I Refuse This Life, Your Highness! - Chapter 16

As casually declared, the winner of the day was the Duke.

While he caught a blue wolf, two wild boars, and an eagle, I also caught a badger.

That evening, a lavish feast was held with the game caught by the participants. Each table was piled high with roasted, steamed, and boiled meats.

The crane I caught was also roasted with pig fat and served, one for me and one for the Duke. I couldn’t finish the entire crane, so I only nibbled at it, and then, unable to fight my exhaustion, I excused myself from the table early.

I was already tired, but amidst the loud and lively chatter of others, I had to respond politely and maintain a cheerful expression, which made me even more fatigued.

“Have you arrived, Duchess?”

The servants and attendants bowed their heads.

“Shall I prepare your bath?”

Lesilia, loosening the complicated knots of my banquet gown, asked. I nodded. The tight dress that had constricted my torso loosened, and I felt some relief. I removed it completely and sank into the hot bath.

“Ah…”

The pleasant scent of the hot water enveloped me. A long sigh escaped me involuntarily as I soaked in the comfort and relaxation.

Today had been an exceptionally long day. The hunting tournament had started early in the morning, with Erma, the Duke… I thought that tomorrow, just like in my past life, I should lock myself away in a tent and not go outside.

But I did feel good about repaying Erma for one thing.

After lingering in the bath for a while, I got out when I started feeling dizzy. The bathroom had a brazier burning, so even after stepping out of the tub, it wasn’t cold.

However, as I stepped out of the bathroom wearing a robe and letting my wet hair hang down, I froze.

“D-Duchess.”

The Duke was sitting at the table. I looked at Lesilia, wondering what was going on, but the Duke answered nonchalantly.

“I told them not to wake you since you seemed to be resting well.”

“How… could you have made me wait, Your Grace? My apologies.”

“Waiting for a beautiful lady in the bath is not easy.”

“…”

Had the Duke ever made such a joke? Was it really a joke? Was he mocking me for taking so long to come out?

I had so many thoughts racing through my mind when Lesilia hurriedly approached, putting another layer of robe on me and brushing my wet hair back. Only then did I realize my attire might be inappropriate, even between husband and wife, and I adjusted my collar.

The Duke didn’t pay attention to me, focusing instead on pouring a drink into a glass.

The pale amber color of the liquor made it seem sweet, causing one to forget how strong and bitter it really was. The Duke downed it in one go.

“Did something happen with the Steward?”

“Pardon?”

“I heard you embarrassed him earlier.”

It seemed the Duke had learned about it during the feast. I walked over to sit across from him and replied.

“If I hadn’t, I would have been the one embarrassed.”

“Right. If the Duchess were holding a child’s bow, everyone would have laughed. I understand.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

“It’s odd to praise you for something like this, but well done.”

“…”

I stared at the Duke, unsure how to respond. I hadn’t expected to be praised. In some ways, I had probably acted inappropriately by engaging in a power struggle with the Steward.

I had expected him to say something like, “Next time, find another way,” but this was unexpected.

“Speaking of which, Your Grace, I have a request.”

The atmosphere seemed suitable, so I decided to speak up. However, the Duke’s reaction was somewhat peculiar. Though he maintained a neutral expression, his eyebrows lifted slightly as if he’d heard something pleasant. He stroked his chin and spoke.

“What request?”

“I would like to take over the duties the Steward was handling.”

“Hmm…?”

The Duke slightly narrowed his brows.

“Isn’t it still too much for you?”

“I can handle it.”

Of course, in his eyes, it might be too much for a twenty-year-old Duchess. Especially since Count Chiara had abandoned the Duchy, and I hadn’t received any formal training. Honestly, I too had doubts about whether I could do it.

But I had to. I absolutely refused to face the same future.

In my past life, I had been too afraid to even start when Erma told me I wouldn’t be able to do it. But this time, I was determined. My brothers always said I was smart. Even my parents, who rarely gave compliments, said I was sharp. And as the future lady of a castle, I had been studying what duties I would have since I was young.

Having died once already, there was nothing I couldn’t do. No task would be more frightening than having my neck on the executioner’s block, and nothing would hurt more than witnessing the death of my family.

“I am Lamia, so I’ve been learning the duties of a lady since I was a child. Managing the estate, overseeing servants, and entertaining guests.”

The Duke’s expression was serious as he listened to me.

“Therefore, I can do it. Please, entrust it to me, Your Grace.”

I had not yet mentioned that Erma was involved in any wrongdoings.

If the ledger fraud and embezzlement were discovered, the Steward would likely be dismissed with his wrist cut off, considering his current rank and the years he had served the Duchy. But I was not satisfied with such a small consequence.

