You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 61

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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 61

 

Clatter!

 

“!”

 

The floor suddenly shook, and I opened my eyes with a start.

 

“You’re awake.”

 

“Ahem, yes.”

 

I reflexively wiped the corner of my mouth with my sleeve as I answered.

 

Oh my, was I sleeping? I didn’t even realize I had dozed off.

 

“Ahem…”

 

Fortunately, I hadn’t drooled, but seeing the Duke sitting across from me chuckling made me feel incredibly embarrassed.

 

Inside the carriage where I was sitting, there were only the Duke and me.

 

Though it was quite a large carriage, the Duke’s massive frame made the distance so close that our knees could almost touch.

 

From Jenos’s perspective, he probably saw every expression I made while sleeping.

 

“You didn’t drool, so don’t worry.”

 

“Yes… Thank you sooo much for letting me know.”

 

He never misses a chance to tease me, does he.

 

I stretched with a pouty face from where I sat.

 

Since the only things to do in the carriage were reading books or sleeping, time passed even more slowly.

 

Unfortunately, this carriage was exclusively for the Duke and his wife, so Katarina, Ternox, and the servants including the Maid Corps girls were all riding in different carriages.

 

‘It would have been less awkward if at least Nox had been here.’

 

Well, it had become much more comfortable than at first, though.

 

I stole a glance at the profile of the man gazing out the window.

 

Unlike before, his blue-violet eyes, now free of their venomous look, sparkled as they caught the sunlight.

 

It was a change that made me realize once again how important sleep is for a person.

 

‘Still, I have no idea what he’s thinking about.’

 

Though we had grown closer than before, the Duke still had aspects that felt awkward to me.

 

I still couldn’t get used to his occasional socially awkward remarks.

 

Above all, this man was naturally taciturn.

 

The week or so journey from the Northern Region to the capital by carriage.

 

Was it because of his personality of not speaking unless absolutely necessary?

 

I found myself practicing an uncharacteristic vow of silence along with him.

 

Unless it was during brief rest stops or evenings when we stayed at inns, I had to spend entire days with cobwebs forming in my mouth.

 

“Mm.”

 

Perhaps my expression read ‘When exactly are we going to arrive?’, because the Duke turned his head toward me again and spoke.

 

“We’ve arrived in Albern. We passed through the city walls just before you woke up.”

 

“Wow, finally!”

 

At this welcome news, I quickly threw open the curtains by the window.

 

The capital we had reached after traveling for about a week definitely had a completely different atmosphere from the Northern Region.

 

“Buy flowers! We have flower crowns too!”

 

“Fresh bass for sale! Caught this morning from the Renne River!”

 

Even though this was the outskirts of the capital, the streets were bustling with people.

 

Various voices could be heard from all around – families out shopping, merchants selling different foodstuffs, street vendors, and more.

 

Hearing the lively sounds coming through the gaps in the carriage window somehow made my heart race with excitement.

 

Unlike the simple villages of the Northern Region, this really felt like a ‘city!’

 

“There are certainly a lot of people.”

 

“Is this your first time in the capital?”

 

“Yes, well…”

 

Since only the northern territory appeared in the novel, this would probably be my first time, right?

 

Before I could choose my words for how to explain this.

 

The Duke, understanding on his own, kindly began explaining the scenery beyond the window one by one.

 

“Do you see that river over there?”

 

“There’s a river here too?”

 

“Yes. That’s the Renne River.”

 

Jenos’s explanation continued seamlessly.

 

Capital Albern.

 

The city was structured to be divided into northern and southern regions along a gentle river that crossed through the heart of the city.

 

‘It’s much smaller than the Han River. Maybe about the size of a large stream?’

 

Meanwhile, the fact that the Imperial Palace, aristocratic townhouses, and upscale boutiques were all gathered on the south side of the river was truly like a K-romance fantasy.

 

I frantically looked out the window, taking in all the new scenery.

 

As we continued traveling like this, something caught my eye immediately.

 

“Whoa! What is that?”

 

Even though we were still crossing to the south side of the river, I could clearly see two towering spires rising majestically in the distance.

 

“That’s the Grand Cathedral. It’s the tallest building in the capital, or perhaps even in the entire empire.”

 

“Wow, really. It’s truly magnificent!”

 

“That building itself represents the current power of the temple, so naturally they built it magnificently.”

 

The Duke’s expression was somehow sour.

