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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 3
Chapter Title: Life as a Grand Duchess is Too Easy
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Vestia began shedding tears in big drops, feigning fragility the moment it looked like her brother was cornered.
Her beautiful golden hair cascaded softly down below her shoulders.
"Hic! Please stop."
"Vestia, don't cry."
As the Grand Duke tried to soothe her, she continued.
"Your Grace, my brother is more passionate about his studies than anyone else."
"Yes, I know the baron's temperament well."
"Exactly. There must have been a misunderstanding. The Duchess Consort must have walked in late, unaware of the situation, and judged only by the outcome."
"A misunderstanding..."
"According to my brother, the Young Grand Duke doesn't prepare his lessons properly and lies constantly. He even refused the punishment, putting everyone in an awkward spot."
"......"
"He probably just intended a simple caning. Everyone does it, don't they?"
The Grand Duke said nothing. She took that as agreement with her words. Foolishly so.
'She's digging her own grave.'
I asked her casually.
"Does Lady Lorque mean that it's natural for a tutor to strike a student?"
"If necessary. When I was little, Madam whipped me often, but I never thought of it as abuse. It was discipline born of love!"
Lady Lorque let out a dramatic voice like a heroine in a play as she burrowed even deeper into the Grand Duke's embrace.
Her skill in weaving in personal anecdotes was impressive. Unfortunately, she didn't realize it only provoked him further.
'Yeah. Goodbye, Grand Duke's fleeting lover number one.'
I offered a light condolence in my mind. Moments later, the Grand Duke gently pushed her away.
"Your Grace?"
Vestia looked up at him in surprise. His face had already hardened into a stern mask.
"You should go for today. You must be tired."
With the Grand Duke issuing a dismissal, Vestia blinked in bewilderment.
She hadn't even witnessed me getting scolded yet, and now he was sending her away—it seemed utterly absurd to her.
"Wait, Your Grace. Am I really supposed to leave just like this?"
On any other day, he might have delighted in her coquettishness, but not today. Grand Duke Hadellus dismissed her coldly.
"I told you to go."
"No! You promised to punish the Duchess Consort!"
As Vestia shook her head and threw a tantrum, the Grand Duke's gaze shifted.
"Lady Lorque, since when have you dared to question my words and refuse?"
"Th-that's..."
Vestia flinched at the changed atmosphere. But the water was already spilled.
"It seems I've thought too highly of you."
"Pardon?"
"I would prefer you no longer come and go from my castle. I'll have the room you've been staying in cleared out as well."
"Wh-what?!"
Vestia trembled as if struck by thunder from a clear sky.
At the Grand Duke's nod, a servant waiting nearby spoke to her politely.
"Please leave, Lady Lorque."
"You mean I can't come to the castle anymore? What does that mean, Your Grace?!"
What does it mean? It means he's done playing with you.
I smirked like someone enjoying a neighbor's house fire.
"Escort her out."
"Yes, Your Grace."
The previously dawdling servants briskly replied and dragged Lady Lorque away.
"Your Grace! How could you do this to me?!"
Vestia pleaded through tears, but the Grand Duke ignored her.
I hummed a little tune inside as I leisurely watched her being hauled off by the servant.
Vestia had just made a colossal blunder.
Truth be told, from the moment she focused only on prettifying her face without caring what the Grand Duke was up to, she had been walking a razor's edge.
Lately, the Grand Duke had submitted a bill to parliament banning child abuse and corporal punishment.
With it under review, he couldn't possibly overlook witnessing his son's caning—especially when the perpetrator was his lover's brother.
He'd probably silence the Lorque siblings to prevent any leaks and dispose of them.
Romance was romance, business was business. Even a Grand Duke with a free-spirited lower half had no use for a lover who interfered with his work.
Moreover, Lady Lorque's whining had lately become excessively annoying.
He was already tiring of her, and she'd handed him the perfect excuse on a platter.
'Whew, that takes care of the shit siblings.'
In the original story, the Grand Duchess learned of Akid's abuse and blackmailed the Grand Duke for a mine.
But now, the Grand Duke had discovered it first by chance.
It was originally something the Grand Duchess had stockpiled to screw him over, but who cared? My husband was getting beaten right in front of me—I had to stop it.
I suppressed my rising smirk and giggled inwardly.
Akid gave me a strange look, but I played innocent. Then the Grand Duke called me.
"Saeya."
"Yes, Father."
"About this incident..."
"Don't worry. I won't breathe a word."
The Grand Duke shrugged at my clever response.
