The Precious Sister of The Villainous Grand Duke

It had already been a week since the Grand Duke of Lagrange came to visit the Viscounty.

I hadn't been able to see him in the mansion since he had either been touring the territory or going hunting until today when I could finally see him for real.

"Is that person really the Grand Duke of Lagrange?"

".......That's right."

"Really?"

At my question, Dylan slowly nodded his head. I couldn't believe him and frowned.

'But Dylan's more handsome though?'

Dietrich was the strongest villain in the world and at the same time a handsome man enough to rival the main character.

But the 'Grand Duke of Lagrange' from the distance could hardly be called handsome.

'Did he get a villain buff in the novel?'

The man whom Dylan pointed out to be his master got off the black stallion and brushed his greasy fringe.

He was tall and clean, but it felt like he was someone who would mess around.

'He looks more like a servant who serves people higher than the nobility while his tongue rolls in his mouth.' [1]

"What's wrong?"

"It's nothing, just….my expectations."

'He's ugly.'

I couldn't bear to see his master's excitement in front of him so I shrugged my shoulders and swallowed my words.

"Is it all right if you don't follow him?"

The Grand Duke returned to the mansion with the Viscount without even paying attention to the servants. However, even as Dylan introduced himself to be the Grand Duke's servant, he didn't seem to have any intention of following him.

"The Grand Duke asked me to help him in his work in the Viscounty."

"Oh, is that so?"

"That's right. With you–"

That was good to hear.

I smiled broadly at Dylan's words and before he could finish his sentence, I handed him a broom.

"Then, please sweep the front door. I'll come back after eating lunch."

".....All right."

As if he hadn't done this kind of work, he accepted the broom with a wry look.

"Can you do it?"

I wondered if Dylan would be able to do it well, but when I grabbed my rumbling stomach, I turned around and hesitated no more.

"Thank you, Dylan!"

"..........."

────── 〔✿〕──────

"Here, the sandwich you asked for."

Having pigged out at the dining area where the servants take their meals, I asked Ronan the kitchen assistant, for a sandwich.

"But, you've already eaten that much lunch and you're going to eat a sandwich again?"

"I'll eat it as a snack. Stop nagging."

"Are you sure you're the one who's going to eat it?"

"That's right."

I was going to give it to Dylan, but if I say I'm taking care of an outsider and not an employee under the Viscount, they might say something again behind my back.

"Didn't you say I need to gain some weight?"

I shrugged my shoulders and gave a nonchalant comment.

Ronan couldn't make great dishes since he was just a kitchen assistant, but he made the smoked ham sandwich topped with a lot of homemade mustard more delicious than the chefs.

The smell of fresh bread wafting under my nose made me salivate even though I had already maxed out my stomach.

'If he didn't do well in cleaning up, then I'll eat half of this myself.'

I felt like someone had told me I couldn't eat if I didn't work.

I didn't expect Dylan to finish cleaning on his own anyway. As I rushed to the front door with the intention of finishing the cleaning myself, my jaw dropped in disbelief at the scene unfolding before my eyes.

'Oh my god!'

Not only was it clean but I felt like going blind by the shiny glow.

'Did the front door always have this appearance?'

The marble porch, which shone white as if it had found its true color, was as clean as it had just been built.

"Dylan?"

I grabbed Dylan's arm in astonishment as he was wiping the post with a dry rag.

"I think you can stop now. It's already so clean that people might slip."

He looked back at me after being so absorbed in cleaning that the didn't even know that I was there. I blinked my eyes in amazement and then hardened my face seriously.

"Do you have any intentions of changing jobs?"

If he was a hired professional cleaner instead of just being an errand servant, he could probably triple his wage, but he slowly shook his head.

"No."

"Why? You're overflowing with talent."

'I can't believe he made the front porch so clean in the short time that I was eating lunch. Is he some kind of cleaning genius?'

I handed him the sandwich I brought with admiration.

"That's it for cleaning, aren't you hungry? Eat this."

As he stared at the sandwich I thrust in front of him, he opened his mouth as if he planned to eat the sandwich while standing in place.

"You're going to eat it here?"

Dylan looked at me instead of eating the sandwich at my question.

I pointed my finger at the warm, sunny sky.

"Go to the garden and eat it. The weather is so nice today, after all."

I took Dylan's hand, who nibbled on the sandwich with enthusiasm that didn't match his aristocratic impression that gives off primness.

'He already ate half of it.'

