The morning of the festival approached quickly. As usual, in the morning when the dazzling sun rose, someone knocked on Anne’s door.
Anne, without turning around at the sound of the footsteps entering, buried into the bed. Her swollen stomach was so heavy that it was difficult to get up properly without someone’s help. Everything about it was annoying and she felt comfortable in her own way as she buried her hands in the soft pillowcase.
A large shadow fell over the bed.
“Emily, I’m going to sleep more today.”
“Wouldn’t you like to go to the festival today?”
All of a sudden, her sleepiness disappeared. Turning her head, she saw the Grand Duke with no bandages, showing that his arms and legs had healed.
He had been resting in his room until his broken bones were set, and he looked much better than his previously haggard face. His thin, sharp jawline and rough cheeks have returned to their normal and beautiful appearance as before.
As Anne struggled to raise her upper body, he hurriedly supported her back and made her get up comfortably.
“I’ll do it myself.”
As Anne fired coldly at him, his soft touch went away.
The sunlight seeping through and glistening in the red eyes fell upon Anne’s chest as she exhaled. The curves of her breasts, not as much as her stomach, peeked through her thin slip.
His eyes, tinged with passion, slid down to her stomach, which was now quite swollen. His eyes, which had changed to sorrowful, stared at the stomach to which the thin cloth was clinging. He raised his lingering eyes and spoke.
“I heard that all the people of the territory had gathered to see the Grand Duchess’ face.”
“Phew… one hour. Just one hour. I will show my face only that much and come back. Please don’t ask for more.”
Even if she hated it, she couldn’t completely neglect her duties as a Grand Duchess at the present time.
“I will keep that in mind.”
His slowly moving red eyes were tangled with hers one last time before leaving.
* * *
The festival was set up on a large site next to the lower reaches of the Carroll River, which runs through the northern part of the country. Temporary shops and amusement facilities were set up on the green lawn, and colorful lights like small marbles were lined out in each shop.
“That…”
Anne took a breath in surprise. It wasn’t the delicious food that caught her eye, nor the beautiful sculptures that seduced her eyes.
The wide plain on the other side of the river was full of flowers in full bloom. It wasn’t just crude flower beds. Abelsis flowers were planted throughout the vast site, and it was so far that she could not see the end.
To let her appreciate it, the Grand Duke stood aside without blocking her view.
“Next year, plant the flowers you really like.”
Perhaps it was because she was angry and had said just about anything, the Grand Duke looked rather ashamed.
Seeing him fumbling around, Anne looked around without saying a word. All the faces of the people enjoying the festival were full of smiles.
“Would you like to go inside? Or, it would be nice to see the flowers here as it is.”
The Grand Duke spoke to her from the side again, but she could feel that he was paying close attention to her.
“Now that I’m here, it would be nice to take a look.”
As Anne replied, she slowly blended into the crowd in the middle. Every moment, the Grand Duke and the handmaids stood by her.
The atmosphere of the festival was incomparably livelier than the place had been when Anne first came here. The nobles let go of formality, all of them smiling. It was crowded with commoners and children running around laughing, completely unlike the previously static North.
“Your Grace, welcome. Oh my God, the baby will be born any day.”
“When is the due date? The baby, who resembles the two of you, will surely be really lovely.”
Every time the people saw her, they would say words of gratitude for holding such a festival. And then they looked at her swollen stomach and said that her due date would not be far off, and expressed joy like it was their own.
Every time she faced the people who were happy and gave her blessings, Anne’s heart somehow felt uncomfortable. She had never thought of feeling affection here, for she had not wanted to go to the north. She had always thought of leaving.
But she seems to have developed a new affection for the north without realizing it. She was a little saddened by the fact that, sooner or later, she would have to leave this place.
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