I Have A Terminally Ill Duke As My Husband (1 Chapters Left to Complete) - Chapter 9
“My lord, are you feeling dizzy again?”
Seeing Edward approaching him, Luan quickly stepped forward and said.
“A little. It’s not too bad. My lady, this is Edward, the butler who manages all household affairs for the ducal family.”
“At last, I am honored to meet you, my lady. I apologize for not being able to greet you this morning upon your arrival due to my busy schedule—please allow me to offer my apologies here and now. Should you need anything while staying at the ducal residence, please don’t hesitate to let me know.”
Ah. This doesn’t seem like the right moment for formal greetings.
Mercian looked worriedly at Luan, who appeared even paler than before, and spoke.
“Edward, I’m also glad to meet you. Let’s save the greetings for later—for now, His Grace seems dizzy, so please help him to his room quickly.”
“Oh! Yes, understood. Clea?”
“Oh my, my lady—what are you doing here? Wasn’t Charles waiting for you? Where on earth has that child gone?”
At Edward’s words, Clea approached Mercian, adjusted her dress, and glanced around.
“Head maid, I’m right here. I’m sorry, my lady.”
“It’s alright, Charles.”
“Hurry and escort the lady, then.”
“Please follow me, my lady.”
“Thank you, Charles.”
Luan watched Mercian follow Charles, supported by Edward, and said,
“Then, my lady, I’ll see you at the wedding banquet.”
“Yes, Luan. Go rest quickly.”
Luan returned to his room leaning on Edward, while Mercian, guided by Charles, entered a different room—not the one she had stayed in previously.
“What is this place?”
“This is the duchess’s room, where you’ll be staying from today onward, my lady.”
This is my room?
Previously, even as the daughter of a humble viscount, Penelope had shown no interest in Mercian, so her old room had only a basic bed, a dressing table, and a small wardrobe.
She’d occasionally felt a twinge of envy seeing Lucianne’s room—more splendid than those of most noble daughters in the empire—but compared to this room, Lucianne’s seemed utterly insignificant.
A chamber at least three times the size of her old room, with a large bed big enough to lie down four people side by side, an exquisite solid-wood dressing table, a full-length mirror, and even a small table by the window for tea…
Mercian looked around the room at Charles’s words.
“Do you like it? The head maid spent several days decorating it—she said if anything displeases you, we can change it.”
“No, it’s fine. Anyway…”
I’ll be leaving in six months—no need to trouble anyone unnecessarily.
“Yes?”
“I said I like it.”
Mercian swallowed the rest of her words and smiled, prompting Charles to nod in relief.
“That’s truly wonderful. Then let’s get you out of that wedding dress first—it must be uncomfortable. Oh, wait just a moment, please.”
Charles hurried to a small door beside the room, opened it, and came back carrying four or five dresses.
“Over there?”
“Yes—that’s your dressing room, my lady. It isn’t fully stocked yet, but there are plenty of dresses for now. If you ever need more, we can always have them tailored.”
“Plenty?”
As if entranced by Charles’s words, Mercian rose from her seat, opened the small door, and found a dressing room nearly the size of her old entire bedroom—already one-third filled.
“All these dresses…?”
“They were sent by the atelier during your wedding dress fitting. They said they only selected pieces they believed would suit you well.”
“Oh…”
Mercian recalled the seamstress’s words: alongside the wedding dress, she’d send additional gowns tailored to Mercian’s measurements.
But this isn’t just a few—it’s dozens!
Charles spoke, watching Mercian stare blankly at the countless dresses in the dressing room.
“My goodness, it’s already this late. You must quickly change into your banquet gown and attend the reception.”
B-banquet?
Ah, right—after the wedding ceremony comes the reception. Surely I won’t have to wear my cloak there… but I suppose avoiding people’s gazes will be impossible anyway.
Today really is going to be an exhausting day.
Unaware of Mercian’s turmoil, Charles held up one of the brought dresses against her body and said,
“My lady, purple and green suit you surprisingly well—probably because of your fair skin.”
“Oh… really?”
“If it were up to me, I’d choose the pale green.”
Just then, an unfamiliar voice came from behind.
“Madam!”
Charles, who had been holding a dress up for Mercian, bowed respectfully upon seeing Olivia enter the room.
