CHAPTER 08
CHAPTER 08: This is Hell.
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The office room where there is only the sound of white paper fluttering. Kassian, who was reviewing the pile of documents, suddenly smiled. It was because of Arne's face that suddenly appeared above the black letters he was reading.
ARNE : "Actually..."
She was embarrassed to say it with her own mouth, her head bowed and slender shoulders. There was even a hand that was trembling thinly as she barely grabbed the hem of his clothes. Was it stressful in an unfamiliar environment, or was someone secretly harassing her? One single word that made all the thoughts that filled Kassian's head disappear.
ARNE : "I was afraid of the first night."
The first night was scary. As he pondered those words again, Kassian laughed again. Even thinking about it again, it was an absurd reason.
KASSIAN : 'I didn't appear to be someone to be scared of...'
Kassian's sharp judgment made an accurate decision, but kassian himself did not know. Because Arne was afraid of 'I might kill my husband on the first night'. It was weird. Long, smooth fingertips tapped the paper. At the same time, Kassian's eyes darkened. It was very rare for Kassian to be so interested in someone. Because there were always only three kinds of humans to him. A useful human. useless human. and human beings in the way. Kassian had no likes or dislikes. It was so easy to win the hearts of people, and even easier to use them. Before deciding whether he likes or dislikes him, there was no special person himself. By the way… …
ARNE : "Good."
Arne was different. A soft smile crept onto Kassian's lips. Arne, who was reeling from Kassian's words that he would not lift a finger if she didn't want it When Arne, who had her eyes glowing saying she liked the idea, came to mind, Kassian finally laughed out loud.
ALAN : "... ...?!"
As Kassian laughed, Alan, who had been concentrating on his work, looked at Cassian with a surprised look.
ALAN : 'Why is he laughing all of a sudden? Has he gone crazy?'
Is it because there are more than twice as many documents that need to be done in one day? Kassian, who suddenly smiles while processing serious papers, has never seen or imagined anything like that in Alan's life. Alan was afraid.
ALAN : "There… … Your Majesty?"
Carefully, Alan called for Kassian, and then the smile disappeared from Kassian's lips.
KASSIAN : "What is it?"
ALAN : "No, no... ...."
As if what had just happened was a mirage, Alan scratched the back of his head in embarrassment as he faced Kassian's frozen face. And then turned to the paperwork again.... Next to him, Kassian grinned again.
ALAN : 'What? Did he really go crazy? Or am I crazy?'
Kassian's expression hardened for a moment while Alan was alone in confusion and deep thought. That being said, there is one thing that he hasn't solved yet.
KASSIAN : "Alan."
ALAN : "Yes? Yes?! I never thought you were crazy."
Alan, who was pricked, told the truth, but Kassian didn't care what Alan thought. Alan, who read Kassian's expression, said quickly.
KASSIAN : "Is there anything you want me to do?"
Kassian nodded. With a fishy smile, Kassian ordered.
KASSIAN : "It seems that a rat is hiding in the castle. Find them and kill them."
The blue eyes, that resembled like the winter, shone coolly.
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Today, at the peaceful Ternewzen Castle. Arne smiled happily, drinking tea with nanny Eva.
ARNE'S MOTHER: "No, how could this happen!"
ARNE'S MOTHER: "Who did this?!"
The peaceful Ternewzen Castle soon became noisy. Even today, Arne's mother, Duchess of Brillhit, should have a good time with her, but the magic ball was found broken.
ARNE'S MOTHER: "Why the hell is this broken?!"
ARNE'S MOTHER: "Strange. Isn't there even an enhancement magic on it? It cannot be destroyed by any human power… …"
ARNE'S MOTHER: "Who the hell did this?! Come on, come out!"
ARNE : 'Oh, it's cool inside.
When no one was looking at Arne, she gave her strength towards her fingers, and shattered the magic sphere. This made Arne feel better. She has been through a lot to be able to break it thus easy. While the maids were noisy looking for the magic sphere manager, the gaze of the nanny Eva quietly turned to Arne.
EVA : "Surely... ...?"
ARNE : "... ..."
Arne didn't say anything and just smiled. At that moment, the surroundings suddenly became noisy. The magic sphere's keeper seemed to be Erica. Surrounding Erica, the other maids were interrogating her.
MAID [1] : "Do you know how much this is? Are you crazy?!"
ERICA : "Sorry. Obviously, it was fine when I got it, but somehow this happened... ..."
