You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 59

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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 59

 

Gasp, the Imperial Palace?

 

Was this finally the beginning of that social season the young ladies had mentioned?

 

At Cal’s words, I naturally turned my gaze toward the Duke with my heart pounding.

 

Jenos had a very serious expression.

 

Suddenly, his sharp words from some time ago flashed through my mind.

 

“Don’t make excuses with such pathetic wordplay. Did you scurry around the Duke’s Castle like a little rat gathering information to report?”

 

“Information? What on earth are you talking about…? Who am I supposed to be giving information to?”

 

“Either those rotten people from your family or the Empress. One of the two. Or maybe both.”

 

In the early days when he was extremely hostile toward me, the Duke often spoke like that.

 

That was probably displeasure stemming from my family, House of Blanche, and the Imperial Palace.

 

More precisely, it was because of the ‘Empress.’

 

Even in the original 『Northern Grand Spring』, the Duke supported the Crown Prince, so there was content about how he was displeased with the marriage to House of Blanche, a representative faction of the Empress.

 

‘That was the beginning of all the tragedy.’

 

After I became that ‘Rene Blanche,’ too many things became twisted, but…

 

“What’s wrong? Rene.”

 

Perhaps because I was looking toward Jenos while diligently searching through my memories.

 

The Duke, whose eyes suddenly met mine, asked in a rather gentle voice.

 

‘Right… Something has really changed a lot.’

 

Just like right now.

 

In the original work, Jenos never once called Rene by her name until just before she died.

 

Hey, you, Blanche… When he had no choice but to call her name, he would coldly call her full name, Rene Blanche.

 

With a cold tone that conveyed his firm will not to acknowledge her as a Celeste.

 

Of course, I had experienced such times too, but somehow it felt like it was from very long ago.

 

“It’s an annual event. Spring must have truly arrived.”

 

Diana, who had been sitting quietly, opened her mouth as if she found it tiresome.

 

“That’s right. It’s actually an invitation to the usual Imperial Palace banquet. Around this time every year, the social season tacitly begins with the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”

 

Saying this, Cal held out an elegant envelope.

 

‘The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet!’

 

Since I had heard about it from the young ladies during our tea time by the lake, my heart pounded with anticipation at the words “birthday banquet.”

 

Anyway, in the current situation, the original work was already nothing more than a shell.

 

Since I’ve already escaped from the tragic novel…

 

The capital that the original female lead never even set foot in—couldn’t I go there once?

 

But since the decision wasn’t mine to make, I just kept my mouth shut.

 

“Ah. So it’s from that side.”

 

Jenos, who received it, immediately took out the invitation from inside the envelope without delay.

 

Thud.

 

In the process, a note I didn’t even know existed fell to the floor with a thud.

 

“Oh.”

 

Still, among us, I had the stature closest to the ground—why did that make me feel bitter and miserable…?—so I unconsciously picked up the note.

 

[Are you really cutting off all contact just because you got married? How disappointing.

 

Why don’t you show your face along with that precious wife of yours. – Callian]

 

It was a short sentence written in neat handwriting.

 

The completely unfamiliar name made my brain freeze for a moment.

 

“Dear, could you hand that to me?”

 

“Yes!”

 

Diana, who had been pondering something, kindly extended her hand.

 

Then, after looking at the note she received, she immediately said to Cal.

 

“Hmm, it seems I should have the town house in the capital cleaned.”

 

Cal simply nodded readily.

 

Rather, I was the one who was surprised.

 

“Really? Are we going to the banquet too?”

 

“Jenos lacks social skills, so we haven’t necessarily attended every year until now… but the situation has changed. Besides, this is a personal letter from the Crown Prince.”

 

“Gasp.”

 

Then that ‘Callian’ was the rumored perfect handsome man?

 

I can’t resist this!

 

I wanted to run to the Imperial Palace right away and meet the rumored perfect handsome man.

 

“Then this isn’t the time for this.”

 

Diana, who stood up abruptly, looked me and Jenos up and down.

 

“I need to have a new dress made that suits you well, dear. Then I’ll go ahead first. Cal, prepare yourself.”

 

“Yes, Madam.”

 

Diana’s retreating figure as she moved with elegant gestures somehow looked very excited.

 

At the same time, my heart began to swell with excitement.

