The Witch of Paitan — Chapter 17

I'M NOT THE YOUNG LORD.

MY NAME IS...

PEPE-.

WHAT?!

I-I'M SO SORRY! I DIDN'T MEAN TO...!

DON'T WORRY. WHEN SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPENS, IT'S THE LEADER'S FAULT.

IT'S FINE, SO PLEASE...

I AM TRULY SORRY!

PARDON?

YOUR GRACE, GRAND DUCHESS.

IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND, WOULD YOU CARE TO DANCE WITH ME?

WITH... YOU?

WHAT'S WITH... THIS GUY?

IS HE BOLD BECAUSE HE WAS RAISED IN A MILITARY FAMILY, OR...

...IS HE JUST COMPLETELY OBLIVIOUS?

LISTEN HERE, LETO.

YES, YOUR GRACE.

YOU SHOULD MOVE ALONG. DON'T YOU SEE THE PEOPLE WAITING FOR YOU?

THOSE LADIES OVER THERE SEEM MUCH BETTER SUITED TO ACCOMPANY YOU, SIR.

Look, the Grand Duke and Lord Leto are together~

THANK YOU FOR THE ADVICE, YOUR GRACE.

INDEED.

HOWEVER, I WOULD STILL LIKE TO DANCE WITH THE GRAND DUCHESS!

...WHAT DID YOU SAY?

BECAUSE THE PRELUDE IS OVER...

AFTER THE PRELUDE, EVERYONE IS FREE TO CHOOSE THEIR PARTNER, ISN'T THAT RIGHT?

I BELIEVE THAT HAS LONG BEEN THE TRADITION OF THE CORNWALL BALL.

THAT IS TRUE, YOUR GRACE.

I KNOW.

APOLOGIES FOR KEEPING YOU WAITING, GRAND DUCHESS. WOULD YOU...

...CARE TO DANCE WITH ME THIS TIME?

GUESS IT CAN'T BE HELPED.

IF YOU ENJOYED IT... WOULD YOU DANCE WITH ME ONCE MORE?

ALRIGHT, MY CHOICE IS...

WHAT HAPPENED BACK THEN? THE BOY THE BARON FOUND WAS DEFINITELY THE GRAND DUKE...

SO WHY... DID HE CALL HIMSELF PEPE?

JUST WHAT SECRET IS THE GRAND DUKE HIDING?

EXCUSE ME.

WHICH HOUSE DO YOU BELONG TO, MILADY?

I... I'M NOT A NOBLE. I'M AN APOTHECARY WORKING IN THE CASTLE...

AN APOTHECARY... SO YOU'RE A NOBODY, THEN?

PLEASE STEP ASIDE.

AND WHY SHOULD I?

LET GO OF ME! I'LL SCREAM!

LOOK AT THIS LOWLY THING PUT ON AIRS... YOU'RE ONLY HURTING YOURSELF!

I'M SOMEONE WHO CAN GIVE YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT. THOUGH, IT WON'T BE FOR FREE...

-YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?

BARON GREENER, ARE YOU STILL ACTING LIKE TRASH?

TH-THIS IS A MISUNDERSTANDING, YOUR GRACE! THIS WOMAN STARTED IT-!

PADRIC GREENER.

IF YOU VALUE YOUR LIFE... DON'T HOLD A GRUDGE.

Y-YES...

LOCK HIM IN THE DUNGEON FOR A WEEK.

THANK YOU, YOUR GRACE.

DON'T THANK ME, THANK VI. HOW DID YOU KNOW THIS WOULD HAPPEN?

EARLIER, WHEN JIN WAS LEAVING THE HALL...

I SAW BARON GREENER FOLLOWING HER.

I HEARD HE WAS A SCOUNDREL, SO JUST IN CASE...

HM... I SEE.

THANK YOU... YOUR GRACE.

NO HARM WAS DONE, SO IT'S FINE. YOU MUST HAVE BEEN SHAKEN, SO GO GET SOME REST.

YOUR GRACE!!!

YOUR GRACE, AN URGENT MESSAGE AND LETTER HAVE ARRIVED FROM THE CROWN PRINCE FOR HER GRACE!

SO SUDDENLY? WHY?

THE CROWN PRINCE'S SON HAS PASSED AWAY-

WHAT? HOW?

HE SUFFERED A FALLING ACCIDENT WHILE RIDING...

THIS WAS IT...

THE BLOODY AURA HOVERING OVER THE SOUTHERN SKY-!

YOU INTEND TO BRING PRINCESS MARGARITA BACK?!

MY SON IS DEAD... AM I NOT EVEN ALLOWED THAT MUCH?

YOU CANNOT! HER HIGHNESS MUST REMAIN IN THE DUCHY AS THE GRAND DUCHESS! YOU KNOW THIS!

WELL, I'M NOT SO SURE ABOUT THAT.

PLEASE, PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER!!

THE PRINCESS IS ANOTHER MAN'S WIFE NOW!

AND SHE'S YOUR SISTER! WHY ARE YOU STILL SO OBSESSED WITH HER?!

THAT'S...

...BECAUSE SHE'S NOT MY SISTER.

YOUR HIGHNESS!!

MY REAL SISTER IS DEAD. STOP PLAYING GAMES WITH ME, ASRA.

GOOD HEAVENS... ARE YOU REALLY GOING TO BREAK EVEN THAT TABOO?!

NO, I'M SIMPLY STATING THE TRUTH...

FOR THE SAKE OF MY DE- PARTED SON.

AND FOR THE CHILD...

...WHO IS CURRENTLY TAKING...

...THE PLACE OF MY DEAD SISTER IN THE DUCHY.