The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 91

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 91】

When a person harbors an unreachable star in their heart, they are divided into two types.

Either they go mad with longing for the star, or they realize their place and find satisfaction in stepping back and staying where they belong.

He was unfortunately the former.

‘I thought it would be nice just to see her face once… but now that I see her like this, I want to make her mine. Even if it’s just a momentary dream.’

Francians don’t consider spending a lifetime with one person particularly natural. Rather, they think it’s strange.

Isn’t it natural for one’s heart to be moved when seeing someone beautiful?

Thus, Francians, whether women or men, kept lovers regardless of marriage.

The more limited the duration of a meeting, the more passionate and sweet it becomes.

Gaspard didn’t intend to become Ebel’s husband.

A lover.

It would be nice to be the kind of existence that noble ladies seek when they’re sad and melancholy.

While tasting the superiority of knowing tears that the husband doesn’t know.

“Where do you keep looking like that?”

Then, the Queen asked sharply. Gaspard chuckled and politely bent his waist to whisper in the Queen’s ear.

“Are you jealous?”

“You’re my dog. A dog should only look at its master.”

“You speak correctly. The spring breeze is so pleasant that I was enjoying the weather, so please forgive me generously.”

Chattering as if his tongue were oiled, he groped for his dream.

So what was the noble name of the princess in his dream?

‘Ebeln.’

How amusing. The name is quite similar to the Grand Duchess’s.

‘I don’t even believe in absurd things like past lives.’

This world was created by God.

When you die, you return to God’s embrace; there’s no way you’d be reborn.

That was a dangerous thought that completely violated doctrine.

Gaspard, who had straightened his waist, opened his eyes narrowly.

It looked somewhat like a mischievous boy and somewhat even wicked – that was the expression he usually made when his thoughts jumped over fences and ran toward very bad places.

“Your Majesty the Queen, isn’t it boring to just wait like this?”

“Then what should we do?”

“How about enjoying some horseback riding? The ladies know how to ride horses, don’t they?”

* * *

Lady Adelheid was a cultured lady. When Ebel brought up Christina Rossetti’s poem “Goblin Market,” which she liked, Adelheid’s eyes sparkled as she responded.

“Goblin Market is really interesting. How did she think to write fantasy as poetry?”

“Come buy, come buy. The way they say that is really interesting. Reading the poem, I felt like I had entered the goblin world.”

Adelheid answering like that was the most vibrant she had been so far.

“I sighed at the part where the sister sacrifices herself. If only the younger sister hadn’t eaten the fruit from the beginning.”

Through such conversation, Ebel could roughly guess Adelheid’s personality.

“That’s a divisive part. The fruit the goblins sell is highly addictive. But I think the sister handled it well.”

“That’s true. The sister’s sense of responsibility was good.”

Doing this, Adelheid felt just like a friend.

Though this was the first time meeting her today, perhaps it was because they conversed so well.

“Adel, please recite for us.”

“That’s right. We’re curious about what poem it is too.”

The young ladies following Adelheid all looked gentle. At least on the surface.

That made her feel more at ease.

‘Maybe we really could become friends.’

When she was young, Ebel rarely left the house due to her parents, so she had no female friends her age.

After running away, she dressed as a man, so naturally she had none.

This was the first time in Ebel’s life that she was having a conversation with peers.

“Then… I’ll recite just a little.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

This is the right way to speak, isn’t it?

Actually, since her status was higher, she could speak down to them, but Ebel had no idea how to speak to become friends.

She felt that Adelheid was leading her to some extent.

Therefore, Ebel listened to Adelheid’s recitation with sincerity.

“Laura rose from her chair and raised both arms into the air. Then she clutched her hair. Sister, sister. Did you taste the forbidden fruit because of me?” (*【Goblin Market】 Author: Christina Rossetti)

Adelheid, who had recited up to that point, looked at Ebel. She was expecting a response verse.

“My sister’s light cannot be dimmed like my fallen life. Sister, you are still young, you cannot be wasted like my life. Thirsty, rotting away! Caught by goblins.”

It was roughly that kind of content, she thought.

It was a poetry collection she had read quite some time ago, so she couldn’t remember each verse clearly.

Still, when she somehow recalled and recited it, everyone applauded.

“I’ve never read it before, but now I’m curious.”

