You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 63

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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 63

 

“Yes?”

 

“….”

 

After calling me over first, the Duke somehow seemed flustered.

 

His reddened ears were proof of this.

 

“What, what is it? You called me over and….”

 

I felt awkward too and grumbled for no reason, then finally the man who had been avoiding eye contact looked at me and opened his mouth.

 

“There are several days until the Imperial Palace banquet, so feel free to spend your time however you like until then.”

 

I was planning to do that anyway.

 

You stopped me just to say that?

 

Somehow I felt deflated.

 

‘Wait, deflated? Why?’

 

What exactly was I expecting?!

 

“Oh, yes. I’ll do that.”

 

Ah, if I stay here any longer, I’ll probably get caught up in strange feelings.

 

I answered nonchalantly and took a step forward.

 

But for some reason, Jenos standing in front of me remained planted like a wall, not showing even an inch of movement.

 

“….”

 

“…?”

 

“….”

 

“Do you have more to say?”

 

“No, well….”

 

Why is he hesitating like this?

 

I had no choice but to cross my arms and wait for his next words.

 

“…if …might be possible.”

 

What came back was a voice as small as an ant crawling.

 

“Excuse me? What did you say?”

 

The moment I tilted my head and asked back because I couldn’t hear well.

 

Thud thud thud thud-

 

Slam!

 

“?!”

 

What, what’s that.

 

I unconsciously turned my head at the tremendous force I felt as the door opened.

 

“Lady Rina!”

 

Katarina, who had changed clothes at some point, was standing at the doorway with sparkling eyes.

 

“Come out quickly! You promised to go shopping with me. Right?”

 

Perhaps because she was excited about coming to the Capital City, Katarina was dressed extremely lavishly right now.

 

“…Shopping?”

 

Jenos’s expression darkened rapidly.

 

“That’s right. There are pleasures that only women know, which big hulking men don’t understand.”

 

Ohohoho!

 

Katarina crossed her arms and covered her mouth with the back of her hand while mocking the Duke.

 

‘Sh-she really seemed like a villainess just now.’

 

I should be grateful that she’s on my side after all….

 

Anyway, her appearance was like salvation to me.

 

I didn’t miss the opportunity and turned toward Katarina.

 

“Yes, let’s go quickly!”

 

Honestly, I’m not even a little bit interested in shopping!

 

But if I can just escape from here, anything is fine!

 

“Wait.”

 

At that moment, Jenos blocked our path with a deliberately flustered expression on his face.

 

Then he rattled off his main point like someone reciting a non-existent script.

 

“The Capital City has incomparably more people than the Northern Region, and Rina, this is your first time in Albern, isn’t it? Moreover, even though Katarina Hugo will be with you, it could be dangerous for two young ladies alone, so I’ll accompany you.”

 

Hey, I get it, so take a breath while speaking.

 

“Huh.”

 

Katarina snapped open her lace fan with an incredulous expression.

 

Then she whispered close to my ear so only I could hear.

 

“That’s just an excuse. He simply wants to see Lady Rina in her new dress. Hmph! Then I’ll be the one to help Lady Rina change clothes.”

 

Katarina’s eyes were blazing with a strange fighting spirit.

 

I was momentarily overwhelmed by that fierce momentum.

 

“Wait, I was supposed to wear something too?”

 

I had planned to just help pick out Katarina’s clothes and casually pass the time!

 

When I asked in surprise, Katarina responded as if I was asking something obvious.

 

“Of course! I received the catalog that the boutique sends to VVIPs and already studied everything thoroughly in the Northern Region. There’s a new item that would suit Lady Rina perfectly. I wanted to be the first and longest to feast my eyes on Lady Rina in a dress! That sneaky Duke!”

 

Katarina was sharpening her claws as if facing a romantic rival.

 

The funny thing was that the Duke was doing the same!

 

Being at the center of this strange love triangle felt less pleasant than I’d expected.

 

“Um, Katarina. Didn’t you used to like the Duke?”

 

But why are you so fired up with fighting spirit now…

 

“But now I like Lady Rina much, much more, so I don’t care about that!”

 

Saying that, Katarina affectionately took my hand and interlaced our fingers.

 

“I, I see…”

 

That’s oddly convincing…

 

Katarina apparently wasn’t the type whose favorites accumulated.

