You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 18

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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 18

Damn, my inner thoughts and what I said got mixed up!

But at this point, it was do or die.

I placed my hands on my hips and spoke boldly instead.

“You must have misheard.”

“Ridiculous. Everyone here heard it.”

“No, we didn’t? Right, girls?”

Though the Grand Duke expressed his bewilderment, I shrugged my shoulders as if I knew nothing and looked around at the maids.

Though they were frightened, my allies were still my allies, and the maids who had been exchanging glances cautiously agreed with me.

“W-we didn’t hear anything at all.”

“That’s right, that’s right. What did Madam say?”

“You didn’t even open your mouth!”

Right, right. That’s right, that’s right.

Watching the Gana-da Maid Team nodding at each other while looking around, I felt our camaraderie growing stronger.

I looked back at the Grand Duke with a pleased expression and spoke triumphantly.

“See?”

“…Very well, the maids are quite loyal.”

“Our girls are a bit like that.”

I turned my head primly and stole a glance at the Grand Duke.

But…

“?!”

On his face was bewilderment and, surprisingly, amusement!

What? This situation? Something feels off.

Then.

“So they say. Are my ears mistaken?”

The Grand Duke shrugged once and stepped aside.

And then.

“I greet Your Grace the Grand Duchess. I apologize for the late greeting.”

A middle-aged nobleman who had been hiding behind that large frame suddenly appeared!

That Grand Duke bastard, he didn’t come alone?

What kind of comic-like direction is this!

The world was really picking on me.

“B-Butler!”

And that middle-aged nobleman seemed to be the butler of the Duke’s Castle.

As the startled maids’ mouths fell open, the Grand Duke’s mouth opened again.

Along with a somewhat fishy smile, as if intoxicated by victory.

“Cal, what did the Grand Duchess just say?”

“Yes, Your Grace. The Grand Duchess clearly said approximately 1 minute and 30 seconds ago, ‘How dirty and petty. I’d rather not go at all.'”

“…”

As befitting the head butler of this great Duke’s Castle.

His accuracy was beyond words!

To go so far as to plant the butler? What’s with the Grand Duke?

It was the moment I was biting my lips in defeat.

“Well, I’m not trying to have a war of words.”

The Grand Duke, looking somewhat tired as he swept his bangs back, spoke.

Then what was all that just now?

As I was preparing for round two of the war of words, the Grand Duke struck first.

“You’ll lose soon anyway, so I, who am ‘dirty and petty,’ will personally give you a choice. Will you go to the festival? Or will you stay home alone? Of course, the maids have officially finished work, so they can go back.”

I hadn’t noticed while giving my all to the confrontation, but the sky that had been bright red with sunset was now becoming a deep indigo.

There was still some time before the lantern ceremony, which was said to be the festival’s highlight…

‘Just go? Ha, this is awkward. Honestly, we’re not close enough to enjoy a festival together, so why is he suddenly acting like this?’

The Grand Duke’s attitude was extremely fickle.

He told me not to stand out, then suddenly asked me to go to the festival together – which tune am I supposed to dance to?

But there was no answer to be found by racking my brains alone.

Besides, this festival was an annual event that happened once a year.

If it were once a month, maybe, but once a year would be a shame to miss.

“…I’ll go. Let’s go.”

Damn, let’s just go and pretend that bastard doesn’t exist while I have fun.

With that resolution, I answered weakly.

“Not a bad choice.”

The Grand Duke smiled and extended one hand as if to escort me.

He seemed quite pleased with my answer.

I stared at that hand and then slapped it down like a low high-five.

“Oops. Excuse me.”

Then I lightly grasped his hand with my thumb and index finger as if nothing had happened.

The Grand Duke looked at me with an utterly bewildered expression, but what could he do?

Even someone as oblivious as me could tell that he was doing his utmost to mess with me.

Besides…

Even if my slap wouldn’t have even tickled him, the way his expression changed in various subtle ways strangely stimulated my competitive spirit.

“…Let’s go then.”

And so, this strange companionship began.

* * *

Clatter, clatter.

With the sound of carriage wheels rolling over unpaved roads as background music, I was absentmindedly tracing the patterns on the carriage ceiling with my eyes.

