Rewriting the Trash Ending - Chapter 7

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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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7.

***

The first-floor hall of the Inn.
The knights huddled in the corner were muttering disapprovingly about Kaiden.
“…They say he’s mad?”
“Didn’t they mention he was terribly ugly?”
“And that his temperament is absolutely dreadful?”
Yet the Princess was nothing like what Kaiden had been droning on about.
And more than that—
“She seemed to have taken quite a liking to our Duke, didn’t she?”
She had been favorable toward them.
Truth be told, Kaiden had simply been unusually brazen about it; they too harbored considerable reservations about this marriage.
But seeing her so utterly unlike the rumors and openly respecting the Grand Duchy, it was impossible not to feel their conviction waver.
“What is your impression of her, your Grace?”
Brian asked, his eyes bright with anticipation.
“…Stop talking nonsense and have a beer instead.”
Axid awkwardly deflected.
A liking? As if.
It was a question too embarrassing to answer, let alone dwell on.
Especially since Brian was the only one who knew he was counting the days until he could let her go.
The one who had watched him become as filthy as a rutting beast when ‘that day’ came.
What hope could he harbor now, with the one person who had witnessed his suffering up close?
Just then, Kaiden—uncharacteristically quiet until now—broke the silence with an anxious edge to his voice.
“…Shouldn’t we post guards around the building?”
“What for?”
At Brian’s question, Kaiden glanced toward the stairs above before answering.
“The Princess might try to slip away in the dead of night, mightn’t she?”
“What kind of ridiculous—”
Everyone turned to look at him with the weary expression one reserves for a terminal case of paranoia.
“No, think about it. She’s traveling a long distance with minimal luggage, yes, but more than that—not a single personal attendant? Does that make any sense?”
Clearly, she’d stripped away anything cumbersome to maximize mobility.
And what about that bright face, despite standing on the threshold of a marriage everyone else would give anything to avoid?
“It won’t do. We should post sentries around the perimeter to guard against any unforeseen—”
Brian brought his palm down hard against the back of Kaiden’s head.
Crack.
“Keep it reasonable and drink your beer.”
“Ugh…”
Kaiden rubbed his stinging skull, muttering indignantly, when he suddenly felt a gaze and turned.
The Princess stood midway up the stairs, her lips covered as she smiled.
“Y-Your Highness!”
The startled knights scrambled to their feet.
Axid rose as well, fixing her with an uncertain gaze.
“My apologies—I only came down for a drink. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop.”
“W-Well, that is…”
“It’s fine. To be honest, I’d have entertained the same suspicion if I were you.”
Kaiden stood half-risen, cold sweat beading on his forehead.
Regardless of how unsuitable the Princess might be, treating her like a criminal was a grave impropriety.
“Your Highness, perhaps you should take a seat—”
“It’s fine, I wasn’t planning to stay long anyway.”
She declined gently.
She had no wish to intrude upon their gathering with her presence.
But she ought to clear up the misunderstanding before she left.
“As for my sparse luggage, it’s because one can’t procure suitable Northern Territories clothing here.”
What use were clothes one would never wear in such cold?
Hauling them along would only weigh her down.
“…And though I’m sure it embarrasses you to hear it, I have no trustworthy attendants to bring with me.”
My attendants were only the handmaids from the Princess Palace.
As if I’d drag someone pretty all the way to the Northern Territories when I’m already sick of this place.
“I couldn’t live like a human being for even a single day in this place. So you needn’t trouble yourselves with suspicions that I might run away.”
When she smiled bitterly, Kaiden’s face flushed with embarrassment and he looked away.
“In any case, I’m sorry for interrupting your leisure.”
“Oh, no! Your Highness! It’s no interruption at all!”
Brian jabbed Kaiden’s ribs with his elbow.
Kaiden hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head.
“I apologize for my disrespect toward Your Highness.”
Lumiere nodded that it was fine, then turned her gaze away.
Axid was watching her with wavering eyes.
“Grand Duke, then I’ll head back upstairs.”
If she stayed any longer, the atmosphere would grow thick and heavy.
As she climbed back to the upper floor to return to her room, she turned at the sound of heavy footsteps echoing suddenly behind her.
Axid stood there with a rigid expression.
“I won’t make excuses.”
……
“But there won’t be a repeat of today.”
Lumiere watched his lips press firmly shut and smiled faintly.
“Don’t trouble yourself over it. I’m actually grateful to learn my companions’ true feelings so early.”
It was inevitable that they would need to have such a conversation eventually.
Kaiden had simply provided the opportunity.
She felt no real wound or anger from it.
If anything, she was grateful.
Besides, Kaiden was a man treated like a madman throughout the Grand Duchy for his reckless, thoughtless conduct.
His temper burned hot and his manner was abrasive, but in truth he harbored deep sentiments and a tender heart.
Since she now owed him a favor, it might prove useful someday.
“Well then, I should retire for the night. Don’t drink too much, and get some rest early.”
She lightly brushed her hand down his arm and stepped into her room.
Click.
……
Axid gazed at the firmly closed door.
Downstairs, he had listened in silence.
She didn’t look like someone planning to flee, though he understood little of it himself.
What puzzled him was the way she laughed off an unpleasant situation, the familiar sweep of her hand along his arm.
And above all.

