I Just Wanted Revenge, But Everyone Loves Me - Chapter 49

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 49
The Duchess of Bancadium.
I’d seen mentions of her in the papers before.
Unfortunately, nothing flattering.
“You might not know this, but my elder sister left on a Long Journey some time ago.”
…….
“She loved books just as much as you do, so she practically lived in the Library. The books filling it now—our brother arranged all of that for her.”
By Long Journey, she meant the assassination a few years back. I’d heard she’d lost a child too, in that incident.
Only after listening to my sister’s words did I understand why everyone had reacted so strangely before.
It was already common knowledge that the Duke loved his wife.
I’d heard that when she was attacked and passed away, he’d been half-mad with grief.
To think she’d used that library.
“I stopped going in years ago too. Our brother’s the same.”
As I listened to my sister’s words, I lowered my gaze quietly.
‘It wasn’t that they stopped going.’
They couldn’t go in.
Because it was a space their beloved had often used. But my sister probably phrased it as having chosen not to go, out of consideration for me.
If she’d said they couldn’t enter a room they’d been avoiding all these years, it would mean they’d only forced themselves back in because of me.
“Everyone just felt strange about it. If you thought about our little one hugging that doll she sleeps with every night now—a toy she hasn’t seen in years—how would that feel?”
“……It would feel awkward.”
“Exactly. That’s what happened to us. I should’ve explained this earlier. We’re all a bunch of fools.”
“Oh, no! You and the Duke are… and even Master—you’re all so clever……”
“Ah, you’re too kind for your own good.”
“Squeeee!”
My sister pinched my cheeks, pulling them this way and that. The tears that had been flowing down my face dried up instantly.
“What I mean is, no one’s upset because of you, Karin. No one’s been hurt.”
…….
“We just weren’t ready yet.”
With those words, my sister lifted me up in her arms. Carrying me toward the table laden with dessert plates, she spoke.
“Look here, little one. If our brother was truly angry, would he have sent cake?”
…….
“You know how petty and narrow-minded he can be. If he was offended by what you said, he wouldn’t have sent something this delicious.”
“Really?”
“Yes, really really.”
My sister, having emphasized the point several times over, kissed my pouting cheeks.
“Look at our Karin with her face all puffy from crying. Makes me want to take a bite.”
“W-wait, I’m not food!”
“Ahahaha!”
My sister burst into laughter at my protest.
It was the same bright, clear laugh as always. As if to say she was truly fine.
Hearing that laughter return, my troubled heart settled a little.
“Sister.”
“Hmm?”
“Would it be okay if I ate this cake later?”
“Of course. But why? Don’t you want to eat it now?”
“I want to eat it with the Duke later.”
He’d been gone for a while now.
If he didn’t return until after evening, he’d certainly be hungry.
‘He takes care of me like this, yet he can’t even eat himself.
That shouldn’t happen.
‘I want to talk to the Duke about it too.’
My sister said she was fine, but the Duke might see things differently. I wanted to go see his face, apologize, and talk to him.
But I didn’t know when he’d be back.
“Yawn—.”
I’d have to nap first.
* * *
“You’re late, sir.”
Alexei, the butler, looked at his master with concern.
He’d left late in the morning, or so it seemed, yet when he stepped back through the threshold, the sun had completely set.
“Nothing urgent?”
“Nothing, sir. Ah, Miss Karin was reading with Miss Veronica before retiring to bed. However……”
“Did she eat the dessert?”
“She left about half of it, sir. But—”
“That’s enough. Knowing she ate some of it is sufficient.”
The important thing was that she’d eaten what he’d sent, even if only a little.
Satisfied with the report, Rodrigo naturally headed toward the bath.
But when he returned from washing……
“?”
Cake?
Seeing cake spread out in the Bedroom, Rodrigo came to an involuntary halt.
Standing frozen at the entrance, he found himself unable to explain this strange situation.
The cakes arranged on the guest table he usually used for reviewing documents were far more than one person could eat.
And on the sofa beside it—.
‘Why is the girl sleeping here?’
The child sprawled out on his sofa, blissfully unaware of anything, was snoring away contentedly.
…….
For Rodrigo, encountering such an absurd situation was unprecedented. He first shook out his damp hair. After drying it somewhat, he carefully approached the sofa.
“Hey, little one.”
Tap, tap—.
Though he touched her arm lightly, the child showed no sign of waking. Even calling out in a louder voice had the same effect.
She was completely sprawled out, and Rodrigo stared at her in exasperation.
‘Good grief. What is this.’
Who was the owner of this room, anyway.
Rodrigo, seated at the edge of the sofa, shook his damp hair once more.
Whether it was because he was considerably tired, or simply because he slept deeply by nature, the child didn’t wake no matter what he did beside her.
‘Surely not—’
She’d really fallen asleep on his sofa.
Staring at the sleeping child, Rodrigo slowly reached out his hand.
But before he could mindlessly stroke her hair—
Suddenly regaining his composure, Rodrigo quickly withdrew his hand.
Just as he was about to order the child taken away—
“Your Grace……”
“!”
Hearing that faint murmur, his legs froze in place.
Glancing back slightly, he saw the child still sleeping soundly—whether it was sleep talk or not.
Watching this, Rodrigo heaved a long sigh.
‘There’s no help for it.’
Under normal circumstances, it would’ve been unthinkable.
But with what had happened today, he couldn’t bring himself to turn her out.
Rodrigo decided to let the child sleep here tonight.
“Really……”
Looking at the cake, it seemed she’d waited for him and fallen asleep.
“What pointless effort.”
Yet despite his reproaching tone, Rodrigo turned toward the table again and reached out.
Piercing a sheet of cake with whipped cream on the fork, he popped it into his mouth.
“……Dreadfully sweet.”
Almost offensively so.
Rather like his mood at the moment.
* * *
The East Tower, lit by moonlight.
All twelve bells, even the one that was broken.
Hyacinth checked the time once more, having investigated the area based on what was written in the Letter.
It was almost 1 AM now.
The target would arrive soon.
Hyacinth pressed against the wall at the corner, holding as still as possible.
This sort of thing had to be fast—strike and flee.
Once a fight started, it would become terribly bothersome.
“Hyacinth.”
Just then, someone keeping watch in the area called out to him.
“……!”
A woman approached carefully from nearby.

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