“Alright, Duchess.”

The Duke gave his permission!

I brightened my eyes.

“Tomorrow, I’ll prepare the official documents. Erma… yes, he has been overburdened, handling even the duties of the Duchess.”

“That’s right. He always seemed so busy.”

In my previous life, he was so busy that he constantly hovered around me, relentlessly bothering me.

The Duke nodded once.

“That’s actually good timing. After the hunting tournament ends, we can delay the visit to the palace for another month, using the excuse that you’ve started your duties as the Duchess.”

It was about going to the imperial palace. I was glad to hear it. Though I had to meet the Emperor eventually, I wanted to avoid it and delay it as much as possible.

Lesilia finished drying my hair and left. It seemed like she had been waiting for this moment, as she quickly got up, headed toward the bed, and fell asleep as soon as she lay down.

‘The wine…’

It was really a big problem.

Anyway, I also lay down beside him. Though it was hardly “beside him,” as the distance was too far. In the darkness lit by only two dim lights, I stared up at the ceiling decor.

Finally, it felt like something was slowly starting to change.

That night, I was able to fall asleep contentedly.

After three days of the hunting tournament, the next day, Erma was kneeling before me.

Next to him stood two administrators and two castle knights as witnesses.

What he offered me with both hands was a box. The volume of its contents wasn’t large. Inside were several sets of keys, made of gold, silver, and copper—at least a dozen—each for opening various places in the Duke’s castle.

Another set consisted of three solid gold keys. The weapons vault key, the relief storage key, and the treasure vault key, all of which were only held by the Duke and Duchess.

And the official seal of the Duchess.

My personal seal had been given to me immediately upon arrival, but the official seal for approving documents was still in Erma’s possession.

In other words, what Erma offered was the symbol of the Duke’s duties as the Duchess—three key items.

“No problems with the transfer, Steward.”

I said this as I took the box in both hands. Erma glanced up briefly, but when our eyes met, he quickly lowered his gaze. His eyes read:

‘You bastard.’

I was the only one who saw that look, but it was something he said often, so I was certain of its meaning.

At that moment, Erma was so angry that he even discarded the pretense of courtesy toward me, and I feared the words that would follow. Usually, after such moments, violent actions would follow.

‘Exactly, Duchess. Why can’t you understand what people are saying? Not understanding what humans say is what livestock do.’

I felt like such words were about to come out of Erma’s mouth immediately. But he couldn’t even part his thin lips, kneeling at my feet.

Without my permission, Erma couldn’t rise.

I was the rightful Duchess, and he was just the Steward.

I sat in my seat, looking down at the kneeling Erma. I stayed like that for a while, then signed the document confirming the receipt of the keys and seals.

“The documents are here.”

As I handed over the papers, the two administrators checked them one by one to confirm there were no issues, and after a brief check, they passed them to Erma through the knights. The process was complete.

“Now, get up and leave, Erma. You’ve worked hard.”

“Too kind, Your Grace.”

Erma bowed again, slowly rising from his position and backing away. Once Erma had left, the administrators and knights who had completed their duties also departed. Then, I sent out the servants and sat alone at my desk.

The only sound in the office was the crackling of the fire in the fireplace.

The box sat before me.

I slowly caressed it before opening the lid.

Inside were the gleaming bundles of keys and the seal.

These were the items that would make me the true Duchess, the things I had never possessed in my previous life.

I picked up the seal and quietly gazed at it. The ivory seal sparkled in the sunlight coming through the window. It was blinding, so I squinted my eyes. The battle with Erma had just begun.

Erma, finding a place without anyone around, reached his room and, as soon as he closed the door, picked up the bronze bowl in front of him and threw it across the room. It clanged loudly as it rolled across the floor. He grumbled as he threw a few more things, then stood still.

That Lamia.

That crafty and vulgar Lamia… What grudge does she have against me to act like that? What did I do? I thought her face was decent enough, but was she planning to use that pretty face to seduce the Duke? That’s it, isn’t it? Lamia is that kind of person. The Duke, being a dull man, could probably be easily fooled by a face like hers.

“Damn it…”

When I looked at her face, I thought it wasn’t bad. I figured I could make her obedient and keep her around. The Duke was a wooden man, and since it was a political marriage, I thought he wouldn’t care much about his wife. But now, that’s no longer the case.

Erma gritted his teeth and rummaged through the inside of the bed.

What he pulled out was an excessively luxurious and expensive communication crystal ball, something far too extravagant for a mere Steward. He went over to the door again to make sure it was properly locked, then placed his palm on the crystal ball and waited for a while. After some time, the transparent orb started to cloud, and a man’s figure slowly appeared inside.

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