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Chapter 17
[To the Duke,
Hello, Duke.
This is the person living in the forest cabin.
I’d like to go to the festival this evening.
Would it be alright if I went?
I’ll be safe as I’ll be with the maids.
Even you wouldn’t be able to match their physical stamina.
I’ve also been training every morning.
Anyway… I’ll just watch quietly and return without causing any trouble.
I could sneak out, but since you’re the one who feeds and shelters me, my conscience wouldn’t allow it.
If there’s no particular objection, I’ll take it as permission.
Thank you!]
“Huh.”
Jenos didn’t even need to see the sender to know who it was.
Even the round, bubbly handwriting looked exactly like her.
The duchess had slyly disguised her notification as a request for permission, and Jenos let out a small chuckle.
‘Is she testing me or actually asking?’
She probably didn’t even use the title “duchess” to avoid offending his mood.
Yet the content of the letter was boldly assertive.
If Jenos hadn’t found it, he probably wouldn’t have known.
‘Was that what she wanted?’
She said sneaking out would make her guilty, yet the letter was tucked deep between documents as if hoping it wouldn’t be discovered.
The contradiction made Jenos furrow his brow.
Then a crooked smile spread across his face.
“Kal.”
Jenos, rising from his seat, called the sword that had been standing by the desk.
He handed René’s letter to him as smoothly as flowing water.
The elderly butler, who received the letter and skimmed it, squinted under his monocle and replied as if he didn’t need to be told,
“I’ll make the preparations, Your Grace.”
“Is this really okay?”
Betty’s eyebrows slanted downward.
But contrary to that expression, her hands were frantically busy.
Suppressing a slightly exasperated feeling, I said,
“You’re putting too much effort into braiding your hair for someone who’s worried, Betty.”
“Well, our lady’s hair is as smooth as silk! And it goes perfectly with the red ribbons!”
“It’s so beautiful!”
Nina and Dora shouted in agreement, bouncing with excitement.
For once, I had to admit their flattery wasn’t entirely unreasonable, and I studied the mirror in front of me carefully.
“Hmm… I guess it’s true.”
My silvery hair was beautifully braided into two sections by Betty’s skilled hands.
She wove the red ribbons through it like bridges and tied the ends neatly with the ribbons.
Wearing the red dress that Garnet had whipped up to commemorate my first festival, I actually looked quite cute even to my own eyes.
‘Not bad…’
Since possession, I’d always liked my face, but seeing it so deliberately styled made me genuinely pleased.
‘Wow. I’m cute.’
This life isn’t bad at all.
Just as my satisfaction with life was soaring,
“If I were a painter right now, I’d capture you on canvas immediately!”
“Shall we grab the brushes? We can’t let only us enjoy this beautiful scene!”
Ria and Mari were nearly crying, playfully shoving each other’s fists into their mouths.
If this were reality, it would have been like an idol photo shoot frenzy.
I had thought that living with the maids for so long would have made me immune to flattery…
But they always went beyond common sense.
“That’s why we’re going to the festival, girls…”
I tried to calm my uneasy heart as I stood from the stool, having wasted too much time preparing with their flattery.
What if I missed the Jamcon Festival that only happens once a year!
Eager, I rushed to fling open the cabin’s front door.
Then, turning around, I called attendance like a rapid-fire gun.
“Anyway! Is everyone ready? Let’s see… Garnet, Nina, Dora, and Ria, Mari…”
As I marked them off, I noticed the maids’ expressions had somehow turned darker.
“…And Betty’s here too. Let’s go quickly… Ah!”
Perhaps my excitement got the better of me.
In my rush to reach the festival, I spun around and bumped into something hard yet strangely warm.
“Ow… that hurts…”
I covered my forehead with my hands and looked up.
And in front of me…
“Huh?”
There was someone’s broad, muscular chest!
‘Wait! A chest?!’
If such a suspiciously large chest was this high…
Startled, I jerked my head up and there he was.
“Ugh!”
“Why so surprised?”
A face I was not at all happy to see—the Duke—stood there!
Dressed stylishly, no less!
I froze as if nailed to the spot.
Apparently, even in this body, startling easily was still my habit.
When I blinked, perhaps misunderstanding my reaction, the Duke lifted one side of his mouth in a smirk.
‘He really looks mean.’
I’d admit he was handsome, but that smile was villainous!
Whatever this story is, and whoever this Duke is, he must be the main villain or some mastermind.
Cold sweat ran down my spine as I realized I was in trouble.
“I received your letter. You left it in a very visible spot, indeed.”
Damn! Nina said she hid it well while cleaning the office!
Maybe feeling a bit guilty, Nina momentarily covered her mouth and shook her head when our eyes met.
I nodded slightly to reassure her.
‘Right. It’s not Nina’s fault. Just bad luck.’
I glanced at the pale faces of the maids and realized: I was the only one who could handle this.
Swallowing dryly, I stepped forward to shield them and faced the Duke.
Lifting my skirt, I bowed politely and spoke, praying my actions followed proper etiquette.
“I could not take up your valuable time. Please forgive my rudeness.”
‘Idiot. What will you do if I don’t forgive? I told you not to be noticed!’
Of course, my inner thoughts were completely different from my words.
Perhaps sensing them, the Duke sneered mischievously.
“Forgive? How amusing. We’ll see after today.”
“Eh?”
No way… Are you saying you’ll come to the festival too?
No, no. That can’t be. I must be misunderstanding!
I forced a shaky smile, though my trembling voice betrayed me.
“Ah, haha… hahah…”
Damn! I sound like a helpless girl!
It was humiliating, especially because he was the Duke.
And his massive physique—literally twice mine—was intimidating.
Having spent time with pampering maids, I had forgotten the concept of natural selection.
Feeling the sheer difference in our physicality, I awkwardly asked,
“When you say today…”
“I mean I’m accompanying you. Do I need to explain further?”
Why are you doing this?! Seriously!
But the Duke, dropping this bomb, just crossed his arms and looked at me leisurely.
When I glanced at the maids, their faces were pale; they had never expected this.
Their plans were completely ruined.
Seeing their gloomy expressions, I knew I had to accept reality.
I had no choice.
In this situation, I had to use my secret weapon: the ‘pretend to be sick’ skill.
‘Cough! Suddenly, I’m not feeling well and need to rest.’
“That’s dirty and pathetic. Might as well not go.”
“What?”
“Huh? Did I say that out loud?”
