I Refuse To Be A Character In A Novel - Chapter 20

However, last winter, the duke who came back from his expedition sensed an unusual strong energy.

His wife suddenly regained her mana.

It was absurd.

If it were someone else, he would’ve suspected them of using black magic, which was a crime punishable by death.

But that wasn’t the case.

His wife had no control over her abilities.

In fact the mana she regained caused her more harm than good.

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Last winter,

“Thank you for your hard work, your grace. Should I have the bath ready straightaway?”

Usually, Dylan wouldn’t ask such an obvious question, but because he noticed the duke was heading towards his office instead of his room, he wanted to confirm.

“Did something happen while I was away?”

Dylan, who followed his master into his office, didn’t think too deeply about the duke’s question.

It was a given for him to ask about the territory while he was away.

“Everything’s being handled well, your grace, the land-”

As soon as Dylan was about to report on the territory, Zachary cut him off in a stern tone.

“My wife. Did something happen to her while I was away?”

Dylan doubted his ears.

He pulled the chair for the duke to sit on and carefully confirmed his words.

“…The duchess? … Not really, your grace.”

When Zachary narrowed his eyes asking for a detailed answer, Dylan continued.

“She still doesn’t go out of her room much. She ordered a new fox fur last month, and received the dresses she had previously ordered… It was pretty much the same schedule.

The duchess has breakfast and lunch in her room and spends an hour with the young master in the afternoon when he doesn’t have any classes.

When the weather is nice, she spends time in the greenhouse… Oh and, she seemed in a good mood earlier this winter. Apparently the experiments she’s been conducting on her plants have shown some results…”

Dylan impeccably recited the duchess’ schedule, afraid to miss any details before carefully trying to praise her.

“Thanks to the duchess’ efforts, the greenhouse looks so colorful despite the harsh weather. It is really fascinating.”

It was pretty much a useless experiment but the servants were all amazed at the duchess who changed the colors of flowers to her liking, they even asked if she had used magic.

For the first time in a while, the duchess looked innocently happy to hear compliments from the people who normally looked down on her.

He wouldn’t usually mention it, but Dylan felt the need to say something worthy of praise after sensing the duke’s unusual atmosphere.

Contrary to  what people thought of him.

‘The war hero who bathed in the blood of his enemies.’

‘The cold-blooded duke.’

Zachary was actually laid back and easy going.

He wasn’t a friendly person but he rarely got angry or showed open displeasure.

That’s why Dylan became more concerned upon seeing Zachary’s stirred expression.

Did she do something wrong?

Or is he perhaps concerned that she got sick all of a sudden.

…All of a sudden.

Looking over the pile of documents that had to be done, Zachary listened quietly to the butler’s boring report and breathed a long sigh.

Just when he was about to dismiss him, Dylan opened his mouth in hesitation.

“I’m not sure if this should be concerning but…”

“What is it?”

Dylan carefully chose his next words.

“According to her personal maid, the duchess has been a little… sensitive, lately.”

“How so?”

Maybe I shouldn’t have mentioned that.

Dylan thought, as the frown on his master’s forehead deepened.

“Her taste in food has drastically changed, and she doesn’t let any one approach her aside from her personal maid … She also seemed to mix among the servants.”

‘Or not remember them at all’

Dylan swallowed back his words.

He then added reassuringly.

“But that could be due to her fever, people tend to get sensitive when they’re sick. The doctor said that she should be fine after a few days of rest.”

“That’s enough. Have the bath ready.”

When the duke cut him in a dull voice, Dylan stepped out after a formal greeting.

For quite a while, only the sound of his finger tapping on the desk echoed in the office.

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After a warm bath and hearing the report about the land, Zachary decided to visit his wife.

Since the journey was longer than expected, he hadn’t seen her for two months, and only she could answer his questions.

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Knock-knock

While she was leaning on the window frame with her chin in her palm wearing a blank expression, Erna heard a faint knock on the already opened door.

Her eyes still fixed on the outside view, she answered with a tired sigh.

“What is it now?”

Her personal maid, Mielle, had already checked on her 5 times this after noon alone.

Erna, who went to bed after arranging her assignment for tomorrow’s lecture, woke up in her body.

Her original body.

Erna Tersia Heissenstein.

But the place she found herself in was not her home.

And her body was burning up with a fever for days.

She needed time to think, and Mielle who was constantly checking on her was getting on her nerves despite her good intentions.

“Did I come at a bad time?”

Only then did she turn her head towards the owner of the voice.

The low husky voice surely didn’t belong to Mielle.