Translator: Nox

Chapter 24

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“Ugh… Urk.”

“What should we do, Duchess? Are you alright?”

I managed to nod at Susan, who was stamping her feet in distress.

No, actually, I wasn’t alright. I felt like I was dying…

Less than an hour after returning to the mansion from Remute Territory, my stomach started acting up.

Beside Susan, Anna and Beth stood at a loss, one holding a damp cloth and the other a cup of water.

Last time they nursed me through a cold, and now I was imposing on them with a stomachache.

‘Urk, I thought my luck was good today…’

Was this the price for successfully talking to my fiancé? Is that it?

They say life is full of ups and downs, but isn’t this too much? I grumbled inwardly.

Soon, the doctor I’d been waiting for arrived.

The elderly doctor, sweating profusely under my pain-sharpened glare, began the examination.

“Um, ahem. D-Duchess, what did you eat today, by any chance?”

“I… all day long, only… wild strawberries…”

At that, the doctor’s wrinkled eyes widened. He fumbled around in a panic and prescribed some medicine for me.

He muttered that the wild strawberries were probably the culprit, then practically fled the room once he was done.

I understood his reaction—Sharlize had tormented him badly during her hangovers before.

‘Urk, the strawberries were the problem? They were so delicious…’

No, how could my luck be this bad?

“I don’t like… being sick…”

I muttered, scowling fiercely, when someone near the door swallowed hard.

When I turned, the two escort knights were staring at me with pale, ashen faces before quickly looking away.

It was as if they were the ones in agony, even though I was the sick one.

‘Ah, so Sharlize lashed out at them whenever she was sick too.’

Sharlize couldn’t endure even a hangover or a minor headache, snapping at everyone around her every time.

Of course, I had no intention or energy for that, so I just lay there.

Her stamina for raging even while sick was impressive. Ah, I’m dying…

It’d be nice to have a healing mage at a time like this.

The one who’d been staying at our house was away on a distant trip. What a shame.

In the meantime, the escort knights had slipped out the door. Where did they go?

They were the type who quietly guarded my back unless I ordered them away, so I was suddenly curious, but the pain soon made me forget.

“Duchess… here’s your medicine. It’ll get better after you take it and sleep for a bit.”

“Yeah…”

Too weak to even say thanks, I closed my eyes.

How long did I sleep?

I opened my eyes.

‘Hm, how much time has passed?’

Judging by the sky, it didn’t seem like long.

As I tried to sit up groggily, I saw the maids’ faces.

“Ah, D-Duchess. You’re awake?”

“Are you feeling better?”

But why was that?

‘Why do their faces look like that?’

I nodded slightly and brushed my hair back.

The medicine must have worked—the improvement was clear compared to before I fell asleep. Feeling much more at ease, I looked around.

“I’m fine.”

Nothing seemed changed, but their expressions were still strange.

I tilted my head.

“Is something wrong?”

“Ah, well…”

The maids exchanged glances, and Susan stepped forward as representative.

“The escort knights are waiting outside. They said they absolutely have to see you as soon as you wake up.”

“What? Then they could just come in and wait.”

Were they waiting outside in case I woke up?

“Well… the knights brought some children with them.”

“Children?”

I cocked my head. When Susan asked if she could let the knights in, I nodded quickly.

Soon the door opened, and the two escort knights I’d seen before entering came in. And in their hands, two children were being dragged along, completely frozen stiff.

‘Those kids… they’re the ones who gave me the wild strawberries, right?’

They were familiar faces.

There had been three back then, but the smallest one must not have been brought along, leaving just these two.

What? Why did the knights bring these kids? As I looked them over carefully, realization dawned on me.

No way—they brought the kids here as shields, afraid I’d take my anger out on the knights?

Sharlize became temperamental when sick, and those around her often bore the brunt of it.

Naturally, the escort knights were among her prime victims.

‘To think they’d use kids as shields to dodge my wrath.’

I couldn’t control my expression and scowled.

‘…Where do I even start fixing this?’

Jet, the handsome knight who’d once carried me, wasn’t among them.

They were just familiar faces. Seeing them glance around nervously, as if proud of themselves, made my temper flare.

“Duchess, we’ve captured these insolent children who dared to cause your stomachache!”

