Chapter 168: The Barter
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 168: The Barter
Perel bit his lip, doing his best to pretend he hadn't heard that.
I should be celebrating the fact that they’ve finally become a real couple, but...
Lately, his liege was becoming downright terrifying.
Yesterday, the moment the Consort departed, the Grand Duke had driven the knights mercilessly while conducting the border patrol. The knights, who had expected a leisurely outing, were left in a state of utter bewilderment as they struggled to keep up with their captain’s relentless pace.
– "It’s not like a monster is chasing us from behind. Why is the Captain in such a hurry?"
Furthermore, he was so overflowing with vitality that even the seasoned knights were shaking their heads in exhaustion.
He’s become a monster in a completely different sense.
In the end, the patrol schedule—which was supposed to last until the following morning—was completed before the sun had even set.
However, as soon as they returned to the villa, the Grand Duke’s shoulders slumped in visible disappointment. Only then did Perel realize the reason his liege had rushed the schedule so frantically was because of the Consort.
– "Your Highness, the Consort isn't expected back until tomorrow."
– "...She might have come back early."
The Grand Duke spent the rest of the evening loitering outside the villa until nightfall, and even after a full day had passed, he remained in this state.
Perel watched the Grand Duke pace restlessly and was struck by an irreverent thought: he looked exactly like a puppy waiting for a master who had left home. It was at that moment that the Grand Duke, seemingly unable to contain his frustration, slammed his fist against the terrace wall.
"I have to go get her."
"Johas!"
The Grand Duke immediately shouted toward the knights resting in the distance.
"We move out in five minutes! Get ready!"
The knights scrambled to their feet, utterly confused.
Good grief, it’s not even noon yet!
Perel fumed inwardly, but as he watched the Grand Duke’s face finally brighten at the thought of meeting the Grand Duchess, he quietly swallowed a sigh.
*
The carriage rattled along the bumpy mountain path.
I stifled a yawn as I gazed out the window at the forest trails of the Selvanis territory. When I told the Countess I would be leaving immediately after breakfast, she hadn't been able to hide her regret.
– "You must be tired after staying up so late last night. Why not stay one more day? Or at least rest a bit longer and leave after lunch..."
We had grown quite close during our tea time last night. When I asked her to speak comfortably with me, the Countess was hesitant at first, but she soon grew accustomed to holding my hand and calling me Annette.
Perhaps it was because we were family, but there was an innate connection between us. Talking with her was incredibly easy and enjoyable.
Seeing how much she wanted me to stay, I considered remaining for another day, but the image of Loik’s puppy-dog eyes kept flickering in my mind. In the end, I managed to soothe her disappointment by promising to invite her when the opera was staged and climbed into the carriage.
Loik will be so surprised if I arrive early.
I suppressed a smile, imagining his joyful face.
Cecilia, sitting across from me, had begun to doze off shortly after we started. Just as I was about to lean my head against the carriage wall and close my eyes for a moment—
Am I getting motion sickness?
Suddenly, my stomach churned violently, and my vision flashed white.
Thud.
I felt as if I had been tossed onto the floor, followed by a wave of dull pain. The surroundings were dim, making it hard to see. The damp air carried the acrid, pungent smell of mold.
As my senses slowly returned and my vision cleared, the interior of a dilapidated log cabin came into focus. I had definitely been inside the carriage just a moment ago.
What happened?
I tried to push myself up to assess the situation. At that moment, sharp nails dug into my shoulder, pinning me down. A muffled scream escaped my lips.
"Oh dear, my apologies."
A chilling voice I had heard somewhere before echoed in my ear. Someone was behind me.
A man dressed in dark robes stepped slowly in front of me and pulled back his hood.
"I almost harmed your precious body."
"The Shaman...!"
It was the yellow-eyed shaman I had seen by the lake. I didn't know how it had happened, but it seemed I had been kidnapped. To summon a person from a moving carriage... I had never even heard of such a formidable ability.
A chill ran down my spine. The shaman leaned his pale face toward me and spoke.
"If you promise not to do anything foolish, I won't bind you. This is out of respect for the Consort."
I nodded, doing my best to remain composed.
"Good. You are quite reasonable."
The shaman gave a satisfied smile and waved his hand. Two chairs from the corner slid across the floor toward us.
