You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 33

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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 33

 

At the sudden knocking sound, everyone’s heads turned toward the door.

 

Then.

 

“Your Grace the Duchess, it’s Cal. May I come in?”

 

The voice of a dignified middle-aged nobleman came from beyond the door.

 

“Yes, no, yeah!”

 

Oh no, he told me to speak casually!

 

Remembering Cal’s request to please speak casually from now on since I’d be living in the main residence, I hastily added.

 

Soon the door opened and Cal appeared, unable to hide his surprised expression upon seeing me all dressed up.

 

“Your Grace the Duchess, you look truly beautiful.”

 

“Thanks. But what’s the matter?”

 

Even as I asked, I actually had a bad feeling about this.

 

If Cal was looking for me…

 

“His Grace the Duke requests to see you.”

 

As expected, my premonition was right.

 

What? I’m busy, you know? I have to go on a boat ride, you know?

 

I didn’t hide my displeased expression as I asked back.

 

“Right now?”

 

“Yes, I’ll escort you there immediately.”

 

At this point, the Duke seemed to have a talent for upsetting people even without meeting them face to face.

 

Why are there so many people interfering with my first date with a beauty?

 

I swallowed a sigh and opened my mouth.

 

“Um… Listen, Cal. Actually, I’m really busy right now…”

 

Just as I was about to make excuses and slip away.

 

“Oh my, we greet His Grace the Duke!”

 

Marigona’s voice, strangely full of excitement, could be heard.

 

“Ah!”

 

Startled, I turned around to see the Duke standing there blankly.

 

‘What? When did he get here?’

 

I had no idea when he’d arrived there.

 

There wasn’t even the slightest sound, so I hadn’t noticed at all.

 

The blue-violet eyes that met mine directly were endlessly wavering.

 

He seemed a bit flustered somehow.

 

‘Could it be… he’s embarrassed about that dark history from the other night?’

 

Hehe. Should I tease him a little?

 

Perhaps my mischievous intentions showed on my face, because suddenly the Duke scrunched up his expression and immediately shifted his gaze elsewhere.

 

‘Whatever. Hmph!’

 

Seeing that, I felt petty for no reason and stopped trying to tease him, turning my gaze away sharply.

 

At the same time, I momentarily made eye contact with Marigona.

 

She had excited eyes as if she’d actually witnessed her favorite couple in person.

 

‘It’s a misunderstanding, Marigona… That person just came to catch me because he knew I’d obviously run away if he called me through Cal…’

 

But it was a solitary cry that wouldn’t reach Marigona.

 

“Your Grace! You’re not in the study…”

 

Then Cal’s flustered voice joined in.

 

Seeing how surprised he was, the Duke’s actions must have been quite unexpected.

 

It seemed he’d come running without being able to wait even that brief time for Cal to escort me to the study.

 

The Duke snorted as if he’d expected this and said.

 

“I didn’t think you’d come obediently. You were probably planning to slip away like a little mouse with this excuse and that excuse. It’s faster for me to come.”

 

“…”

 

Hmph, he’s right though!

 

The strangely gentle appearance from the other night was nowhere to be found, and the nasty Duke I knew was back in his place.

 

Right… I wondered why he was so quiet yesterday!

 

Just as I was biting my lips at the rising irritation.

 

“Could it be that Master means Madam is cute like a little hamster? Oh my! He’s just not being honest.”

 

That’s not what he meant…

 

Marigona’s eyes were completely full of hearts.

 

‘She’s strangely twisted in a different way from Betty…’

 

I’m tired of trying to stop her now…

 

I deliberately ignored Marigona’s muttering and said.

 

“Well… Since you’ve personally graced us with your presence, I’ll ask directly. What business do you have?”

 

“Cal.”

 

Without even answering my question, the Duke called Cal.

 

Even this was irritating.

 

Cal also silently bowed instead of answering and dismissed all the maids in the room.

 

“Please have a comfortable conversation.”

 

Then he too gave his final greeting and closed the door.

 

“…”

 

“…”

 

In the end, the room with just the two of us left was filled only with heavy silence.

 

“Hah.”

 

The Duke, who had looked around the room once, leaned against the sofa and opened his mouth.

 

“You’re going on a boat ride with Katarina Hugo?”

 

Clear irritation lingered in the man’s eyes, which were cast in deep shadow.

 

It somehow felt like he was looking down on me pathetically, which hurt my feelings terribly.

 

I responded even more snidely for no reason.

 

“Yes, is there some problem with that?”

 

“As I always feel, you’re too lacking in wariness. Katarina Hugo is someone who openly went around saying she would soon become the duchess even the moment you came as the duchess. She even slandered you. You’re going on a friendly outing with such a person? Do you have no pride?”

