You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 34

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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 34

 

“Haah…”

 

Meanwhile.

 

In the room that Rene had left with a huff.

 

Jenos, left alone, felt quite miserable.

 

Perhaps it was because he had stubbornly stayed awake last night with his confused feelings since the night before last.

 

Being awake for three days was nothing new, but the situation was far from good.

 

He kept dry-washing his face as he recalled what had happened earlier.

 

‘…I didn’t mean to say it that harshly.’

 

Katarina Hugo was as unpredictable as she was selfish.

 

She was also a woman with as much stubbornness as vanity, rarely bending her own thoughts.

 

Such a person suddenly changing her attitude to approach Rene so sweetly?

 

Anyone could see it was suspicious.

 

Jenos simply couldn’t understand Rene.

 

‘I knew she was carelessly cheerful, but how can she trust people so easily?’

 

Without even knowing whether it would benefit or harm her. Shouldn’t she be more wary when someone changes their attitude?

 

She didn’t even know how much Katarina had been looking down on her, yet she was so carefree.

 

It seemed foolish how she agreed to go out together without any pride, just because she was happy.

 

But in truth, Jenos knew as well.

 

All of this had happened due to his own indifference, in a way.

 

“That’s right… I, I am someone who doesn’t suit being the Duchess of Celeste.”

 

Rene’s face, tearful as she said those words, kept appearing endlessly in Jenos’s mind.

 

‘So that’s what she was thinking.’

 

Though she mostly wore a sulky expression when facing Jenos, Rene’s expressions were quite varied.

 

Even so, that was… an expression he’d never seen before.

 

The tears filling her large, gentle eyes looked quite pitiful.

 

She seemed somewhat dejected, and also somewhat wronged.

 

Once again, Jenos’s head drooped low.

 

‘I just wanted to give her a slight warning.’

 

He knew he was clumsy with expressions.

 

But strangely, whenever he stood before Rene, only childish and petty words would come out.

 

Even though he had passed through adolescence without ever rebelling once.

 

That’s why Jenos disliked Rene.

 

Because she kept making him act unlike himself.

 

Jenos was always consumed by self-loathing after meeting with her.

 

“You were the one who told me to keep quiet and stay low in the first place, Your Grace, weren’t you? *sob* I followed your wishes exactly. Everything… But why do you keep…”

 

Rene’s tearful voice kept echoing in his head.

 

But all Jenos could do right now was sweep his bangs back.

 

‘What… do I even want to do?’

 

At this point, even he was confused.

 

Only after hearing Rene’s words did he finally realize.

 

Jenos was currently doing exactly what he hated most.

 

His actions were inconsistent, and he carelessly spouted words he couldn’t take responsibility for.

 

“Haah…”

 

This really was the worst.

 

But he could no longer turn away from it.

 

“…”

 

How much time had passed like this?

 

Beyond the large window, it was faintly the time when the evening glow was setting.

 

Jenos, who had been contemplating for a long while, suddenly stood up from his seat.

 

His eyes held a resolute light, as if he had decided something.

 

Thud, thud, thud.

 

The man left the room, his low heel sounds echoing like his voice.

 

He immediately gave orders to Cal, who had been quietly waiting outside the door the entire time.

 

“Prepare a horse right now. Where exactly did the Duchess go?”

 

* * *

 

Turning back time briefly, a few hours earlier.

 

“Lady Katarina, Lady Rene is looking for you. Shall we depart now?”

 

At the maid’s words, Katarina, who had been constantly looking in the mirror, turned her head.

 

“Hmph. What could she possibly be preparing for so long? Fine, let’s go.”

 

Katarina rose from her seat without hiding her sneer.

 

How much could that short woman change no matter how she dressed up?

 

The Rene she saw yesterday was still in modest attire.

 

She was no match for Katarina, whose beauty was famous throughout the Empire.

 

“How dare she not know her place! It’s obvious that I’m better in every way!”

 

“Of, of course, Lady Katarina.”

