You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 58

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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 58

 

“Just where did everything go wrong….”

 

I trembled with anxiety as I forced my reluctant feet to move forward.

 

Earlier, as Diana was leaving the dining hall, she had whispered something only I could hear.

 

“After you finish eating, rest a little then come to my room. I’ll send Cal, so try to move quietly if possible.”

 

It was somehow both solemn and secretive request.

 

I had no idea what this was about, so after that I couldn’t even tell if food was going into my mouth or my nose.

 

Only after returning to my room did I suddenly have an intuition.

 

‘I’ve been caught.’

 

Right, apparently my books hadn’t grown legs and run away after all.

 

‘Diana must have taken them! She’s going to severely scold the Duchess for reading such things!’

 

Kyaaaah!

 

With the Duke away, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to quietly dispose of me without anyone knowing?

 

It happened to be a full moon.

 

Deep in the night, only the eerie moonlight shone dimly through the windows of the Duke’s Castle corridors.

 

It looked exactly like a scene from the novel I’d been reading, 『The Duke’s Bastard Maid’s Sister Was Actually the Lost Precious Imperial Princess』.

 

Under this very moonlight, the female protagonist was about to punish the villainess….

 

But I need to see how that ends before I die.

 

‘Is this what a villainess feels like before her final moments….’

 

I should have lived more virtuously.

 

But I did live virtuously!

 

“Haaaaah….”

 

Was I too immersed in novels?

 

At the sound of my heavy sigh, Cal’s steps ahead of me gradually slowed.

 

Though I couldn’t see his face, the old butler’s gentle voice soon reached me.

 

“Please don’t worry too much, Your Highness. Diana may be stern, but she’s not cold-blooded.”

 

“Mm, I think so too. But being scared is a separate matter.”

 

Only then did I snap out of my reverie.

 

I really have been soaking in trashy novels lately.

 

All my thought processes kept flowing toward terrible directions.

 

‘Right, Diana isn’t that kind of person.’

 

I suddenly recalled her hands from our tea time together during the day, as warm as the teapot itself.

 

‘But still, it’s so embarrassing….’

 

Of all people, why did it have to be Diana, the noblest of nobles, who discovered this?

 

‘Even the slightest thought she might have had of accepting me has probably disappeared.’

 

Thinking that made me feel a bit dejected.

 

Just then, having finally arrived, Cal stopped in front of a door and turned to look at me with a warm smile.

 

“Nothing worth worrying about will happen. If you’re really concerned, I’ll bring some very delicious tea. Enough to soothe even Diana’s displeasure.”

 

“Cal…. Thank you.”

 

Zing….

 

Cal’s kind words made one corner of my heart feel warmly touched.

 

Gaining courage, I clenched both fists and silently shouted ‘Fighting!’

 

Cal also clenched both fists in response, then knocked on the door.

 

“Diana, it’s Cal. I’ve brought Your Highness.”

 

Gulp.

 

Even though I’d steeled my heart, I still couldn’t help feeling nervous!

 

“Come in.”

 

Now it was truly my turn.

 

Continuously swallowing dry saliva, I turned the door handle with a determined expression.

 

Even in the midst of this, my mind was spinning frantically thinking of what excuse to make.

 

Click, the door opened and closed.

 

“Ah, good evening….”

 

I immediately bowed deeply at the waist.

 

Due to the bright moonlight from the window creating backlighting, I couldn’t see Diana’s expression clearly.

 

Click, click, click.

 

As I hesitated, unable to straighten up, Diana approached with elegant steps and personally took my shoulders to help me stand.

 

And then….

 

“Is this yours?”

 

She suddenly held out 『The Duke’s Bastard Maid’s Sister Was Actually the Lost Precious Imperial Princess』 in front of me!

 

Getting straight to the point like this?!

 

“Yes, that’s right! I’m truly sorry!”

 

All the excuses I’d thought up so hard were utterly useless when faced with the wall of reality.

 

Having told the truth, I clamped my mouth shut.

 

But this was only the beginning.

 

My most beloved and cherished book that I’d reread three times, 『The Marchioness’s Dizzying Temptation』, was there too.

 

Even the unread books from my drawer were lined up on Diana’s desk.

 

I’d expected this, but when actually confronted with it, my mind went blank.

 

Yet Diana’s voice was strangely calm.

 

“Have you read all these books?”

 

“N-not yet….”

 

“The comments written here are also yours, aren’t they.”

 

You even looked at those?!

