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I Hid the Duke’s Daughter (Web Novel) - Chapter 1: Pay me a good price for my breakup.
Chapter 1: Pay me a good price for my breakup.
This chapter is updated by NovelFree.ml
Evelyn stared at the noble lady sitting in front of her. The woman had her brown and white hair tied up tightly and sat with a straight back, a harsh look on her face.
“Ignorant and greedy, desiring someone you shouldn’t covet.”
There was nothing new in such an insult, but Evelyn felt the stab to her pride.
“Of course, it’s alright if my grandson was blinded by your beauty for a bit and made a mistake.”
…And naturally, she felt bitter when she was treated as a “mistake.” Evelyn reflected on why she had to hear this.
She was currently courting Islay, the Duke of Neidhart and the most desired bachelor in the empire. As His Majesty’s envoy, the duke had left the empire on business.
And now the duke’s grandmother, who had been looking for a chance, had come to chase Evelyn away.
[t/n “duke’s grandmother” is translated from “공작 대부인” which literally should mean something closer to “duke godmother,” except 1) this person is a grandparent, seeing that they call the duke their grandchild and So I’ve decided on duke’s grandmother for now. subject to change. Please tell me if i’m wrong.]
“However, how can I turn this matter over to my grandson?” Her frosty eyes glared at Evelyn, filled with only contempt.
She raised her voice. “I mean, if you had not acted so pitiful, would my grandson have fallen for you?”
Now this was really unfair.
Evelyn knew she had never tried to seduce Islay, because she was an extreme realist.
She always insisted. ‘I really don’t understand love and courtship.’
‘Eve, what are you saying?’
‘I mean, does romance give me money or food?’ Evelyn’s colleagues who listened looked at her with uncomprehending eyes.
Evelyn really meant it. For many years, her family had been in decline. Her parents, who had never gotten along, had passed away early. Ever since she was young, she had to earn to feed herself, and so she had always desired money over the so-called “sweet romance.”
So when the duke confessed to her, “Would you like to have a romantic relationship with me?” she had rejected his heart with a sword: “I’m sorry, I have no intention of dating someone.”
But Islay was very persistent.
The most wanted bachelor of the empire, the noblest lord of the empire, the number one knight of the empire…and now among the many titles, he deserved the nickname of ‘the most persistent person in the empire’.
But Islay’s perseverance eventually opened up Evelyn’s closed heart, and she fell in love and began the romance she said she never understood.
Don’t be sad, didn’t I accept his courtship only after thinking that it must end one day?
Evelyn laughed bitterly. In fact, she knew it from the start. That a poor woman from a fallen noble family and the one and only duke of the empire did not go together at all. The sweet fantasies are over, it’s time to return to reality.
And…
She raised her hand and carefully stroked her flat belly.
“As you know, Duke Neidhart is among the best in the empire.” The duke’s grandmother continued to stare daggers at her and loudly clicked her tongue.
[t/n” for this chapter at least, the duke’s grandmother is going to be called by “Lady Neidhart.”]
“To be an insider of the family, you must be a lady who has a status that fits.” Lady Neidhart’s voice sounded as if she was talking to trash she was kicking under her feet.
“Such a lowly, frivolous, poor, humble…you dare to associate with my grandson?” One insulting word after another pierced sharply.
Evelyn, who would usually have gotten up and left immediately, continued sitting while biting her lips.
I have to endure.
Evelyn once again touched her stomach with her hands. Rather, if she were alone, she could have taken care of her pride.
But right now…
She had set her mind on swallowing it.
I can’t be pushed around in here. She had something she wanted to protect, and that made her conviction stronger.
Her amber eyes looked on defiantly.
“I apologize, but relationships are never one-sided.”
“…What? ” Lady Neidhart doubted her ears.
“What did you just say?”
Evelyn, on the other hand, bit her lips until they bled.
She had felt it was inappropriate for her to date the duke, and had planned on quietly stepping away from being Islay’s lover.
But reality had played out like a scene from a common popular novel, and her hopes to quietly separate would not be realized.
“Just like how you need to use both hands to clap,” she continued calmly. Lady Neidhart’s lips trembled.
“Do I have to tell you how much the duke cares about me?”
“How dare you say such things!?”
“Well, if the duke didn’t love me, would this romance have started in the first place?”
Evelyn smiled slightly as she saw Lady Neidhart’s stunned face. “As you know, I’m a humble person who doesn’t even come close to you or the duke,” she spoke in a mild tone that still bothered Lady Neidhart.
Before Lady Neidhart could speak, Evelyn stated, “That means that the duke loved me and hung onto me first.”
“Don’t you dare say that!” The dumb lady jumped out of her seat with anger. Evelyn stared at Lady Neidhart with a cool face.
“So the duke, of course, is a part of the problem…”
Lady Neidhart glared at Evelyn, grinding her molar teeth.
Evelyn’s smiled a bit wider.
“It’ll be better if you convince your grandson.”
“You, this girl!”
“But you probably came to me because you couldn’t persuade Islay.”
She sighed and looked directly at Lady Neidhart.
“Think, Lady Neidhart.”
And then sank into her seat.
Her finger, long and elegant, but with traces of everyday life, tapped the armrest of the chair. Under long lashes, her amber eyes elegantly curved up.
“If I broke up with him now, how would that benefit me?”
“Wha, what?!“
“I am now asking you to offer me the benefits of breaking up with Islay,” Evelyn said with the most relaxed voice she could muster. To Lady Neidhart, she had to make her aware of the situation.
Otherwise, Evelyn wouldn’t get what she wanted.
Lady Neidhart flew off the handle.
“Don’t you dare to say that to me! ”
“Aren’t I right? The duke is not short of people who want to be his lover.”
Evelyn spread open her right hand to Lady Neidhart.
