The Grand Duchess Escape

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The dawn air was unusually crisp.

Despite the early hour, Asella’s eyes opened on their own. The windows were tightly shut, and the fireplace near her bed still crackled with flames.

It was comfortably warm inside. Moreover, it was already clearly spring, far from the cold of winter.

Nevertheless, a chill ran through her body, causing her to shudder.

Asella pushed the blanket that covered her and pushed herself up. As she set her feet on the floor, the long, velvety fur of the carpet brushed against her bare feet.

She slipped on a pair of soft slippers and made her way to the dressing table, and pulled a pendant from the depths of a drawer.

‘Has the letter arrived?’

For the past ten days, the Grand Duke’s residence has gone as usual without any news from Chartus. Asella had subtly tried to inquire with the maids, but they all shook their heads, seemingly unaware of anything; however, that on its own was suspicious.

With mixed feelings, Asella refrained from pressing them further.

‘I suppose they’re preparing for it somehow?’

Suddenly, an inexplicable anxiety crept into her chest, making her feel suffocated. Asella took a deep breath and repeated the cycle of inhaling and exhaling, trying to calm her breathing. But the foreboding feeling that kept rising from a corner of her heart was unavoidable.

That’s when she heard a sound from the doorway.

‘Who could it be?’

Although it was the time for the servants’ duties to begin, it wasn’t for the maids. Only the mistress’s exclusive servants were allowed to enter her bedroom and wake her, with Margo being the designated one. However, even for Margo, it was still too early.

‘Am I hearing things?’

However, the subsequent sound was unmistakably that of a knock on the door, and Asella turned her body towards it.

“Your Highness, it’s Margo. Are you still asleep?”

“Madam Romain?”

As Asella wondered about the unexpected visit, her eyes caught a glimpse of the dawning sky. For some reason, a chill ran down her spine.

 What could Margo be looking for at this early hour? The thought that something bad had happened flickered through Asella’s mind.

“I apologize for coming so early in the morning. May I come in?”

“Please come in.”

Asella welcomed Margo while she tried not to appear nervous over the surprise visit. But as soon as she met Margo’s completely stiff expression, her heart sank.

“His Grace, the Duke is expected to arrive at the estate sometime this morning.”

“…I see.”

However, the visit at this early hour couldn’t be explained by simply delivering that news. Asella looked straight at Margo.

“Do you have something else to tell me?”

Her voice sounded hoarser than usual, as if her throat had become blocked, while Margo nodded.

“Yes.”

***

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