You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 35

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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 35

 

For a moment, Rene’s puffed sleeves looked like the adorable wings of a fairy, making Katarina shake her head vigorously.

 

With that innocent face. That bright and cheerful look as if she knew nothing remained the same.

 

‘Wh-who does she think will fall for that?’

 

Katarina hastily opened her fan and held it up to cover her face while pretending to fan herself.

 

Just making eye contact was putting strain on her heart… Jenos must have definitely fallen for this kind of manipulation too.

 

‘Rene Blanche… I don’t know what you did, but I’m different from Jenos. I’m absolutely not an easy opponent!’

 

But despite her resolve, Katarina’s face had turned quite red.

 

“Th-then shall we go?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Regardless of Katarina’s situation.

 

Rene answered brightly and was the first to climb into the prepared carriage.

 

And so the strange picnic began.

 

After rolling along earnestly for about 10 minutes, the carriage wheels came to a stop by the riverside.

 

Rene’s eyes widened.

 

“Huh? Why are we stopping already?”

 

“Lady Rene, is there a problem?”

 

“No. Last time it seemed like we rode the carriage for quite a long time…”

 

“When was last time?”

 

“During the spring festival.”

 

Ah. Right, the two of you went to the spring festival together so harmoniously?

 

Katarina’s insides began to boil again.

 

She must never forget that the woman before her was a target to be defeated!

 

Like a skilled count’s daughter experienced in high society, Katarina gave a kind explanation without changing her expression at all.

 

“That time you probably went through the town square where the festival was held. The town side is upstream where the river begins, and where we’re going is downstream behind the Duke’s Castle. The dock is there.”

 

As Katarina said, today’s destination for boating was right behind the Duke’s Castle, so it didn’t take very long.

 

The Celeste River was quite a large river, and the downstream area behind the Duke’s Castle was much more suitable for boating than the upstream area near the town.

 

Rene tilted her head as she listened.

 

“Then couldn’t we just walk there?”

 

“Good heavens. Are you serious? We’re nobles!”

 

She’d heard that Rene wasn’t treated very well even in House of Blanche, but to this extent?

 

Bewilderment showed on Katarina’s face.

 

“Ah… Well, I understand. That’s how it is. Being a noble lady…”

 

Despite Katarina’s surprised look, Rene somehow had empty eyes as she nodded her head.

 

Muttering words that only she would understand.

 

Even this only gave Katarina the impression that she was a completely incomprehensible woman.

 

Katarina reorganized her smile while gathering her increasingly confused mind.

 

“Your Grace the Duchess, we have arrived at our destination.”

 

Right on cue, a gentle-looking coachman personally opened the carriage door.

 

“Thank you!”

 

As if she had completely forgotten what just happened, Rene stood up without delay.

 

Coming outside, the midday spring sunlight was warming the air to just the right temperature.

 

The spring breeze that gently blew under the dazzling sunlight tickled both women’s hair.

 

“The weather is really nice!”

 

As soon as Rene got out of the carriage, she ran out like an excited pony.

 

Her light steps bounced around without any dignity.

 

“Lady Rene! Let’s go together!”

 

But Katarina’s heart following behind was full of dark clouds.

 

‘Do you think I brought you here so I’d like you? Hmph!’

 

Rene’s figure under the sparkling ripples in the distance looked lovely to anyone who saw her.

 

“She’s like a baby rabbit, our lady…”

 

“So cute. That head dress was a stroke of genius.”

 

“I knew it would suit her well, but to this extent…”

 

“Sob! Call a painter! Capture this scene on canvas right now.”

 

Rene’s maids grinned foolishly without any shame.

 

Katarina didn’t like even that for some reason.

 

‘Hmph. Does she think someone will find her cute just because she hops around like a rabbit?!’

 

Afraid she might accidentally smile, she bit her lips.

 

“Katarina! This place is so pretty!”

 

“R-right? Lady Rene. Let’s find a place to set up!”

 

“Good!”

 

With her voluminous dress fluttering, the small woman could be seen climbing up the gentle hill again.

 

‘Th-this isn’t the time for this.’

 

Katarina’s face turned sinister for a moment as she received and put on the wide-brimmed hat a maid handed her.

 

Then she quickly began looking around.