 

Katarina moved forward, taking out her frustration on the maid for no reason.

 

Despite such boasting, she was dressed more extravagantly than usual for some reason.

 

The bright red mermaid dress made her voluptuous figure shine even more.

 

However, she couldn’t breathe properly due to the tightly laced corset.

 

Well, the foolish men in the capital praised it as a symbol of fragility when young ladies collapsed from breathing difficulties.

 

‘How stupid.’

 

Though she had tightened her corset today, to Katarina, who was beautiful even without such things, the young ladies who laced their corsets daily seemed to be doing foolish things.

 

Above all.

 

‘I’m not interested in ordinary men. The only one I’m interested in is… Duke Jenos of Celeste!’

 

This feeling had been unchanged since childhood.

 

But calling this a pure and innocent heart toward Jenos would be somewhat inaccurate.

 

In fact… to be more precise, Katarina wanted to become the ‘Duchess.’

 

‘Celeste is strong. No one can look down on them. That’s what makes them beautiful.’

 

The House of Celeste, with whom her family had been close for generations, had always been an object of admiration for Katarina.

 

The elegant and wise Diana cherished Katarina as much as her own grandchild.

 

Though they had passed away early, the previous Duke and Duchess, who were always noble and dignified, had also been a perfectly matched pair.

 

Katarina had always dreamed of becoming one of those members, and thought there were no obstacles to that, but…

 

‘Rene Blanche. So you’re finally making trouble!’

 

Even if she had entered as the Duchess, it was still a loveless marriage for Rene as well.

 

So she believed that if she continued to endure, someday an opportunity would come to her as well.

 

‘What is Jenos thinking? Does he really have feelings for Rene Blanche?’

 

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that Katarina and Jenos had known each other since they were babies.

 

But Jenos had never once opened his heart to Katarina.

 

Though that was disappointing and hateful, it was fine now.

 

Katarina didn’t expect love from Jenos either.

 

‘But he spent the night with that woman? Is there really no chance for me at all?’

 

Jenos.

 

Rolling the man’s name in her mouth, Katarina bit her lip.

 

Before she knew it, she was in the lobby.

 

“Haah.”

 

With a short sigh, Katarina quickly put on her mask.

 

“Lady Rene!”

 

Gone was the earlier viciousness, replaced only by a beautiful face full of smiles.

 

“Katarina.”

 

“!”

 

But….

 

When Rene turned around at the call, even Katarina couldn’t help but gape at her appearance.

 

“R-Rene. Your outfit….”

 

“Ah, the maids dressed me up since they said it was my first outing. Does it look strange?”

 

“No…. No. It suits you very well.”

 

These words were sincere.

 

Even with her plain bare face, Rene had always caught people’s attention.

 

Though Katarina had tried hard to deny it, hadn’t she ultimately chosen red to match Rene?

 

With such an excellent foundation, how much more stunning would Rene be when deliberately dressed up?

 

Though they didn’t openly gather around, she could feel gazes from here and there.

 

“My goodness, is that Her Grace the Duchess?”

 

“She’s so beautiful!”

 

“Seeing her like that, she really looks like a noble young lady. You can feel her distinguished elegance.”

 

How clearly she could hear the servants murmuring among themselves!

 

‘Hmph. The maids must have really gone all out!’

 

Katarina pouted and looked down at her own outfit.

 

It was a dress newly tailored following the latest fashion from the capital, but she was starting to regret choosing red.

 

Just then.

 

“You look really pretty today too, Katarina. Did you have the dress tailored? Since you’re tall, it looks refreshing and really suits you well.”

 

Rene said this while looking up at Katarina with a somewhat shy smile.

 

“!”

 

Katarina unconsciously covered her mouth.

 

‘Ugh! What is that? A baby angel?!’

 

Perhaps because she was standing with her back to the sunlight, Katarina even had the illusion of seeing a halo behind Rene.

 

‘Gasp! What am I thinking right now!’

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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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