You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 49

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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 49

 

Sitting properly at my desk, I carefully retraced my memories.

 

So I am the female protagonist of 『The Northern Duchess Knows No Spring』, Rene Celeste.

 

A terminally ill duchess who suffers harsh persecution throughout her life and eventually dies of illness, right?

 

“Hmm.”

 

In the story, Rene was a woman with low self-esteem and a timid nature who was persecuted not only by the Grand Duke but even by the servants.

 

The Grand Duke didn’t hide his contempt even though he knew Rene’s feelings, and rather used that love to subject her to all kinds of humiliation.

 

But that’s exactly why I couldn’t believe I was ‘that Rene.’

 

“Me…?”

 

For someone like that, I hadn’t particularly been persecuted.

 

Was the original story written from the perspective of the fragile Rene, so even experiencing the same events was depicted more despairingly?

 

‘Or maybe I’m too insensitive…?’

 

Scratch scratch.

 

I gripped the innocent pen tightly and scribbled as if venting my frustration.

 

Well, anyway, it wasn’t such a hardship for me, so it wasn’t too bad.

 

Actually, there was something more important.

 

‘I’m terminally ill!’

 

Just when I thought I could settle down and live well in the North, what kind of bolt from the blue is this?

 

‘If I at least knew the name of the disease, I could try to find a treatment method…’

 

I tried desperately to remember, but I don’t recall the original story properly mentioning what kind of disease this was.

 

Even Jim, who examined me, only said I was born with a weak constitution.

 

He didn’t even seem to know the fact that I was terminally ill yet.

 

“This is driving me crazy.”

 

So I have to live trembling, not knowing when I’ll die?

 

No? I can’t.

 

I already died meaninglessly in my previous life, I can’t let that happen again!

 

I suddenly grabbed my head.

 

“Think! Anything! Even a clue!”

 

Aaaagh!

 

Then, as if my desperate prayer reached heaven, a certain memory suddenly flashed through my mind.

 

“You’re a ‘fragment,’ aren’t you?”

 

“Invisible dragon!”

 

Right, there was a dragon who acted like he knew something!

 

This dragon was even a character who never appeared in the original story.

 

Perhaps it was a setting only the author knew, or maybe he appeared due to the variable that is me in this other world.

 

‘If I go find that lizard first… couldn’t I find some clue?’

 

Right, in a world where magic and dragons exist. What’s so strange about a possessor? Let’s be confident!

 

Above all, he seemed like someone who had lived for a very long time, so he definitely knew more than me.

 

“Right. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?”

 

I couldn’t be certain, but it was also true that I had no other options.

 

But I immediately faced the next problem.

 

“How… do I find him?”

 

Before, I had the silver cup, so I just had to follow it.

 

But that had been taken by him long ago.

 

“I guess I have no choice but to search blindly by retracing my memories?”

 

With my exceptional ability to take action, I sprang up from my seat.

 

The sun would still be high in the sky.

 

If I went and came back quickly, I could return before sunset.

 

After roughly putting on comfortable clothes and a cloak, I was about to sneak out of my room.

 

Knock knock knock.

 

“My lady, it’s Betty. I’m coming in.”

 

“Eek!”

 

“Oh my. Why are you standing up?”

 

Betty with her gentle face appeared carrying a tea tray.

 

“Hm? Why are you wearing a cloak…?”

 

As if sensing something strange, Betty’s gentle eyes instantly narrowed.

 

Is this what they mean by a guilty conscience needs no accuser?

 

I awkwardly blurted out whatever came to mind.

 

“Oh, yes. My body feels stiff, you see. I was thinking of doing some exercise…”

 

“Exercise?”

 

“Yes! They say mountain climbing is good for building basic stamina. Wow! That’s really a great idea, right? Well then, I’ll be going…”

 

“Haaaaah…”

 

Now she won’t even bother to respond?!

 

As if my words weren’t even worth listening to, Betty blocked my path like Cerberus guarding the Gates of Hell.

 

Then she suddenly shouted loudly.

 

“Dora!”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Our sickly lady says she wants to climb those treacherous mountain slopes right after waking up from collapsing and coughing up blood?! We should inform His Grace the Grand Duke immediately!”

 

Betty, that’s quite an exaggeration! That was already a month ago!

 

But before I could respond, even Dora came running with fierce eyes to stop me.

