You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 60

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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 60

 

As my eyes wavered aimlessly, Jenos came to his own conclusion.

 

“It doesn’t seem to be a good memory.”

 

“Well, that entire family is like that for me.”

 

Phew. I managed to get through it somehow.

 

While deliberately ignoring Ternox across from me making an expression that said ‘Your escape skills are pretty good, huh?’, I listened to the Grand Duke’s words.

 

“Anyway, I also saw the High Official briefly a few years ago, and the aura I felt then was very similar to what remained in places where demons were said to have appeared.”

 

“Jenos, you can read auras too?”

 

“It’s not grand enough to say that. Ternox would have to make the accurate judgment. However… Celeste also pays enormous donations to the Temple every year. It’s because of the special noble obligation that suddenly appeared after the current High Official took that position several years ago.”

 

Somehow it seems like everything probably went into the High Official’s back pocket.

 

When I made a displeased expression, Jenos chuckled.

 

“Well, everything is just circumstantial evidence. That’s why I want to go to the capital and see for myself.”

 

“I see…”

 

“And.”

 

“?”

 

My head was spinning from all the information that suddenly came flooding in.

 

“…it seems like you want to go to the banquet too.”

 

The Grand Duke added a comment in an unusually subdued voice.

 

What did he just say?

 

I wanted to ask again, but seeing him clear his throat while showing off his reddened earlobes made me feel strangely affected too.

 

I just nodded casually as if it was nothing.

 

‘Anyway, we’re going to the capital.’

 

Was it because I had never left the Celeste estate even once since coming here right after possessing this body?

 

Like a child going on their first trip, my heart fluttered thoughtlessly.

 

‘Of course, it’s not for fun but to treat my illness and the Grand Duke’s madness.’

 

Still, I couldn’t help feeling excited.

 

I was trying hard to suppress my smile when.

 

“Are you looking forward to it?”

 

The Grand Duke suddenly threw out a troublesome question.

 

Since it wasn’t his usual sarcastic tone, I answered honestly as well.

 

“Well… Honestly, I was curious. The Crown Prince’s birthday banquet. I’ve never been to a banquet before.”

 

“Ah, come to think of it, there’s something I want to ask.”

 

The blue-violet eyes that met mine sparkled keenly.

 

“Yes? What is it?”

 

“Do you know how to dance?”

 

I was momentarily stunned by the unnatural word that came from the Grand Duke’s mouth.

 

“Huh. Dance?”

 

Dance? Suddenly?

 

Well, when it comes to banquet episodes, usually there’s the ‘first dance’ and such.

 

The unexpected physical contact that happens in the process. Romantic scenes being created are important points.

 

‘Honestly… I never once thought about myself doing ballroom dancing!’

 

Right. I admit it.

 

I’ve been thinking of everything in this world too much like a third party’s business until now!

 

That’s understandable, since I wasn’t greatly constrained by noble etiquette until Diana came.

 

‘I’ve only ever farmed, read books, or rolled around under the sunlight…’

 

Looking back now, my possession life was really smooth sailing.

 

When my expression became suddenly serious, the Grand Duke narrowed his eyes and scolded me.

 

“Then were you planning to just stand around and watch at the banquet?”

 

The Grand Duke’s words were clearly tinged with bewilderment.

 

Feeling awkward for no reason, I just pulled my lips downward.

 

Hmph! Your tone is still the same as always.

 

You’re the one who looks far from dancing, you know?

 

With that annoying face, extending a hand to someone and dancing to the rhythm.

 

I couldn’t imagine it at all.

 

“Is that not allowed?”

 

I got worked up for no reason and snapped back fiercely, but.

 

‘I guess I do have to dance…’

 

After all, I’m also the Duchess.

 

Should I dance the first dance with that man?

 

“…”

 

Somehow the thought of having to dance closely with the Grand Duke felt incredibly embarrassing.

 

I quickly added.

 

“I-I can practice with Katarina. She’s a count’s daughter. She’ll teach me to dance very well.”

 

“I wonder. Would Katarina Hugo, being a young lady, really have mastered the male part of dancing too?”

 

“Th-that’s…”

 

Oh, that’s right.

 

He pointed out an unexpected flaw and I was left speechless.

 

Right… Katarina has only danced the female part until now, so she might be clumsy with the male partner’s dance too.

 

As I fell into thought for a moment, the Grand Duke growled lowly with a face that seemed extremely annoyed.

