The Grand Duke of the North

Chapter 3

Selene walked a considerable distance in an uncomfortably wide dress, a heavy coat, and an excessively long cloak, all while wearing shoes that were far too difficult to walk in. Fortunately, she felt a bit more confident that given time, she would get used to it and walk with ease.

When she reached the door, she looked up at him, determined to follow him as best she could if he decided to go further. Selene was surprised to see no sign of irritation on his face as he watched her intently, almost as if studying her. After all, it had taken her far too long just to take a few steps, so she assumed he might be annoyed even if he didn’t say anything. However, his face remained as expressionless as ever.

Though the doorway behind him was open, he showed no intention of moving. She cautiously glanced down the hallway. It looked like something straight out of a foreign TV series she had watched before. The deep-set windows in the hallway gave her a sense of how thick the fortress walls must be. The entire passage, from the floor to the walls and ceiling, was made of cold, gray stone. The atmosphere fit perfectly with the man’s titles, both “The Grand Duke of the North” and “The War Demon.”

As Varas moved slightly to clear her view, Selene thought they were finally about to leave, so she adjusted her clothes, gripping them more tightly and lifting them higher than before. Varas extended his elbow out toward her. But was it really an invitation? Though his arm was clearly in view, he said nothing. It could very well be that he was simply resting his arm, and his elbow had come into her line of sight by chance. Selene decided to wait until he started moving. She figured that if she did something foolish and was unable to leave the room, she would regret it.

Varas had expected that if he extended his arm, Selene would take hold of it. Her steps seemed unsteady, and she appeared to be struggling. According to his former lieutenant, Zarth, when a woman was dressed uncomfortably or wearing heels, most men offered their arm for support, and the woman typically accepted. Of course, that was the case unless she was already married, engaged, or the man offering was someone she simply couldn’t stand.

However, they were married to each other. They couldn’t exactly be called close, but they were at least getting to know each other. Sometimes, when their eyes met, she didn’t seem to despise him either. Was that just his imagination running wild?

Varas’ gaze turned cold. He looked down, and after lowering his gaze for what felt like an eternity, it finally landed on Selene’s head. He couldn’t help but wonder what the hell he was even doing. A woman he had married to bear his child— No, it was more like a woman he had purchased. Since when had he ever seen others as people? During the war, the only ones he regarded as such were his actual subordinates, the ones he had brought with him to this territory after his retirement—the Shields of Belias.

To Varas, who had willingly taken on the role of a demon to protect their lives, enemies and allies were meaningless. They were just tools, objects, and numbers. If others didn’t see him as human, why should he treat them any differently? He had extended that same mindset when he purchased a bride. His goal was clear: to have a child who would carry on his bloodline.

Varas hesitated for a moment. Should I stop this foolishness and lock her up instead?

Selene had no idea what he was thinking, not even in her wildest dreams. All she felt was a sense of anticipation, wondering if she might catch a glimpse of the outside world through the passage ahead.

This is unreal.

Being cooped up in a room had dulled her sense of reality, but now, as she looked down the hallway lined with gray stone, she realized that she really was in an entirely different world.

Why isn’t he moving?

She lifted her gaze to meet his, tilting her head quite a bit to reach his eyes. Fortunately, Varas was looking at her as well, and their eyes met almost instantly. Selene flinched. He seemed cold earlier, but that felt like a gentle spring breeze compared to now. Not knowing why his mood had soured so quickly, she wondered if their walk might not happen after all. It wouldn’t be the end of the world if they skipped it, but she had an anxious thought that her confinement could start today.

Feeling increasingly frustrated, Selene finally decided to speak up, hoping her voice wouldn’t sound too shaky.

“Should we head back inside?”

To Varas, her sullen question sounded like a complaint over why they weren’t moving faster. He knew that she was just being sulky, but for reasons unbeknownst to even himself, it sounded like defiance to him. Regardless, he made up his mind. Since he had already suggested going outside, he figured it would be fine just this once. Indeed, it seemed she disliked him enough to refuse his offer to escort her, yet she also appeared determined to take that walk with him anyway. Varas decided to grant her wish, feeling much like a rancher leading his cattle to slaughter. After tonight, she would never step foot outside again.