 

“Oh my! My lady! Goodness. We specially overlooked the farm work incident last time because you begged so much, but again?! I should report to Sir Cal immediately-”

 

“Aah! I got it, I got it! Please stop!”

 

Damn. It was a complete defeat.

 

After barely calming down what could have been a big commotion and changing back into regular clothes, I slumped onto the sofa.

 

Betty, who had turned into Cerberus, was probably standing guard right in front of my door.

 

“Retreat for now. I’ll try again at dawn tomorrow.”

 

Meanwhile, the luxurious velvet sofa that enveloped my body was incredibly soft.

 

Half lying down and rubbing my face against the soft fabric, honestly, it was nothing short of paradise.

 

“Ugh… I just want to lie here forever being lazy…”

 

But I couldn’t ignore the fact that I was terminally ill either.

 

Why won’t this world leave me alone for even a moment?

 

I’m just an ordinary human whose life aspiration is to be a home protector!

 

Meanwhile, outside the window was shining brightly with the full light of spring.

 

“It’s the complete opposite of my mood…”

 

Sniff.

 

I was swallowing my tears inwardly when.

 

“Hey.”

 

A strangely familiar voice suddenly came from behind me.

 

“…Nox?!”

 

“Hello there.”

 

When I bolted upright, there was Ternox sitting comfortably by the window, waving his hand.

 

How could a green dragon be so welcome!

 

“You’re already being lazy, so what’s the problem, our Duchess?”

 

“…”

 

Starting a fight as soon as he arrives?

 

Well, should I say it’s nice that he’s consistent?

 

But I immediately faced reality.

 

Wasn’t I the one who needed something right now?

 

Just when I was about to go looking for him, he walked in on his own.

 

‘It’s good that I don’t have to go searching for him.’

 

I immediately switched tactics and looked at him with a fawning expression.

 

“Great Dragon Ternox! What an infinite honor it is for me to have you personally grace us with your presence.”

 

“…Why are you suddenly acting like this?”

 

“What do you mean? I’m exactly the same as always, aren’t I?”

 

Damn it, I just need to flatter him, but my unavoidable lackey instincts are acting up again!

 

It seemed that having to grovel before that green lizard twisted my insides so much that my words got twisted along with them.

 

Even I could tell it was awkward, but everything depends on momentum.

 

I rubbed my hands together even more obsequiously and smiled servilly.

 

“Actually, I’ve been wanting to see you so much, Dragon-nim. I’ve been losing sleep every night from longing—”

 

“The one losing sleep wasn’t you, but someone else.”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“That guy. The young bastard who was being all fierce with his eyes wide open.”

 

“Being… fierce…”

 

Could he be talking about the Grand Duke?

 

Come to think of it, during the Spring Festival, they had faced off with terrifying eyes and great momentum, only for the Grand Duke to end up dazed.

 

Somehow that felt like something from a distant past life.

 

“Oh, that’s true but… he’s been sleeping well lately though?”

 

“Really? When I saw him briefly back then, it seemed serious…”

 

Ternox’s eyes, which had been contemplating, suddenly narrowed.

 

“You did something, didn’t you?”

 

“Me?”

 

“Yes. What other variable is there besides you?”

 

My mouth instantly shut.

 

At the same time, I instinctively knew.

 

This was related to the ‘fragment’ that Nox had mentioned before!

 

Seeing Ternox’s rather serious expression, I seized the moment to ask the question I’d been wanting to ask.

 

“Nox, about that ‘fragment’ you mentioned before. Could I hear more details about it?”

 

“Before that, I’d like to hear your story first. What kind of changes happened while I was away?”

 

“Um, well…”

 

I briefly summarized everything that had happened so far.

 

The madness that the Grand Duke had told me about, passed down from his father’s generation.

 

And how strangely, when he was with me, that madness would disappear completely.

 

“Hmm. Is that so?”

 

Ternox, who had been listening seriously to my story, looked at me again.

 

“When you live long enough, you encounter all sorts of things.”

 

His pupils instantly narrowed vertically.

 

There it was again.

 

Those eyes that made me feel alienated again, the eyes of something that wasn’t human.

 

But why did that very alienation feel rather comforting instead?

 

As if saying, there are others like this too, so you’re nothing special.

 

It was a strange comfort.

 

Meanwhile, Nox, who had been choosing his words for a moment, spoke.

 

“I felt it before too, but you don’t seem to belong to this world.”

 

His bright yellow eyes were directed solely at me, piercing through.

—————
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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