I’m in the Arms of the Cursed Grand Duke - Chapter 34

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 34

 

Let me say this again: if you go outside during the Snowy Mountains’ nightmare period, you could die.

 

Most cases end in death.

 

Clemente understood Rossia’s concern.

 

It’s just that she wasn’t ordinary enough to match that concern.

 

“I’m really fine. The snow will all melt anyway.”

 

“But the wind is blowing so hard!”

 

“Maybe it’s similar to the sandstorms in the desert?”

 

Actually, the Northern Region’s wind was much stronger right now. But it really didn’t matter.

 

Wind that couldn’t even uproot trees couldn’t stop her.

 

“…You’ll do it even if I try to stop you, won’t you?”

 

“I don’t know if this method will help. But it’s worth trying. I think we can reduce the number of people who die.”

 

Clemente was resolute. Seeing her like that, Rossia turned her thoughts in a different direction. It was better than wasting energy on words that wouldn’t work anyway.

 

“Then while you do what you want, will you help us out a bit too?”

 

“Us?”

 

“Me and His Highness. On a larger scale, the Northern Region.”

 

“Sure! What is it?”

 

An acceptance without a moment’s hesitation. Rossia’s eyebrows drooped.

 

“You should listen to what it is before accepting, Clemente…”

 

“You said it’s for the Northern Region. I’m a Northerner now too. If it’s something I can do, of course I’ll do it.”

 

“Fufu, there’s no helping it.”

 

Clemente’s face saying it was natural looked even more pleased, so Rossia couldn’t stop her anymore.

 

Instead, she decided to inform her of the more detailed situation.

 

“Do you remember the letter I asked you to deliver to His Highness?”

 

“Yes. After reading that, my master got wrinkles on his face.”

 

“Kuk, ahem. The Noven Merchant Guild is a caravan with deep ties to the Pruina Domain.”

 

Rossia, who had barely held back laughter at Clemente’s description, continued with a serious face.

 

“It’s been a relationship continuing since His Highness’s grandfather’s time. Not just about money, but they were close. Person to person.”

 

“Mm. So you’re saying there must be a reason why the caravan suddenly became strange?”

 

“Oh my. That’s right. Correct answer.”

 

“I just need to help find that reason?”

 

“I roughly know already. That bastard moved very directly.”

 

Rossia already knew about the rumors spreading among the vassals.

 

It was the result of moving as soon as she received news of the caravan’s delayed arrival.

 

Whoever planned this seemed to want to drag down even Zephyrus’s meager reputation to the floor.

 

Public sentiment is bad, he’s fallen into debauchery and neglects official duties.

 

If these became reasons, even the Emperor wouldn’t have justification to move carelessly.

 

Because if he interfered with the reason of changing a ruler because the domain’s ruler wasn’t doing his job properly, he might be accused of violating the domain’s autonomy.

 

‘They don’t even know how hard His Highness has worked since taking his position.’

 

Just for not coming outside, the false rumors attached to the Duke were no small matter.

 

Rossia, grinding her teeth inwardly, grabbed Clemente’s hand.

 

“So what Clemente needs to do is rather become a ghost and share warmth.”

 

Ambiguously revealing what they originally planned to do in secret. That was Rossia’s request.

 

Clemente would go around igniting the vassals’ fear and anxiety. After the Snowy Mountains’ nightmare ended, those dark emotions would change to different emotions due to the unusually low death toll.

 

An entity of unknown identity could become either evil or good.

 

After hearing the brief explanation, Clemente said worriedly.

 

“But that means my method has to succeed.”

 

“Yes. I believe in you, Clemente.”

 

There was no better motivation for Clemente than that trust.

 

The ominous rumors circulating in the village were immediately buried as Rossia had thought.

 

**

 

Something was wrong.

 

Crunch, crunch.

 

He thought while biting his nails.

 

The village after the Snowy Mountains’ nightmare ended shouldn’t be this bright and cheerful.

 

There should have been gloomy incidents due to the lack of firewood, and it should have been a dark and dangerous atmosphere.

 

“Hey, Hasu. How about having a drink with snow as our side dish after so long?”

 

“Ah, haha. That sounds great!”

 

“Right! See you later! Haha!”