MAID [2] : "Even if you work in this castle for 10 years, you can't buy this magic sphere! Breaking something so precious...."
There was something strange about the atmosphere. Arne beckoned to Eva.
ARNE : "That maid, what's going on now?"
EVA : "How will it be? Since she broke something precious, she will be kicked out like this. Of course, the debt must be paid off. Because she made such a serious mistake, no other family will accept her. In short, the life of a maid is over."
ARNE : "... ..."
EVA : "It is not an amount that she can pay back a penny or two by doing anything. Then, in the worst case, she could be sold to the tower. If so... ..."
ARNE : "... ..."
Arne looked up at the sky for a moment. She wanted to pretend that she didn't know as much as possible and act as if it had nothing to do with her..... Even so, she couldn't sit still and watch someone who was good in her work suffer serious damage. she can't help it. Arne stood up.
ARNE : "What's going on?"
All the maids were nervous at the appearance of the Grand Duchess. This was particularly the case with the handmaiden, Marte.
MARTE : "It's not something that Your Majesty would care about. This is our...
ARTE : "It's happening in my castle and it's something for me to worry about, so I'm disappointed to say."
Arne smiled brightly, and the maid Marte's expression darkened. Lady's speech training over the past three months was paying off. Eva, who was watching Arne from behind, didn't know what to do with her beating heart.
EVA : 'I must tell the Duchess about today... ...! I must!'
Not knowing what kind of conspiracy, the nanny was preparing from behind, Arne calmly looked at the maids. She knew how to handle this kind of thing. She didn't want to fight with the maids for nothing. At first, Arne preferred physical fights to verbal fights. She had a physically fit body, but she couldn't understand why she was fighting with words.
ARNE : "I already know that the magic sphere is broken. Even if I didn't want to know, I found out because it was so noisy. I don't know why you're making a fuss over something like that. It's not a big deal, so don't make a fuss over it and let it end it here."
People's reactions to Arne's words were completely different.
MAIDS : 'Are we really going to end it here?"
Arne tilted her head as she received a surprised look on her body. Erica, who was crying, was moved and looked at Arne with her trembling eyes. The conscience that was slumbering in those eyes was stabbed her again, but Arne tried to pretend to be calm. The other maids looked at Arne with their surprised looks, and then looked at the maid again. The maid Marte was rarely perplexed. It was rare for her. A spoonful of the duke's assets is precious. It was rare for the superiors to show mercy when something as small as a magic sphere was smashed.
MARTE : 'No, almost none.' (T/N: I guess she is referring that none of the nobles far superior than her ever showed any mercy.)
It was a big event that Marte herself, the handmaid, could not avoid as well. But Arne casually covered such a big thing.
MARTE : '… … It's extraordinary.'
A look of surprise flashed in Marte's eyes. When it was first announced that the Grand Duchess would come from abroad, the people of the Duke's family did not welcome it. Originally, the Western Empire and the Northern Empire did not have a good relationship. The Western Empire viewed the Northern Empire as an inferior and ignorant tribe, and the Northern Empire viewed the Western Empire as an empty river that only flaunted its façade. Therefore, the people were terrified that their Grand Duchess would be a rude, extravagant, and neurotic woman.
MAID [3] : "I don't understand the Grand Duke is thinking."
MAID [4] : "Why on earth does the Grand Duke have to go all the way to the Western Empire to meet the new Grand Duchess?"
MAID [5] : "If I was the Grand Duke, I would welcome any daughter of the Northern Empire as the Grand Duchess...."
However, when Arne arrived, contrary to expectations, everyone liked her. Arne wasn't rude, she wasn't extravagant, she wasn't a neurotic woman either. She was attractive, didn't do much, and didn't annoy the maids. She was the best that the maids have served thus far. The people of the castle, who had no idea Arne was the Grand Duchess, had a crush on Arne.
MARTE : 'No. Because the Imperial family are troublesome people.'
MARTE : "Are you really fine with covering it up like this?"
Marte came to her senses and asked to confirm. While Marte was nervous, her hands were sweating, Arne looked at Marte who was about to pass, and was delighted with it.
ARNE : "What is it something to be serious about? It's okay, people can make mistakes in life. Should I buy another magic sphere?"
