So I Was the Persecuted Grand Duchess Destined to Die? Chapter 78

Chapter 78

“Tch…!”

Anger rippled through Bianca’s blue eyes.

“Why is our precious youngest so sulky?”

At that moment, a gentle, middle-aged woman’s voice drifted over.
It was the Marchioness Blanche—her face hidden behind an ornate mask, a lace fan spread elegantly in her hand.

“M-My lady, would you care for a glass of champagne?”

Behind her, the Marquis Blanche—who had accompanied her—was sweating profusely as he offered a champagne flute.

The marchioness rejected it without a word, lightly pushing the glass aside.

Honestly. After all these years together, that man still had no sense—slow and oblivious to the very end.
Did she really need to make her displeasure this obvious for him to understand?

A flicker of irritation crossed her face, but she quickly reined it in and turned a warm smile back to her daughter.

“Mother, shouldn’t I be the star of this gathering? And yet, why is it that someone else is—!”

The beautiful girl—who resembled the marchioness far more than her father—spoke in a pitiful voice, tears welling in her eyes.

“Hm.”

Behind the mask, the wrinkled blue eyes narrowed.
Mother and daughter shared the same piercing, icy gaze.

“It seems a little rat has crawled in.”

“…What?”

“I mean the one that used to be in our house.”

“!”

Their gazes shifted together in the same direction.

And at the end of that gaze was—of course—

Renée.

That wretched thing, after all this time.

No matter how well she hid behind a mask, how could the mistress of House Blanche fail to recognize the family’s disgrace?

“Ahahaha!”

To make matters worse, Renée looked to be enjoying the banquet thoroughly—surrounded by people, scattering bright laughter wherever she went.

“Hah…”

Behind the elegant lace fan, the marchioness ground her teeth in secret.

The silver-white hair glittering brilliantly was unmistakably identical to that of the marquis now standing before her, wiping sweat with a handkerchief.

Disgusting—no matter how many times she looked.

I thought I’d sold her off cheaply and cleanly.

Yet the one she had practically sent off to die was now flaunting such authority.

Her once gaunt body had filled out nicely, her skin glowing with health.
And the dress she wore—what of it?

A brand-new design, so expensive that even the wealthy Blanche family—backed by the Empress’s favor—would hesitate to purchase it lightly.

How did that dull creature manage to wrap the cold-blooded Grand Duke of the North around her finger?

Should she have sent Bianca to that place instead?

The marchioness briefly ran the numbers in her head—then dismissed the thought.

Either way, I have a duty assigned to me by Her Majesty the Empress.
And I must carry it out properly.

Just days ago, the marchioness had received a letter written in the Empress’s own hand.

The letter was filled with metaphors and palace etiquette, but its meaning was simple:

At this banquet, drag the reputation of the North into the dirt.

There was also an unspoken implication—

You don’t want to see the disgrace of the Blanche family thriving either, do you?

The Empress had even gone so far as to change the banquet’s concept for dramatic effect.

Failure was not an option.

How should I proceed…

As the marchioness anxiously waited for the right timing, her beloved daughter spoke.

“Mother.”

“Yes?”

“For beasts that don’t know their place… isn’t the lash the only answer?”

As if struck by inspiration, Bianca’s eyes sparkled beautifully.

In a voice as sweet as a lark’s song, she whispered something into her mother’s ear.

Hearing it, the marchioness smiled softly.

“Very well, my dear.”

It was a—merciful—smile she had never once shown Renée.

“Do as you wish.”

“Ahhh.”

Wow—champagne really is good!

I was catching my breath and gulping champagne after my first dance with the Grand Duke when—

“That was a truly beautiful dance, my lady!”

“U-Um, Lady, if it wouldn’t trouble you, perhaps the next dance—”

“No! Lady, please allow me—”

I sensed several presences behind me.

…Wait. Are they talking to me?

“Then let’s go.”

But—

At some point, Xavier had appeared in front of me like a massive wall, completely blocking my view.

“Huh?”

