The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 48.1
🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀
In reality, even behind his back was no place where she could hide. With numerous people coming to witness the incident, there was a crowd behind Benjamin.
The voice of the man who had just reported the situation was loud enough for some nearby people to hear without missing a word.
“They said it was revenge against the Duke’s wife?”
“If it’s the Duke, there are many, aren’t there?”
“But the closest one to here is…”
Their gazes seemed to be tightly focused on Grace’s back. She found it difficult to breathe.
The voices echoing in her mind and the suspicions of the people intertwined, making her head even more dizzy.
“Ugh…”
“My Lady, it’s okay.”
Benjamin comforted her continuously telling her it was okay, but Grace wasn’t sure what was okay.
He lifted her head, and his warm voice contrasted with his cold expression.
“Your voice was too loud. You’ve spread unconfirmed information for everyone to hear, so be prepared for the consequences.”
Benjamin placed Grace back on the horse. In truth, he didn’t want to leave like this, but there was no time to wait for a carriage.
Grace grasped the edge of Benjamin’s sleeve. Pale, she whispered to him.
“Your Highness… where would those people live.”
By “those people,” Grace meant the people from the orphanage.
Even in a situation like this, seeing her concern for others, Benjamin’s eyebrows furrowed.
“Even now the people you’re most worried about are them… Let’s take them to a safe place.”
“All right.”
“If it’s okay with you, I’ll take them to the Duke’s Mansion…”
Grace’s words couldn’t continue. She judged that they might not go to the Duchy because of her.
Benjamin said it was fine, he comforted her and told her to rest for a while. He called one of the security guards and whispered something to him.
With a ringing in her ears and blurred vision, Grace’s consciousness faded.
After that, she couldn’t recall any further memories.
⋆★⋆
When she opened her eyes, she saw the familiar ceiling that had become so accustomed to her.
‘The annex…’
At first, it was a place that felt unfamiliar, but now it was Grace’s place to return to.
All the delusions tormented her again as if the brief moment of clarity had been a lie.
<Do you really think you didn’t do anything?>
<You probably just can’t remember because you’re so stupid.>
<Ugly and foolish.>
“Ugh…”
Sharp voices filled Grace’s mind with noise.
After hearing these voices every day, anyone would have felt confined in the mansion.
It was hard to believe that just a few hours ago, she had been spending relatively happy moments.
‘Is this also because of me?’
<Isn’t that obvious? Then who else is there to blame?>
The voice spoke to Grace, who was blaming herself. In reality, it was more like a one-sided reproach.
Pressing her throbbing head, she pulled the nearby bell rope.
Sally appeared in response to Grace’s call.
“Have you woken up, madam?”
“…Um, could you tell me what happened while I was lying down?”
“While you were asleep, guests arrived at the main house. And Your Highness went to the palace for a while.”
“I see.”
Following Grace’s request, Benjamin allowed the people from the orphanage to enter the main mansion.
Some praised the Duke’s actions in helping those who suddenly found themselves with nowhere to go, while others criticized it as an act to suppress the rumors about Grace.
Even without witnessing it directly, Grace could clearly discern the unfriendly gazes directed at her.
‘Is it because I know the original?’
Recalling the original story, which was filled with unfriendly gazes towards Grace, made her feel bitter.
<See, it’s working well.>
<Actually, staying still is helpful, isn’t it?>
‘Staying still will only lead to death.’
Grace countered the voice that blamed and criticized her.
The voice said,
<Then it’s better to die…>
Snap!
“Kyaaa, madam!!”
She didn’t want to hear the rest. If she listened, the fragile things that were barely holding on inside her would break.
Grace forcefully slapped her cheeks with both hands.
Though her cheeks stung, her mind became slightly clearer.
‘This isn’t a matter of ‘which one hurts more?”
She couldn’t just stay still. No matter how scared she was, she couldn’t tolerate it.
🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀
