TGDHC Chapter 67

Chapter 67: A Sudden Blow

It was the same at the perfume shop we entered next.

“You know how it is—if you stay on Her Highness’s good side, your business will thrive.”

‘Saying that out loud right now is probably just making things worse…’

But the baron was so eager, wiping sweat from his forehead and trying hard, that it felt awkward to stop him.

“What are you waiting for? Go and assist Her Highness.”

So the shopkeeper reluctantly introduced a few perfumes to me.

None of them stood out, but I bought a few anyway because standing around awkwardly was worse. I said a polite thank-you and left.

“That shopkeeper’s attitude was terrible,”

Cecilia, who followed me out, grumbled while glancing at me.

“I think we’ve seen enough now.”

When the baron tried to guide me to another street, I held up my hand to stop him.

If I saw any more, I felt like I’d fall apart emotionally.

“Ah, you must be tired from walking. I wasn’t thinking,”

The baron said with a troubled expression.

“I just really wanted to give you a good impression of Goldrain…”

“Don’t worry about it. I did enjoy looking around.”

I turned to Cecilia.

“Let’s return to the palace.”

“Your Highness—”

The baron stopped me in a rush as I turned away.

“Won’t you have a cup of tea at my café before you go?”

He awkwardly folded his hands together.

“You should rest before getting into the carriage.”

I really wanted to refuse, but when I saw the droop in his shoulders, I couldn’t say no.

‘He must be tired too…’

He had been working hard to smooth things over with the shopkeepers.

If I just ran off now, he would probably feel terrible.

“…All right, then.”

In the end, I followed him to the second floor of the Delitar Café.

***

“What did you just say?”

I looked up, shocked by what I had just heard.

“Me? Taking money from an inn?”

“Oh, you didn’t know.”

Baron Gelfrey fiddled with his teacup, looking like he regretted bringing it up.

“Please don’t worry. No one with sense would believe such a rumor.”

So that explained it.

That cold attitude from the shopkeepers.

“There are just… quite a few people in Goldrain spreading that nonsense.”

I bit the inside of my cheek.

“As the head of the Merchants’ Guild, it’s a bit awkward for me, too,”

He added, then explained how it would help if I made a public appearance and greeted the shop owners.

One problem after another.

Just when things seemed to be getting a little better…

Would I ever feel truly at peace in Blenheim before the year was over?

“I gathered the shopkeepers before your departure—if you could just say a few words to them…”

There was a butter cake on the table.

It was that same greasy cake I had tasted during my first visit to Goldrain.

Suddenly, the smell of butter made me nauseous.

I feel sick.

The uncomfortable stares I’d received all day seemed to crawl up my body and choke me.

I couldn’t even hear what the baron was mumbling anymore.

I’m going to throw up. I want to go home.

Gasping for air, I jumped to my feet.

The room, the air—everything felt unbearably suffocating. I couldn’t stay any longer.

“Your Highness?”

“I have to go.”

Ignoring the startled baron, I hurried down the stairs, using the wall to support myself.

Thankfully, the carriage was already parked outside the café.

Good thing I had told Cecilia to have it ready.

Just thinking about being able to leave gave me a small sense of relief.

But then, I saw a crowd gathered in front of the carriage.

Who are they?

The large northern men standing there with harsh expressions made me instinctively shrink back.

My eyes immediately searched for Tiern and the knights.

When I saw Tiern standing in front of the carriage, my racing heart finally began to calm.

“These are the shopkeepers who gathered to see Your Highness off.”

The baron, who had rushed down behind me, stepped forward with a bright face.

“I didn’t expect this many to come.”

Cecilia came rushing to me with a worried face and whispered,

“The Merchants’ Guild ordered businesses to close and told everyone to gather and see you off. The mood isn’t good—we should leave quickly.”

What is this nonsense?

Doing something like this without even asking me?

I glanced sharply at the baron. He avoided my gaze.

Though he was smiling, his expression didn’t look proud.

“I told you—it’s better for Your Highness to be seen by the shopkeepers at times like this.”

Then he suddenly raised his voice toward the crowd.

“Her Highness has come all the way to Goldrain to encourage you. You should be honored!”

The shopkeepers’ eyes grew even colder.

