I Reincarnated As An Evil Duchess - Chapter 131
Translator: Nabi
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Chapter 131
Side Story 4 — Happily Ever After
At that moment, Lancelot, who was looking at Min-ha with blank eyes, carefully held the potpourri that had been placed on his palm and tucked it inside his armor before he suddenly knelt down.
“Knight Lancelot won’t forget the kindness the Duchess gave me, and I’ll repay it with loyalty.”
“Knight Bediviel will serve the Duchess with even greater sincerity.”
“Ma, Madam! I’ll also serve you and your children with all my heart for the rest of my life!”
“A-ah! I didn’t give it to you to do this! P-Please, get up! It’s embarrassing!”
As Bediviel immediately followed Lancelot and politely expressed his respects, Ella, with a flustered voice, exclaimed and bowed deeply as well. Feeling bewildered by their expression of gratitude, Min-ha quickly helped them to their feet.
Then, Gawin, who had been kneeling alongside them, stood up promptly and approached her, speaking in a sly tone.
“Thank you, Duchess. I’ll treasure them dearly. And I share the same sentiment.”
“…Yes, Sir Gawin.”
“So, are all these things for us and the servants in the mansion?”
“Yes. The dolls belong to Noah and the children in the mansion.”
“…For Noah and the children? Isn’t that too many for them?”
“Exactly as Sir Gawin says. As far as I know, there aren’t so many children in the mansion, so do you have someone else in mind to share them with?”
As expected. Just as they had quickly figured out her lie a while ago, they looked at the piled-up dolls and soon realized that it wasn’t meant only for the children immediately.
Min-ha opened his mouth, thinking she was such a fool for trying to deceive these people.
“…No, it’s not like that. I was thinking of selling the extras to make some money.”
“Money? If you needed money, why didn’t you tell me?”
“Oh, that’s… It’s just a bit strange to use money from Seth to buy a gift for him. I, I just thought…”
“Is that why you were thinking of selling the dolls? Have you already had a specific conversation with merchants outside the castle?”
“No, not yet. I was just thinking maybe I put them on the market through Wanda or Ella…”
“Is that so?”
In the end, she revealed everything without holding anything back under Bediviel’s sharp scrutiny, whose gaze then moved down towards the piled-up dolls with a thoughtful expression. It seemed like he was considering whether there was anything he could do to help with her plan.
At that moment, Gawin, who had been listening to their conversation, smiled meaningfully.
“Well, Duchess.”
“Yes? What is it, Sir Gawin?”
“I have a very good plan, and if you’re okay with it, why don’t you entrust that task to me?”
“Yes? A good plan? What…”
“I happen to know someone who is willing to pay a high price for the dolls the Duchess has made. If you leave it to me, I will sell all the dolls that you’ve worked so hard to create.”
“Really?”
“And please let me know what you need as a gift for Noah and the Captain. I’ll also connect you with a merchant there.”
“Oh my, are you really sure you could do that?”
“Of course.”
“Oh my gosh! I would be happy if you did that!”
Even though she was somewhat wary of Gawin, who approached with a sly smile, Min-ha was excited by his radical proposal as he pounded his chest with his large hand and replied as if to say, ‘Trust me.’ In the meanwhile, Bediviel, who had been watching the scene in pity, wrapped one arm around Gawin’s neck and strangled him while facing her.
“Duchess, Gawin is certainly a capable knight, but I wouldn’t recommend entrusting him with everything.”
“Ugh! Bedi, you b*stard! What are you talking about now?!”
“I agree with Sir Bediviel. It is unnerving to leave it all to Sir Gawin alone.”
“Lance, are you doing this too?”
“Please leave it to me to distribute these potpourris to other knights and servants, and I’ll leave it to Sir Lancelot to purchase the gifts for Young Master Noah and His Excellency that the Duchess has in mind… Actually, selling the remaining dolls to raise money might be more suited for Sir Kay or Percival, but I think it might cause quite a commotion if even that task was taken away.”
“Yes, I agree. That seems like a better option, Duchess.”
“Yes? But I wanted to personally distribute them…”
“The Duchess still needs to rest. Please entrust everything to us, except for the ones meant for the Duke and Young Master Noah.”
“Ex, excuse me! Can I handle the distribution to the servants? I think it might be quicker that way!”
Upon hearing that Bediviel and Ella, in addition to Lancelot, were willing to help with this task, Min-ha felt a heartwarming emotion that touched her deeply, and she was grateful to them for taking action like it was their job even before she asked. At the same time, she vowed to herself that if there was any money left over, she would give these three people another gift.
“Then, I would have to shamelessly ask you all for this favor.”
“Yes. Just trust us.”
“Miss Ella, I’ll help you.”
“Thank you, Sir Lancelot.”
“Thank you! Good luck then!”
With those words, the knights and Ella, each carrying baskets filled with dolls and pouches, left her room to fulfill their respective duties.
As she waved goodbye to the departing group, Min-ha sighed and opened her bedroom door, stepping inside once they were gone. While lying down on the empty bed, where only the dolls and pouches she had prepared for Seth and Noah were placed, she chuckled to herself, thinking back to the bustling scene just a moment ago, and suddenly blushed.
It was because she remembered their joyful expressions when they mistakenly thought she was pregnant.
