A Fairy Tale Written by a Villain

Chapter 10

Oh my. Where am I?

Isabelle blinked, staring up at the unfamiliar ceiling. She was in a room with a heavy musk that wafted gently up her nostrils. For a large space, the interior was so simple that not a single decoration could be seen. The furniture and carpet smelled new. The marble floor that appeared between them was covered with scratch marks made by a beast. Oh, could it be...? This is...!

“Are you awake?” The grand duke, who had just finished taking a shower, walked into the room. Through the half-tied gown, she immediately noticed his toned chest. His wet hair was neatly brushed back, and his handsome face shone very brightly from the moisture.

“Wh-why did you suddenly take a shower...?” Flustered, Isabelle gripped the covers tightly.

“I took one because I had to.”

“Y-you had to?” Please don’t tell me we slept together. Isabelle glimpsed down at her body. Thankfully, she still had on the pajamas she wore last night. Isabelle shut her eyes. “W-weren’t we supposed to spend the first night together after the wedding?”

“Oh dear.” Unlike Isabelle, who was very nervous, the grand duke was brusque and had an emotionless expression on his face. He then frowned and headed behind a pair of folding screens. It seemed like a makeshift fitting room. Soon, servants holding a military uniform and a pair of shoes entered through the open door and helped him put them on behind the screens. What the heck? I sounded like I expected something lewd just now. Realizing what had happened, Isabelle went under the covers.

Soon after, the grand duke, now in his military uniform, came out from behind the folding screens. He looked very nice in the uniform, which fell from his wide shoulders as if tailored to perfection. Although his hair was still wet, the dignity radiating from him was grand. He moved closer to Isabelle, who only had her eyes peeping out. “I’m sorry for not living up to your expectations.”

“I didn’t have any.”

“Is that so? Then I was mistaken, as I heard you read erotic novels extensively.”

“Gosh, that’s ridiculous!” Even though Isabelle could not refute the fact that she read them constantly, she felt wronged. Soon, she realized what he was up to. Is he teasing me? That gruff man? She looked at him carefully, but his face was serious without a hint of playfulness. Never mind, he can’t be joking.

Instead, he turned his gaze slightly as if Isabelle’s glare stung him. “I have something I want to ask, Princess.”

“Wh-what is it?” Damn, why is my voice even cracking!? Isabelle cleared her throat and dashed into the covers like a hermit crab would into its shell.

“Why were you sleeping next to me?” he asked.

“Oh...” Isabelle couldn’t continue speaking. What do I say? Do I tell him that we played fetch in the middle of the night? She felt wronged to even think about this. He was the one who first seduced her, but why was she the one getting flustered? I went outside every day because I felt sorry for you, since you kept circling the tower if I didn’t come out.

But the thing that came out of the grand duke’s mouth was a wacky guess. “Did I... When I had turned into a beast... Did I threaten you and drag you out?” He had a fear of heights. That was why even when he turned into a beast, he never went to high places. The grand duke massaged his temple and frowned. She was not sure what he was thinking about, but even his voice was gloomy.

Isabelle slowly pushed away the covers and sat up. “Oh, it’s not that...”

“Then... Did I knock you out while you were taking a walk in the middle of the night?”

“We just played together.”

“We played...?” He frowned as if he heard something he shouldn’t have. It didn’t make sense. Screaming and running away seemed like a more fitting answer. We played? he wondered. It was clear that this princess was brushing it off with a lie. “What was it like playing with a beast?” he asked.

“Fun.”

“Fun?”

“We had fun.”

“Ha. Are you saying that you didn’t run away after seeing me, Princess?”

“Why would I have to run away?” Isabelle shrugged with a particularly arrogant expression.

“Because... I would have turned into a monster.”

“You weren’t a monster. You were just a doggy with horns,” Isabelle mumbled quietly and scoffed. Apparently he thinks that he’s scary. Funny.

The grand duke, who looked like he wouldn’t bat an eye even if a large cannon were aimed at him, actually flinched. He looked confused without being able to form any kind of reply.

“I heard you were suffering from the curse too. Well, I’m in a similar situation, to be honest. What would a person on borrowed time possibly have to be afraid of?” The grand duke blinked and said nothing. “Anyway, I guess people will misunderstand since I spent the night in your bed.”

Damn. Seriously, only the rumors I can’t handle are increasing. But since we’re already bound to be married to each other, maybe it won’t matter. That being said, this world takes things way too seriously. Damn, I don’t know. Isabelle lay back down on the grand duke’s bed and pulled the covers up around herself. She was tired because she had basically spent the whole night awake.

The servant looked back and forth between Isabelle and the grand duke. “Princess?” It was a call urging her to get up quickly.

