The Monstrous Grand Duke’s Fake Lady

Time had flown by quite fleetingly.

The shade of the garden that was illuminated under the declining sunlight was creating a tinge of another garden. All the other colors had bloomed as the shadow had shrouded over those brilliant colors.

Knox was just gazing leisurely at Vivian’s figure. It was just like a beautiful picture. As he looked at Vivian, who was just running around, Knox began to part his lips slowly.

“Alexia.”

That moment, Vivian’s body evidently ceased to move. The body that was prancing around just a while ago had stopped all at once before turning her head towards him.

“Last time—you wanted to talk about something to me, right?”

“…That’s right.”

“That talk, can you tell me now?”

“You remembered that?”

“Well, you were the one who said those words.”

“It was just a trivial thing. To the point that even I, myself, have forgotten what I was going to say.”

“Even so, I want to hear them.”

Vivian’s eyes widened for a little while in response to Knox’s words.

“It’s fine even if it’s trivial. I just want to hear your story.”

Knox stared intently at her with such unwavering eyes.

Vivian hesitated before moving her lips slightly—just for a second.

Is it okay to tell him? Can I truly tell this person about my real identity?

What she had felt while spending a considerable amount of time with him was that he had never thought recklessly. Contrary to the rumors, he was neither a monster nor did he ever strike his sword first without any sort of control.

At times, he could be hard on the people around him since he was sick, but that only lasted for a short while. When his pain had subsided and his temper gradually softened, he sort of resembled a wolf that was basking under the sunlight.

On top of that, his attitude towards Vivian made him seem to be very gentle.

“…There’s no such thing as triviality for a Young Countess. I had always been trying as hard as the others had done.”

However, she didn’t know where that gentleness of his was directed to. Was it to Alexia, who was masqueraded by Vivian? Or was it to Vivian, who was just using Alexia’s own facade?

“It’s fine even if it was just such a story. I want to know, even to your little trifles.”

Even with Knox’s words that sounded as sweet as ever, Vivian was still unable to judge it with much haste.

“I—am…”

“My dear.”

Knox cautiously approached Vivian, who was no longer moving as if she had already been rooted to the ground. He affectionately held her hand, which still seemed quite stiff to move around, before intertwining their fingers—one after another.

“Is there really nothing that you’d like to tell me? Wasn’t there something that had caused you to be hesitant in telling me—several times already?”

“You realize that?”

“Of course. Just because my eyes can’t see, it doesn’t mean that my senses have become dull as well.”

Vivian became much more cautious because of Knox’s present words.

Can I really trust him? She already felt bad for deceiving him. As she gazed upon his eyes that weren’t doubting her at all had caused Vivian’s mood to feel like she was being dragged further into the gutter.

Her lips had opened and closed repeatedly, but still, Knox waited with much patience. He then placed his forehead upon hers while waiting for her words that she was trying to say, but still couldn’t be said yet.

“I am…….”

It was just right at that sudden moment.

When they thought that they had heard a loud sound looming from the side, a series of rumbling footsteps, albeit lightly, had followed suit before they eventually stopped the lips of the said couple.

They quickly turned their heads, only to discover that it was the physician who was already over there while appearing to have fallen over in a rather unsightly manner.

From where did he bring those lots of books, even? The physician’s face flushed as he got embarrassed when the two of them looked at him at once.

“Wahhh—I’ve been so careful during my way here in order to not disturb you, but who would’ve known that you two were in a place like this.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yes, of course. Fortunately, the grass is very soft, so I didn’t get hurt at all.”

Knox instantly frowned when the physician had naturally answered Vivian’s concern.

I never expected this kind of disturbance when I had just barely made her open her mouth. Knox, who didn’t even bother hiding his hostility, bore a hole through the physician, but he didn’t avert his eyes at all.

“Haaah.”

Knox drew his breath from the inside before releasing out in the air. He was already regretting the fact that his past self had allowed the physician’s request to bring him along.