So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 42

Chapter 42

Xavier snapped coldly at the servants, as if he’d finally found the thread that would unravel the incident.

“This doesn’t seem like something to discuss here. Everyone return to the Grand Ducal Castle and await judgment. And…”

As the servants hurriedly moved, he fixed his gaze directly on the young ladies.

It was the stare of a predator stalking prey.

A chill crawled up their spines. The ladies bowed even deeper, avoiding his eyes.

“…The matter is serious, so I’ll request your cooperation. Will you all come to the Grand Ducal Castle with us?”

It was phrased like a request,
but in truth, it was a one-sided notice.

Lilian, and the other two ladies, had no choice but to nod.

Once the site was roughly secured, Xavier hurried to find Renée.

The moment Renée arrived at the castle, she was being treated by Jim, the Celeste family’s physician.

Bang!

Xavier threw the door open without knocking.

Around the bed, the maids were gathered, faces drenched with tears, sniffling and sobbing.

“Waaah… what do we do about milady…?”

“She was frail to begin with, and now this… how could this happen…?”

“I’ll never forgive her. So what if she’s a noble lady? How could she do that to our rabbit-like milady?!”

“Ahem.”

Xavier announced his presence with a cough.

Only then did the maids startle and hurriedly smooth their clothes, bowing their heads.

“Save the greetings.”

He stopped Jim, who rose to pay respects, and asked,

“How is the Grand Duchess?”

His gaze never left Renée.

Jim fidgeted with the silver-rimmed glasses, face strained, and spoke haltingly.

“Y-your Grace… I apologize. In truth… the situation is not good. I’m doing everything I can, but the fever is too severe. No matter what medicine I use, it won’t take.”

Jim was an exceptionally skilled doctor.

Madness, Xavier’s affliction, had no cure, yes, but in herbal medicine Jim was so talented he usually handled minor ailments easily.

For even him to be struggling to bring down a fever—

“How is there no way?”

“At present, I’ve done everything possible. Now… all we can do is wait, and hope Her Grace endures it herself…”

In other words, nothing more he could do.

The situation became even graver.

At this rate, Renée could truly die.

“Save her. No matter what it takes.”

Xavier’s voice came out low and heavy, like a beast growling.

Jim understood the meaning behind it.

He had no real choice.

“I-I’ll brew different herbs immediately!”

Pushing his glasses up again and again, Jim rushed out of the bedroom.

“Everyone out.”

Xavier dismissed the maids as well, and soon the room filled with nothing but Renée’s pained, uneven breathing.

“…”

Xavier stood as if nailed in place, looking down at her.

A deathly pale face, unmistakably sick.

Her red eyes, usually clear, wouldn’t show themselves.

Hair drenched in sweat clung to her heat-flushed cheeks.

“…Foolish woman.”

And yet, even as he said it, Xavier carefully peeled the silken strands from her face with his rough hand.

His touch was gentle.

But the softness under his fingertips was blazing hot, like skin burned by fire.

Just then, Renée’s tightly furrowed brow pinched even harder.

“C-cold…”

“!”

A thin voice slipped out between weak breaths.

She didn’t seem awake, only delirious from fever.

Small hands pawed helplessly atop the blanket.

Xavier quickly pulled the covers snug around her.

But Renée’s brow refused to relax.

“So… cold… hngh…”

Her chill seemed to deepen. Her lips were slowly turning bluish.

“Damn it.”

Flustered in a way unlike himself, Xavier lay down beside her.

Then, after a brief hesitation, he pulled Renée into his arms.

“Mmn…”

“Just hold on a little longer. A better medicine will come soon.”

With clumsy motions, he patted her back, tap, tap,
and he felt her harsh breathing begin to calm.

How much time passed like that?

“Mmm…”

Xavier stole a glance at Renée, whose face now looked somewhat steadier.

They were both soaked through with sweat, but strangely, he didn’t feel disgusted.

Only relief.

Color was returning to her formerly ashen complexion.

Then—

(removed)

“…Xavier…”

“!”

Renée murmured his name like sleep-talk, wriggling and burrowing even deeper into his chest.

Xavier’s heart began to pound at a speed he couldn’t measure.

He’d never imagined his name would be called, by her, like this.

He checked her face, thinking she might’ve woken.

But she was still lost in a hazy dream.

“Xavier… why are you crying…?”

“…”

“…I don’t want to die… hngh…”

“Hah… are you insane? Why would you die?”

Like she was trapped in a nightmare, Renée’s brow still wouldn’t smooth.

Thick tears rolled down her cheeks.

Xavier couldn’t move, couldn’t decide what to do,

so he only stroked her shoulder, slowly, gently.

Soon, her breathing evened out again.

But inside Xavier, irregular waves spread and crashed without end.

“Ha…”

Holding Renée more securely, Xavier realized it with bone-deep clarity.

So thin. So small.

She was this small.

This fragile.

And yet she was so bright, so confident. I didn’t notice.

He suddenly felt like everything that pushed her to the edge… might have been him.

There had been pressure, yes, but in the end it was Xavier Celeste who agreed to the marriage.

Which meant at the very least, he’d had the freedom to refuse.

But Renée hadn’t.

Before her family’s will and the palace’s power, she’d never had a choice in the first place.

Only now did her position finally reach his heart.

From their first meeting onward, moments flickered through Xavier’s mind.

“Lady Renée Blanche, marchioness’ daughter. Do you swear to take Grand Duke Xavier Celeste as your husband, fulfill your duties as Grand Duchess, and share your life with sincerity and respect?”

“I swear…”

Renée, standing at the wedding in a worn silk dress, eyes wide with fear.

Renée, voice trembling, still saying her vows.

Renée, riding alone in a baggage wagon despite open hostility, an unwelcomed burden.

For her, perhaps that small cabin had been the only place she could rest her heart.

“Ahaha!”

Xavier remembered Renée laughing among the maids, like petals in full bloom.

Even in the frozen north, she had become a warm spring, melting many cold hearts.

And to Renée,

he had only ever thrown cruel words.

“Don’t expect a husband’s duty or obligation from me. I won’t expect anything from you either.”

“Don’t make excuses with childish wordplay. Did you scurry around the castle like a rat, gathering information to sell?”

“With such a soft heart, how did you ever think you could be Celeste’s Grand Duchess?”

Words he couldn’t even defend.

Words he once believed were truth, but weren’t. Not anymore.

So was this retribution?

“I… I’m not suited to be Celeste’s Grand Duchess.”

“You’re the one who told me to live quietly, Your Grace… I did exactly what you wanted. Everything. But then why do you keep…?”

A woman as delicate as her own glass-bead tears.

Xavier looked down at Renée’s sleeping face.

His heart dropped.

Renée… what were you…?

What kind of heart did you bring into this place?

“…”

Unable to even guess, Xavier only closed his eyes.

Dim dawn settled softly, softly, over the two of them, layered together in silence.