TPECIAD 06

Chapter 6. I Was the Emperor’s Mistress, but I Started Living with the Grand Duke

Elise gently pressed her throbbing temples with her hands. She was inside a carriage heading toward the Grand Duke’s estate. Her closest friend, Reina, was sitting beside her. Opposite them sat a handsome man dressed in black, his arms crossed and eyes closed. Sitting face-to-face like this felt awkward, and even tense. Was it because he was someone she might one day have to kiss?

“It’s only been a day since I possessed this body, and everything is already so eventful.”

Aside from Roan kissing her on the neck, nothing particularly significant had happened—but regardless, she was currently the Emperor’s mistress.

However—

“Now I’m going to live with the Grand Duke?”

Strangely, this situation stirred a subtle sense of guilt, as if she were cheating. On top of that, it seemed like she would be dating and even having physical contact. But she was the Emperor’s mistress.

“Maybe even kissing…”

In a way, this entire situation was her own fault. In order to break the curse placed on her, she had to kiss the Grand Duke. And that kiss might not be a one-time thing—it could happen multiple times, and from what she heard, it might involve some very “adult” intensity. That thought alone had frightened her.

“So I was planning to start slowly, even just holding hands…”

She looked at the young, handsome man sitting across from her with his eyes closed. Not only was he visually striking, but he also possessed the greatest magical power in the empire.

“Come to think of it, the Grand Duke is just as outstanding as the Emperor in both looks and ability.”

In fact, in some ways, he might even surpass the Emperor. The reason the Mironica Empire was stronger than other nations was largely due to the Cremian Grand Ducal House, which had led wars to victory. Moreover, the power of that family came from the immense demonic magic of demons. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that the empire’s strength rested in the Grand Duke’s hands.

“How did such a powerful house end up serving the imperial family?”

She vaguely remembered that there was some explanation in the novel, but she couldn’t recall it clearly.

“Anyway, it’s nice to be away from the imperial palace!”

Whether because of the curse or her role in the novel, staying in the imperial palace would have meant certain death. She was deeply grateful to Demon for taking her to the Grand Duke’s estate to break the curse. Unknowingly, Elise looked at Demon with sparkling eyes. He still had his eyes closed. He hadn’t slept at all last night, staying awake in Elise’s room with Roan, holding her hand.

Fortunately, they had confirmed that even slight physical contact—such as holding hands or touching cheeks—allowed Demon’s magic to be absorbed by Elise. Even Demon had been somewhat surprised by the result, his red eyes briefly widening.

The alternative to a kiss—holding hands—had been Roan’s decision. And strictly under his supervision, only hand-holding was allowed. Elise had slept while holding Demon’s hand, and Demon had sat by her bedside, staying awake through the night with Roan.

“Like a small animal.”

The delicate movements of the doll-like beauty in front of him—sighing and pressing her head—could be felt even with his eyes closed. She seemed to fidget and glance at him while thinking to herself. But once they arrived at the Grand Duke’s estate, there would be mountains of tasks to deal with, so he needed to rest even briefly.

“Are you alright, Elise?”

Reina whispered into Elise’s ear, careful not to wake the Grand Duke. She was worried. Elise nodded gratefully.

Reina whispered again.

“I never thought we’d return to the Grand Duke’s estate together again.”

“…Huh?”

Elise froze for a moment. Return together?

“Ah! That’s right! Elise originally used to be a maid in the Cremian Grand Duke’s estate!”

Oh no! She had completely forgotten. Even when reading the novel, she hadn’t paid much attention to Elise as a character and had only focused on the fact that she was the Emperor’s mistress.

“Wait… but last night…”

A sudden memory surfaced.

“I greeted him saying, ‘Nice to meet you!’”

She had clearly introduced herself as if it were her first time meeting Demon. Technically, it was her first time seeing him in person. Elise silently screamed and covered her head, wanting to hide in a hole somewhere. She even wanted to punch her past self. She couldn’t understand what Demon had been thinking when he calmly responded to her greeting.

“Why are you acting like that, Elise? Is your head hurting again?”

Reina asked worriedly.

“N-no, I’m fine. I just remembered something.”

“Really? Maybe your memory is returning? Perhaps you’ll start recalling your past once we arrive at the Grand Duke’s estate.”

“Y-yeah, maybe…”

Seeing Reina’s hopeful expression made Elise feel a bit guilty. Sorry, my friend—but that probably won’t happen. I’m not actually Elise, so there’s no memory to recover.

“Anyway, this works out! I’ll use this chance to escape Roan and find a proper survival route!”

She also wanted to make plans for the future and explore this world from the novel. Although she was still under a curse, in the original story Elise was killed by the Empress—so being away from the palace would likely increase her chances of survival.

Elise activated her positive mindset. Thinking that way actually made her feel better. She had long forgotten any sense of guilt. After all, she wasn’t the real Elise, nor was she truly in a romantic relationship with Roan or Demon.

“Are you tired?”

At some point, the Grand Duke had opened his eyes and was speaking. Hearing his calm, gentle voice made Elise’s face flush without her realizing it.

“No, thanks to you. I slept well.”

Whether it was her imagination or not, she felt she had been able to sleep peacefully last night because of him. In fact, she seemed to have slept better than usual.

“I’m glad. We’ll arrive shortly.”