But Isabelle was tired of everything. “Close that curtain over there. I can’t sleep—it’s so bright.”

“What?” The grand duke looked back and forth between Isabelle and the curtain. He was so flabbergasted that he forgot to be polite.

“Stop talking to me. I’m tired from playing with you, so I need to sleep some more. I can feel it coming.” I feel so drowsy. Isabelle closed her eyes without another word.

The grand duke, who was perplexedly staring at her, pointed with his chin to the servant. The servant, still confused, quickly closed the curtain and darkened the room.

It was the first time that a woman—still alive—took over His Grace’s bedroom in broad daylight.

***

I wasn’t sure even when the servants were whispering, but… Seeing Isabelle Dejar, the woman who took over his liege’s bedroom per the rumors, Snow rubbed his eyes once more. He had to make sure he wasn’t seeing things. “It’s time for you to get up, brave princess.” Snow pushed his glasses up and woke Isabelle.

Seems like she can sleep well in this bed even though twelve brides died here. Do ghosts avoid bad-tempered villainesses? “Your Highness, you have to at least have dinner,” he said. Since the maids could not come near the grand duke’s bedroom, he came to retrieve her against his will. This princess, who had fallen asleep when the sun was out, didn’t seem like she wanted to wake up even for dinner. Is she dead? Snow carefully placed a finger under Isabelle’s nose.

“What are you doing, Sir Snow?” Right then, like something out of a horror movie, Isabelle’s eyes suddenly opened.

“Oof, you scared me!” Why are her eyes so needlessly big? Shocked, Snow jumped back and fell on his butt.

“I’m the one who was scared, Snow.”

“I was checking to see if you were dead. What kind of royalty sleeps in until dusk?” Snow nagged and stretched out his hand halfheartedly to Isabelle.

“If you’re going to put such little care into it, don’t bother.” Isabelle slapped away Snow’s hand and got out of bed on her own.

“You know, you have been speaking informally as of late, Your Highness.”

“Because I’m comfortable with you.”

“My beautiful face should make you feel uncomfortable.”

“You must lead such a happy life, Sir Snow, with your positive attitude.”

Isabelle had become accustomed to the grand duke’s beauty—not Snow’s. She stretched lazily in bed. Oh, how refreshing. Isabelle’s pajamas, which fluttered as she stretched, revealed the curves of her body.

Snow quickly placed the robe he brought over her shoulders. He had no idea when she started to form a healthy figure, especially compared to how thin she had been when she first came to the tower. “Are you trying to seduce me dressed like that, Your Highness?”

“What are you saying? You’re the one who woke a sleeping person.”

“Let me know whenever you’re bored. Perhaps you can meet me every Tuesday...”

“What?”

“I’ll treat you nicely.” He explained that he was dumped by Tuesday, and that there was an empty spot for his partner. He also added that although his type was usually short women, the princess was very cute.

“Tuesday?”

“Oh, I couldn’t remember the name of the woman I met on Tuesdays, so I just called her that.”

“And women still say they like you?”

“Of course. I’m always a majestic being to women.” Snow tapped his face.

This crazy bastard. Swallowing back curses, Isabelle smiled crookedly and twisted her hair. “Nephew Snow.”

“Why do you call me that? It sounds awkward.”

“Don’t forget that I am your aunt. I need to ask the grand duke something. I need to ask if he knows about the proposal his lieutenant made.”

“Pardon, Your Highness?”

“Why are you looking at me like that, Nephew Snow?” Isabelle looked at Snow with an innocent expression.

“I made a mistake... Please, forget I said anything.”

“Alright then. I wonder what’s for dinner...” Her remark made Snow wonder if his proposal was less interesting than the menu.

Seeing the princess, whose eyes were sparkling in anticipation of her meal, his answer came a step late. “I prepared various cuts of high-quality meat.”

“Various cuts?”

“Yes, the liege said that he was worried about your health...” Snow was also confused about that. Although the princess’s waist was small, she didn’t look as thin for him to be worried about her. But the liege ordered the cook to prepare a special meal as if he were worried that she would die of starvation.

“Yes, one needs to eat to live. The grand duke sure knows his priorities,” Isabelle said quietly.

“Excuse me?”

“Uh, it’s nothing. Let’s go, Sir Snow.” Isabelle reached her hand out to Snow.

“You slapped away my escort before,” Snow mumbled and offered his arm.

“That’s because you were doing it halfheartedly. This time, do it with all your heart.” Isabelle rolled her eyes slowly like a cat might and headed to the restaurant.

Snow chuckled to himself and escorted Isabelle politely. Although it had been a long time since he followed someone else’s orders other than the grand duke’s, it wasn’t as bad as he thought.