Go, Frii!

I untangled Frii from around my neck and thrust it right in front of Enfrise’s face. As soon as the cute, white fluffball appeared, Enfrise was at a loss for words. Frii glared at him with a scowl, looking as if it might scratch at any moment.

…Hmm.

So, cute plus cute resulted in super cute, huh? This must be what they meant.

…No, this wasn’t the time for that!

“Please, just listen to me.”

“…Alright.”

Enfrise nodded obediently as if under a spell. Indeed, the magic of cuteness worked everywhere. Good job, Frii!

I put Frii back around my neck and gently patted its head.

“For now, I wasn’t dragged out against my will. I went out because I wanted to, um… spend time with the Grand Duke.”

Saying I was lured by a sandwich would make it sound…

…Like it would diminish my dignity as the female lead and as a person.

“And even if the Grand Duke hadn’t mentioned it, I might have begged you eventually.”

This was partly a lie.

If left to my own devices, I’d probably stay inside this mansion all the time. To be precise, almost exclusively in my room. I’m sure I could live in my room 90% of the time. Actually, I thought 95% was possible.

“The reason I was so angry was… well, seeing someone die right in front of me definitely had an impact.”

It was a brutal scene.

Enfrise’s sword skills must have been good to end it there. If there had been a prolonged battle, it might have been an even more horrific sight. But that alone was shocking enough for me, who had lived in a world so detached from such things.

But more than that…

“It wasn’t just that. After losing my memory, I was spending every day feeling detached from reality.”

Although it was more of a book world, in my mind, but there was no need to mention that.

“Then, I woke up in a strange situation, and suddenly, a very handsome man appeared and started talking to me. And I didn’t even remember anything. None of it felt real.”

Enfrise listened quietly to my story. He was now meeting my gaze properly, unlike the past few days when he had been avoiding it.

“But seeing someone die right in front of me… it suddenly made everything feel real. I realized I could end up like that if my magical power went haywire. It wasn’t just about feeling feverish; I could actually die. That’s what scared me and made me feel so heated.”

In an instant, fear surged up my spine. For no apparent reason, it came on suddenly.

I clung to Enfrise’s waist like a lifeline.

The warmth and firmness I felt from his body helped calm me down. Since I was already hugging him, I leaned my face against him. Then, Enfrise’s arms, which had been hanging limp, slowly rose. He tightened his embrace around my shoulders.

“It’s because of me.”

“No, it’s because I didn’t think deeply enough. It’s my own fault.”

Was it guilt that made me trouble him? I hoped what I was saying now helped in some way… I hoped it prevented him from pushing me away.

“If the Grand Duke hadn’t been here, I might not have been able to endure it.”

“That’s…”

It wasn’t just about kissing. If Enfrise weren’t here… I certainly wouldn’t have even considered doing something like that myself.

“I like the Grand Duke.”

“Chaperil….”

His grip on my shoulders tightened. I could feel Frii, who had been nestled around my neck, scurrying down my body. Maybe it was uncomfortable.

It slipped out through the slightly open door of the study that I hadn’t closed completely.

I hesitated between the urge to chase after it and the need to finish this conversation properly but decided to trust Frii’s intelligence. It often went off to catch mice on its own, so I was sure it could return to the room properly.

However, Enfrise might misunderstand again if I just leave like this.

“I’m not just saying this casually like before. Back then, I liked you as a person, and… I’m a fa—”

Wait a minute. Is there even a word for ‘fan’ in romance fantasy? I needed to find a better way to express this…

Come on, think quickly, you foolish head!

“A very, very deep affection for you that’s almost like an expression of unwavering faith!”

What was I even saying?

I didn’t know either. My brain was fried. Well, this was how things ended up in this mess. Ha, it couldn’t be helped. This was my limit.

“But what I mean by liking you now is a bit different.”

“How… is it different?”

I could sense both anticipation and resignation in Enfrise’s words. I wondered…

Could I fulfill his expectations?

“I want to know more about the Grand Duke.”

“…What would you like to know?”

“It’s not about specific things. I want to know everything about the Grand Duke. I want to hear stories about the Grand Duke’s childhood, see what the Grand Duke was like when you were younger, know what the Grand Duke likes and dislikes, and understand what the Grand Duke is thinking. I want to know what it means to you when you suppress something while looking at me.”

This was the first time I’d wanted to know someone so much.

