You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 20

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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 20

As expected, the man had seen through Zenos’s true identity.

Perhaps even Rene’s existence.

The furrow between Zenos’s brows deepened even more.

“I asked who you are.”

“Would you even understand if I told you?”

“Reveal your identity. You’re not a resident of this duchy.”

“Well? Shouldn’t you choose a more comprehensive term than ‘duchy resident’?”

Zenos felt frustrated by the situation where only trivial word games were being exchanged.

That man was definitely someone whose skills were overwhelming even for himself, a sword master.

That meant there were almost no one in this duchy, or even in this empire, who could face that man.

‘If that bastard harbors any ill intentions… everyone in the duchy will be in danger.’

Zenos was a responsible lord and a grand duke of this nation.

He had a duty to protect the empire’s citizens.

Amid the tense standoff, Zenos moved his hand to the sword at his waist at a speed ordinary people couldn’t notice.

That’s when it happened.

[You look exactly like that guy among my children. What a strange feeling.]

“?!”

The man’s bright yellow pupils narrowed vertically again, and the man’s voice echoed thunderously in Zenos’s head.

But the man across from him didn’t move his lips even once.

It wasn’t a voice.

It was a telepathic message piercing directly into Zenos’s body.

[But… why are you so corrupted? What on earth happened while I was asleep…]

As if he were in a cave, the telepathy wrapped around his entire body and echoed thunderously, making Zenos’s vision blur.

[Hah… This should make you comfortable for a while. Though it’s temporary.]

At the end of that sentence, Zenos’s trembling subsided.

And a strange sensation he had never felt before overwhelmed him.

He tried hard to maintain his upright posture, but strangely, he could no longer endure it.

All the sharp wariness that had been raised until just moments ago disappeared, and his will to attack crumbled like dust.

As if he had no choice but to follow the man’s words.

As if… he were receiving the voice of an absolute god.

‘This is…’

It was a very mysterious experience.

For him who had always lived in tension, it was truly a long-awaited, gentle tranquility.

The raging storm subsided, and under a clear sky without a single cloud, it felt like swimming on a calm sea…

[I’ll come find you soon. Hold on until then.]

Feeling warmth spreading in a corner of his chest, Zenos unconsciously closed his eyes.

“…”

Thus, while Zenos’s mind was absent.

Rene’s jaw also dropped wide open.

* * *

I barely managed to close my mouth that had been gaping wide enough to dislocate my jaw.

The grand duke who had been striding toward Ternox with the momentum to beat up a person—well, actually a dragon but anyway—suddenly became a gentle lamb!

“Your Grace! Are you alright?! You crazy drag… person! What did you do?”

“Huh?”

“Aah, why is he acting like that?”

I couldn’t contain my disgust as I looked at Ternox, who brought his fist under his chin with innocent eyes as if he knew nothing.

Why is that old dragon acting like that? Did he hit his second childhood?

Does he want to become a transparent dragon again?!

The ‘Cerberus Growling Expression’ I had trained with Betty came out naturally.

Regardless, Ternox didn’t care and tilted his head.

“Stop acting cute! Why is this person like this!”

“Don’t know? He just suddenly came and asked who I was. I didn’t do anything? And you know what? I don’t know women like you~”

“Huh, huuh…!”

“Well then, goodbye.”

Munch munch.

Ternox had somehow taken a big bite of the bundle of skewers he was holding in one hand.

Then he disappeared from sight in an instant, just as he had appeared.

“What is this…”

I suddenly found myself stuck with a dazed, giant adult man!

I just came to buy some skewers and watch the festival!

Feeling utterly wronged, I stared blankly at the grand duke who was still hanging his head low without moving.

‘Don’t tell me he’s sleeping standing up?’

No way. That can’t be right?

But why is he standing there like a statue, not even seeming to breathe…

“…”

No, right?

“…He’s not really, right?!”

Suddenly panicked, I screamed and hurriedly pulled off the hood of the cloak the grand duke was wearing.

If it were the grand duke with his usual upright posture, I would have looked pathetic hopping around due to the height difference, but since he was currently hanging his head low, it wasn’t too difficult.

“Your Grace! Snap out of it!”

