You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 69

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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 69

 

“This banquet is scheduled to proceed as a masquerade ball.”

 

Lady Diana spoke as if it were nothing special, but.

 

‘Whaaaat?!’

 

My heart was already pounding at the mention of an ‘imperial banquet.’

 

But now a masquerade ball?

 

‘Amazing. It’s really like a romance fantasy.’

 

I really am in a romance fantasy world!

 

No matter how many times I reminded myself, I couldn’t get used to it.

 

But anyway, I was certain this would be an incredible event.

 

However…

 

“Ha! What a petty trick they’re pulling.”

 

The Duke, who had shown no interest in the birthday banquet until now, surprisingly reacted quite harshly to the news of a masquerade ball.

 

“It is certainly strange.”

 

It was none other than Katarina who said that. Noticing my confusion, she explained the situation.

 

“Usually, if they’re holding a banquet with a concept like this, it’s common courtesy to mention it in advance on the invitation.”

 

“So they suddenly changed the schedule?”

 

“Yes. It seems they prepared something after hearing that Celeste would be attending.”

 

Lady Diana, who answered instead of me, elegantly put a piece of steak in her mouth.

 

‘But why? This banquet isn’t for the Empress’s faction’s Second Prince, but for the Crown Prince’s birthday.’

 

Isn’t Celeste on the Crown Prince’s side?

 

What kind of petty trick is this supposed to be?

 

As I was just tilting my head in confusion, Jenos wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood up from his seat.

 

“Since the Empress hosts all imperial banquets and internal events, His Highness the Crown Prince’s wishes probably weren’t greatly reflected in this.”

 

“Ah…”

 

“Grandmother, I will go meet with His Highness the Crown Prince in advance. Please excuse me for leaving early.”

 

“Of course, of course. There are still several days, so discuss it thoroughly.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Duke bowed briefly and stood up from his seat without hesitation.

 

Our eyes met briefly and naturally.

 

“!”

 

He startled like a cat whose tail had suddenly puffed up, then quickly hurried away.

 

‘What was that?’

 

“Pfft.”

 

Ternox let out a snicker, gave a small wink, and followed the Duke out of the banquet hall.

 

Since the meal was almost finished anyway, I was about to greet Lady Diana and head to my room when.

 

“Child, you stay for a moment.”

 

“Yes? Yes.”

 

“Then I’ll excuse myself first, Lady Diana.”

 

Even Katarina, who looked somewhat disappointed, left the banquet hall.

 

Lady Diana dismissed all the servants except Fil and asked with a meaningful expression.

 

“So, is there some progress in your research with that dragon?”

 

“!”

 

You knew he was a dragon?!

 

As I just blinked in surprise, Lady Diana chuckled softly and continued.

 

“That grandson of mine, who never once wrote a letter in his life, contacted me directly. Asking if I knew anything about dragon pacts. Of course, the content was utterly unfriendly.”

 

On Lady Diana’s left hand, which lightly grasped the teacup Fil had handed her, was a rather large ring.

 

‘Come to think of it, it’s a ring she’s always worn… but I’ve never really noticed it properly.’

 

Lady Diana smiled slyly, noticing that my gaze had landed on the ring.

 

“This will make the story go faster. Come closer, dear.”

 

Lady Diana, who approached me and extended her left hand, continued her explanation.

 

The ring she wore was engraved with the crest of House of Celeste.

 

“The dragon and castle walls, these symbolize Celeste.”

 

“Grandmother… do you also know about the covenant?”

 

“Unfortunately, I don’t know the exact contents either. That’s a secret passed down only to the heads of the family. When Jenos heard this story, he was also very disappointed…”

 

“I see…”

 

“But that adjutant Ternox’s eyes lit up as he asked this and that. So I could tell that he was the protagonist in this crest.”

 

As expected, the great-great-grandmother Duchess’s intuition…!

 

‘This is what it takes to be a Duchess, I suppose.’

 

But here I am, a complete idiot, sitting in the position of Duchess.

 

“Ugh…”

 

Even I would oppose it…

 

Somehow I’m feeling a bit deflated.

