I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 86

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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 86
Rozendale’s voice carried a cautious quality, and for that very reason, it rang with sincerity.
Luciana’s eyes widened as she turned to look at Rozendale.
That she would now express concern about the distance that had grown between them was hardly surprising—after all, she was Edward’s woman too.
‘Much the same reason as Tepherang, I’d imagine.’
Luciana offered a dry smile and spoke softly.
“Don’t worry, Rozendale. We didn’t quarrel because of what you said. It was just….”
…….
Rather than launch into explanation, Luciana let the words drop.
She had no desire to dredge up grievances by rehearsing them aloud.
“In any case, you know what I promised to do for the Duke. Once the Purification Ritual is complete, there’ll be no need to worry about Rampage, will there? No more fretting over not receiving Purification.”
Rozendale’s lips twitched, as though she had more to say.
In truth, she had not meant to speak of Edward at all.
Over time, Rozendale’s assessment of Luciana had shifted.
When she had first announced the ball, Rozendale’s worry had been far greater.
How could a gathering in a noble household be easy for someone who had spent her entire life as an experiment in the Temple?
‘One misstep and the Duke’s reputation could suffer further.’
Thus, for the past two weeks, Rozendale had deliberately instructed Luciana with greater strictness and helped with the ball’s preparations.
Even though she herself faced punishment, her actions sprang from a pure loyalty—a resolve to see this one thing through properly.
“You mustn’t offer greetings in that manner.”
“Your posture needs correction as well. Rounded shoulders make one look ridiculous.”
And she had worried she might receive an even greater punishment for her boldness.
She had already committed a slight against the mistress by speaking of True Mates and such things.
Rozendale knew full well that in such circumstances, to forget one’s place and dare instruct the mistress so rigorously was a transgression deserving far harsher rebuke.
…Perhaps, she had thought, she would be cast out from the Duke’s residence after the ball ended.
“I understand, Rozendale.”
…….
“I don’t understand this part either—will you teach me?”
Unexpectedly, Luciana had proven remarkably cooperative.
She had not bristled once at Rozendale’s stern corrections.
Instead, she followed the explanations closely, grasped them readily, and absorbed them with genuine effort.
She seemed like someone for whom working diligently at anything, for whom seeking out tasks of any use, had long since become habit.
Her manner with the children moments ago had likewise been excellent, dissolving their tension at a stroke.
Because of that, the children who had appeared listless and timid now sang with enthusiasm and spirit.
‘When she stands beside the Duke, she always seems so carefree.’
She had heard from Gorgo that Luciana conducted herself well toward the Countess, though she had not truly believed it at the time.
But as she spent the past weeks preparing the ball with Luciana, Rozendale found her thinking had shifted.
Perhaps she had reached her conclusions too narrowly.
Luciana was a woman who gave her all to whatever task was set before her, and if her learning was incomplete, her qualities as a duchess were not.
‘Perhaps the Duke did not choose her on a whim, after all.’
And then, just now.
Rozendale recalled the sight of the two of them in the Waiting Room.
Unlike Sepina, of whom there had been much rumor but no actual substance, Edward had visibly been doing various things with Luciana—so obvious that even Rozendale could see it.
The moment Luciana linked her arm through his, he had gone dazed; he had not even shown a sharp edge to the guests as he attended to her.
At the sight of his unguarded manner, so foreign to her, Rozendale had felt a shock run through her.
No doubt he had gone hunting to ease her burden.
She had thought him to regard her as an unequal, someone merely to be adored and indulged with casual pleasure, without true responsibility.
But perhaps….
“My lady, I….”
It was then that Rozendale, moved by genuine remorse, was about to apologize to Luciana.
“Did the guests’ gifts get organized properly?”
“Yes.”
“Then that’s all.”
Deliberately cutting off the conversation with a single word, Luciana turned her gaze toward the children.
Otherwise, she feared her thoughts would circle back to Edward.
The children who had begun their performance were acquitting themselves far better than expected.
As she watched them sing while masking their nerves, the children from the orphanage she had once cared for seemed to overlap in her mind.
