I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 36

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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 36
“…What?”
“Pardon?”
Not just the Priest, but Lucy and his attendants all stared blankly back at him, mouths agape.
Edward fixed his gaze on the Priest, who had repeated himself so stupidly.
“I’m telling you, this woman is not an object—she’s my fiancée.”
“Your… fiancée?”
“Are your ears as ugly as your face, or do you simply not understand speech? Is everyone from the Temple like this?”
As Edward reached toward the short dagger at his waist as though he might enlarge the Priest’s hearing, the man flinched and stepped back.
Lucy’s ears, slow to process what was happening, began to flush crimson.
‘He’s lost his mind!’
Not to anyone else, but to say such a thing here—right in front of the Temple—there was no taking it back.
Whether for show or not, the two of them would have to marry now.
‘Haven’t things gotten a bit out of hand?’
Edward caught the flicker of panic in Lucy’s pupils and smiled darkly.
Then, contrary to his nature, he arranged his face into something almost tender and pulled her lower belly close against him.
He couldn’t have this little thing getting scared and running off.
Even so, the memory of how this belly had settled onto him in his dreams, moving as it did, was making things somewhat difficult.
Edward suppressed the urge to swallow at the sight of those flushed ears and whispered into Lucy’s ear with a tone of reluctant compliance.
“Think about it.”
“Think about what?!”
“As an Experiment Subject of the Temple, you can be taken or kidnapped at any time they wish. But a Duchess? That’s another matter entirely.”
“Oh?”
It made sense.
Lucy stiffened.
‘That’s a rather tempting argument.’
Of course, she harbored no real ambition for a station as Duchess—a position never meant for her.
But the Priest had come here, standing before her right now, ready to take her away.
Even if Edward refused to hand her over this moment, the Temple could attempt to spirit her away at any time they chose.
Last time they had sent a Holy Knight to track her down, and now they had dispatched a Priest to the Teseron Territory itself—she could be certain of this much.
‘I must be a rather valuable Experiment Subject to them.’
Too valuable to simply abandon.
Indeed, children born with Holy Power as strong as Lucy’s were exceptionally rare these days.
The fact that no other Experiment Subjects remained at the Temple was proof enough.
‘It seems no children with exceptional Holy Power have been born in some time.’
Given that thought, the Temple might well go to even greater lengths than sending a single Priest.
‘Surely not….’
If they were thinking of sneaking into the Teseron Ducal Residence to abduct her?
Even if such a thing happened, there would be no grounds for protest over the disappearance of a mere servant.
And honestly, she doubted anyone would go to such lengths for her sake.
‘But a Duchess is different.’
To lay a hand on the Duchess of Teseron would mean war with the Teseron Territory itself.
So the Temple could not afford to do anything reckless to her.
The scale had grown somewhat larger, true….
‘But they would protect me.’
Perhaps, like those painfully destitute male leads in stories, Edward was simply inclined to treat well those he had taken under his care.
And yet Lucy felt her heart quicken once more.
Just moments before, she had realized that what they had done amounted to nothing but purification, and a strange sense of emptiness had touched her.
But now….
Even as the situation had veered into confusion, she found herself oddly comforted by the warmth of the hand cradling her lower belly.
‘I never imagined he would go this far.’
Not in the shelter of her previous life, nor here.
She had believed she would have to stand alone, pushing forward through the path ahead by her own strength.
The knowledge that there was a fence to protect her, after all, made one corner of her heart ache with unexpected relief.
She did not worry about stealing the heroine’s place—the position that should have been hers.
Following the original story was already a broken thread, and strictly speaking, the heroine in the original tale had never become a Duchess.
‘All right then.’
Lucy, having arrived at her decision swiftly, maintained her smile and leaned into Edward’s embrace.
Then she carefully placed her own hand atop his, which rested upon her lower belly.
As though the child truly did exist.
“That’s right, darling.”
“…….”
“Ugliness isn’t good for prenatal care either. Please dispose of that person for me.”
