You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 30
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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 30
That question was immediately buried by the remaining maids who came running in a hurry.
“Madame! Are you alright!”
The maids appeared in a crowd with somehow stern and shadowed faces, examining my body here and there like doctors conducting a health checkup.
Though we’d been through all sorts of embarrassing situations together, I still couldn’t get used to this kind of fussing.
I asked while breaking out in a cold sweat.
“Why, why are you acting like this?”
But even this seemed to become a seed of misunderstanding.
Betty, glaring fiercely, suddenly shouted.
“Oh my, Madame! You’re breaking out in such cold sweat! As expected, His Grace the Grand Duke is too overwhelming an opponent for such a pitiful little rabbit!”
Ahhh! What on earth are you all talking about!
Something was wrong.
Very, very wrong!
A sudden headache struck and I grabbed my head with both hands, which made the maids even more frantic.
“Does your head hurt? Shall I bring you medicine?”
“Such a pale face. Madame, this won’t do. You need to replenish your energy!”
Th-that’s because you’re all making such a fuss…
But no one could stop the maids when they were in this ‘strict serious earnest’ mode.
Yeah, honestly speaking, I’m still sometimes scared of them too…
I tried to prove my sturdiness by flexing both arms to show off my healthiness.
“N-no. This isn’t because my head hurts, I’m practicing a cool muscular pose…”
But my still twig-like arms only had the opposite effect.
“Oh my! Look how much weight you’ve lost in just one night!”
“Are you feeling unwell anywhere, or having any difficulties?”
“I’ll just go get medicine! That would be faster.”
“Right, Dora. Bring ointments, potions, pills – everything you can find.”
Except for married Marigona, the rest of the maids who were presumably single were making a huge fuss over whatever rumors they’d heard.
Before the situation got even more serious, I shouted loudly to calm things down.
“St-stop! Girls. Calm down! There’s nothing wrong with me. I slept soundly too. I can’t understand a word of what you’re all saying. I’m exactly the same as usual!”
Only then did everyone’s eyes widen in surprise.
Garnet, who had been hesitating, asked.
“Th-then… nothing happened last night?”
“Last night?”
At my question, the maids who had paused briefly opened their mouths and words came pouring out again.
“Rumors are spreading throughout the Duke’s Castle. That His Grace the Grand Duke spent the night at Madame’s Pavilion last night.”
“And as soon as His Grace the Grand Duke returned to the Main Residence, he even gave orders to clean the room for Her Grace the Grand Duchess to use.”
“The very place that has been used as the Grand Duchess’s room for generations!”
“What?!”
Only then did I perfectly understand the maids’ fuss.
This was a bigger deal than I thought!
‘Damn! So that wasn’t a dream?!’
The scene from last night that I had dismissed as a dream suddenly came to mind.
The Grand Duke’s figure glowing mysteriously under the moonlight.
His unusually sentimental tone and strangely honest behavior…
‘What on earth is happening?’
Could this be a sign that something from the original story is about to begin?
But I don’t even know what this novel is about!
I just want to live quietly in the first place!
I don’t want to be Grand Duchess or anything like that. I said I wouldn’t do it!
But why do they keep bothering someone who’s living peacefully!
One side of my chest felt chillingly cold.
Only one thought came to mind.
‘Oh~ I think I’m screwed.’
“…”
Haaaaah…
Why must such trials come to me when cabbage and chicory seedlings to plant in the courtyard were my biggest concerns…?
I felt like I might cry a little.
But if I cry here, the atmosphere will really become strange!
Even someone as clueless as me could understand that much.
I stammered to clear up the maids’ misunderstanding.
“Don’t get the wrong idea! Yes. I thought it was a dream, but I guess the Grand Duke really did come here. But I swear nothing happened! We just slept separately! What kind of relationship do the Grand Duke and I have anyway?”
“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess… you’re married…”
After I finished my passionate speech, Nina added with a somewhat bewildered expression.
Tsk… Right.
But we’re only married in name.
For me, such sudden relationship development was really unwelcome!
How am I supposed to clear up this misunderstanding?
No, is it even right to clear it up in the first place?
I was floundering in unprecedented confusion when.
“I greet Her Grace the Grand Duchess.”