"Please, sit. The floor must be cold."
He plopped down into a chair first. Though my legs were shaking, I used the chair for support and managed to sit down.
It’s okay. Stay calm.
Since I vanished from the carriage, Cecilia will inform the knights immediately. Loik will come to save me.
"No one is coming."
As if reading my mind, the shaman flashed a sneering grin.
"So don't harbor any useless expectations."
"You underestimate the Blenheim Knights."
I spoke with forced confidence, but the shaman only looked at me with ridicule.
"Is that so? Unfortunately, those brilliant Blenheim Knights won't even realize you're gone."
Unable to hide his amusement, the shaman pointed at the floor.
"Do you see this? What you are standing on, Your Highness, is a magic circle for equivalent exchange."
I hurriedly lifted my feet at his words. Looking down, I finally saw a large magic circle drawn on the floor.
"It’s exchange magic that swaps two objects of similar nature."
The shaman crossed two fingers in a gesture.
"Do you know who was standing in this spot just a moment ago?"
A realization dawned on me.
"...Lady Meisel?"
"You certainly are quick-witted."
The shaman’s lips curled upward.
Then, did that mean Lady Meisel was currently in the carriage? But Cecilia would surely notice immediately.
As if to resolve my confusion, the shaman kindly added an explanation.
"I’ve placed an illusion spell on Lady Meisel. To the naked eye, she is indistinguishable from the Consort."
My heart tightened. Then, everyone would mistake Meisel for me?
"Don't worry too much. The illusion will wear off soon enough."
The shaman paused, an "oops" expression crossing his face.
"Now that I think about it, I forgot to tell the Lady that the illusion would break."
After pretending to ponder for a moment, he shrugged.
"Still, she’ll get to live as the Grand Duchess for half a day. She might even get to share a kiss with the Grand Duke, just as she’s always wanted."
What nonsense is he talking about?
I bit the inside of my cheek, struggling to maintain my expression.
"What do you want?"
He seemed satisfied by my flushed face and raised both palms.
"My God will tell you that himself."
By "his God," he must mean the Dragon.
"He will be here shortly."
"The Dragon... is coming here?"
I still suffered from nightmares after meeting the Dragon's eyes. The terror instilled by those massive eyes was still deeply etched into my mind...
Seeing the blood drain from my face, the shaman gave a thin, cruel laugh.
"There is no need to be so afraid. Everything follows a predetermined destiny."
At that moment, a strange light slowly swirled in the shaman’s yellow eyes, and his pupils elongated into slits. An indescribable, frigid energy enveloped the room.
The shaman’s body shuddered, and when he blinked deeply, his eyes glowed with a vivid, piercing gold.
I knew instinctively. The being before me now was not the shaman, but the Dragon.
The Dragon slowly cracked his neck and narrowed his eyes at me. In that instant, for the first time since arriving in this world, I felt a desperate urge to go back.
*
"...Your Highness, are you alright?"
Cecilia asked, her eyes bleary. She seemed to have been woken by the sound of Meisel’s body hitting the carriage wall a moment ago.
Meisel looked around in a panic. The scenery was rushing past the window of the moving carriage. Cecilia tilted her head in confusion.
"...I'm fine."
Meisel spoke calmly, mimicking the Grand Duchess's tone. Her words came out stiffer than expected, but Cecilia didn't seem to notice anything strange; she simply murmured an affirmative and closed her eyes again.
The shaman was right!
Meisel's heart hammered against her ribs. After so many twists and turns, she had finally reclaimed her rightful place. As of today, she was finally the Grand Duchess of Blenheim.
Even if it's as Annette Blenheim.
It didn't matter if the Grand Duke thought she was someone else. She didn't mind being called Annette for the rest of her life. As long as she could live by his side forever, nothing else mattered.
I want to see the Grand Duke as soon as possible.
Meisel was swelling with anticipation when—
Neigh—!
The carriage procession suddenly ground to a halt. Outside, she could hear the knights buzzing and calling out for their Captain.
"It seems His Highness has come to meet us?"
Cecilia rubbed her eyes and turned to Meisel.
Once we're back at the castle, the first thing I'll do is fire this eyesore of a maid.
Meisel was scowling when the carriage door suddenly swung open.
The Grand Duke stood there with a bright smile, his eyes meeting Meisel's.