‘If only those children could have sung like this.’
The moment that thought crossed her mind.
“…My lady.”
“…….”
“Ma’am…!”
A hushed voice reached Luciana’s ear as she lingered slightly in the corner.
Rozendale turned at the sound as well.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“You are….”
“…Clara?”
Luciana turned to look at Clara, a note of surprise in her own voice.
What on earth had happened in the meantime?
Clara, whose clothes looked hastily thrown on, stood before her drenched in cold sweat, her eyes darting anxiously as she gazed at Luciana.
“…Ma’am, it’s dangerous.”
Finding her appearance suspicious, Rozendale stepped between them with concern written across her face.
“Ma’am.”
But Clara looked past Rozendale as though she didn’t exist, her expression desperate as she fixed her gaze on Luciana.
“…I, gasp, have something I absolutely must tell you.”
Clara’s urgency was evident in every word.
Her mind held only one thought.
‘I should have come sooner.’
Not long ago.
After the Countess received that fateful calling card.
The Countess, who would normally have summoned the man to her villa, had gone to meet him directly, bringing only Clara with her.
She wanted to avoid drawing Edward’s attention by inviting an outsider in.
The merchant who had handed Clara the calling card greeted the Countess with a bright smile.
“Good day to you, Countess.”
“And who might you be?”
“I’ve met the previous Duke a few times on matters of back room affairs. We’ve had quite substantive conversations, in fact.”
“…Back room affairs, you say. Yet I’ve never seen you before. You look far too young to have discussed such things with my husband.”
“True. I was quite young then.”
“…….”
“But the late Duke was kind enough to engage in serious discussion with me regardless, which speaks to his excellence. He had considerable insight into our field, I must say.”
At the mention of “back room affairs” and “our field,” something shifted in the Countess’s eyes.
“…So he did.”
“Surely, then, you who are married to such a distinguished man must yourself be quite exceptional.”
Clara didn’t understand what this talk of “back room affairs” meant, but the man looked reasonably handsome to her.
“Indeed, you know a thing or two.”
And he had won the Countess’s favor instantly.
But to Clara’s eye….
‘Something feels off.’
His appearance was fine enough and his manner polished, yet something in his gleaming gaze struck her as strange.
Before long, Clara realized where she’d seen such a look before.
‘…It’s similar.’
The eyes of loan sharks who came once a month to press her family about their medical debts.
The man before her had that same quality in his gaze—as though he didn’t see people as human at all.
Unlike Clara, who felt a chill of foreboding, the Countess seemed to believe she’d finally found a true ally.
The Countess clenched her fist and gritted her teeth.
“If I can trust you, then I don’t care what method we use for revenge against those wretches.”
“Truly—any method whatsoever is acceptable?”
“Yes.”
The man asked as though probing her resolve.
“Even if the Tesselon vassals are killed or injured?”
The Countess cried out irritably, without a moment’s hesitation.
“I said yes!”
“…….”
“A few vassals dead won’t bring Tesselon down. But if Edward were to take charge….”
Clara was naturally horrified at this declaration.
Because the vassals included not only herself but her ailing family members as well.
She’d always known the Countess had strong entitlement, but to hear that a few vassals’ deaths were inconsequential….
By then, Clara’s sense of foreboding had only deepened, and yet….
“Then I have a proposal. Would you hear it?”
“Go ahead. If you need an assistant or helper, you may use this woman.”
“…madam!”
“Hold your tongue! You’ve already bungled the plan to capture that commoner woman, and don’t forget — I’m the one paying for your family’s medical treatment!”
At those words, he found himself unable to break free, bound by invisible chains.
The man had indeed taken Clara on as his assistant, keeping her busy with countless tasks.
Yet he never once told her what any of it was for.
But today.
“I already have another plan in place, young miss.”
“Yes. How fortunate indeed. To be able to…”
Clara, preparing in the corner of the Guest Room to assist the man, finally understood what he meant to do.
Her heart quickened with urgency.
‘I have to tell someone — now!’
Anyone.
‘The Duchess…!’

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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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