She then folded her fingers one by one, saying, “The noblest aristocrat, the most powerful knight of the empire, handsome, rich, and gallant…”
“Stop it! How long are you going to speak…” Lady Neidhart, with a red-tinged face, bristled with anger.
Evelyn smiled and tilted her head.
“Anyway, I have no reason to break up with the duke right now.”
She raised her gaze and whispered in a secret tone.
“But you’re Lady Neidhart, so I’m sure you’ll be able to give me a reason for me to break up.”
“What do you want!”
“Well, It’s obvious. As you called me a bitch, try to solve this issue the way you would solve it with one.” Hearing this, Lady Neidhart’s eyes filled with relief.
She took out a checkbook from her arms.
“So you want money? Okay, then.”
Evelyn licked her dry lips. Trying not to show her nervousness, she watched Lady Neidhart sign a blank check.
Lady Neidhart pushed the check in front of Evelyn. “10,000 derk. Now quietly disappear from his life.” Her proud voice rang in Evelyn’s ears.
10,000 derks. A wealthy commoner could live on this for five years. Lady Neidhart was confident that Evelyn had never touched that much money and would take it and go.
However.
No, this isn’t enough.
Amber eyes stared down coldly at the check.
Because the amount she needed was much, much more.
Putting on the coldest expression she could make on her face, Evelyn said, “…It seems that Lady Neidhart’s wealth isn’t as great as I thought,” and pushed the check in front of her back to the marchioness.
The voice in question was calm.
“You think I’ll separate from the duke for only this much?”
Evelyn leaned back with her arms folded.
What, she doesn’t even know her situation, how dare she! Lady Neidhart’s eyes caught on fire.
“Fine. How much do you want?”
At that question, Evelyn desperately tried to estimate an amount.
She wouldn’t be sure if she were still alone, but now she had someone she wanted to protect.
How much should I demand? So we can live quietly without being discovered by anyone.
“Of course I need to receive enough to live well in my lifetime.”
“Such extreme greed.” Lady Neidhart frowned, “Tsk tsk,” and she began to admonish Evelyn as she clicked her tongue.
“You don’t even have a sense of virtue, as expected of a fallen noble lady-”
“100,000 derk.”
“What?” Lady Neidhart opened her eyes wide.
100,000 derks? Even 10,000 derks is a lot, where would anyone get ten times more?
The dumbstruck Lady Neidhart shot Evelyn another look. Has this bitch finally gone crazy?
But unlike the embarrassed Lady Neidhart, Evelyn had a calm expression on her face. And then she laughed.
“You do have the reputation of the duke’s family to uphold, do you not?” Her bold voice sounded.
To Lady Neidhart who could not conceal her desperation, Evelyn concluded, “Unless you pay me that much, it won’t happen.”
***
And so a few days later.
Evelyn waited for the carriage to the west of the empire, carrying a heavy bag.
Yes, this is for the best. Evelyn thought to herself.
Her time with Islay was the happiest time of her life.
But one day you have to wake up from the dream.
For Evelyn who had to live in reality, there had never been an option from the start.
Her amber eyes darkened slightly as she sank into deep thought.
[t/n: 호박색 눈동자가 깊숙이 가라앉았다. literally says “Pumpkin eyes sunk deeply,” so I took it as she was in deep thought and her eyes darkened.]
…But though I broke up with him.
She still had the means to live.
100,000 derks were in her bank account.
To earn the money, Evelyn’s pride was trampled on.
She chewed her lips and laughed bitterly.
Lady Neidhart had threatened, “You’d better never appear before my grandson ever again,” deliberately dropping the check as she got up to leave. [t/n: more like an empty threat…]
Evelyn had simply bent to floor and picked up her check.
At that time, Lady Neidhart spoke with a voice full of contempt.
“That’s why it’s best to crawl on the floor, because it’s best suited to trash like you.”
But instead of retorting back in response, Evelyn kept her head in place and avoided the Lady Neidhart’s gaze.
Because if she couldn’t get the money…
“That’s right, the baby.”
Then I can’t protect the baby.
Touching the ship that had yet to depart, Evelyn smiled faintly.
When she found out that she was pregnant, she remembered the many feelings she felt.
Joy and despair, among others, were mixed up in an emotional mess.
But the one clear idea in the midst of all that was to keep the baby.
“Mom will protect you.”
Evelyn muttered in a firm voice.
If her pregnancy was discovered by Lady Neidhart, she would have been forced to abort the baby.
And even if I were able to give birth successfully, it was only a matter of time before the child would be taken away.
And then the child’s future was obvious.
Rather than seeing the child grow up always having to watch out for themself as the duke’s illegitimate child…
“Even though your dad is not with us, I promise, your mom will love you twice as much. So…” Evelyn closed her mouth.
This precious child was proof of their love.
So you don’t feel your father’s absence, I will do my best to love you in his place.
At this time, a wagon approached her.
“Do you want a ride?”
“Yes, I’ll get on!”
At the quick question, Evelyn hurried into the carriage.
The carriage started moving again. Feeling the rattling, she pushed her longing for Islay deep down her chest. A child with the man she loved, and the money to protect this child.
Not bad for what you’ve received in return for the breakup.
So…
Today…is the last day I’ll cry from missing him.
Evelyn took a deep breath.
“Farewell, Lay.”
Tears fell.
She swept away her tears urgently, but couldn’t control the flood of tears that had already started.
She pressed her hands into her eyes, biting her lips to hold back her tears.
Because by doing so, perhaps she would be able to erase the face of the lover she missed so much.
And so in this way, Evelyn disappeared from Islay.
***
yeah, idk what derk is…but it spells it like that in hangul, so i’m assuming it’s whatever fantasy currency. or maybe it’s dollars. please correct me if you know more.
