I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 26

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 26
At my words, the maids drew in a collective breath. Then they exchanged glances—
“Don’t worry at all! I’ll go grab the head cook by the collar right now—I mean, I’ll hurry back with more!”
“?”
“I’ll fetch more ingredients at once. If we shake down those Knight Order fellows, we can gather even tastier provisions from the Mountain Range—”
“??”
“Young lady. We’ve also prepared some truly delicious and sweet desserts for you, haven’t we? The kind that melt the moment they touch your tongue.”
The maids tumbled over each other with offers, then bolted from the room as if they’d made a pact.
“Wait, wait!”
I’d only meant to share the meal with others—!
In a blink, one had rushed to collar the head cook, and another had dashed toward the Knight Order barracks.
“Don’t fret, young lady. Those girls are quick on their feet—they’ll be back in no time,” the maid murmured cheerfully.
She pressed the utensils into my hands with a warm smile.
“So our young lady should eat at her leisure. We’ll see to the others’ meals right away.”
“Y-yes.”
“You needn’t speak so formally with us.”
“But I’m an outsider, aren’t I?”
Her hand faltered for just a moment. Then she smiled gently and continued.
“You’re a honored guest brought here by the Duke himself, young lady. Of course you may speak freely.”
“Even so—”
“It’s actually a rule of Bankadium that honored guests need not use formal speech.”
“A rule?”
“Yes. A protocol—something that must be followed.”
So honored guests must drop all formality. It was a curious custom indeed.
‘She doesn’t seem to be lying…’
Truth be told, I’d never been comfortable dropping my formal tone.
I’d watched people of higher station become callous to those around them—including me—simply because they could.
So I’d made a point of using respectful speech with everyone, hoping never to become like them.
But I was on someone else’s land now, and one should follow their customs. I decided to try, and nodded to show my agreement.
At my words, the maid broke into a bright smile. She patted my hand as I gripped the utensils firmly, then began helping me eat.
“Since you’re an honored guest, young lady, please don’t hesitate to call on us if you need anything at all.”
Honored guest.
Before I could even acknowledge her, that single phrase burrowed into my mind.
‘She called me honored.’
All my life, I’d heard only words like “vermin,” “lowborn,” “stupid”—nothing else.
‘Though it’s surely just courtesy.’
Yet my heart still raced at the sound.
* * *
After the meal ended.
I hastily combed my hair and made my way to the sitting room adjoining the bedroom.
The Duke had sent word he wished to see me.
‘I was curious about the situation anyway.’
A dragon escaping from Izutale—I couldn’t begin to imagine the fallout.
‘The Imperial Court certainly wouldn’t have sat idle.’
I dimly recalled from the past that a Lockdown Order and a Wanted Order had been issued. There’d been more, but the newspaper had arrived just after rain, soaked through.
The ink had run everywhere.
So I hadn’t been able to read exactly what punishments were imposed.
“The Duke is expecting you, young lady,” Mary called out.
Knock, knock.
The maid knocked gently and smiled at me as she announced my arrival.
“Mind the threshold, young lady.”
The door swung open with her gentle farewell.
The study was neat and classical in its décor, filled with the pleasant scent of old books.
I stepped carefully inside, my short legs moving as swiftly as they could.
“You came.”
Though he’d been reading documents, the Duke had known of my arrival at once.
“How did you know?”
“Your footsteps.”
“My footsteps?”
“Obviously. A child’s footfall is unmistakable.”
What exactly was a child’s footfall supposed to sound like?
Curiosity flickered across my mind, but—
“Why are you standing there?”
“Oh! Yes, yes!”
I snapped back to attention and scurried toward an empty sofa.
‘Where is she?’
I’d naturally assumed Veronica would be here, and my eyes darted around the room. The Duke rose from his chair and spoke.
“Veronica is away for the moment—checking on nearby conditions.”
“Nearby conditions? Is it because of the prison escape?”
“Yes.”
Without denying it, the Duke took the seat opposite me. He crossed his long legs with arrogant ease and fixed me with a slanted gaze.
I started carefully.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what.”
“For sleeping two whole days.”
I glanced at him sideways as I spoke.
“I tried to wake up faster—”
Who could have predicted I’d be knocked out cold for two days straight?
I’d never slept so much in my life.
“Never mind that.”
The Duke cut off my words with blunt dismissal and asked instead:
“Did you sleep well?”
“Pardon?”
“Did you get your fill of sleep?”
“Yes! More than enough!”
As if I’d been catching up on all the sleep I’d missed. Thanks to it, my condition now was better than ever.
“And you’ve eaten.”
“Yes! It was incredibly delicious, just as you said it would be.”
“…You remembered that?”
I nodded vigorously.
I remembered every word the Duke spoke, down to the smallest particle.
“Your injury.”
“My injury?”
“Your knee. From rolling across stones.”
“Oh!”
I recalled the spot the maid had treated.
“It doesn’t hurt at all now! The ladies were so thorough—”
“Good.”
It seemed answer enough. The Duke replied tersely.
“Don’t run about recklessly. An injury makes things troublesome.”
“Yes!”
I agreed entirely anyway. I had no desire to be a nuisance, careening about and burdening everyone.
Curiously, we saw eye to eye on that.
“You should have some idea why I called you here.”
“!”
At that, I straightened in my seat. Now, finally, the Duke came to the point.
“You promised me, didn’t you? That once you left Izutale, you would tell me how to clear my name.”
“…”
“We’ve escaped safely now, so I think it’s time we heard that story.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry.
In truth, I’d been preparing myself for this moment all along.
The fact that he’d summoned me privately made it obvious.
“From now on, there can be no falsehood in what you tell me.”
“I won’t lie.”
I too was desperate, but the Duke had risked his life to bring me out of that place.
I had to offer an answer worthy of that sacrifice.
“To put it simply at first—”
What should I say? How should I begin?
After my small head spun with the effort, I resolved to simply speak the truth.
Without hedging or evasion.
“To clear your name, you must infiltrate the Imperial Palace.”
“The Imperial Palace?”
“Yes.”
I nodded firmly.
The Duke questioned me with unmistakable doubt in his voice.
“I think I’ll need more of an explanation.”
“There’s something that must be found in the Imperial Palace.”
“What is it?”
“The Oath of Founding.”
“!”
For just an instant, the Duke’s perpetually calm face hardened.
“How do you know of that?”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————