“……I was actually waiting for this.”

She had been waiting for a marriage everyone else tried to avoid.
Nothing had gone as he’d anticipated.
With a complicated expression, he stroked the place where her touch had grazed his skin for a long time.

***

The next day.
Before leaving the Capital, she had some things to buy and ventured into the Commercial District lined with shops.
“Just wait here for me a moment. I’ll be quick.”
Lumiere asked Axid’s permission with a bright smile.
A boutique overflowing with cosmetics and dazzling displays.
There was no reason a man couldn’t enter, but she thought his rigid face would only grow stiffer if he came along.
“Take your time browsing. I’ll remain here and wait.”
The moment he finished speaking, his eyes swept the surroundings.
Watching him scan the area with such natural vigilance, she felt a flutter of reassurance in her chest.
Why had she feared this man so deeply in her past life?
“……Is there something you wish to say?”
Had she been staring too intently?
In contrast to his tightly drawn lips, his dark eyes flickered slightly with uncertainty.
At his obvious discomfort, a laugh nearly escaped her.
Well.
Someone who had only ever received looks of reverence or fear her whole life.
It would be disconcerting to have someone stare at her so openly like this for the first time.
“It’s nothing. I’ll be back shortly.”
She turned lightly and stepped into the Boutique.
Jingle!
The clear door bell chimed.
Through the slowly closing gap, the voices of the knights drifted faintly to her ears.
“…Deputy Commander, aren’t you going after her?”
“Shut it!”
“Why not? You said yesterday we had to keep watch on Her Highness the Princess.”
“Should we go in your stead?”
“Enough, you fools……!”
A small laugh escaped her.
Just moments ago they had been vigilant and composed.
It was endearing to see them banter and grouse like this.
In her past life, she hadn’t merely fainted at the sight of them—she’d trembled in the carriage the entire way.
They too were ordinary people.
The thought that her behavior in her past life might have wounded them left a bitter taste.
“Welcome, we’re honored by your visit to our Boutique. How may we assist you?”
She set aside her thoughts at the clerk’s courteous greeting and spoke.
“I’d like to purchase Moisturizer suitable for cold climates. I’m thinking of buying the entire stock—how much inventory do you have?”
Most Moisturizer from the Northern Territories was made from animal oils and carried a strong odor.
The Empire’s products, by contrast, were fragrant and applied smoothly.
Since they were difficult to obtain in the North, they would prove useful in many ways.
She intended to take as much as possible.
“Fortunately, we received a fresh shipment just this morning, so we should be able to provide as much as you’d like. Let me show you.”
She followed the clerk into a small storage room.
“Sufficient.”
On the floor, the products she wanted were stacked layer upon layer in wooden crates.
She drew out her Coin Purse.
“I’ll purchase it all. Will this amount be sufficient payment?”
“Yes, where shall we send the goods?”
“I’ll have them loaded onto the carriage right away, so bring them…….”
Just then, a woman who had been eyeing her with an uncertain expression approached.
“My goodness, I had my suspicions, but you really are Her Highness the Princess.”
“…Is something the matter?”
Caution stirred within her instinctively.
There was no one here who would have reason to speak to her kindly, and moreover, that presumptuous face was not unfamiliar.
“I’m not sure why Her Highness, who I heard had departed for the Grand Duchy, should be here alone—surely you haven’t come following after Clara Edbert, the young lady of Count Edbert’s house?”
The woman stepped aside with a smile, as if she’d discovered something amusing to behold, and the figure standing behind her came into view naturally.
…….
Hair that gleamed as if dusted with gold.
Eyes blue as a lake.
Clara Edbert—the rival from her past life.

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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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