Rewriting the Trash Ending - Chapter 30

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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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30.

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The day of Countess Mobert’s 70th Birthday Celebration had arrived.
“……What on earth is all this?”
Lumiere stared blankly at the countless boxes being carried through the Main Hall Lobby.
Terra watched her bewilderment with a gentle smile.
“These are gifts from His Grace the Grand Duke to Your Highness.”
“All of a sudden?”
“It’s not sudden. Since Your Highness hasn’t been using the Maintenance of Dignity Fund, His Grace took matters into his own hands.”
“But even so, this is far too…….”
Excessive.
Lumiere peeked into one of the boxes and found it brimming with costly jewelry and fur linings.
Precious and expensive things from Winterheim.
The sort of treasures that were difficult to acquire even with money to spare.
“When on earth am I supposed to use all of this…….”
“His Grace gave special instructions some days ago. The dress is custom-made, so you can wait at your leisure—it will arrive eventually.”
Terra smiled softly.
She had worried so much watching Your Highness neglect to use the Maintenance of Dignity Fund all this time.
She’d feared it might be due to financial concerns, but now that His Grace had seen to it so thoroughly, she felt relieved.
How much the Grand Duke’s Palace had changed thanks to Your Highness.
She deserved this much, and more.
In fact, even this felt insufficient.
“Since His Grace prepared these gifts from his private purse, it would be fitting for Your Highness to wear one of them when you go out later.”
……
A complicated smile played across Lumiere’s lips.
Jewels alone weren’t enough—now there was a dress too.
She had given him only one moisturizer purchased from the Empire, yet she had received so much in return.
‘He really is impossible to understand.’
He lavished gifts upon her with such attentive care, yet he hurried to avoid her all the same.
She had felt disappointed each morning, waking to find his side of the bed already cold, but seeing how he attended to the things she’d overlooked melted her grievance away.
‘I should prepare a gift for him soon too.’
She examined the freshly arrived boxes, selecting a piece of jewelry that would complement today’s attire perfectly.
‘Since I’ve received it, I should wear it at once.’
So he could see for himself how delighted she was by this surprise.

***

Numerous carriages were arriving at Oswald Manor.
The former Countess Mobert.
Though she had since withdrawn from public life, she was a woman who had long held sway over society and a great elder of a long line of loyal servants to the realm.
It was only natural that many came to celebrate this auspicious occasion of her 70th Birthday Celebration.
“Countess, I offer my congratulations on this milestone. May you enjoy long health and happiness.”
“Thank you for coming.”
“It is a joy to see you in such vigorous spirits today.”
Wrinkles framed Henrietta’s eyes as they crinkled with laughter.
A steady stream of congratulatory greetings bore witness to the family’s standing.
When the flow of guests briefly ebbed, Erika approached quietly.
“Grandmother, please don’t overexert yourself. Tell me at once if you feel tired.”
“Never mind this old woman—worry about yourself instead.”
Henrietta patted the back of her granddaughter’s hand with her wrinkled fingers.
“……I’m fine. I want to stay here.”
Erika’s amber eyes gleamed.
There was another reason besides celebrating the family’s auspicious day.
‘Your Highness will be coming…….’
The day Erika had suffered her first seizure.
On the way back home, barely conscious, she had heard the whispers.

“Good heavens, what if she’d gotten closer and caught something contagious?”
“How can she show her face? Gasping like that, completely lacking in dignity…….”

Those who had fretted over her from the front were exchanging such words behind her back.
The wound she’d received that day had confined her to the house for nearly three years.
She hadn’t wanted to worry her family any further, and fearing the Grand Duke’s displeasure, she’d gathered her courage to attend the Presentation Ceremony—and yet…….

“There now, do it just like that. You’re doing splendidly, staying calm.”

Merely recalling that voice seemed to open the tightness in her chest.
And,

“He said I was admirable. That he understood the courage it took for you to step into that place.”