Aside from the fact that the magic sphere was expensive enough to cost more than one mansion, the maids murmured as they looked at each other at Arne's very cool attitude. Even Erica clasped her hands and looked at Arne as if worshiping her. When the hostess of Ternewzen Castle says so, who can resist? Everyone left wondering if it was really okay with this. Arne smiled calmly when the work was completed without any problems.
ARNE : 'Thank God. Nothing happened.
ARNE : "Now, is this situation over? Everyone go back to work."
Ordering the maids back, Arne returned to the garden to enjoy tea time again.
ERICA : "My Goddess!" (T/N: original: "Rain Lord!" so I changed it.)
ARNE : "Huh?"
Erica ran and stood in front of Arne. Erica, who was quickly approaching with her sleeve wiping her reddened eyes because she had cried, suddenly knelt in front of Arne.
ERICA : "Please accept my loyalty!"
ARNE : "... ...?!"
Arne was embarrassed.
ARNE : "Why are you here, calm down...
ERICA `: "No, you are my benefactor who saved me. If you cover my faults like this, you are not human unless you repay this kindness. Please accept my loyalty."
Receiving loyalty itself was not unfamiliar or difficult, but the opponent was the problem.
ARNE : 'But I was the one who broke that magic sphere!'
Arne couldn't tell the truth, and she felt like she was going to die of frustration. Arne first tried to talk calmly.
ARNE : "It's okay, just calm down."
ERICA : "Are you saying it's because I'm not good enough?! Are you saying you don't need the loyalty of a maidservant like me?!"
ARNE : "How does that even make sense? No, it's okay... …"
ERICA : "I will work hard! I'll risk my life! please accept this!"
Arne just wanted to die. As she watched Arne in pain as she wrapped her arms around her forehead, Eva laughed loudly.
EVA : "It's a cute pledge of allegiance. Please accept it, Your Majesty."
ARNE : "Eva... …"
When Arne looked at Eva with a gaze to let her help her, Eva laughed out loud. And spoke.
EVA : "And Miss Erica. There is nothing to worry about."
Eva suddenly went somewhere and appeared in front of Arne with a new magical sphere.
EVA : "Voila!"
ARNE'S MOTHER: - [Ho Ho. I thought something like this would happen once, so I sent a lot of my magic spheres. Oh ho ho ho.]
The mother in the magic ball laughed leisurely. Arne and Erica's reactions were divided at once.
ERICA : "Wow!"
ARNE : "... ..."
What the hell have Arne done so far? Arne quietly screamed inwardly.
ARNE : 'This is hell....
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KASSIAN : "You said that happened?"
GRAY : "Yes, she said so."
Gray, the butler, smiled warmly as she reported what the maid Marte had reported to him. Kassian rubbed his chin.
KASSIAN : "I thought you wouldn't be interested in this... ..."
He thought that she had a calm personality that would not even blink an eye even if a war broke out next to her, but it seems that he was wrong. A smile grew on Kassian's lips. Suddenly, he wanted to see Arne.
ALAN : "Where are you going?"
As Kassian stood up, Alan, who was working next to him, asked involuntarily. Kassian grinned at Alan's gaze.
KASSIAN : "To see my wife."
ALAN : "Yes... ...?"
Kassian left the office. Alan, who looked at Kassian's back stupidly, blinked his eyes. Probably… …
ALAN : "... ...Your Majesty has become strange."
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The magic sphere case ended peacefully, and Arne was currently on the run. Erica rushed to Arne, who spent time writing and reading it as hell, having a friendly conversation with the Duchess, as if it was a second game.
ERICA : "Please accept my loyalty!"
While running away to avoid being caught by the chasing Erica, Arne found herself hiding in a corner of the castle she didn't know well.
ARNE : 'Why am I always like this?'
When Arne came to the Northern Empire, she always felt like she had this kind of life. Maybe it's her mood? Seeing Arne running, the maids' corps said they would hurt their feet if they ran, so they all followed, so they couldn't get out easily. Missing the old tree she had always run away from, Arne thought about how to get back to a comfortable bed without being noticed by the maids.
ARNE : 'Should I ride on the outskirts of the castle and go around the walls to the Grand Duchess's room?'
Arne seriously thought about climbing the rugged fortress wall, without hesitation of the thought that would surprise others if they heard it. Just as Arne was about to execute her plan through the window, someone called Arne.
ERICA : "Charge!"
ARNE : "Ahh!"
Arne felt the infamous character she thought was far away from me. It was a familiar sign, so she was ignoring it without realizing it.... Arne's expression hardened as she turned her head.