“Me too. Reading poetry is an excellent thing for a lady to do.”

She knew that even though they said that, they probably wouldn’t read it. That’s why Ebel liked Adelheid.

“Do you want to write poetry?”

“Well, I’ve tried, but I don’t think I have literary talent.”

“You might do well if you learn under a good teacher. Or how about becoming a critic?”

At the casually thrown words, the table instantly froze.

Telling a noble woman to have a profession!

The young ladies who couldn’t continue speaking fanned themselves. Everyone was waiting for Adelheid’s answer.

“It’s not that I find this gathering boring, but I’m tired of this kind of atmosphere.”

Ebel smiled and looked around gently.

Even a single nod perfectly matched etiquette. It felt as graceful as a swan flapping its wings, yet what came from her pink lips were thorny roses.

It felt like a dangerous substance that stayed quietly in a box but could expand and explode at any time.

To the young ladies, Ebel Bayern was truly an unpredictable person.

“A critic… could a woman do such a thing?”

“What’s wrong with a female critic? I think you’d do well.”

Victor had said so.

That it didn’t matter what she did.

To run wild to her heart’s content.

Though she had Bayern backing her, it didn’t feel like her own, so she had been cautious.

But now… since she had resolved to carry that heavy name together and walk forward, was there any need to hesitate?

“That’s… an interesting perspective.”

After a moment of silence, Adelheid slowly opened her mouth.

Translated into social circle language, it meant ‘nonsense.’

“Though she has passed away, there was a person named Margaret Fuller in a far away country. She was the editor of The Dial, a transcendentalist magazine. If you look into it, you’ll like it.”

Something flashed deep in Adelheid’s eyes as she listened to the explanation. Whether it was a spark or light was unclear, but Ebel hoped she would ignite.

‘The path I’m going to walk needs companions. People who will support women’s universities.’

Having said all she needed to say, Ebel endured the tedious time while drinking tea.

While the men hunted, all the ladies could do was gather and converse like this.

Of course, it was a fierce battlefield of information, a place to form connections and move social circles.

‘I don’t want to disparage it. But…’

What could she do about it being so boring?

Just as she was about to bite her tongue to prevent a yawn.

“Your Highness the Grand Duchess, and young ladies.”

A noblewoman from the Queen’s side approached and greeted them dryly.

“Her Majesty the Queen has recommended horseback riding.”

* * *

Neighing!

A pretty white horse snorts through its nostrils.

Though it was a sudden proposal, Ebel gladly accepted and sprang to her feet.

Since she had come wearing riding attire in consideration of such situations, there was nothing to hesitate about.

“Do you ride horses?”

“Yes, a little.”

“Choose whichever horse you’d like.”

At the Queen’s suggestion, Ebel carefully looked around at the horses.

They were all plump and sturdy without exception, truly befitting the royal palace’s horses.

However, Ebel didn’t choose based on appearance alone. The Queen’s eyes narrowed as she watched Ebel examine even the horses’ hooves.

“How filthy…”

Though she heard that muttered comment, Ebel paid it no mind.

‘How would I know what they might have done to the hooves.’

She especially needed to check the saddle carefully. She also had to open the horse’s mouth to see if they hadn’t inserted something like poison fangs anywhere.

It was Gaspard who expressed admiration at Ebel’s behavior.

“My, you’re quite the suspicious type, aren’t you?”

Though he wasn’t a coachman, he held the reins like one and was eager to strike up even a word of conversation with Ebel.

“Because it’s the royal palace.”

But despite having rolled up his shirt sleeves to show off his arm muscles, Ebel only gave a brief reply.

Gaspard blinked for a moment, then chuckled.

“Usually people feel reassured because it’s the royal palace.”

“I have reasons to live long.”

Gaspard patted the neck of the horse Ebel had mounted and leaned forward with a grin.

“You’re not surprised to see me. We had a good time back then, didn’t we.”

Ebel skillfully placed her foot in the stirrup and looked down at the curly-haired man.

What a face that probably still made many women cry. At the same time, he still wasn’t her type.

“I don’t know what kind of education they give in France, but…”

A calm voice flowed from Ebel’s lips as she smiled loosely, conscious of the surrounding gazes.

“If you’re going to seduce someone, you should get rid of that cheap look first.”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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