Escaping the Archduke of the North’s Obsession - Chapter 77-2

“You knew about it, but you didn’t do anything?”

“Did the popularity vote offend you, Your Highness?”

“No. I just don’t like that event to happen in Rubella Castle. It might make the other knights feel bad if they weren’t chosen.”

“Everyone is having fun, Your Highness. I expected a lot of knights will be nominated for—-”

Marc quickly shut his mouth when Duke Kyar’s fierce gaze landed on him.

“Yes, I will tell the maidservant not to hold such an  event again.”

Duke Kyar examined his documents again in silence.

“Then I’ll be on my way, Your Highness,” Marc spoke cautiously while stealing glances at his expression.

“Evan won first place this time, right?”

Marc was about to reach for the door, but Duke Kyar’s sudden question made him look over his shoulder.

“Yes.” He turned around to face the Archduke again. “I heard Sir Evan won over Sir Martin by one vote.”

“How about Sir Martin?” Duke Kyar asked with one eyebrow slightly raised.

He remembered that Sir Martin’s cold and stern face closely resembled his aura.

For some reason, it made him feel worse.

“Don’t women like Sir Martin more?”

“Well, women have different tastes. I was surprised that Evan won first place when he had just become a knight. I think Evan is handsome, too.”

Duke Kyar glowered at Marc’s smile.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I shouldn’t have said that.” Realizing that he had offended the Archduke again, Marc apologized and went for the door. “Then I’ll be on my way.”

Marc murmured, “Was His Highness not feeling well today?”

Duke Kyar was often nervous and angry if he couldn’t sleep well from the nightmares, but all of that was gone the moment Isabella arrived at Rubella Castle.

Getting a good night’s sleep usually solves all the Archduke’s problems, and it had been a long time since he was worked up over nothing.

Marc should tell people to refrain from acting against Duke Kyar’s best interests and not piss him off.

**

After separating from Seria, Isabella sat down at her desk and read about herbs she used to save her in the past.

She also studied tranquilizers for Duke Kyar whenever she could.

Once she hugged him and patted him on the back, Duke Kyar quickly stopped sobbing every time he woke up.

Still, Isabella wanted to make a medicine that would help him avoid such symptoms in the first place.

However, it wasn’t easy as she thought because she had to find out more.

“What are the causes of Duke Kyar’s condition? Should I ask Ifrit?”

Ifrit was the one who turned the clock back, so maybe she knew the solution.

She thought about summoning Ifrit, but she suddenly heard a knock on the door.

“Isabella,” Anna called, and Isabella scrambled up from her chair.

“Yes?” She answered.

Isabella saw Anna press her fingertips against her temples as if she had a terrible headache upon opening the door.

“Does your head hurt?”

“Yes. Can I get some natural painkillers?”

“Wait a minute.”

Isabella went to her desk and picked them up.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you, Isabella.”

“What?”

“You didn’t tell Duke Kyar about the popularity vote, did you?” Anna asked, and Isabella shook her head.

“I’m not close enough to His Highness to tell him that.”

“Yes. I think it wasn’t you, too. I just asked because I was so frustrated.”

“Why? Did something happen?” Isabella asked worriedly.

Anna’s face darkened.

“His Highness told me not to vote for that childish ‘popularity game’ again.”

“Really?”

“Yes. We were just having fun. Well, it can’t be helped since it’s my fault. Please tell His Highness I’m reflecting on myself a lot.”

Anna held Isabella’s hand tightly and said.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to tell him that if I have the chance.”

“Thank you, Isabella. Thank you very much for this medicine as well.”

“Cheer up, Anna. I’ll also think about a fun and enjoyable event to replace the popularity vote.”

“Yes. You’re the only one I can trust about this. I’m sorry I doubted you for a second.”

Anna patted Isabella’s hand affectionately.

“It’s alright.  If you need any medicine, just come and see me.”

“Yes. I’ll be going then.”

Isabella tilted her head as she looked away from Anna.

Why would the Grand Duke interfere with such a trivial thing?

Isabella thought she knew him so well, but there were still so many aspects of him that she didn’t know.

**

Isabella, who was reading a book on a couch in the Grand Duke’s bedroom, scratched her cheek and put the book down.

She could hardly concentrate on reading while Archduke Kyar was glaring at her.

“Your Highness.”

“Why?”

Isabella tried to smile at his sharp response.

“Do you have anything to say to me?”

“Nothing.” He replied coolly, making Isabella sigh.

Then, why was he staring at her face pointedly?

“Then, if I made a mistake—-”

“It’s nothing.” His brief words cut her off like a knife and Isabella quickly shut up.

She seemed to have offended him by talking to him for no reason.

Isabella picked up a book about herbs that had been put back on the table.

“You said the man you loved looked like me, right?”

Archduke Kyar’s low whisper came to her ears.