IPTD 30

Chapter 30

That question was immediately drowned out by the rest of the maids, who came rushing in in a fluster.

“Milady! Are you alright?!”

For some reason, their faces were so solemn and serious, and they swarmed around me like doctors performing a health check, inspecting every inch of my body.

Even though they’d seen me at my worst, I just couldn’t get used to such excessive fuss.

Sweat trickling down my face, I asked,
“Wh-why are you acting like this?”

But even that seemed to have planted the seeds of misunderstanding.

Betty suddenly exclaimed, glaring at me with sharp eyes,
“Oh my! Milady! You’re sweating so much! Truly, delivering a message to His Highness is far too much for such a fragile little rabbit like you!”

Ahhh! What on earth are you saying?!

Something was wrong.

No, something was very, very wrong!

A sudden headache struck me, and as I grabbed my head with both hands, the maids panicked even more.

“Does your head hurt? Should I bring some medicine?”
“Your face is so pale! Milady, this won’t do. You need to regain your strength!”

Th-that’s just because you’re making such a fuss…

But no one could stop these maids in their “strict, solemn, serious” mode.

Well… if I’m honest, I still get a little scared sometimes…

Trying to prove my strength, I flexed both arms to show off my health and muscles.

“Ah, no, it’s not that my head hurts! I’m just practicing… uh… a cool muscular pose…”

But my twig-like arms only made things worse.

“Oh my! You’ve gotten so skinny overnight!”
“Do you have any pain or discomfort anywhere?”
“I’ll just bring the medicine! That’ll be faster.”
“Yes, Dora. Bring ointments, potions, pills—everything you can find!”

Except for the married Marie, the rest of the maids—most of whom were presumably single—were making a huge commotion for reasons I couldn’t even fathom.

Before things escalated further, I raised my voice to calm them down, even if only roughly.

“S-stop! Everyone, calm down! There’s nothing wrong with me! I slept just fine! I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying! I’m the same as always!”

At last, their eyes went wide in shock.

Hesitant, Garnet asked,
“So… nothing happened last night?”

“Last night?”

At my question, the maids who had paused started talking rapidly again.

“There are rumors all over the Duchy Castle. His Highness spent the night in your separate quarters last night.”
“Moreover, as soon as His Highness returned to the main residence, he immediately ordered that a room be prepared for Her Highness the Duchess.”
“The very room that had been used by duchesses for generations!”
“What?!”

Then I fully understood the maids’ commotion.

This was a bigger deal than I thought!

“Damn it! So it wasn’t a dream?!”

The scene from last night—once dismissed as a dream—suddenly resurfaced in my mind.

The Duke under the moonlight, gleaming…
His unusually tender way of speaking, and all those odd, frank behaviors…

“What on earth is going on?”

Could this be a sign that something from the original story is about to happen?

But I don’t even know what this novel is!

I just wanted a quiet life. I told them I didn’t want to be a duchess. I won’t!

Then why do they keep disturbing someone who’s living peacefully?

A cold shiver ran down my spine.

Only one thought came to me:

“Oh… I think I’m doomed.”

“…….”

Sighhhhh…

Why did I, whose greatest concern had been cabbage and chicory seedlings to plant in the yard, have to face this kind of trial…?

I felt tears prick at my eyes.

But if I cried now, the atmosphere would become even stranger!

Even without much tact, I could sense that much.

I tried to clear up the maids’ misunderstanding.

“Stop imagining strange things! Yes, I thought it was a dream, but apparently the Duke really did come here. But I swear, nothing happened! We just slept separately! What kind of relationship could the Duke and I possibly have?”

“The Duke and the Duchess… they’re married…”

Nina added, slightly bewildered, as I finished my impassioned explanation.

Tch… yeah, I guess.

But it’s only a nominal marriage, isn’t it?

For me, such a sudden progression of relations was extremely unwelcome!

How am I supposed to clear up this misunderstanding?

Or… is it even appropriate to try?

I flailed in unprecedented confusion.

“Her Highness the Duchess has arrived.”

Just then, Head Butler Karl arrived.

His calm expression was as usual, but somehow his voice sounded slightly excited.

‘Could it be… he believes this rumor too?’

I couldn’t bring myself to ask, but it was clear:

Karl believed the rumor… one hundred percent!

Maybe he even helped spread it! He looked so pleased!

“Her Highness, His Highness requests that you vacate the separate quarters and move to the main residence.”

“…….”

Seeing Karl’s faintly upturned lips made me even more resistant.

No! I don’t want to! Why leave my beloved little hut?!

But I couldn’t just throw a tantrum…

Tears in my eyes, I asked Karl,
“C-could I… not go?”

“Is there something troubling you?”
“I’ve grown quite attached to this little hut…”

Playing the pitiful card, I watched as Karl hesitated, then began to persuade me.

He seemed quite earnest.

“It’s not that you cannot use this place. But it would be more comfortable for you to move to the main residence. There, you’ll have a library, a large bath just for you, and a beautiful garden waiting for your care…”

“Let’s go.”

Huh? The words just slipped out before I could stop them!

But a big bath and a beautiful garden… plus easy access to the library… how could I resist?

“Excellent! You won’t be disappointed. Follow me. Maids, pack up and come along.”

Karl quickly recovered from my sudden response and strode ahead.

I reluctantly followed him.

Hmm… I’ll check out the new residence first. Not that I’m abandoning the hut! Just curious.

“Wow! Is this really my room?”

The Duchess’s room, guided by Karl, was even more magnificent than I expected.

For the first time, I was speechless at its splendor.

It felt like a typical fantasy romance noblewoman’s room finally appearing.

Thank you, my cute little hut where I’d grown so attached.

Now I could leave for a life of daily luxury without regrets!

Though it felt a little sycophantic, who cares?

No one would blame me anyway!

Karl, sensing I liked it, subtly let me rest and gave me space.

I pressed my cheeks against the shimmering silk sofa, feeling the luxury in my whole body.

‘Ah… now I understand why the Duke thought I was being mistreated.’

Honestly… if my hut was barely worth calling an inn, the Duchess’s room was like a five-star full villa hotel.

I ran around inspecting the room and flopped onto an unusually soft bed.

To exaggerate slightly, it seemed like all the maids and I could lie down together.

Well, in such a massive Duke’s Castle, it’s natural that a single room could be enormous.

The attached bathroom was roughly the size of my old hut.

‘If the Duchess’s room is this nice, how huge must the Duke’s be?’

The thought froze me in place.

Is this how I’ll gradually get entangled with the Duke?

Even thinking about it, it didn’t feel pleasant.

The biggest problem was that I still had no idea what this novel was, who I’d possessed, or what role the Duke played in the story.

‘I swore not to get involved with villains… but what if the Duke is a villain? What if I get dragged into a bad ending too?’

No way! But…

The bed beneath me was so comfortable…

Just lying down made me feel sleepy in broad daylight!

‘The power of wealth is amazing.’

No… it’s not just wealth—it’s power.

Coming from a capitalist society, I couldn’t help but admire such a sweet change.

Just as I was about to enjoy this light nap…

‘Huh? Wait, what’s that sound?’

Thump thump thump thump thump thump.

Footsteps that had been making their presence known from afar suddenly stopped at my door!