So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 68

Chapter 68

“…Ah. Ice cream?”

My brain—momentarily frozen—started spinning again at full speed along with my pounding heartbeat.

Whoa—scared me. I almost misunderstood.

For a split second, I thought he meant he liked me.

Startled, I clutched my chest. Xavier, who had been smiling brightly just a moment ago, suddenly looked blank.
That expression soon stiffened faintly.

After that, an awkward silence settled between us.

“W-Why… what is it…?”

I asked carefully, but the Grand Duke’s expression didn’t change.
Those empty, hydrangea-colored eyes made me realize—something was wrong.

And then, in a hollow voice, Xavier answered.

“…Yes. I like it. Ice cream.”

“R-Right?”

“Yes! I like it so much I’d die without it!”

The Grand Duke suddenly raised his voice, looking oddly irritated.
His face was redder than I’d ever seen it.

Calling it simple anger felt off—there was a whole tangle of emotions mixed in there.
Either way, it definitely wasn’t a good mood.

What is this? Why is he suddenly snapping?!

My heart dropped with a thud.
Only then did I realize my cheeks were burning hot.

What is this weird atmosphere? Did I miss the cue again?

I kicked at a pebble near my foot for no reason when—

“Hey! Your Graces!”

A voice shattered the mood from afar.

It was Ternox, carrying brown paper bags tucked under both arms.

“W-What are you two doing, Your Graces?”

I jolted and hurriedly stood up.
At that moment, Ternox felt unbelievably welcome.

“Well, the Grand Duke is ‘Your Grace,’ so plural makes sense.”

“You shorten everything… Anyway, what’s with the bags?”

“Oh, these?”

Ternox walked over briskly and, with exaggerated effort, shoved the bags into my arms.

“Two bags. All salt bread.”

“H-Huh?!”

The moment the bags came close, an irresistible buttery aroma wafted out.
Even as I accepted them, something felt odd.

The Ternox who’d been nowhere to be seen suddenly bought salt bread?
That dragon can’t possibly be reading minds…

Naturally, my head turned to the side.

“Ahem.”

Xavier was covering his mouth with his fist, very obviously fake-coughing.
Even so, the tips of his ears were vividly red.

“…Did the Grand Duke order these?”

“Yes. He told me to buy out all the salt bread in the district.”

With a sly grin, Ternox lifted my cloak, cracked open space itself, and showed me what was inside.

“There’s more in subspace.”

Even at a glance, it was an absurd amount.

“…Who’s supposed to eat all that?”

It looked like enough to feed the entire townhouse and still have leftovers.

Baffled, I turned to Xavier.

“I ordered it out of interest. Is there a problem?”

He glared at me sharply, practically growling.

“There’s no problem, but…”

Seriously—does the Grand Duke of the North like salt bread that much?

It doesn’t suit him at all…

“Pfft—”

In the end, I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

Xavier’s expression darkened even further.

Oops—better change the subject before I get hit by stray fire.

“Alright then. I guess we should start eating diligently.”

I pulled out salt bread and handed it around.

“Here, here. One each. These just came out, didn’t they? They’re so warm.”

Ternox grabbed one without hesitation, but Xavier stood there awkwardly, unmoving.

Thinking we’d eat together, I grabbed his large hand and placed the bread into it—

Smack!

“That’s enough. I have hands.”

He slapped my hand away and sharply turned his body aside.

The tips of his ears looked even redder than before… probably my imagination, right?

He’d been embarrassed about eating ice cream too.
Is salt bread the same thing?

Come to think of it, I’d never seen the Grand Duke of the North enjoy dessert.

A life where you can’t even admit you like what you like…
That’s kind of sad.

Poor guy.

I nodded sympathetically, pity clearly written on my face.

Catching my look, Xavier’s complexion shifted between red and blue.

“What’s with that look?”

“Mhm, I get it… You’re embarrassed to eat on the street, right?”

“That’s not something to be embarrassed about—!”

“Alright, Your Grace. Don’t be like that—just take a bite. Here, aaah~”

Ternox shoved the salt bread straight into Xavier’s mouth.

“Mmph—th-this is—!”

“Mmm, good, riiight?”

“….”

In the end, Xavier swallowed with the eyes of a man who’d given up on life, then sighed deeply.

“Haa… Fine. It’s damn good.”

He looked like he was about to kill someone—not exactly the face you make when something tastes good.

But Ternox was relentless.

“Right? I tried one on the way here—crazy good. I might end up eating all of these~”

“…Where do you even learn to talk like that?”

“Does it matter? Anyway, the capital’s a great place.”

“Haha. I agree with that!”

The three of us sat back down by the fountain, munching away at salt bread.

Well—I was eating.
Ternox was eating.
The Grand Duke remained sulky.

Whatever. When the bread’s this good, who cares!

The crispy crust cracked open, the soft inside melted, and butter flooded my mouth.

“Mmm, I’m so happyyyy…”

Maybe… maybe I lived all this time just for this moment.

Xavier radiated dark energy beside me, but I ignored it.

Then—

“Reneee~!”

From afar, Katharina—now changed into different clothes—waved enthusiastically.

Looks like she couldn’t resist and bought something after all.

“I thought you left me behind and went home~!”

I handed salt bread to the pouting beauty.

She tilted her head, took a bite—and melted instantly.

“Oh my goodness, this is delicious!”

“Right? I got it just for you. I knew you’d be hungry after shopping.”

A blatant lie—but Katharina looked deeply touched.

“Oh my… look at our lady, so considerate.”

“It’s good, right? Eat lots—there’s a ton!”

Xavier shot me a distinctly displeased look, but what could he do?

Back at the townhouse

“So? Did you look at the dresses properly?”

At the dinner table, Lady Diana asked kindly.

I was busy cutting my steak when I snapped my head up.

“Yes, Grandmother. Thanks to your consideration, I was able to see so many… dresses. Thank you very much!”

There had been trials and tribulations, but I swallowed those words with my steak and smiled instead.

Apparently pleased, Lady Diana laughed softly.

“Good. As long as my dear is happy. If you wish, I’ll open a boutique branch in the North for you.”

“……”

Wait. Are you serious?

Those eyes—completely serious.

The joke I’d made to Katharina might actually come true, and a chill ran down my spine.

Thankfully, Lady Diana smoothly moved on.

“Today, an urgent letter arrived from the Imperial Palace.”

“From the palace?”

Xavier, silent until now, finally spoke.

Lady Diana nodded gently.

“Yes. They say there will be a surprise announcement regarding the concept of the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet.”

“A concept? What does that—”

And then—

Lady Diana continued, still calm.

Gasp.

I froze mid-cut, steak knife hovering in the air.