Just then, Butler Cal arrived.
His calm face was no different from before, but somehow only his voice seemed a little excited.
‘Don’t tell me you believe this rumor too?’
I couldn’t bring myself to ask, but it was certain.
Cal believes that rumor… one hundred percent!
Maybe Cal even helped spread the rumor! He looks so happy!
“Your Grace the Grand Duchess, this is a message from His Grace the Grand Duke to vacate the annex and move your residence to the Main Residence.”
“…”
Seeing Cal’s subtly raised corners of his mouth made my aversion even stronger.
I don’t want to! I said no! Why should I leave my beloved cottage?!
But I couldn’t just throw a tantrum…
I asked Cal with tears in my eyes.
“Um… can’t I not go?”
“Is there something that concerns you?”
“I’ve grown very attached to this cottage…”
When I acted as pitiful as possible, Cal, who had been thinking for a moment, opened his mouth again and began persuading me.
He seemed quite earnest too.
“It’s not that you must never use this place. However, moving your main residence to the Main Residence, which is more comfortable than here, would be more peaceful for Your Grace the Grand Duchess as well. There you’ll find the library that Your Grace the Grand Duchess enjoys, a grand bathroom you can enjoy all to yourself, and a beautiful garden waiting only for your touch…”
“Let’s go.”
Oops, an answer popped out before I knew it!
But he mentioned a grand bathroom and beautiful garden. And convenient access to the library.
How could I resist this?
“As expected! You won’t be disappointed. Please follow me. Maids, pack the luggage and follow along.”
Cal didn’t miss my answer that had popped out and quickly seized the opportunity, striding ahead.
I pretended to give in reluctantly and trotted after Cal.
Hmm… Let me see the new residence first and then think about it?
I definitely don’t plan to abandon the cottage right away!
I’m just curious, that’s all?
* * *
“Wow! Is this really my room?”
The Duchess’s room that I arrived at following Cal’s guidance was displaying an even more magnificent grandeur than I had expected.
My mouth fell open involuntarily at the splendor I was seeing for the first time in my life.
Now it finally felt like a romance fantasy novel featuring typical noble young ladies.
Yes. My dear little cottage that I had grown attached to, thank you.
I shall now depart without regret to a life where every day is like a hotel vacation!
I looked like a sycophant who clings to whoever has power, but what did it matter.
After all, there was no one to criticize me!
Perhaps noticing that I was secretly pleased, Cal suppressed a smile and told me to rest well before taking his leave.
I was rubbing my cheek against the sparkling silk sofa, feeling luxury with my entire body.
‘Now I understand why the Grand Duke thought I was being mistreated.’
Honestly… if the cottage was an inn too shabby to even rate, the Duchess’s room was like a 5-star full villa hotel.
After spending quite a while excitedly exploring the room, I threw myself onto the exceptionally plush bed.
With just a little exaggeration, it seemed like all of the Gana-da Maid Team and I could lie down and sleep together.
Well, it made sense that even one room would be enormously large in the Duke’s Castle where you could easily get lost even within the castle.
In fact, the bathroom attached to the room was similar in size to the cottage I had been living in.
‘If the Duchess’s room is this grand, how spacious and nice must the Grand Duke’s room be?’
My body stiffened at the thought that naturally came to mind.
Was I gradually getting entangled with the Grand Duke like this?
Even thinking about it again, I still didn’t find it very appealing.
The biggest problem was still that I hadn’t figured out what this novel was about, who the character I had possessed was, or even what role the Grand Duke played in the story.
‘I resolved not to get involved since he seems like a villain, but… what if the Grand Duke really is a villain? What if I get caught up in it later and meet a beheading ending?’
I don’t want that! But…
The feeling of the bedding touching my back was… so comfortable.
Look at this, I’m getting sleepy in broad daylight just from lying down!
‘The power of capital really is nice.’
No, would this be more like power than capital?
For someone from a capitalist society like me, it was such a sweet change that I had no choice but to surrender.
Just as I was about to indulge in the afternoon nap that was gently coming over me.
‘Huh? But what’s that sound I’ve been hearing?’
Thump thump thump thump thump thump.
The footsteps that had been asserting their presence from afar seemed to grow louder, then suddenly stopped right in front of my door!
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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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