You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 51

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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 51

 

“Who knows?”

 

From beyond the Duke’s broad back, I could hear Ternox laughing.

 

“I won’t eat you, you fool.”

 

Ugh, he sounds like a grandfather. Well, he is a grandfather.

 

While I was just pouting my lips, the Duke leaned his upper body toward me.

 

A cave-like voice resonated threateningly through our touching backs.

 

“I don’t know what scheme you’re plotting, but it would be wise to honestly state your purpose. Whether you’ve become a dragon or even a god. I’m not very merciful to those who touch what’s mine.”

 

At the Duke’s following words, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

 

‘What’s his?’

 

Could I possibly be included in that?

 

Of, of course I am the Duchess!

 

‘What’s this, tr-treating people like objects has its limits…’

 

Perhaps it was because I was startled by his unexpected statement.

 

My heart was pounding loudly.

 

Not knowing what to do, I just fidgeted with the hem of the Duke’s shirt.

 

“Well now. You’re having quite the fun. For two people who bicker with each other, you get along remarkably well.”

 

“Wh-what!”

 

This time I jumped up.

 

“Enough, just get to the point quickly!”

 

When I peeked just my eyes over the Duke’s shoulder and glared at Ternox, he merely shook his head.

 

“Right. I’m not particularly interested in your love games either.”

 

“L-love…!”

 

Ternox firmly waved his hand as if he wanted no more word games and spoke.

 

“The pact has been damaged.”

 

At those words, the Duke’s shoulders flinched.

 

I quietly observed his profile.

 

Though his face was still as cold as ever, there was definitely a hint of disturbance.

 

“Do you know about the Pact between Celeste and the Dragons?”

 

“A pact?”

 

Suddenly, the title of a book flashed through my mind.

 

Surely, I had seen it in the library…

 

『The Pact between Celeste and the Dragons』

 

“I’ve seen a title with those words in the Ducal Library!”

 

Right! I had definitely picked up a book with that title before.

 

Everyone’s attention turned to me.

 

The Duke also seemed surprised by my sudden statement.

 

“Well, though it was officially kept secret, it seems it remained in Celeste Duchy like historical records. So what did it say there?”

 

“Umm, that’s…”

 

Honestly, saying that I had just started reading when the Duke barged in, and afterward I was too distracted to read it properly would be rather embarrassing, right?!

 

I added awkwardly.

 

“Actually, I only read the beginning…”

 

“Really? But even if you’d read it all, it wouldn’t have been much use. The contents of that pact are originally secret.”

 

Ternox’s brief explanation followed.

 

The pact between the first Duke, Lucas Celeste, and Ternox.

 

As proof of its firmness, the contents of the pact were deeply engraved in each other’s hearts.

 

This was inherited by being inscribed on the hearts of Celeste successors for generations.

 

“For generations… I see.”

 

As if accepting Ternox’s words as truth, the Duke’s brow furrowed.

 

“Unfortunately, the formal succession seems to have been broken. My father’s madness was already in a serious state before I became head of the family. So naturally, I have no information about it either.”

 

“Indeed. That has restrictions that prevent it from being passed down unless to a true successor.”

 

True successor?

 

Perhaps bothered by the same words, the Duke’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Then are you saying my father was not a true successor?”

 

“Well, I’d need to look into that more to know. Anyway, if that ‘madness’ of yours manifested from the previous generation… it would be worth observing.”

 

The two men fell into deep thought with identical expressions, as if they had never growled at each other.

 

Only I sat there blankly, alternately looking at both men’s faces.

 

I secretly stole glances at the Duke as he pondered with his lightly clenched fist against his lips.

 

Is it because he slept well? His skin is so smooth…

 

His beauty had reached its peak.

 

“Could that pact also be related to demons?”

 

Suddenly, the silence was broken as the Duke spoke.

 

Afraid of being caught stealing glances at the Duke, I quickly turned my head to look at Nox.

 

Ternox’s face became serious at the sudden question.

 

“We did seal demons with the power of that pact. Don’t tell me demons have been appearing recently?”

 

“Yes. I thought it was just a false rumor…”

 

The Duke’s following voice was calm.

 

Right after my wedding ceremony.

 

He said he heard news of a demon appearing in the Northern Outskirts and went directly to that location, but since it had already disappeared without a trace, he thought it was a false report.

 

‘Wait. If it was then…’

 

Coincidentally, it matched exactly with when I had just possessed this world.

