So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 27

Chapter 27

The silk shirt draped loosely over the Grand Duke’s upper body was completely undone at the front.

I did my best to force my gaze elsewhere and look him in the eyes instead.

…Huh?

Something was off.

Those hydrangea-blue eyes—usually sharp, clear, and alert—were strangely clouded tonight.

They were open, but it felt like his mind was somewhere else entirely.

Still… I’m relieved it’s him.

I didn’t trust Xavier Celeste completely, but if it had been some unknown man instead, that would’ve been far worse.

Just then, he started walking toward me in long strides.

Startled, I stumbled backward.

Noticing my reaction, he paused and slowly lifted both hands, as if to show he meant no harm.

“I wasn’t trying to scare you,” he said quietly.
“Don’t be afraid.”

“……”

…Why does he sound like that?

If we were even a little closer, I might’ve blurted it out without thinking.

Where did his usual cold, emotionless tone go?

This was… weirdly gentle.

Uncomfortably so.

Suspicion only deepened—and as if amused by it, Xavier let out a soft chuckle.

“Renée.”

“…Me?”

“Yes. You.”

I stared at him warily.

You’ve been calling me ‘Renée Blanche’ in full every single time, and now suddenly this? What kind of trick is this?

He’d always used my full name—coldly, deliberately.
A reminder that this marriage meant nothing to him.
That I wasn’t acknowledged as Renée Celeste.

Honestly, I’d never cared.

Names, titles—whatever. His approval meant nothing to me.

And yet—

“I’ve thought this before,” he continued casually,
“but your name is beautiful. The sound of it is… soft.”

“…Why are you acting like this all of a sudden?”

My heart was pounding, and I forced my voice to stay sharp.

This version of him was far too unfamiliar.

Had he been enchanted by some mental-type monster?
Because otherwise, this personality shift made no sense.

He looked like the same man—but felt like someone else entirely.

With his relaxed clothes and easy smile, he seemed nothing like the sharp, unapproachable man I knew.

Normally he’s all edges and tension… but right now?

He looks like some kind of Casanova.

Honestly, in this state, he could probably charm anyone alive.

The real problem was—

—it might work on me too.

No! Get a grip. Remember all the awful things he’s said!

Ugh. Why am I so weak to a good face?!

“What are you doing out here?” he asked.

I shrugged, pretending I was unfazed.

“That’s my line. Why are you wandering around at this hour?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“…Same,” I replied, then hesitated.
“But—aren’t you cold?”

I tilted my chin toward his chest.

Button. Your. Shirt.
Stop summoning my inner demons!

“Hmm?”

He glanced down at himself, looking mildly surprised.

“Oh.”

Then—

“Yeah. I am.”

“Then shouldn’t you go back inside and—”

Before I could finish—

He stepped forward.

And in one smooth motion, Xavier Celeste pulled me straight into his arms.

“!!!”

S-so, in other words—

Between him and me, something called a hug had just happened.

A very unfortunate incident.

I froze like a statue.

“W-Why—why—why are you doing this?!”

“Cold…”

Lowering his head, Xavier rubbed his cheek against the top of my head, almost like he was sulking.

It didn’t seem like a lie.

His entire body was ice-cold.

The chill seeped straight through my skin, sending shivers racing from my toes to the top of my head.

And at the same time—

Something unfamiliar bloomed in my chest.

Maybe because of that, my heart had been pounding uncontrollably for a while now.

So fast it almost felt like it might burst.

But there was something even more concerning.

I definitely saw it earlier…

More than the hug itself, I clearly remembered his bare feet, revealed in the moonlight.

That alone was proof that Xavier wasn’t in a normal state.

But why… am I not scared?

If anything—

He seemed a little… pitiful.

No. No, absolutely not.

I shook my head hard and deliberately pulled myself out of his arms, forcing myself to be cold.

I didn’t want him to see me flustered. Not even a little.

Surprisingly, he let go without resistance.

It seemed true—he really hadn’t meant to frighten me.

“L-Let’s go inside, at least.”

With no better option, I guided him into the cabin.

Despite his large frame, Xavier followed closely behind me like a big dog sticking to its owner.

“So this is it,” he said, glancing around with interest.
“I’ve lived in the Grand Ducal Castle my entire life, but this is my first time inside here.”

Every corner of this cabin bore my touch.

Look at this place. It’s great, isn’t it?

For some reason, I felt oddly proud and brushed my nose smugly.

Then came his review.

“It looks like a storage shed.”

…Right. His social skills were still completely broken.

“Is that really something you should say in front of the person who lives here?”

I shot back irritably.

There you are.
Now this feels like the Xavier Celeste I know.

I wondered why he’d been acting so mild earlier—turns out he was still the same guy.

“Hmph.”

Deciding I wouldn’t bother arguing anymore, I turned sharply and dragged him toward the bed.

If he was cold, I’d cover him up and let him sleep, then head to the main building to get help.

“Lie down for a bit and stay under the blanket. I’ll add more firewood—”

Before I could finish—

“Don’t go.”

“Ah!”

Half-seated on the bed, Xavier suddenly yanked my hand.

Naturally, I stumbled forward, my face colliding with his broad chest.

It didn’t hurt—he must’ve held back.

But—

Isn’t this way too close to his chest?!

Ever since earlier, he’d been trying to turn a wholesome all-ages romance novel into a 19+ one!

This is not okay!

I screamed silently inside, pouring all my complaints into the void where no one could hear them.

Meanwhile—

Xavier simply lay back fully, shifting around to get comfortable, clearly intending to sleep.

With me completely on top of him.

“Uh… excuse me—this—”

I peeked at his face.

His eyes were already closed.

Ugh. He’s so solid…

I tried pushing against him in protest, but he didn’t budge an inch.

After squirming uselessly for a bit, I gave up and settled in with a quiet to hell with it.

Once I imagined him as a stone bed, it got easier to calm down.

“……”

Unlike earlier, warmth was now steadily radiating from his body.

I’d always thought that thing—people clinging together to share warmth during snowstorms or winter accidents—was just a romantic trope learned from media.

Turns out it was real.

Well, penguins do it too, don’t they?

They huddle together to survive the Antarctic.

Exactly! This is just like penguins surviving the cold!

So this—

This is unavoidable. Completely unavoidable.

“…Ha.”

Yeah. I knew it was nonsense.

But without telling myself that, my brain really felt like it was going to overload and explode.

What kind of situation is this, seriously…

As I was half-laughing at my own ridiculous rationalization—

“I keep thinking about you…”

The low voice of Xavier Celeste, whom I’d thought was asleep, slipped into my ear.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Through our touching bodies, I could feel his heartbeat.

Strangely enough, it felt peaceful.

Just like this dawn.

Under the quiet glow of the full moon,
with faint cricket sounds spreading through the night,
only the steady rhythm of a heart filled the silence.

I couldn’t even tell whether the pounding I felt was his—

or mine.

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly.

Because I was afraid of what thoughts might come next.

And then—

Xavier Celeste continued speaking.