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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: 대공가 시집살이 너무 쉬운데요 (48)화
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 48
Chapter Title: The Grand Duke's Visit
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The Grand Duke had never come to my room in person before. He usually sent Asil to summon me to the study. As I rose from my seat, I asked,
"Father, what brings you here?"
"Everyone out except Sae-ah."
At the Grand Duke's command, Hanna stole a glance at me before bowing her head and leaving the room.
Sending even Hanna outside meant there was serious business to discuss alone.
A bit different from his usual playful self.
'Mother must have told him about me.'
I figured he knew something and waited quietly for what he'd say next. The Grand Duke sat down in the chair and spoke.
"Sae-ah."
"Yes, Father."
"I heard the story. You fooled every last one of us."
"I'm sorry."
I bowed my head in apology, but the Grand Duke just shook his head lightly.
"No need to apologize. Still, if someone else had figured it out first, we'd have been in real trouble."
"Trouble how?"
The Grand Duke leaned forward and whispered conspiratorially in reply.
"Truth is, I came because I felt you needed to know this."
"Know what?"
I lowered my voice and leaned in too, prompting him to continue.
"This trip to Stig Island? It's all for you. Some kind of unexplained contamination has started there."
Why do ominous hunches always hit the mark?
I froze when the word "contamination" finally slipped from the Grand Duke's lips, at a loss for words.
It was bizarre. Contamination shouldn't have started yet. This was way ahead of the timeline from the original story.
"Once contamination takes hold, there's no telling when it'll sweep across the entire continent. Who do you think we'll need most?"
"Spirit mages, right?"
"Exactly. But spirit mages vanished ages ago, so priests will have to step up as a stopgap. Their holy power can purge contamination, after all."
He had a point. Priests could wield holy power to halt its spread.
But holy power wasn't infinite, so it was just a band-aid at best.
Even purged, the dead land couldn't be revived by holy power alone. That was spirit territory.
In the end, they'd have to track down the root cause or have a spirit mage rip out the contamination at its source.
'What triggered it so early?'
If only I knew the cause, things might be easier—but even the novel never revealed it. Which made Mabel all the more crucial.
The Grand Duke stroked his chin thoughtfully and went on.
"Now that one spirit mage has shown up, others might exist too. I'll make inquiries, but if you're truly the only one..."
"I might have to step up."
"No. Absolutely not."
His flat refusal had me blinking in wide-eyed surprise. I'd braced for him to demand my sacrifice, but this was unexpected.
As I stared at him blankly, the Grand Duke explained.
"Even spirit mages have limits. Roaming the continent alone, purifying everything? That's too much for one person. You don't need to throw yourself into the fire."
His stance was unyielding. He clearly wanted to keep my spirit mage identity under wraps if at all possible.
Made sense—with contamination underway, no one knew when or where it'd flare up next. Going public about me would be too risky.
I nodded silently. I needed time to process anyway.
Then the Grand Duke pulled something from his pocket.
"An artifact to conceal your power."
He handed over a necklace embedded with a red gem. It looked like any ordinary ruby pendant.
"Wear it for now. And no stirring up trouble while I'm gone."
With that admonition, he rose and lightly ruffled my hair.
Such a father-in-law moment—it left me awkwardly embarrassed, so I just rolled my eyes.
Not long after, Kobishtein returned to the main estate. Coming back two weeks past the planned one-month schedule was my bonus to him after the April clan's torment.
The moment I laid eyes on the "gifts" he'd brought, I was floored.
"What is all this?"
"Presents from the April family for the Young Grand Duchess."
"All of it?"
Utterly baffled, I swept my gaze over the procession of gifts. It stretched on endlessly.
According to Kobishtein, they'd hauled specialties from Allang, all sorts of health tonics, and every gift packed up from April Castle.
"It's a lot, since it's a full year's accumulation."
"A whole year?"
"Yes. The Marquis sets aside one every time Lady Loena crosses his mind. Oh, and gifts from the Vice Marquis and Young Master too."
Was it my imagination, or did the April family reek of die-hard fandom?
Plenty of red items that seemed tailor-made for my tastes crammed in there.
Even a doll eerily like me smack in the middle—it conjured memories of my tribute-happy days.
'Just what are they?'
I shuddered at the April family's peculiar traditions.
By then, Vivian, Shuri, and Hanna had joined in, ferrying the haul to my vault.
Hanna would sort the inventory list, so I'd check it later.
I studied Kobishtein quietly. His once-sallow face had a healthy tan now, dark circles faded.
He clasped my hand tight and said,
"Thank you for passing my message to Marquis April. I had such a peaceful time because of you."
"No, no. If my family hadn't crashed your vacation, you'd have enjoyed it even more."
"Not at all. Best vacation of my life—never lived so luxuriously before."
"Huh?"
I'd expected complaints about the April folks' hassle, but nope.
Kobishtein followed up with a rapid-fire stream of praise, still basking in vacation glow.
"Marquis April was incredibly considerate. How many folks get to stroll on an elephant? First time seeing one—so massive and grand."
"Sounds fun."
Elephant strolls? Not even on my bucket list.
Though as a southerner, Loena might've tried it.
'Good thing my threat letter worked.'
His earlier letter had hostage vibes, but Marquis April must've pivoted after mine.
I'd fretted over more harassment, but Kobi's vibe set me at ease.
"Glad you had a blast. Rest up today—I'll relay the commission via Shuri tomorrow."
"Understood, Lady Loena."
Kobishtein beamed, bowing at ninety degrees over and over before vanishing.
Somehow stricter in discipline, yet utterly devoted to me.
Surely Marquis April hadn't brainwashed him into total obedience?
The thought flickered, then I dismissed it. No way the busy Marquis bothered.
The boisterous gift handover wrapped up around then. The Grand Duchess, back from her outing, tilted her head at the lobby cleanup.
"What happened here?"
"Gifts arrived from home."
"Oh?"
Elena handed her hat to Countess Aria and beckoned me along. Trotting after her, she said,
"Henry's holing up at the villa for a bit. He'll commute for Eviss Mine research from here—summon him anytime you need."
"Heard the mining ops shut down. Hope it's not a loss on my account."
"With your debt pile, that's rich. Fees harder to snag now? Trouble for you?"
Classic Elena, kicking off with incisive wit. I flashed an innocent smile.
"Wouldn't dream of it. Thanks, Mother. Father said it's all for my sake."
"Hmph. He blabbed too much."
Elena snorted, then dropped my schedule.
"Clear your weekend. We've got a trip."
"Where to?"
She halted at my question.
"What, scared I'll sell you off?"
She was extra prickly today—low-pressure mood ever since the Grand Duke left on his trip.
I shook my head vigorously and plastered myself to her side.
Cute sights soothe irritation, they say. And I figured my face qualified.
"Hehe, buy me then, Mother. Anywhere but the auction block."
"Keep talking and I'd have sold you ages ago. Relax!"
Threatening words, gentle head pat—her brand of affection, which I met with a beaming grin.
As she resumed walking, I latched onto her hand and tagged along.
"Akid coming too?"
We were a package deal. Please, take him.
My sparkling-eye assault made her flinch, then tsk.
"Already told the boy."
"Yay, outing time!"
I whooped in delight; she chuckled, shaking her head.
"Someone'd think I was trying to split you two up."
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