"Is it because you don't know where the garden is?"

I remembered when I first met him, he was standing in the middle of the garden out of the blue and judged he was probably bad at directions.

"Follow me."

I thought that I might have grabbed his hand hastily and planned to let it go along the way, but he held on to my hand tightly. I glanced at him in surprise but he had the same blunt expression.

'Is he afraid he'd get lost?'

The Viscount's mansion was small, but it was still easy to get lost because of its complex structure.

When I became conscious of the hand that I was holding, I became belatedly embarrassed. I quickened my steps fearing that my hands may become sweaty.

"You remember this place? This is the Viscounty's garden."

I looked back at Dylan, pointing at the rose vine that the Viscountess herself was taking care of. It was because we had reached our destination but Dylan still hadn't let go of my hand.

"We're here."

"Ah."

When I waved my hand which he was still holding, it was then that he sluggishly let go. I opened my mouth as I glanced at his cheeks dyed reddish by the sun.

"It would be boring to eat alone so I'll stay here with you."

Although I said it like I was being generous, I'd have to clean again when I go back so I just wanted to goof around. I was about to sit on the bench and leave Dylan standing but he pulled a handkerchief out of his pockets.

"Servants also go around bringing that?"

I've been a maid for more than two years but it was the first time I saw a servant carrying a handkerchief.

".......I like being clean, that's why."

He replied hesitantly like he was making an excuse and then laid a white handkerchief on my seat. There was no embroidery but it looked expensive with its sheen.

"Thank you."

I blinked my eyes and thanked him for the delicate consideration that only young masters would do.

'The owner likes clean things so it looks like the servant is like that too.'

Though Dylan still took the sandwich that others gave him and casually ate it.

"Today's weather is really great."

"You're right."

He seemed to be on the quiet side so the tranquil garden soon quieted down.

I glanced at him as he munched on the sandwich and then leaned my back on the chair, closing my eyes.

If I could hear the sound of spring coming, it would have been romantic, but the gentle wind that touched my cheeks was really the spring itself.

'It feels like we're on a picnic.'

"Ah, by the way –"

"?"

"Did you find the one you love?"

Perhaps my question was too sudden that Dylan, who was chewing on his food heartily, hardened his jaw.

'He still hasn't found her yet?'

It was already more than a week since I met him and if he hadn't found her yet, I wanted to help him.

"I guess you haven't found her."

"..........."

"What does she look like? I don't know so tell me."

I swung my feet in the air and urged him who didn't answer.

"She's pretty."

My shoulder stiffened at the sudden reply. I feigned a smile and tilted my head.

'Tell me something about her hair or eye color, and her features. Who the heck says pretty as a clue?'

Though I was thinking like that, my mouth said differently.

"Well, how pretty?"

"The prettiest in the world."

"............"

Looking at Dylan's blunt expression, I doubted my ears.

'Even though he looks blunt the most in the world, I can't believe he could say things like that well.'

It's romantic, but it's not very helpful in finding the person he's looking for.

'Since Dylan is handsome, the person who looks pretty in his eyes must be a great beauty.'

I pouted and frowned at Dylan's half-hearted answer.

"Prettier than me?"

I also didn't know why such words suddenly popped out of my lips.

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"N-never mind. Please don't answer that."

I lowered my head, covering my hot cheeks with the back of my hand.

"I'm just kidding."

It would have been a little less embarrassing if Dylan had laughed out loud, but there was no sound at all from his side.

As I furtively lifted my face, he slowly reached out his arm and held the tip of my hair.

"I don't know."

".............."

"I'm not really sure."

With his hand on the backrest of the chair where he rested his chin, he let out a languid laugh.

I was mesmerized by that low laugh that I couldn't stop him from kissing the tips of my hair.

Whether it was because of the scorching sun, or because I was so shy that my hands and feet were curling, my face was so hot that I felt like it would explode any time soon.

'He doesn't know whether the one he loves is prettier than me or not?'

"What did you say?"

I was so embarrassed and pushed Dylan's shoulder in shock.

"Are you a wo, wo, womanizer?"

"What?"

He briefly let out a breath as if he couldn't believe my question.

I quickly stood up from my seat, looking at his slightly tilted head.

"Dylan, you were like a total womanizer just now!"

"............."

"If you're done eating the sandwich, let's go back to work."

Notes:

[1] tongue rolling in one's mouth - a complete yes man to someone (they serve or boss) or simply be obedient

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