 

“…”

 

Look at this bastard’s way of speaking!

 

As I always feel, your mouth is truly terrifying!

 

Are you lacking in social skills?

 

Being human myself, I gradually got heated listening to this.

 

The incident from the other night, and today’s words and actions too.

 

Everything was incomprehensible.

 

‘Could he really be wary of Katarina and me getting close?’

 

If the Duke still had feelings for Katarina, it was quite a plausible story.

 

An ex-girlfriend and current wife getting along well.

 

That would be ridiculous.

 

But even so, his attitude of intimidating me right now wasn’t justified.

 

‘No matter what, there’s no reason for me to hear such words!’

 

Just as I was about to retort out of indignation.

 

“!”

 

Confusion flashed momentarily in the Duke’s eyes, which had been cold until now.

 

I wondered why he was acting that way, but soon I could understand the reason.

 

Drip drip.

 

It was because tears that suddenly welled up in my eyes flowed down my cheeks in abundance.

 

‘Ugh! What is this? I’m angry to death, so why are tears coming out first and causing a fuss!’

 

I don’t want to cry at all right now, you know?

 

I have tons of things to argue about!

 

Though my head was seething with cold anger, this body wouldn’t move according to my will.

 

I deliberately took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down.

 

“Sob, th-that… Why, waaah!”

 

But instead, the hiccupping sobs only grew thicker due to my ragged breathing.

 

‘This is driving me crazy! I’ll look pathetic like this.’

 

Of all people, to show such disgraceful behavior in front of the Duke!

 

My pride was cracking in real time with a resounding crack.

 

“You, why are you…”

 

I was already embarrassed to death, but the Duke with his pale face hesitantly approached closer.

 

I quickly stepped backward and shouted.

 

“Sniff, I have no idea why I should hear such words, hicc! In the end, it was all a misunderstanding, and Katarina regretted her wrongdoing and apologized to me. A-anyway, she’s my maid, so what’s wrong with getting along well?”

 

“…How could you become Celeste’s Duchess with such a soft heart?”

 

The Duke’s voice was strangely softened, but even that annoyed me.

 

“Did I have any say in that matter, sniff?”

 

How ridiculous. I just opened my eyes and found myself at a wedding ceremony!

 

As if there were any choices!

 

But the Duke, who couldn’t possibly know this fact, hesitated for a moment as if he realized his mistake.

 

I didn’t miss the opportunity and eagerly tore into the Duke with my words like a hyena.

 

The unwanted sobbing mixed in didn’t make for a good look though…

 

“That’s right… I-I’m someone who doesn’t suit being Celeste’s Duchess.”

 

I know it too.

 

I’m an impurity that suddenly intruded into this story.

 

I haven’t even properly grasped my role yet.

 

Someone might think I’m a fool if they saw me like this.

 

‘But still!’

 

I did my best to live cheerfully in my own way.

 

Because I thought that was the most like me.

 

Whoever I was in this place, I could just live ‘my’ life from now on.

 

“You were the one who told me to keep quiet and stay low in the first place, Your Grace! Sob, I followed your wishes. Everything… But why do you keep…”

 

As I spoke, emotions welled up again.

 

That’s right, I never intended to catch the Duke’s attention in the first place.

 

I just wanted to enjoy a happy rural life with the maids in my own little cottage.

 

In the meantime, there were a few times I encountered the Duke due to unavoidable circumstances…

 

But I had never deliberately lingered in front of him!

 

‘The other night too. What was that, really? Making people anxious! Going back and forth, completely selfish. Which tune am I supposed to dance to?’

 

With tears streaming down, I clenched my mouth shut.

 

The makeup I had worked so hard on, the dress I had carefully put on, everything felt foolish.

 

It felt like everything was falling apart.

 

“You told me not to expect things like a husband’s duties. Yes, I don’t expect anything at all. But what about Your Grace? Do you now want me to become a real wife?”

 

Even to my sobbing retort, the Duke remained silent for a long time.

 

That made me even more furious.

 

“I just want to live quietly. So please don’t interfere anymore… I’m not going to bring great shame to the family, I’m just going on an outing!”

 

Having shouted that, I deliberately stomped as I walked.

 

‘Ah, how embarrassing! There’s really nothing I like about this body. Why am I even crying? What’s the Duke to me? My tears are wasted!’

 

“Haah.”

 

But even taking a deep sigh didn’t make anything better.

 

When I flung open the door, sure enough, I saw the maids fidgeting anxiously in the corridor.

 

“My lady…”

 

I spoke to the bewildered maids, pretending to be fine.

 

“…Could you call Katarina?”

 

I’m burning up with anger, so this worked out perfectly!

 

I felt like going to the riverside to cool my head would make me feel somewhat better.

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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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