"Don't leave after messing me."
Her eyes shook at his words.
She secretly pinched herself to ensure she was no longer in her dreams. That the man in her front wasn't just an object created by the sly dreamcatchers, waiting and welcoming her with open arms.
She slowly stood while holding his gaze with her eyes. Standing face to face with him, she lifted her hand and... lightly slapped his handsome face.
"What....are you doing?" The Grand Duke asked with his brows furrowed.
Resting her palm on his cheek, she answered softly, "In my dreams, you were also standing like this waiting for me. So, I'm checking..."
Her palm touching his cheek exuded a bright light, and the traces of weariness and fatigue on his face vanished. His complexion became better.
When she finished, she pulled her hand back and started to speak.
"I....dreamed of my family. My father died when I was young...but in that dream, he was alive." She lowered her head and continued, "I have so many things I wanted to achieve and show him my accomplishments. But in my reality, both are impossible. He was dead, and I'm a disappointment so...."
She stopped speaking when her voice trembled. She always cried in the Grand Duke's presence, and it embarrassed her that he always saw her pitiful state. So, she stopped to prevent her tears from completely breaking out.
But her efforts were in vain when big and warm arms embraced her.
Tears started to fall. And she wondered why warm hugs are always capable of bringing out restrained emotions.
Sniffing in his arms, she asked a silly question, "Is it you, Olaf?"
The Grand Duke patted her back and answered, "No. But who even is that?"
She chuckled, but it turned into a muffled noise, "It was a fictional character in my world. A snowman who always gives a warm hug."
"How is that possible? Snow feels cold."
Mona hid her smile on the Grand Duke's coat and tightened her grip on them.
"It does. Yet it surprisingly warm..." She whispered. She squeezed his coat once more before wiping her tears rapidly and lifting her head again.
She was flustered after meeting the Grand Duke's eyes just a few inches away from hers. And she was sure, blood rushed on her cheeks. Hiding her flushed cheeks by lowering her head again, she breathed in and out repeatedly to calm her racing heart.
But it was hard for her heart to settle when the Grand Duke's hands weren't releasing her. So, putting both of her hands on his chest to keep her distance between them, she cleared her throat and began to speak again.
".... I intend to just stay for a week...but then I got greedy and... felt happy. Before I knew it, months passed already." She looked at him and continued, "When I decided it's time to go back... you appeared."
Staring at her intently, he replied, "What did the 'me' in your dreams do?"
"You...." Her words were paused after recalling the part of her dreams where the Grand Duke appeared. When she left her home and decided to go back, the dreamcatchers created him to seduce her into staying.
The dream became steamy and embarrassing. And if only she didn't feel guilty and embarrassed from having such desires, she was afraid it would convince her to stay longer. She felt blood rushing on her cheeks again, so she hardened her expression to hide her blushing. "...became my manservant."
The Grand Duke grimaced at her words and she gave him an apologetic smile. In the end, she couldn't tell him what kind of dream was it.
"Is that your deepest desire after all?" He asked with his eyes narrowed jokingly.
"No! Of course not!" But the Grand Duke's eyes didn't budge and only squinted more at her. "...well, I kind of imagine ordering you around once..."
The Grand Duke didn't answer and just stared at her. She tried to avoid his gaze but his hands cupped her face and focused them on him.
"I'll give you a chance to order me around. So, dreaming is unnecessary."
Her mouth gaped at his answer.
When the meaning of his words registered in her mind, she dared to order him to see if it was real, but got stopped when knocks came from the door.
"Come inside."
With the Grand Duke's permission, the door opened and Sandra stepped inside pushing a food trolley.
Mona immediately jumped away from the grand duke, but it seemed their position didn't bother her maid. She just casually parked the trolley beside the center table in her bedroom and calmly placed the meal above.
When she finished, she faced them and asked, "Do you want me to feed you, my lady?"
"What? No. I can eat by myself. Thank you." She answered while looking flustered.
"You can leave now. I'll serve her."
Sandra's eyes shifted to the Grand Duke, her expression looking incredulous and stunned. But when her master guided her lady towards the couch so carefully and lifted the lids of the plates, she sighed resignedly and let her job get taken from her.
Like the maid, the lady was too stunned to speak either. She was seated gently, and the Grand Duke even scooped her a spoonful of soup and fed her.
"Locked the door when you leave, else some garbage would come barging again."
Understanding who the garbage her master was referring to, Sandra replied instantly, "The garbage is currently being apprehended by Sir Marcus and Sir Lionel."
"Good. Tell them to incinerate if necessary."
"Your grace...." The Grand Duke ignored her and scooped another. He brought the spoon to her lips and she obediently ate the food.
"Yes, my lord," Sandra answered and whirled away.
"Sandra?!" She called out nervously. She was sure the Grand Duke wasn't someone who would kill an innocent, but she was also aware of how true was he to his words. Standing abruptly to follow her maid, the Grand Duke's free hand grabbed her wrist.
"Why do you care about the marquess so much?"
She bit her lips and answered him, "She was Luna's only genuine family. I'm just... being considerate."
"Do you feel like he's your brother as well?"
"... I think there's nothing wrong if I treated him kindly…"
"Do you like him?"
"No!" She yelled immediately. "He is my brother!"
The last words she spoke froze her. She felt like saying those words and calling Luven her brother was natural. The words flowed from her mouth as if it came from the body's owner herself. But she's already the owner, so it confused her why she acted like that.
"…your brother..."
Mona flinched at the coldness of the Grand Duke's voice. She knew that the relationship between the marquess and him wasn't great, so she was quite anxious that he would misunderstand her.
She heard an exasperated sigh followed by a tongue clicking.
"I hope you're not treating me as merely your brother as well."
"... huh?"
"I don't want to be your brother."
"...uh...huh?"
"Call me by my name as well."
"Huh?!" She waved her hand in his face to stop him from speaking, then analyzed his words. After thinking it through, she asked in an unsure way, "Wait...are you jealous?"
The Grand Duke raised his brow and responded, "For what? That the garbage being your brother? No. But you calling him by his name casually, yes."
She was amazed at how the Grand Duke's face didn't show any embarrassment or shyness from admitting his jealousy. Unlike her who blushed quickly at every touch and little things he does for her.
That's why it was really difficult for her to determine the Grand Duke's affection towards her. Was it the same as she felt? Mona wondered and hoped that it was.
"Is it really.... okay to address you by your name only? Your people might dislike it." She replied awkwardly.
"You'll be surprised if you see how my people praise you now." He answered while slicing a piece of bread and feeding it to her.
Shocked at what she heard, Mona asked while looking bewildered, "How come...?"
"You saved Duke Wynzel's successor, and because of that, trades with the southern markets became easy and their products' prices have been adjusted and advantages lean on our side more. The duke also kept showing his gratitude to the entire duchy as well."
And Mona only remembered about the duke and his son after listening to him.