The Monstrous Grand Duke’s Fake Lady

However, Knox began to pester her about it as he caught her slip of the tongue.

“How’s your back? Does it still hurt?”

“I, I don’t know.”

“Would you like it if I were to give you a massage? I do have a little knowledge on self-treatment, you know.”

Knox’s hand, which was restrained by Vivian, began to move again. She had no choice but to leave her seat with such a flushed face since his gestures seemed to not end anytime soon.

“I just remember there are a lot of things I need to prepare, so I’ll just take my leave for today.”

“My dear, wait…”

Even before Knox was able to catch a hold of her, Vivian was already sprinting out—just like a flying arrow. Knox was left to stare blankly at her running figure as such before he burst into laughter.

“Did I overdo it yesterday?”

He mumbled under his breath before turning his gaze to the desk. There was an ample amount of documents and letters, which he could barely see, piling up like a mountain on the desk that was located right at that one side of the room.

He gave a vacant stare on the desk, then proceeded to call for the butler.

“Did you call for me?”

“Read the party invitation that arrived recently.”

Immediately at Knox’s command, he opened the one that was just at the top of a pile of neatly arranged letters before he began to read it out loud.

Knox was rubbing his chin when the butler was reading the letter with his soft voice—all the way till the last sentence. After all was said and done, he finally took his hand away from his chin.

“It’s located over there… Then, there’ll be no problem for me.”

“Are you thinking of attending?”

“I was going to reject it, but I’ve changed my mind.”

“Then, I will go ahead and submit the application.”

Knox nodded to the butler’s words before gazing outside the window. It had been so long since the window curtain was lifted up and that was only because of the fact that she was the one who had always been visiting while nursing him.

Knox gradually rose from his seat when her voice that had expressed her distaste towards the darkness was ringing in his ear.

Roughly around that same time, Vivian had already run all the way back to the county. By the time she had given her report, the county was immediately turned upside down.

“What? Why is that person attending as well?”

The dress instantly dropped from the hand of the Young Lady, who had never neglected to dress herself up, even when she had just woken from her sleep. Her expression appeared to be filled with dismay—like she had plunged deep into the abyss.

“My Lady, that’s…”

“You’ve never been of any help at all! If you’re sick, then you should just lock yourself at home—why did you even come out?”

Her dread had only lasted for a while. Soon after, she began to start her violent attacks—even when she’d just been having her hair rolled earlier.

As she had erupted while hurling everything that was within her reach, those innocent targets happened to fall victim in getting broken once again.

This time as well, Vivian was already deemed as prey. Regardless of the fact that she was only reporting the details, she was still seen as a grave sinner in the eyes of Alexia.

Vivian could only shake her head in silence as she was terribly struck by the things that were mercilessly thrown. At any rate, Vivian just couldn’t bring herself to utter a single word. For the first time ever, she was feeling exactly the same as Alexia.

She had been desperately hoping that he wouldn’t participate. She even thought that it would be good for him to stay at home while enjoying some peaceful time for himself.

Vivian’s mind immediately went dizzy with the pervading thoughts on the things that he had to go through with those eyes of his, which could barely even see.

“No. That kid had come to this gathering as well, you know. She did say that she will not be attending with the Duke, which was why I had to put that helpless child back to her own place.”

She began to tap her nails nervously. She couldn’t really defer, considering all the money that she had already spent on this gathering. With that being said, it was absolutely much more difficult for herself if she were to entrust all of the affairs to an awkward substitute.