I Seducing the Black-Hearted Duke Wasn't Me - Chapter 11

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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 11
“Now that I think about it, you were working through the night yesterday too! For someone in your condition, health is what matters most. I really think you should cut back on your work for a while. What if you’ve already conceived……”
A child? Hardly.
“Lora. Please, calm down. Do you think children come that easily?”
“But still! You have to look at the sky to pluck a star, don’t you? And…you saw it yourself? That star. Holding both hands tightly with His Highness.”
And it wasn’t just any sky, either. It was Leon Obsidian—an impossibly vast and magnificent sky—Lora exclaimed.
‘Yes, I saw that sky. The problem is, I didn’t see it with my own eyes.’
“Now that I think about it, I feel rather cheated.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing. Just talking to myself.”
I shook my head, dismissing it.
My true feelings had tumbled out without warning.
‘If only I had memories of it, I wouldn’t feel this cheated.’
Yet here I was, caught up in something I’d never done.
I had no idea where to turn with this grievance.
“In any case, it was only one night.”
“One night, you say. But there’s no law saying it only happened once, is there?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“Exactly what I said. What if you looked up at the sky multiple times that day…?”
……
Good heavens. Lora.
The sheer unexpectedness of that angle left my mind reeling.
But unfortunately, there was no way to verify it.
What was I supposed to do? Ask what, exactly?
‘Listen, I’m terribly sorry, but…how many times did we, uh, that day?’
I couldn’t possibly ask it like that.
The mere thought of it made me dizzy, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
“Oh my, what on earth are you imagining to close your eyes like that? You must be remembering something quite dizzying?”
“I’m being serious right now.”
“Come now, what’s there to be serious about? You should be thrilled! After all, it’s Bernstein, the Grand Duke!”
Lora, positively trembling with excitement, clenched her fists and cried out.
“When he was a Priest, yes, he was burdened with labels like forbidden and fraudulent, but now he’s simply an ordinary man. No—the perfect matrimonial prize that every young lady in Orden covets!”
……
“And such an extraordinary man, you have now won for yourself, my lady!”
That’s not true.
I didn’t do anything. He simply rolled into my hands the moment I opened my eyes.
“And that’s not even all! The other ladies have been subtly looking down on you this whole time. Especially that vixen, Oscar, Countess of that house!”
Lora ground her teeth merely at speaking the name.
“She lorded it over high society and maligned you, turning the other noble ladies against you!”
Lora continued, warming to her theme.
“And her brother too! He was always pestering you about your marriage prospects. Once word spreads that you and His Highness are…everyone will be in an uproar.”
Just imagining it made my chest feel hollow with satisfaction.
Lora added, laughing wickedly.
“We must tell the servants at once and let the rumors spread……”
“No! Absolutely not! No one else can know about this!”
“But…why?”
At my urgent outburst, Lora looked at me with clear displeasure, asking why I was stopping her when she was so eager to spread the word.
‘Of course, it’s not that I don’t understand Lora’s feelings.’
How much Lora had cared for me.
But this—this was absolutely impossible!
‘My own heart hasn’t settled yet. Besides, I haven’t even finished talking with the other party about it!’
“Listen to me, Lora. I’m telling you this in confidence, so you must swear not to breathe a word to anyone.”
“What are you about to tell me?”
Lora’s expression grew anxious, as though dreading what came next.
I took a deep breath and spoke gravely.
The truth is……
“I did it, yes, but I don’t remember any of it.”
“Pardon?”
“I did commit this act, but I have absolutely no memory of that day. It’s as though I opened my eyes and found myself in that situation. Something that happened without my knowing…well, I did give my consent, of course.”
That came out wrong. No matter what I said, it sounded strange.
But there was nothing I could do about it.
Possession, another soul—either way, telling the truth wouldn’t make them believe me.
Unfair as it was, it seemed better to take responsibility for the accident myself.
So I did my best to explain it to her.
“Duke.”
Lora, who had been silent until then, stared at me intently before breaking into a gentle smile.
I felt a moment of relief, thinking she’d understood my intention.
“Are you joking now? Surely you’re not suggesting we just pretend none of this happened because you can’t remember it, are you?”
“What—what?”
“Good heavens! I didn’t raise you to be such an irresponsible person!”
What was she talking about? I had a separate governess.
Besides, there was only a four-year age gap between us.
She’d helped me in various ways behind the scenes, certainly, but did that really count as raising me?
Lora looked at me with profound disappointment.
Worried she’d write me off as irresponsible trash who caused accidents without fixing them, I quickly forced a smile.
“N-no, of course not. What I meant was… I don’t remember how many times I looked at the sky. Yes, that’s what I was trying to say.”
“That’s right? Phew, I almost lost faith in you for a moment there. Our duke has such an extraordinary sense of responsibility!”
“…Right. Take away my sense of responsibility and I’m a corpse. A corpse.”
I laughed awkwardly and nodded jerkily.
The Quill Pen in my hand felt damp with cold sweat.
“Exactly. So even if you said you wouldn’t take responsibility because you can’t remember, it wouldn’t matter.”
“What?”
“You saw the article, didn’t you? Now that the Grand Duke himself has confessed everything, he’s facing immediate dismissal from office. What do you think that means?”
“W-what does it mean?”
“His Highness feels responsible for this matter too. After all, he’s the former Priest and commander of the Holy Knight Order!”
Lora laughed with satisfaction, saying they were truly a match made in heaven.
As for me, the world around me seemed to grow darker.
“But why did you ask me not to tell anyone?”
Lora shrugged, adding that she could run out and spread the word immediately if she were given permission.
“I need time to think. This isn’t just any matter—it’s a question of my entire life. It’s not a decision to be made in just a few days.”
“I understand that, but…”
Lora’s lips moved as if she had something to say, but when she saw my serious expression, she closed her mouth again.
“Very well. But I’m worried it might be difficult. Everyone is desperately trying to find out who has won the Grand Duke’s heart.”
“Don’t worry about that. They’ll never suspect it’s me.”
Even as I said it, a hollow laugh escaped me.
Who could possibly imagine Erna Zahereth as his beloved?
Even if I racked my brain a hundred times, I’d be lucky to come up with this pairing once.
Yes, so everything would be fine for now. There was no problem.
I was certain of it then…
* * *
“What are we going to do now?”
“…”
“You said it would be fine! Just so you know, I didn’t say a word to anyone!”
Lora cried out in distress.
At her words, I pressed my lips tightly together.
Indeed. What on earth had happened?
[EXCLUSIVE] The Grand Duke’s Woman Revealed at Last? She is None Other Than ‘Duchess Zahereth’!
[SCOOP] Even the Palace Didn’t Know?! The Grand Duke’s Secret Romance Shakes Orden High Society! Who Is ‘Erna Zahereth,’ the Woman Who Stole the Grand Duke’s Heart?
[PREVIEW] Why Did the Grand Duke Choose Her? All the Pieces Finally Fit Together. …The rest of the story will be released in three parts through <The Crimson Rose Bulletin>!
The desk was covered with newspapers and gossip sheets, all plastered with my name.
If only it had ended there.
[EXCLUSIVE] ***PHOTO OBTAINED!***
[…According to photographs obtained by our reporters, Grand Duke Bernstein was spotted visiting the Zahereth residence yesterday afternoon.
He entered the mansion without hesitation, and servants were reportedly unsurprised by his visit, according to consistent witness testimony…]
[…Accordingly, High Society experts suggest that ‘this is far too natural for a first visit,’ leading them to speculate that the relationship between the two has been progressing for quite some time…]
…Damn it!

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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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