I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 2

Author – Cherry_Blossom

The sullen mood of the Duchess once again brightened at the taste of the dessert that was placed before her.

“This is so delicious” , As she exclaimed with a refreshed smile, the chef proudly recited the menu of several more desserts he had prepared for them.

He then stretched his hand out to personally serve the Duchess.

“It would taste even better if you added some whipped cream on top of it. May I?”

“Of course.”

Turning a blind eye to Zachary’s persistent gaze, she attentively listened to the chef’s explanation as he presented each dessert.

After savoring the taste, Erna cut a small piece of ‘Käsekuchen’ and placed it before Zachary.

“You should try it. It tastes so good.”

The chef nodded proudly at her words. His eyes were full of admiration for the Duchess who ate the food he made with an expression of joy.

‘Finally, someone who recognizes my effort’ , he thought.

Zachary opened his lips to refuse but reluctantly closed them with a sigh.

It wasn’t that his wife didn’t know the fact that he disliked sweet desserts, but rather, she didn’t seem to care.

Erna then proceeded to serve Jonas a small portion of ‘Gruau de fruit’, which she found to be of a child’s taste.

“But-”

“It’s all right. Since I’m allowing it this time, Mrs. Dale will be okay with it.”

Because his nanny never allowed him to have sweets too late in the day, Jonas would usually finish his dinner before dessert was served.

This time however, his mother asked him to stay,  ‘it wouldn’t hurt every once in a while.’ she said.

Jonas, unable to contain his smile, swung his legs below the table.

Whether it was because of the taste or because of his mother’s care didn’t matter to Erna.

The sight of his plump cheeks adorably tainted with pink as he smiled, was worth it.

‘Food is always the key to the heart.’

Feeling refreshed by the atmosphere, Erna once again started talking, regardless of the short answers that she was faced with.

✰✰✰✰✰

Between approaching her son and avoiding her husband, Erna led quite the peaceful life.

In regards to the Duke, she didn’t truly make any serious effort to avoid him, because in fact the two of them only saw each other during dinner, and even that wasn’t always the case as the Duke would sometimes eat in his office.

So she often thought ‘It’s not such a bad life.’

However, the mere thought of following the novel plot, o r the decisions Charlotte made in her stead,  had her heart in anguish.

It was a pleasing matter that her son was finally opening up to her, but her husband on the other hand, she had to divorce.

Other than his indifferent attitude, Erna felt uncomfortable that he might think of her as someone else.

She shouldn’t have to feel that way in her own body.

More importantly, she might die very soon if she went on with their marriage.

“Madam, are you listening? You said that you wanted to go further than the town square so I think this is a good opportunity.”

Erna opened another one of the invitations that Mielle had given her.

“Hmm….Countess Delaro?”

“She’s Count Delaro’s new bride, I heard she’s from Kinhill.”

Erna looked curiously at Mielle’s reflection through the mirror as she brushed her hair.

“She’s been married for a few months now. Madam didn’t attend her wedding because you were feeling unwell at the time, so you might not remember.”

Mielle told the story naturally. 

As she was her personal maid and her only friend in the north, Massila, Erna had confided in her that she had amnesia after she fell ill earlier that winter.

That much wasn’t a lie.

Perhaps due to the shock she experienced as she collapsed back then, Erna lost some of her original memories. On the other hand, because she didn’t experience it in person, the memories of the last 8 years were also blurred out in most parts, leaving the Duchess acting in contrast to her usual behaviour.

A few weeks ago, the servants started talking about how the Duchess was acting differently.

Cautious that it would reach the Duke’s ears, Erna tried to adjust her behaviour according to how Charlotte acted in her body.

Her effort didn’t even last a few days.

Charlotte had a completely opposite personality to her, and Erna soon realized that it was absurd what she was doing.

‘Why should I have to act like her when I’m the real Erna?’

On that thought, she decided to ignore their whispers and acted according to herself.

‘No one would assume I was possessed anyway.’

Thankfully, her personal maid who apparently followed her from the Marquis’ house, proved herself as a trustworthy person, so now she would sometimes remind the Duchess of things she couldn’t remember.

…And even things she could remember.

Her personal maid surely liked to talk.

Very much.

“Since his grace is in partnership with many nobles, most of their wives in the capital have been trying to get closer to the Duchess, but you’ve been declining all sorts of outings. Now, even in the Duke’s territory, not many invitations are sent anymore.”

“That makes sense.”

Luckily for me, Charlotte was not active in the social circle. She built her own small world in that greenhouse, and rarely left it.

Having concluded that she no longer had to be wary of people’s reactions, Erna tossed the invitations on the dressing table and walked to her bed.

“Are you going to decline again, Madam?”

Mielle complained with a sulky look.

She often felt sorry for the Duchess who rarely went out.

“No. I’ll go.”

I need to catch up on what has been going on in my absence, and more importantly, I need to break the plot.

Thinking so, Erna recalled the plot of the novel.