Madam?
Mercian looked toward the middle-aged woman entering the room.
The only person who could be addressed as “madam” in this mansion must be Luan’s aunt—the previous duke’s younger sister.
As Mercian stood to greet her, Olivia gestured for her to sit and said,
“That’s enough. We’ll be seeing each other often—no need for such formalities. Your name is Mercian, right?”
“Yes…”
Olivia couldn’t help but smile, struck by how Mercian—visibly tense and awkward from her sudden entrance—resembled a fluffy white puppy trembling before a lion, yet utterly adorable.
“My name is Olivia Canoluph—Luan’s aunt.”
Mercian immediately stood and bowed deeply.
“Aunt Olivia, it’s my first time meeting you.”
“I said greetings aren’t necessary. Now that you’ve married my nephew, call me by name freely—would that be alright?”
“Yes, Aunt Olivia. Please feel at ease.”
“Mercian, to be honest, I was worried when Luan told me he’d marry you. Of course, I don’t mean to look down on your family—but selfishly, I’d hoped he’d marry a daughter of a more distinguished house.”
Indeed—though he had only half a year left to live, as heir to House Canoluph, many noble families must have eagerly proposed matches.
While Mercian agreed with Olivia’s reasoning, she still felt a bitter pang in her chest.
“But now that I see you, I think I was mistaken.”
“Yes… what?”
“I truly like that you look healthy.”
H-healthy? So… you’re not disappointed that I’m plumper than other noble ladies?
Mercian stared at Olivia with a puzzled expression.
“You might feel hurt hearing this, but I’ve always thought one frail person in this household—Luan—is enough. If only he were healthy… But seeing you, so full of life, after watching him wither day by day—it fills me with joy. Somehow, I even feel that being with you might help Luan regain his health. Of course, that’s just my selfish hope… Oh dear, here I am burdening you with such talk on our first meeting. All I ask is this: spend happy days with Luan before he departs. I hope this marriage brings neither of you regrets. And if, by chance, a child comes—it’d be wonderful, but if not, that too is God’s will.”
Though Olivia appeared stern and sharp at first glance, every word she spoke revealed her deep affection and care for Luan.
Seeing Olivia, Mercian thought of Penelope—who’d never shown her anything but indifference, fixated only on Lucianne.
So this is how Lucianne must have felt growing up with such a loving mother.
Watching Olivia earnestly clutch her hand, Mercian felt envious—despite Luan’s short life, having an aunt like this made him far happier than she, who had a mother useless even when present.
Mercian smiled brightly at Olivia’s clasped hand and replied,
“Don’t worry, Aunt Olivia. I’ll do my very best to ensure His Grace—no, Luan—is happy.”
“Good. Thank you. And if anyone in this household ever mistreats or bullies you, tell me immediately.”
“Yes.”
“Well then, this old woman should be off. It’s your wedding night—holding you too long would be impolite. Also, there’s no need for you to attend the banquet. I’ve already told everyone Luan is unwell and won’t be attending, so you should rest as well.”
I don’t have to attend the banquet?
Relief flooded Mercian—she nearly wanted to embrace Olivia out of sheer joy.
“But the guests—especially His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, I heard he came…”
“Who dares complain about a duke who’ll be dead in six months? Rest easy.”
“Yes, Aunt Olivia.”
Once Olivia left, Charles looked wistfully at the dress and said,
“That green gown would’ve suited you so beautifully—everyone at the banquet would’ve stared only at you.”
That was certainly true. Standing beside Luan, they’d inevitably draw all eyes.
“Charles, if I don’t have to go to the banquet, I’d really like to sleep. And… sorry, but could I also get something to eat first?”
“Oh! You probably barely ate earlier. I’ll prepare something immediately.”
After Charles bowed and left, someone knocked on the door.
“Come in.”
“Mer, you were truly beautiful today.”
“Mother?”
Could it be… did she really come to see me?
Delighted despite herself, Mercian rose from her seat at Penelope’s unexpected visit.
“Goodness! Everyone kept saying you looked so sickly I thought you’d be on death’s door—but you’re actually quite presentable. I was worried you’d be too chubby and embarrass us.”
“Mother!”
“I’m just saying. Anyway, this must be your room now.”