The birth of an excellent married con artist duo.
…The problem was, they’d fooled their own side too.
“B-but you’re saying the Young Duke has already come into being…?”
“…….”
“…….”
Oh no.
Lucy’s gaze shot toward Tephe in panic.
She’d meant to signal that it wasn’t like that.
But Tephe, having heard the shocking news, already looked as though he couldn’t see straight.
“Th-this is— I-I need to tell them right away….”
“Wait, Tephe…!”
“The neighbors— no, the people at the Ducal Residence…!”
Before Lucy could grab him, Tephe bolted like an arrow.
And Gorgo, remarkably, was running silent at his side.
Edward merely gazed after Tephe’s retreating figure while gently stroking Lucy’s lower abdomen.
Like someone kneading mochi.
Rozendale had remained frozen in place this whole time, like a statue.
‘I’ll sort it out somehow later!’
Lucy shot Edward a reproachful look and scratched the back of his hand, but Edward didn’t budge an inch.
If anything, he only deepened the smile hanging at the corner of his mouth, as if urging her to try harder.
As though it tickled and meant nothing to him whatsoever.
To onlookers, the scene looked exactly like a man doting on his fiancée.
The Priest, who had witnessed and heard everything, was utterly flabbergasted.
‘Surely the Duke didn’t smuggle out that Experiment Subject…’
Had he fallen for her at first sight, done what he did, and then taken her to be married?
‘Impossible!’
He felt the dream of entering the Capital crumble to dust before his eyes.
Furious, foul words spilled from the Priest’s lips.
“You wretched Experiment Subject—gack!”
But before the Priest could even finish his words toward Lucy,
Crack.
Edward’s outstretched hand seized the Priest’s jaw and crushed it.
Hard enough to shatter it on the spot, by the look of it.
“Experiment Subject, you said.”
“…….”
“Care to try again?”
‘Wow.’
Lucy’s eyes widened as a chill ran down her spine.
‘So when he covered my mouth and nose before, he was actually going easy on me.’
“Ggh—kkk!”
Even as fresh realization washed over her, Edward’s hand continued to twist the Priest’s jaw.
“Do you understand whose dignity you’ve just insulted?”
It was the kind of thing that could actually kill someone.
‘But that’s not something he should do!’
Lucy belatedly swatted Edward’s arm repeatedly.
“Ow. Are you trying to start a war with the Temple?”
The moment she said it, she realized Edward would probably ask, “Why not?”
Lucy quickly smiled and added softly,
“Don’t tire yourself out for nothing, dear.”
“…….”
“War is such a huge affair. So much trouble.”
Lucy was blinking pleadingly at Edward, silently signaling him to stop, when
“So.”
Edward’s crimson eyes slowly rolled toward her.
“You’re concerned about me?”
Nod, nod!
Whatever works!
Lucy nodded rapidly and clung tighter to Edward’s arm, and at once he released the tension from his grip.
“Cough, cough!”
“Good.”
He paid no mind to the crumpled Priest and held Lucy closer, with renewed strength.
“My wife says not to do it, so you mustn’t do it.”
Edward delivered this without the slightest hesitation, turning toward the Priest with an oddly triumphant smile.
“You heard that? Bad for prenatal care, apparently.”
Then he turned to Rozendale.
“Clean this up at once and summon the designer.”
“A designer, Your Grace?”
“Yes. Find someone renowned for wedding dresses.”
While they were cementing this unprecedented marriage announcement beyond any shadow of doubt,
Stomp!
Clara, who had been watching the entire scene unfold from the side, quietly stamped the ground.
* * *
Crash!
The sound of a teacup shattering against the floor rang out sharply.
The faces of the attendants and servants standing nearby drained of all color.
“Your Grace!”
“Are you hurt anywhere?”
They all fluttered about helplessly, watching the Grand Duchess—her complexion ashen, her hand now empty of the cup.
Clara, who had come to deliver the news, stood frozen, her gaze fixed on the floor.
She had not known the two of them had already become so close.

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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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