You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 28

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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 28

 

“Living in a place like a storehouse, constantly going out to do manual labor. Even having poor meals every time, all of it… is foolish.”

 

At the Duke’s continued harsh words, my eyes that had been slightly narrowed couldn’t help but widen greatly before long.

 

“…What?”

 

What are you talking about right now?

 

Storehouse? My own beautiful forest cottage that’s gorgeous beyond belief?

 

Manual labor? I was just cleaning because I was bored!

 

Poor meals? That was just healthy food, wasn’t it!

 

“…”

 

Does he seriously think that way?

 

Or is it just his usual kind of harsh words?

 

It was the moment when I was flustered by the sudden attack.

 

The Duke drove the point home.

 

“Don’t you even know that you’re being oppressed? Why are you so cheerful about it?”

 

There was a hint of spite in the Duke’s voice.

 

But I couldn’t even respond.

 

“…”

 

All of that… was oppression?

 

‘I’ve been oppressed this whole time?!’

 

This was another unexpected fact.

 

For oppression, each day had been far too happy!

 

Of course, as long as I don’t get entangled with the person who said those words, the Duke!

 

“Are you serious?”

 

I spoke without hiding my disgruntled feelings.

 

But the only person who could answer this question, the Duke, remained silent.

 

After that, only the sound of heavy breathing filled the small cottage.

 

I slightly lifted my head to observe the man.

 

The man’s face was softly illuminated by moonlight.

 

The Duke had fallen asleep with a peaceful expression I’d never seen before.

 

‘Did he really… fall asleep?’

 

After dropping such a bombshell?

 

No, after becoming a bombshell himself and jumping into me!

 

“Are you sleeping?”

 

“…”

 

“Really?”

 

“…”

 

“Hey, you bastard…”

 

“…”

 

“You, listen here, just because you’re a Duke doesn’t mean you can do whatever…”

 

It was the moment when I, feeling wronged, was about to pour out everything I could and couldn’t say since he was asleep anyway.

 

“Mmm.”

 

The Duke turned over to lie on his side and lightly pulled the back of my head with one hand.

 

As a result, my body that had slid sideways from on top of him became unable to move again.

 

‘What. Is this guy really sleeping?’

 

This clearly seemed to mean stop chattering and just go to sleep.

 

You heard me cursing, didn’t you?

 

You’re just pretending to sleep, aren’t you?

 

‘Then how am I supposed to sleep…’

 

My already troubled mind became even more confused.

 

It seemed like tonight would be difficult to fall asleep.

 

* * *

 

“Krrrrr…”

 

The next day.

 

Jenos drowsily opened his eyes at the sound of someone snoring.

 

At first, he thought he wasn’t fully awake yet.

 

Something mysteriously warm, small, and soft was snuggled in his arms, making him feel quite good.

 

But…

 

‘I… fell asleep?’

 

As he gradually emerged from his drowsiness and regained his senses, he gradually realized how strange this was.

 

To begin with, Jenos didn’t even remember falling asleep.

 

Moreover, he definitely didn’t have the habit of sleeping while holding something!

 

“!”

 

What Jenos encountered when he opened his eyes wide was.

 

“Mmnya…”

 

Rene Blanche sleeping soundly in his arms with her mouth open.

 

Using Jenos’s arm as a pillow, she seemed to be having such sweet dreams.

 

There was even a blissful smile hanging on her lips.

 

Jenos’s face turned pale as he grasped the situation.

 

When he turned his head slightly to check their location, it seemed to be inside Rene’s Cottage.

 

The lived-in interior had a bright atmosphere that resembled its owner.

 

But it was also true that it was an utterly inadequate space for a noble lady to live in.

 

Rene seemed to quite like this place, but to Jenos, it just looked like one of her eccentric behaviors.

 

Rene Blanche was far too different from ordinary noble ladies.

 

No, perhaps regardless of noble or commoner, Jenos swore he had never seen anyone as peculiar as Rene.

 

The confused Duke’s mind raced quickly.

 

‘Has the madness worsened? Why am I here now, why in this… state. I have no memory of it at all. But…’

 

Jenos closed his eyes once and opened them.

 

His body felt light enough to fly away.

 

His mind was also extremely refreshed and clear.

 

It was a more perfect condition than ever before.

 

‘Right. It’s the same as that time.’

