You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 26

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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 26

 

“Hmm. Not Cal?”

 

A subtle interest flickered in the noblewoman’s blue eyes.

 

However, pretending otherwise, Diana opened her mouth with a calm voice.

 

“I already collapsed holding the back of my neck because I was sick of seeing that grandson. What’s this about him being pretty and sending letters?”

 

Though her tone was cold, Diana had been restlessly putting sugar into her tea with her teaspoon without pause since earlier.

 

The butler, noticing his master’s agitation, smiled quietly.

 

“But haven’t you always been curious about His Grace the Duke’s news?”

 

“Well, that’s…”

 

Even though her grandson didn’t bat an eye at her drastic measures, which was both annoying and endearing, wasn’t it a grandmother’s heart to end up watching and caring for him anyway?

 

The butler, who knew all of Diana’s feelings, delivered somewhat hopeful news.

 

“The daughter of House Blanche doesn’t seem to be as wicked a person as you worried. Above all, Cal gave her quite a favorable evaluation.”

 

“Cal did?”

 

At those words, Diana’s eyes widened greatly.

 

Cal was someone who cared for the future of House Celeste just as much as Diana did.

 

‘Well, who picked him after all.’

 

The previous Duke, recognizing his exceptional potential, had appointed him as head butler when he was quite young at the time, and that choice had been successful.

 

Cal was particularly outstanding at judging people’s character.

 

Diana was the one who knew this fact best at present.

 

Still maintaining his smile, the butler said,

 

“Perhaps because of that, His Grace Jenos seems to have quite good relations with Her Grace the Duchess. There are widespread rumors that they went to the spring festival together.”

 

Diana suddenly recalled the face of the previous Duke, that is, her husband.

 

A political marriage that was closer to a contract than a marriage.

 

Yet he was a man who truly loved and cherished her.

 

Their first date had also coincidentally been at a spring festival.

 

“…”

 

Diana’s feelings became complicated.

 

But outwardly, from the lips of the noblewoman who still wore a cold expression, sarcastic mockery burst forth.

 

“This is maddening. She’s completely bewitched him.”

 

Though her tone was sharp, what was contained within was clearly worry for her grandson.

 

“For now, I’ll leave the letter here. Please finish enjoying your tea time first. If you leave it as is, I’ll handle it later.”

 

With that, the butler left the letter behind and gave her space once again.

 

Rustle, rustle.

 

The southern wind, full of warm energy, blew over and tickled Diana’s hair.

 

But nothing improved.

 

“…”

 

Diana narrowed her eyes and stared at the letter envelope, then abruptly turned her head away.

 

“Hmph. As if anyone would be curious?”

 

She had never had any intention of keeping her grandson in her arms forever anyway.

 

Jenos, who had been independent by nature since childhood, wasn’t such a clingy child either, and after losing his parents, he acted like a person without emotions, focusing only on building his strength.

 

So it was right for them to live their own lives now.

 

But why…

 

“Ugh!”

 

Diana, who had unconsciously taken a sip of tea, quickly wiped the corner of her mouth.

 

Because she had unknowingly added too much sugar, the tea was too sweet and no longer had its original taste.

 

“…Oh dear.”

 

Looking at the tea that had become sugar water, Diana fell into thought.

 

Her grandson’s face rippled across the surface of the brown tea.

 

* * *

 

A few days ago, my secret trip to the library behind Betty’s back had ended in disaster.

 

The sudden appearance of the Duke and the fight with the maid had been draining enough.

 

My plan to quickly escape and pretend nothing had happened…

 

“My laaaaaady!”

 

Was caught red-handed by Betty, who had been waiting with her arms crossed in front of the cottage door, and ended in failure.

 

“How can you cause such trouble! Even a seven-year-old boy would be more well-behaved than you, my lady!”

 

“Hehe.”

 

That much?

 

Though I was slightly deflated, Betty at that time was like Cerberus, the guardian of the cottage gate…

 

Overwhelmed by that terrifying aura, I crawled in meekly and begged earnestly that I would never go anywhere alone without telling her again.

 

‘Anyway, I don’t want to go there anymore either!’

 

From that day on, I didn’t even go near the main residence.

 

I’m a person with learning ability, after all!

 

Instead, the maids who pitied me brought me several books, so I was managing well with those.

 

Now that spring had truly arrived, it was the perfect time to tend to the garden I had been looking forward to.