‘I wonder if Betty and the girls are having fun on their own.’

Due to the sudden uninvited guest, the Gana-da Maid Team had to exit with fists in their mouths, swallowing tears.

I glared at the Grand Duke sitting across from me with resentful eyes.

He sat with his arms crossed, endlessly staring only out the window.

For someone who had ambitiously come to fetch me, he had kept his mouth firmly shut after achieving his purpose.

‘Really, his moods change like boiling porridge. How annoying, you bastard.’

Not to be outdone, I also stuck myself to the opposite window and looked outside.

Still, it was refreshing to leave the Duke’s Castle for the first time since coming here.

Passing through the vast main garden, the carriage soon left the gates of Celeste Duchy.

After that, passing over gentle hills and entering a paved road, the carriage turned a corner and the town square could be seen in the distance.

A campfire was in progress in the center, and in front of it were people playing cheerful music and young people dancing spiritedly to the rhythm.

“Wow!”

It really looks like a festival! Well, it is a festival!

As I unconsciously let out an exclamation, one of the Grand Duke’s eyebrows furrowed.

‘Is he telling me to be quiet? Then why did he come along?’

His sensitivity was on the level of a D-30 repeat student who would annihilate anything that broke the silence even slightly in a study cafe.

My mouth shut tight after getting scolded for talking to myself.

Still, my heart pounded at the bustling scene of everyone laughing and chattering happily.

Though I enjoyed the homebody life, wouldn’t it be fun to enjoy this kind of local festival at least once?

It was the moment when I was looking frantically at the center of the festival, unable to contain the laughter seeping out.

“…Huh?!”

In an instant, something caught my attention.

It was none other than skewers.

In the distance, a kind-looking woman was sweating profusely while grilling skewers over charcoal, and over direct flame at that.

‘Amazing. That person is a master. A skewer master.’

My heart that had been pounding began to beat like a drum.

That’s only natural, since skewers are the quintessential festival snack in romance fantasy novels.

Even if I can’t remember the detailed plots or protagonist names, I take pride in having read enough romance fantasy novels to rival anyone in terms of quantity.

And that romance fantasy cliché has appeared right before my eyes!

‘Now it really feels like I’ve been transported into a romance fantasy.’

I’ve always been dying of curiosity about whether those skewers were heart skewers, chicken skewers, lamb skewers, or made from some meat I couldn’t identify.

To think I can get that answer today.

Hiiing-

As I clutched my fluttering heart and fixed my gaze on the woman vendor, the carriage came to a stop at perfect timing.

Soon after, the carriage door on my side opened and Cal the butler appeared with his upright posture.

“We have arrived at the square.”

“Well done.”

‘Hmph.’

Before the Grand Duke could get out first, I quickly took the initiative and hopped down.

The expressions of the two men watching this were quite a sight to behold.

The Grand Duke looked dumbfounded, while the middle-aged nobleman’s face was reddened as if he was trying to hold back laughter.

The kind and gentle atmosphere flowing across the middle-aged nobleman’s face was somewhat unexpected, different from my first impression of him.

“Oh. Thank you.”

Cal’s hand, which had been extended to escort me, looked awkward suspended in mid-air.

Realizing my mistake, I quickly grabbed his hand with both of mine and shook it a couple of times to show my gratitude.

For the first time, a benevolent smile spread across Cal’s entire face.

“Your Grace, Your Grace the Grand Duchess. Please have a pleasant time.”

His voice was filled with laughter just like his face.

My heart melted along with his warmth, and I beamed at him while nodding enthusiastically.

Cal, who had even taken on the role of coachman, bowed politely and withdrew, driving the carriage away.

In that brief moment, my attention was once again completely drawn to the skewer aroma wafting from afar.

Just as I was about to stride forward without hesitation.

“Where are you planning to go?”

The Grand Duke’s bothersome question followed me like a shadow.

I felt instantly annoyed.

‘Is he really planning to accompany me the entire time?’

I crossed my arms and turned to look at him.

But…

‘Huh?’

The Grand Duke’s condition seemed a bit strange.

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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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