You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 21

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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 21

 

Surprisingly, from the Duke’s mouth that smiled gently, even more surprising words burst forth.

 

“Would you overlook a newlywed couple’s escapade? If they’re my subjects, they should all have that much sense.”

 

“Oh my!”

 

Cheers erupted from the people.

 

Wheeeet! Someone even put their fingers to their mouth and whistled.

 

‘What’s this? This romance injection that won’t work at all?’

 

As I gaped at the Duke’s shameless attitude, he, who had instantly become an ‘awkward but quite affectionate husband,’ personally closed my mouth.

 

Then he naturally took my hand.

 

Unlike his face that had turned red earlier, his hand was cold as ice.

 

With a faint smile, he brushed my hair behind my ear and whispered just loud enough for me to hear.

 

“Let’s play along for now, shall we?”

 

When it came to acting, I wasn’t one to lose either.

 

I looked at him lovingly and performed ventriloquism.

 

“Why should I? Are you saying Your Grace is pretty or something?”

 

“What do you want?”

 

“Well, think about it. You owe me one for this, right?”

 

“Hah… Fine.”

 

Yahoo! Though I didn’t really need anything, I felt elated at having gotten one over on him.

 

Turning my head toward the people, I smiled brightly as if to show off to the Duke.

 

Then I spoke in a lively tone.

 

“Everyone! Please watch over our official first date!”

 

After giving a cute wink, cheers erupted from among the people.

 

The Duke, who seemed not to have anticipated even this, froze for a moment while looking at me.

 

I smiled triumphantly.

 

This is service, you fool.

 

If we’re going to play along anyway, shouldn’t I match the rhythm with a fast beat?

 

“Of course, of course!”

 

“Hahaha! The new Duchess is truly a lovely person.”

 

“I didn’t know His Grace was such an affectionate person either.”

 

The subjects who had laughed heartily finally withdrew their attention from us and began moving toward the lantern festival area.

 

The Duke and I, still holding hands, blended into the crowd heading toward the riverside again.

 

His clasped hand was incredibly large.

 

It seemed like he could hold both my hands in one of his.

 

‘What is all this from just coming to see a festival…’

 

Finally catching my breath, I walked trudging forward while looking ahead and reminiscing about what had happened.

 

Honestly, all I’d done was eat skewers, but I was too tired.

 

Though it was a festival I’d wanted to attend so badly, I desperately wanted to just go home.

 

But with glances pouring in from all directions, that was difficult too.

 

‘I dug my own grave…’

 

I’m receiving the disaster I brought upon myself with my whole body.

 

Looking to the side with fish-like eyes, he seemed to be in the same situation.

 

We just walked in silence for a while, and before long we arrived at the riverside.

 

People who had arrived first were floating lanterns with candles in them on the river, each making their own wishes.

 

“Wow…”

 

I stared blankly at the sight of colorful lanterns swaying on the pitch-black river water.

 

It was a beautiful scene I’d never seen even in my previous life.

 

The group of lanterns floating gently on the black sky and river water was truly spectacular.

 

There were already quite a few lanterns that had drifted far away like dots.

 

The sight of them scattered along the riverside, slowly advancing, was like…

 

‘The starlight of the Milky Way in the night sky.’

 

It was when I was absorbed in romantic sentiments.

 

“Achoo!”

 

Though the weather had warmed up, it was quite cold by the riverside.

 

When I sneezed without realizing it, the Duke, who glanced down at me, quickly let go of my hand.

 

Then he took off the cloak he’d been wearing over his shoulders and wrapped it around me.

 

Due to our considerable height difference, rather than wearing the cloak, it was more accurate to say I was wrapped up like a rice roll.

 

‘Ugh.’

 

My pride was slightly hurt, but…

 

Cleanly acknowledging the physical difference, I whispered toward the Duke.

 

“What’s this? Is this also part of the performance?”

 

Though unexpected, it was beneficial for me.

 

The cloak was very warm, after all.

 

Feeling good from the warmth that enveloped me, I grinned at the Duke.

 

The Duke made no reply with his usual expressionless face.

 

“Lanterns are prepared here!”

 

“…I’ll go get them.”

 

At someone’s shout, the Duke, who finally reacted, curtly said what he had to say and hurriedly disappeared.

 

‘Huh?’

 

The Duke’s ears still seemed red. Did I see wrong?

