USSUF 02

Chapter 02

For now, I decided to trust the duke estate’s physician, Matthew Lewis.

Honestly, he was the only card I had, so I didn’t really have a choice.

“From now on, Madam only needs to do two things. Eat well every day and think happy thoughts.”

The silver-haired doctor said with a bright smile.

Just like an important supporting character from the original novel, Matthew possessed an exceptionally warm and handsome appearance.

Humans were naturally weak toward beautiful things.

And I was no exception.

When he smiled reassuringly, his blue-gray eyes curving gently, I felt deeply comforted.

Well, it made sense. In my previous life, I had never met anyone this beautiful in real life.

Since this was a world inside a novel, it seemed that not only the protagonists but even the supporting characters were blessed with outstanding appearances by default.

Even the Duchess’s face—despite her being little more than an extra—was so lovely that I had stared blankly at my reflection in the mirror for quite a while.

‘Ah, right. This isn’t the time for that. Pull yourself together!’

Heh…

I had nearly opened my mouth like an idiot while trying to find comfort and hope in Matthew’s smile, but I quickly regained my composure.

‘Relying only on Matthew… isn’t enough.’

Leaving preparations for the childbirth that would determine whether I lived or died in five months entirely to someone else was simply not enough.

This wasn’t the same as asking, “What should I eat for lunch today?” or “Where should we go this weekend?”

This was a completely different matter.

I needed to act more proactively and take initiative.

I had to trust my instincts and mobilize every resource available to me.

Matthew might be a capable card, but he could not be my only card.

Wiping away the tears gathered at the corners of my eyes, I bit my lower lip.

‘That’s right. I’m the Duchess Wiltson!’

Wiltson—the very center of wealth and power.

My husband, Zekron Wiltson, had originally been the youngest son of the Wiltson Count family.

Someone with almost no chance of inheriting his father’s title.

But then the timing of the war caused his fortune to skyrocket.

The moment he turned eighteen, he joined the war, and during the five years it lasted, he achieved remarkable accomplishments.

His physical abilities—especially swordsmanship and horsemanship—were extraordinary, and he possessed exceptional charisma that inspired the soldiers under his command.

Zekron became known as the war hero who finally led the long stalemated conflict to a decisive victory.

Sheridan, which had once been merely a kingdom, conquered neighboring nations after winning the war and became the Sheridan Empire.

That had happened only two years ago.

In recognition of his achievements, Zekron was granted the title of Duke along with the northeastern territory of Dempsha.

The Duchy of Dempsha was a position coveted by many nobles.

Compared to other territories, it was enormous in size. One side bordered the sea, making trade easy, while another contained dense forests, and yet another held fertile plains. It was one of the richest territories in the empire.

Of course, although he was a war hero, the fact that such extraordinary rewards were granted to a young man who was still only twenty-three drew tremendous attention throughout the empire.

Thanks to the exceptional physical prowess, brilliant mind, and dazzling charisma he displayed during the war, Zekron obtained immense wealth and power.

I carefully recalled the contents of the original novel.

‘And since I’m still the living Duchess, I have every right to enjoy the benefits of Zekron’s enormous wealth and power too!’

Hope appeared before me.

Strength naturally filled my eyes, and the corners of my lips curled upward.

I intended to make very active use of the Wiltson family’s wealth and influence to protect my life.

Keeping my smile while hardening my expression slightly, I looked at the silver-haired physician.

“I know Matthew is considered one of the empire’s finest doctors.”

“You flatter me, Madam.”

“But I’d like to hear the opinions of a variety of experts. Could you prepare a list of skilled physicians, pharmacists, and perhaps even folk healers I can meet?”

“Yes. I shall do so, Madam.”

The comforting smile on his lips disappeared, replaced by a somewhat tense, professional smile.

‘That smile looks nice too.’

Hehe, I smiled inwardly in satisfaction.

Kate and Judy were the Duchess’s personal maids.

Attending to the Duchess all day long was by no means easy.

The Duchess was a woman who could never be satisfied.

Of course, many noble ladies were like that, but the Duchess Wiltson was especially severe.

On sunny days, she complained that it was too hot and dry.

On rainy days, she got angry because it was damp and sticky.

On cloudy days, she shrieked because the weather was gloomy.

If she was invited to a party, she threw a hysterical fit because it was bothersome.

If she wasn’t invited to a party, she threw a hysterical fit because she felt insulted.

What exactly did she want?

But today’s Duchess was different.

The Duchess, who had regained consciousness yesterday after being bedridden for several days, was creating a very awkward situation.

“What’s my name? Could you tell me?”

The Duchess asked Kate and Judy, who had entered her bedroom early in the morning carrying water for washing and breakfast.

What kind of question was that?

The maids hesitated awkwardly, unsure how to answer such a bizarre question.

They had heard that her memory was affected after she woke up, but they never imagined she wouldn’t even remember her own name.

“It’s Elfwin, Madam.”

Kate, the short black-haired maid with chubby cheeks, answered.

Even though she was simply responding to a question, saying her mistress’s name aloud felt incredibly awkward and embarrassing.

Feeling as though she had committed some terrible disrespect, she lowered her head apologetically.

“Ah… Elfwin. That’s a pretty name. Then I must be Elfwin Wiltson.”