I examined the still-dazed grand duke’s complexion up close and slapped both his cheeks with my hands.

…Honestly, I can’t say there were no personal motives…

But anyway, the intention itself was good!

“Mm…”

Did he finally come to his senses from the rather vigorous action?

Finally, the grand duke slowly raised his head.

His closed eyes gradually opened, revealing mysterious blue-violet pupils.

The grand duke’s eyes blinked slowly as if intoxicated by sleep.

Even in the midst of this, his long black eyelashes drew graceful curves.

‘…He is pretty though.’

Honestly, I thought so from the beginning, but the grand duke’s face was innocent.

Even if he were guilty, he wasn’t. I mean, at least his face!

‘So please just let me live quietly!’

Then you’d be even prettier, Your Grace.

I pretended it was an accident and gave his cheek one last audible slap before pulling my hands away.

Having achieved my purpose, there was absolutely no reason for unnecessary physical contact.

But…

“Huh?”

The grand duke, still with a dazed expression as if intoxicated by something, raised his own hand and pulled back my retreating hand.

It didn’t seem like he grabbed it on purpose, but perhaps due to the difference in natural strength.

I was helplessly pulled in!

‘Isn’t his face too close?!’

Thump, thump, thump.

Was it because of the suddenly unfolding situation?

Or was it because I was too close to the grand duke, who was at least handsome in face?

Maybe it was both.

My heart began beating violently in an instant, announcing its position to my entire body.

We were so close that our noses were touching.

“!”

The Grand Duke also seemed to have come to his senses at that moment.

His wide-open eyes were clearly filled with bewilderment.

I blinked frantically before carefully opening my mouth.

“Um, excuse me.”

“Ah!”

Before I could even ask him to let me go, the startled Grand Duke abruptly pushed away my hand that he had been holding.

“Eek!”

Just like when I was dragged here, I fluttered helplessly like a paper doll and fell away.

He must not have used his full strength since I didn’t fall over, but…

‘…Is he embarrassed?’

The Grand Duke’s earlobes and nape, visible as he covered his face with his forearm, were flushed red.

It seemed like this definitely wasn’t something the Grand Duke had intended either.

‘Ternox must have done something. Otherwise, there’s no way…’

I carefully observed the Grand Duke’s face.

Apart from his reddened cheeks and ears, he seemed to have returned to normal, at least outwardly.

‘Did he play some mischievous prank?’

Since the opponent was a transparent dragon, I couldn’t let my guard down.

I was thinking it would be better to send him home when…

“Oh, the lantern festival has started at the riverside!”

“Really? Let’s go see it quickly.”

The crowds scattered throughout the wide square began gathering together, then started moving toward one place like a massive flood.

I was quite flustered by the people coming toward where the Grand Duke and I were standing.

But there was something even more bewildering.

“Huh…? Your Grace? Isn’t that His Grace the Grand Duke?”

“I think so… His Grace coming to a festival? Isn’t this the first time?”

“Should we show proper respect?”

“To think he would personally attend a commoners’ event!”

Some of the people had recognized the Grand Duke.

As the murmuring grew louder and gazes followed, people gradually began gathering for a different reason than before.

They wanted to confirm whether the dazed man standing there was really the Grand Duke.

And…

“Who is the lady standing beside him?”

“Could it be… the new Grand Duchess who recently arrived?!”

“My goodness! She’s so beautiful! Look at that silk-like hair and ruby-like eyes!”

“I guess those rumors about curses and such were just false rumors.”

“There was a reason His Grace attended a festival he’s never participated in before!”

“They make such a perfect pair. How romantic!”

Kyaaah!

Though the parties involved said nothing, pink-colored rumors were being generated in real time.

I felt momentarily dizzy and looked up at the Grand Duke beside me.

Gone was his flustered expression, and the Grand Duke was smiling slightly toward the duchy’s people.

‘So he does know how to smile.’

Cold to his wife but warm to the duchy’s people—like a ‘warm iced americano’ or something like that?

Isn’t it usually the opposite for romance novel characters…?

I stopped grumbling internally.

Because he had opened his mouth to address the crowd that had gathered in a circle around the Grand Duke and me.

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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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