Chapter 6
{It wasn’t me, it wasn’t me!}
‘Selena’s’ screams seemed to be ringing in my ears. Even on the execution platform, Selena cried out claiming her innocence. Although why would she still loudly scream her innocence, even in that hopeless situation…no way…what if she really didn’t poison her husband?
Yes, it must be a misunderstanding or a false accusation. She was likely innocent.
[Still talking? Get lost.]
Of course, despite having such an angelic face, he spouted harsh words like a devil whenever he opened his mouth. And although my anger surged a little every time it happened, there’s no way I would kill him because of that!
In her previous life, she was a good-natured person who couldn’t even kill a single bug because she was too scared of it. Really, what kind of misunderstanding led to the conviction of Selena as the culprit behind her husband’s murder? It seemed that it happened against her will.
As a powerless duchess, I just sat blankly and had no choice but to wait for my death. Even worse, it was a death by hanging.
[I heard that you were out of your mind, are you really crazy?]
I smiled dejectedly as I remembered what Amoide said. As he used to make vitriolic remarks whenever he saw me, I didn’t even feel hurt now.
For the past two weeks, when I realized everything, I’ve been trying hard not to turn around. So that they could laugh as much as they want.
Whether it was Camilla’s cold sneer or sarcastic remark, or even the maids’ veiled hostility and ridicule…It was better than having my neck being hung on the gallows.
So, I’ve been pondering for the last two weeks. How can I avoid the vain death? How can I survive safely and live peacefully in this world?
The beautiful face, which was groaning agitatedly, glimmered in front of my eyes. My handsome but sick husband. My only lifeline. The one and only person who could save me from that terrible death. The necessary and sufficient condition for my safe and smooth life.
When I thought of the face of my lifeline, I felt like everything around me lit up. He really had such a face. In the complete darkness, his face was like a candle that emitted light and brightened up the surroundings. He was that kind of person.
[Go away.]
Ah, of course, his personality was terrible.
[No matter how hard you try, you won’t get what you want from me. Don’t even dream about it.]
Yeah, I won’t dream about it. No need to worry.
I nodded as I swore to myself. My goal is to keep my head perfectly attached to my body. (t/n: again, she meant that she wanted to avoid being hanged)
In fact, how many nights in the past two weeks have I dreamed of struggling for air with the noose tied around my neck? Just the thought of it sends shivers down my spine. I don’t want to go through that again, not even in my dreams.
‘I’m going to leave this mansion alive no matter what.’
So I, ‘Selena’, decided.
I will save my husband and survive!
*****
‘Where am I?’
It was dark all around.
‘It’s suffocating,’
I couldn’t breathe properly. When I tried to take a deep breath, I felt something stuck to my nose. I could feel the texture of the rough fabric.
‘What is this?’
It was only then I realized that my face was covered with something cloth-like. Since the black cloth covered my whole face, the surroundings were dark. But why is this cloth covering my face?
“……”
Suddenly, fear came upon me.
“Hello, is there anyone here? Please…this…ugh.”
I could feel something strangling my neck. A thin rope or something similar was tied around my neck. The tightly pulled rope almost constricted my neck, leaving me barely enough room to breathe.
It was really difficult to breathe. I felt dizzy and it was hard to keep my body steady. I tried to remove the cloth covering my face with my hands, but both of my hands were tightly bound behind me.
“Uh…Uh…” I writhed with each excruciating breath that escaped my mouth.
Then I realized. Under my feet. When I realized what I was standing on, I felt chills and shivers run down my spine.
(t/n: well, I’m kind of curious why she felt cold when she was scared, so this is what I got: Essentially, anxiety and fear can cause us to hyperventilate and consequently our blood flows less efficiently. Blood flow is also directed toward our larger organs that are more crucial to survival, and thus our extremities are left with sensations of being cold. So fear can cause you to feel chills.)
The thin, flimsy plank beneath my feet could break anytime. As I moved, I could feel that it was shaking greatly. Extreme fear took over every inch of my body.
“Don’t worry, you won’t die right away.” Someone whispered close to my ear. “I’ll make sure you suffer the pain of dying very slowly.”
Thud. Once again, the rope around my neck was pulled hard. This time it was tightened until I could hardly breathe.
Nevertheless, I didn’t feel like dying at all. As I was about to die, the rope stopped tightening. I couldn’t breathe or move freely, yet I couldn’t die, even as I was slowly strangled.
