So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 4

Chapter 4

“Are you all right?!”

Betty came running over with wide eyes, having completely dropped the tray meant to hold breakfast.

This is so embarrassing…

Of all times to be caught like this.

“What were you doing out here instead of staying inside?! Did you collapse? Are you dizzy? Is it anemia?!”

Completely oblivious to my humiliation, Betty bounced around me in a panic—despite the fact that she hadn’t fallen at all.

I muttered awkwardly,

“I was… trying to chop firewood…”

“You?!”
“With those tiny, delicate, pale, soft hands? With arms slimmer than the handle of that hatchet?!”

“…?”

Was that supposed to be a compliment?

“That’s ridiculous! Firewood, of all things! You look like you’ve never lifted anything heavier than a teaspoon in your life!”

“….”

Yeah.
Definitely not a compliment.

I hadn’t known Betty could talk this fast.

She was usually so quiet—just appearing with meals and disappearing again.

“Haa… anyway, please get up.”

When I only blinked at her, Betty grabbed hold of me and hauled me upright like she was pulling a radish from the ground.

Despite her petite frame and chubby cheeks, there was solid strength beneath her grip.

Wow… she’s really strong.

I glanced down at my own arm.

Just as she’d said—it was about as thin as the hatchet’s handle.

“….”

A deep sense of defeat washed over me.

“Th-thanks…”

I managed a weak smile.

✦ ✦ ✦

Knock, knock.

“Milady. It’s Betty.”

“Oh—okay.”

A short while later, the cabin door opened and Betty stepped inside, carrying a tray.

“I’ve prepared your breakfast again.”

“Thank you…”

Earlier—during the brief firewood incident—I’d rolled around on damp ground and completely ruined the clothes and hair I’d just changed into that morning.

Betty had scolded me in a very roundabout way, as though she’d witnessed countless acts of foolishness in her life, then promptly heated water and scrubbed me clean.

Being thoroughly washed by someone else as an adult was a first for me.

Between that and flipping backward with an axe, today had already provided more than enough embarrassment.

Yet Betty had returned to her usual quiet, professional demeanor as if nothing had happened.

…Fine. I’ll just enjoy it.

After all, how do you argue with someone who’s fully committed?

Soaking in warm water and being rubbed down with pleasantly scented oil—
luxury didn’t get much better than that.

Once I decided to see it that way, my mind felt lighter.

Then came breakfast—again.

Food!

When I lifted the silver cover, a fresh, appetizing salad greeted me as usual.

Beside it were cherry tomatoes, oatmeal, a small portion of roasted duck, and a perfectly cooked sunny-side-up egg.

A flawlessly balanced, wholesome meal.

Considering that one possible cause of my death in my previous life might’ve been my utterly disastrous eating habits, this was reassuring.

That looks delicious.

I picked up my fork—

only to notice Betty flinch slightly beside me.

Looking more closely, I saw snowflakes clinging to her brown hair and shoulders.

Feeling a twinge of guilt, I stood instead of eating and brushed the snow from her shoulders.

“Thank you for bringing this all the way here, especially with the snow coming down. Wasn’t it hard?”

“Oh—no! Not at all! This is my job.”

“But the path must be slippery on a day like this…”

“I’m really fine.”

Well…

Thinking back to her solid triceps and defined forearms, this probably was nothing to her.

Still, that didn’t mean I should take it for granted.

“Betty, you’re very kind.”

Like a grad student who had to obey their advisor no matter what, maids serving nobles probably lived much the same way.

The thought made my chest ache.

I quietly set aside the small madeleine that came with breakfast—deciding to leave it for her.

Then I sat back down and lifted my fork again.

But for some reason, Betty remained where she was, hesitating, her face bright red.

“…Is something wrong?”

She looked like she wanted to say something, so I tilted my head and looked up at her.

“M-Milady!”

“Yes?”

“Well, um… about the library you asked about the other day…”

“Oh.”

Being alone was nice—but it was starting to get boring.

A few days ago, I’d asked Betty if she could bring me something to read.

That was when she told me there was a library in the main residence.

Apparently, though, it had been left untouched for years and needed cleaning before it could be used.

“Mm. Is the cleaning finished?”

“Well… actually, we’re very short-handed at the Grand Ducal estate right now. Everyone’s busy—me included…”

“Oh?”

“Yes. So I’m afraid it’ll be difficult for you to use it anytime soon.”

“Hm.”

I speared a cherry tomato with my fork and popped it into my mouth.
Fresh juice burst pleasantly across my tongue.

“Then I’ll clean it myself.”

“…Pardon?”

“What’s so difficult about that? Can I go after breakfast?”

“Y-You’re going to clean it yourself?! With that delicate body?! Oh my goodness! Just lifting a duster would make your arms fall off!”

“……”

What exactly do you think I am?

“O-of course, you did manage to tidy up this place beautifully in just a week, with that tiny body of yours. I was honestly amazed when I peeked in from time to time—”

“You were peeking?”

“N-no! I mean—! As your maid, I need to be your hands and feet, so—uh—anyway! You really must be careful with axes…!”

Realizing she’d said something she shouldn’t have, Betty clamped her mouth shut.

I tried to ignore my mild embarrassment and protested,

“That was just because the axe was heavy.”

“I can lift it with one hand.”

“……”

…Damn it.

Still, if I kept moving and working, maybe someday I could escape these twig-like arms.

After all, I’d turned this cabin into something decent with my own two hands in just a week.

Then maybe cleaning a library wasn’t so impossible either.

It wasn’t chopping firewood, at least.

Just as I was about to press the issue again, Betty—who’d been nervously working her lips—spoke first.

“…Could you please not go to the main residence?”

“Why?”

“Well… even if you ask… um… how should I put this…”

She clearly struggled to find words that wouldn’t hurt me.

“You can be honest. Why…?”

“Please don’t ask why! Just—this is for your own good. I really think it’s better if you don’t go to the main residence.”

She looked genuinely distressed.

I nodded slowly, as if I understood, and asked,

“I see… then can I chop firewood?”

“….”

The caution on her face vanished instantly, replaced by something almost feral.

With her round cheeks and small frame, Betty usually reminded me of a Maltese—

but right now, she looked more like a Cerberus guarding the gates of hell.

Sweat beaded on my forehead as I asked carefully,

“That’s not allowed either?”

“Of course not! What kind of Grand Duchess—!”

“But there’s really nothing else fun to do…”

“N-no! Don’t look at me like that—with those rabbit eyes! I—I—!”

“…?”

Rabbit… eyes?

I didn’t really want to imagine how I looked from her perspective.

But the truth was, aside from chopping firewood, I genuinely had nothing to do.

If I couldn’t even do that, the day would stretch on endlessly.

Cleaning the library and reading books would’ve been perfect—

so why was she so desperate to keep me away from the main residence?

Was it because of him?

That tall, broad-shouldered man who’d told me not to draw attention to myself.

“Is it because of the Grand Duke?” I asked carefully.
“You’re worried I might catch his eye—and that you’d get in trouble?”

“…….”

“If that’s the case, I won’t go.”

I couldn’t make things difficult for Betty because of me.

I could always find something else to do.

I was just about to cheerfully revise my plans—
Maybe I’ll try climbing the hill behind the cabin—

when—

“T-that’s not it!”