I Reincarnated As An Evil Duchess - Chapter 130
Translator: Nabi
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Chapter 130
Side Story 3 — Happily Ever After
“Are you sure that the Duchess is in the bedroom, Miss Ella?”
“Yes, at least until she came out for lunch… Ah.”
“So, the Duchess was indeed confined to her bedroom for nearly two days?”
“Yes. I heard that none of the servants or maids saw the Madam in either in the garden or downstairs.”
“…Is that so? Hey, Lance. Is it really true that the Duchess is resting? Given her personality, she wouldn’t normally stay locked in her bedroom for so long. By any chance, could it be that she’s not feeling well somewhere?”
“…Sir Gawin, please refrain from making premature conjectures.”
“Though there’s some validity to what Gawin is saying. Lance, Miss Ella, did the Duchess have her lunch properly?”
“…I’m not sure if she actually had her meal properly since she hasn’t returned the tray that was taken into the bedroom. She simply asked not to be disturbed for a while.”
“Hey, Lance. Could it be that the Duchess is really feeling well?”
“If that’s the case, then this is a big problem. I’ll inform Sir Kay to call for a doctor immediately.”
“The door isn’t locked, is it? If it is, that would be difficult… Should we bring an axe or something?”
The voices that could be heard belonged to Ella, Lancelot, Gawin, and Bediviel of the Persen knights, whom Min-ha was familiar with
Curious about what they were talking about, she briefly eavesdropped on their conversation, though it seemed to veer in a stranger direction. It felt like they might even call a doctor and tear the door down to examine her, even though she wasn’t feeling unwell.
Min-ha quickly opened the bedroom door and went outside.
“I’m fine! So, please put the axe away and don’t call a doctor!”
“Oh my, Madam!”
“Ack! Knight Gawin greets the Duchess!”
“Knight Lancelot greets the Duchess.”
“Knight Bediviel greets the Duchess. I was afraid you were unwell.”
“Bedi’s right! We were worried because the Duchess, who would normally have come running out a long time ago, has been staying in the bedroom!”
“As Miss Ella mentioned, the Duchess hasn’t been taking her meals properly…”
Min-ha, upon opening the bedroom door and stepping out, was met with the knights and Ella, who greeted her with a surprise joy. Originally, she had intended to scold them for making a fuss, but seeing their concerned expressions, she couldn’t help but feel sorry.
With a somewhat embarrassed look on her face, she turned to them and spoke.
“…I’m sorry. I took a longer nap.”
“Yes? You’ve been sleeping all the way since Mrs. Wanda left?”
“The dishes with food on them are almost the same as before. Have you really not eaten properly and slept all this time?”
“As expected, you’re not feeling well, are you? Your complexion doesn’t look good.”
“Shall we call a doctor, Duchess?”
The concern for her seemed to grow even more as they skirted around what she had been doing in the bedroom as if it were a secret. Min-ha gestured with her hand and spoke as if making an excuse to them.
“Oh, no! I’m just feeling a little tired, that’s all.”
“…Are you sure?”
“Yes. I’m not hurting anywhere, just a bit tired. Haha… They say sleeping a lot can make you tired, and it seems like that’s really the case.”
“I’m glad if that’s the case…”
Although she didn’t want to lie, at least until tomorrow, she had to keep hidden what she had done in the bedroom, especially if she wanted to surprise them with a gift. In the meanwhile, their gazes, which had been a mix of concern and suspicion in response to her explanation, seemed to ease as if in relief.
It was fortunate. It seemed she wouldn’t be interrogated further now.
Min-ha let out a silent sigh of relief at the thought.
“Hold on. Oh my, no way…”
However, Ella’s expression while listening to her explanation turned strange before she suddenly had a look of realization and carefully came to her side.
“Um, well… Madam?”
“Yes?”
“Ha, have you been feeling tired for the past few days?”
“Yes…? Uh, yes.”
Despite the fact that it wasn’t the case in reality at all, Min-ha lied with a practiced nonchalant expression. In response, Ella wore an even more surprised expression and continued with her questions.
“Th-then, have you suddenly lost your appetite or had a craving for something you didn’t normally want to eat?”
“…Yes? Uh, my appetite has been normal…”
“And, um, when was the last time you had, well, a moon guest…?”
[ T/N: The word ‘menstruation’ derives from the Latin and Greek word for moon, mene. In Ancient Greece, physicians believed that the moon and the monthly menstrual cycle were linked, so sometimes it’s called ‘moon.’]
“Yes?!”
Even though Ella spoke in a hushed and hesitant voice, she understood the meaning immediately and exclaimed in confusion.
Just as she was about to explain that it wasn’t the case at all, Gawin, Lancelot, and Bediviel, who had been eavesdropping on their conversation, wore startled expressions before they shouted in voices filled with relief.
“Oh, my God! Is the captain finally becoming a father?!”