After a while, I suddenly felt my body float. With a peculiar feeling of weightlessness, I looked down. Then I saw it. A body and a head that were barely connected by a single piece of flesh. It was even hard to describe it as ‘attached’. It was mine… ‘Selena’s’ face. (t/n: gosh, I got goosebumps while translating this 😣)
*****
“Ahhhhhh!”
I screamed as I bolted upright.
“Ahhh, ahhhhhhh!”
I reached my hands out and moved them randomly in the air. My hands weren’t restrained by anything and moved freely. My body wasn’t tied and I could breathe freely. When I realized that fact, I felt a great sense of relief.
“Huff…huff.”
I finally came to my senses after inhaling the air deeply into my lungs.
“Here…just where is this place………”
Out of breath, I looked around warily. It was dark but not as suffocating as before. My body was covered by soft silk, not a coarse woven cloth. The soft texture on my body gradually brought me back to reality. It was just a dream.
“Just what is this………”
As my tense loosened, I felt dizzy. My body was soaked in sweat. The area of the bed where I lay was damp. My sleepwear was completely drenched too. My messy hair clung to my sweaty forehead and cheeks.
Click.
“Milady, is there anything wrong?”
I heard Rona’s voice, followed by bright lights filling the room.
Rona drew back the curtains and approached my bed. “Did you have another nightmare?” As she had become quite used to this situation, she immediately checked my condition.
“Rona…” I murmured blankly. “My neck…is it attached?”
“Pardon? …ah, yes.” Rona looked at me bewilderedly and carefully observed my neck.
“My neck…is it really attached?” I didn’t have the courage to touch my neck. It was too vivid… ‘Selena’s’ miserable face with her neck only attached to the body by a single flesh.
“Yes, it’s securely attached.”
“Re-really?” I asked again while clasping Rona’s hand.
“Yes. Milady can try touching it yourself.” Rona raised my hand and brought it around my neck.
After being stunned for a moment, I was soon able to heave a long sigh when my fingertips touched my slender neck.
Dud. Dub.
At the end of my fingertips, I felt a strong pulse. It was proof that I’m really still alive. Though my pulse was quite rapid due to my shock, I was grateful. “Thank goodness…”
Tuk. Tuk.
Drop by drop, tears started falling from my eyes and fell on my hands. And soon, I burst into tears. Just how many nightmares have I had now? I’d rather not remember anything from my previous life or the novel…Without any reason, why are the memories suddenly coming back and constantly torturing me?
“But why am I here?” This was my bedroom. I last remembered coming out of Amoide’s room after nursing him. But I opened my eyes to find myself on my bed. I even changed my clothes to nightwear. I frowned because it seemed that my memories were messed up.
“Oh, does Milady not remember anything at all?”
“Remember what?” I felt like I was becoming dumber. I just woke up from a nightmare of being hanged, and I still wasn’t relieved completely from my shock. Everything was so scary to me.
“After Milady came out of the duke’s room, I went to prepare the tea, and when I came back, Milady already collapsed in the hallway. I called someone to bring Milady into your room. It’s already been a day.” Rona explained to me one by one while holding my hand tightly.
“A day…” It meant that I collapsed for the whole day. “…I see.” I gradually calmed down. My throat was sore. I must have screamed loudly since it felt like I swallowed a handful of sand and it stuck in my throat. It hurt. “Cough-cough.”
Seeing me cough incessantly, Rona quickly brought a glass of water and held it out. I immediately gulped it down. As the cool water flowed down in my throat, I finally managed to come to my senses.
“Ummm…Milady…”
I heard a voice with a careful tone beside me. “What?”
“Madam was looking for Milady.”
“Even though she knows that I had collapsed for the whole day?”
“……Yes. She wants me to bring Milady as soon as Milady wakes up…….” Feeling guilty, Rona’s voice gradually diminished… she was not the one at fault though.
Camilla was going really hard on me. She really was. I can’t believe that she still treated me like this although she knew that I had fainted for the whole day.
“Is Milady alright? Should I just inform Madam that Milady was not feeling well? Maybe Milady can see her tomorrow instead…” Rona seemed to read my mood.
“No. Tell her that I’ll see her soon.” I jerked aside the blanket that was covering me. “Since you want to see your daughter-in-law’s face so badly, I’ll show it to you.”
At that very moment, I got up and stepped on the floor…
(t/n: I hate cliffhanger but this chapter ends here, what can I do~~~)
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