The World Mistakes Me for Terminally Ill - Chapter 76

—————
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 076

Unable to believe the reality before their eyes, they began shifting blame to innocent parties.

“His Grace the Duke must have been bewitched by that villainess.”

When someone said this, agreement erupted from all around.

“That’s right. How dare a mere rolling stone cause—”

“Does it make sense to uproot the pillar of the North?”

Count Elliot slammed down his wine glass with a thud!

“His Grace has made a grave mistake. As loyal retainers, we must set things right. Let us offer direct counsel.”

“Exactly. Let’s show him clearly what kind of families we are.”

“Come, let’s go. To restore the North to its original state!”

The enraged Count’s party headed straight for the Duchy.

What they encountered upon arrival was—

“Entry is forbidden.”

The cold words of his second son, who had grown strong on his own and even become a knight commander during the 20-odd years they hadn’t bothered to look at him.

“Luke, you bastard. Are you blocking your father’s path right now? Move aside, I must see His Grace the Duke!”

“Do you think His Grace the Duke is someone a mere commoner can meet privately?”

“What? I am Count Elliot.”

“Yes, merely a count. You lack the qualifications to request an audience with His Grace the Duke.”

Only then did they swallow hard, realizing the situation was truly serious.

Only Count Elliot, whose pride was wounded by the fact that the child he had abandoned had grown larger than himself and now blocked his path, couldn’t back down and made a desperate move.

“The Duchy cannot dare treat Elliot like this! We are meritorious retainers and comrades who have protected the North. How can you treat meritorious retainers this way—”

“Dare?”

When Luke’s eyes blazed bright blue, the Count unconsciously flinched.

“Ahem, that’s just how I speak. Anyway, without the Count’s family, what will happen to the North’s security? We Elliots are the only ones who can lend knights to the Duchy.”

“Th-that’s right! Without our Viscount family, what about food? Our estate is the only place here with conditions suitable for harvesting wheat!”

“You can’t reach the Duchy’s train station without going through the railway line in the Baronet’s domain. Surely you haven’t forgotten that?”

It wasn’t for nothing that they hadn’t been mindful of the Duchy.

Their calculations were based on the belief that each had something that could put Lunein in their debt, so they could never be abandoned.

However.

“Yes, then you can deploy with that force to the border regions.”

“What are you—”

“Have you forgotten? Why Lunein was always short on knight forces. It was because they were all protecting the North from monsters in your stead.”

“…!”

“I was just thinking that the knights of the North had become too lax in discipline. It’s because they haven’t experienced real combat, so this is a good opportunity.”

That was all before Elisia came.

Luke reminded them of the cold reality.

“The 3rd Knight Order has completed its preparations, so Count need not worry about the Duchy’s security.”

Behind Luke, the newly appointed Red Wolf knights stood in strict formation.

The number of knight orders Elisia initially set as her goal to manage the entire Duchy was three.

Finally, this minimum number had been achieved.

Until now, they had to gradually borrow forces from other places, but that was no longer necessary.

Count Elliot looked shocked as he realized the axe he had trusted had a rotten handle.

“Food! What about food? Even if you import wheat from elsewhere, to maintain food sovereignty, you need at least some regions capable of farming—”

“While developing the hot springs, several more areas suitable for cultivation were discovered. So we won’t be burdening the Viscount’s domain with such responsibilities anymore, so please be at ease.”

The Viscount closed his mouth.

The last remaining Baron swallowed nervously.

“You know that new railway lines are being voluntarily laid across various estates in the North.”

“The Train Guild—”

“Granted permission for formation first. Bella said she’s an investor in the guild.”

Finally, when everyone had fallen silent, Vivian, who had been exiled but foolishly followed her father again, spoke.

“Brother, where is His Highness the Crown Prince? Why can’t I go in? I’m sure our eyes met earlier. He must be waiting for me.”

“Lady Elliot.”

Luke, who had maintained a stern expression, held his head for the first time as if utterly disgusted.

“The fact that you weren’t imprisoned and merely ended with exile was the final mercy His Grace the Duke and Her Grace the Duchess showed out of consideration for me.”

So—

“Stop your vain delusions and return quietly. Before I personally execute you.”

He gave the knights a cold look with his eyes.

“What are you doing? This is a family whose name has been erased from the retainer registry. They cannot set foot in the Duchy, so expel them.”

“Yes.”

“Wait, Luke! My son!”

When the knights grabbed his arms and began dragging him away, the panicked Count Elliot called to his son.

When Luke didn’t even glance at him, he pleaded with those who had originally come with him.

“Viscount! Baron! Please help me!”

They quietly averted their gazes.

“Sir. Can’t you somehow convey a message to His Grace the Duke? It seems I have been disloyal all this time….”

“When His Grace convenes a family meeting, you may speak then.”

“But we don’t even know when that will be held. Just tax reduction, no, just the deployment matter, please help somehow. Hm? If we really conscript the estate residents like this, riots will break out!”

Then the Knight Commander of Lunein, annoyed at having his official duties interrupted, politely warned these troublesome pests.

“Right now, His Grace the Duke is extremely on edge. Do not further upset his mood and return.”

Though the timid ones had no choice but to retreat at the sharp warning, since the survival of their estates was at stake, they desperately tried to find out why the Duke was angry.

The fact that Vivian had been exiled served as a hint, and as a result.

“That villainess, no, the Duchess of Lunein collapsed?”

“His Grace the Duke cherishes his daughter-in-law greatly.”

“Her Grace the Duchess was also angry and personally reprimanded the ladies of the capital.”

“They say the Crown Prince hasn’t taken a single sip of water and absolutely won’t leave his unconscious wife’s side.”

They clearly realized who held the real power in Lunein.

Around the same time, in the Duchess’s office.

The atmosphere there was so tense that not even a breath could be heard.

A place where crying had already occurred.

When Bella briefly left her post and returned to find her already ailing daughter-in-law had collapsed, she rarely flew into a rage and summoned the Duchess’s party.

The ladies from the capital naturally pleaded that Elisia was acting, that they hadn’t tormented her.

However, there were more than a few who had witnessed her pale appearance and the scene of her collapsing while vomiting blood.

Naturally, Bella didn’t believe the ladies’ words.

“Try making excuses, Duchess.”

She coldly rebuked Countess Herman, who had been keeping her chin raised defiantly and remaining silent.

Those who had been holding their breath under the reprimand unconsciously shrank back.

The ladies had actually looked down on the Duchess somewhat. Though she was the highest-ranking woman in the empire excluding royalty, she had never shown her face in high society.

For those whose battlefield and everything in life was high society, anyone who didn’t appear there was no different from a loser.

‘Frightening.’

But the Duchess they actually faced was not someone they could dare make eye contact with. They felt like they might suffocate from her grace and dignity.

This was partly due to the difference in life experience they had weathered, but also due to the intimidating presence that came from her experience of personally serving in the border regions.

Elisia’s second small misconception.

Since she had seen them struggling so much before her, she thought of the Duchy members as small animals that needed protection, but in reality, they were people who were Northerners to their bones.

Even in their current decline, Lunein was called the continent’s strongest family, with military might that no one in the world could match.

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