"Then both of you, go now."
"We'll take our leave."
Akid rose politely with a formal bow.
"Yes, Father! Good night!"
The Grand Duke narrowed his eyes at my cheerful farewell. He seemed puzzled by my sudden friendliness.
If I went in for a goodnight kiss now, he'd probably freak out. I shrugged, grabbed Akid's hand firmly, and chirped brightly.
"Let's go, dear!"
Akid stared blankly at his captured hand this time. The Grand Duke looked equally shocked by my behavior.
'Oh, right. We're supposed to be a cold couple.'
In my joy over dealing with the Lorques, I'd acted too affectionately without thinking.
And calling him "dear," no less.
Roena had never called Akid that.
'I spoke too impulsively.'
Even before meeting him, I had a habit of using endearments like "dear," "darling," and "mine," and it hadn't been broken.
Pulling my hand away now would look odd. So, I decided to play it off as if I'd dropped my iron lady facade.
Instead of letting go, I gripped his hand more properly.
Then, with an innocent smile beaming at him, the Grand Duke spoke.
"Since when have you two..."
"Pardon?"
"Never mind. You're husband and wife, it's natural. Go on."
The Grand Duke waved his hand dismissively. I bowed once more and left the room with Akid.
Akid was silent the entire way down the corridor. And when we reached the bedroom.
"What on earth are you thinking?"
Akid demanded with a stiff expression.
"Thinking what? Is protecting my husband a problem now?"
"That's not what I mean..."
Akid frowned, unable to continue.
He looked utterly baffled by my sudden protectiveness.
To be fair, I hadn't planned such a blatant character breakdown either.
But what was I supposed to do when that baron pissed me off?
Moments later, Akid asked calmly.
"Did you do it on purpose?"
"Do what?"
"Provoke Lady Lorque."
Akid cut straight to the point, as if telling me not to dodge. But I blinked innocently and feigned ignorance.
"Provoke? I was just acting like usual."
Roena had thrown tantrums like this all the time anyway, right?
I replied as if wondering why he was making a big deal out of it now, and he couldn't respond. I could clearly see the confusion on his face.
I felt a bit sorry for him, suspecting motives even in small kindnesses.
"More importantly, is your injury okay? Good thing you followed my advice and got treatment."
As I reached for his forehead, he gently caught my hand to stop me.
"I'm fine."
"I'll be the judge of that."
"Why are you suddenly acting like this? Didn't you hate me?"
Akid's pale gray eyes flickered faintly through his black hair.
His grip was so tentative, as if it might slip away with the slightest movement.
His tone was cool, but he cared for his wife more than anyone.
He felt guilty for her forced political marriage at such a young age.
Roena Hadellus had sensed that weakness and tormented him freely.
'If it were me, I'd have understood his heart so well...'
Denying the year of abuse after marriage would only raise suspicions. So I admitted it outright.
"You're right. I did hate you, Akid."
Seeing his face harden at "hate," my heart ached, so I mumbled the rest vaguely. Before he could speak, I quickly explained.
"But not anymore. I hope you can believe that."
"......Didn't you try to drown yourself because you hated me? Because your husband is a bastard child you didn't want near you."
Akid forced out words even he seemed loath to say.
His lower lip trembled visibly—he looked so pained.
He was right. Originally, Roena Hadellus despised him solely for being illegitimate.
And on the day she fell into the water, I became Roena. No matter that I'd possessed her, the fact remained.
"That's true."
"What do you think I felt seeing you try to kill yourself?"
Akid continued, clenching his fists in growing anger at my nonchalant response.
"I accepted that you hated me. But to try and die on your own? How much more pathetic do you want to make me feel?"
Akid lifted his head as if reliving the moment, covering his eyes with his hand and taking deep breaths.
"Wait, Akid..."
I was flustered seeing him so visibly agitated.
I reached out to calm the overheated mood, but he stepped back. Akid didn't stop.
"Don't confuse me like today."
With that, he seemed about to retreat to his private chamber, then came back out and handed me a document.
"I'll grant your wish. Take it. It's what you wanted."
"This is..."
"Divorce papers. Any alimony you desire..."
"No."
Before he could finish, I tore the divorce papers to shreds.
I even shredded them finely to prevent recycling.
White scraps fluttered to the floor like snow. Akid's eyes widened at my actions.
I declared to the stunned, speechless Akid.
"Absolutely no divorce. I don't want one."
Alarms blared in my head.
No take-backs, no returns, anti-divorce!