It was her father’s words, relayed through that moment, that had given her the courage to try again after the despair of her latest failure.
‘But could I have imagined it……?’
Her memory of that time was hazy, but it had felt as though someone behind her had stepped on her dress…….
“It seems more guests are arriving.”
“Then I’ll slip away to the other room.”
Erika set aside her thoughts.
She still lacked the courage to face the crowd.
“Yes, don’t push yourself too hard. If it becomes too much, your grandmother is fine—go rest inside if you need to.”
Erika offered a faint smile before retreating into a shadowed corner.
“…….”
Henrietta watched her granddaughter slip into the inconspicuous shade with warm eyes.
There was a time when the child couldn’t take even a single step beyond her room.
She hadn’t dared hope the girl would come to the Banquet Hall, yet here she was, coming all this way to celebrate her grandmother’s 70th Birthday Celebration—and Henrietta’s heart ached with gratitude.
And she knew precisely where that change had come from.
Just then, a familiar voice broke through her reverie.
“My lady, I offer my sincere congratulations on your milestone.”
It was Countess Mobert.
She’d arrived trailing a procession of ladies behind her, as though leading a formal progress.
“Thank you all for coming.”
“If Oswald is the devoted retainer of our dear cousin, should I not come in his place when he’s been so scarce at gatherings like this?”
Henrietta chuckled softly, her words laden with meaning.
“I should send word to the Grand Duke expressing my thanks. After all, he’s graciously sent you himself to celebrate this old woman’s milestone.”
The shrewd matriarch could hardly be ignorant of Magda’s actual position within the Grand Duke’s Household.
She simply hadn’t chosen to step forward, being an old woman relegated to the back rooms.
Magda flinched for a moment, then smiled as though she’d never wavered.
“There’s no need for such formality. You can simply convey your words through me. Since I’m already here, there’s no reason to trouble yourself with correspondence, is there?”
At that, the light in Henrietta’s eyes deepened further.
“It seems there’s no particular reason to go through you.”
“Pardon? What do you…….”
Magda followed Henrietta’s gaze toward the entrance of the Banquet Hall.
“The Grand Duke of Winterheim and the Grand Duchess enter!”
As the chamberlain’s loud announcement rang through the hall, a wave of commotion rippled outward.
It was an entirely natural reaction.
Outside of state ceremonies and official proceedings, this was someone who rarely showed her face in public.
So why……?
Magda’s face went rigid.
“My lady, wasn’t the Grand Duchess supposed to come alone?”
The ladies standing nearby whispered in ashen tones.
“No need for alarm. I’m here, aren’t I?”
Magda spoke with deliberate composure, though her spine ran cold.
Her last meeting with that nephew had ended in rejection mere months ago, and now he appeared with the Grand Duchess at his side.
What’s more, that cold cousin of hers wore an expression of such unexpected tenderness.
Escorting her with such care, as though afraid to brush against the hem of her dress.
That same nephew who’d never once offered her an escort, attending instead to a mere broodmare of a woman…….
Magda clenched her fists until her nails bit into her palms.
Watching the two of them, she felt her chest tighten as if it were being wrung.
She watched them draw closer, set her jaw, and smoothed her appearance.
Setting aside her niece, they’d certainly mentioned exchanging greetings here, so they must be coming to acknowledge her presence.
But.
“…?”
The two of them passed right by her and stopped before the Countess Mobert.
“Madam, we wish you a most joyous 70th birthday celebration. May you enjoy long years of health and happiness.”
“Your Highnesses, to grace this occasion with your personal presence—this old woman is beyond honored.”
Axid paused thoughtfully before Henrietta’s words, then spoke.
“My congratulations. I’m not accustomed to such gatherings, so forgive me if I’m brief.”
“You’ve always been a woman of few words, so we understand perfectly.”
At the playful warmth in Henrietta’s voice, she laughed gently.
“Indeed, how could I not know you, after all these years together? The mere fact that you remembered this old woman and came to see her is gratitude enough.”
“I’m glad to hear it. By the way, we’ve had some things prepared especially for you. I’ve instructed the steward, so do have a look when you have a moment.”
“Prepared especially for me?”
“You’ll see for yourself. I do hope you find them to your liking.”
As the pleasant conversation flowed between them, Magda’s face flushed with shame.
To be treated as though she didn’t exist, right in front of everyone.
“…We have someone else to greet, so we’ll excuse ourselves for a moment.”
“We’ll see you again later.”
The ladies hesitated, exchanging glances, and began to drift away one by one.
All the attention she’d been receiving moments before evaporated, and as she suddenly found herself alone, her fingertips began to tremble.
“I think our congratulations have been sufficiently expressed, so we’ll take our leave. It seems there are many guests waiting for their turn to pay respects.”
The Grand Duchess’s gaze flicked past her briefly.
Even though their eyes had met, the way she’d passed over her was a deliberate dismissal.
‘How dare she….’
Magda’s eyes blazed as she stared daggers at her retreating back, then turned toward the ladies who had abandoned their places.
“I thought you all had someone to greet just now, yet you seem rather unoccupied.”
“That is….”
As the ladies broke into cold sweat and averted their eyes, Magda smiled coldly.
“Was I the only one who refused to present my respects?”
“…….”
“Before, and even now at this very gathering—none of you have properly paid respects to the Grand Duchess either, have you?”
The ladies’ faces went pale.
Before, there had at least been the excuse of the Countess Mobert, but if they left now without making their respects, they would have no excuse at all.
They didn’t wish to stand alongside the Countess Mobert, but neither could they ignore the Grand Duke’s aunt right before their eyes.
Magda’s gaze followed the Grand Duke as he shifted through the crowd of other nobles.
“Since the Grand Duke has conveniently stepped away, wouldn’t it be better if we all went together to pay our respects to the Grand Duchess?”
“Y-yes, that would be proper.”
“Good, then I’ll lead the way.”
The ladies reluctantly nodded and followed in Magda’s wake.

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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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