-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: You're Going to Die
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Roje wasn't sure if her current choice was the right one. Her original goals had simply been to escape the Count's family, live a modest life, and watch Doana's downfall. But Grand Duke Arteum kept coming to mind. Although they had narrowly averted a crisis, the thought that they would eventually kill the Grand Duke wouldn't leave Roje's mind. According to the novel's plot, the Grand Duke was destined to die soon. And very cruelly at that.
‘If that happens… I might have to live with guilt for the rest of my life.’
I could have saved someone, but I looked away? The fear that no excuse would ever free her from the thought of ‘I killed someone’ tormented her. Her remaining life wouldn't be quietly happy; it would be hellish. Terrified of being swept up herself by interfering with the Grand Duke's fate, Roje had agonized over the decision for the past three days. And finally, she made up her mind: to save Grand Duke Arteum. To interfere with his fate.
“Topaz is a gem that protects life and health.”
Despite her clear voice, her eyes held a very solemn resolve.
“I don’t want you to die.”
The moment Roje finished speaking, the Grand Duke's expression froze chillingly. A chill swept in from his cold expression, sending shivers down her spine. A cold dread, as if her entire body were buried in a snowfield in the dead of winter with frost falling, assailed Roje.
‘Die, me?’
The Grand Duke seemed quite shocked by Roje's sudden words. Roje always surprised him with unexpected remarks whenever they met, but this particular statement was on a level that couldn't be easily dismissed. Roje's knees buckled at the Grand Duke's reaction, but she continued speaking without stopping.
“If things continue like this, you’ll be executed. Very terribly… and cruelly.”
‘I… said it.’
The die was cast. Now the choice was the Grand Duke's. How would he take her words? Would he scoff at her, or would he get angry and chase her out, or...
‘Would he believe me?’
If someone suddenly told her, ‘You're going to die soon,’ would she easily believe them? No, she wouldn't believe it. She'd dismiss that person as strange. After all, in her previous life, she used to ignore people who made strange, unprompted remarks.
‘There’s a ghost attached to your back. While you have a cup of tea with me right now…’
‘If things continue like this, you might suffer greatly. I’ll write you a talisman…’
‘You committed great sins in your past life. I see your ancestors weeping.’
Roje recalled memories from her past life, where she hadn't even bothered to reply, and nervously watched the Grand Duke.
‘My actions don’t seem much different from those people now.’
Demanding money for someone's life, and telling them they're going to die soon. From Roje's perspective, it was an earnest attempt to save the Grand Duke, but to him, her words might sound like nonsense. Roje glanced at the Grand Duke, hoping Grand Duke Arteum would believe her.
“……”
She had no idea what the Grand Duke was thinking. He still had his lips pressed shut, simply staring at her with his deep-set eyes.
‘Was this method not it after all? I could have just borrowed money from the Grand Duke… and secretly helped him from behind the scenes.’
In fact, this thought had been one of Roje's options. She had seriously considered figuring out the Imperial Faction's plans beforehand and secretly intervening to prevent the Grand Duke's death.
‘But I’m just a Countess in name only, with no power whatsoever… And if I divorce, I won’t even have a chance to look at Eric’s documents…’
In a situation where she couldn't even spy on their plans, she'd be in a position to do nothing but twiddle her thumbs, let alone help. While she wanted to help him, she certainly had no intention of postponing her divorce and sacrificing herself like a saint for a Grand Duke she had no relation to. Roje had thought it would be much easier to inform the Grand Duke of the Imperial Faction's schemes she had witnessed and navigate this situation together with him.
‘It would be better to bring this up again after building more trust with the Grand Duke.’
Thinking that he would believe her words once he felt more threatened. Roje decided she should withdraw her plan, given the Grand Duke's unresponsive gaze.
“How interesting.”
Just then, the Grand Duke's unexpected voice was heard. Roje's eyes widened at his reply. The Grand Duke was looking at Roje, his sharp eyes glinting. With a favorable attitude, rather than reproach.
“You… believe what I said?”
Roje asked the Grand Duke, her expression bewildered, as if confirming. She had thought she was too hasty given his lack of reaction, but to think he would believe her words. At Roje's words, the Grand Duke stroked his chin, lost in thought.
‘In the past… it would have been hard to easily understand.’
Because no one could easily touch him, a member of the imperial family. But after the death of Marquis Bled, the Grand Duke changed. The trap Duke Pliche had set to get rid of him. If Roje hadn't been there, he would have undoubtedly been arrested on charges of murder.
‘I thought I had warned them enough for ten years.’
The Grand Duke had rooted out all the spies sent by the Imperial Faction nobles, who were desperate to get rid of him, and had them executed. And he sent them back as 'gifts.' Along with a letter of thanks.
“It’s not polite to only receive, so I’m sending a gift too. I don’t know if you’ll like it. However, the gift isn’t to my taste. Next time, please send something more to my liking.”
The nobles trembled at the retaliation of the young Grand Duke, whom they had underestimated. But that was just the beginning. Grand Duke Arteum repaid those who dared to provoke him to the extent that they were labeled 'cunning.' He was born with a gentle nature, but he had to become ruthless to survive. Rather than being enraged by the Grand Duke's actions, the Imperial Faction seized this opportunity to fan the flames of rumors about him. Since they couldn't kill a member of the imperial family without justification, they exaggerated rumors about him to create a pretext for his eventual death. The young Grand Duke didn't try to stop the exaggerated rumors about him from spreading like wildfire. After the rumors spread, those who tormented him decreased. He endured for ten years like that. Regardless of the truth of the rumors, no one in the Empire dared to treat Grand Duke Arteum lightly. For they trembled in fear at the mention of the Grand Duke's name. The Grand Duke opened his mouth, looking at Roje, who blinked her large, rabbit-like eyes.
