Rewriting the Trash Ending - Chapter 42

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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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42.

Axid’s eyes narrowed to slits as he pressed for an answer, and Brian scratched the back of his neck with an awkward smile.
“It’s Lip Balm that the Grand Duchess gifted us.”
…….
“We’ve all been using it sparingly—it felt too precious to open right away. Ideally we’d like to keep it enshrined, but since she wanted us to use it, we do.”
Though Brian’s mouth curved upward, Axid’s face across from him hardened gradually.
‘Wasn’t it meant only for me?’
He knew it was nothing but ordinary kindness, but seeing the evidence before his eyes made something inside him twist.
The scent that had clung to her now rose from another man’s skin—a violation of territory that rankled.
Axid feigned indifference as he asked.
“The other knights received some as well?”
“Yes, Kaiden said the Grand Duchess gave it to him to distribute.”
‘Not content with Brian alone—he gave it to the others too?’
“She said whatever we use it for, there’s no waste in it—or so we were told.”
“…I see.”
His voice came out rough, scraped raw by an irritation like needles dragging across a nerve.
How it stung that all he did was glance at his own occasionally, unable to use it.
Axid drank his beer to hide the displeasure.
Yet Brian, who had stood by his side for so long, saw through him clearly.
At that telltale flash of discomfort in Axid’s eyes, Brian asked with evident surprise.
“…Did Your Highness perhaps not receive any?”
At the careful probe, Axid’s brow furrowed visibly.
“A pointless question.”
“Of course you must have received some.”
Brian held his gaze and smiled.
It was as though he were reproaching: Why does a man blessed with such a gift leave the Grand Duchess alone?
“I’ll stay here at the Fortress. Your Highness should return to the castle first. It’s been ten days since you arrived, after all.”
“The heavy rains will be coming soon enough.”
“Which is precisely why I said I’d stay.”
Axid’s throat felt parched for no reason, and he drank more beer.
Rather than cooling him, it only seemed to deepen the restlessness churning inside.
His heart wavered at Brian’s urging, yet countless objections—”but,” “still”—held him fast.
The moment a man entered through the dining hall entrance, every fiber of his attention snapped toward him.
It was a steward from the Grand Duke’s Castle.
“Your Highness, a letter from the Grand Duchess.”
Axid received the letter and placed it on the table.
The urge to tear it open immediately warred fiercely within him against an inexplicable hesitation.
He pretended indifference and sipped his beer, yet his eyes kept drifting back to the envelope.
…….
Her words about waiting for him circled endlessly at the edge of his mind.
But if she’d sent a letter without his reply—might something have happened?
Finally, Axid set down his half-empty glass and opened the envelope.

[My dearest Grand Duke,

I’m sorry to trouble you while you’re so busy.
I would have resolved most matters on my own and reported afterward, but this is something I cannot help but tell you—I hope you’ll forgive me for picking up the pen.]

‘Cannot help but tell me?’
His pupils trembled at that single line, but only for a moment.

[The truth is, Aunt….]

His dark eyes grew steadily cold as he read on.
A moment passed.
“See to the Fortress.”
“Pardon? But—”
Axid rose from his seat as though he’d never hesitated at all.
His movements were swift and resolute—a stark contrast to the doubts he’d wrestled with mere moments before.
Brian watched him in disbelief, unable to look away.

***

“Your Highness, how are you feeling?”
“Better than yesterday, at least.”
Lumiere, lying in bed, took a sip of raspberry tea and blinked slowly, as though her eyes were struggling to stay open.
Despite two days of medicine and rest, her condition showed no sign of improvement.
Yet the honey-sweetened raspberry tea seemed to restore a measure of strength to her body.
“You’ve suffered so much on my account.”
Through the night, wringing out cool cloths, checking the fires in the adjoining room, she’d been on her feet from dawn to dusk, tending to Lumiere’s every need.
It was the duty of an attendant—routine, expected—and yet the gratitude was genuine.
Perhaps because she’d never known such devotion in all her life.
Ill as she was, there was something in Hanna’s care that made her chest tighten, made the suffering bearable.
“It’s my fault for failing to serve you properly…”
“It’s the fault of whoever set out to do harm. You’re blameless.”
She reached out and gently patted Hanna’s arm, though tears glistened in the girl’s eyes.
Tending the fire at dawn wasn’t Hanna’s duty—there was no reason for her to bear this guilt.
Then.
“Your Highness, a carriage from Moverga has entered the castle grounds.”
A servant announced the Countess’s arrival.
“She’s come earlier than expected.”
She must have raced here the moment she received Britta’s letter—such was her eagerness to reach the castle.
“Tell the Mistress of the House that when I come down, the Countess is to be received with full ceremony.”
“Your Highness? Full ceremony?”
The servant’s eyes widened at this unexpected order, and Lumiere smiled wickedly as she spoke.
“Well, she’s the Grand Duke’s aunt—we must receive her with proper honors.”
There was a certain satisfaction in granting her a taste of grandeur beyond what she deserved.
It would make the sting all the sharper when her expectations fell short of reality.
“Hanna, help me prepare.”
“No, you should rest. The Mistress of the House will handle the Countess perfectly well.”
“No—I must do this myself.”
She had been waiting for this day.
Had this woman mocked her death, sought to desecrate her grave?
Or had she simply tried to thwart Lumiere just as she was about to fulfill her purpose?
Both were unforgivable, yes—but neither was the true reason for her waiting.
That woman had put an expression on her husband’s face.
She had made him stand alone at the entrance to the Banquet Hall, lost and lonely, as though wandering without direction.
That, above all else, could never be forgiven.
Lumiere gently pushed Hanna’s hands away and rose from the bed.
“I’m well enough. Help me dress beautifully. We can’t keep someone who’s gone to such trouble waiting.”
“…If you insist, I’ll make sure you look absolutely radiant.”
Hanna’s voice carried a new resolve.
Her husband wasn’t returning—was such effort truly necessary?
But thinking about it, to crush someone like Magda, it was better to appear flawless.
That alone would be enough to turn her stomach.
Lumiere’s lips curved into a thin, mirthless smile.

***

Magda’s wrinkled mouth bore a thin smile.
She could hardly describe how delighted she’d been upon receiving Britta’s letter yesterday afternoon.
The servant girl was playing mistress of the house, wreaking havoc on the castle, and the staff were growing restless—or so Britta had written.
Even the dedicated attendants and the Mistress of the House herself were struggling with the newly minted Grand Duchess’s overreach.
Moreover, her nephew had returned from the Fortress in a foul mood at the sight of it all, and according to Britta, this was the moment Magda needed to act.
‘She’s had no proper training—she can’t even manage this chaos, floundering about uselessly.’
Magda smiled to herself, recalling one particular passage from Britta’s letter.

[…Even the Grand Duke himself hardened his expression at the sight of it, so it seems the Mistress of the House ought to step in soon.]

If she were to sweep through the castle in place of the Grand Duchess, her nephew would finally understand who truly mattered here.
Then.
Clatter.
The carriage, having arrived at the Grand Duke’s Castle at some point, came to a halt before the main building.
When the door opened, the head maidservant and the servants were waiting at the entrance.
“Welcome, madam.”
Tера stepped forward and bowed deeply.
As the servants bowed in unison, it felt as though she had become a distinguished guest.
At the head maidservant’s unusually cordial demeanor—so unlike her usual hauteur—one corner of Magda’s mouth gradually rose.

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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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