YSGD 17

Chapter 17

[To His Grace,
Hello, Your Grace.
This is the person living in the forest cabin.
I would like to attend the festival this evening. May I go?
I will be accompanied by the maids, so safety is not an issue.
Even you wouldn’t be able to match their stamina.
I also train every morning.
Anyway… I will just watch quietly and return without causing trouble.
I could sneak out, but since you feed and shelter me, I feel guilty doing so.
If I receive no particular objection, I will take it as permission.
Thank you!]

“Huh.”
The sender of the letter was obvious without even looking.
Even the round, neat handwriting resembled her perfectly.
Zenos let out a dry chuckle at the boldness of the Grand Duchess, who disguised a declaration as a request for permission.
‘Is she testing me or just being careful?’
Surely, she didn’t even use the title “Grand Duchess” to avoid angering him.
Yet the content was audacious beyond measure.
If Zenos hadn’t discovered it, he probably wouldn’t have noticed at all.
‘Is that what she wanted?’
She said sneaking out would make her feel guilty… and yet the letter was wedged deep among the papers, as if hoping not to be found.
Zenos frowned at her contradictory behavior.
Then, a crooked smile spread across his face.

“Kal.”
Rising from his seat, Zenos called to the sword that had been resting beside his desk.
He handed Rene’s letter to him with a smooth motion.
The old steward, having briefly skimmed the letter, gave a knowing glance beneath his monocle and replied,
“I will prepare, Your Highness.”

“Is this really okay?”
Betty’s eyebrows slanted downwards.
Yet, contrary to her worried expression, her hands were frantically busy.
Suppressing a little incredulity, I said,
“You’re doing this so carefully, considering you’re worried, Betty.”
“Well, my lady’s hair is as silky as silk! The red ribbon suits you so well!”
“You look absolutely beautiful!”
At Betty’s words, Nina and Dora chimed in excitedly.
I thought that, just this once, their flattery wasn’t completely over the top, and I studied my reflection in the mirror in front of me.
“Hmm… I suppose so.”
My silver-white hair was neatly braided into two plaits by Betty’s skillful hands.
She weaved red ribbons into the braids like little bridges, finishing with a tidy knot.
Wearing the red dress Garnet had quickly made to commemorate my first festival, I looked surprisingly cute even to myself.
‘Not bad…’
Since possession, I had liked this body’s face the most, and seeing it so carefully dressed up made me genuinely happy.
‘Wow. I look cute.’
This life isn’t bad at all.
Just as my satisfaction with this life skyrocketed,
“If I were a painter right now, I’d want to capture my lady on canvas immediately!”
“Shall we grab a brush? We can’t be the only ones to see this beautiful sight!”
Ria and Mari, their fists pressed to each other’s mouths, whimpered excitedly.
If this were reality, it might have been worthy of an idol’s camera flash.
I thought I had grown immune to the maids’ over-the-top reactions… but they never ceased to surpass common sense.
“So that’s why we’re going to the festival, girls…”
Having spent several days with them, I rose from the stool, slightly reluctant as I realized how much time we’d lost to their fussing.
If I missed the Jamcon Festival, which happens only once a year…!
Feeling the urgency, I moved quickly and flung open the cabin door.
Turning around, I called out the maids’ attendance like a rapid-fire.
“Anyway! Is everyone ready? Let’s see… Garnet, Nina, Dora, and Ria, Mari…”

As I finished the roll call and turned, thinking the maids’ expressions looked oddly gloomy,
“…Even Betty’s here. Let’s hurry… aah!”
Perhaps my heart was racing too much.
Eager to get to the festival, I spun around too quickly and bumped into something hard yet strangely warm.
“Ow… that hurts.”
Holding my forehead, I looked up.
And in front of me…
“Huh?”
There was someone’s broad, firm chest!
‘Wait! A chest?!’
If such a strangely large chest was so high up…
Startled, I jerked my head upward and saw…
“Ugh!”
“What are you so surprised about?”
An unwelcome face—none other than the Duke!
And he was impeccably dressed!
I froze as if nailed to the spot.
Even in this body, being shocked still made me lose composure.
Blinking, the Duke raised one corner of his mouth in a smirk, as if misunderstanding my expression.
‘He really does look like a villain.’
Handsome, yes, but that smile was undeniably villainous.
Whoever this story’s main villain or mastermind was, he surely fit the role.
I felt a cold sweat run down my spine.

“I received your letter. You left it in a very visible place.”
Damn! Nina had said she hid it carefully while cleaning the office!
Momentarily locking eyes with me, Nina clamped her hands over her mouth in panic.
I gave her a slight nod to reassure her.
‘It’s not Nina’s fault. Just bad luck.’
Looking at the pale faces of the maids, I instinctively realized:
I was the only one who could handle this.
Swallowing dryly, I stepped forward, shielding the maids behind me, and stood firmly before the Duke.
Lifting my skirt, I bowed and spoke politely, hoping my manners matched etiquette.
“I could not take up a noble person’s time. Please forgive any rudeness.”
‘You fool. What will you do if I don’t forgive you? I told you not to get noticed!’
Of course, my thoughts were very different from my words.
Perhaps sensing this, the Duke sneered maliciously.
“Forgive? How amusing. We’ll see after today’s events.”
“Eh?”
Could it be… the Duke is coming to the festival too?
No, that’s impossible. I must be imagining it…
I forced a trembling smile.
“Ah, ha… haha…”
Damn! I look ridiculous!
Even worse, the Duke was huge—at least twice my size.
Having lived surrounded by pampering maids, I’d forgotten the concept of survival of the fittest.
Feeling the immense difference in physique, I awkwardly asked,
“You mean… today?”
“I mean I’m accompanying you. Do I need to explain this?”
Why would you?! Seriously, unbelievable!
Yet the Duke, having dropped this bomb, leaned back leisurely with his arms crossed.
I glanced at the maids, who all looked utterly shocked as if hearing it for the first time.
Their plans were definitely ruined.
Seeing their crestfallen faces, I realized:
No matter how strong the maids were, they couldn’t handle this man alone.
I quickly accepted reality.
There was no choice.
I had to resort to my secret weapon: the “pretend to be sick” skill.
‘Cough! I suddenly don’t feel well and need to rest.’
“Disgusting and cowardly. Better not to go at all.”
“What?”
“Eh, did I say that out loud?”