The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 72

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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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The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 072

“Leave the necklace as it is.”

“Yes.”

I opened my eyes after finishing my preparations.

In the mirror was ‘Elisia Runein’.

A woman similar yet different, one that I would have found unfamiliar if I had seen her four months ago.

‘What has changed?’

I was momentarily puzzled, then came to my senses at the small presence I heard from the window.

I dismissed the maids and approached the window myself.

Soon the shadows at the window gathered together and transformed into Erban.

“Master, I’m back! You missed me, didn’t you?”

Erban said as he removed his mask.

I clicked my tongue at how he was spouting nonsense as soon as he returned after I had given him work.

“No.”

“Why?!”

“I’ve been seeing silver hair frequently lately, so I’m sick of it.”

“I hate that woman.”

Erban grumbled that Vivian overlapped with his character. I laughed at the absurdity.

“And this. What you requested, Master.”

I checked what Erban handed me and raised the corners of my mouth with satisfaction.

“Good work. It couldn’t have been easy, but you’re impressive.”

“I’m the best, right? Give me a reward.”

“I’ll give you a performance bonus.”

“Isn’t there anything other than that?”

“Should I give you cookies?”

“…I’ll just take the performance bonus.”

“Good thinking.”

Erban grumbled that Master was good in every way but lacked sentiment.

What sentiment. Money is the best.

“And about the black magic mask.”

Erban’s playful atmosphere became serious.

“I found traces. When I traced back that human called Shasha’s movements, a place presumed to be the origin of the mask came up.”

I received the faded invitation he held out.

“A masquerade ball?”

“Yeah. The swan mask appeared in the world after attending this place, so it’s probably right.”

The masquerade ball itself wasn’t particularly special. It was a place often used among gentlemen and ladies who wanted to enjoy secrecy.

However.

“Interesting. For the enjoyment of the ball, participants’ masks will be prepared by the host on the day, it says.”

“Suspicious, right?”

“Extremely.”

I handed the invitation back to Erban and said.

“Investigate this further. Who the host is, where those who have attended so far received this invitation. Also, when the next ball will be held.”

Erban said he understood and put on his fox mask again.

“Then I’ll be going. And there’s that red-haired woman outside the door. She looks very urgent?”

With those words, a black fox disappeared as if melting into the light.

I turned around at the hint of ‘red hair’.

Soon, as Erban had prophesied, the door opened with such force it seemed it might break, without even a knock.

“Hey!”

“Miss Melina Hermain, no matter how close we are, this is too-“

“This isn’t the time for jokes! The old woman is forming some kind of friendship promotion alliance! She seems to have called a bunch of her maids!”

Is it finally starting?

My eyes calmly settled as what I had been waiting for finally surfaced.

“Since it’s not home ground, something like a ball would be impossible. Since Mother is away, bringing other outsiders into the Grand Duke’s Castle wouldn’t work either. At most it would be an outdoor tea party.”

“…How do you figure that out right away without even seeing it?”

“This much is basic. Where’s the location?”

“A recently opened place called Sungdo Boutique.”

Ah, I had an idea where that was.

‘That must be the place the dressmaker madam newly opened.’

The madam of the one remaining high-end dress shop in the duchy.

As Runein was reviving, her dress shop was also flourishing day by day, and now she was about to transform into a proper boutique for the upper class.

The Duchess seemed to have targeted that point.

“There will be many people wanting to take a look, right?”

“Can you even call that a question?”

Since it was a high-end boutique, it was difficult to find fault with the location.

More precisely, it was possible to do so, but then the problem was that the Runein side would be branded as having rejected the boutique.

When someone had spent their lifetime preparing and starting a business, we couldn’t ruin it even if we couldn’t congratulate them.

Otherwise, who would trust such an unreliable partner and want to start a new business in Runein?

‘You got me good, Duchess.’

It was an inescapable trap. I raised the corners of my mouth seeing a situation that brought tension to my previously relaxed shoulders.

“…What kind of scheme are you plotting now to make such an evil expression.”

“Could you call it self-defense? But did you come here so urgently just to tell me that? I’m touched.”

“I, I just didn’t like that old woman! That Vivian woman is also annoying.”

Right. Melina was incompatible with personalities like Vivian’s. I think the rivals aren’t me but those two.

As I remained silent, pondering what to do, Melina frowned and said.

“Just say you’re sick and lie down. There’s no need to put up with it.”

“That’s right. But there’s no better timing than now to quit so spectacularly.”

“What are you quitting…Wait, you never intended to receive education from the beginning-?!”

I brought my index finger to Melina’s pretty lips and shushed her.

“A lady’s secrets shouldn’t be pried into, Miss Melina.”

“Hey, you, ah!”

Ignoring Melina who was squawking that I should do such things to my husband, I calculated in my head.

The result was that it was worth trying.

It wouldn’t cause major problems for my safety, and even if problems arose, it would just be some public embarrassment, so I judged it would be more beneficial to blow away the Duchess and quit etiquette education at this opportunity.

‘Still, just in case, it would be better to take some knights along.’

Thanks to them choosing a public venue first, it became possible to deploy knights disguised as passersby.

As I was trying to recall which knights were available for deployment since they had no official duties.

Knock knock knock!

“Duchess of Runein, the Duchess is calling for you. She says there’s a very urgent matter and you should come right now?”

Along with cheerful knocking that didn’t match the time and place, Vivian’s voice was heard.

If it had been an ordinary maid, she wouldn’t have even been able to reach the bedroom and would have been blocked by the servants.

But since she was the youngest sister of the First Knight Captain and a guest from the Duchess’s side, they seemed unable to stop her.

As Luke had worried, Vivian was now under his protection.

‘Countess Herman must have anticipated all of that when she sent Vivian.’

I inwardly clicked my tongue at the old lady’s meticulousness in giving no openings and said.

“I’m not feeling well right now, Miss Vivian. Could you tell her I’ll see her after I’ve tidied up my appearance a bit more?”

Then the other party came out with shameless audacity.

“Madam, I was wrong! You were indeed uncomfortable with me, weren’t you? To think you won’t even meet me…Sob sob, it’s my fault for not being able to please you, so please punish me!”

Thud. The sound of someone dramatically kneeling outside was heard.

A sobbing voice echoed throughout the entire castle.

It was a situation tantamount to threatening to drag my image through the mud if I didn’t come out now.

Melina muttered.

“That little brat. Absolutely damn…”

“Miss Melina, watch your language.”

“Hey! Are you my mother or what? Huh? Even when I’m taking your side, you’re giving me grief!”

I couldn’t help but chuckle at hearing Vivian’s sniffling and Melina’s furious ranting at the same time.

A beat later, I wiped away my smile and spoke seriously.

“Miss Melina, could I ask you for just one favor?”

Melina hesitated, then arrogantly lifted her chin.

“Well, let’s hear it?”

“Thanks. I knew I could count on you, Miss Melina.”

“I haven’t said I’d do it yet!”

I quickly wrote a message and handed it to her as she huffed indignantly.

It contained a request to deploy knights and to stay nearby so they could quickly handle the situation if things got worse.

“Please deliver this to my husband.”

Melina boldly skimmed through the message.

“‘Even if I look pale in the middle of it, it’s just acting, so don’t be surprised and stay calm.’ …What kind of crazy talk is this?”

“If you’re planning to come watch too, Miss Melina, don’t be too shocked. I need to have at least one defensive measure.”

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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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