CH 39.1

“You wanted to write about me?”

“You’re the Duchess of Felton, right?”

“Yes.”

Tom looked at her with suspicious eyes as she had come alone to the underground prison without an escort.

“I have knights waiting outside, so if you try anything foolish. I’ll scream. Keep that in mind.”

Grace read Tom’s gaze and explained while looking down at him from the opposite side of the iron bars.

Tom doubted whether she was truly ‘the Duchess of Felton’ as he looked at Grace.

‘The rumors are exaggerated.’

Described as incompetent, unattractive, and chubby, the Duchess of Felton appeared quite ordinary. She was average-looking and slightly plump, nothing out of the ordinary.

Tom wondered how such rumors had spread about Grace, despite her high position, considering that she never appeared in social gatherings. 

‘Did the Duchess had simply sent someone else as a stand-in?’

It seemed more plausible than the alternative. The rumors surrounding the Duchess of Felton were far from favorable.

As if cutting off Tom’s suspicions, Grace opened her mouth to speak.

“I’ve read everything you’ve investigated about me. It was quite an impressive effort.”

“…Did you come here to interrogate me about my crimes?”

“Well, you could say that.”

Grace nodded without hesitation.

“How do you think you will pay for your sins?”

As Grace asked Tom, his expression darkened. He seemed to anticipate that his fate would not be favorable.

“His Majesty will likely hand you over for trial. It is only right that you pay a just price for your crimes. However, if this becomes entangled with politics, the problem will escalate, and you will receive a punishment greater than the actual offense.”

Grace and Benjamin were currently going through a divorce, although it was not publicly known. 

If the imperial family really wanted to prevent their divorce, they could have blown this out of proportion.

‘If the situation gets blown out of proportion and makes me feel unsafe. It could make me realize that the safest place for me is in the Duchy of Felton, so I might change my mind about the divorce.’

Moreover, if there were other pressing matters happening around them, they could temporarily postpone the divorce and focus on resolving those issues first. Especially if those matters were related to their reputation.

“Am I going to be sentenced to death?”

“No, it’s not like that. If that were to happen, it could shake public opinion.”

Since no one has suffered any actual harm, if there is anyone affected, it would only be the “Duchess” herself. Grace lowered her head.

“I will give you a chance.”

“A chance?”

“I saw the contents of your bag. Besides investigating me, you seem to be quite skilled…”

Grace patted her knee and continued speaking.

“And you have a family to protect.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“If you seize the opportunity I’m offering now, it means you won’t receive a life sentence in the courtroom, at the very least.”

“If that’s not a threat, I don’t know what is.”

This is why nobility… Tom let out a bitter laugh. Grace rolled her eyes at his arrogant attitude.

“…I don’t think that’s what a person who mocks others’ appearances and tries to make a living out of it should say.”

“…”

“I’m not trusting your character, but your abilities, and giving you an opportunity. Do you think I don’t know that one of the people who robbed the orphanage was you, Birkin?”

“That’s…”

“If you know how precious your family is, then you should know how to value other people’s families as well.”

“If you don’t trust my character, how can you give me an opportunity? How do you know I won’t betray you again?”

“Well, didn’t I say it earlier? You have a family to protect.”

“Wasn’t that not a threat?”

“Yeah, if you seize this opportunity, Birkin’s siblings will grow up in a comfortable environment.”

They will have a warm home, have enough to eat, and not have to worry about clothes. They will be able to buy new books.

Not only that, but they will also have the chance to taste delicious food they’ve never had before and have the toys they desire.

Tom’s eyes wavered.

“Once you know that comfort, it won’t be easy to go back to how things were before.”

“Aren’t you afraid that I might betray you for another good offer…?”

“If you were really going to betray me, you wouldn’t be asking me that question right now.”

After a moment of thought, Grace handed him a small note.

“Tom Birkin, I could tell just by looking at your notebook. You’re smart. So, I believe you won’t betray me.”