So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 24

Chapter 24

— — —

“You don’t need to.”

The Grand Duke closed the distance in a few long strides and slid his hand between the pages as I tried to shut the book. Then he simply took it, skimmed the title, and set it back down on the table.

“The Pact of Celeste and the Dragon. An unexpected choice.”

“It was just… there.”

“Did I interrupt you?”

I answered with a look instead, and the Grand Duke—of all people—let out a quiet laugh.

I froze like I’d just seen something I wasn’t supposed to.

He’s smiling again?

Since the day we met, he’d practically made it his hobby to dislike me. And I’d returned the favor, so I’d assumed the safest plan was to stay out of each other’s orbit.

At first, I thought it was just a sneer.
Usually, the sneer came with sarcasm or criticism right after.

But lately… it happened more often. And each time, there was less venom in it.

Like now.

And that was exactly why my stomach went cold.

People don’t start doing things they never do unless they’re about to die. That’s what they say.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

Was he… quietly dying somewhere no one knew about?

What kind of novel even was this?

While I was spiraling on my own, the Grand Duke spoke like it was nothing.

“It’s been abandoned for years. Use it if you want.”

“Oh… really?”

“That’s a suspicious look.”

“It’s weird, that’s all. You suddenly being reasonable. Like when you insisted on coming to the festival.”

“Wasn’t that settled as a newlywed couple’s little outing?”

“That only works if we’re actually a couple, Your Grace.”

He sounded almost tired.

“You really never let anything go, do you.”

He wasn’t wrong.

Around him, I turned petty too.

I hate that I’m admitting it, but with him—of all people—I never wanted to lose. Not at anything.

I swallowed the impulse to keep snapping and forced a polite smile.

“So… what brings you here, then?”

“To the library?” He looked at me like I’d asked whether water was wet. “Is that even a question?”

“…You came to read, in a library you left untouched for over ten years?”

“Of course.”

Then—like this was perfectly normal—he started reading the book I’d been holding.

We were not a sit-across-and-read-together kind of people.

What was he plotting?

Time passed anyway.

I grabbed another book out of spite and opened it.

But the page was just ink and paper. None of it went in.

Then, without looking up, the Grand Duke murmured:

“I heard you were sick.”

“Oh… yeah. I was.”

Since when does he check on me?

Still suspicious, I blurted out quickly:

“I wasn’t lying! I really was sick. Like—almost saw the afterlife sick.”

“…I didn’t think you were lying.”

“I mean—yeah, but you could’ve doubted me. So I’m… clearing things up.”

“You just made it worse.”

“…Tragic.”

I answered flatly—then paused.

What was this weird rhythm?

This stupid banter?

With him?

Hard pass.

I’d already run out of things to say, but—

the Grand Duke’s eyes narrowed as he read.

He went quiet for a few seconds.

Then, out of nowhere—

“I’ll be direct.”

His voice came low, slow, and heavy, cutting through the air.

“The man you met at the festival. Who was he?”

“Huh?”

I snapped my head up.

Festival guy—he means Ternox?

Before I could even pretend to think, his sharp words pressed in.

“Don’t tell me you don’t know.”

“I—”

“Don’t.” His gaze hardened. “Don’t insult me. I’ve already received reports that he was seen with you.”

…What?

How?

That made no sense.

That lizard—dragon—had literal cheat-level invisibility magic. Even the Ga-Na maids, who practically lived on top of me, had never noticed him.

So how was there a “report” at all?

Unless…

Am I being watched 24/7?

My brain was spinning when the Grand Duke’s pressure intensified.

“Reveal his identity.”

My thoughts jammed.

What do I even say?

His expression darkened as if he’d read the hesitation.

“Someone even went so far as to report he’s your… hidden lover.”

What.

What kind of trash rumor—

“He’s a dragon!”

I cut him off instantly and blurted the truth at maximum volume, like a panicked canary.

“…What did you say?”

His eyes snapped to me.

And—unexpectedly—there was genuine shock there.

“You’re serious?”

I nodded, dead serious.

“A hidden lover? Are you kidding? With your ‘tight security,’ how would I even date another man in secret? I didn’t even come here by choice in the first place.”

“Then how did you meet him?”

“I found a weird silver cup while I was digging up dirt for a garden. I tried to get rid of it, but it kept… guiding me somewhere. And it led me to this guy who kept insisting he’s a dragon. And I mean—he used real magic. Teleportation, the whole thing.”

I rattled off everything I could, unfiltered.

Believe it or don’t. That’s his problem.

Besides—why would I lie about something this insane?

And why would I protect that overgrown gecko’s identity?

He said he’d lived hundreds of years. If a human knows he’s a dragon, so what? It’s not like it’ll ruin his credit score.

Sure, in a typical romance plot, I’d deny it, misunderstandings would stack, the heroine would suffer, the hero would regret—

But:

I’m not the heroine. And I don’t want to be.

I wasn’t going to start farming misunderstanding points before I even knew what kind of story this was.

I watched the Grand Duke’s face as he fell silent.

For a second—he looked genuinely troubled.

Those blue-violet eyes flicked somewhere past me, sharp and thoughtful, and annoyingly… cinematic.

Like a magazine shoot.

“…Ugh.”

If you only look at the face, this is premium romance material—

NO.

Nope. Absolutely not.

I shook my head hard to exorcise the thought.

How did my brain even try to cast that horrifying mouth as a “regretful male lead”?

I’m losing it.

Remember: he’s the Grand Duke of Fearful Mouth.
A man who only ever opens his mouth to say something infuriating.

Stay alert.

That was when the Grand Duke finally spoke again, hesitant but serious.

“Tell me more.”

“…What, specifically?”

“About the dragon.”

He was completely sober now—no sarcasm, no sneer.

I forced myself to act casual and gave him a sideways look.

“Oh, you believe me?”

“Should I call you a liar?”

“No, it’s true. I’m just surprised you’re taking this seriously when you nitpick everything I say.”

He exhaled, tired.

“…Renée Blanche. Do I look like I’m joking right now?”

His tone turned sharply cold, and my stomach dropped.

Maybe I’d pushed too far—

when—

“…Ma’am!”

Voices spilled in from outside the library.

Multiple footsteps, too—fast, clustered.

They were coming this way. The sound grew clearer, louder.

“…Ma’am, His Grace said absolutely not—”
“…I don’t care! There’s nowhere I can’t go—”
“But… it’ll be a disaster if—”

What?

Before I could process it, the library doors flew open.

“Xenos!”

And the person leading the charge was—

my maid.

“Ah—uh—th-that—”

…Wait.

What was her name again?

Why is peacock the only thing my brain is offering me right now?!