Episode 19

“I have loyal informants.”

The calm answer sent a chill down my spine.

“Informant…?”

“I belong to an unofficial information guild run by the Duke’s family for generations. Concerned about my wife attending her first public event as a Duchess, I assigned a few people to act as bodyguards.”

So you conducted legal surveillance?

“Are you the ones who investigated my home and family before attending the Starache Ball?”

“Yes.”

“Honey, you lead those people?”

He answered with a silent nod.

Um. Okay. To be honest… … .

‘You’re only saying that now.’

I pretended not to know, but in fact I had a vague idea.

The first half of the novel was largely about revealing character information. It’s even more surprising that the story of the informant handled by the male protagonist, Ezekiel, wasn’t mentioned.

Especially since he doesn’t seem to trust me for one reason or another, even if that’s what it seems like, this is honestly so frustrating! I’m so frustrated! I’m so frustrated!! He acted on his own again without telling me!! He even spied on me! What kind of couple is this?!

I pretended to be calm, smiled, and asked questions one by one.

“Then, Mr. Ollie, can you become the vice-guild leader?”

“No. I’m the only one in command and control. I don’t know them well either.”

This was also true.

By the way, I also knew how far the Duke’s informants stretched and what they could find out.

“We were talking about Sir Philip earlier, weren’t we?”

“Kyung wants to meet me. What do you think?”

His clear, blue eyes asked me a question.

“Would you like to meet?”

“Why are you asking for my opinion?”

Ezekiel stared at me like an idiot asking something obvious.

“Because you are my wife.”

“hmm……?”

Aha. So, we’re going to discuss business networking together.

Your gaze was so affectionate, I almost mistook you for me. How could that be?

“Okay. So, Ezekiel, how much do you trust people’s reputations? Tell me that first.”

“I tend to believe stories coming from aristocratic society. They spread gossip, hushed up, with the intent to inflict harm on the person involved.”

“So, you’re mainly referring to the bad reputation among the nobles?”

There was a flaw in that very thought. That’s why, despite his intelligence, he couldn’t pinpoint the emperor’s spy.

Informants are simply those who follow the Duke’s orders. Ezekiel narrows down the targets and groups to approach for intelligence gathering.

In other words, no matter how capable an informant is, it is difficult to investigate outside of Ezekiel’s field of vision or way of thinking.

“If your target is a noble from birth, your strategy is also a good one. However,”

I rested my chin on my hand.

“Philip Justis rose from commoner to noble. He wouldn’t reveal his true colors to those above him.”

Because I couldn’t afford to suffer any disadvantages. Just as I lived quietly in the viscount’s house, Philip must have lived humbly before the nobles.

“Ezekiel. Would it be better if I dealt with him?”

“Does it really have to be that way?”

“Since you approached me, I want to end it on my terms.”

Ezekiel, who had been reading Philip’s letter halfheartedly, said so. Frankly, he didn’t seem particularly interested.

I asked Ezekiel never to have any personal contact with Sir Philip.

Will you listen obediently…? You won’t make contact with Philippos as if you were trying to show off, right?

I couldn’t believe it, so I was so nervous throughout the conversation that my throat was sore.

“Anna. I think I’ll take a bubble bath and go to bed today.”

But as soon as I stepped into the bath, all my anxiety and worries melted away. It was a small luxury I could only enjoy at Duke Vetra’s house.

I turned off the lights and lay down on my cozy single bed, enjoying some alone time. Just as I was slowly drifting off to sleep, I heard a noise coming from the hallway outside.

“……right?”

“Hic! Today too……?”

Sensitive as I am, I couldn’t help but jump up. Being bullied by my cousins at the author’s house was a daily occurrence, so I was a very light sleeper.

Even if they are whispering and plotting, I can hear it all.

I pressed my ear to the door and listened quietly. It was the maids who frequently came up to the second floor.

“……Is it true that the two of you are using separate rooms these days?”

“Oh my. What’s wrong with this kid, he’s been so slow to respond? He’s been using it since the beginning of our marriage, not just now.”

Ugh. Who would have thought that someone who was trying to sleep comfortably would be stabbed in the heart.

“Somehow, the two of you seem a bit awkward between you! How can you be so awkward even though you’re newlyweds?”

“I don’t think it was a marriage of convenience, but I’m curious. Didn’t they get married because they liked each other?”

I broke out in a cold sweat. The maids were already talking about me.

That may not necessarily be malicious gossip, but I’m sensitive to what my employees say about me.

“But honestly, it’s not like we can’t care about each other between husband and wife. That’s how things are going these days.”

“What’s the situation? The successor issue was settled when Lord Dogaresa came in.”

“Not that! I’m talking about another problem that Your Majesty the Duke is worried about these days!”

I checked to make sure the door was locked tightly, then pressed my cheek against it and rubbed it. I had to hear that story, even if my face was squished like a carp.

“You always act like you’re carrying all the world’s worries on your shoulders. Why are you bringing this up again?”

I nodded furiously inwardly.

“But these days, the tongue of the decline-”

“Why is it so noisy?”

Then a solemn voice broke through the maids’ whispers.

I was so shocked that I fell backwards without a sound. My heart was pounding wildly.

“Your Majesty the Duke!”

“Who told you to be so noisy in the hallway at night?”

“I’m sorry. Please forgive me!”

“If you say something like this one more time and I get caught, you won’t be safe.”

My stomach lurched in the cold, frost-like air. Why should I stop now?

“Go quickly.”

“Yes, yes! I’m so sorry!”

The maids disappeared, and my husband’s footsteps grew distant. Ultimately, the only clue I had was the maids’ last words.

‘What about the tongue of the inferior?’

The conversation that day ended forcibly, leaving me with only curiosity. I went to bed feeling regretful.

Maybe it was because I slept so awkwardly, but that night in my dream a wet, long tongue chased me and licked my entire body mercilessly.

Ugh. It’s dirty.

***

These days, as soon as I wake up, I usually start thinking about how to deal with that little spy, Sir Philip.

But today was different. As soon as morning came, the maids whose voices I’d heard yesterday were called in.

“Are you two right?”

The maids with familiar faces looked at each other and bowed.

“sorry!”

“I didn’t know you’d hear that……!”

Even if you think they won’t listen, you shouldn’t say things like that so carelessly. I brushed it off lightly and subtly brought up the main point.

“Still, I was curious about what you guys said yesterday.”

“yes?”

“I’m talking about the Duke’s story. Didn’t you finish it in a hurry yesterday?”

What were you trying to say? I leaned forward, my eyes secretly sparkling.

“You seem to know something. Huh?”

While they hesitated, I also moistened my lips nervously. Since it had come to this, I wish they’d just speak their minds.

dump.

The two maids suddenly knelt down and begged me.

“We’re sorry! We made a mistake.”

“How dare you offend Dogaresa!”

Oh, my.

“Please save me! Please!”

“I won’t speak without permission from now on!”

Honestly, I was embarrassed.

“Why are you all like this? Just answer.”

“I got a big scolding from the butler, saying that leaking information was grounds for dismissal…….”

“I’ve often wanted to use the information of the Duke of Vetra, so I’m telling you to be careful with your words at all times. So, I can’t say anything more!”

“Please save me! Please save me!”

The Duke’s house seemed more sensitive to information than I thought.

And from that day on, all the maids disappeared somewhere. It means I never saw their faces again.