So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 10

Chapter 10

I felt a flicker of shame toward my past self for ever having found that book interesting.

Thump.

I closed it without hesitation and got to my feet.

Honestly, chopping firewood would’ve been far better than reading nonsense about dragons.

“Stretch—!”

As I stepped outside and stretched, the air felt noticeably warmer.

It wasn’t even that cold today. Was spring already on its way?

According to Nina—who handled “me” among the Ga-Na maid squad—winter in Celeste was notoriously fickle.

One day it would be bitterly cold, the next strangely mild. Then fog would roll in, followed by days of relentless frost.

Celeste was just that kind of place.

Weather, after all, was practically divine whimsy—and I wholeheartedly agreed.

Still, today felt perfect for tending a small vegetable patch.

“Has the ground thawed a bit?”

After my disastrous firewood-chopping incident, Betty had hidden the hand axe somewhere.

But what she didn’t know was—

“I know there’s a pickaxe behind the woodpile!”

Ha! Time to till the soil.

The backyard behind the cabin was just the right size, with soil that looked ideal for a small garden.

Lettuce, tomatoes, herbs…

And if this world had chili peppers—then peppers too. Maybe napa cabbage and radishes.

I could make kimchi.

Honestly, my life here was pretty satisfying—except for one thing.

No rice. No kimchi.

I was born Korean, okay.

I needed rice to function.

Granted, the Ga-Na maid squad had grown strong and sturdy on bread alone, which made my argument sound flimsy—but still.

I fully intended to investigate whether rice farming or kimchi-making was possible.

I crouched in the center of the backyard and pressed my hand into the soil.

Cold—but the snow had melted.

Maybe loosening it with the pickaxe wouldn’t be so bad?

“Hnnng!”

Thought short. Action fast.

I raised the pickaxe and swung—

“Ah!”

—and immediately let go.

No—
I nearly went flying.

The soil was soft enough for the pickaxe to sink in, but—

There was something hard underneath. Like stone.

A jolt shot up the handle and straight into my arm, like an electric shock.

“My hand!”

Right.
This body was even weaker than I thought.

Thinking of Betty—the smallest yet strongest of the maids—I shed tears of envy in my heart.

If she saw me like this, she’d lose her mind.

I can’t let anyone find out.

One overprotective guardian was already more than enough—now I had six.

If they discovered I’d been digging alone…

They’d probably take turns guarding me so I wouldn’t even leave the blankets.

“No thank you!”

Let’s pretend this never happened.

I pulled the pickaxe free and was about to kick dirt over the hole when—

“…?”

Something dangled from the tip.

“What the—?”

You could fish things out of the ground?

Completely baffled, I leaned closer.

It was an antique silver goblet, complete with handles on both sides.

Elaborately decorated. Expensive-looking. Large enough that, if it were a bit bigger, it could pass for a championship trophy.

And for something buried underground—

it gleamed far too brightly.

“…This feels ominous.”

Bringing it inside felt wrong.

So I scraped out a shallow hollow, placed the goblet back inside, and covered it with soil.

“Nothing happened. Yep. Nothing at all.”

…That’s what I thought.

✦ ✦ ✦

“Madam, are you feeling unwell?”

Ria—the Ra of the Ga-Na maid squad—looked at me with concern.

Despite her impressive muscles, she had the softest heart of them all.

I forced a smile and shook my head.

“I—I’m fine…”

“You don’t look fine. There’s a shadow on your face.”

She promptly pulled out a hand mirror.

My reflection looked gaunt. Dark circles clung stubbornly beneath my eyes.

No wonder—I hadn’t slept properly in days.

In just a few nights, my life genre had shifted from healing countryside to psychological horror.

“Madam~ Time to eat!”

At that moment, Garnet, Nina, and Dora entered one by one, each carrying a tray.

They even came in alphabetical order…

Ever since the Ga-Na maid squad declared themselves my—
no, my loyal attendants—meals had become noticeably more extravagant.

But after getting used to healthy food, the richer dishes felt heavy.

So after the first shared feast, we returned to simpler fare.

They’d begged at least to increase the portions, saying it would satisfy their hearts—and I’d caved.

That was how we ended up with three trays.

“Madam! We even prepared wine as a palate cleanser today. Dora and I stole it from Lady Katarina’s meal!”

“It was so thrilling!”

Hahaha! Hohoho! Giggle giggle!

Normally, I would’ve laughed along.

But today—

“Hiiik!”

“Oh my! Madam, are you alright?!”

“What happened?!”

“Who did this?!”

From outside, Betty and Mari—who’d been cleaning and sweeping—rushed in and immediately assumed battle stances.

I buried my face in Garnet’s broad chest, trembling.

I was genuinely terrified.

And the reason was obvious.

“That goblet! Where did it come from?!”

“The silver goblet?” Ria blinked. “It was on your table this morning, Madam. It was so pretty, we used it…”

“Aaaah! You lunatics! That cursed goblet!”

“Madam!”

Yes—that goblet.

The suspicious silver goblet I’d dug up while messing around in the garden.

I thought I’d buried it properly.

But strange things started happening that very night.

I’d gone to bed, pretending nothing had happened.

Then—

“…?!”

When my back felt uncomfortable, I lifted the blanket.

The goblet was there.

“Disgusting!”

I threw it out the window.

That was the beginning.

I threw it away. Buried it again. Dumped it in the main residence.

I even hung it from a tree on the hill behind the cabin—

But every time I came to my senses, it was back beside me.

Like some undead beggar that just wouldn’t die.

What was this—Annabelle?!

After days of this, I was on the verge of a breakdown.

Just yesterday, I’d buried it under a tree in the ducal gardens, convinced that was the end.

This has to be an evil spirit.

Was I really cursed, like they said?

Was it actually true?

Then—

“Madam, look!”

Mari—who’d instantly dropped her battle stance—held up the goblet with wide eyes.

“There’s something reflected inside it!”

“What?”

Curiosity surged uncontrollably.

There was stubbornness too.

I needed to end this ridiculous game of tag.

If it really was an evil spirit, I was ready to exorcise it physically.

I glanced at my dependable Ga-Na maid squad.

Their magnificent muscles were very much present.

With their grip strength, even an evil spirit would be a one-punch problem.

I may be weak—

but my people were strong.

Bolstered by cowardly confidence, I cautiously peered into the silver goblet.

And inside, there was—