“Yes…”
“Just as Lucianne said—the ducal residence truly is something else. Such exquisite furniture! This dressing table would suit Lucianne perfectly. What’s that room over there?”
From the moment she entered, Penelope showed zero interest in Mercian herself—only chattering about Lucianne while inspecting every corner of the room. It made Mercian want to laugh bitterly.
What did I even expect?
“Did you come to see your married daughter—or to check if there’s anything here Lucianne could take home?”
“Mer, what kind of talk is that? Of course I came to see you.”
“I wish that were truly the case. Why is it so hard to believe you?”
Mercian muttered, watching Penelope’s words and actions contradict each other completely.
“But tell me—do you really plan to leave the ducal household after the duke passes away?”
“What?”
“I’ve been thinking—if you’re formally married to the duke, aren’t you his wife? So even if he dies, you’d remain duchess.”
So it was true—you already took the settlement money just to force me into staying as duchess.
I’d hoped it wasn’t so.
Even after hearing Cassel say you’d accepted the settlement alongside the dowry, I still prayed my suspicions were wrong.
Five hundred gold coins upfront plus one hundred monthly for six months—that’s eleven hundred gold coins total!
Enough to live modestly for life, maybe even hire two or three maids—though not extravagantly, certainly not in poverty.
Do you and Lucianne even have limits to your greed?
Mercian looked at Penelope—exactly as she’d predicted—and spoke.
“Mother, we already settled that discussion. And the contract explicitly states—and I signed—that if I bear no child and the duke passes, I must leave the ducal household immediately.”
“What? You signed that contract without even telling me?”
“And why didn’t you tell me I’d have to share the duke’s bed four times a week just to conceive? Besides, Mother—you seem to have forgotten I’ve been married less than an hour! However you look at it, is this really the time to talk about the duke’s death? Did you truly come to celebrate my wedding?”
“Didn’t I tell you? Goodness, I’ve been so upset by your antics I keep forgetting things—must’ve slipped my mind. And anyway, you know he’ll die—what difference does it make whether I say it today or a week later? Will it make him live longer?”
“Mother!”
Startled by Mercian’s sharp tone, Penelope avoided her gaze and said,
“Fine, fine—I’ll stop. Anyway, I’ve seen your wedding and this lovely room—time for me to go. Lucianne’s waiting for me at the banquet. And this is me genuinely caring for you—please, for heaven’s sake, don’t act like you did back at the viscount’s household. Don’t laze around idly gorging yourself all day, and especially don’t throw tantrums at the staff like you used to with us—don’t get yourself thrown out of the ducal home before the duke even passes!”
Strange.
Normally, Mercian would’ve been hurt.
But now, even Penelope’s cruel words barely touched her.
Instead, she pitied Penelope—constantly searching for Mercian’s flaws just to prove Lucianne was the superior daughter.
Yes—no matter how much I deny it, to Mother and Lucianne I’ll always be the lazy, gluttonous, ill-tempered child. Denying it only makes me seem strange.
“Mer! Did you hear me?”
“Yes, Mother. I’ll do as you say. If you’ve said everything you came to say, please go now. I’m exhausted from tension all day.”
Unlike usual, Mercian offered no real retort to her words—Penelope found it odd, but soon decided marriage must’ve finally matured her, and left the room.
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
_____
Please help me, I want to bring you the best possible things.
If you find any chapter or novel with poor translation and editing quality, let me know by commenting directly under that novel or chapter. I will retranslate it as soon as possible.
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
Most Commented This Week
The Villain Has Gone Mad For Me (Completed Main Story)
I’m The Lowest-Ranking Daughter Of A Martial Arts Villain (2 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Became the Assassin Family’s Foster Daughter (Completed Main Story)
Men of the Harem (137 Chapters Left to Complete)
The Duke Only Needs My Child (Completed Main Story)
At the End of Ruin, There You Are (56 Chapters Left to Complete)
She’s a Villainess but her Husband is Handsome (Completed Main Story)
People Aren’t Meant to Be Fixed! (4 Chapters Left to Complete)
My Discarded Fiancé Returned (Completed Main Story)
Summer Must Die (16 Chapters Left to Complete)
I Received The First Time Of My Extraordinary Superior (9 Chapters Left to Complete)
Regret With All Your Might (Completed Main Story)