You Said I Was a Persecuted, Terminally Ill Grand Duchess? - Chapter 70

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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 70

 

When my expression suddenly turned sour, Lady Diana burst into laughter.

 

“Did you two fight?”

 

“Oh, as if. Who would dare fight with His Grace the Duke?”

 

“….”

 

That would be you.

 

Though she didn’t say it out loud, Lady Diana’s eyes clearly conveyed exactly that!

 

‘My image… what is it?’

 

I’m feeling a bit self-deprecating…

 

In the end, I rattled off everything that had happened today.

 

Going to the boutique to look at dresses, then briefly meeting a girl named Bianca.

 

And while eating ice cream, how Ternox had raided the salt bread shop.

 

“Jenos had ice cream… Pfft, yes. He likes it. He likes it very, very much.”

 

Lady Diana’s face as she said this was clearly on the verge of bursting into laughter.

 

“But is that really such an embarrassing thing? I mean, a grown adult man can like ice cream or salt bread! I absolutely wasn’t making fun of him for that!”

 

The more I talked, the more wronged I felt!

 

I absolutely hadn’t been teasing Jenos for liking ice cream or salt bread.

 

Come to think of it, that’s right.

 

Jenos got all worked up on his own and took his irritation out on me!

 

‘How annoying!’

 

As I was getting worked up and huffing by myself, Lady Diana spoke.

 

“Jenos is a child with a lot of shame. He was embarrassed because his inner feelings were exposed.”

 

“There’s plenty to be embarrassed about… Anyway, I don’t understand!”

 

“Someday you’ll come to understand that child too. So please don’t hate him too much. Let our generous little one cut him some slack.”

 

“Yes…”

 

Well, I suppose.

 

No matter how I looked at it, the Duke was just a child in a big body.

 

‘I’m the adult here, so I’ll be patient!’

 

Thinking that way made everything seem trivial.

 

I faced Lady Diana and smiled for a moment.

 

It was true that my heart felt lighter after opening up about it.

 

“But you said you met Bianca Blanche earlier?”

 

“Oh, yes. I did.”

 

I had skipped over this part quite a bit!

 

But Lady Diana didn’t miss a single suspicious detail.

 

Tap tap.

 

Her fingers, which had been lightly tapping the table with a thoughtful expression, stopped.

 

And unexpected words came out.

 

“I now understand that life in the Blanche household wasn’t easy for you.”

 

“….”

 

“I want to apologize, even now, for opposing you blindly without properly knowing what kind of child you were.”

 

After finishing her words, Lady Diana gently stroked my shoulder.

 

Something about that tender touch and gaze made my nose tingle.

 

‘Yes, I’ve been… unable to feel a sense of belonging anywhere until now.’

 

The way I kept distinguishing this place as a strange world and pre-possession South Korea as reality was probably because of that too.

 

“Don’t forget. I, Jenos, and furthermore this House of Celeste… are your one and only family.”

 

Ah.

 

“Whatever you’re like, this is your home and we will use every means possible to protect you. No further reason is needed for this. Keep that fact in mind.”

 

At those tender words, something deep in my chest suddenly welled up.

 

For the first time, I truly felt that this was where I belonged.

 

Looking back, this world that had somehow become my everything was filled with so many precious people.

 

The Gana-da Maid Squad, who had been a great support from the very beginning.

 

Ternox, who acted annoying but ultimately stepped up for Jenos and me.

 

Katarina and her debut peers, who became my closest friends after many twists and turns.

 

Lady Diana, who knew and embraced my heart completely like this.

 

Besides them, the servants of the Duke’s household, including Kal.

 

And….

 

‘He’s still annoying, but….’

 

Even Jenos, whom I’d grown oddly fond of despite myself.

 

“Yes, of course. Grandmother.”

 

I smiled while holding back my tears with all my might.

 

Lady Diana gently stroked my hair as if she understood everything.

 

“So… we should make House of Blanc pay the proper price for insulting our dear child, shouldn’t we?”

 

Suddenly, her eyes turned cold.

 

Gone was her earlier warmth, and I even had the illusion of seeing blazing flames behind the furious Lady Diana.

 

“…Huh?”

 

Wait, hold on.