I’ve asked about people before because I wanted to, and I’ve been anxious about whether I’d be liked by them. I’ve feared that they might leave.

‘…Enfrise, you’re the first for everything.’

“I want to see the magical symbol on the Grand Duke’s upper body that you almost showed me. I want to see how your muscles developed and how your body is so firm.”

Oh, wait. Did I go too far?

As I crossing into sexual harassment territory again?

“I’m also curious about how I might make the Grand Duke dislike me. What does the Grand Duke like about me, or how can I keep the Grand Duke liking me? I want to know all of that, too.”

As my words continue, Enfrise’s trembling grows stronger. Is he really listening?

‘I like him this much.’

“I want to be closer to the Grand Duke, and honestly, I wouldn’t get bored if I could just hold you all day. I wish you’d hold me more and spend more time with me.”

“What do you mean by that…”

Oh, it seemed like he was starting to understand. His trembling voice was so cute. His completely flushed face as well, and those lips that were so heated earlier.

“You, like… my body…?”

“Wait, what?”

“Do you mean…?”

How did my words get understood like that? I talked about wanting to know everything, seeing the symbol on his body, being curious about his muscles, and wanting more physical closeness….

Eh?

“No, no, no, no! That’s not what I meant!”

“I appreciate your interest in my body, but I don’t want our conversations to be solely about that.”

Oh, OOHH?!

I didn’t say that at all! When did I suggest that we should only talk about the body?

I just wanted to be closer and have more physical contact! I was so flustered that I couldn’t even speak. It was true that being dumbfounded could make it hard to find the right words. I stared up at his face from where I had been resting my head on his chest.

Wait a minute.

“Are you teasing me?”

“A bit…”

“Why would you do that while we’re having such an important conversation?”

I was genuinely surprised!

I was really, really surprised! I mean, I did have a bit of a liking for R19! I enjoyed provocative keywords! I liked those kinds of descriptions! Still, I wasn’t someone who, you know, saw people only as objects for such things!

“I’m sorry. I think I understand now why you might have been teasing me earlier. You’re just so cute that I couldn’t help it.”

Was this some kind of revenge?

I did get that feeling. It was incredibly cute. The way he was flustered—it was hard not to want to keep looking at it. I understood that! Nevertheless, I was in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime confession, and now it felt like something was missing….

“Can I continue?”

“Pardon?”

“Lady Rivette.”

He gently pushed me back and knelt on one knee in front of me. The sunlight coming through the study’s window illuminated his profile. His dark hair, which seemed like it could swallow the darkness, sparkled in the warm light.

His golden eyes, dazzlingly bright, were fixed solely on me without wavering.

“Whether you are Lady Rivette or not…”

His hand gently took mine.

Normally, I would have made a fuss about knowing what this gesture meant. But strangely, my heart was calm. I wasn’t overly excited.

It wasn’t that I wasn’t happy. It was just…

This moment was…

So vividly clear.

“May I be allowed to call you by your name?”

“Before you answer, may I say something as well?”

“Of course, please go ahead.”

His golden eyes, which had already looked as if they were anticipating my answer, curved beautifully. They were so bright and sparkling that they almost seemed to outshine the moon. It felt as though the sun was shining from his eyes.

No, the sun was indeed shining.

I used to think it was a lie that the world changes when you hold someone dear. I doubted that the world could seem different in color. The world was already full of colors. How could anything change?

But now I understood.

The moment I acknowledged my feelings for him and spoke them aloud, everything changed. The world became so beautiful and radiant. Just his existence had transformed my entire world.

‘That’s right. This is love.’

I love him.

‘Enfrise, are you seeing the same world as I am? Has your world become as filled with light as mine?’

“Will you allow me to? Not the Grand Duke, but as …”

Enfrise gently adjusted his grip on my hand, which he had been holding lightly. His fingers, which had only touched the tips, were now interlaced with mine. Even though it was just our fingers entwining… why does my face feel so hot?

Enfrise, with a firm grip on my hand, as if he would never let go, brought it to his lips.

“Call me, Chaperil. My name…”

“Enfrise.”

He…

Smiled with the most beautiful and vivid expression I have ever seen.

 
______

Translator’s Note:

From chapter 60 onwards, the translation of ‘Thank You For The Confinement, Grand Duke!’will be continued under a different group on another site. However, don’t worry! I’m still the translator of the novel, only that the novel will be hosted on a different site, that’s all!

You can go to the website directly through this link or novel updates!