 

I wouldn’t be bored anymore.

 

Tomorrow, I planned to bring various plant seedlings and plant them together with the maids.

 

But…

 

‘Why is everything so boring?’

 

For some reason, lately books weren’t interesting, I had no appetite, and I couldn’t sleep well either.

 

Why am I like this? Is this body getting sick again?

 

I thought I had gotten healthier…

 

I tossed and turned in bed and looked out the window.

 

Through the slightly parted curtains, the still pitch-black sky was visible.

 

Normally, I would have gone to bed promptly after sunset and slept soundly through the night.

 

But these past few days, even when I fell asleep, I would often wake up in the middle of the night.

 

It was the same now.

 

Though I had barely managed to fall asleep after waiting for sleep that wouldn’t come.

 

I had woken up again at dawn, not morning.

 

‘I woke up at an awkward time… It’ll be hard to fall back asleep like this.’

 

I lay there blankly counting the growth rings on the ceiling beams.

 

But that was only for a moment.

 

Random thoughts crept in between the repetitive actions.

 

“You think I don’t know you’re secretly having an affair? I’m the one who suits the Duke! You vulgar wench!”

 

Those bright blue eyes filled with rage were still vivid in my mind.

 

If the Duke hadn’t intervened, something terrible would have definitely happened.

 

To think someone would pour such intense hostility toward me.

 

In my previous life, and here too.

 

It was the first time in my life that I had almost had my hair pulled.

 

So it was somewhat… shocking.

 

Even in my previous life, I was often told I was oblivious.

 

Could it be that my awareness was lacking this time too?

 

‘That peacock maid… ugh… what was her name again? Anyway, does she hate me?’

 

Thinking about it made me feel a bit bitter.

 

But I like peacocks…

 

She was pretty and cute, so I wanted to become friends with her.

 

The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like this was all because of the Duke.

 

Seeing how the peacock maid called the Duke by his name ‘Jenos,’ they seemed to have been quite close.

 

Well, for such a relationship, the Duke was pretty cold to the peacock too…

 

Then was it the peacock’s one-sided crush?!

 

‘Why! Peacock! What are you lacking that you’d go for a guy like that?’

 

If we were friends, I would have packed a lunch and followed him around to stop him.

 

The most lamentable thing was that it was me who ended up marrying that guy.

 

I carefully examined the Duke from head to toe, like a mother-in-law scrutinizing a potential son-in-law.

 

First, his appearance is decent.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Actually… excellent.

 

“Well, calling that appearance just ‘decent’ is a bit too harsh.”

 

I’m a conscientious person, after all!

 

Anyway, second, his personality.

 

Blunt. Completely selfish, disrespectful to people, quick to hurt feelings. And speaks carelessly too.

 

“Is there a problem with me taking my wife’s side?”

 

“…”

 

Or not? He sure knows how to speak smoothly when he wants to?

 

Suddenly my face felt hot.

 

No! No! What am I thinking? Next!

 

But once my thoughts started wandering, they became uncontrollable.

 

‘Ah, this won’t do. I need to exercise to tire myself out. Then I’ll be able to sleep again.’

 

I kicked off the blankets and jumped up, roughly throwing on a cloak before heading out to the courtyard.

 

The weather had warmed up considerably, so it was only slightly chilly.

 

Maybe my body had adapted to the Northern Region without me realizing it.

 

Meanwhile, the clouds must have cleared, as the revealed moonlight was a brilliantly bright full moon.

 

The front courtyard, well-maintained by the maids’ care, was filled only with mysterious bird calls echoing from afar.

 

I exhaled deeply with determination, like making a resolution.

 

Alright, now I’ll do 100 jumping jacks without stopping.

 

“Begin!”

 

Just as I spread my arms wide.

 

Step, step, step.

 

“!”

 

Suddenly, footsteps trampling through the thicket came from behind.

 

There shouldn’t be any sign of people here at this hour?

 

Startled, I turned around.

 

“Kyaaaah!”

 

There was none other than the Duke.

 

With a face like the grim reaper!

 

“Wh-what?!”

 

In complete panic, I screamed at the Duke.

 

But no answer came back.

 

Only then did I notice something was strange about the Duke.

 

Even though the weather had warmed up, the early morning air was still full of cold…

 

It was a disheveled appearance I’d never seen before.

 

‘What the heck? Why is his chest all exposed like that…’

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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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