As he walked ahead, he heard the sound of her clothes rustling behind him. A few steps later, her soft footsteps began to fade, as if she were struggling to keep up. Varas turned to look back, and their eyes met just as she hurriedly shifted her feet, causing her to lose her footing.

This wasn’t their room, but the image of her fair, smooth skin, visible through the undone straps of her dress, flashed through his mind. Before he had time to think, he found himself catching Selene as she stumbled. He kneeled, leaning forward so she landed on him, cushioning her fall. Her arms brushed past his ears, her flowing hair tickled his face, and her sweet scent overpowered him.

She smells so sweet.

More surprising was how light she was, even though all her weight was resting on him. She was almost as light as a bunny. For a moment, Varas felt as if he’d lost his senses, but he managed to collect himself. Gripping her by the waist, he stood up and effortlessly lifted her before gently setting her back on the ground. She seemed startled, her eyes still shut as if bracing herself.

Varas looked at his hands, tilting his head in confusion. Even with all the layers of clothing, her waist was no more than a handful. Suddenly, she seemed as fragile as a porcelain doll— No, perhaps a sugar doll, given how sweet she smelled. It might be fine now since it was spring, but come fall, it might be too cold for her. He briefly thought about how he should ensure that she ate well before winter to help her gain a healthy amount of weight, but then he hesitated, halting his thought process. Hadn’t he just decided that he would lock her away in the grand duchess’s room after tonight’s walk?

Well, if I hang the tapestries and get a fire going in the fireplace… Yes, and I should get double-paned windows to keep the cold air out, he thought.

It felt strange to think about locking Selene away for his own selfish reasons while also worrying about her being cold, but the thought didn’t stay for long. Looking at her, with her eyes still squeezed shut, he finally began to understand his feelings. She really did look like someone who would be particularly sensitive to the cold.

Eyes still shut, Selene tried to calm her racing heart, but it wasn’t easy. If she had simply fallen onto the cold stone floor, she could have brushed herself off and continued walking. But instead, he rushed over and caught her, and she’d clung to him tightly. She’d thought that he was like a giant tree towering over her. Now she wondered if he was actually a tree because when her face pressed against his neck, she caught a faint woody scent. She couldn’t even remember how she’d managed to stand on her feet again.

The feeling of his firm, reassuring embrace lingered in her mind. Still overwhelmed by that sensation, she closed her eyes and lowered her head, furrowing her brow. Was it because he was her ideal type? Or maybe it was because this was the first time she had ever been this close to a man. It was ridiculous how her heart was still pounding from an embrace that had happened so unexpectedly. Had she fallen for someone at first sight—for someone who she absolutely shouldn’t have fallen for in the first place?

She thought back to the original story. She hadn’t finished the book, but somewhere in the middle, it clearly said the following.

—Varas Belias was a man who lived and died without ever knowing love. He spent his entire life in loneliness, yet tragically, he never realized that what he felt was loneliness all along.

But why?

In the original story, Selene, who was imprisoned, showed signs of Stockholm syndrome. Slowly but surely, she opened her heart to him, and at some point, even developed romantic feelings for him. It was certain that Selene found complete satisfaction in her life as his wife. But the male protagonist, Varas, didn’t feel the same. Up until the part she’d read before possessing this body, Selene was nothing more than a woman he had “purchased” to bear his heir. Though she never finished the book, she was sure that it had a tragic ending.

As Selene finally gathered herself and lifted her head, she once again felt his now familiar gaze on her.

“Thank you,” she said.

Without a word, Varas turned and started walking again, showing no reaction to her gratitude. Selene also braced herself and prepared to follow him. Earlier, when he’d suddenly turned around, it had startled her, but she felt fine now.

She thought that she was getting used to her clothes as well, but then Varas, who had walked ahead without hesitation, irritably returned to her side. Suddenly, his arm appeared in front of her. He had done this earlier, and then he had become upset.

Is this his way of showing anger?

Still unsure of his intention, Selene hesitated, and Varas, unable to hold back any longer, spoke up.

“If walking is so hard for you, wouldn’t it be better to take my arm, even if it’s not to your liking?”