You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 46

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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 46

 

“Well. So did you really push me?”

 

Rene asked back with a strange expression.

 

She didn’t seem very angry, but Katarina, who had become frightened on her own, lowered her gaze again.

 

Then she slowly began to tell the truth.

 

“…You might feel this is an excuse, but to be honest, I don’t remember that moment very well. It’s true that I felt spiteful and momentarily thought about pushing you…”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“But after that, I have no memory. When I came to my senses, the boat had capsized… Yes, everyone was saying I was the culprit.”

 

A calm confession followed.

 

Even while speaking, Katarina couldn’t bring herself to lift her face.

 

She was afraid of what expression Rene might be looking at her with.

 

But an unexpected answer came out.

 

“I don’t think it’s an excuse.”

 

“!”

 

“That’s your truth, right? Yes. That’s enough.”

 

That plain attitude actually brought tears to her eyes.

 

Even though it didn’t seem like she was trying to comfort her, she felt comforted.

 

Katarina’s mouth unconsciously poured out her true feelings.

 

“Rene, I hated you. But at the same time… I think I was also envious. I hated you for having everything.”

 

“Yes. I see.”

 

“But I don’t think I wanted you to die. When you came into this underground prison, I was truly relieved… I thought it was fortunate you didn’t die, and I was grateful you were alive…”

 

Sobbing continued after that.

 

Rene patiently waited for Katarina.

 

Then again, a tearful voice echoed through the underground prison.

 

“I’m a bad person. I lie often too. So no one, not even my parents… believed what I said. But why are you saying you believe me?”

 

Even at Katarina’s question, Rene just shrugged her shoulders once.

 

“Because… you tried to grab my hand at that moment. I think that moment at least was sincere.”

 

“I did?”

 

Katarina’s eyes widened momentarily.

 

Rene smiled and nodded.

 

Katarina felt something crumbling inside her chest.

 

Even while shedding endless tears, strangely she didn’t feel as powerless as before.

 

“Don’t you think I’m beyond redemption?”

 

“Not at all. People can change. Especially you… you’ve already started to change. I’m not the person you should apologize to.”

 

“But, but I should be punished…”

 

“Katarina.”

 

Rene reached through the bars and hugged Katarina tightly.

 

Burying her face in the small woman’s shoulder, Katarina cried like a child.

 

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Lady Rene… Please forgive me. I’ll gladly accept any punishment…”

 

“Hmm…”

 

Patting Katarina’s back, Rene said.

 

“I don’t agree that you’re a bad person, but it does seem like there’s a punishment you need.”

 

“Yes, yes! Whatever it is, I’ll gladly follow it.”

 

“…Whatever it is?”

 

“Yesss… Huuuung…”

 

“Alright, I understand.”

 

That voice somehow had plenty of mischief in it, but Katarina, who was busy crying from being moved, didn’t notice.

 

* * *

 

A little later.

 

“Her Grace is going to punish Katarina Hugo!”

 

“Really? Right now?”

 

“Yes, at the cottage where Her Grace was staying. Let’s hurry and go too. Everyone’s gone to watch!”

 

“My goodness! Let’s hurry!”

 

Right after Rene returned from the underground prison, one casual remark she threw out made the entire Duke’s Castle buzz with excitement.

 

“I should punish Katarina. Could you bring that girl to the annex?”

 

The thoroughly excited servants were busy rushing to the annex to watch, even postponing their own work.

 

And…

 

“Punishment?”

 

Jenos, who heard the news from Cal, couldn’t hide his bewildered expression as he asked back.

 

He had left the punishment of Katarina to be done as Rene wished.

 

‘She didn’t seem to have any intention of punishing her, how unexpected.’

 

As soon as she regained consciousness, as if she had never coughed up blood, Rene was busy bustling around energetically.

 

Honestly, he wished she would just lie down quietly and recover her health.

 

For some reason, his heart had become infinitely soft toward Rene.

 

At this point, he had come to regard being swayed by Rene as nothing significant.

 

However, setting everything aside, it was interesting.