 

“It’s too dark to see well.”

 

Tsk. I clicked my tongue once and waited obediently for the Duke.

 

He appeared before long, dangling red and blue lanterns respectively.

 

“Shall we float them too?”

 

We came here to do this anyway, so wouldn’t it be better if you joined in too?

 

Perhaps understanding my hidden meaning, the Duke nodded lightly.

 

We approached the riverside, lit the candles, and pushed the lanterns we each held into the current.

 

The red lantern the Duke had given me glowed crimson as it swayed and gradually drifted away.

 

This was finally the festival’s highlight.

 

“It’s beautiful.”

 

I stared blankly at the spectacle before my eyes and unconsciously blurted out.

 

Yes, this was the scene I wanted to see.

 

Though the process wasn’t exactly smooth… I had still achieved my primary goal.

 

A smile naturally played around my lips.

 

Then, an unexpected response followed.

 

“Indeed.”

 

Looking to the side, the Duke’s gaze was directed toward me.

 

“…Right?”

 

Having a condition where I can’t stand awkward situations, I stiffly added the same words like a robot.

 

The Duke was silent for a moment.

 

Then he chuckled and turned his head toward the riverside again.

 

“…”

 

For an instant.

 

I felt a very strange sensation.

 

* * *

 

“This is ridiculous!”

 

And there was one person who was shocked upon hearing news of the two people’s festival outing.

 

It was Katarina, who had never shown interest in commoners’ festivals.

 

She had never once heard of Zenos participating in a festival until now.

 

Yet news that he had enjoyed a secret date alone with Rene Blanche was spreading throughout the Duke’s Castle.

 

Then among the duchy residents who witnessed it directly, the impact must have been even greater.

 

Katarina’s delicate hands, clenched tightly, trembled violently.

 

“If I had known this would happen, I should have asked His Grace to go to the festival first! That cunning wench…!”

 

She could no longer endure it.

 

Unable to contain her anger, Katarina gritted her teeth and sat at her desk.

 

Then she began rapidly scribbling down a letter.

 

[To the esteemed Lady Diana…]

 

* * *

 

I leaned back as if lying on the bed and gazed out the window.

 

This place, where fierce cold winds had blown until recently, had miraculously warmed up after the spring festival, with gentle warmth beginning to circulate.

 

The white snow that had been falling had melted away, breathing moist vitality into the soil.

 

The stirring of spring, where light green buds prepared to sprout.

 

Basking fully in the gentle sunlight that tickled my cheeks, I was enjoying a very leisurely morning.

 

“Spring has really come.”

 

“Flowers will bloom soon too. Did you know that most of the trees on that Rear Mountain are flowering trees, my lady?”

 

“Wow! Really?”

 

“Yes, there are various types, so when spring comes, they’re dyed in pretty, colorful hues. It’s quite a spectacular sight.”

 

Betty, who was cleaning the window frame beside me, spoke with a voice full of laughter.

 

Hearing those words made me truly look forward to the full spring to come.

 

I smiled back at Betty and made a resolution to myself.

 

‘Right. No matter how I think about it, I’ve been running around too much these past few days. Stay out of others’ sight as much as possible! Just shut up and live quietly.’

 

Unintentionally getting entangled with dragons and grand dukes had been no joke in terms of mental exhaustion.

 

Leaving behind this beautiful Forest Cabin of my own to stubbornly crawl out to the village!

 

I had gone just once, but honestly, that seemed quite enough.

 

Most importantly, I had lost too much from that single outing.

 

“Achoo!”

 

“My lady, are you still feeling unwell?”

 

“No. Just a sneeze…”

 

The weather had warmed up, but I didn’t expect my health to deteriorate along with it.

 

The festival day. From the unexpected encounter with the Grand Duke to Ternox’s mischief.

 

It had been a time when I couldn’t let my guard down for even a moment.

 

Most of all, I had underestimated the low temperature by the Riverside too much.

 

Of course, what I underestimated most was this body’s stamina.

 

Just from going out and having fun for one day, I had been bedridden with a severe cold for several days.

 

‘What exactly is the problem with this body…’

 

No matter how I thought about it, unless I built up basic physical strength, anything I did would be too much.

 

‘Starting today, I’m beginning national calisthenics again.’

 

As I was making that resolution, Betty noticed my fidgeting and looked at me intently while shaking her head.

 

Then she said something that made me want to jump up.

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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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