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~Chapter 22~
It was a pleasant afternoon, with a clear blue sky and a gentle breeze.
The lakeside park, famous as a walking spot for the capital’s nobles, was crowded with people.
The newlywed couple strolled slowly, arms linked, glancing around cautiously in case they ran into anyone they knew.
“Good afternoon, Mrs. Elias.”
“What a lovely day.”
Janice and Royce politely greeted passing nobles.
But today, it was different from before.
Previously, nobles had only exchanged polite glances. Today, some stopped to exchange a few words with them.
“The Duchess was so beautiful on her wedding day. How is she now?”
“We’re holding a poetry reading at our home. Could you see if the Duchess might attend? I’ll send an invitation, but it’d be nice if your sister mentioned it casually too.”
The usually distant noblewoman smiled broadly.
Janice’s expression darkened. She realized the nobles weren’t stopping for them—they were interested in the Duchess.
She no longer even offered a casual glance to passing nobles.
“When did the world start revolving around the Duchess? It’s ridiculous.”
She muttered angrily.
“Everyone’s curious because she’s newlywed. It won’t last long.”
Despite Royce’s calm, sarcastic comment, Janice fumed.
“Why doesn’t anyone wonder why the Duke left home right after the wedding? Am I the only one who finds that strange, darling?”
Royce only cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Think about it. Even in a happy honeymoon, no matter how busy a man is, that’s strange. I really think something’s off about this marriage!”
Janice shook her head, as if rejecting Elin’s marriage entirely.
“From the moment they rushed the wedding, something felt wrong. Does it make sense for the Duke to marry someone like Elin? What could have happened between them?”
Royce tried to calm her, keeping an eye on their surroundings.
“It’s none of our business. Let’s not worry.”
Janice’s eyes widened in disbelief.
She began mocking her husband’s changed attitude.
“You cared the most about Elin until now! You think I wouldn’t notice? Why are you suddenly acting like a stranger?”
Feeling the irritation bounce back at him, Royce stopped in his tracks.
“Let’s go back.”
Just then, the Marchioness and her daughter spotted the couple and approached with purpose.
Janice and Royce had no choice but to maintain polite expressions.
“Good afternoon, madam. Miss.”
Janice smiled, while Royce lifted his hat in greeting.
“My, I really get to see the Duchess again!”
“Yes?”
Again. Another mention of the Duchess.
Janice’s face twisted in frustration.
The Marchioness’s eyes sparkled as she said,
“Oh my. You didn’t know? The Grand Duchess fainted during tea recently.”
“…Who fainted?”
Seeing Janice and Royce confused, the Marchioness laughed and reassured them.
“Luckily, she has recovered. If the Duchess hadn’t acted so calmly, who knows what might have happened.”
“What do you mean?”
She described the situation vividly, praising the new Duchess.
“At first, I wasn’t sure, but clearly the Duke didn’t choose just anyone as his wife.”
Her daughter nodded in agreement.
“Even Sylvia was frozen with shock. Anyone would have been surprised in that situation.”
“This will surely earn the new Duchess the Grand Duchess’s favor.”
“I already look forward to the next tea gathering hosted by the Duchess.”
With that, the mother and daughter gracefully left Janice and Royce’s side.
Everywhere, people were talking warmly about Elin, leaving Janice feeling like grit stuck in her throat.
“Let’s go back.”
Janice spun around, and Royce hurried after her. Their pleasant stroll had turned into a disaster.
At the same time, in the Grand Duchess’s room, the doctor stepped out, and Elin approached.
“How is she now?”
“Much better. If she rests a little more, she’ll be fine. Let her sleep soundly for now.”
As the doctor left, Elin entered to check on Melisa.
She was asleep, as if dead to the world.
Hearing that her sudden stress from the Duke’s wedding had affected her so much, Elin felt a pang of guilt.
She probably collapsed because of me…
Elin sighed softly and noticed sunlight shining on Melisa’s face through the curtains.
As she quietly moved to close them, she glimpsed the scene outside.
Servants were surrounding a man who had fallen to the ground. It seemed the drunken troublemaker from before had caused more problems.
‘It’s him again. I can’t just ignore this.’
The commotion was loud enough to be heard from inside the house. Elin held the curtains and watched carefully before closing them.
She hurried outside toward the scene.
“Madam.”
“Ma’am.”
The servants stepped back when they saw her.
“What happened?”
“He harassed a maid picking flowers. The gardener intervened, and they ended up fighting.”
Elin saw it all from the window—two men rolling on the ground, dust rising.
Nearby, a shocked maid stood, surrounded by broken flowers—like those recently decorating her room. She was the same maid who had injured her hand earlier.
“Madam.”
Jeffrey arrived, having been informed slightly late.
“Step inside. I’ll take care of it immediately.”
Before he finished speaking, the two men started scuffling again.
“Madam!”
Elin stepped forward, and everyone froze in surprise.
The men grabbed a bottle to threaten the approaching servants, but Elin didn’t flinch.
“O-Oh, don’t come!”
The man seemed more shocked to see the Duchess than to face the servants.
“Jeffrey, bring the guards immediately! This counts as assault on the Duchess—or attempt at murder, even!”
Everyone gasped. The man holding the bottle froze like ice.
“M-Madam…”
“Didn’t you hear me? Call them quickly. If she gets hurt, this counts as assault, and there’s no escaping the law.”
The man scoffed, but before he could explain his father’s past, Elin sighed in exasperation.
“If the late Duke had seen you threatening his daughter-in-law, he would have confiscated your inheritance and thrown you out. Our Duke is far too softhearted.”
Elin glanced at Jeffrey, silently telling him to act.
“Understood.”
Jeffrey nodded, and the man’s grip on the bottle loosened. The bottle rolled across the ground to Elin’s feet.
Seeing her unwavering gaze, the man began trembling, as if waking from a drunken stupor.
“M-Madam!”
He realized the situation was badly wrong and collapsed to his knees.
“Jeffrey.”
Elin called him to stand by her.
That evening, the maids gathered in the back yard, looking at the darkened cottage.
“Now that trouble is gone, the estate feels peaceful.”
“The young mistress has real courage. Even the Grand Duchess couldn’t handle that, but she did it instantly.”
“It wasn’t that the Grand Duchess couldn’t; she just didn’t want to bother. And he never caused trouble with the mistress and Madam around.”
The maids nodded enthusiastically.
“She handled him firmly. Just look at him, scared stiff. If she hadn’t acted, he’d have been ruined and kicked out.”
“She wasn’t really calling the guards—she just wanted to scare him quietly. So wise, our mistress.”
Seeing the yard peaceful again, the maids felt relieved.
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Jeffrey reported that the man had left the estate.
“He left with minimal luggage before sunset. He said he will farm the land given by the late Duke properly.”
Elin nodded.
“He apologized for causing trouble and begged that the Duke not be informed.”
“Then let it be so. Only report that he left of his own accord. No need for the Duke to worry.”
“Yes.”
As Elin left, Jeffrey straightened and bowed respectfully.
Watching her retreating figure, he inhaled deeply.
I worried she might be weakhearted, but the Linderto family has truly gained a strong Duchess.