 

They say former passionate fans who’ve lost interest are the scariest. That’s really true.

 

‘That can happen.’

 

I nodded to myself and walked in step with Katarina.

 

“…Haah.”

 

I heard a heavy sigh from behind, as weighty as the low voice it came from, but what could I do about it.

 

* * *

 

After getting off and riding the carriage for another 10 minutes or so, we arrived at the city district.

 

“Right there, Belua Boutique!”

 

Katarina, who had gotten off the carriage, pointed to an elegant standalone building that clearly screamed ‘I’m a luxury store. Ridiculously expensive.’

 

Actually, my interest lay elsewhere.

 

‘This is crazy. They sell salt bread here.’

 

Unlike Katarina, what caught my attention was the cozy Bakery Cafe located in a red brick building right next to the boutique.

 

Through the large display window, salt bread and various other breads were showing off their appetizing appearance.

 

‘As expected of the Capital City…! Just look at those glossy breads!’

 

The deadly butter aroma flowing into my nostrils made my heart race with excitement.

 

Though this was a shopping district mainly serving nobles, since nobles were people too, it seemed all the usual convenience facilities were gathered here, just upgraded in quality.

 

The street lined with bakeries, ice cream shops, coffee houses, and more was enough to capture the heart of someone like me who had no interest in shopping.

 

“Gasp. The line for salt bread is so long…”

 

It must be a famous place, as people were lined up long, timing their visit for when the bread comes out.

 

“Hmm.”

 

Even the Duke, who had been standing quietly beside us, briefly let his gaze linger on the bakery’s display window.

 

“Lady Rina. Let’s go in quickly!”

 

I couldn’t bear to dampen the spirits of the sparkling-eyed beauty, so I reluctantly stepped into the boutique.

 

I planned to quickly look at the dresses and then go buy bread.

 

“Welcome. This is Belua Boutique!”

 

The interior of the boutique, made of elegant marble, was extremely spacious and comfortable.

 

Gorgeous, sparkling dresses were displayed everywhere in all directions.

 

Beautiful young ladies who had come to see them were also taking quick steps to look around here and there.

 

‘Ah, I’m overwhelmed…’

 

I’ve never set foot in such a high-end store in my life.

 

I was timidly looking around, feeling like a country bumpkin.

 

“Oh my! Who do we have here? Lady Katarina!”

 

I had no idea where he popped out from.

 

A man in a tuxedo with a short stature and plump figure hurriedly approached and gave an overly enthusiastic greeting to Katarina.

 

‘…A capybara?’

 

He was a man who strangely resembled a rodent.

 

Despite that, his presence was overwhelming, and I just shrank back under his momentum.

 

“It’s been a while, George.”

 

“Why haven’t you visited us all this time? I’ve been preparing a VVIP collection just for Lady Katarina!”

 

The middle-aged man’s nasal whining somehow made me feel dizzy…

 

In contrast, Katarina responded with composure as if quite accustomed to this.

 

It seemed they had an acquaintance.

 

“I moved my residence to the Northern Region, so I couldn’t come to the Capital City often. I’ll be staying in the capital for a while, so we’ll see each other frequently now.”

 

“What wonderful news! I’d love to see Lady Katarina every day.”

 

The man called George must have taken such thorough care of himself that his round face was practically gleaming.

 

‘This is… the capital?’

 

I was observing him with curious fascination when.

 

His beady eyes flashed as they discreetly scanned the Duke and me.

 

“Hmm, but who are these two beautiful people standing behind you…?”

 

“Ah. This is the Celestial Duke Couple. Lady Rina and His Grace the Duke. This is George, the head designer of Belua Boutique.”

 

“Good heavens!”

 

At Katarina’s introduction, it was George who jumped up in surprise.

 

“Please forgive my rudeness! To think the day would come when the Celestial Duke Couple would visit our boutique! We should make today our anniversary, shouldn’t we? No wonder, even your walk had such extraordinary presence…”

 

Throughout his speech, George kept twisting his entire body for some reason.

 

Finally, as if he couldn’t stand it anymore, Jenos cut off George’s words.

 

“Stop with the unnecessary flattery. I simply want to see new dresses for the Duchess.”

 

“…”

 

Wait, you too?

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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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