The Male Lead Is Obsessed With Proposing to Me - Chapter 56
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- Illusion
Without allowing her the chance to back out, Benelucia took Senelia directly to Grand Duke Afron’s mansion.
He’d moved all her luggage to Senelia’s room without any rhyme or reason.
His plan: Get her in before she gets the chance to run.
“Greetings, Lady Senelia!”
Those greetings included all the employees at Senelia’s townhouse who had been moved to the Grand Duke’s estate.
“Your Highness! What are you planning now?!”
Naturally, Senelia and Benelucia started arguing the moment they arrived at Afron Mansion.
“I’ve got plenty of enemies, Sally. I’ll figure out who might harm the Grand Duchess and kick ’em out now before they get a chance to harm you.”
Unfortunately, ever since Benelucia had decided to do things his way, and ‘force’ Senelia to his side, he didn’t budge even when Senelia criticized him for his overbearing actions.
“The Daphnen’s townhouse will be sold by today.”
Actually, Benelucia took it a step further than just mere protection.
It seemed like he intended to use this opportunity to eliminate Senelia’s safe haven.
“Your Highness!”
Senelia was shocked and called out to Benelucia, but playing the ignorant, Benelucia shamelessly gave orders to the butler.
“Deacon, get someone to sell off the Daphnen townhouse immediately.”
“Ben!”
Left with no choice, Senelia nervously called Benelucia by his nickname.
Only then did Benelucia turn to look at her.
It was clear that the game-changer had come about, the man before her would no longer take no for an answer.
“No more townhouses, Sally.”
In any case, Senelia had to talk some sense into Benelucia before the butler could carry out his command.
“Are you seriously planning to go there without telling me if the opportunity comes about if we keep it, Sally?”
However, Benelucia seemed like someone who’d been plotting this moment for a while.
He wasn’t willing to give her another escape route after his hard work.
Whenever Senelia secluded herself in the townhouse, whenever they broke up or whenever Benelucia decided to house and entertain his guests, Benelucia had genuinely wanted to tear it down as he watched her leave.
“I’m not leaving you any hiding places. Never again.”
Senelia furrowed her brow at Benelucia’s response.
She realized that she couldn’t talk Benelucia out of it with rational persuasion.
Though the townhouse was Senelia’s, and it was naive to think she could just do whatever she pleased with it, especially in the face of power.
“…This is the home my father gave me. No matter what, I won’t forgive you if you lay a finger on it.”
In the end, Senelia poured out her true feelings.
She understood the attention to detail that Viscount Daphnen had put into gifting her the townhouse.
She didn’t want someone else to have a place where her father’s memory still lingered.
Nor could she stand it being destroyed.
“…Let me know when you’re going to the townhouse to visit then.”
As expected, Benelucia finally relented and spoke.
He felt guilty about Viscount Daphnen’s death, thus, Senelia had hit a nerve by mentioning her father directly.
Benelucia couldn’t be unreasonable any longer.
“I hope His Highness fares well and treats the Lady well, so Her Majesty the Grand Duchess won’t need to run away there.”
The moment Benelucia and Senelia returned to the mansion, the head maid’s voice cut through the commotion of the busy staff and gave her verdict on the situation.
Meijia, the head maid, had been Benelucia’s nanny and was one of the few people who could scold him without fear of retaliation.
“Head maid, it’s been a while.”
“I greet you, Your Highness the Grand Duchess?”
When Senelia greeted her, Meijia responded politely.
Though the head maid seemed reserved, Senelia, who had known her for six years, could tell that Meijia was genuinely pleased to see her.
“I’m very happy to finally address Lady Daphnen as my Royal Highness.”
Meijia added softly.
It was completely heartfelt.
She truly meant it, she was happy for Senelia and her master.
It didn’t escape Senelia’s notice that the head maid was referring to Senelia as Her Highness Grand Duchess, as if she and Benelucia were already married.
In retrospect, after all this time, Senelia realized that she had been able to stay at Afron Mansion without any discomfort largely due to the head maid’s efforts.
Senelia looked around Afron Mansion with a newfound perspective.
She had left Benelucia’s Mansion with the intention of staying away indefinitely, but she wasn’t sure she’d ever return.
Yet, now that she was back, it felt oddly unfamiliar.
“Would you like to come with me? The Grand Duke urgently requested the Grand Duchess’s room to be decorated… I’m not sure if it’ll meet your standards.”
Meijia proposed to Senelia.
Apparently, the room she had used before was a guest room, and now that she was in a different position, she couldn’t use the same room she’d previously occupied.
Today marked the official confirmation of Senelia and Benelucia’s marriage.
But right after that confirmation, Benelucia whisked her away to the Grand Duke’s residence so there wasn’t much time to prepare the room.
Just as Senelia was about to agree and accept her preposition, Benelucia beat her to it.
“No, I’ll show you the way, Sally.”