 

‘They definitely promised to come around this time…’

 

Of course, Katarina hadn’t arranged this occasion to become friends with Rene.

 

Since she couldn’t openly beat her up, she planned to humiliate her in front of everyone.

 

The ladies she was usually close with felt quite sorry for Katarina’s situation.

 

Because they had known about Katarina’s unwavering devotion to Jenos for a long time.

 

For Katarina, who secretly regarded them more like her subordinates than friends, even this was a blow to her pride.

 

But she had to use everything she could use.

 

Katarina quickly sent out a messenger bird yesterday evening.

 

A count’s daughter from a territory adjacent to Celeste happened to convey her willingness to gladly participate in the plan.

 

This was possible because House of Blanche, Rene’s family, had many enemies.

 

Though Rene Blanche was completely unaware of this.

 

‘I can’t just go boating and leave like this…’

 

In any case, Katarina’s eyes moved as quickly as her anxious heart.

 

And…

 

“Oh my! Lady Katarina!”

 

Before long, a familiar voice was heard from behind them.

 

Only then did Katarina let out a silent sigh of relief.

 

‘They came on time.’

 

Snap!

 

Katarina folded her fan and turned around as if surprised to look toward the source of the voice.

 

Naturally, Rene’s head, who was nearby, also turned.

 

“Oh my? Lady Lilian! Lady Julie and Lady Serena too? What brings you here?”

 

As she said, three well-dressed noble ladies were waving cheerfully from afar.

 

“Eh?”

 

Rene’s eyes shook momentarily as she made a dumbfounded sound.

 

She seemed quite surprised by the sudden encounter with strangers.

 

“Katarina, do you know them?”

 

Rene asked in a slightly trembling voice.

 

‘Hmph, do you think I’m a loner like you?’

 

Katarina replied in a gentle voice completely different from her thorny inner thoughts.

 

“Yes, they’re ladies who made their debut with me. We’ve been in constant contact since then.”

 

While a small conversation passed between the two, the three ladies who had approached with a flutter were sparkling with excitement.

 

“Who would have thought we’d meet Lady Katarina here!”

 

“Exactly. What brings you all the way to Celeste?”

 

Katarina asked, pretending to be surprised.

 

As if on cue, the brown-haired girl spat out a plausible answer as if she had been waiting for it.

 

“The Celeste River here is famous for its beauty in spring, isn’t it? So we came for a picnic.”

 

“Our territory of Siern and Celeste are just a short carriage ride away, so I came with my friends. But Lady Katarina, if you don’t mind me asking, who is the lady with you…?”

 

Then the green-eyed girl tilted her head.

 

“Ah!”

 

Clap! Katarina clapped her hands as if she had just remembered and gestured toward Rene, calling her over.

 

Rene approached hesitantly, blinking awkwardly.

 

Regardless.

 

Katarina introduced them to each other with a strangely excited voice.

 

“This is Her Grace Duchess Rene Celeste. Lady Rene, let me introduce you. This is Lady Lilian of the Count of Siern, Lady Julie of the Viscount of Monteville, and lastly Lady Serena of the Viscount of Florence.”

 

“Ah, hello…”

 

Rene with pink cheeks shyly lifted her skirt and curtsied.

 

“…”

 

At that action, the three ladies exchanged glances and soon returned the greeting.

 

“My goodness! Your Grace the Duchess!”

 

“We didn’t know and were being rude…”

 

“We greet Your Grace the Duchess.”

 

At the polite greeting, Rene smiled brightly with her eyes curved.

 

Her brightly smiling face was as lovely as silver bellflowers holding dewdrops.

 

Between her silver hair swaying in the spring breeze, her red eyes like ripe pomegranate seeds sparkled.

 

“Please take care of me!”

 

At that pure white and clear greeting.

 

“Oh my…”

 

The three ladies’ eyes wavered for a moment.

 

They were quite flustered seeing Rene, whose impression was far too different from the ominous rumors about curses and such.

 

The Rene they actually met was smaller and more delicate than they thought, and also…

 

‘She’s so cute!’

 

The ladies who almost let out exclamations without realizing it hastily opened their fans and busied themselves covering their reddened faces.

 

‘Hah… These girls?’

 

A flash of irritation crossed Katarina’s expression, which had been flawlessly gentle until 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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