I Ended Up Saving the Duke Who Was Meant to Die - Chapter 5.4
My eyes widened at the unexpected location. I had been preparing etiquette, but I didn’t expect to go so suddenly. What if my existence harms him? What if they point fingers at me, saying my red hair is unlucky?
I couldn’t bear it if he became more troubled because of me. I’ve never been pointed at by people, so I don’t know how it would feel. But I didn’t want others to suffer because of me.
“Severus, I think it’s better if I don’t go. Not yet, a little more…”
“Irene, I know you’re reluctant, but we’ve received an invitation from the Emperor, so we can’t refuse. But if you really don’t want to, I can go alone.”
“Your Grace!”
Albert exclaimed, raising his voice. Seeing his reaction, it seemed it would be troublesome if Severus went alone.
“What if you become more troubled because of me?”
“That won’t happen. If anyone points at your red hair, it’s because they’re jealous, so you can ignore it.”
“Still…”
“I like your red hair. There’s no reason to hide it.”
Severus nodded towards the maids. As if they had been waiting, those outside the door came in and started attending to me.
“We don’t have time, so skip the unnecessary parts. Albert, you can leave now.”
“Understood. I’ll have the carriage ready.”
Albert bowed and left the room. I surrendered myself to the maid’s hands as she combed my hair. They focused on grooming, applying powder here and there.
“…Isn’t Severus going to leave?”
“Does my presence make you uncomfortable?”
A little bit. It was fine to do my hair and makeup, but I needed to change clothes, and he didn’t seem to have any intention of leaving.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just here because I’m worried you might try to escape through the window like last time.”
“I won’t.”
“You might try to leave me behind and go alone.”
To be honest, I hadn’t completely ruled out that thought. But jumping out in a flowing dress could be life-threatening, let alone seriously injuring myself. I could heal myself, but it didn’t appeal to me.
“Then don’t look.”
He nodded as if understanding and closed his eyes. He clearly wasn’t looking, but just being in the same space made me nervous.
Clothes were layered over the thin chemise, and eventually, the maid pulled on the corset strings of the dress.
“At this rate, we won’t make it in time. I know your skills, but we’re pressed for time.”
“We-we’re sorry.”
“I’ll do the rest, so you can leave now.”
Severus said as he stood up. The maids stopped tightening the corset strings and hurriedly left. He had already come behind me and grabbed the strings, then said,
“You don’t need to inhale that deeply, it’s enough.”
“…You could have let the maids do it.”
“I got impatient just watching.”
“You said you wouldn’t look earlier! Did you see everything?”
“I thought I was only supposed to not look when you were undressing, so I watched you get dressed.”
“Severus!”
As I exclaimed in shock, he chuckled softly. Suddenly, he pulled on the strings, and his breath touched the nape of my neck.
“Ah, it tickles.”
“It’s to tie the strings, so please bear with it for a moment.”
“The maid doesn’t tie it this clo- oh!”
“But if you relax too much, it’ll be troublesome.”
He was definitely teasing me. When I turned my head to glare at him, he looked at me with innocent eyes and stepped away.
“The preparations are done, shall we go?”
He extended his hand to me, and I felt a bit annoyed.
“There’s no need to be nervous. Just let their words go in one ear and out the other. Most of it will be worthless and disgusting talk anyway.”
“Will that person be there too?”
I took his hand. Escorted by him, we left the room and headed towards the carriage.
“Who do you mean by ‘that person’?”
“Her Highness the Princess who helped at the gate.”
“Hmm.”
Severus pondered for a moment. Though it wasn’t a long contemplation, he seemed uncomfortable with the topic of the Princess.
“She’ll probably be there.”
“Were you supposed to marry her?”
“No. The Princess and I could never have been together, no matter what.”
The hostility directed at me was still vivid.
“When we go this time, she’ll finally see my face that she was so eager to see.”
I wonder what expression the Princess will make when she sees me with my red hair. Her anxious and impatient attitude might disappear, replaced by a look of displeasure.
The Princess I saw was more beautiful than anyone else.
Brilliant golden hair that seemed to hold the sun and clear eyes that reminded one of a blue lake. Her beauty was so striking that it left an indelible impression, and it was clearly etched in my mind too. She exuded an aura completely different from someone like me who had lived wandering the streets.
It was something I could never possess even if I died and was reborn.
Her insistence on confirming my appearance must have come from confidence that she would be superior to anyone in comparison. The desire for what one cannot have, and curiosity about the person who took it away, was natural after all.
“Irene, to my eyes, you are more beautiful than anyone else.”
“Thank you.”
I smiled while gripping his hand tightly, but my heart was uneasy. Red brings misfortune. But I didn’t want to become his misfortune.
At least not this time.
***
The palace was bigger than I expected. Even from a distance, one had to crane their neck to see the top, and you had to turn your head painfully from side to side to take in the entire view of the palace.
From the moment we entered the palace, many gazes stuck to us.
“Oh my, look at that woman. She has that ominous red hair. And she’s with Duke Blake… gasp! Could she be the woman they say he took as his wife?”
“It must be her. My goodness, how can it be so red? I wonder if she has witch’s blood flowing in her. Oh, it’s so ominous.”
“How could they let something like that into the palace? Has the Duke finally gone mad?”
“My goodness! Lady Charrine, watch your words. What if the blood-crazed Duke beheads you?”
Whispered voices brushed past my ears. Those we met in the corridor either turned away with contemptuous eyes or froze in place as if they had seen something they shouldn’t have.
“Just let their words go in one ear and out the other.”
I smiled lightly at Severus’s words. As Eliza had said, I just smiled without showing any other reaction. It wasn’t unexpected, so I could just ignore it.