 

“Why. Do you hate dancing with me that much?”

 

“Well, it’s not that… To be honest, I don’t think you can dance either. What if you step on my feet? My bones would be crushed.”

 

Well, he’s the Northern Grand Duke and quite the sword master.

 

He’s someone with exceptional talent in physical activities.

 

But while his swordsmanship might be amazing, dancing is a completely different realm!

 

In that regard, that large frame of his wasn’t very trustworthy.

 

As I was looking Jenos up and down with distrust.

 

“Puhaha! That’s true! Hey, look at the size difference between you two. If you mess up while dancing, one of you will be unilaterally crushed to death.”

 

Ternox, who had been watching the situation with interest, butted in to tease the Grand Duke.

 

“Hey. Should I teach you? I’m good at dancing. Really.”

 

Then he confidently threw his hat in the ring to be my dance teacher, but.

 

“Jenos and Ternox are about the same size compared to me, you know? And most importantly, I don’t want to dance with Nox! I’d rather dance with Jenos!”

 

Even if I accidentally stepped on his feet, the Grand Duke would just keep his mouth shut.

 

But Ternox would obviously pick fights over every little thing or tease me about stepping on his feet until I died!

 

“Hiiing. So mean.”

 

At my fierce rejection, Ternox pretended to be pitiful even though he wasn’t hurt at all.

 

Instead, it was the Grand Duke who looked extremely flustered.

 

“Haah…”

 

He looked like he had a lot to say, but instead of several words, he let out a very deep sigh.

 

Then he spat out one sentence.

 

“…Special training starts today.”

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, a few days later. Capital Albern.

 

“Ho, a reply really came?”

 

Abundant hair that shone brilliantly golden.

 

Interest swirled in the eyes of a woman wearing a gorgeous tiara as if she were a queen.

 

From head to toe, even her face reaching the pinnacle of splendor, the woman’s name was Isabella Rembrandt.

 

She was the Empress of the Rembrandt Empire.

 

“Yes, Your Majesty. The Celeste Grand Duke and his wife will attend the spring banquet together.”

 

Her trusted head maid bowed her head loyally and answered.

 

“The Grand Duke and his wife.”

 

A bitter sneer crept across Isabella’s lips.

 

Jenos Celeste.

 

The most powerful noble in the Rembrandt Empire, he was a man who would break before he would bend.

 

It was better not to make him an enemy if possible.

 

But he was one of the hardline Crown Prince’s faction.

 

Above all, the two had grown up together like brothers.

 

Due to such years together, Jenos enjoyed great trust from the Crown Prince.

 

No matter how much the Emperor was in her hands, she couldn’t rest easy with the legitimate Crown Prince still standing strong.

 

Moreover, the Crown Prince had already become a young man who had long passed his coming-of-age ceremony.

 

The Crown Prince, now a cunning serpent, wasn’t being fooled as easily as when he was young.

 

And the fact that Celeste was at the center of the Prince’s Faction was something any noble in the Empire knew.

 

‘He’s practically the biggest obstacle in Felix’s path.’

 

Her weak-hearted son Felix would tremble just at the sight of the Grand Duke, unable to build rapport, let alone provoke any emotional response.

 

So she had tried various forms of appeasement and attempted political isolation.

 

She had even sent assassins multiple times, but none of her schemes worked, which had been troubling her.

 

“So he’s still a man after all.”

 

Who would have thought he’d fall for the most obvious thing—being bewitched by a woman.

 

She had already heard through her spies that the daughter of House of Blanche, whom she had arranged to be placed there, had quite skillfully wrapped the Grand Duke around her finger.

 

Even so, when she actually heard the news that Grand Duke Celeste would attend a banquet he usually avoided, accompanied by the Duchess, the reality of that change hit her anew, giving her a strange feeling.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Perhaps that girl could seduce the Grand Duke well enough to weaken the Crown Prince’s power.

 

Her beautifully sculpted lips curved up crookedly.

 

Her face was so smooth it was impossible to guess her age, and held not a grain of mercy.

 

“Raphael, tell your family to make sure they attend the banquet too. Well… I suppose you were planning to anyway without me saying so.”

 

At those words, the man who had been lying with his head on her thigh eating grapes sat up.

 

Long hair like fine silver thread.

 

A handsome man with an aura that was both sacred and decadent naturally kissed her lips as he replied.

 

“Of course, Isabella. Your will is God’s will…”

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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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