 

Since his emotional expressions had noticeably increased recently, even oblivious me could tell that his mood had soured.

 

I tilted my head and asked again.

 

“Was it built recently?”

 

“Yes. They did expansion construction not long ago. The back section is still under construction even now. If we could claim ownership based on the money invested, at least one of those spires would practically belong to Celeste.”

 

“Ah.”

 

I suddenly remembered what Jenos had said recently about nobles’ special duties and donations.

 

And looking at it again… it appeared different from before.

 

‘That damn High Priest. I heard he’s been living it up with the Empress backing him.’

 

To make it that lavish would have cost an astronomical amount of money.

 

Those temple bastards really squeezed them dry!

 

“Hmm… I should go sightseeing there later. If only to make the donation money worthwhile.”

 

“It’s not particularly regrettable, but it’s also true that it’s not very pleasant. Still, thanks to that donation, we at least have the opportunity to visit the Grand Cathedral comfortably, so I suppose we can think of it as paying the price in advance.”

 

“I should go and look around multiple times! To get my money’s worth!”

 

“Haha, yes.”

 

At that moment, the Duke let out a light laugh.

 

“…Yes.”

 

At the same time, I froze completely in place.

 

The man’s eyes, which had only felt sharp, gently crinkled as a subtle smile spread across his entire face.

 

Strangely, that sight made my heart ache, making it difficult to smile back.

 

‘Why am I like this?’

 

Was it because he hadn’t yet entered my personal boundaries?

 

Well, it was difficult to act completely comfortable around the Duke since he was naturally an intimidating person.

 

His unrealistic appearance played a part in that, but recently this symptom of my heart pounding had appeared, making it a warning sign for me.

 

‘I think I’ve developed arrhythmia.’

 

They said I’m terminally ill with some unknown disease, so I guess my heart must be weak!

 

Yes…

 

In a way, this is also a cliché.

 

Anyway, Jenos had been smiling quite often lately.

 

Each time that happened, I was naturally the one who suffered from not knowing how to react.

 

It’s nothing special, so why is smiling back so awkward?

 

The man’s smile, as his cool expression softened and curved into gentle lines, strangely made my heart drop with a thud.

 

‘It’s arrhythmia… It’s definitely arrhythmia.’

 

So for the sake of a terminally ill patient’s health, don’t act all friendly!

 

Will you take responsibility if I have a heart attack at this rate?

 

He said his madness had improved and he was feeling quite refreshed, but the Duke’s blooming beauty wasn’t particularly welcome to me.

 

“Ahem.”

 

Once again fidgeting, I quickly changed the subject to cover my embarrassment.

 

“So, when will we arrive at our townhouse?”

 

“We just crossed the river, so it’ll be soon. Hmm, sitting for so long has made my whole body stiff.”

 

The Duke rubbed around his neck area and groaned in an uncharacteristic way.

 

Well, we had been traveling non-stop since departing from the inn on the outskirts of the capital at dawn today.

 

We’d been sitting still for roughly half a day without any choice.

 

“Do you know who had it harder thanks to someone? My arms and legs are still aching.”

 

“My foot that got stepped on is still throbbing too.”

 

The Duke raised one corner of his mouth crookedly and spoke mischievously.

 

Before departing for the capital.

 

He must be referring to what could be called ‘special training’ – our ballroom dance practice.

 

Surprisingly, the Duke was skilled at dancing and led quite well.

 

However… it was time that only revealed I had a terrible lack of talent for ballroom dancing too.

 

“Two, two, three- Aah! S-sorry!”

 

“…Do you realize you’ve stepped on my feet more times than you’ve stepped on the ground? Why don’t you just climb onto my feet instead. That would be easier.”

 

“I don’t want to be doing this either!”

 

“Sigh.”

 

‘He really can’t help but have the last word!’

 

Still, this side of him was more like the Duke I knew, making him more comfortable to deal with.

 

Just as we were bickering over trivial matters for a moment.

 

“Your Grace the Duke, Your Grace the Duchess. We have arrived at the townhouse!”

 

The carriage door opened with the cheerful voice of the coachman.

 

For someone who said his whole body was stiff, the Duke got out of the carriage quite nimbly and readily extended his hand.

 

Perhaps Lady Diana had given him a stern order, because now he naturally escorted me when getting in and out of carriages.

 

I was just getting used to taking his hand and stepping down from the carriage.

 

“Huh?!”

 

An unexpected figure was standing right there in front of me.

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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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