It was the first time she had seen them so excited and happy. She thought back to their ecstatic faces, which lingered like an afterimage in her mind, and brought one hand to her stomach.
Until now, she had been content just to have a harmonious and peaceful daily life with Seth, with their hearts connected, and had momentarily forgotten about it. However, in this situation, she began to think about the days when they had slept peacefully side by side, something she had taken for granted until now.
‘…Come to think of it, this isn’t the first time I’ve felt this way.’
If she thought about it carefully, she remembered returning from Loengram Castle to Persen Castle and holding his hand while they went for a nighttime walk. However, it was then that she was unjustly accused of being a witch and subsequently taken to the Capital. And even after that, he was occupied with various tasks, leaving no time for her to spend with Seth leisurely.
‘Just like he did for me, should I try saying it while giving a gift?’
Just as he had proposed with his mother’s ring, Min-ha thought about using the occasion of the Lavender Festival to say once that she wanted to become closer to him… and that if he wished, she also wanted to have the fruit of their love someday. She imagined herself confessing her feelings and Seth’s reaction to it.
As she did, she blushed deeply and murmured to herself, burying her face in the soft pillow.
“…Can I do it?”
Just the thought of it was making her feel so embarrassed to the point of wanting to die.
How on earth did Seth manage to propose so elegantly and affectionately? Min-ha thought, feeling once again how amazing it was, and she kicked her feet back and forth.
The sun had disappeared into the western sky, and the moon had risen in the blackened sky.
Since early morning, the eastern annex of Persen Castle had been lit up, and within Seth’s study, Percival and Kay, along with Seth, were buried in a mountain of letters and documents. Without a proper meal and with just some soup and white bread to stave off hunger, the three of them struggled with endless matters that seemed to have no end.
This was especially true for Seth, who had a lot to review and handle. He closed his eyes, which were stiff with fatigue, and pressed his temples with two fingers, making a guttural noise.
He had been incredibly busy dealing with the search for Vivian Loengram, who had absconded with a fortune paid as information fees, the recovery of the bankrupt Loengram Castle and the disposition of its fiefdom, as well as the Emperor’s grant of Guinivis Castle and its surrounding lands.
Thankfully, Percival and Kay had taken care of matters within Persen Castle. If it weren’t for them, he would have been locked in his study, consumed by paperwork, without a break for a whole week.
Seth grimaced at the horror of just imagining it and picked up the document he had briefly put down.
“…D*mn it.”
Then, realizing that the document he had picked up was related to Loengram Castle, which he had temporarily postponed due to a headache in the morning, he uttered a strong curse and closed his eyes tightly once again.
Despite the fact that his beloved wife had returned, cleared of any charges, and they had resumed their everyday life, there was simply no time to savor that happy daily life. Everything was urgent, and there was nothing that didn’t require his attention. If he had known it would be like this, he would have refused to take on all the work.
Seth thought about Min-ha, who was probably resting alone in their bedroom by now.
‘I asked her to go see the lavender festival together after taking a rest.’
Even though he had forced her to take a break by saying that, the thought of becoming a husband who couldn’t keep his promise made him sigh involuntarily.
He made sure she would get some quiet time alone. He even refrained Noah from visiting, thinking it would be a good opportunity to relax alone, but now he regretted not doing so.
“Captain, are you available? I know you’re very busy, but could you spare a moment?”
At that moment, a knock on the door and Gawin’s voice came from outside the study. Seth turned his head slightly and responded.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but you can come in.”
With permission granted, Gawin, carrying a large basket by his side, swung open the study door and entered. Seth, with a meaningful smile, alternated his gaze between Gawin, who was confidently walking towards him and the large basket he had on his arm, and asked.
“Sir Gawin, what on earth is that basket?”
“Haha. Before that, please accept my greetings, Captain.”
“…Since when did you start being so formal?”
“Haha. But still, as a knight, I must show the proper respect to my lord, shouldn’t I? Knight Gawin, at your service.”
“….”
“Oh, Kay, Percival! You’re conveniently here!”
“You… what is it?”
“If you’re not going to help, then get lost.”
Seth stared at Gawin, who, as he shrugged off his question, greeted his colleagues buried in the mountain of papers in the corner of the office. Then, as he continued to press his temple, the tension in his jaws began to build, and before he knew it, he was glaring at Gawin, who was now looking at him with a wicked grin on his face.
“You seem to be quite free, Sir Gawin. I was hoping you could help me review some correspondence if you have that kind of time.”
“Haha, I understand, though first, the Duchess asked me a favor. I’ll lend a hand after I’ve taken care of that.”
“…She asked you for a favor?”
“That’s right.”
“When, and what kind of request?”
Seth raised an eyebrow and asked, to which Gawin shrugged his shoulders and replied.
“Can I explain the situation a little later, Captain? Hey, Percival! Kay! Come over here for a moment!”
“What’s wrong with you, Gawin.”
“If it’s something trivial, I’ll give you a good beating.”
“It’s not like that, so just come here quickly.”
At his urging, Kay and Percival, with dark circles under their eyes, approached as they groaned like withered plants. After he clicked his tongue at his colleagues’ faces that were finally revealed, Gawin soon pulled two well-made potpourris from the basket he carried in one arm and held them out to them.
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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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