 

Of course, it wasn’t because of the new dress.

 

‘The capital! What kind of place will it be?’

 

The original plot had already changed.

 

Since it’s come to this, I’ll try everything I can do as a romance fantasy female lead!

 

“This worked out perfectly. I was just pondering an excuse to go to the capital anyway.”

 

Then, Jenos leaned back against his chair with a slightly tired face.

 

“Right, it’s perfect timing and a good excuse that won’t draw attention.”

 

Ternox, who had been standing behind Jenos like a dignified aide in front of Diana as part of his acting, also pulled out a chair on the opposite side and sat down.

 

“Why the capital? Did you find some clue from the traces of the demonic beasts?”

 

I immediately recalled the realistic concerns and asked the question I had wanted to ask when the two returned.

 

No matter how much of a romance fantasy female lead I was, if I had a limited lifespan, it would be difficult to properly enjoy it.

 

But I had absolutely no intention of meekly accepting my fate.

 

I’m different from the original Rene.

 

I have so much attachment to life!

 

‘I’ll go to the capital, attend banquets, and live a full life!’

 

As I looked at Ternox with a determined expression.

 

“Hmm, where should I start explaining.”

 

Ternox, who had been choosing his words for a moment, laid out a simple explanation.

 

Originally, the only supernatural power was ‘mana.’

 

Mana, the massive magical energy that circulates throughout the world, might have slightly different names and forms, but its original root is the same.

 

The power currently called ‘divine power’ is also mana energy that has transformed by combining with a priest’s talent, which is why it’s mainly used for healing.

 

The ‘sword aura’ used by Sword Masters is the same.

 

It’s like mana energy that has transformed by combining with a swordsman’s talent and is used specialized for swordsmanship.

 

‘To use a modern example, it’s like Eevee from Pokémon.’

 

Honestly, I only half understood it.

 

Anyway, with that premise laid out, I roughly understood. Let’s move on for now!

 

“But when I actually went to that place, what I felt wasn’t mana.”

 

“You can sense such things?”

 

“Yes. If you go directly to that land and read the energy, you can tell.”

 

Wow. You can do that too.

 

“Nox, I’m seeing you in a new light. You really are a dragon.”

 

Though it was pure admiration, Nox let out a hollow laugh as if he found it absurd.

 

“Then would I be fake?”

 

“But it wasn’t divine power either. Even I, who has no connection to the Temple, could tell that much. It was a quality close to hostility or malice.”

 

Jenos, still with a serious face, interjected.

 

Ternox’s eyes also narrowed again.

 

“Right, your instincts as a swordsman would be more accurate about that. I’ve never felt such energy in all my life either. Perhaps…”

 

“!”

 

After that, Ternox’s voice echoed not in my ears, but inside my head.

 

[Maybe that thing is a ‘fragment’ similar to you. An incredibly evil one.]

 

It seemed this was something he wanted to convey only to me.

 

“Ah…”

 

“Maybe, what?”

 

The Duke asked back, clearly showing his displeasure.

 

It seemed he had noticed that some other words had been exchanged between us.

 

To read that subtle gap in such a short moment.

 

This was probably close to intuition.

 

Otherwise, there’s no way someone who usually acts so unsociable could do this.

 

‘His instincts are incredibly sharp anyway.’

 

Honestly, the Duke isn’t ordinary either!

 

“No. I’m just saying we need to check whatever it is first. That thing gave me a bad feeling.”

 

It was unpleasant because it seemed to mimic the power of pure mana.

 

Ternox shrugged his shoulders after finishing his words.

 

As if agreeing with those words, Jenos also nodded slightly.

 

“That’s why I’m going to the capital where the Temple’s headquarters is located. I suspect the Grand Steward as the backer behind the monsters.”

 

“The Grand Steward?”

 

“Right, isn’t he your great-uncle?”

 

“Ah.”

 

The Grand Steward was also from House of Blanche?

 

This damn original work. Settings I don’t even know about keep coming up endlessly!

 

I was a bit flustered by hearing this for the first time and my expression hardened, but fortunately Jenos seemed to misunderstand this in a different way as his expression noticeably darkened.

 

“Did that bastard do something to you by any chance?”

 

The killing intent I suddenly felt was enough to give me goosebumps all over my body for a moment.

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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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