“Please administer their punishment!”

“…”

With no response from me, the knights exchanged looks and sweated even more profusely.

They must have thought I was truly furious. Well, I was angry. Not that I’d had any thoughts before, but bringing these kids…

“…When did I ever tell you to bring these little ones?”

“Y-Yes? B-But, Duchess, the wild s-strawberries—”

“You move without orders?”

“…”

“You plan to keep acting on your own?”

“…”

The knights, who’d been hemming and hawing, quickly bowed their heads.

“We’re sorry!”

“W-We just thought of those who dared to m-make you s-sick…”

“No excuses needed. Heads up.”

At my cold tone, the knights hesitated in a way that didn’t match their burly builds before lifting their heads.

They shrank under my gaze. I told them to leave, and they bolted like they’d been waiting for it.

‘…I’m dying to know what standards Grandpa used to assign these guys.’

They had the skills, but zero tact.

Or maybe they were so terrified they’d gone soft. Either way, it was Sharlize’s karma.

I sighed deeply and propped my chin on my hand.

Now all that remained were the children the knights had left behind.

The kids couldn’t even look at me, staring at the floor while trembling nonstop.

They’d been bright, smiling kids when they gave me the wild strawberries.

“Susan, I need to change clothes.”

I’d sweated while sleeping and felt sticky.

“Take the children to the parlor. And prepare some snacks—the kind I eat.”

Sharlize loved sweet desserts. This mansion always had them stocked to her taste, so it wasn’t a difficult request.

Plus, there were candies left in my room for after taking medicine.

I got up and placed a candy in each child’s hand.

“Don’t tremble. Eat this.”

The children’s eyes quivered finely.

They looked back and forth between the candy and me, then cautiously gripped it tight when I nodded.

“Th-Thank you.”

“Th-Thank you…! Sniff.”

The maids soothed the children and led them away, and I changed clothes before heading out.

Then, when I entered the parlor.

The children were seated before a table laden with snacks, but oddly, the pile hadn’t diminished at all.

Instead, they sat frozen stiff, clutching the candies I’d given them.

‘What?’

Adjusting the shawl draped over my shoulders, I sat across from them.

The moment I sat, the children shot to their feet.

I could’ve sworn their faces had relaxed when I gave them the candies—what happened?

“Why didn’t you eat the snacks? Not to your taste?”

“…N-No.”

“Don’t tremble. It’s not your fault, right?”

At my words, the children looked at each other, then tears welled up in their big eyes.

The girl couldn’t hold back and began sobbing with hiccups.

“…Why didn’t you eat the snacks and just wait?”

The boy hesitated before speaking.

“Th-The knights said… in front of the D-Duchess… d-don’t do anything, just s-stand still. Or else… we w-wouldn’t get to see M-Mommy and Daddy…”

They’re insane. I cursed inwardly. What threats did they make to these kids?

The moment he finished, as if the sadness had overflowed, the boy burst into tears too.

I stared at them, at a loss.

I tried my best to soothe them by offering more snacks, but they were still so scared, tears dripping steadily.

‘Oh dear, you poor things, getting tangled up with the villainess.’

Still feeling awkward, I glanced around the parlor, and my gaze caught on one spot.

It was a display case. I stood abruptly, fetched some decorative items from it, and placed one in each child’s hand.

“Here, look at this. It’s super expensive.”

I held an identical one in my own hand.

These were magical ornaments. When I flicked the switch on the bottom, a butterfly illusion appeared, fluttering around me.

The children stopped crying and gasped in awe.

‘Good, it worked.’

I set the ornament on the table and pointed to the ones they held, showing them how to activate it themselves.

From the girl’s ornament, a pure white rabbit popped out and hopped around bouncily.

From the boy’s, a massive jaguar emerged and yawned lazily.

Oh, so realistic. I’d only remembered it from Sharlize’s memories, so I watched in fascination too.

“If you don’t cry anymore, these are yours.”

“R-Really?”

“Yeah. I don’t like seeing kids cry.”

When I spoke haughtily, the children hurriedly wiped their tears.

Then they clutched the ornaments to their chests and peeked at me shyly. Holding back a smile, I nodded. Yes, they’re yours.

That was when the children’s faces finally brightened.