 

‘What kind of punishment could it be that she’s gathering people like that?’

 

Wasn’t it Rene who had jumped up upon hearing the punishment Jenos had given Katarina right after waking up?

 

He had a feeling it would be a punishment with a completely different nature from the one Jenos was going to impose.

 

“Your Grace, shall we go take a look?”

 

Cal, reading his master’s mood, quietly asked.

 

But Jenos shook his head back and forth.

 

After all, he was a duke, and the weight attached to each of his steps was tremendous.

 

“Well. It doesn’t seem like it would be good for me to go too.”

 

“I thought as much, so I had the end room of the west tower cleaned.”

 

The experienced butler’s eyes curved slyly beneath his monocle.

 

Jenos, who let out a hollow laugh for a moment, looked back at Cal.

 

“You’re getting more and more perceptive. Am I making you read the room too much?”

 

“You flatter me.”

 

The duke, who chuckled, rose from his seat.

 

His footsteps headed toward the west tower without hesitation.

 

Sitting in a chair that offered a perfect view of Rene’s cottage like a VIP seat, he felt newly moved.

 

‘It feels like just yesterday I saw her hopping around from here.’

 

Though not much time had actually passed, the events that had occurred in between made it feel like a long time had gone by.

 

Jenos leaned against the armrest with an interested expression and rested his chin on his hand.

 

The cozy cottage came clearly into his still-sharp vision.

 

The main characters hadn’t appeared yet, as only servants were bustling about in groups.

 

Jenos, feeling somewhat bewildered, opened his mouth.

 

“Is the work at the Duke’s Castle so leisurely? It seems like most of the servants are all gathered there.”

 

“Well… But work can be done later too, can’t it?”

 

Cal replied with a quite generous attitude for a head butler.

 

Jenos, who hadn’t really intended to blame anyone, let out a small laugh.

 

“True. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that you can’t get back once you miss it, is that it?”

 

“To be honest, I’d like to participate too. I received a little hint, you see.”

 

Cal threw out quite an interesting topic with a calm face.

 

At the old butler’s unprecedented reaction, interest appeared on Jenos’s face.

 

“A hint?”

 

“Yes, a maid named Betty gave me a rough idea of what’s happening. It’s truly… should I say it’s just like Her Grace.”

 

Apparently, Rene had instructed her close maids about something.

 

“Now that you put it that way, I’m even more curious.”

 

“It will exceed your expectations.”

 

Cal chuckled softly after giving that answer.

 

Though curious, it was something he would naturally find out just by waiting.

 

And not long after, Rene made her appearance.

 

Today her long hair was tightly bound up like a ponytail, making her look quite lively.

 

‘So saying she’s fully recovered wasn’t entirely a lie.’

 

Hmph, even as Jenos snorted dismissively, his gaze wouldn’t leave her.

 

Rene kept tilting her head curiously as she conversed with a small maid about something.

 

After that, everyone’s attention was drawn to one place.

 

Surprisingly, Katarina appeared in bizarre attire.

 

“What on earth is that?”

 

At the outfit he’d never seen before in his life, Jenos let out an incredulous sigh.

 

Cal was equally bewildered.

 

“Good heavens, I did receive word about it, but seeing it directly is quite shocking. I’m not seeing things due to old age, am I?”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

Cal, who had been adjusting his monocle in surprise, suddenly turned to look at his master at the refreshing burst of laughter.

 

Though he was covering his mouth with his fist as if trying to hide it, Jenos was definitely laughing.

 

It had been over ten years since he’d heard his lord’s laughter.

 

Jenos used to laugh out loud like that only when he was very young.

 

Especially after losing his parents, even light smiles had become extremely rare.

 

“Your Highness…”

 

The butler, whose heart somehow felt touched, cleared his throat unnecessarily and turned his head away.

 

But Jenos, absorbed in the situation, continued speaking while keeping his gaze fixed outside the window.

 

“Kuk kuk… I never expected punishment to be carried out in such a way. Yes, that’s quite like Rene, isn’t it?”

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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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