You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 24

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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 24

 

“There’s no need for that.”

 

The Duke approached with his long strides in an instant and slipped his hand between the pages of the book I was trying to close, stopping me.

 

Then he took the book as it was, skimmed the title, and set it down on the table.

 

“‘The Pact Between Celeste and the Dragon’? You’re reading quite an unexpected book.”

 

“I just saw it lying there…”

 

“I seem to have interrupted you?”

 

Of course you did.

 

Instead of answering, I made a displeased expression, and the Duke suddenly chuckled.

 

I was startled for a moment as if I had seen something I shouldn’t have.

 

‘That bastard is smiling again?’

 

Hadn’t he consistently disliked me terribly from our first meeting?

 

Since the feeling was mutual, I had expected it would be best to avoid getting involved with him as much as possible…

 

At first, I thought it was just mockery.

 

Because it was always followed by sarcasm or criticism that I didn’t want to hear.

 

But as the frequency gradually increased, the venom was slowly draining from his smile.

 

Just like right now.

 

But that made my blood run cold instead.

 

‘They say people die when they start doing things they never used to do.’

 

Thump, thump, thump.

 

Could it be that the Duke had secretly received news of his death date?

 

What kind of novel is this supposed to be?

 

While I was lost in my own confusion, the Duke spoke indifferently.

 

“It’s a place that was being neglected anyway. Just use it.”

 

“Oh… Really?”

 

“That’s a suspicious look.”

 

“It’s strange that you’re suddenly being so agreeable. You even followed me to the festival before.”

 

“Wasn’t that matter concluded as a newlywed couple’s escapade?”

 

“That would only make sense if we were actually a couple, Your Grace.”

 

“You… really never back down from a single word.”

 

The Duke spoke in a tone that seemed somewhat fed up.

 

But that was exactly right.

 

In front of the Duke, even I tended to become childish.

 

‘I’ll admit that much.’

 

Do attitudes rub off on each other too?

 

Strangely, I absolutely didn’t want to lose to him alone.

 

Whatever it might be about.

 

I suppressed my desire to argue until the end and forced a smile as I spoke.

 

“So… what brings Your Grace here?”

 

“What else would one come to a library for? Is that even a question?”

 

“…You came to read books in a library that’s been neglected for over ten years?”

 

“Of course.”

 

The Duke answered nonchalantly and began reading the book I had been reading.

 

We didn’t seem like the type to sit face-to-face reading books together.

 

What on earth is he scheming?

 

But time flowed by helplessly.

 

Not to be outdone, I picked up another book.

 

But the black things were just letters, and the white things were just paper.

 

None of the content entered my eyes.

 

During this time, the Duke, still with a composed face, quietly opened his mouth.

 

His gaze remained fixed on the book.

 

“I heard you were ill.”

 

“Ah… Yes. I was.”

 

Why is he suddenly looking after my well-being?

 

Still suspicious, I hastily added to my answer.

 

“I wasn’t lying about being sick. Really! I was practically at death’s door.”

 

“…I didn’t think you were lying.”

 

“W-well, that’s true… But you might have been suspicious. I’m just clearing up any misunderstanding.”

 

“You’ve actually created more misunderstanding just now.”

 

“My regrets…”

 

I answered half-heartedly and suddenly paused.

 

What’s this? This strangely back-and-forth flow of conversation?

 

Trivial wordplay with the Duke, of all things.

 

Really? I’d rather die than do that.

 

Honestly, I had nothing more to say on my end either.

 

Then, the Duke’s eyes, which had been reading through the book again, narrowed.

 

After a few seconds of silence… he suddenly said this.

 

“I’ll ask you directly.”

 

The Duke’s low voice flowed out slowly and heavily, cutting through the air.

 

“Who was that man you encountered at the festival?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Momentarily flustered, I quickly raised my head.

 

The man I encountered at the festival… could he be talking about Ternox?

 

As if he wouldn’t give me time to stammer, the Duke’s sharp words followed.

 

“I don’t… know…”

 

“Surely you won’t say you don’t know.”

 

“…”

 

“Don’t underestimate the Duke’s Castle security. I’ve already received reports that he was with you.”

 

Already? Who on earth?!

 

Rumors sure spread fast!

 

But it was strange.

 

That dragon had an excellent cheat skill called invisibility magic.

 

The fact that none of the Gana-da Maid Team girls, who were closest to me, knew of Ternox’s existence was proof of that.

 

Yet for someone to have seen him at the Duke’s Castle was impossible.