 

Having even my reviews that no one was supposed to know about exposed made me truly want to bite my tongue and die.

 

Didn’t I have a terminal illness? Let’s just die now!

 

Go on! Send me away! Right now!

 

“Th-th-that…. I’m sorry! But this is just one form of entertainment….”

 

Just as I was trembling with shame and trying to make excuses even now.

 

“Sorry? Forget such words. Which of these was the most interesting?”

 

“…Huh?”

 

“You seem to particularly like revenge stories.”

 

Diana’s face as she said this was somehow flushed as if she’d met a kindred spirit.

 

Only then did my gaze fall on the initials on the cover of the review collection.

 

D. S.

 

No way.

 

Diana Celeste?

 

“…Huh?”

 

Is this for real?

 

* * *

 

A few days later.

 

Jenos, returning to the Duke’s Castle, momentarily doubted his own eyes.

 

“Haha! Rene, you adorable thing! How did you get this one?”

 

In the Grand Garden where tulips and freesias were in full bloom.

 

It was because of Diana and Rene, lost in their own world beneath the white marble pavilion.

 

“I went to town with Katarina. I stopped by a bookstore briefly and thought of Grandmother, so I bought it. You like this series, don’t you.”

 

“Yes! I only just now learned that a sequel came out.”

 

“Actually, I couldn’t resist and read it first. I think… you’ll really love it!”

 

“Hohoho! When you say that, I’m truly excited. Our baby’s judgment is never wrong.”

 

“Uheheh! It’s all thanks to Grandmother!”

 

Her face looked like she was dying of cuteness.

 

Diana tucked Rene under her arm and looked ready to practically kiss her.

 

“…What on earth happened here?”

 

Even Jenos, her grandson, was bewildered by Diana’s affectionate demeanor that he was seeing for the first time.

 

Cal spoke while simply watching the two with a pleased expression.

 

“Haha, it seems you two have found a common interest that brings your hearts together.”

 

“A common interest?”

 

Grandmother had always been so aloof that she seemed like she’d bleed blue if pricked.

 

No matter how he looked at it, there was a difference between the two as vast as heaven and earth.

 

In the few days he’d been away, Rene had not only won over Grandmother’s heart but made her completely into an ally.

 

“What’s so surprising? Rene just did what Rene does.”

 

Ternox, who was standing beside him, shrugged as if it wasn’t surprising at all.

 

At those words, Jenos couldn’t help but chuckle.

 

Indeed, it wouldn’t have been too difficult for that small woman.

 

Looking around the Duke’s Castle anew.

 

The Northern Region, reaching late spring and filled with fresh green hues, was now brimming with gentle energy.

 

Just like someone he knew.

 

“Tsk. Ridiculous.”

 

Ternox poked Jenos in the ribs and strode forward with large steps.

 

“Are you having a pleasant time?”

 

Perhaps being polite because he was in front of Diana, Nox greeted them quite normally, like a typical aide.

 

“Oh? Nox. You’re back already?”

 

“Already, you say. I don’t know how many hills I crossed going all the way to the edge of the duchy. Each time, my breath went gulp gulp…”

 

“Really, such exaggeration!”

 

For someone scolding him, Rene looked at Ternox with a happy smile, which somehow twisted Jenos’s insides.

 

“I’m here too.”

 

Saying that, Jenos took a large step forward.

 

The butler, realizing his master’s mood was uncomfortable, suppressed his laughter and temporarily swallowed what he was about to say.

 

The sight of a man who acted as if he’d shed twenty years from his age when in front of his wife wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

 

‘What a peaceful afternoon.’

 

Cal slowly walked, using their conversation as background music.

 

Jenos had already quickly seated himself next to Rene.

 

“Yes, you’re here. Du… nos.”

 

“My name is Jenos. You were about to call me Duke again.”

 

“It doesn’t roll off my tongue, what should I do?”

 

“Then you can keep saying it until it does. …Why is your expression like that?”

 

“Me? Why?”

 

“You look like you drank rotten tea.”

 

“Jenos. Why are you picking on the child as soon as you arrive?”

 

“…Grandmother, child?”

 

“Oh, go away! Don’t interfere with my date with Lady Diana.”

 

A smile was already playing around the lips of the old butler who had approached.

 

“I have something to tell you all. Now that everyone is here, it would be the right time to deliver the news.”

 

“What is it, Cal?”

 

“A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

 

…The Imperial Palace?

 

At those words, everyone’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Wow.”

 

Everyone except one person. Rene Celeste.

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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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