The corners of the Duchess’s lips rose pleasantly as she repeated her own name.

“Then what was it before Wiltson? What was it?”

“Huh?”

The maids tilted their heads, unable to understand the meaning of the question.

“My surname. Before Wiltson. My maiden family.”

“Ah, you were a Highgreen.”

This time, Judy—the taller and thinner maid with brown hair—answered.

“So I was Elfwin Highgreen. Highgreen suits me better than Wiltson.”

The sight of the Duchess smiling brightly while repeating her own name over and over was truly strange.

Afraid their confusion might show on their faces, the maids hurriedly busied themselves with their work.

But it didn’t last long.

Because the Duchess asked another strange question.

“Is this all I get for breakfast?”

“Huh?”

Once again, they failed to grasp her intention.

The maids stood frozen with blank expressions.

Looking at the small bowl of beef vegetable soup, Elfwin spoke again.

“You’re telling me this is all I’m supposed to eat?”

“You’ve always eaten about that much…”

“Should we bring more?”

“I always ate this little? No wonder I was so skinny…”

At the maids’ response, Elfwin pitifully rubbed her thin wrist.

The way she spoke about her own body as though she were discussing someone else’s was strange as well.

“No, it’s too late to wait around now. I’m starving. Where’s the dining hall? Take me there.”

“You’ll eat in the dining hall?”

The maids’ eyes widened in shock.

“Yes. Hurry.”

Elfwin urged them while springing to her feet.

“Ugh!”

“Madam! Are you alright?”

But perhaps due to anemia, her body swayed unsteadily.

The maids quickly grabbed both her arms to support her.

“I’m a little dizzy, but I’m fine. This is what happens when you don’t eat properly. Honestly… Come on, let’s go quickly. I’ll feel better once I eat.”

“But… are you going dressed like that?”

“Like this? What’s wrong with it?”

Elfwin checked her reflection in the mirror.

She was wearing a nightgown-style dress with an indoor robe over it.

Her stomach wasn’t very noticeable for someone five months pregnant, and the loose nightgown concealed it completely.

“Still… shouldn’t you change first…?”

“What’s the problem? This is my house. I’m too hungry to waste energy changing clothes.”

The Duchess had never left her bedroom in pajamas before.

And she had always eaten barely more than bird feed.

Kate and Judy exchanged bewildered looks.

No matter how sick someone had been, waking up afterward shouldn’t turn them into an entirely different person.

Yet the Duchess before them seemed like a completely different woman.

Did losing one’s memory also change one’s personality?

Tilting their heads in confusion, the maids nevertheless supported Elfwin as they guided her to the dining hall.

The moment I entered the dining hall, Zekron—who had already been eating—furrowed his brow deeply.

“Good morning, dear.”

“What are you doing here?”

“What else would I come to the dining hall for? To eat, obviously.”

“You? Eat? Here?”

Zekron’s handsome face twisted.

The dining hall maids also began moving frantically at my appearance.

Apparently, the original Elfwin usually ate in her bedroom unless it was a special occasion.

So it was no surprise that the maids panicked when the Duchess came down without any special event taking place.

A meal for me was swiftly prepared across from Zekron.

Though “across” was technically correct, the rectangular dining table was so absurdly long that we were still very far apart.

“I like the seating arrangement.”

Pretending not to notice Zekron still staring at me with a frown, I murmured softly.

‘But… what is this? Is this a joke?’

However, I wasn’t pleased with the food set before me.

It was hardly any different from what had been brought to my bedroom earlier.

Meanwhile, even from a distance, Zekron’s side of the table was overflowing with various dishes.

Perhaps noticing my displeased expression, Kate approached me cautiously.

“Madam, do you need anything else?”

“Yes. Bring me the same dishes His Grace is having. I told you I’m hungry.”

I spoke while spooning up the soup in front of me for the time being.

Once again, the maids in the dining hall began moving busily.

‘Mm! Delicious!’

The amount of beef vegetable soup was unsatisfactory, but the taste certainly wasn’t.

My hand moved busily between the bowl and my mouth like it had a motor attached.

Zekron never took his eyes off me while I devoured the soup.

His stare was painfully intense.

I wanted to ignore my unfriendly husband’s gaze and focus solely on the soup, but before I realized it, there was no soup left to eat.

I set down my spoon and straightened my back.

There were many things I wanted to say to him.

And by “things I wanted to say,” I actually meant “things I intended to demand.”

Not all at once.

One thing at a time, day by day.

I gathered my courage.

When that courage finally rose all the way to my throat, I suddenly stood up.

Screeeech—

The sound of the chair legs scraping against the floor echoed loudly.

At once, all the dining hall maids turned toward me.

‘Huh? What is she trying to do?!’

The maids’ faces turned pale with horror.

I slowly approached Zekron and gracefully sat in the nearest seat to him.

Only then could I properly see his face.

His perfectly handsome features were twisted into an ugly expression, as though he had bitten into something rotten.

I addressed the maids.

“Prepare my meals at this seat from now on. It seems the Duke wishes to see my face up close.”

I deliberately smiled brightly at Zekron.

Teasingly.

His crooked lips slowly parted.

“You… who are you?”