 

Could it be that I was under 24-hour surveillance?

 

Just as my head was getting complicated with various assumptions.

 

“Reveal that man’s identity.”

 

Riding the momentum, the Duke’s pressure intensified.

 

‘Ugh… What should I say?’

 

Perhaps reading the signs of my contemplation, the Duke’s expression became subtly menacing.

 

“Someone reported to me that he might be your hidden lover…”

 

What? Such a ridiculous rumor?!

 

“He’s a dragon!”

 

I quickly cut off the Duke’s words and blurted out the truth in one breath.

 

I looked like a startled bird.

 

“…What did you say?”

 

At my immediate answer, the Duke’s gaze snapped to me like a magnet.

 

His face held, surprisingly… a mixture of astonishment.

 

“Are you serious?”

 

I nodded my head confidently.

 

“A hidden lover? As if I’d have something like that! What a wonderful thing to say. How exactly would I seduce another man by breaking through the supposedly strict security of the Duke’s Castle? I didn’t even come here on my own feet in the first place.”

 

“Then how did you meet him?”

 

“I was digging in the garden in front of my house when I found this strange silver cup. At first I was going to throw it away… but that silver cup kept leading me somewhere, and it led me to a man who claimed to be a dragon. He wasn’t lying either—he really used magic! He even teleported and everything!”

 

I rattled off nothing but the facts without hesitation.

 

Whether he believed it or not was up to the listener anyway.

 

Besides, wouldn’t it be strange to lie about this?

 

And what? What kind of relationship am I supposed to have with that lizard? Ridiculous.

 

‘We’re not close enough for me to hide his identity while being misunderstood. And it’s not like anything bad would happen to the dragon just because I said this.’

 

He’s supposedly lived for hundreds of years anyway.

 

What could possibly happen just because a mere human found out his identity?

 

Well, in typical novels, this would be when you’d say ‘I really don’t know this person’ and make excuses, letting misunderstandings pile up, and pile up, and pile up.

 

The standard narrative would be for the female lead to suffer while the male lead regrets it later.

 

‘But I’m not the female protagonist. And I don’t want to be!’

 

Is there any need to faithfully stack up misunderstanding flags everywhere?

 

It would be troublesome to get entangled before I even figure out what kind of novel this is.

 

Besides, that Duke desperately clinging to me?

 

‘Hmm…’

 

I looked at the Duke’s face, which seemed deep in thought.

 

The beautiful man’s eyes were full of confusion.

 

His keenly shining blue-violet irises were staring at some point in the empty space behind me, and somehow even this looked stylish.

 

It was like a still cut from an actor’s photo shoot.

 

“Sigh…”

 

Siiigh… Just looking at that face, it really would make for a delicious narrative…

 

‘No! That’s not right! What am I thinking?!’

 

To drive away such inappropriate thoughts, I shook my head vigorously.

 

No matter how important looks are, how could I think of applying that terrifying mouth to a regretful male lead?!

 

‘I’ve lost my mind!’

 

I mustn’t forget. That guy is the Duke of Terror(ifying Mouth)!

 

He only chooses the most annoying things to say whenever he opens his mouth, but I’m getting careless just because his face is all shiny.

 

I resolved once again to be even more on guard.

 

Then, the hesitating princess… ah, no. The Duke’s mouth opened.

 

“Would you tell me in detail?”

 

“Huh? About what?”

 

“About the dragon.”

 

The Duke looked quite serious.

 

I tried to act nonchalant as I replied sarcastically.

 

“Oh, you believe me?”

 

“Are you saying it’s a lie?”

 

“No, it’s true. It’s just surprising that you’re listening seriously to this when you usually object to everything I say.”

 

“Haah… Rene Blanche. Do I look like I’m playing word games right now?”

 

At the Duke’s suddenly cold tone, just as my heart sank thinking I might have crossed the line too far.

 

“…sir!”

 

Suddenly, the sound of murmuring came from outside the library door.

 

There were also footsteps, presumably from several people.

 

Whether they were coming this way or not, both the voices and footsteps grew louder and clearer.

 

“…sir, His Grace the Duke absolutely cannot…”

 

“…ous! There’s nowhere I can’t go…”

 

“But… this is really serious…”

 

What’s this?

 

But before I could figure out the situation, the door burst open.

 

“Jenos!”

 

And the person who appeared at the front was none other than my maid.

 

“Oh! Th-that, that, uh, that…”

 

…But what was her name again?

 

‘Ah, why can I only think of peacock?!’

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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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