’ll go alone and come back.”

“Alone? Do you know how to row?” Emilia asked in surprise. She had wanted to ride a boat on the Aiden River before as well, but she couldn’t because she didn’t know how to row. She could ask the knights, but she didn’t want to trouble them.

“Yes, I often ride on the lake at my residence. My arms are stronger than they look.”

Lina smiled and lifted both arms.

“I’ll call the guards.”

“That’s not necessary. The water is calm, so it won’t be dangerous.”

Usually, the wind picked up a little more at sunset, but today the current wasn’t strong and the weather was calm without even a breeze. Emilia was about to call Jamie, who was watching them from a distance, but stopped.

“Then I’ll go with you.”

She couldn’t let a guest ride alone.

“Will you?” Lina replied with a bright expression.

She had never ridden a boat before, but since Lina said she could row, it seemed fine to go together. And with the knights watching from nearby, nothing would happen.

“Come this way.”

Emilia headed toward the dock together with Lina. Upon reaching the dock, Lina deftly untied the rope and stepped onto the boat.

She’s good?

It was unfamiliar and surprising to see a noble lady, who was always elegant and even prim, undoing a rope herself. Emilia watched with wide eyes.

“I’ll help you up, Your Highness.”

Having finished preparing to depart, Lina held out her hand. After a brief hesitation, Emilia took her hand and stepped onto the boat.

“Her Highness is getting on the boat?”

Deo, the escort knight watching Emilia with Jamie, muttered. He was the same age as Jamie and a knight who had come from the grand ducal castle with him.

“I see. She didn’t say anything, so let’s just watch. She’ll call us if she needs us.”

“Alright.”

Jamie knew that Emilia had looked back at them just a moment ago. Even so, the fact that she didn’t call them likely meant she didn’t need their help.

The two women, now on the boat, sat facing each other and drifted over the calm water. The marquess’s daughter rowed skillfully.

“She’s done this a lot,” Jamie murmured with a relieved expression.

“Seems so.”

“Just in case, I’ll go get towels,” Jamie said.

The riverside villa was used for enjoying the scenery while drinking water or tea, so there were no spare clothes prepared. In case river water splashed and their clothes got wet, it seemed best to go to the grand ducal manor and bring extra clothes and towels.

When they left the manor, he hadn’t expected Her Highness and the marquess’s daughter to ride a boat, so he regretted not preparing clothes and towels in advance.

“Alright, go quickly.”

Mounting his horse, Jamie rode swiftly toward the grand ducal manor. It was a distance he could cover quickly at full speed.

After Jamie left, Deo stared toward the river without even blinking.

“Sir Knight.”

At that moment, a voice called out to him from behind.

“What is it?”

Turning around, he saw the marquess’s escort knight calling him.

“The two horses tied over there are gone. Her Highness’s and Lady Lina’s horses.”

“What did you say?”

“I think we should find them quickly before they run too far,” Jack said with an urgent expression.

Her Highness cherished her horse Zelda very much. It would be troublesome if it ran into the forest as it would soon grow dark.

‘Jamie will be back soon.’

Deo glanced toward the river again. Her Highness and the marquess’s daughter were sitting calmly on the boat. The water was still and the weather was clear, so it didn’t seem like anything would happen. Turning away, he followed Jack to look for the horses.

As Emilia looked at the riverside scenery, her gaze drifted to the distant sky.

‘It’s ruby-colored.’

Seeing the blazing red sunset made her think of Louid’s eyes.

He should be on his way back from the imperial palace by now, right? I want to go meet him….

She felt a little regretful about pretending to be asleep yesterday even when he called her, saying he brought wine.

There wasn’t much time left for them to be together, yet it felt like she’d acted petulant for no reason, and she felt sorry.

I should have a drink with Louid today. He seems to like cheese, so maybe I’ll make canapés by putting cheese on cookies….

“Ah, what do we do?”

Her thoughts didn’t last long. Lina suddenly stood up and began to shake the boat.

“Why? What’s wrong, young lady?”

Emilia, who had instinctively grabbed the edge of the boat with both hands, asked Lina with a flustered expression.

“I dropped the oar.”

“Even so, if you just stand up like that, the balance… Ahhh!”

At that moment, the boat flipped over and the two of them fell into the river together.

***

Louid looked closely at the young man sitting across from him.

“Lucian, I heard you came of age this year?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“When is your birthday?”

“January 25.”

At Damian’s answer, one of Louid’s eyebrows lifted slightly.

The same birthday as Emilia. A face that resembled Emilia, and even the same age and birthday. It was quite a peculiar coincidence.

“Where are you from?”

“I’m from the County of Norman. I worked making wine in the County of Dalton before becoming Count Asher’s aide.”

“And your family?”

“My parents have both passed away, and I have no siblings.”

Damian answered his questions sincerely. Louid liked his polite attitude.

“She has great interest in wine, so teach her well.”

“Yes, understood.”

Until they arrived at the grand ducal manor, Louid occasionally glanced at Damian with a thoughtful expression. Unaware of his gaze, Damian sat upright with his mouth closed, though there was a hint of excitement on his face.

Late that afternoon, a large black carriage stopped in front of the main building of the grand ducal manor.

“You’ve returned, Your Highness.”

Kevin, who had been waiting in the lobby, greeted him politely.

“Hmm. Nothing unusual? This man is Count Dalton’s aide.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir. I am Kevin, the head butler of the grand ducal manor.”

At the middle-aged gentleman’s polite greeting, Damian looked surprised, bowed his head, and returned the greeting.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lucian.”

“Is she in the bedroom?” Louid asked as he passed Kevin. His body was already heading toward the stairs.

“Her Highness went to see the Aiden River with Lady Carrion.”

“The river? Just the two of them?”

“Yes. Lady Carrion asked to see the river, so they went together.”

“Hmm. Go with Kevin. If you tell my aide, he’ll give you the documents,” Louid said, looking back at Damian.

“Yes, understood.”

“Kevin, take Lucian to Eddie’s office.”

“Yes, understood.”

Turning on his heel, Louid went to the stables, mounted Blian, and headed toward the Aiden River. Before long, he ran into Jamie.

“Your Highness.”

Jamie stopped his horse and saluted him.

“Where are you going in such a hurry?”

“Her Highness is on a boat with Lady Carrion, so I’m on my way to get spare clothes and towels. Deo is guarding the riverbank.”

“I see. Hurry back.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Louid urged his horse forward again.

A boat, of all things.

He had a bad feeling.

“Ahhh—!”

Just as he was about to reach the river, a woman’s sharp scream rang faintly in his ears.

Louid drove his horse at full speed toward the river.