You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 32

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 32

 

The next day.

 

“My lady. Are you really sure about this?”

 

Betty said with a deeply worried expression.

 

She seemed quite anxious about how Katarina’s always hostile attitude had suddenly changed like flipping a palm.

 

“Suddenly wanting to go on an outing? There must be some other ulterior motive!”

 

Even as she said this, Betty’s small feet were constantly bustling about, busy dressing me up.

 

I briefly recalled yesterday’s situation.

 

“What is it you want to show me?”

 

“Spring has fully arrived now, hasn’t it? Flowers are blooming everywhere. So let’s go boating on our Celeste River. The scenery from the ferry is absolutely spectacular! I’ll make you delicious tea on it.”

 

Katarina, who had asked to be friends, made quite an enticing proposal.

 

Not just any outing, but actually going boating.

 

The Celeste River seemed to refer to the very place where we had floated lanterns during the recent spring festival.

 

‘Boating?’

 

With just three syllables, Katarina made my heart flutter.

 

‘And a first date with a beauty at that…’

 

Honestly, there was no reason to refuse!

 

Flowers? Good.

 

Tea? Good.

 

Boating? Good.

 

Beauty? The best!

 

When everything I like is there, wouldn’t I be a fool not to go?

 

Well, I thought it was no big deal so I didn’t even tell the maids beforehand…

 

But apparently, this was quite shocking news for the Gana-da Maid Team.

 

This morning, after waking from the best sleep I’d ever had on that luxurious bed.

 

Betty jumped at my single comment about going boating and hurriedly gathered all the maids.

 

After that… this was the current situation.

 

“Now then. First, please choose one from here! Which dress would you like to wear?”

 

Rattle rattle rattle.

 

The hanger that Betty had dragged over with her small body was full of dresses so flashy and dazzling they hurt just to look at.

 

Frills and lace were standard, and every dress was densely embroidered with skillful needlework.

 

Surely she doesn’t expect me to try on all of those?

 

Hoping that wasn’t the case, I asked Betty back.

 

“Where did those dresses come from?”

 

We don’t have money… You all didn’t.

 

Perhaps reading my true meaning, Dora, who had hesitated slightly, suddenly stuck her head out and protested.

 

“These aren’t stolen! They’re all clothes prepared for Your Grace the Duchess.”

 

Seeing how confidently and indignantly she said it, Dora’s words didn’t seem to be entirely false.

 

When she did something wrong, she always made the face of a puppy who had caused trouble and was being cautious, so even someone as oblivious as me could tell immediately.

 

Nina, who always stuck to Dora like a twin and used to steal madeleines meant as Katarina’s dessert, also looked quite confident.

 

“So who exactly?”

 

“Th-that… you’ll find out soon! That’s not what’s important right now.”

 

Then what is important…

 

No matter how I looked at it, the dresses had suspicious origins, but seeing how tightly she kept her mouth shut, it seemed she wouldn’t tell me right away.

 

“Anyway, we can’t let that peacock lady have her way!”

 

I sighed deeply and looked at Betty, who was still resolute.

 

“Betty, for someone so worried, you seem to have chosen only very flashy dresses…”

 

“That’s a separate matter! To beat Lady Katarina, this much is essential!”

 

‘She’s lost her mind.’

 

Betty’s rolled-back eyes blazed with fighting spirit.

 

It was the extraordinary spirit befitting Cerberus guarding the gates of hell.

 

Already tired, I protested weakly.

 

“Why do we have to win…”

 

“That’s because! We need to completely crush the noses of those who have looked down on you and us all this time!”

 

“Cr-crush them completely?”

 

“Betty’s right.”

 

She was trembling with unprecedented passion, when Garnet approached solemnly and said while putting an enormous petticoat around me.

 

If I wore a dress over this and walked, it looked like I’d float up to the sky rather than just being full.

 

No, can I even walk in the first place?

 

Perhaps misunderstanding my pale face in a different way, Lia and Marigona, who had been constantly applying white powder to my face, also joined in.

