Chapter 37: 37 — Am I a Joke To You?

"Can I kiss you?" Cynthia asked with a bright smile, locking eyes with Lucian. His eyes widened in surprise.

For a moment, silence fell between them. Then, he softly whispered, "Sure."

Caught off guard by his response, Cynthia stumbled, nearly falling off the wagon. She quickly pulled her hand away from his and grasped the wagon’s wooden handle to steady herself.

"What’s wrong?" Lucian asked, his expression composed, though amusement flickered in his eyes. He found it rather entertaining to see her so shaken by his answer.

She didn’t expect me to agree, did she?

His suspicion was correct. Cynthia had been faking her affection every time she was near him. She had no real intention of kissing him.

Forcing an awkward laugh to mask her discomfort, Cynthia climbed down from the carriage. Once she stood on the grass, she looked up at him—her expression hardening as if she were preparing for battle.

"I was just surprised. My apologies for the... inconvenience." She straightened herself and, with forced resolve, added, "Shall we try the kiss now?"

Lucian sighed heavily, stepping back.

She really won’t give up, he thought, watching her carefully. Even when her facade was nearly exposed, she had regained control, acting as if nothing had happened.

Lucian couldn’t help but wonder—what was driving her to keep up this charade of being a loving wife when it was clear she despised him just as much as he did her?

Did she want to be the pitiful wife who’s husband didn’t pay any attention to?

It wouldn’t be bad for her given her reputation... people will show her sympathy and maybe some will stop being hostile towards her?

Shaking his head, Lucian headed toward his study. He didn’t have time to waste thinking about Cynthia. He needed to catch up on the work that had been delayed due to her strange request in exchange for telling him what happened during the reception banquet.

"Your Highness!" Glain who seemed to have been waiting for the grand duke’s arrival exclaimed.

"What is it?" Lucian demanded, entering his study hall as he took a seat on his chair.

"Well... did you find out what happened back then?"

Lucian raised an eyebrow, waiting for his subordinate to explain what he was referring to.

"I mean... did the grand— I mean her highness tell you what happened during the wedding reception?"

Lucian shook his head, fumbling through the papers stacked on his desk. No matter how much he worked, the amount wouldn’t reduce. He asked Adrian, who was part of the administration, to handle some of the issues however the load didn’t reduce.

"You might leave," Lucian who still felt Glain’s presence in the hall stated although he didn’t gaze up to confirm his presence.

Letting out a soft laughter, Glain nodded, bowing before he head towards the exit.

"Also, your highness, you should take some rest. You have been searching for the grand duchess all day. You must be exhausted."

Saying so, Glain exited the room, closing the door behind as Lucian didn’t like any of his room doors to be opened.

"Hah... I keep telling them to not refer to her as the grand duchess yet they don’t stop," Lucian sighed.

"And... Rest?" He chuckled, the word seemed foreign.

In the battlefield, he could barely close his eyes for more than two hours, yet now, he needed rest because he searched for someone through a few hours?

Nonsense.

***

Sitting in the audience hall across Lucian, Cynthia lifted her teacup, taking a sip.

She didn’t notice any poison in her food ever since she ate Lucian’s food.

It seems he is being extremely cautious... making sure the foods aren’t poisoned.

Her lips twisted into a little smirk, satisfied about it. In the past, he didn’t care about such matters. He treated them as if it were his daily routine— eating poison. He was tolerant however, it was only once that his body couldn’t handle the poison and he collapsed.

Cynthia didn’t find out who was behind the poisoning yet. Although for herself, she had a haunt who kept poisoning her food in Eldoria. But she needed to wait to completely overthrow that person until he would beg for mercy.

"So, tell me what happened as promised," Lucian tapped his finger on the tea table, growing impatient.

It has been three days ever since he tried to get an answer but Cynthia kept dodging the question only to blabber about the most random things.

"What’s your favourite colour, Your Highness?" Cynthia asked, sipping on her tea nonchalantly.

"Am I a joke to you?"

Stunned by Lucian’s question, Cynthia gently placed her tea cup on the table.

"Certainly not. Why do you say so?"

"You know very well what I’m talking about. However, if you won’t tell me, then I shall take my leave," Lucian rose from his seat.

As he was about to leave, he felt a firm grip around his wrist.

Turning around, he gazed down at the silver-haired young woman who looked at him with a firm expression.

"I’ll tell you. Please sit."

Pulling his hand away from her grip, Lucian sat back on the couch.

"Drink some tea—"

Cynthia halted once she felt Lucian’s gaze intensifying.

letting out a soft chuckle, she parted her lips before Lucian could speak.

"I couldn’t see that monster that night. I was brought to a strange place with... white crystals emitting faint light to brighten up the strange dark room. I’m certain it wasn’t a cave or anything of such..."

She pursed her lips, thinking back about the white crystals that turned red, blood dripping from them.

"And?" Lucian who noticed her changed expression demanded.

"Ah, that’s all. Then there was a bright white light and I found myself in the banquet hall, as you saw."

Thinking for a brief moment, Lucian looked at Cynthia, unable to believe her.

How could the monster who brought her not be present in the hall? What was stranger was that she was unharmed. There was not even a scratch on her body, apart from the fact that she was unconscious for two weeks.

Was it not physical pain but... what was that creature?

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by Aunomay Read