ANGSD 64

Chapter 64
The sudden appearance of Duke Bliard.

When the Duchess was dragged away with him, people immediately began to whisper.

“Wasn’t he supposed to be on his deathbed? He looks rather healthy.”

“Healthy? He’s in a wheelchair. How is that healthy?”

“He never leaves his mansion, and now suddenly shows up—what on earth for?”

“His foolish wife has been stirring things up everywhere, so perhaps he dragged himself from his sickbed out of fear she’d disgrace the family.”

“Didn’t the Duchess look exactly like a child being dragged away by her parents after throwing a tantrum?”

“Her face turned bright red. Serves her right after all her mischief.”

Everyone ridiculed Mera over the earlier commotion.

The whispering finally ceased only after Aileen, unable to endure it, tapped her wine glass to draw attention.

As hostess, she gave a brief apology for the disturbance and closed the event with a polite farewell.

“Next time, I plan to host a banquet at the townhouse for the Founding Festival.”

Even those who had just been gossiping about Mera quickly turned to chatter about how much they were looking forward to the festival banquet.

Fortunately, the event itself seemed a success—everyone appeared in high spirits.

Some even insisted on leaving without changing out of their grape-stained tunics, much to the dismay of their attendants.

As if the earlier disruption had never happened, Aileen wrapped up the gathering with a radiant smile.

Thanks to the scandal involving the Duchess of Bliard, talk about Pia had significantly subsided.

Still, a few nobles continued to watch Aileen and Floan with sparkling eyes.

It was all too obvious what kind of rumors they would spread next.

But Aileen had no intention of explaining or correcting anything.

Yes. Just as Floan had said—what problem was there if they trusted each other?

If someone asked, she could tell the truth. But to scramble for excuses here and now would only sound like a weak defense.

Being flustered once was enough.

Getting flustered two or three more times would make her look like an amateur.

Fine. Let’s turn this into noise marketing.

She decided to give deliberately vague answers that would stoke curiosity and interest.

No matter how much people gossiped, it wouldn’t harm her much.

At worst, they’d pity her.

But even pity, at this point, brought her more benefits than losses.

For example, by tomorrow morning, every gazette would be promoting her pop-up event and southern wine.

Most importantly—he really is my child. I’m raising him. And if no adoptive parents appear, I can keep him with me forever.

Is a child only one you bear in pain? A child born of the heart is a child too!

But Aileen seemed to briefly forget that she herself had once been a dearly beloved child born of her mother’s pain.

She had a hot-tempered father, a tender-hearted mother—
And three ridiculously overbearing older brothers.

The event ended in turmoil, and Aileen returned to her chambers.

Sinking her weary body into the bath, she closed her eyes and recalled her earlier conversation with Duke Bliard.

“The Grand Duchess probably thinks that girl is just vain, spiteful, and childish. And she’s not wrong. But she isn’t wicked. She simply… chose the wrong partner. She never really had choices.”

“Then why do you leave Mera be?”

“…It was just my selfishness. I thought I could handle her. She seemed pitiful to me… I sympathized with her.”

The Duke’s words had shocked her.

“Mera is the daughter of a concubine. Born to a bastard son of House Miles and a courtesan. When the heir died, the bastard—that is, Mera’s father—seemed to inherit the line… but he too died. By then, Mera had already been taken in by the family.”

The house faced ruin, debts piled high.

House Miles planned to “marry her off” as a cover for selling her.

Of course, no one wanted her as a wife—
A bastard’s daughter, with a courtesan for a mother.

The Duke said he pitied her, who was originally meant to be sold as a mistress, not even a proper wife.

She had beauty but had never known true love.

Apparently, she suffered abuse in her family too, often covered in bruises.

“…She isn’t evil by nature. She’s simply—deeply lacking. If only I had more time, if I were healthier, perhaps I could have given her more care… Please, look after Mera.”

Aileen couldn’t understand why, of all days, Duke Bliard had come to her with such words.

Though uneasy about his intentions, she at least learned something new about Mera.

Mera always claimed her husband treated her like a mere trophy and paid her no mind—

But… didn’t the Duke actually care about her?

Whether it was love or pity, even he didn’t seem to know.

But Aileen could vividly see the image of the frail Duke worrying that his childish young wife might incur the wrath of the southern Grand Duchess.

Knowing Mera’s background, Aileen could somewhat grasp why she obsessed so much over attention and recognition.

Still… I feel like he had more to say. I regret not asking, but everything was too hectic…

She idly thought she could visit him another time—
Never imagining that would be her last conversation with Duke Bliard.

About a month later, Aileen received news of his death.

His illness had been severe, and given his age, no one was surprised.

They said he died of a heart attack while on vacation with his wife.

Contrary to his reputation, the funeral was very modest.

At the funeral, Aileen silently watched Mera, veiled and weeping.

But her bright red lipstick, so out of place for the occasion, only deepened Aileen’s unease.

What had Duke Bliard really wanted to tell her?

The dead cannot speak, and the living must go on.

The obituary passed quickly, and imperial gazettes competed to publish the juiciest gossip.

In other words, rumors about Aileen had begun to spread.

They were all kinds of stories about the southern Grand Duke and Duchess, who hadn’t shown themselves at Café Cawa for quite some time.

The most shocking rumor was that the Grand Duchess had adopted a young girl.

“I went to the café the other day, then wandered south a bit near the lake, and I saw them—three of them. The child had black hair, so it must be the Grand Duke’s own. I’m certain she’s his illegitimate daughter.”

“The Grand Duchess must be either very patient, or putting on an act for appearances. Incredible. And I hear the child isn’t even a baby—she’s six years old!”

“Heavens. So the mother must have died, and they brought her in.”

Someone must have spotted Aileen, Pia, and Floan having a picnic near the café.

The rumor spread rapidly through the East and grew more exaggerated.

“I heard someone saw her once with a splint on her ankle. Apparently, the Grand Duke beats the Grand Duchess.”

“An illegitimate child and domestic violence? Poor Aileen Helios.”

And so the gossip spread and spread—until it even reached the walls of House Edgar.

“What?! Our precious little jewel Aileen, beaten in that backwater countryside?!”