 

“This is also a matter of pride among us maids. Until now, we’ve been staying in the annex so we haven’t had a chance to show our skills… but now it’s different!”

 

“That’s right! We’ll make you into the most perfect, cute, lovely, wonderful, gorgeous, and beautiful little rabbit duchess in the world! Though you already are!”

 

“That’s right, girls! Let’s ride this momentum and go out, fight, and win!”

 

“Wooooo!”

 

“Waaaah!”

 

“Kyaaaah!”

 

“…”

 

So why exactly…

 

Dating a beauty is treacherous indeed.

 

Being among the maids felt like being a soldier heading to a battlefield without guns or swords.

 

I couldn’t understand why they were acting like this among themselves when the person involved was just sitting still.

 

‘There it is. The strict, solemn, serious mode of the Gana-da Maid Team…’

 

This ‘serious mode’ of the maids was nearly impossible to stop, so I chose to quietly surrender myself to their hands.

 

I didn’t know for sure, but it seemed the rivalry among maids serving different masters was quite fierce.

 

Once I gave up understanding, execution was instantaneous.

 

“My goodness, my lady! You’re so beautiful!”

 

I looked at my reflection from various angles in the large mirror Marigona had brought.

 

‘Oh, this really isn’t bad?’

 

It took quite some effort to stop Betty, who seemed ready to make me try on every dress she’d brought…

 

The dress I chose while pretending to be somewhat interested actually suited me quite well.

 

The subtle pale yellow silk dress added a soft impression like butter.

 

Elegant puff sleeves protruded roundly on both sides of the heart-shaped neckline.

 

On my head was a headdress made of cream-colored silk with gorgeous lace overlay.

 

It was an outfit that anyone would say only a young princess should wear.

 

‘It’s a bit embarrassing to wear clothes like this at my age.’

 

No? Let’s be confident!

 

This is a romance fantasy world anyway.

 

Only I, who had been stuck in a cottage digging in the backyard, didn’t know.

 

Thinking that this was everyday wear for the young ladies of this world made me feel much calmer.

 

And then I went further to actually enjoy the reactions.

 

“How is it?”

 

I asked, turning gracefully toward the maids.

 

Even with small movements, the full petticoat made me look quite lively.

 

‘Even I think I might be a bit cute right now.’

 

Hehe.

 

I was deliberately acting cute when suddenly Garnet, who had been watching quietly, dropped to her knees with a thud.

 

“Wh-what? Why are you doing that?”

 

Why is everyone so eager to drop to their knees whenever they see me? Get up, please!

 

Just as I was approaching Garnet in surprise and confusion.

 

“It’s a tulip fairy! A fairy has appeared!”

 

“…”

 

No. Cancel that.

 

What do you mean deliberately acting cute!

 

As expected, I have no immunity to this kind of reaction!

 

Completely ignoring my darkened expression, the maids began endlessly spouting nonsense following Garnet’s lead.

 

“Oh my, our little bunny lady. Now you’ve become a flower fairy.”

 

“I-I think I’m going blind. My lady is shining like the morning sunlight. Wahhh!”

 

“Now show us your hidden wings! Damn it! There’s no way a lady like this isn’t an angel!”

 

“Please stop…”

 

…Going on one outing is annoyingly difficult.

 

I glanced out the window with empty eyes.

 

I didn’t want to be late for my appointment with my new friend because of all this fuss.

 

Fortunately, the morning sunlight was warm.

 

I firmly announced to the maids who were still wailing and praising.

 

“I’m leaving now. Are you going to keep doing that? Then I’ll leave you behind.”

 

“No way!”

 

“We want to take in even a little more of how my lady looks right now!”

 

“Then please let’s go quickly. And I’m begging you, don’t do that in front of other people…”

 

“Huh? Why not? You look so adorable?”

 

“…Haaaaah.”

 

I have something called social dignity too…

 

Just as I was repeatedly trying to control the maids.

 

Knock knock knock.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————