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Chapter : 51
Luciano hadn’t appeared before my eyes since then.
“Milady? Aren’t you sleepy today?”
“Oh? You’re right. I’m not sleepy today.”
Even though I had slept a lot for the past couple of days, strangely, I wasn’t sleepy today.
Instead, my body felt lighter and my condition better than before.
“Did Luciano leave early again today?”
“Yes, Milady. He entered the royal palace at dawn as usual.”
Even though not seeing him should have been a good thing for me, all I could do was sigh. And then, at that moment…
Sera came rushing in, her voice urgent.
“Look at this, Milady!”
In Sera’s hands was a newspaper from the most famous publication in the capital, Prizen Times.
“Isn’t this the Prizen Times?”
“Yes, it is…”
The headline on the paper Sera handed me was shocking.
[Rumors of Discord Between Duke Winforste and His Wife?!]
“W-what is this?!”
I was too stunned to speak, my hands trembling.
What was I feeling? Fear? Relief? I couldn’t tell. I quickly opened the paper to read the article.
**[For the past four days, Duke Luciano has entered the royal palace early and left late. Given the historically strained relationship between the Duke and his wife, the rumors of discord appear to be true.
Furthermore, ever since Princess Etoa arrived in the Empire, signs of discord between the Duke and Duchess have become noticeable. Could this be merely coincidental?]**
“We need to catch the journalist who wrote this!!”
“That’s impossible.”
“But, Milady!!”
“If you arrest a journalist in a situation like this, the people will believe this is the truth.”
“But leaving it be is too dangerous. Everyone will use this rumor to tarnish your name and that of the Duke.”
“Rumors die down on their own if ignored. We just have to hope that happens.”
The maidservants looked frustrated at my words.
Their expressions bothered me, but I deliberately ignored them and set the newspaper on fire with a candle.
“Don’t worry about things like this. Focus on your duties.”
“Yes, Milady.”
As soon as I finished preparations and descended, I felt the scrutinizing gaze of the other servants.
Just a few days ago, I had warned them to keep quiet—but now, this article had appeared.
“Milady!”
“What is it, Ed?”
“The Empress has sent a letter.”
“Let me see.”
I already had an idea of its content. Lysianshuss must have seen the Prizen Times article too.
Come to the royal palace.
There was nothing else. The single sentence, hastily written, seemed to convey Lysianshuss’ mood perfectly.
“Sigh… Prepare me. I need to go to the palace.”
“Yes, Milady.”
The maidservants helped me change into a more elaborate dress.
The pale green dress and yellow parasol looked perfectly harmonious and beautiful.
“I’m going to the palace.”
“Yes, Milady.”
I boarded the carriage with Dahlia, my maid, to head to the palace.
“To the palace.”
“Yes, Milady.”
Upon arrival, the palace staff looked at me.
‘They must have seen it too.’
Ignoring them, I proceeded to the Empress’ residence.
“Your Grace, the Duchess.”
“You’ve come to see me, Empress.”
“Please come in.”
Following the head maid deeper into the Empress’ quarters, I saw Lysianshuss dressed comfortably.
“Your Grace, I’ve come.”
“Sit and speak comfortably.”
“Yes, sister.”
“Have the maidservants bring tea.”
“Yes, Empress.”
I could read nothing in Lysianshuss’ expression. She stared at me blankly, and when I met her gaze, I instinctively shrank under her icy stare.
“The tea has arrived.”
“Dismiss them.”
As soon as the head maid and the other maidservants left, Lysianshuss placed the newspaper on the table.
“You’ve seen it too, haven’t you?”
“Yes. I have.”
“Why are you so calm?”
“There’s no particular problem.”
“Estelin!!”
Hearing her shout, I continued answering calmly, which seemed to anger her further.
“I knew it! Ever since the princess arrived, you keep getting involved with the Duke!”
“Don’t worry.”
“Don’t worry? There’s never a calm day with your brother, or you!!”
I sipped my tea as Lysianshuss’ anger flared.
“Do you feel the tea going down?”
“Yes.”
“Your reputation will drop. The people will watch you and the Duke closely.”
“I know.”
“Why does the Duke act this way?”
“Why blame Luciano again?”
I responded irritably.
“You think I won’t blame him? You keep getting involved with the princess!”
Her voice grew louder.
“Don’t you realize that constantly being seen with the Duke will bring you a lot of rumors!”
“Don’t worry. I won’t let that happen.”