 

“As you know, Jenos is clumsy with expressions. He’ll surely tell you in time, but as a grandmother, I couldn’t just sit quietly and worry. I called you thinking our dear child might know something.”

 

Saying this, Lady Diana gently stroked my hand.

 

Instantly, an enormous internal conflict arose.

 

‘Where should I start and how much should I tell her…?’

 

Perhaps reading my troubled expression, Lady Diana spoke again.

 

“If it’s difficult to talk about, I’ll wait. That’s something I’m very good at.”

 

Her aged blue eyes somehow held resignation, making it hard to just pretend ignorance.

 

“Well, actually…”

 

I hesitantly told her only what I could share within my limits.

 

The covenant that had been engraved on the hearts of family heads for generations and passed down.

 

That covenant had been damaged.

 

The timing was likely during the previous Duke’s era.

 

The madness that manifested as a side effect of the damage.

 

The cause was unknown, but it was certain that external forces had intervened.

 

As evidence, the demons that the first Duke had sealed began appearing in the outskirts of the Northern Region.

 

When I conveyed the general situation, Lady Diana’s eyes widened.

 

“Demons?”

 

“They disappeared without a trace after we arrived, but when I read the energy left behind…”

 

This was probably connected to the temple, and furthermore, to the Imperial Priesthood.

 

Since the Imperial Priesthood was the Empress’s greatest backing, the real culprit was obvious.

 

“The Empress… finally!”

 

Lady Diana’s fist clenched tightly as she spoke with an angry voice.

 

“That’s why we came to the Capital City. It was a good excuse after all.”

 

“I see. Thank you for telling me.”

 

Lady Diana, who smiled gently again, fell into deep thought for a long time.

 

I sat before her, having my own concerns.

 

‘Should I also tell her that I have a time limit…?’

 

Even if I wanted to pretend otherwise, it was certain that I was somehow entangled in Celeste’s covenant.

 

Perhaps the fact that I’m a possessor also plays a part.

 

But I can’t reveal that much.

 

‘Anyway, looking at how things are going, even someone as clueless as me can deduce this much.’

 

Usually when you’re this entangled, even an idiot would notice, right?

 

I was the only one who could suppress the Duke’s madness that no one else could handle.

 

What this implies is simple.

 

‘I can only live if I restore Celeste’s damaged covenant.’

 

The original story has been twisted for a long time anyway.

 

Now that unknown settings and non-existent characters have all popped up.

 

I had to acknowledge that this world truly existed, and that I too was a living being surviving within it.

 

‘My terminal fate might have changed as well, but there’s also a high possibility it hasn’t. I can’t be certain of anything.’

 

While nothing hurt at the moment, it was true that this body was frail.

 

‘If the story has already been twisted anyway, I need to step forward myself and carve out my own future.’

 

I don’t know how much time I have left to live.

 

Perhaps it wouldn’t be strange if I suddenly died tomorrow.

 

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

 

“Child.”

 

Just then, Lady Diana, who had finished her long contemplation, spoke up.

 

“How are you?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Are you… alright?”

 

The old lady’s face as she looked at me contained indescribable emotions.

 

She seemed sad, pitiful, and conversely, filled with hope.

 

Among all those emotions.

 

“…I’m fine.”

 

I could clearly read at least one thing – her worry for me.

 

So I couldn’t bring myself to say anything else.

 

“I’m really fine! Lady Diana. For now, we should focus on restoring His Grace the Duke’s damaged covenant.”

 

So please don’t worry about me.

 

I’m this spirited and healthy, after all.

 

“Yes, then that’s a relief.”

 

Seeing the relief wash over Lady Diana’s face, I smiled even more brightly.

 

I couldn’t make her worry any more than this.

 

Just then.

 

“But why was Jenos angry?”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“Earlier at dinner, I mean. He seemed quite thoroughly upset.”

 

I was getting rather immersed in the sentiment, but Lady Diana’s following words shattered it completely.

 

‘Ah, damn. I was delivering some rather wistful heroine-like lines there.’

 

This is really embarrassing!

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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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