“He seems like the type who takes care of others more than he shows. People like that are usually very attentive when in love.”

That was why so many readers of Empress Psyche had been drawn to his charm. Elise herself didn’t dislike the fact that he was checking on her condition so attentively.

“And he’ll also break the curse. Roan ordered him to do so with all his might.”

“To break the curse no matter what.” If the real Elise had heard that, she would have been moved to tears.

It truly made her feel how real her transmigration into the novel world was. The existence of such impossible events—and her unrealistically beautiful appearance—constantly reminded her that this was not her original reality.

“Ah! Will I be able to return to reality?”

For now, she just needed to survive here.

As he had said, the carriage had already entered the Grand Duke’s territory.

Elise stepped down from the carriage with Demon’s escort. Wearing a soft pink chiffon dress and a wide-brimmed white hat, she looked as graceful and delicate as a butterfly dancing in the air.

“Wow, she’s still as beautiful as ever!”

“She looks even prettier than before.”

People inside the estate whispered as they watched her. Even though her hat covered most of her face, it was obvious from afar that it was Elise. Even when she had been a maid in the Cremian Grand Duke’s estate, she had stood out among hundreds of similarly dressed maids for her extraordinary beauty. Anyone who had seen her before would naturally say she was the most beautiful person they had ever encountered.

After becoming Roan’s mistress in the imperial palace, she seemed to have matured and become even more beautiful. Bathed in sunlight, she looked almost divine, as if a goddess had descended.

Everyone in the Grand Duke’s estate admired her breathtaking beauty.

Late the previous night, they had received notice of an unexpected guest and had to prepare quickly. Though surprised at first upon hearing the guest’s identity, they accepted it once they were told she had come for treatment.

“Welcome back, my lord. And welcome, Lady Elise.”

The butler Jeremy and the Grand Duke’s aide Heim greeted them at the entrance.

“Thank you.”

Elise politely bowed in response.

Turning to her, Demon quickly spoke:

“Lady Elise, I have urgent matters to attend to. I will visit you shortly. Jeremy will escort you to the guest room, and Heim, come with me immediately.”

Without delay, Demon disappeared.

“This way, please.”

The elderly butler guiding her had a kind and gentle demeanor.

“Thank you.”

Elise was pleased with her first impression of the Grand Duke’s estate. The buildings were as large and grand as the imperial palace, yet the interior was neat and comfortable, giving off a calming atmosphere everywhere.

“I heard you’ve come here for treatment due to memory loss. Please feel at ease during your stay.”

So everyone already knew! She didn’t know who had explained it in advance, but she was grateful.

Reina followed behind Elise.

“This is it.”

“Wow…”

Elise stepped into the room with delight. Sunlight poured in through a large window, illuminating a beautiful space overlooking a well-maintained garden. Though not as extravagant as the imperial palace, everything in the room was elegant and refined, perfectly to her taste. A pleasant floral fragrance filled the air, soothing her mind.

“Wow… this is really amazing!”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“I don’t just like it—it’s perfect! I love it!”

Elise felt genuinely happy. It felt like she was being rewarded for the memories she had lost, the pain of the curse, and the fear of death. She never imagined she would be so happy after being transmigrated into a novel world.

“Please let us know if you need anything else. We will prepare it for you.”

“No, this is enough since Reina is with me.”

Seeing this, the butler Jeremy smiled warmly and left the room, telling her to rest comfortably.

“Reina, isn’t this place wonderful?”

Completely absorbed in the moment, Elise failed to notice that Reina’s gaze behind her was somewhat different from usual.

And then—

A voice echoed.

[Elise…]

“Good heavens!!”

She hadn’t expected to hear that voice again so soon. The overwhelming fear that struck her in that moment of happiness left her unable to move.

[I’ve been waiting.]

Unlike yesterday, there was no crushing pain, but her entire body tingled as though electricity was running through it, leaving her frozen. Then, at the next words, Elise turned pale.

[Tonight… come to me.]

She knew it.

Tonight, it would begin—the convulsive pain.

Elise’s face was filled with terror.

Meanwhile, Demon and Heim were in a meeting with their vassals in the office.

“For now, please focus entirely on that matter. It would be best to extract as much as possible.”

“Yes, Your Grace. We will do our utmost.”

They were about to move on to discussing issues of monopolization within the territory when—

“Y-Your Grace!”

Jeremy rushed into the office.

“What is it?”

There was only one reason a composed butler would enter in such a hurry.

Something had happened.

“Lady Elise has collapsed.”

Already?

Barely half a day had passed, and the curse had been activated again. The caster behind the curse must possess extraordinary magical power.

Demon immediately stood up.

“Postpone all other matters!”

He rushed toward the guest room where Elise was staying. Jeremy followed closely behind him.

“She hasn’t lost consciousness, but she suddenly collapsed and was trembling.”

“And the maid who came with her?”

“Reina was beside her, but she seemed just as shocked.”

“….”

He had suspected as much since the imperial palace, but this was not the time.

As he ran toward the guest room, Elise’s face from inside the carriage—when she had been pressing her head in pain—flashed in his mind.

“I thought she would be safer here than in the imperial palace!”

Unknowingly, concern for her surged within him, making him anxious.

He quickly arrived at the guest room and entered through the open door.

Seeing Elise on the bed, covered in a blanket, Demon’s heart sank.