The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 73

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

The World Thinks I’m Terminally Ill Episode 073

I said that while quickly touching up my makeup.

Hmm, this should be enough to look like a ‘sickly daughter-in-law from a noble family.’

Looking weak to others isn’t my style, but if I can use it as a card, I should.

If despising the weak is human nature, then compassion is also part of humanity.

“…Do these schemes just pop into your head right away?”

“Scheme? This is too weak to be called a scheme.”

After touching up my makeup, I braided my hair to one side.

I noticed a flashy crystal butterfly necklace that didn’t match my pale complexion, but I left it on. One piece should be fine.

Muttering to myself, I turned around to see a sulking beauty.

Melina Hermain spoke.

“I’m a Hermain family member. What if I don’t deliver this message?”

“Well. Then I’d be the one getting played, wouldn’t I?”

I smiled and whispered in her ear.

“But I guarantee you, Miss Melina. This will be a performance that even you’ll find satisfying.”

Aren’t you curious about how it ends?

I passed by Melina and opened the door.

I saw Vivian sitting collapsed on the floor.

“Stop crying, Miss Vivian. This place has so much soundproofing that no one can hear you no matter how much you cry.”

“Really? *sniff*”

The door closed.

Melina muttered quietly.

“That little brat, still telling anyone and everyone to stop crying.”

She irritably tousled her red hair and disappeared somewhere.

[Tiara Boutique]

A place that was just a one-person tailor shop four months ago.

It had now transformed into a high-end boutique with over ten assistants.

As the Northern Region became more active, competitors emerged, but Tiara Boutique was thriving thanks to its regular deliveries to Lunein.

Naturally, they couldn’t refuse when guests from the Grand Duke’s Castle requested appointments.

“Then I’ll come back when everything is ready. Please enjoy your conversation.”

Madam politely guided the Duchess’s party to a private drawing room.

Regular customers who saw the group glanced over with curious eyes, wondering what was happening.

Though the room was soundproofed so voices couldn’t be heard, it had floor-to-ceiling windows so customers could view the boutique’s clothes and accessories, clearly showing the harmonious scene of their conversation.

“I think I’ve seen your face a few times at balls, but this seems to be our first opportunity to build a friendship, Duchess of Lunein.”

“Indeed. You’re such a famous person with all sorts of talk coming from everywhere that I’ve wanted to have a conversation with you, but you’re quite difficult to meet.”

However, they would never dream of knowing.

What kind of words were being exchanged at this tea party of noble ladies who looked so refined on the surface.

As soon as Madam left, subtle attacks disguised as greetings began.

Translated, it meant this:

‘You’re so much younger, yet you’ve never come to greet us first?’

‘Do you know that talk about you is spreading everywhere in a way quite unbecoming of an upper-class lady?’

I just smiled gently.

Anyway, counterattacking from the first round would only tire my mouth. Today’s concept was ‘mistreated daughter-in-law.’

When I didn’t add anything to the conversation, the level of discussion gradually escalated.

“Come to think of it, has it been over four months since the Duchess of Lunein got married?”

“It was the wedding of the century. There was so much talk about it.”

“For such a thing, there’s been no happy news.”

One lady said while setting down her teacup.

“Her Grace the Duchess must be waiting eagerly, but since there’s still no sound of a child crying in the castle, she must be worried. He’s a precious only son.”

Since they had nothing to criticize about etiquette or other aspects, they seemed to target succession, which would be fatal for a daughter-in-law from a humble background in a noble family.

Another lady picked up on this while pretending to defend me.

“Young wives these days take much better care of their bodies than we did in our time.”

“Well, we’re the old generation and they’re the new generation.”

At first glance, it seemed like they were defending me, but in reality, they were calling me ‘a cold woman who only prioritizes her own body.’

I decided to give them the reaction they wanted at this point.

“My body is weak.”

“Oh my, your body is weak. That’s right, my daughter always says things like that too.”

“It’s a specialty of young ladies. Anyway, when they become mothers, they find strength they never had.”

“But the Duchess of Lunein is no longer a young lady, is she?”

Then they laughed among themselves as if it was amusing. “Ho ho ho!”

Excluding someone from conversation and making them look foolish happened in an instant.

I bit my lips tightly with a frustrated expression and added more fuel to the fire.

“It’s true. Mother-in-law also told me to take my time once my health improves.”

“Oh my, Duchess of Lunein. You’re more naive than you look.”

“You can’t just interpret what adults say for the sake of appearances in whatever way is convenient for you.”

Another lady spoke as if giving advice.

“This isn’t just anywhere, but Lunein. If you cut off the bloodline of the greatest noble family not just in the Empire but on the continent… goodness, how could you repay such a sin?”

She acts as if she’s my superior. I don’t understand why they’re objecting when our mother-in-law said that.

And finally, the Duchess, who had been contentedly listening to her lady attendants tear me down, opened her mouth.

“This is why precious families must bring in well-educated, thoughtful children.”

The attendant ladies eagerly agreed.

“Birth circumstances can’t be helped, I suppose.”

“As the old saying goes, family education is important. Since the starting point is different, it can’t be helped.”

“What can you do when that’s what she’s seen and learned?”

They were certainly like the ladies of high society, whose specialty was cutting people to pieces with their tongues.

While I was secretly admiring their brilliant skill at indirect criticism, this ‘Elisia bashing’ tea party entered a new chapter.

Knock knock-

“Guests, the items you requested are ready.”

“Bring them in.”

At the Duchess’s words, Madam, who had given up her seat for them to converse, personally entered pushing a clothing rack.

The rack held various clothes and accessories.

These were fitting props to see the overall design before custom tailoring.

The Duchess said.

“No matter how lacking she is, she received my education, so I should buy her at least one dress to wear to the ball.”

It wasn’t that I lacked money – this was an elegant way of telling me to go to hell, like charity.

On the surface, there was justification since we were teacher and student.

‘She’s certainly formidable.’

Every single one was a flashy dress that required a lot of work.

To the audience casually observing through the floor-to-ceiling windows, it would look like an affectionate teacher buying expensive clothes for her student.

It would also add strength to rumors that I was obsessed with luxury and squandering the family fortune.

Without considering that these were the type that would drain your energy just from changing into them once.

I clicked my tongue inwardly and asked.

“Yes, then which one should I change into?”

“All of them, of course. Surely you’re not going to rudely ignore an adult’s kindness?”

The Duchess said leisurely while drinking her tea. The other ladies chuckled softly.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and change.”

These people were determined to tear me apart.

Since this was the time to endure for the climax, I had no choice but to get up from my seat.

But then.

“Guests, these require long fitting times, so trying on all of them today would be physically impossible-“

“Madam.”

The Duchess said.

“When did I say you could interfere?”

“…I apologize.”

An unexpected figure had appeared, one that even I hadn’t anticipated.

The Madam had intervened, instinctively sensing that the atmosphere in the room was not favorable toward me.

A rebellion from someone who should have been no different from part of the background.

The Duchess looked her up and down, then clicked her tongue and called for her handmaiden.

The Duchess took out a blank check from the checkbook the maid respectfully offered and threw it in front of the Madam.

“Well, merchants are all about time and effort being money. So uncultured, so vulgar.”

“…”

“I’ll pay in advance. I’ll buy everything that child is wearing, so spend that amount.”

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