 

For a moment, my eyes met with Ternox’s.

 

“Hmm…”

 

Thinking about something carefully, Ternox lightly rested his chin on his hand.

 

“Actually, sensing something was strange, I visited various lairs to ask other dragons, but most were dead or sleeping. There seem to be some enjoying themselves, but there was no way to contact them separately. Have you had contact with any dragons other than me, or any magic-related forces?”

 

The Duke’s immediate response came back.

 

“Impossible. The Empire could currently be called a holy nation without exaggeration. Not only dragons like you, but even demons and magic are outdated concepts. If I weren’t from Celeste, I wouldn’t have easily believed that actual dragons existed either.”

 

“Rembrandt is a holy nation?”

 

Ternox’s face showed some bewilderment.

 

It seemed there was a big difference between the Rembrandt Empire when he fell into deep sleep and the current one.

 

But as always, Nox simply shrugged without adding any kind explanation.

 

“Anyway, the pact isn’t eternal either. I thought it would last a thousand years easily… but something impure has definitely interfered. I tried to inject my power earlier to identify the cause of the damage, but it wasn’t easy.”

 

Nox’s gaze, having said that, somehow glanced over me.

 

‘Could he be saying I’m the impurity?’

 

Feeling somewhat dismayed, I swallowed dryly.

 

Ternox chuckled and roughly tousled my hair.

 

“Hey now. Who said that about you? Always getting worked up by yourself.”

 

“Ah! Let go! What’s this, really!”

 

“Take your hands off immediately.”

 

“I can’t even play around because your husband is scary.”

 

Ugh! Looking at this, he’s really more like an uncle dying to tease his niece than a dragon!

 

As I grumbled and tried to fix my hair, there was a faster hand.

 

“!”

 

It was none other than the Duke.

 

“Ahem, this part was sticking out.”

 

The Duke glanced sideways and fixed my hair for me.

 

Though I couldn’t check the condition without a mirror, feeling embarrassed for no reason, I just pressed down on my poor head repeatedly.

 

“Pfft.”

 

A mocking sound came from Ternox, who wouldn’t miss such a good show.

 

The Duke and I simultaneously shouted with bright red faces.

 

“Don’t laugh!”

 

“What’s so funny?”

 

“Obviously, the way you two are acting.”

 

Chuckling, Ternox plopped down on the sofa behind him.

 

Then he giggled with a more vile expression than anyone else.

 

‘He’s like a villain.’

 

I felt sorry for thinking the Duke looked like a villain when I first saw him, because Ternox had a full-blown antagonist aura…

 

“Hey, I’ve decided.”

 

Ternox suddenly said.

 

“Decided what?”

 

This dragon always cuts off his words!

 

Leaving me tilting my head in confusion, Nox looked at Jenos with a sly face and said.

 

“I was bored anyway, so this works out perfectly. This great Ternox will personally take you in and keep you close to look after you.”

 

“I decline.”

 

Such an immediate answer?!

 

Whether I was inwardly surprised or not.

 

The Duke’s brow furrowed again as he stared directly at Ternox.

 

The two of them clearly didn’t have compatible personalities.

 

Not caring at all about Jenos’s rejection, Nox whistled and looked around the room once before saying cheerfully.

 

“Why? Worried about what others will think? Then how about taking me in as a servant?”

 

“…What?”

 

“Why? Are you moved? The great dragon is graciously offering to even become a mere human’s servant and bestow his mercy~”

 

“The Duke’s Castle already has plenty of hands.”

 

“Hmm, then how about an aide?”

 

When I, who had been quietly watching, chimed in, both their heads turned toward me simultaneously.

 

I awkwardly added.

 

“It seems Your Grace doesn’t have a close aide.”

 

Usually someone of a Duke’s rank would have at least one knight commander or aide they keep close, right?

 

Of course Cal exists, but he’s the head butler so that’s different.

 

“Oh, you said it well. An aide sounds cooler and better.”

 

“Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t need an aide or anything.”

 

“Then you’ll carry on with a damaged covenant as is? How much time do you think you have left?”

 

At the sudden mention of lifespan, I unconsciously whipped around to look at the Duke.

 

What, there was another person with a time limit besides me?

 

Did Jenos have such a setting in the original work?

 

‘But come to think of it…’

 

I didn’t even know there was a madness setting in the first place!

 

『Northern Spring』 was from Rene’s first-person perspective!

 

Why don’t I know anything?!

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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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