The Past Life of the Arrogant Archduke - Chapter 29

Whether they wanted it or not, time passed, and at last, the month Raymond had promised the butler arrived.

Because he had been absent from his position for a whole month, he was expected to be busy for the foreseeable future. Even today, there were several major events lined up in succession.

In the morning, he would receive the imperial family’s congratulatory delegation for becoming a Sword Master. At lunch, he had to attend the vassals’ banquet for an official introduction. In the evening, Raymond was scheduled to be at the knights’ training grounds, while Yulia had to learn about the administration of the grand ducal estate from the butler in the Grand Duchess’s study.

Bustling. The couple’s bedroom became crowded with many people.

Normally, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess would each go to their own dressing rooms to get ready, but because Raymond wanted to spend even a little more time with Yulia, all the attendants were gathered into their joint bedroom instead.

As Yulia shared tea and chatted with Sophie, the nanny whom she was meeting again after a month, there were no traces of the kiss marks Raymond had persistently left on her body. Yulia had erased them all with holy water, saying she was too embarrassed to show them to others.

However, Raymond left the kiss mark on his own left collarbone—the one Yulia would renew whenever she had the chance—completely as it was. He wanted the whole world to know that he belonged to Yulia.

Whenever she found the chance, Yulia tried to erase the mark on Raymond’s collarbone with holy water, but Raymond had no trouble defending it.

Raymond’s will was reflected in the outfit designs as well.

Remembering that Yulia said corsets were uncomfortable, he arranged for her to have a comfortable yet beautiful dress without a corset, while Raymond’s own outfit was designed with the collar daringly open, emphasizing his wild charm.

Incidentally, Yulia’s measurements had been carefully taken and relayed by Raymond himself, using the Sword Master’s sharp eyesight and sense of touch.

During the month that Yulia stayed in the bridal chamber, countless couple’s outfits were made for Raymond and Yulia, filling up the Grand Duchess’s dressing room.

Today, in order to display the authority of the grand ducal couple, they dressed in deep purple. With her black hair styled up and adorned with jewels, Yulia’s pale nape of the neck especially caught Raymond’s eye.

Raymond was conflicted.

‘I want to cover up that neck. No, I want to keep looking at it. I want to cover it up. Isn’t it cut too low? No, it suits her so well. But still, I want to cover it. I want to be the only one who sees it!’

After spending time with Yulia, the curse-like aversion to women that Raymond had harbored seemed to melt away.

Instead, distrust and suspicion toward other men began to grow inside him like poisonous mushrooms.

Such was the fate of a man who had taken an exceptionally beautiful woman as his wife.

Over the past month of improving the Grand Duke’s appearance, the Grand Duke’s attendants realized how deep his love for the Grand Duchess was, and so they did not dare glance at the Grand Duchess, even out of the corner of their eyes.

They knew all too well how frightening a jealous man in love could be. And this man was not only the Grand Duke of the North but also a Sword Master, so there was no harm in being cautious.

Seeing the Grand Duke’s fiery gaze fixed on his wife, the lady’s maids and handmaids in charge of the Grand Duchess did their utmost not to block their lady from their lord’s view.

‘The Grand Duke comes every night to get pampered, trying to look good for her! Just treat the Madam well, no matter what.’

Even without such whispers from the Grand Duke’s personal attendants, his extreme love for his wife was already known throughout the North. What other high-ranking noble would spend a whole month in the bridal chamber after marriage?

And then there was the story from the knight commander about how the Grand Duke became a Sword Master after meeting the Madam, or that the Grand Duke called the Madam ‘Master’ and bathed her himself.

There was no reason not to devote one’s loyalty to the Madam.

“But didn’t the Grand Duke look really unhappy at the wedding? His gaze looked more like he was staring at an enemy than someone he loved…”

“You felt that too, right? Isn’t it strange for someone famous for hating women to suddenly fall in love at first sight?”

Those attendants who carelessly ran their mouths disappeared without a trace.