“This… this kind of situation! Shouldn’t we immediately return to another castle at once, Sir Lancelot?”
“…No, first, we must report to His Excellency. Gawain, inform His Excellency about this immediately.”
“Oh! Leave it to me, Lance…!”
‘…What on earth are they talking about right now?’
Seeing Gawin and Bediviel’s reactions was one thing, but even Lancelot, who was usually composed, was shouting with a pale face and flushed cheeks.
Min-ha realized that the situation was going terribly wrong. Unless she was mistaken, they seemed to have a tremendous misconception that she was currently pregnant. How had the simple story of taking a long nap all day escalated to this extent?
She exclaimed, horrified at the misunderstanding that had now become a half-established misconception.
“N, no! It’s not like that—!”
“…Yes?”
“…It isn’t?”
“O-oh, of course not!”
“Of course not. How absurd is that…”
“Oh, no…! I mean, maybe that will happen someday, but not right now!”
Min-ha blushed deeply, vehemently denying their suspicions. While they had confirmed their feelings for each other and were a couple that everyone acknowledged, it wouldn’t be strange for them to start a family someday. Still, it wasn’t the case right now.
As a result, the faces of Ella and the knights, which had been filled with joy and excitement just a moment ago, were now filled with disappointment.
Among them, Bediviel, who seemed the most heartbroken, asked her with a heavy sigh.
“Then, what on earth are you hiding?”
“Yes? Hiding, what do you mean…”
“Up until now, you claimed to be napping though your hairstyle is neat, your dress is in order, and, most importantly, you hesitated when answering our questions.”
“….”
“That’s why I thought the Duchess was hiding something, and I thought it might be pregnancy. However, if it’s not that either, it’s hard for me to think you’re not hiding something.”
“Th, that’s—”
“If something is bothering you, please don’t hesitate to tell us, Duchess.”
“Is it something that you can’t tell us?”
“Madam…”
She was at a loss for words under Bediviel’s gentle yet forceful interrogation. Although she had thought she could handle it smoothly, it seemed like her lies had been exposed from the very beginning.
‘…I guess I’m not cut out for lying.’
While she had intended to surprise them tomorrow, she had been caught so easily. Min-ha let out a deep sigh and opened her mouth.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it…”
“Is it really something you can’t tell us?”
“No. It’s not like that. Wait a moment.”
Now that things had come to this, further lies were meaningless. After gazing at them with a listless expression and telling them to wait, Min-ha entered the bedroom and came out with two baskets filled with dried lavender-stuffed dolls and potpourri.
Lancelot, Gawin, and Bediviel hastened to accept the two baskets that she had brought out and asked.
“What on earth are all these?”
“…As you can see, it’s all dolls and potpourri. You mentioned earlier that there were no signs of me having taken a nap, right? I’ve been locked up in the bedroom all this time making these.”
“Goodness! You made all of these by yourself?”
“Are your fingers okay?”
“Yes, they’re fine.”
“Why on earth did you make so many?”
When Lancelot, surprised by the two large baskets filled with dolls and potpourri big enough to hold a long baguette, asked why, Min-ha didn’t say a word. Instead, she retrieved one of the potpourri pouches she had made for them from the baskets they were holding and handed it to them.
She gazed at their faces, which seemed completely unexpected, and awkwardly scratched her cheek before saying.
“…I heard that people give gifts to their family, lovers, and friends during the Lavender Festival, right?”
“Yes? Oh…”
“Though, Duchess, knights like us aren’t worthy of such precious gifts like that.”
“Yes, Madam. During the Lavender Festival, people certainly exchange gifts with family, lovers, and friends, but that doesn’t include servants like us.”
“Yes? Aren’t we friends?”
“…Yes?”
Seeing the differently colored ribbons tied around the potpourri and the obviously heartfelt effort put into the potpourri, they spoke with bewildered faces.
Min-ha asked with a playful tone, tilting her head before she continued.
“Oh, right. Should I say family instead of friends?”
“Madam…”
“You’ve been by Seth’s side, risking your life to protect him and to protect me. You’ve helped me when I didn’t know anything, too. Isn’t that what friends and family are for?”
“…Duchess.”
“So, even though it’s nothing special, I’ve prepared gifts. I’ve received a lot of help from all of you in various ways, and I’ve caused a lot of trouble… I’m sorry and grateful for every one of you.”
“….”
“Oh, haha… It’s quite embarrassing now that I say it.”
Min-ha smiled awkwardly at them, who were alternating glances between each other and the potpourri in their hands with blank expressions.
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Translator’s Note: Hello, it’s Nabi! I’m the translator of this novel ପ( ๑•ᴗ•๑ )ଓ♡ If you like the novel and would like to support me, please feel free to click the button below to go to my kofi~! Thank you so much for always supporting the novels I work on, even if you don’t buy me a coffee, I really do appreciate it a lot. ❤︎
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