The Grand Duke's Maid Writes a Consultation Log Today - Chapter 34
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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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The Maid of the Grand Ducal House Writes a Counseling Log Today Chapter 034
Elysia could not take her eyes off the Contract for a long time.
The letters were clear.
Understanding it was not difficult either.
Even so, she could not easily look past the final sentence, no matter how many times she read it.
Life.
That single word written in ink was weighing down all the other sentences.
“You don’t have to answer right now.”
Yulias’s voice was calmer than ever.
He neither rushed Elysia nor pushed the Contract away.
“Take your time… to think about it.”
Yulias pressed his temples firmly with a frown, as if he had a headache.
She slowly raised her head.
The man who had been massaging his head also did not avoid her gaze when their eyes met.
He was so excessively calm that he seemed like someone who already knew the outcome.
“……Did you think I would hesitate?”
It was not an intended question.
She merely wanted to know where the certainty behind his overly calm attitude stemmed from.
Yulias stared at Elysia for a moment before lowering his gaze to the Contract.
“No.”
It was a short denial.
“Though I have a rough idea of what choice you will make.”
Those words were neither comfort nor certainty.
It was simply the tone of someone stating a fact.
Elysia’s fingertips trembled minutely.
“Then what is the reason for giving me time?”
Yulias did not answer right away.
Instead, he reached out his arm toward the Contract.
His fingertip pointed precisely at the final line.
“Because it’s a clause that no one can easily accept.”
Only then did Elysia draw in a breath.
He knew.
He knew that in the end, she would not be able to turn away from this choice.
“You know better than anyone that the moment you sign, there’s no turning back.”
Yulias continued slowly.
“Whether you’re fine with that is something you must confirm for yourself.”
The air inside the Office grew heavy.
Elysia tightly clenched the hands resting on her lap.
The very first person who came to mind was, of course, her younger brother.
She had to survive.
She could not lose her job.
That calculation was still valid.
But the next thing that came to mind was Sheila’s back, which she had faced in the Bathroom today.
Furthermore, the moment the child, who would not open her mouth in front of anyone, revealed herself as the Princess.
Even the way she endured, saying she didn’t want anyone to find out, only to break down in a heap in front of her own room.
The Princess, who chose to face it herself without running away solely for the sake of ‘her own maid’, was still just a very small and young child.
And Elysia had been there through all those moments.
She could pretend not to know.
If she did that, a safer position would remain.
But…….
If she made that choice, she would truly become a person who did not see what she saw.
Elysia’s gaze slowly lowered.
And she quietly looked down at the Contract again.
Yulias said nothing even after seeing that.
“……By tomorrow-”
“Do you remember the expiration date of the contract you signed first?”
Yulias’s voice overlapped with hers.
“Ten days, I believe there are over ten days left. I’ll have to double-check to be precise, but…….”
“Then, after checking, let’s hear your answer before the date written there arrives.”
Elysia looked at him without a word and then nodded.
As if understanding the meaning, the corner of Yulias’s lips curled up slightly. That single smile alone brought a strange sense of relief.
It was because she felt certain that Yulias would respect whatever choice she made.
“Then, since it will be time for dinner soon, I shall excuse myself.”
She stood up from her seat with a much lighter heart.
However, Yulias remained motionless, still holding his forehead.
“Your Grace?”
She thought he would at least say goodbye or tell her to go.
Did he mean for her to take the hint and leave?
……No, that couldn’t be it.
Sensing something strange, Elysia immediately approached his side.
“Grand Duke. Your Grace, can you hear me?”
Seen from up close, Yulias’s complexion was pale.
Could a face turn this ghostly white in a single instant?
Moreover, he was even breaking out in a cold sweat, and a painful groan leaked through his tightly shut lips.
She recalled how he had been pressing his temples since earlier. He was definitely unwell.
“Your Grace, I will go call someone.”
“……Don’t go.”
In a state of agony, Yulias grabbed Elysia’s arm.
Even though it was a situation where someone needed to be called immediately, he was stopping her instead, as if telling her to be quiet.
“Pardon? But……!”
“If you go, it will become difficult for you.”
It will become difficult for me?
“What does that…….”
Elysia’s gaze inadvertently shifted to the arm holding her.
Only a few minutes ago, there had been nothing unusual about the arm.
However, on Yulias’s arm, a deep purple color that looked as though it were infected by poison was spreading like paint, descending all the way to his wrist.
Is something wrong with my eyes?
The moment Elysia stared at the sight with a bewildered expression.
-Knock, knock.
At the sound of a knock on the Office door, her head snapped around.
“Grand Duke, it’s Hilmaiten.”
Hilmaiten.
It wasn’t just anyone; it was the aide.
Yulias bent his upper body completely, holding his head with both hands, and let out a groan of pain.
There was no more time to hesitate.
Elysia shouted toward the firmly closed door.
“Please come in quickly!”
* * *
The situation calmed down faster than expected.
As if he had known beforehand, Hilmaiten hurriedly took out a Medicine Bottle from his pocket.
After laying Yulias down on the sofa, he covered his upper body with a blanket kept in the Office. He then handed over water and medicine, skillfully assisting him in taking them as if it were a routine long repeated.
Watching that scene, Elysia, who had shouted in surprise, felt rather embarrassed.
Yulias barely managed to swallow the medicine, but he still breathed heavily, breaking out in a cold sweat as if he were still in pain.
“Excuse me…….”
In the desolate atmosphere, Elysia carefully opened her mouth.
Hilmaiten, who had been checking the Grand Duke’s complexion, raised his head and faced her with an expression calmer than ever.
“Assisting His Grace is the top priority, so I failed to pay attention to you. I am sorry.”
“Ah, no, it’s fine. Um, is the Grand Duke alright?”
“Yes. His energy has simply dropped for a moment due to overwork.”
Overwork?
Of course, she knew he had a lot of work to handle as the Grand Duke.
But for him to show such an agonized appearance.
No, more importantly, there was something she had definitely seen just a moment ago.
From his arm down to his wrist, the true identity of that purple light slowly spreading as if infecting the skin was…….
“You may leave now. It is almost time for the servants’ dinner.”
“…….”
Elysia could not simply say she understood and leave the room immediately.
The memories of brief moments scattered in her head began to piece together one by one like a puzzle.
‘Sheila said she won’t leave her room. But if she happens to meet them, she’ll hate it so much. Still, if she keeps enduring and enduring…… she said it hurts terribly. She hates that even more.’
‘What did Joshua…… see?’
“Aide Hilmaiten.”
Despite Elysia’s call, Hilmaiten was looking at Yulias without a word.
Even so, Elysia’s gaze was fixed on the Contract she had failed to take care of.
The Contract sitting on the table, and the Medicine Bottle Hilmaiten had brought.
“……By any chance, in the contract you signed as well-”
“Elysia.”
Hilmaiten averted his gaze from his master.
“Even if I do not listen to the end, I can tell what you want to ask.”
“…….”
“There is also a final clause in the contract I signed.”
Hilmaiten’s gaze shifted to the unsigned Contract. Then, he continued speaking softly.
“Even if you walk out of here, I too will ask nothing and blame you for nothing.”
“……Why is that?”
“Because that is what His Grace would want.”
Yulias would want that?
“So, if you wish, you may leave this room as someone who saw nothing and heard nothing.”
Unlike Yulias, Hilmaiten’s voice was gentle, but the meaning contained within it was clear.
It meant that any further interference would only be a hindrance.
Elysia’s gaze directed toward Yulias behind Hilmaiten.
She twitched her sweat-beaded hand and then firmly clenched it into a fist.
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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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