Benelucia extended his hand to Senelia, acting like it was Senelia’s first time at his estate.
It was kind of amusing and not too bad to keep the illusion of a fresh, new start, so Senelia willingly took his hand.
“If you feel like it’s not up to par, don’t hesitate to blame His Highness the Grand Duke, milady. Even though I told him repeatedly that I needed more time to perfect it, he insisted it be done in all haste.”
As Senelia and Benelucia ascended the stairs, the head maid trailed behind them.
For some reason, unknown to Senelia, the Grand Duke’s maids and servants swarmed after them.
Meijia seemed very concerned that the Grand Duchess had so little time to decorate her room to her tastes.
“Meijia, are you seriously too old to handle such a simple issue now? If that’s the case, I get it—”
“What’s wrong with you for saying such things?”
Listening to the mutters of the staff trailing behind them, Senelia couldn’t help but notice that the Grand Duke’s residence was unusually noisy today.
Everyone seemed unusually excited about something.
Without realizing it, she quickened her steps.
Their excitement seemed to rub off on her, and when she opened the door, it was filled with all her favorite things.
“This…?!”
“…Sally, I tried to pick things that resemble the items you often use as closely as possible, but I’m not sure if you’ll like them.”
Benelucia softly confessed with a hint of nervousness.
Even though Senelia had never explicitly mentioned her preferences, there were certain items she frequently used and touched during her stay at Afron Mansion.
To get a proper understanding of Senelia’s tastes, Benelucia had to dig deeper and discover all that she’d touched and liked to use carefully.
Benelucia’s genuine concern was puzzling.
Senelia had always been the one to understand first.
In love, just like in life, there were the strong and the weak—
—Oh, I get it now… Ben… You really love me.
Oddly enough, Senelia was reminded of this fact, just as she had been on the day Benelucia first confessed his love to her.
Those eight long years of solitude had made her accustomed to the idea that he didn’t love her.
…And that he never would.
“…Don’t you like it?”
Benelucia seemed to misinterpret the emotions that left Senelia at a loss for words.
He gazed at her with an anxious expression, hoping that she would be pleased with his efforts, yet afraid she would reject his choice.
If Senelia were to express any dislike, he was ready to change everything in the room right away.
In line with the Grand Duke’s seriousness, the head maid and all the employees behind her were on edge.
They waited, bated breath, for Senelia’s response.
“…I like it.”
Senelia responded after a momentary pause.
Benelucia, in disbelief, assumed he’d misheard and asked again.
“Really? If you don’t like it, just tell me honestly.”
“I truly like it, Ben.”
Senelia soothed his doubts.
“—Meow.”
As Senelia turned her attention to the room, a creature with light golden fur suddenly approached her feet.
A long-haired cat with green eyes?
“Oh my, you’ve been hiding ever since I brought you in…!”
A maid could be heard muttering in surprise from behind.
Despite the maid’s statement about the cat avoiding people all this time, it was now seeking Senelia’s attention eagerly by rubbing its body against her feet.
“Meow—”
When Senelia picked up the cat, it seemed content and nestled into her arms.
“…Why is there a cat?”
Senelia couldn’t tear her gaze away from the cat, seemingly captivated by its presence.
The cat was small, probably around 2-3 months old, and displayed extreme caution in its actions.
“I heard you had three cats back when you were in Daphnen territory.”
Benelucia’s words made Senelia pause.
Currently, there are no cats at Daphnen Mansion.
After Senelia left the Daphnen estate, the cats that had been raised there passed away one by one as they grew older.
Due to magical neutering, there were no kittens born to those cats.
Furthermore, afterward, her parents were preoccupied with social rumors about Senelia and marriage problems, leaving them with little time to even consider raising new cats.
Nor did Senelia didn’t feel it was right of her to bring cats into Daphnen’s townhouse, as she frequently traveled between there and the Grand Duke’s estate.
The Afron Manor wasn’t her home, and she hadn’t ever contemplated seeking permission to bring in a furry companion.
The adorable creature now nestled in Senelia’s arms was something she had given up on since meeting the terror known as Cliff de Helios.
“Sorry, Sally… Because I didn’t ask or notice…”
Benelucia apologized without realizing the depth of Senelia’s emotions.
Observing Senelia holding the cat with utmost care and affection, it was clear how much she missed that warmth.
Of course, taking care of a life wasn’t a simple task, but the Afron Mansion had everything in abundance.
Space and time for the cats, financial resources, and people to care for them.
“I’ll do my best to make you happy from now on.”
Benelucia promised, holding Senelia’s hand.
If this were a fairy tale, it might have been a delightful happily-ever-after.
…
But, unfortunately, this isn’t a fairy tale.
…Caw.
A crow was seen cawing outside the window.
Senelia’s gaze slowly shifted to the bird.
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Eve
oh no… now what??? please let them be happy already 🥹🫶