Rewriting the Trash Ending - Chapter 14

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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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14.

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The sun hung at its zenith when the column of mounted soldiers thundered through the gates of Grand Duke’s Castle.
As the horses stamped to a halt with a cacophony of hoofbeats, Axid vaulted from his saddle in one fluid motion.
He strode toward Tera, who had come to meet him at the entrance to the Main Hall.
“Where is the princess?” he demanded.

“She is currently in her bedchamber, sir.”
“Is there nothing else to report?”
Tera hesitated at the edge in his voice—a barely suppressed anger—before responding.
“Yesterday, Her Highness the Princess discovered that the merchant house contracted to supply the ceremonial goods was engaged in fraud, and she terminated all dealings with them.”
Axid, who had been about to head straight for the Main Hall, went rigid.
“The princess… did this?”
“Yes, sir. She is currently securing a replacement merchant house.”
Kaiden raked a hand roughly through his crimson hair, his irritation flaring. “Hah. See? I told you so. I said from the start we shouldn’t trust those Empire merchants—!”

Tera’s voice dropped to a sharp edge. “Guard your tongue, Kaiden. This arrangement was approved by myself as well.”
“But anyone with eyes can see she deliberately sabotaged the deal to push back the ceremony! Am I the only one seeing this clearly, hmm?”
When Kaiden turned to the other knights, their dark expressions and averted gazes spoke volumes—they were thinking the same thing.
It was hardly the first time the women of the household had gone out of their way to avoid the Grand Duke.
“Captain Kaiden, I will say this once more: refrain from speculation.”
“How can even you, the head maidservant, say such a thing—!”
Tera watched Kaiden tremble as though she were a traitor, sighed quietly, and turned to Axid.
“Your Grace, perhaps you should discuss the details with Her Highness the Princess directly. In the meantime, I shall prepare your bath.”
“Very well.”
He gazed down at his own hands, and a bitter smile twisted his mouth.

‘I suppose it was.’
Hands caked with dried blood and dust, filthy beyond redemption.
And flowing through this body, the accursed blood of the Grand Duke’s Household Curse.
What woman would want to marry a man like that?
He had pretended indifference all this while, but now that marriage was truly upon him, she could bear it no longer—that must be it.
‘It seems the time has come to broach the matter of the contract.’
Back then, he could not bring himself to speak when it mattered—when he had to appear eager for this union.
And after that, he had never found the right moment.
‘If only I had known the princess would hear such gossip, I would have told her sooner.’
He had first learned the Grand Duke’s Household Curse was real when he experienced that shameful, bestial hunger for the first time.
Then he had made his choice with brutal simplicity.
He would have no heir.
Rather than condemn another to sacrifice, rather than inflict this abhorrent agony upon his own child, the bloodline of the Grand Duke’s Household would end with him.
It was the Grand Duke’s duty to guard this land, but the land could be protected even without an heir.
It was a matter he had settled long ago.
‘There is no reason to drag this out needlessly.’
It would be better to make the contract clear, so she would not have to fear.
His eyes darkened as he walked forward.

***

In my past life, it was not long after I died.
Grand Duke’s Castle grew quiet as naturally as if it had died along with me.
Of course, whispers still lingered beneath that oppressive silence.

“…I knew it would come to this. You said you’d already tried to die once before, didn’t you?”
“That’s why. Bringing in a woman like that as the Grand Duke’s wife—it’s no wonder everything fell apart.”
“…Still, the Grand Duke himself had it hard. The bride must have been through something terrible to take her own life, but even so…….”