ARNE : "You..... What the hell is that... ...?"
A certain humble man was standing in front of Arne in a maid outfit. Crave, whose red hair was hidden in a brown wig, looked down at his clothes and replied casually.
CRAVE : "I disguised myself."
ARNE : "As a maid?"
CRAVE : "Yeah."
ARNE : "Did anyone spot you?"
CRAVE : "Of course not, disguise and stealth are my specialties!"
Arne, who was speechless, looked at Crave with disbelief. No, only this appearance left him uncovered. Who doesn't know that? It was difficult for Arne to accept that the proud Golden Dragon Knights of the Western Empire were like this. Even Crave was the leader of the Golden Dragon Knights after Arne and the first sword of Emperor Ciklion IV.
ARNE : "What about the other Knights and where are they?"
CRAVE : "I wrote my resignation letter and left!"
ARNE : "... ...What? Why?"
CRAVE : "Because my place is next to the Sword Master!"
ARNE : "... ..."
Crave said proudly.
CRAVE : "I had no choice but to swear an oath of allegiance to His Majesty as a noble duty, but the only one I follow is the Sword Master. Forgot the Battle of Saranol? The Commander saved my life. My oath is heavier than death."
Hearing Crave's determination, Arne's feelings were simple.
ARNE :"So you're not going to chase me until the day I die?"
CRAVE : "Yeah."
ARNE : "Get out."
CRAVE : "I do not like to!"
Crave grabbed Arne's arm.
CRAVE : "What kind of marriage is the Commander stuck with in the first place? I'm not crazy! It looks like you're pretending to be weak. Isn't this the Duchess's plot?! Bringing back my wonderful Commander!"
Arne was bothered by everything.
ARNE : 'Please get out… …'
CRAVE : "Where did you get Evermore and Nevermore again! Commander, why are you treating me like a sword!"
ARNE : "Why is it that the person who knows best about what is embedded in their subspace is looking for them?"
CRAVE : "If the Commander doesn't summon him often, it's going to whining. In the first place, it is strange that the owner of the legendary sword was chosen based on looks rather than talent, but anyway, it's the Commander's sword!"
ARNE : "Okay, it's noisy and go back. Uncle Sarno is going home soon, so we can go together."
CRAVE : "I do not like it! I won't fall even a single step from the Commander's side!"
ARNE : "Whenever you joke around... ..."
CRAVE : "I'm not joking."
Crave had no doubts that Arne would die unmarried for the rest of his life. Either way, Crave begged for it to cling to Arne, who pushed him away.
CRAVE : "Please let me remain as a maid. I'm good at that job."
ARNE : "You're talking nonsense."
It was when Arne struck Crave in the back of the neck, causing him to faint, and thought of throwing it to his uncle, Duke Sarno. Suddenly, Crave whispered.
CRAVE : "Shh! Commander, someone is coming!"
Who could be coming? It was when Arne frowned.
KASSIAN : "What are you doing here?"
Arne's body hardened reflexively at the voice of Cassian heard from behind.
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[SINCE I CANNOT POST THE ILLUSTARTION THAT PIG CAKE(THE ARTIST) MADE, HERE IS A LINK:] (LEADS TO THE ILLUSTRATION...)
https://i.pinimg.com/564x/ab/7f/90/ab7f908747dd28044df63cb4ac998fb9.jpg
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SORRY FOR THE BAD TRANSLATION, SOME OF THE WORDS CAN'T BE TRANSLATED BY G.TRANSLATE, AND I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT THEY MEANT.
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ASSOCIATED NAMES : 칼끝에 입술
TYPE : Web Novel (KR)
GENRE : Adventure; Comedy; Drama; Fantasy; Josei; Romance; Shoujo
TAGS : Aristocracy; Arranged Marriage; Beautiful Female Lead; Comedic Undertone; Devoted Love Interests; Doting Love Interests; Enemies Become Lovers; European Ambience; Female Protagonist; Handsome Male Lead; Kind Love Interests; Knights; Male Yandere; Misunderstandings; Power Couple; Sword And Magic; Sword Wielder; Tomboyish Female Lead
LANGUAGE : Korean (translated to English)
AUTHOR(S) : 윤슬
ARTIST(S) : Pig Cake; 돼지케이크
ORIGINAL PUBLISHER : Naver
PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR AT NAVER.
I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING!!!
JUST THE (ENGLISH) TRANSLATION.