Seeing me answer calmly, Lysianshuss sighed repeatedly.
I understood her concern, but it wasn’t necessary to worry this much.
“Are you done?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go first, sister.”
Lysianshuss, still somewhat angry, didn’t look at me or say a word as I left.
“Milady. Are we returning to the Duke’s residence?”
“Yes. Let’s go quickly.”
On our way to the carriage, I saw Luciano.
‘Who’s beside him?’
He was with someone else.
“Milady, the person beside Duke….”
Dahlia, who had accompanied me from the Duke’s residence, spoke in a trembling voice.
“Yes. Princess Etoa.”
Dahlia’s eyes were brimming with tears as she stared at them.
I looked down at her, noticing she was gripping her dress tightly, veins raised on her hands.
‘No wonder she’s angry.’
Dahlia’s loyalty was to me, not Luciano.
“Milady, you should say something to Princess Etoa!!”
“Do you think so?”
“Of course. The Duke is a married noble, and yet he’s constantly being seen with her.”
“Perhaps a warning is necessary.”
I murmured this, watching Luciano and Rebecca converse.
“No. Send a letter to Princess Etoa saying I will visit her tomorrow.”
“Yes, Milady.”
After saying this, I watched them for a moment before getting into the carriage.
“To the Duke’s residence.”
I didn’t speak on the carriage.
For some reason, I was angry.
Though I acted unaffected in front of Lysianshuss and Dahlia, my chest burned with frustration.
It irritated me to see Luciano talking to another woman, even if I couldn’t say anything.
“Milady! Where are you going?”
“To my office.”
After telling the maidservants to leave, I entered my office.
“I don’t like this…”
Once the servants were gone, I voiced my frustration openly.
Then I focused on my duties to avoid thinking about Luciano and Rebecca.
When I had no appetite for dinner and continued working, I saw Luciano’s carriage outside the window.
“Luciano’s here.”
I didn’t go down, watching him from the window. He glanced at my illuminated office but entered the mansion without concern.
Since being possessed, there had been very few times I hadn’t spoken to Luciano, except in the early days. But now, the Duke’s residence felt even emptier.
“Milady? May I come in?”
“Yes. Come in.”
Kashia entered my office with jasmine tea.
“Duke Luciano has arrived. Won’t you see him?”
“Luciano must be busy.”
I pretended indifference, focusing only on my papers.
“Are you really not going to see him?”
“Kashia! Don’t make me ask twice.”
When she spoke again, I slammed the desk, my tone cold.
“Yes…”
The next day, by lunchtime, I visited the palace again to meet Rebecca.
“Isn’t this a bit too much?”
“No! Milady.”
Sera, who had accompanied me in place of Dahlia, clenched her fist.
“You have to dress this much!!”
I gave her an awkward smile and looked at my attire.
The low-saturation purple and violet dress had violet silk roses, a garnet brooch, and a vintage hat—it was truly splendid.
“Your Grace, the Duchess.”
“Princess Etoa will be shown in.”
Upon arriving at Rebecca’s residence, the head maid ran to meet me quickly.
“Princess, the Duchess has arrived.”
As the doors opened, Rebecca sat neatly dressed.
Even though her happiness with Luciano would ensure my survival, I couldn’t smile.
I couldn’t even bring myself to say anything polite.
“It’s been a while, Princess.”
“Welcome, Duchess…”
Perhaps aware of the scandal involving herself and Luciano, she greeted me with a darker expression than before.
“Please, have a seat.”
I sat across from Rebecca.
“What brings you here?”
“I believe you know, Princess.”
Since Rebecca hadn’t dismissed her maidservants, they were listening to our conversation.
Because of this, my words weren’t particularly polite, but I kept a faint smile.
“Duchess…”
“Could you have the maidservants leave?”
When I said this firmly, Rebecca nodded and dismissed them.
Once they were gone, I removed my smile and placed the newspaper I brought on the table.
The one I had seen before I had burned, so I had the maid fetch another copy.
“You’ve seen this too, Duchess?”
“There’s no way I haven’t. The maid brought it first thing in the morning.”
“Duchess! You might misunderstand, but….”
“No, Princess. I won’t misunderstand.”
“Then….”
“I came to ask for your cooperation. Friendship is inevitable, but it should remain just that. Since your arrival, I know you and Luciano keep being involved. You’re aware, right?”
Of course, as the heroine, she would be the one to end up with Luciano in the end.