I was pretty sure someone had called out to me.
More than one person, even.

Asking me to dance… was that just my imagination?

All I could do was tilt my head, my sight completely blocked by Xavier’s broad frame.

“Did someone call for me?”

“As if. Who in this world would have the guts for that…?”

With one arm, the Grand Duke wrapped around my shoulders and glanced sharply behind him.

“Eek!”

See?! Someone is back there! I definitely heard a frightened noise just now!

I squinted and rose onto my toes, but the overwhelming difference in size meant all I could see was the solid expanse of his chest.

And to make things worse, the huge hand resting on my shoulder was driving me crazy!

Oblivious to my inner turmoil, Xavier took hold of both my shoulders and turned me away.

Standing behind me, he leaned down and whispered near my ear, sending a shiver straight down my spine.

“Anyway. You worked hard dancing, despite it not suiting your temperament. The first dance is over—feel free to enjoy the banquet now.”

“…Why are you praising me all of a sudden?”

This is suspicious…

I narrowed my eyes and looked up at him.
As if something pricked his conscience, he snapped his head away and cleared his throat.

“Ahem. Praise is due where it’s due. Anyway.”

“….”

So until now, I haven’t done anything worth praising?

I was about to feel wronged, but—

…Well. Fair point.

Let’s review my achievements since arriving at the ducal estate:

Hijacked the bathroom.
Half-cleaned the library and collapsed sick.
Tried to sneak out to a village festival and got caught.
Went boating, fell into the river, nearly died.
Tried to start farming in the ducal courtyard.

And many more.

“….”

Let’s stop there.

“Anyway, everything you’d like seems to be over there.”

Thankfully, Xavier didn’t elaborate and smoothly changed the subject.

“Things I’d like?”

“There.”

Avoiding his broad chest, I shifted aside and followed the direction of his finger.

At one corner of the hall, a food zone had been set up.

Beside towers of champagne glasses were countless finger foods—just looking at them made my mouth water.

“Oh!”

So this is the imperial family for you.

Cupcakes decorated with colorful edible flowers.
Glossy confit tarts.
Figs wrapped in ribbons of jamón.

And—

Is that caviar on those canapés?

There was even a delicate dusting of gold leaf on top!

A feast of finger foods spanning land, sea, and air!

Gulp.

I swallowed unconsciously.

In a banquet like this, hardly anyone would be here just to eat.

Except me.

Hehe. I’ll eat it all!

By now, the unfamiliar male voices I’d heard earlier had completely vanished from my mind.

I took a step forward—

“Wait. Hold on.”

“?”

“Where do you think you’re rushing off to?”

Suddenly, a tall figure blocked my path.

“Gasp.”

I clapped a hand over my mouth.

A man dressed impeccably stood before me, bowed elegantly, and extended a hand.

“May I have this dance, my lady?”

M-Me?

I almost asked it out loud like an idiot!

Because—

“How dare you harbor personal feelings toward the Grand Duchess, Your Highness?”

Xavier stepped forward sharply, pulling me behind him as he growled.

That’s right.

The man who had asked me to dance was none other than the Crown Prince himself!

I’d greeted him earlier—his presence was unmistakable.

T-The legendary heartthrob is interested in me…?

What is this?
Okay, that’s probably just my imagination—but still.

Not a bad feeling…

But setting my mood aside, there was one major problem.

If I accepted, I’d probably step on the Crown Prince’s feet repeatedly and get dragged off for insulting the imperial family!

Unaware of my inner turmoil, the man of high status merely smiled smoothly and tilted his head.

“I asked this lady for a dance, did I not?”

His pleasant baritone carried a note of mischief.

“Hah.”

Xavier sighed, unable—for once—to hide his irritation.

“Enough with the jokes.”

“Oh my. This is a masquerade. The thrill of concealing one’s identity is part of the fun.”

Wink.

Even with his face hidden by a mask, it was obvious he was handsome.

Worse—he knew it.

More than anyone, he actively used his looks to charm and provoke!

Ghh…!

And worst of all—

It worked on me.