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[CHAPTER 123]
Wentworth Duchess’s Bedroom.
The candlelight in the room flickered softly as the Duchess sat at the tea table, repeatedly clenching and unclenching her fists.
Meanwhile, Aiden paced roughly across the room.
“Mother, are you really going to stay like this?”
The Duchess furrowed her brow, lost in thought.
“Mother!”
When Aiden shouted out of frustration, the Duchess muttered, still frowning.
“That insolent girl, you can never understand your father. To invite such a girl into our home and treat her with such care… since when was I a guest?”
“She’s not the crown princess yet, only the future crown princess. If she’s already like this, what will happen when she actually becomes the crown princess?”
The Duchess recalled what happened at the recent harvest festival.
She had tried to embarrass Amelia while pretending to care for her, only to be blocked by the Empress. The uncomfortable glances of the other noblewomen came back to her instantly.
Thinking of that made her surge with shame and anger, letting out a scream.
“Aagh!”
“Whoa, you startled me.”
Aiden flinched and stepped back as the Duchess, having vented her anger, muttered through gritted teeth.
“Yes, you’re right. That girl is insolent, but look at you lately. You’re not even in Father’s thoughts, yet you see him being kind to her.”
Recalling losing his seat at the dining table earlier, Aiden’s expression darkened.
“I understand they want to use the crown prince to make Amelia the crown princess. But I thought she would never actually become one. Yet seeing how things are…”
“Aiden, it’s more than just using her. Your father intends to make Amelia the crown princess to strengthen his political standing. To properly carry this out, he even had Eric involved… hmm, no. That part—”
Aiden ignored the trailing words and focused on the main point.
“I already knew that. Is there any other problem besides her becoming more insolent?”
“Yes, there is. The real problem comes next. Imagine that girl becomes crown princess and has children. The eldest will inherit the throne as royalty, but the second son or daughter could inherit the Wentworth dukedom. Your father wants royal blood in our family.”
Aiden’s face darkened, clearly not having considered that.
“You mean Father might give Amelia the dukedom?”
“Yes, that’s right. Even today, he ignored you but took great care of Amelia. He spared nothing for her meals while being frugal with ours. Father’s mind is clearly changing. Amelia is managing in the crown prince’s palace better than expected.”
“Exactly my point. I thought she would have been kicked out long ago. But she seems to be doing… better than expected, damn it!”
Aiden tore at his hair in irritation.
Seeing him like that, the Duchess spoke with a tone of pity.
“It won’t just be the title. Once the title transfers, the family wealth will follow automatically.”
“Then I’ll end up like Eric? Having nothing, forced to survive on my own…”
Aiden nervously bit his nails and paced faster.
“This can’t go on, something serious will happen if we just sit back.”
The Duchess, as if expecting his reaction, asked with interest.
“What do you want to do?”
“We have to prevent her from becoming crown princess. Mute her, blind her, ruin her face… though the face is a bit of a waste.”
Watching Aiden grin maliciously, the Duchess traced the edge of her teacup thoughtfully.
“Will that be enough? What if she tells someone?”
“Then…?” Aiden asked cautiously, as if realizing something. The Duchess grinned.
“We must erase her existence. That way there will be no repercussions.”
It was a clear suggestion of murder.
Aiden seemed momentarily scared, having never considered killing, but his eyes soon sharpened.
“Mother, you’re right.”
“Once she enters the palace, we won’t be able to touch her. Today is our chance.”
“But first… I need to take revenge. For today, and for being ignored in the palace. She should pay properly. Since she’ll die anyway, it doesn’t matter.”
Seeing the burning anger on Aiden’s face, the Duchess slowly stood from her chair.
She patted his shoulder.
“Poor thing, you must have been so upset to act like this. Do as you wish, but don’t make too much noise or leave traces. The key is not to be caught.”
“Understood, Mother.”
The Duchess lightly rang a bell, and Butler James entered.
“Ma’am, you called?”
“It’s late, but the mansion is noisy. The knights from the palace seem to have loosened up and are fighting drunk.”
The Duchess looked out the window at the utterly still night.
“Pardon?”
James didn’t understand at first, so the Duchess repeated patiently, though with a displeased expression.
“Their superior should check on them. Sir Derek, I believe.”
“Ah.”
“Also, I plan to prepare Amelia’s room at the end of the 3rd-floor corridor. The view is good, the sunlight reaches well, and the room itself is spacious, far better than her previous room.”
The 3rd-floor room was usually used by the duchess, a fine room, but now more like an unused storage.
James looked at the Duchess, and she spoke in a stern voice.
“Place sharp-eyed children to guide her well. And you’ll need people to handle what comes next. You have the connections for that, James.”
“Understood, but if we’re caught…”
“We won’t be.”
The Duchess opened a drawer and took out a velvet pouch, drawing two gold coins. Hesitating, she took one more and tossed it to James.
The sound of the coins clinking made James grin widely.
“I will handle it well.”
“Good. Make sure no one goes near the 3rd floor once it’s done.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Especially until it’s finished, the Duke must know nothing. This must… yes, it will look like an accident. The girl was careless.”
“Understood, leave it to me.”
James bowed once and left. The Duchess and Aiden each watched his retreating figure.
* * *
The night air in the corridor was cold.
The marble floor was cracked in places. Walking along it, I couldn’t help but wonder.
‘Where exactly is the money being spent?’
The dim oil lamps lit the damaged floor, the unfilled garden. It looked less like neglect and more like intentional saving.
It hadn’t even been half a year since leaving this place.
In that short time, the Wentworth mansion had begun to decay. The Duke’s plans were repeatedly blocked by the crown prince and myself, and now he couldn’t even enter the palace.
Still, this state made no sense.
‘I need to investigate where the money is going.’
I stood in front of the Duke’s study and took a deep breath. Then I raised my hand and knocked.
A dull sound echoed from the heavy door, and the Duke’s voice called from inside.
“Come in.”
With his permission, I quietly pushed the door open, glancing back. Derek and Vivian silently watched me.