 

The green-haired man flashed through Jenos’s mind.

 

According to Rene, that man who claimed to be a dragon.

 

Like the few days after contact with that mysterious man, Jenos had slept soundly.

 

The deeper his madness became, the more vivid that sensation remained.

 

No one would probably forget the taste of water from an oasis discovered after wandering in the desert for a long time.

 

No, perhaps he felt even more refreshed than that time.

 

“…”

 

It was a very strange feeling.

 

Jenos’s eyes narrowed at the sudden thought.

 

Setting aside contact with the presumed dragon.

 

‘Could it be… someone’s warmth was the answer to this madness?’

 

Jenos did not easily trust others.

 

He was always more accustomed to being wary of someone.

 

Moreover, the bedroom was the place where he became most vulnerable.

 

When he couldn’t sleep properly even alone, how much worse would it be with someone beside him.

 

So naturally, this was the first time he had shared a bed with someone.

 

Of course, using the grand word “shared a bed” seemed excessive, but they had simply fallen asleep together without any hidden meaning…

 

The small woman who held the clue to unravel the confusion in his head was still nestled in his arms, sleeping obliviously.

 

‘What is this?’

 

Magic that has now fallen into disuse.

 

Dragons that only appeared in legends.

 

Monsters that disappeared without a trace, contrary to reports of harming civilians.

 

The red-eyed bastard who was said to bring misfortune to the family.

 

“….”

 

Jenos doesn’t know how all of this is connected.

 

But….

 

‘This woman might be able to cure my madness.’

 

Perhaps the answer he had craved most was close by all along.

 

The corners of Jenos’s mouth unconsciously turned up.

 

Though it was hard to be certain, even a small clue was welcome.

 

He had lived for far too long enduring himself in pain.

 

‘Does it not matter if it’s not just Rene Blanche, but sleeping with someone else entirely?’

 

This too was something that needed confirmation.

 

But soon Jenos readily erased that assumption from his mind.

 

‘I’m already married, so how could I hold someone else while sleeping?’

 

Jenos reproached himself, but in truth this wasn’t even a concern in noble society.

 

As long as they didn’t create bastards, it was common for spouses to each have separate lovers.

 

But Jenos, who had a rigid side, viewed the very act of bringing someone into his bedroom as a risk.

 

‘This one woman alone is overwhelming. I don’t want to cause unnecessary trouble.’

 

The repercussions of bringing someone other than his spouse into the bedroom were obvious.

 

There were certainly spies even in the Duke’s Castle, his own fortress.

 

Setting all that aside, noble society’s interest in the House of Celeste was quite considerable.

 

Jenos’s words, actions, even subtle changes in expression were likely to be interpreted as having political intent.

 

That was the fate of the House of Celeste, a founding contributor family.

 

With such problems existing, he couldn’t very well jump into a fire pit.

 

Moreover, since this solution wasn’t certain yet, rashly involving someone else would be close to gambling.

 

And most of all… Jenos didn’t particularly want to spend the night with anyone other than Rene.

 

Though it was a meaningless marriage and a sham couple, they had already shared a bed.

 

Now that things had come to this, Jenos had to take responsibility.

 

It was a thought that would make Rene snort with laughter if she heard it, but Jenos, who had quite a rigid side, firmly believed that’s how it should be.

 

“Mmm….”

 

Just then, Rene, who had been sleeping soundly without knowing any of these facts, tossed and turned.

 

“!”

 

Startled, Jenos hesitantly pulled his upper body back.

 

Finally freed, Rene rolled away from Jenos’s embrace as if she had been waiting for this moment even in her sleep.

 

It was a swift movement like a small bird fluttering away.

 

“….”

 

‘Is she really sleeping?’

 

Jenos’s mood became somewhat sour.

 

‘If I stay here, I feel like I’ll become strange too.’

 

He had also gained his freedom, for that matter.

 

Jenos bolted upright and carefully left the cottage, muffling his presence despite his abruptness.

 

Only then did he notice his still bare feet and disheveled dress shirt.

 

Jenos swallowed a sigh and pressed his forehead.

 

‘Did I wander around yesterday and end up coming all the way here again?’

 

Just how long had he overslept in the meantime?

 

The sun was already high in the sky outside.

 

Just as he was feeling a bit troubled.

 

Jenos made eye contact with someone who had been waiting for him in front of the gate.

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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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