 

Why are you suddenly burning with fighting spirit?!

 

“It’s going to be a very enjoyable banquet.”

 

With a crooked smile, Lady Diana rose from her seat with determined movements.

 

I couldn’t hide my confusion and awkwardly followed her.

 

Grandmother took my hand firmly and walked with light steps.

 

Then she whispered as if she was very pleased.

 

“Come! Now let’s go prepare to flatten their noses.”

 

I was so overwhelmed by her momentum that I couldn’t even respond.

 

‘How is it….’

 

For the first time, Jenos and Lady Diana looked exactly alike….

 

* * *

 

Meanwhile, at the Imperial Palace at night.

 

Reception Room in the Crown Prince’s Palace.

 

A handsome man sat on a luxurious velvet sofa, leisurely drinking tea.

 

Platinum hair that shone brilliantly even in the darkness after sunset.

 

Just from his deeper golden eyes alone, one could easily guess his noble bloodline.

 

Golden eyes were the unique trait that only royalty was born with.

 

He was the new sun soon to rise, Calian Rembrandt.

 

The Crown Prince of the Rembrandt Empire.

 

Then.

 

Knock knock knock.

 

The sound of knocking followed.

 

The door opened smoothly without even a click.

 

Eyes that sparkled as if ground gold had been poured into them gleamed alertly at the entering figure.

 

“What, why did you come alone?”

 

Despite his noble appearance, Kalian spoke in a rather playful manner as he set down his teacup.

 

It was because of the guest who had barged in without any prior notice.

 

“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

 

The guest who responded with a blunt greeting, Jenos, still had a stiff expression.

 

Unlike the Crown Prince who was splendidly golden all over, his attire was utterly dark and gloomy.

 

But only his blue-violet eyes were gleaming.

 

Kalian grinned and shrugged his shoulders.

 

“Never mind, it’s just us here anyway. Are you going to act like strangers?”

 

“…Ahem.”

 

Only then did Jenos look around the chilly reception room and sit on the sofa in front of the Crown Prince.

 

Contrary to the Crown Prince’s thoughts, Ternox would be listening to the conversation inside the room with magic from outside the door.

 

Since there was also the Crown Prince’s knight guarding on the terrace 24 hours a day, it was fair and square.

 

“So, Kalian. Have you been well?”

 

“Of course, I’ve been doing so-o well. But why did you come alone?”

 

“Then who was I supposed to come with?”

 

“I even wrote it in my letter personally.”

 

The Crown Prince stared at Jenos with a face that looked like he was dying of amusement.

 

Jenos shook his head as if he was sick of it and spoke firmly.

 

“Kalian, stop making that face. This isn’t the time for this.”

 

“What face?”

 

“The face that says you’re dying of interest.”

 

As if that was quite irritating, a slight crack appeared in Jenos’s frosty expression.

 

But the Crown Prince didn’t care and crossed his legs as he replied.

 

“Well, it is interesting. I heard that cold Duke of the Northern Region is completely smitten with the Duchess.”

 

“….”

 

Jenos’s hand, which was reaching for the teacup in front of him, hesitated.

 

Quick-witted Kalian immediately noticed that the tips of his ears had turned red and desperately held back his laughter.

 

At this, Jenos frowned and spoke coldly.

 

“You should change your spies. It’s completely groundless.”

 

“Come on, spies? The rumors are already rampant throughout the Northern Region and everywhere else.”

 

“They’re false rumors.”

 

Whew- Instead of answering, Kalian just whistled briefly.

 

In their childhood.

 

The two, who were the same age and had grown quite close through their connection as study companions, knew each other better than anyone.

 

Although the frequency of seeing each other had drastically decreased after the previous Duke Celeste’s madness worsened and the previous Duchess passed away,

 

Their bond had not rusted.

 

Kalian pretended to be hurt and made a sad face.

 

“Brother. I heard that as soon as you came to the Capital City, you went dress shopping first without even visiting this younger brother. So, did you manage to buy a pretty dress to wear to my birthday banquet?”

 

But Jenos was not an easy person to deal with either.

 

“Well said. A masquerade ball, no less. You knew about it too?”

 

“I found out. Just this morning.”

 

The Crown Prince’s face looked resigned, as if he was used to it.

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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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