Honey, I Believe That’s Your Misunderstanding

—Really… ute.

‘What was that?’

Grace was dozing off up until now, but she rubbed the drowsiness from her eyes as she suddenly heard Lucas’s voice.

With her head feeling heavy, she looked around her, but Lucas Blacke was nowhere to be found today, yet again.

“Did I hear it wrong again?”

Grace raised her head upright, looked around carefully, but soon shook her head. It felt strange to hear the auditory hallucinations of the same kind, as if she’d been possessed by a ghost.

“But it’s definitely His Grace’s voice…”

She looked down at the back of her arm, where the shining archaic words still stayed. No matter how much she thought about it, it felt as if there’s something wrong with her body now, and it all started when this had been engraved upon her skin.

Evidently enough, what she had experienced was unusual, but there’s no one explaining it to her.

She only heard that it was related to the secret of their family, and it’s for this reason that she did not pursue any further questioning. She couldn’t very well press Jaime or Gabriel to answer her questions about House Blacke.

The only person who could give her the answers she wanted to hear was nowhere at all to be found.

Grace scanned her eyes around the quaint garden she was in. It was bright here, and the place was also so very well managed that the O’Ellin residence’s garden couldn’t compare even though it was full of various colorful flowers.

The pleasant scent of the flowers around her were carried by the warm, gentle breeze that was giving off a cozy feeling, but she couldn’t bring herself to feel comfortable.

Mumbling to herself, she kicked the gravel underneath her shoes for no reason.

“You said that you’ll give me all the love I’ve not received until now… But it seems you’re only stringing along someone else’s heart… You made it so that I’ll stay here temporarily, yet how could you go ahead and just disappear like that.”

Unconsciously, a grumbling voice leaked through her lips. There was no one around her to listen, but her face instantly went bright red because she had unknowingly voiced her slight resentment.

‘What did I say just now.’

She shook her head in a hurry, as if this would banish the thought from her mind. She knew very well that she couldn’t latch expectations on that fearsome man, nor could she lean on him for support. She didn’t know what brought her to say such a thing.

Here she was, thinking about all sorts of things just because her mind wasn’t occupied. Making up her mind, she decided to go back to her assigned guestroom, but at that moment—

Unbelievably enough, that same voice echoed in her mind again.

—…You’re feeling sad because of this?

“……!”

Shocked, Grace looked around sharply once more.

“W-What? I heard it again.”

She definitely heard it again this time. That was very clearly the voice of Lucas Blacke.

Grace’s pupils were shaking as she scoured her surroundings, then she carefully opened her lips to speak.

“Your Excellency…? Are you nearby?”

—Grace, you can hear me?

It truly was Lucas Blacke’s voice. Grace’s breath hitched and her eyes were wide open.

His voice was delivered clearly to her head, not through her ears, and it sounded so much more distinctly than before.

“What’s going on? I-Is it truly you, Your Excellency?”

—Yes, it’s me, Grace. You sound very surprised.

He was saying the most obvious thing so relaxedly. Grace scanned the area around her with infinitely shaking eyes. She had just gotten up from her seat, but she slumped back down again, one hand pressing down on her pounding chest.

“Just what in the world is going on?”

—I’m not quite sure either. I can’t tell you anything in detail yet as well. Can you hear my voice clearly?

“Yes, Your Excellency. Your voice sounds so clear that it’s almost immoderately excessive.”

She was so incredulous that she didn’t realize her own words either, but she heard him chuckling.

—I see. Actually… I heard what you said a while ago very clearly as well. Perhaps, do you miss me, Grace?

Oh goodness, oh lord!

“You said that you’ll give me all the love I’ve not received until now… But it seems you’re only stringing along someone else’s heart… You made it so that I’ll stay here temporarily, yet how could you go ahead and just disappear like that.”

Mortified to death, Grace panicked and snapped at Lucas.

“It is rude to eavesdrop on a lady, Your Excellency.”

—I apologize for doing so. I don’t mean to listen in, but I couldn’t help but do so.

“…Do you also hear my voice as if I’m speaking right next to you?”

—Yes, I hear your voice just like that. Very softly, as if you’re whispering into my ear.

Exactly how he said it, his voice dropped to a whisper as if to convey what she sounded like to him.

Nothing had touched her earlobes, but all of a sudden, she felt an electrifying sensation from her ears to her toes for no reason at all.

