IELNDMH - Chapter 54 < I Just Want You to Know the Truth >
I Ended Up Living Up Next Door With My Ex-Husband
I had to spend a long time feeling the fresh mountain breeze blowing through the wide open window on my face.
It was to relieve some of the heat that had seeped into my cheeks.
'Cedric, why are you saying such nonsense?'
Not long after arriving at the cabin, Cedric received a message from Chief Devon and went outside again. It was a message that he had something to discuss about maintaining the village.
I was left alone for a long time to cool down by blaming Cedric. After the heat had subsided a bit, I suddenly remembered what Cedric had said before leaving.
'If you want to help the village people, go near the hall. The village people gather there every day and work together.'
While saying that, he didn't forget to tell me to return to our hut immediately if the villagers were rude to me. Cedric could clearly sense that the people here were gnashing their teeth at me.
'I'm sure everyone will hate me if I go, but I've come this far so I have to try.'
After leaving the cabin, I walked along the quiet path, savoring the tranquility.
The sound of chirping birds and the clear air filling my lungs seemed to clear my mind. But even for a moment. As I got closer to the center of the village, I felt the harsh gaze towards me gradually increasing.
"Who on earth came to our village just because you like them?"
"Therefore! It's really shameless!"
"Aww, wow, that's so shameless!"
People were standing in the distance, stomping their feet in disgust, and others holding dangerous farming tools and glaring at me menacingly.
I didn't do anything wrong, but all I felt was a sense of resentment as I received harsh glares and criticism. I wanted to heap harsh words on Rebecca, who had lived her life doing such reprehensible things.
However, the real Rebecca, who was to be scolded by the people here and me, had already quietly disappeared, leaving behind a mountain of trash for me.
'Ha.... After all, I should blame myself for possessing this body, but who should I blame?'
All I could do now was to pretend not to know that it was my fault and that the glares and criticisms were pouring down on me.
I walked alone for a while, hiding my fear.
Finally, in the distance, the community center building began to slowly come into view, and I saw Mina standing in front of it, waiting for me.
It was then that a sigh of relief flowed from my lips.
"Uh? Your Highness!"
As soon as Mina spotted me, she ran towards me with a bright smile on her face. There were other maids by her side.
"What about His Highness? He's been in that cabin with you this whole time, right? Just the two of you, right?"
At the same time, other maids crowded around me and started asking questions.
"What have you two been doing so far?"
"It's been a while since you headed to the cabin!"
An inexplicable anticipation was shining in their eyes. Then, I pursed my lips at the girls who burst into laughter.
"Stop talking nonsense. By the way, was everyone here except me? Especially you, Mina."
"Are you a little sad?"
Then Mina curled her lips and asked with an expression that seemed to imagine something she should not imagine.
"Aiing....... I hope you have a better time without us!"
Her cheeks blushed and her body twisted. I looked at Mina pitifully, then shook my head and turned my attention to the village hall.
"Are you also here to help with the village work?"
Among the maids, each nodding her head vigorously, Mina answered in a bright voice as always.
"Yes, we are not strangers and everyone is busy working, so we want to help out!"
The moment she finished speaking, Mina's face, which had been smiling brightly, gradually began to stiffen awkwardly. It seemed like she suddenly had an ominous feeling.
For a moment, she exchanged hesitant glances with the other maids. Mina's anxious gaze slowly turned towards me.
"Now that I think about it, the secret message is... What are you doing here?"
Chin! Took-!
The sound of fish being cut into pieces echoed harshly throughout the workshop. As expected, the people in the workshop did not seem pleased with my appearance. After making a fuss, they soon ignored me and started concentrating on their work.
The work referred to here was preparing the fish caught in the sea below the cliff so that it could be sold. It was one of the main means of livelihood in gray zone villages near the mountains and the sea.
"Your Highness, really... Are you okay?"
"Huh? What?"
When I inadvertently turned my head, all my maids, including Mina, were crying.
"For someone who has never seen anything like this in his entire life to come here in person...."
"Don't you think you'll faint? No, it's not like this! Let's just get out now!"
The village women in the workshop seemed to think the same way. They all turned their backs, pretending not to be interested, then suddenly turned to me and shouted.
"Oh yeah! Don't disturb me and get out! How does a person who has lived her entire life without having a drop of water on her hands clean fish? You'll be lucky if you don't get into an accident!"
"If that woman faints here, she will embarrass us in front of His Highness!"
It seemed like they couldn't trust the fact that the beautifully grown Grand Duchess Rebecca had come to help them with their work.
As I looked at them, a smile slipped out of my lips. In my previous life, I was the one who unintentionally took care of the household thanks to my husband who was incompetent not only at outside work but also at housework.
'There's no way I would faint from something like cutting fish, right?'
