Abandoned Maid of the Grand Duke - Chapter 14
Was I supposed to leave the estate, find a job, and sell my body to survive? In this chaotic era, what other means did a woman have to make a living?
I got married and tried to run away. When nothing worked, I begged him not to finish inside me, which only seemed to ignite his passion further.
‘Maybe I’m just destined to die.’
Like they say, you can’t escape your destiny. In the novel, the original plot can’t be changed either.
Yes, it seems I’m destined to die. All my efforts to avoid it were in vain. If I had accepted it from the start, I could have at least enjoyed some temporary luxury that wasn’t meant for me.
While I was sniffling, feeling the unfairness of it all, the Grand Duke turned his head to look at my face, seemingly concerned by my tears.
“Why are you crying? Is your position uncomfortable?”
Sometimes, I wish I could split open this man’s brain to see how it works. Do you really think I’m crying because my position is uncomfortable? How can you be so insensitive?
I couldn’t tell him that the reason his wife wanted to stab me was because of him, so I just sobbed.
He quickly withdrew and held me.
“There, there, don’t cry. Why are you crying so much?”
“Hic, hicc.”
“Is Lady Luina bothering you? That can’t be it.”
For reference, Luina is the Grand Duchess’s name. This bastard, he called his wife’s name while still with me. I have enough decency not to call out Paul’s name while I’m with him.
Even in infidelity, his manners are trash. Despite his status, far above mine, I couldn’t say anything and just cried.
He held me like a child, supporting my naked lower body and patting my back, gently soothing me.
“I don’t know what you’re worried about, Julie.”
His voice was so kind. Except when it came to Paul, he was always gentle and tender.
I looked at him, lost in his gaze. He met my eyes with a smile and wiped away my tears, promising,
“I’ll protect you forever.”
“…”
“You and our child.”
For a moment, my mind went blank.
What did I just hear? He said he’d protect me and our child? But that doesn’t follow the story. Once I’m pregnant, he should abandon us to follow the main storyline. What is this?
But looking at his eyes, it seemed like he meant it. As if the story of him abandoning me and leaving me on the streets wasn’t true, as if the story of me being stabbed and dying was false.
“Are you serious?”
Maybe, just maybe, his words of loving only me for ten years were true. Maybe he would truly love and protect our child.
Knowing it might not be true, I reached out my hand.
“Of course.”
As if he found my question amusing, he laughed, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, closing my eyes.
I heard his whisper in my ear.
“I love you, Julie. I love you.”
His confession, which would lead me to my death the moment he planted a seed inside me, pierced my heart with its foolish ending.
***
I was pregnant. I knew it even before I could count the weeks due to the nausea. How did I know?
Just a few days ago, the Grand Duchess’s pregnancy was announced.
“Congratulations, Your Highness the Grand Duchess!”
“What wonderful news!”
“This is cause for celebration, Your Highness the Grand Duke!”
Everyone celebrated loudly, and he too smiled and accepted their congratulations. He was so happy that he personally arranged for someone from the Grand Duchess’s family, the Elva Marquisate, to come and assist with all arrangements.
That wasn’t all. To celebrate the precious arrival in the Grand Duke’s household, he gave all the servants three months’ wages and served them luxury cakes and wine usually reserved for nobles.
As expected, he stopped seeking me after that day.
“…”
I wasn’t particularly sad or upset. I already knew. Once the Grand Duchess was pregnant, his feelings would wane.
I knew from the start that I would be abandoned while carrying his child.
‘So there’s no reason to be sad…’
But I couldn’t understand why tears kept falling.
See, it doesn’t make sense. It’s too illogical. Falling in love with him, getting hurt by predictable outcomes, being abandoned and ruined…
“Huh… Ah, ah!”
The human heart is truly uncontrollable.
“You’re beautiful, Julie. So beautiful.”
Even knowing it wasn’t true, his words touched me.
“I love you. Truly I do.”
And so, even knowing I would die, I fell in love.
So, I thought, I should leave now. Even if it’s an illogical story, I shouldn’t go against the basic flow. That’s my role as the abandoned maid of the Grand Duke’s household.
I packed my things before my belly grew any bigger.