Trying not to gasp, she quickly lowered her voice.

“Then where in the world are you? Did you hear what I told Jaime? A strange pattern appeared on the back of my arm.”

—I’ve heard about it in great detail, don’t worry. Truthfully… I’ve never seen anything like it before either, so I’m still looking around.

“That riding crop, just what is it?”

—If I explain what the riding crop is, I would have to go touch upon the subject of my family’s generational secret… I apologize, but I can’t tell you this secret just yet. After I’ve confirmed what needs to be confirmed, I will be sure to tell you. Truly, I apologize deeply for making you feel nervous.

The voice that echoed in her head was so very polite that no more courtesy could be added on top of it after that. She couldn’t see him with her eyes, but she could feel that he truly felt remorseful towards her.

Grace took a short breath and, in a calmer voice now, asked.

“Will it take a long time?”

—It will take three or four days at the earliest, but not more than ten days at the latest.

Grace hesitated before asking again.

“Um, then… By any chance, would I not be able to meet Your Excellency during that time?”

Lucas remained silent for a moment. And when his voice came back, it sounded much gentler than before.

—Why, do you miss me?

But those words were definitely meant to tease her. Grace was taken aback.

Grace shook her head vigorously for some reason, denying it loudly with her actions even though he surely wouldn’t have seen it. She shouted back.

“Not at all! It’s absolutely not like that. It’s only… I feel a bit uneasy staying in a residence while the owner is not present, and I’m feeling quite anxious because an incident happened while Your Excellency is not here… In any case, you won’t be able to come back even if I ask, will you?”

Even she thought that she was clumsily rambling too much at this point. Grace had to clack her teeth together, tightly gritting to stop herself from sighing.

Listening all throughout, Lucas once again spoke with a low chuckle.

—I might show up, I might not. If you really want it, Grace, try saying it.

“What must I say?”

—‘I miss you.’ Please try and say it out loud.

No, but for her to say that kind of thing…

Rendered speechless, Grace’s cheeks went bright red.

She wanted to reply something in more of a blasé manner, but she struggled to say anything at all.

“You’re very playful.”

—This much is? But if I really set my mind to getting playful in earnest, I might just make you faint again, Grace.

As he continued to utter such words full of mischief, Grace was left very confused.

No, how could someone who’s being playful make someone faint?

“T-That sounds frightening, Your Excellency.”

—You have nothing to worry about, Grace. I’ll go only as far as you can bear.

‘…But really, what are you talking about?’

He’s talking about what, how much and the manner in which he’s going to be playful… right?

Grace wanted to ask more questions, but she urged herself to suppress her curiosity. She had a feeling that she might hear something she wouldn’t be able to handle.

Her face had gotten so hot, too, perhaps because the sun was shining very brightly.

She fanned herself with her hands for a moment and remained silent, looking around the garden.

—Grace?

“Hm? Oh, yes. Um, I’m here.”

—I got worried because you suddenly stopped talking.

“It’s just, well, it’s a little hot. Ahem. Then, going back, will I not be able to see you for a while? Please give me a real answer, not a joke.”

—That might be the case. I’m truly sorry. I invited you to my residence, but I can’t stay with you.

“No need to apologize, Your Excellency. You must have your own circumstances. Still, perhaps I should say it’s fortunate that we can still hear each other’s voice like this.”

As she said so while smiling quietly, Lucas went silent again.

Waiting for him to speak, she heard him clearing his throat before asking.

—It’s quite fortunate, yes. But aren’t you bored?

“No, I’m alright.”

—It looked like you were dozing off…

Gasp. How did he know that?

Eyes wide open as she felt embarrassed, Grace brought both hands to her face but tried her best to answer in a prim manner.

“…I dozed off only because the sun’s warmth felt nice. It’s not because I was feeling bored.”

—That’s a relief.

The sound of Lucas’s laughter brought color to Grace’s cheeks.

t/n: had to split this chapter in half because it’s literally twice the length of a normal chapter OTL

additionally, you could also substitute the word ‘playful’ with ‘coy’ or ‘naughty’ during Lucas and Grace’s conversation hahaha I just didn’t opt for it in the end because it would be too direct, and it wouldn’t make sense for Lucas’s innuendo to fly over Grace’s head if either of those words were used