Chapter 109
Ruan immediately recognized that ring.
Its dazzling appearance was unmistakable once seen.
It was undoubtedly the ring that had caused Ruan to mistakenly believe the Grand Duke had someone else, and the same ring that was ultimately presented to Ruan last night, dispelling that misunderstanding.
Realizing that all the previous head-butting had actually been the Grand Duke’s courtship, Ruan’s heart swelled and they began kissing, temporarily forgetting about the ring…
‘When did this end up on my finger?’
As Ruan was looking at the ring that had been placed without their notice, the Grand Duke, who had been nibbling on Ruan’s finger, said:
“I put it on. I didn’t understand why carrying around such a cumbersome object was considered courtship…”
The Grand Duke’s satisfied gaze fell on the ring.
“But when I heard the knights say it’s both courtship and a mark, I understood. Humans can’t smell well, so they need things like this. That’s why I deliberately chose something very visible. Do you like it?”
After saying this, the Grand Duke licked from the inside of the ring-bearing finger to the fingertip. Ruan looked at the Grand Duke, who was holding their hand and looking up at them.
‘Ah. I see.’
Ruan, who had been flustered and confused by the unfamiliar situation, finally realized what the impractically designed ring meant.
It was like the clumsy kiss that was close to a head-butt.
And it was like the incredible flowers and band that Ruan had heard were brought to the mansion but never actually saw.
It was also like the embarrassing statements made to avoid misunderstandings.
A smile spread across Ruan’s face, which had been blank with confusion.
‘That’s right.’
It wasn’t just Ruan who was experiencing this for the first time and feeling confused.
Just as this was Ruan’s first time dating a cat, it was also the Grand Duke’s first time dating a human. The Grand Duke was equally full of unknowns and clumsiness.
Given how inexperienced and ignorant they both were in this relationship, every day might be full of shocks and incidents. There would likely be many more surprising moments like just now.
But what did it matter if things were a bit of a mess? Even if their steps were clumsy and stumbling, each one would bring them closer to each other.
Ruan’s heart had fluttered at the Grand Duke’s awkward kiss, and the sudden proposal, despite leaving behind all the preparations, was the most touching confession Ruan had ever heard. The night spent with the Grand Duke, though physically demanding, was nonetheless happy. If all those clumsy steps were taken with this lovable person, they would be as perfectly matched as a pair of straw shoes, bringing nothing but happiness.
Thinking this way made everything seem alright. The confusion that had briefly occupied Ruan’s mind gave way to bubbling excitement.
‘Besides… every relationship is a first-time experience in its own way, isn’t it?’
After all, isn’t dating about listening to each other and gradually aligning your frequencies? Their differences might be more pronounced since the other party was a cat-person, but in the end, the essence of dating remained unchanged. They were simply facing a more colorful romance.
So what Ruan needed to do now was not to be frightened by their differences.
Ruan pulled on the Grand Duke’s hand that was holding theirs. Despite briefly wincing from the lingering muscle pain, Ruan managed to draw the hand closer and lowered their head. They began to rub their cheek and eyes against the firm back of the Grand Duke’s hand, just as the Grand Duke did when showing affection to Ruan.
Although it wasn’t a planned action, the feeling of the warm hand against their skin was pleasant. Ruan laughed softly, their throat vibrating slightly. In response, a low purr came from the Grand Duke’s direction. This made Ruan laugh even more.
‘Come to think of it, there are advantages to dating a cat.’
“Your Grace.”
At Ruan’s call, the Grand Duke perked up their ears towards Ruan. Looking at those furry ears, Ruan said:
“Did you know? There’s actually another form of physical affection that humans engage in when they become lovers, besides kissing.”
The Grand Duke’s ears twitched as they asked:
“What is it?”
Instead of answering immediately, Ruan rubbed their cheek against the Grand Duke’s hand once more. It was firm and warm. But Ruan knew very well another form this large hand could take.
‘Soft, squishy grape jelly…’
Recalling the Grand Duke’s charming feature that Ruan, as a butler, couldn’t help but covet despite knowing it was untouchable until now, Ruan smiled brightly and said:
“It’s holding hands. It’s almost the first step for lovers, you could say it’s a basic condition of being a couple.”