I walked past the maids who were looking at me with concern and headed toward the center of the workshop. Then, I lifted the hem of my dress and sat down on an empty work chair.
At that moment, I felt all eyes in the workplace were focused on me. I pretended not to notice their gaze and caught the fish with my bare hands.
"Can I start with this?"
At the same time, all the faces in the workshop were filled with astonishment.
"Your... Your Highness, don't do this! "
"Your Highness really can't do it!"
"Oh, noble Grand Duchess! Don't disturb me and quickly get out of the way......."
That moment when dissuasion and criticism poured in from all directions at the same time, I lifted the heavy knife without hesitation.
Took-!
"This is really... Are you saying Her Highness did everything?"
Foreman Jacqueline dropped her thick lower jaw in disbelief. Until I appeared here, she had been blaming me for getting out in the loudest voice.
For a moment, she was surprised to see my basket piled with prepared fish like a mountain. Jacqueline opened her eyes nervously again and began to pick up the fish I had cleaned one by one with her thick hands and examine them.
"You could barely pretend to do it well...."
Seeing her muttering like that, she seemed to suspect that I couldn't have taken care of it properly. Jacqueline looked at the fish I had prepared for a long time. And then she blinked her eyes, unable to hide her embarrassment.
"How is this........ When did you learn this?"
I looked at Jacqueline and gave her a hollow smile.
'Try living with a director with an annual salary of 10 million won and the only thing he knows how to do is make side dishes. Will that work or not?'
That's what I really wanted to say, but I suppressed those words and raised the corner of her mouth.
"Ho Ho....... well? I guess it's all an innate feeling?"
That time when I let out an awkward laugh to ease the situation.
Before I knew it, all the village people who had gathered around me could not hide their expressions of surprise.
"Are you really saying the Grand Duchess did all that on her own? That would be enough for almost three days, right?"
"Oh my! Her skills are much better than yours, too."
".......Did you think of me like that?"
They were whispering to each other, but whenever they made eye contact with me, they would move their hands and turn their heads.
The only ones who showed signs of admiration were my maids.
"Is there something you can't do, Your Highness ?"
"I don't know, but thanks to Your Highness, when I go down to the village this time, I'm sure the profits will be much more than before, right?"
Mina, who was making a fuss about her, gave Jacqueline's attention by tapping her plump side.
"Right, Jacqueline?"
Then Jacqueline glanced at me with a look on her face that seemed slightly grateful, although she still disapproved of me.
"I don't know what talent you were born with, but...... You did well for your first time, Your Highness."
"Thank you, Jacqueline."
Jacqueline continued as she carelessly threw the fish she was holding in her hand into the basket.
"But don't think this is going to make us feel better."
"..."
"We used to be treated as elites, but now we end up cleaning fish here, it's because of Her Highness the Grand Duchess."
A look of disapproval appeared on Jacqueline's face again as she crossed her arms. The same was true for other people standing around me.
"That's right, that's right! Do you know how proud my parents were of me when I got a job as an assistant to the Twins?" You didn't just take our jobs away from us!"
Each villager expressed their sense of injustice. The good news was that their expressions had softened a little compared to the first time.
I looked around at them carefully and nodded slowly.
"I know very well that I can never be forgiven for something like this. I don't think the hurt I gave you is so light that you can be forgiven for something like this."
The villagers exchanged glances at my words. I spoke again, looking at the basket full of prepared fish.
"I just did this because I wanted to help you in some way. And the reason I established a welfare foundation...."
The workplace became quiet enough that I could feel everyone concentrating on what I was saying. I paused for a moment and then turned my head towards the people.
"It all started with the desire to help you."
After saying that, I slowly lowered my head towards them.
"So, I hope you can understand my sincerity."
People who were surprised by my sudden action started to get upset. Mina seemed to be equally surprised, and she hurriedly grabbed my arm.
"Your Highness! Don't do this! You bow your head to those who once worked as servants!"
Despite Mina and the other maids' dissuasion, I didn't move at all. And then they went on to offer the sincere apology they should have received from Rebecca a long time ago.
"I know very well that an apology is not enough."
"... "
"But as for realizing too late what my responsibilities were as mistress of the Twins..... I really wanted to apologize to you all."
At that moment, the inside became noisy again. When the murmur had passed, Jacqueline's feet, visible from a low angle of view, began to slowly move towards the door of the workshop.
When I slowly raised my head, I saw Jacqueline already preparing to leave.
"What are you all doing? If you're done with the work, just go out and don't prepare for the next task!"
Her booming voice echoed loudly throughout the workshop.
'I knew they wouldn't accept it easily, but...'
It was a time when I looked down in confusion, Jacqueline's voice echoed throughout the workshop once again.
"Ah, what's ugly is ugly! She is the hostess of our Twins family, so shouldn't we at least throw a welcome banquet!"
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