The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 74

—————
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 074

For a moment, the madam’s eyes briefly wavered with humiliation and conflict. This was both appeasement and hush money.

By accepting the money, the madam would become an accomplice to them, making it impossible for her to speak of this matter elsewhere.

Moreover, there was a contemptuous calculation that if she received a blank check, she would recklessly dress me in expensive clothes without considering harmony of appearance.

‘While discussing refinement, you’re more like a merchant than anyone else.’

Honestly, I don’t know what’s different between nobles and merchants. Aren’t they both people who covet power and money, the most obvious desires in the world?

I was looking at the Duchess and clicking my tongue inwardly when I saw the madam clench both hands tightly after a brief silence, so I made the first move.

Swoosh-

When I picked up the check that had fallen to the floor, people’s gazes turned toward me.

I looked back at the madam and asked.

“Aren’t you going to guide me to the fitting room?”

“Pardon? But Bella-“

“Let’s go.”

When I left on my own, the madam followed in confusion.

Click.

The fitting room door closed.

I held out the check to the madam.

“Take it.”

“….”

When the madam bit her lips and wouldn’t take the check, I forcibly pressed it into her hands.

“Bella….”

“Why are people in the Northern Region all so bear-like? If you’re too upright, you’ll break. Sometimes you need to be able to bend.”

And-

“There’s no need to rush into fighting with opponents you can’t reason with. The best strategy is to casually pass such troublemakers off to the person in charge.”

I pointed to myself as if to show off.

“The person in charge is right here.”

“…!”

“Do you understand? Dress me up prettily with only the most expensive things. Money isn’t guilty, so take as much as you can.”

When I said to hurry because I was busy, intense light returned to the madam’s previously dazed eyes.

“Yes.”

She refused even the assistant’s help and rolled up her sleeves alone, putting her heart and soul into dressing me up.

“Madam, this necklace….”

“Ah, just leave that. My husband gave it to me.”

“Understood.”

The first style completed this way.

Perhaps the Duchess’s intention was to make me a laughingstock with extravagantly wasteful and vulgar clothes-

“How is it?”

“….”

“Hmm, is it too plain after all?”

I was someone who could pull off glamorous clothes glamorously, and sophisticated clothes sophisticatedly.

If I couldn’t make the most of what an expert had seriously dressed me up in, I should quit being a celebrity.

When I waved my hand gently toward the people who were now openly watching through the window over there, I could see the audience admiring.

In a situation that had completely become my fashion show, the extra ladies trembled.

“…For a woman who should be modest to wear such revealing clothes. Change immediately.”

I said it was boring and turned around with a “hmph.”

“You have no eye for fashion.”

“You, you…!”

How many times did we repeat this?

In the drawing room, I had confidently provoked the Duchess, but when I entered the fitting room, my body swayed.

“Madam!”

“This damn corset is really going to kill someone.”

A corset is something that drains your stamina just by staying still, but repeatedly tightening and loosening it put even more strain on me physically.

The madam carefully supported my swaying form and said.

“Please stop now. You’ve done enough, Bella.”

“I was planning to anyway.”

After taking off the stuffy heels, I made a request to the expert.

“Can you make me look as delicate as possible, like I’d collapse if touched?”

“I’ll make you into the most pure woman in the world who inspires protective instincts.”

“I like that.”

After entrusting my body to the madam, I thought of the familiar man I had spotted through the window earlier.

The man who caught my eye immediately even among all those people.

‘I told him to come inconspicuously like a passerby.’

Who tries to pass as a passerby while wearing a uniform?

His idea of “ordinary clothing” must have been limited to the military uniform he wore when serving in the border region, because he was perfectly postured from head to toe.

Those who had been admiring Shubel’s appearance discovered the coldly shining purple eyes beneath his uniform cap and quietly moved away from his side.

Behind him were more “passersby” who were obviously extraordinarily postured.

‘Just go ahead and advertise that you’re making a procession.’

Even while feeling weak, I couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity.

I had known he wasn’t interested in appearance since he kept rotating through only the few vests I had given him as gifts, but now he was making people laugh with his clothing choices.

I should set aside time later to go shopping with him. At this rate, the people of the capital city will have heart attacks.

“It’s finished.”

I raised my head at the madam’s words.

True to her boastful promise, a sickly and pure beauty sat in the mirror.

As I stared at it, I suddenly realized something.

What was different between me four months before coming to Lunein and me now.

‘I’m smiling.’

The fact that I had become much more relaxed.

When I returned to the drawing room in that state, the Duchess spoke as if she was dumbfounded.

“Ha! Are you protesting right now?”

“What am I doing?”

I responded shamelessly. Of course, we were both smiling with our faces.

This was now an unstoppable play.

Who would be lying collapsed after the lights went out… we’d only know when the play ended.

On the small stage of the boutique drawing room, another fierce battle that the audience couldn’t know about unfolded.

“A half-person who’s never even had a child is just putting on airs. You’ll be divorced at this rate.”

When the Duchess spoke with a sneer.

“Perhaps… it’s not that she can’t have children, but that she won’t?”

“Well, when a woman is too assertive and venomous, it doesn’t stir the heart. The Grand Duke must feel the same way.”

“Oh my, don’t be so harsh. It might not be true.”

The maids agreed.

Watching them laugh as if they found it amusing, I looked at Vivian, who had been glancing toward the window with lovestruck eyes.

At the end of Vivian’s gaze was Shubel.

“Well, they say laughter makes you healthy. You’re getting on in years, so you should take care of your health.”

At my words, they stopped laughing abruptly.

I spoke to Vivian, who was lost in her own fantasy date and didn’t care about the tea party at all.

“Miss Vivian.”

“Yes?”

“Feelings aren’t a sin, but greed that knows no restraint brings disaster.”

Vivian blinked innocently.

“I don’t quite understand what you’re suddenly talking about.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. Are you perhaps anxious because you don’t have children? Oh my, it’s okay! These days they say people live quite well even after divorce. If you need someone to talk to about your worries, just let me know. I’ll comfort you!”

She didn’t seem to understand any of it, but I gave her a warning anyway, so I’ll have to wait and see.

I chuckled inwardly, said thank you, and stood up from my seat.

When I didn’t choose the next outfit, the Duchess asked sharply.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m not feeling well, so I’m going to head back now. It was pleasant meeting you today.”

“Who gave you permission to-“

“Oh, and.”

I put on an act of being a sickly beauty who seemed utterly exhausted and struggling.

Drawing a single tear down my pale cheek was a bonus.

“I’m planning to be bedridden for the next few days, so I don’t think I can receive etiquette lessons anymore. You don’t need to come anymore, so farewell.”

It was disgusting to meet you and let’s never see each other again.

After casting that spell, I tried to walk straight outside.

As if I could no longer endure the harassment and had rushed out upon finding my reliable husband.

After that, I planned to run to Bella and tattle everything, saying ‘The Duchess is scary so I can’t receive etiquette lessons.’

“You, stop right there!”

The moment I turned around, I instinctively knew something was wrong.

The metallic taste of blood felt deep in my throat. The sudden dizziness I experienced.

While I was genuinely swaying instead of acting, the Duchess grabbed me.

I barely suppressed the hemoptysis that was about to burst out using my accumulated experience.

‘The timing of this side effect is artistic.’

Since I had already decided to use this image anyway, I briefly thought about just vomiting it all out right away, but I held back because someone who had cried telling me not to be sick kept coming to mind.

When I instinctively clutched the crystal butterfly necklace, the pendant was dyed red.

The Duchess screamed hysterically.

“Because we pampered you for being young, you keep climbing higher without end!”

At that moment.

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