Ruan’s thumb subtly caressed the Grand Duke’s palm. It was the part that would have been the most plump and soft if the Grand Duke were in cat form.
Until now, Ruan couldn’t do anything about it, but now…
“Your Grace, aren’t you tired from being in human form for so long? How about changing back to your cat form and resting? And while you’re at it, if you could hold hands with me…”
As Ruan looked at their own hand with eyes brimming with desire, the Grand Duke, who had been quietly observing, spoke:
“As you know, I’ve been talking frequently with the knights recently. There’s one phrase I learned from them.”
Surprised by this unexpected response, Ruan shifted their gaze from their han… paws to the Grand Duke. As their eyes met, the Grand Duke calmly uttered the phrase they had recently learned:
“It’s called ‘pulling a fast one.'”
Pulling a fast one? Our cat is saying something like that?
While Ruan froze, stunned by the unexpected words from the cat’s mouth, the Grand Duke continued:
“When one knight was talking about his courtship experience, the other knights criticized him, calling it ‘pulling a fast one.’ What you’re saying now sounds very similar to what that knight was saying.”
“…”
“Don’t try to pull a fast one on me.”
Hearing these firm words, Ruan thought:
If I play it right, maybe I can trick… no, that’s not right. It’s not a lie. I thought I might be able to touch the jelly pads if I could just convince them. Cats really do become incredibly smart when they need to be.
Licking their lips in disappointment, Ruan mulled over what the Grand Duke had just said.
Come to think of it, the knights…
‘Now that I think about it, earlier they mentioned that the knights had told them about the ring too.’
Just leaving me out and what kind of conversations were they having with those guys…
“Could it be that your recent close association with the knights was to talk about romance?”
To Ruan’s question, the Grand Duke replied as if it were obvious:
“Who else would I ask about human courtship methods?”
Not just talking about romance, but specifically asking about courtship methods?
Suddenly, a sense of unease surged within Ruan.
“By courtship methods, you mean…”
As Ruan cautiously inquired, the Grand Duke answered readily:
“How to propose marriage, that is. They gave me a lot of advice.”
The Grand Duke’s eyes, seemingly recalling the conversations with the knights, scanned Ruan’s figure. The result of proposing as per their advice was Ruan, now standing before them, covered in the Grand Duke’s scent and clinging to them.
The Grand Duke, narrowing their eyes, added:
“There were many things they said that I didn’t understand at first, but it was quite an informative time nonetheless.”
The Grand Duke seemed very satisfied as they said this.
However, Ruan, having finally learned the content of the secret conversations they had been curious about, was not so pleased.
‘So that means…’
Does this mean all the knights knew that the Grand Duke was planning to propose to Ruan? Moreover, they knew the process and details intimately enough to offer advice on the preparations? Those nosy Reinke people who are obsessed with gossip?
Ruan felt a headache coming on.
Even when they had only seen the head-butting scene, such an enormous rumor had spread. Now, with the addition of personal involvement and details…
Although the rumor that had seemed far-fetched had now become somewhat true, that fact made it even more distressing.
As Ruan sighed from the headache, a sudden realization struck.
‘Wait a minute.’
Come to think of it, this isn’t just a matter of them knowing about the planned proposal.
Ruan recalled the moment they received the Grand Duke’s proposal the previous day. Their emotions had been so intense that they had forgotten part of it, but… all the knights who had come to escort the Grand Duke were gathered there. Ruan remembered Joachim’s clear eyes, filled with relief upon seeing Ruan emerge from the building unharmed.
And at that moment, Ruan, thinking their unrequited love had ended as soon as it was realized and despairing, had become excited by the Grand Duke’s sudden proposal…
Then, on the way to the mansion…
And even while going up to the bedroom after arriving at the mansion…
Ruan’s gaze shifted towards the sunlight coming through the slightly open curtains. The light was too bright to be dawn or early morning.
Moreover, after advertising where they were going to the whole neighborhood, and then until this time…
“Your face has gone pale. What’s wrong?”
Ruan looked at the Grand Duke with trembling eyes.
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
