Chapter 21

Louise paid attention to the relationship between the Duchess and the Duke of Fenvernon for various reasons. One was because the emperor paid attention to the Duke’s successor, because it was an important matter.

The production of successors was an obligation within and outside the high-ranking nobles, who were married in an organized way. The Duke and his wife generally kept their union day well, and Louise would make the same report every time to the emperor once a month. (e/d: ‘married in an organized way’ – think of political and arranged marriages).

But today was different.

‘You violated the rule of the couple’s union day.’

Why? For what reason?

It was a sudden change for unknown reasons. Louise clasped the quilt.

It’s weird. Something’s changed. Something is changing.

* * *

I don’t know how I washed up and ate. It was already afternoon when I came to my senses. Everything I do reminds me of last night, and my face turns red from time to time. Then it calmed down to some extent.

The way to solve this situation is obvious. The answer is one— divorce. It also has to be a very quick and tidy divorce.

I thought about running away at night for a while. I thought that would be the easiest.

But I didn’t think it would work. The rest of my life should be at peace, so I had to consider it. Whether the emperor came to catch me or Rashid, I was not confident of escaping safely.

I’ll have to figure out what to say to him about divorce and how to get a divorce. It’s not going to be easy as it sounds. I may have to try several methods to get it.

“Mistress, dinner is ready.”

Louise announced dinner time. Today, Rashid said that he would have dinner with me, leisurely.

I grabbed her outstretched arm and got up from the bed.

It was then.

「Louise had just contacted the Imperial Palace.」

I blinked my eyes over and over again.

「It was about the trouble in Rashid’s relationship with Alyssa.」

I was embarrassed and startled. On what basis did you make such contact?

It was difficult to manage my facial expressions as I pretended not to know. I tried to straighten out my frown.

“Are you sick?”

“Oh, no. It’s okay.”

I walked to the dining room and fell deep into thought. Anything about the duke was information to Louise. His relationship between the duchess is by far the most important. Depending on the circumstances, I also assumed that she would interfere with my divorce.

‘I have to do something about this.’

But Louise did not want to leave my side even for a moment. Even if I wanted to be alone, she did not go far and stayed by the door.

It wasn’t Louise who went in and out of the kitchen to get food or tea, but another maid who went down there. The only time Louise left my side was practically when I was sleeping.

First of all, I’ll get her out of the duchy somehow. I’ll have to avoid Louise’s eyes, so I’ll either search her room or come up with another scheme.

To do that, I have no choice but to deceive her.

* * *

The next day, I wrote a letter.

“Louise, deliver this letter to Lady Rimnicke and come back with a reply.”

Rimnicke was one of the five duchesses, who was acquainted with Alyssa.

The letter sealed in wax looked quite ordinary. It was pressed with a flat rod rather than a family wax seal, making it difficult to guess who sent it from the wax alone. It was as if the letter was deliberately sent secretly.

“I’ll have someone do it.”

“No! You have to do it.”

Louise looked surprised at the tough tone. I immediately ordered.

“It’s a letter I can only ask someone I trust. I can’t leave it up to anyone.”

Then, with her eyes shining, Louise replied that she knew what to do.

How suspicious would it look if a letter was sent secretly with a seal hidden? All the more so if it was sent to another duchess. It was clear to Louise that she had to open the letter on the way.

The contents was a plain greeting with a suspicious sentence that looked like a code in the middle. ‘How are you? The weather is nice these days, I think moles will wander around at night.’ It was like that.

“You have to get an answer. Definitely.”

Perhaps Miss Rimnicke will ponder for a long time, wondering what the hell this means.

Then Louise would waste her time.

“I’ll be back, Mistress. In the meantime, stay in your bedroom. I’m afraid you’ll feel more pain walking around.”

“Okay, don’t worry. I’ll do what you say.”

Louise left the mansion with the letter. It’ll take at least a couple of hours for her to get back.

It was the maid downstairs who took care of me while she was away. I also let the maid run her errands all around the mansion, calling the butler and the head maid separately.

At the call of the Duchess, the Duke’s butler, Sylvester Eddie and Head Maid Harriet Ronan came at her call.

The two were long-time workers at the Duchy of Fenvernon. They were loyal to Rashid, who’s the Duke, so I thought they were trustworthy. Regardless of how the Duke treated Alyssa, the two treated Alyssa as a duchess.

(t/n: finally someone has sense and doesn’t treat their superiors with hate or smth)

(e/d: ikrr)

‘At least I won’t do anything stupid.’

Because it’s for Rashid as well.

I met them one by one.

The first person I met was butler Sylvester.

A man with light grey hair and a firm, honest impression greeted me politely.

I delivered my business without hesitation.

“Butler, please bring me all the letters that come to the mansion from now on, except the Duke’s.”

As someone who had higher authority, it was very awkward to speak informally to someone who would be twice or even three times my age. I’m a bit sorry, too.

But you have to get used to it. I am now a nobleman, and among all, I have become a duchess.