Her death had dragged his reputation through the mud.
Thinking back on it, even now a bitter taste lingered in her mouth.
She had no intention of repeating that mistake.
‘First, I need to erase the image of being a bride sold off like merchandise.’
To do that, not a single detail of the State Marriage date, the ceremony’s scale, or the proceedings could be overlooked—which was why she was deep in document review when the news arrived.
“The Grand Duke has returned?”
“Yes, I’m told he went straight to bathe.”
At the news Beki brought, Lumiere set down the papers.
“I should freshen up before I see him.”
She’d thought he would stay away a few more days, so his early return caught her off guard. She hurried to the mirror and sat down.
Her eyes were shadowed, her complexion pale.
It wasn’t a face she wanted her prospective husband to see.
With Beki’s help, she made quick work of her appearance, then rose to seek him out.
But then.
Knock, knock, knock.
At the heavy, deliberate sound, she realized she was too late.
“Come in.”
At her permission, the door opened and Axid stepped through.
His hair was still slightly damp from the bath.
She sent Beki out and approached him.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you at the entrance, and that you had to find your way to the Bedchamber.”
She’d wanted to be the first to welcome him home, barefoot if necessary, despite the hardship he’d endured.
“I heard there was an incident.”
“An incident? What kind of——”
“…A merchant was imprisoned, I’m told.”
Her eyes widened.
Was he displeased that she’d had someone jailed without permission?
‘Well…….’
No matter how necessary it had been to prevent the merchant’s escape, wielding the authority of the Grand Duke’s wife wasn’t something easily accepted.
But then.
“Were you displeased?”
His voice came low and clipped, a blunt question.
Yet beneath it lay not censure, but concern.
“…….”
He’d rushed here straight from bathing, without even time to dress properly, all because of her state of mind.
What on earth had her previous self done to such a gentle person?
“I’m fine with it. I actually think it was the right move.”
In her past life, she’d been furious watching that man mock the Grand Duke’s Household.
Being able to witness a scene that constituted a Crime of Insulting Nobility and finally settle a long-standing grudge—she was genuinely grateful for it.
Even as herself, she couldn’t have brought down a merchant the Grand Duke’s Household had dealt with for years without proper justification.
But had he taken her words about it being the right move to mean the marriage was being delayed?
“Are you afraid of marriage?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“If that’s why you severed the arrangement, there’s no need.”
His unexpected words left her mind momentarily blank.
She thought she’d shown clearly enough that she welcomed this marriage—but perhaps she hadn’t?
A low, dry voice emerged from his lips.
“You needn’t bear an Heir.”
“…….”
“We can maintain the marriage in form alone, and you’re free to leave when the time is right.”
His eyes were barren and composed.
In her past life, she’d seen that look countless times over ten years.
He held no expectation that anyone would stay by his side.
Perhaps that was the weight of the Grand Duke’s Household Curse.
“So if you’re afraid, if that’s the reason——”
She took a step closer.
“I would have run away long ago if I were afraid.”
I cannot tell him the reason why I’m not avoiding this marriage.
Debt from a past life. Remorse.
Neither was something I could voice to him.
But I wanted to make one thing clear—that being here was my choice.
“Whether you want this or not, I have no intention of running away or leaving.”
People whisper that the Grand Duke’s Household is cursed……
The deaths of successive Grand Duke’s Consorts.
It was nothing but tragic coincidence.
About ten years after I died, when his mother—the one said to be dead—appeared at the castle, I learned the truth of it.
She studied his expression, which had hardened at her unexpected answer, then asked bluntly.
“But are you hurt anywhere?”
“Pardon?”
Lumiere examined his rigid face here and there.
Fortunately there were no visible wounds, but suddenly her gaze caught on rough, calloused hands.
“Just a moment.”
She opened the Vanity drawer and took out a small container.
It was Moisturizing Cream she’d purchased before leaving the Empire.
“Would you let me have your hands for a moment?”
“……”
Axid extended his hands without understanding, and she scooped a small amount of cream onto her fingertips before gently enfolding his hands in hers.
Flinch.
Through their joined hands, she felt his body tense visibly.
A man who looked as though he could tear a bear apart with those hands, tensing at the slightest touch.
For some reason, a smile tugged at her lips.
“…Your hands are quite rough, I see.”
Silence fell, but she paid it no mind, simply continuing to massage his hands slowly.
Rough, solid hands marked by calluses.
Scars lingered at his fingertips and along each knuckle, drawing her eye.
How many demons had this hand cut down, and how many people had it saved.
“If your hands crack, it’ll be uncomfortable to grip a sword……”
She kneaded his hands gently, her voice soft as she continued.
“Apply it regularly, would you? I’d be quite troubled if the Grand Duke were injured.”
The Grand Duke was not one to look after himself, nor was he one to lean on another.
Saying this, it seemed unlikely he would listen, but still she hoped he would take care of himself.
For a long time, she gazed down at his scarred hands and caressed them in silence.

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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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