 

Instead of laughing and drinking like this, there should have been many people drunk on alcohol, fallen into sadness and despair!

 

‘This is ruined.’

 

A few years ago, when Hasu returned to the Northern Region, there was someone who helped him.

 

Though he never saw them directly, they provided the foundation for him to establish himself. The person he now served as master was exactly that person.

 

Recently, he received contact from them. It was a proposal that if he successfully completed the task given to him, when everything was over, they would give him a position.

 

It wasn’t a difficult task. He just had to spread rumors without others knowing. It was an even easier task because there was already underlying anxiety about the current Duke among the vassals.

 

‘What good does it do to just be born with good bloodline? What can he do when he doesn’t even come outside?’

 

Of course, he also had complaints against the Duke. He had to live a lifetime of hardship and cold while someone else lived only in comfort.

 

His master was the same. He heard he was from a cadet branch of House of Pruina. He had to leave his hometown and live elsewhere just because he couldn’t become the heir.

 

However, his affection for the domain still seemed to remain. That’s why he was taking care of even an ordinary resident like this.

 

It seemed much better for his master to rule the domain than a Duke whose existence couldn’t even be properly confirmed.

 

So this task had to succeed. Until just before the Snowy Mountains’ nightmare began, it was a good flow.

 

‘But why did it turn out like this?’

 

Suddenly there was a ghost commotion, and it became warm. What? Fire spirit?

 

Does that make sense!

 

To say such stupid things, and to believe such nonsensical stories. Everyone’s heads must be messed up.

 

‘I can’t fail.’

 

Repaying his benefactor was important, but his own advancement was even more important. If they were disappointed and never gave him work again, wouldn’t he have to continue living with this hardship!

 

It was when he was shaking his leg violently and biting his lips.

 

When Julay introduced Clemente as a new friend she had made.

 

Of course, it didn’t register in his ears. However, his gaze unconsciously followed Julay’s gestures.

 

‘…What’s this.’

 

His eyes being captivated by that alien beauty was only momentary.

 

As soon as Tom shouted that she was the incarnation of a fire spirit, his mind snapped to attention.

 

That woman. The person who ruined their plan and pushed him toward death was right in front of him.

 

Hasu instinctively felt it.

 

‘I just need to capture that bitch. I can get a hefty reward too!’

 

Hasu’s mind spun tightly.

 

First, melting snow just by existing, and all that. If she really was the incarnation of a fire spirit as Tom said, that would be even better.

 

In the Northern Region, fire spirits were beings they felt reverence for while wanting to get along with intimately. If the incarnation of such a fire spirit was with his master instead of the Duke, there would be no more certain justification than that.

 

If he brought that woman, he could achieve greater merit than succeeding in the plan.

 

‘When master ascends to the Duke’s position, I too… hehe!’

 

Hasu quietly stood up. After greeting, he watched the fleeing fortune with a smile secretly full of desire.

 

‘She’ll be going to the Duchy Castle anyway…’

 

There would be no difficulty in capturing just one woman. As Hasu strapped his bow to his back and moved, a neighbor nearby asked.

 

“Hasu? Where are you going?”

 

“My body feels stiff. I’m thinking of going hunting.”

 

“Be careful.”

 

“Haven’t I hunted once or twice? Haha!”

 

He was confident.

 

If he caught the biggest prey of his life this time, he wouldn’t need to do petty hunting for the rest of his life to make a living. Just imagining it was delightful.

 

Following the prey was easy.

 

Having only run at the beginning, the prey was now leisurely wandering around the area.

 

Looking around, going back and forth.

 

‘What are you doing? Just stay still for a moment.’

 

Hasu stood behind a tree and drew his bowstring.

 

The moment the prey stopped, even briefly, would be the perfect timing.

 

A short while later, the moment he had been waiting for came.

 

Twang!

 

The arrow began flying toward his success.

 

The arrow flew with a light sound. Clemente turned around, but it was already too late to dodge.

 

‘Hehe. My skill is perfect.’

 

The arrow aimed at her leg struck exactly where intended. The woman who collapsed with a death cry struggled to get up. Hasu approached.

 

“Don’t bother struggling. There’s paralyzing poison on it.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Clemente, who had been trying to get up, collapsed with a thud. Thinking the paralyzing poison had suddenly spread, Hasu came closer.

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