The Grand Duke Who Wants Me Dead Is Surprisingly Kind - Chapter 7

Chapter 4.1

The portion she tore from the book was a small, hand-drawn map of the Grand Duchy.

“I should start by memorizing the locations of the castle gates leading in and out of the Grand Duchy.”

Her first step was figuring out how to escape the Grand Duchy safely. After studying the map thoroughly and carefully folding it away, she moved on to search for another book.

〈 Marriage in Noble Society. 〉

It was a book she had read countless times in preparation for marriage, following her father’s wishes.

Anais flipped through the worn-out pages roughly, quickly pinpointing the section she needed. She set the book aside, pulled out a sheet of paper, and began writing. Her hand didn’t stop until she placed the final period.

“There. Now I just need the Grand Duke’s answer.”

Around the time she had nearly completed her preparations for both survival and marriage, a sharp, unwelcome voice rang out from beyond the door.

“Open the door.”

Upon hearing that, Anais reflexively closed the book, hid the papers inside her dress, and moved to the center of the room. Then, without permission, the door burst open. The click of pointed heels echoed as someone strode in.

“You’ve come, Madam Jade.”

The high, ornate heels stopped just a few steps inside the doorway. The owner of the jewel-studded shoes, her sensual crimson hair pinned up, cast a sidelong glance at Anais.

“Tsk. That unsightly appearance of yours actually worked out, didn’t it? You landed the role of Grand Duchess, looking just like your dead mother.”

Her words were sharper and more spiteful than usual.

“It must run in the family. Your mother lured poor Nectar in, and now you’ve trapped the Grand Duke. I suppose this is a once-in-a-lifetime stroke of luck for you.”

Madam Jade.

She had been her father’s mistress since the days when her mother still held the title of Viscountess. After bearing him a son, she became the real power behind the Viscount’s estate even though that son was falsely presented as the late Viscountess’s child.

“Truly, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Both mother and daughter are equally cheap and vulgar.”

Anais could endure Jade’s insults and contempt without much trouble, but not when they were directed at her mother. She lifted her head and met Jade’s gaze with steady violet eyes.

“…What? Are you glaring at me now because I insulted you? How insolent.”

Jade furrowed her brow deeply, clearly displeased.

But Anais, not avoiding her gaze, spoke firmly.

“Madam, speaking ill of the late Viscountess is the same as dishonoring my father.”

Jade blinked, stunned by Anais’s unwavering stance, then scoffed.

“How is that the same? There was nothing between them. And besides, I’m only stating facts.”

She mocked Anais’s defiance with a smirk, folding her arms as she continued, “There are plenty of things you don’t know that I do. Especially when it comes to Nectar.”

Wearing a contemptuous expression, Jade nodded at the maid who had followed behind her.

The maid stepped forward and handed Anais a box.

“Well? Aren’t you going to open it? It’s a wedding gift.”

“….”

When Anais finally opened the box, she froze at the sight of several bottles neatly arranged inside.

“Those little ones are contraceptives. Make sure you take them regularly.”

Jade, pulling one arm out from where it was crossed, pointed with the tip of her finger to the far end of the box.

“The bottle next to them is poison.”

Not understanding what she meant, Anais looked up at Jade. In response, Jade ran a long finger across her crimson lips and smiled brilliantly.

“If trouble arises, it’s better you die.”

Still smiling, she tilted her head slightly forward and whispered,

“It’s your father, Nectar’s will. Do you understand?”

As she straightened her posture again, she looked down at Anais with a satisfied grin.

“Don’t forget to be grateful to Nectar for raising you and sending you off to such a good family. I expect you to pay him back for all he’s done.”

“….”

Anais, given death as a wedding gift, stood frozen in place, speechless.

‘You’ve served your purpose by getting married. If you’re going to cause trouble, just die. For your father’s sake.’

The brutal message etched itself deep in her mind.

Even though, in the future, it would be her husband, the Grand Duke, who would kill her, even now, her own family was already pushing her toward death.

Still, her father was the only family she had left.

That was why she had tried to go along with all those senseless marriage proposals.

The composure Anais had fought so hard to maintain shattered like glass crashing to the floor. It felt as if she had been abandoned in the middle of a battlefield, surrounded by enemies. The bitter part was that such a situation didn’t feel unfamiliar to her at all. It was simply a truth she had tried so hard to ignore, now laid bare before her eyes.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps and a knock interrupted the silence.

“What now?”

Jade, who had been watching Anais’s stunned expression with amusement, snapped irritably.

A maid flinched and stammered.

“There’s a guest here to see you.”