The baron calmly extended his hand toward me, guiding me forward.

“Your Highness, if you could say a few words before you leave.”

I had the urge to shut him up right then and there, but I stepped forward.

Now that it had come to this, I couldn’t just run away.

I’d say something quickly and then escape.

“I’m sure you’re all busy, so thank you for coming here because of me.”

Oddly, I didn’t feel this scared when standing in front of knights.

My chest felt tight.

“I know how hard you work to keep Goldrain running. I’m always impressed every time I visit.”

This wasn’t the time for polite jokes.

One wrong word and they might really throw something at me.

That’s how tense the atmosphere was.

I didn’t even know what I was saying anymore—just blurting out formal pleasantries.

“…I’m sure the head of the Guild will look after you, but if there’s anything I can help with, please let me know.”

Just as I finished speaking—

“Trying to suck the life out of someone else again?”

A sharp voice rang out from the crowd.

What?

Everyone turned, but with so many people around, it was impossible to tell who said it.

“Now you’re here to drain the blood and sweat of the North!”

Another voice came from the opposite side.

Tiern narrowed his eyes and drew his sword. The knights followed suit.

“Who—who said that?!”

The baron frantically looked around, searching for the speaker.

“Your Highness, let’s get you into the carriage.”

Cecilia urgently grabbed my arm. I turned to follow her, but more insults shot through the air like arrows.

“You’re just a marquis’s daughter!”

“How dare you crawl in here!”

The harsh voices came from all sides.

“Into the carriage, now!”

At Tiern’s command, the knights surrounded me, shielding me from the crowd.

As they drew their swords, the shopkeepers at the front stepped back in fear.

Some, clearly not wanting to be mistaken as supporters, started to leave the group.

Then—

“Take this and get lost!”

Splat.

Something cold hit the top of my foot.

I looked down to see a sticky yellow liquid soaking the hem of my dress.

It was a raw egg.

“Your Highness! Hurry!”

Cecilia urged me, but for some reason, I couldn’t move.

Then the second egg flew.

Cecilia quickly reached out, but it slipped past her fingertips.

Smack!

Her scream echoed across Goldrain.

A dull thud echoed in my skull.

I reached up and touched my face. Sticky liquid clung to my fingers.

Egg yolk was dripping down my chin.

I stood there in shock, unable to move.

The smell of raw eggs filled the air.

Behind the stunned Cecilia, gasps of horror spread through the crowd.

I caught a glimpse of Tiern’s face, full of panic.

My vision spun, and everything turned upside down.

The Duke is going to be shocked…

That was my last thought before I lost consciousness.

***

I stood looking down at an empty execution platform.

So… I died.

There were no visible signs, but I just knew it.

That I had died up there just moments ago.

Had some time passed?

The viewers and the executioner—everyone was gone. It was quiet.

A trickle of blood ran down the wooden stairs, washed over with water.

Then I heard the sound of armor clinking as someone slowly climbed the steps.

It was a man in full armor.

He had a large frame, but for some reason, his hunched shoulders looked small and powerless.

“…”

The man stared at the stained floor for a moment before dropping to his knees.

“…I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

His tightly pressed voice trembled with emotion.

“I was too late…”

He clutched his chest and cried.

Who is this man, mourning my death like this?

I watched him with a strange feeling.

Then he lifted his head.

The Duke?

Why was the Duke here?

I tried to move closer, but nothing happened.

And when our eyes met—his black eyes full of tears—something suddenly pulled me away from that place.

***

Gasp!

I opened my eyes with a sharp breath.

The soft glow of the bedside lamp lit up the dim room.

It was a dream.

I reached for my neck with trembling hands.

My sweat-drenched hair stuck to my cool skin.

Was that dream born from my fear?

The death of Anette from the original novel had come back so vividly, as if I’d lived it myself.

I must have been more shaken by the earlier attack than I thought.

I should sleep more.

I reached for the blanket, trying to pull it up.

“Don’t move.”

A strange voice stopped me.

I flinched and turned my head.

A man wearing an expensive robe was sitting beside the bed.

“Who are you?”

I asked, immediately on alert.

The man had long hair tied back. I had never seen him before—not in the palace.