“Why are you making such a face? Was what you said a lie, perhaps?”
“What?! No way! Absolutely, entirely, it’s not a lie! I can stake my life on it!”
Roje denied the Grand Duke's words with her entire body. Shaking both her hands and her head simultaneously, she emphasized that there wasn't an ounce of falsehood in her words. The Grand Duke inadvertently chuckled at Roje's actions.
‘Someone who has a crush on me wouldn’t lie, would they?’
Because he was convinced Roje was attracted to him, he hadn't doubted her words from the start. Roje, completely unaware of the Grand Duke's true thoughts and how mistaken he was, began to ramble incoherently, trying to prove her words were true.
“So, how should I explain…? A while ago, I went into the study and found some documents there, and from them…”
“I believe you.”
A short, powerful phrase struck Roje's ears precisely. Roje, who had been rambling with the mission to make the Grand Duke believe her, finally closed her mouth at his voice.
“I trust you. So you don’t have to try so hard.”
The Grand Duke's deep voice resonated softly in the quiet room. Roje and Grand Duke Arteum's eyes met in the air. Although the Grand Duke looked at her with sharp eyes, he was gazing at her with an expression of trust.
“Thank you for believing me.”
What could have become a difficult situation found its place thanks to the Grand Duke's trust.
“Alright. I’m curious how you knew I was going to die.”
Grand Duke Arteum's eyes curved towards Roje. He guided the atmosphere so Roje could speak calmly.
“Let’s sit down first and talk.”
Grand Duke Arteum sat on the sofa first, then gestured towards Roje. Roje nodded and took a seat.
“I’ll have them bring fresh tea.”
The Grand Duke saw Roje's empty cup and called for a maid. Soon after, a maid entered, and Roje quickly spoke to her.
“I’d like a glass of ice water, please.”
She was so nervous her palms were sweating, and she felt heat radiating from her body. She wanted to gulp down cold water immediately to cool herself down.
“Yes, understood.”
The maid filled a tall glass with ice and began pouring water. And the moment Roje took the glass, it happened. Something heavy and golden-colored enveloped Roje in the blink of an eye.
“Ah!”
The glass of ice water in Roje's hand slipped and spilled onto the floor. Crash! With a loud clatter, the cup that fell to the floor shattered into pieces.
***
Meanwhile, at this very hour, at the Wence Count's estate, one of Roje's maids was holding her place.
“Haa… She said she’d be back soon, but why is she taking so long?”
It was Jane, Roje's personal maid. Jane was lying on Roje's bed, covered by a sheet, sighing. Looking at the ticking clock hands, she seemed very anxious.
“She said she’d be back before dinner… But it’s almost 7 PM already…”
To avoid suspicion, Jane had been lying in bed all day, wearing a light pink wig. Using the excuse that she was feeling unwell. Click. The sound of the doorknob turning was heard. Jane turned her body, burrowed deeper under the sheet, and cleared her throat.
“I’ll take the medicine later. Just leave it there.”
Not expecting who had entered at all, merely thinking it was a maid bringing medicine for her sick mistress.
“You must be quite ill, aren’t you? Your voice sounds rather strange.”
At the voice from behind her, Jane's heart plummeted.
‘…The Count? Why is the Count in the mistress’s room?!’
Thump-thump. Jane's heart began to pound at a terrifying speed. The Count hadn't visited Roje even once after having an affair with Doana. Why had he entered Roje's bedroom?
‘…No, it can’t be. Surely not…’
Jane turned stark white and squeezed her eyes shut. Desperately praying that it wasn't what she was thinking.
“Where does it hurt?”
Eric's approaching footsteps echoed eerily in Jane's ears. The footsteps stopped. Jane swallowed, unable to speak, feeling a heavy gaze from behind her. Eric lay down next to Jane, who was lying with her back to him. Then he wrapped his arm around the maid's waist. The maid realized her premonition was correct and froze on the spot.
‘…Mistress, what do I do?!’
Jane, rigid and frozen, screamed a silent plea. The maid was on the verge of losing her mind from Eric's touch around her waist. She had only intended to fill in for Roje for a very short time, trusting Roje's word that she'd be back soon… Eric visiting Roje's room was a scenario neither the maid nor Roje had anticipated at all.
“You… have nothing to say to me?”
Eric whispered, tickling the ear of the maid who lay with her back turned. The maid flinched at Eric's breath. Eric stroked the maid's light pink wig, which offered no reply. The maid's delicate neckline, previously covered by hair, was revealed. Eric's hand, which had been gently caressing her hair, slowly stopped. Eric, who had been staring intently at the exposed neckline, roughly pinned Jane down. Instantly, immense terror assailed Jane's body. Jane thrashed with trembling hands, clutching the bedsheet. Perhaps because Eric's actions instilled such terror, she began to have a seizure. Foaming at the mouth and gasping for breath from an unbearable fear.
‘I-I can’t… breathe…!’
