CH 85

Chapter 85

“Whether the grand duchesses ever attend the founding party?”

“Yes. There is no record in the Grand Duchy”

Even if there were no records left in the Grand Duchy, Estelle might remember. Of course, while the former Grand Duke did not have a Grand Duchess, the previous Grand Duchesses did exist.

“I don’t think I can answer right away. As you know, when I was at the height of my social life, there was no Grand Duchess.”

“I see.”

“I will go back and find out. Perhaps noble ladies older than me will remember.”

She realized once again the short lifespan of the Grand Duke’s family. Even though the nobles who had lived in the same generation were still alive, the Grand Duchess had already changed several times.

“His Grace said that the Grand Dukes never attended the founding party… I don’t know if it would be right for me to attend.”

There were many dubious aspects to believe only in Damon’s words. He strangely trusted her too much and told her to do whatever she wanted, she was at a loss for what to do. If she really did what he said, she wasn’t sure if there would be any problems.

“Did His Grace give permission to attend?”

“That’s right. He said it didn’t matter if I attended… he even said he would attend with me.”

That was more of a problem. If Damon had opposed it, it might have been more comfortable. If he had told her not to attend, there was no other way.

“Still, if the Grand Duchy is attending for the first time because of me….”

She wondered why the Grand Duchy did not attend the founding parry. When the empire was founded, wasn’t it the grand duchy who contributed the most? All the people of the empire knew that. The first Emperor and the first Grand Duke defeated the ferocious black dragon.

She knew that they had been recognized for this credit and became the current Grand Duchy… Wasn’t that true? Why didn’t the family that made a big contribution not attend the founding party?

“Why doesn’t the grand duchy attend the founding ceremony? Didn’t the grand duchy also make a contribution at the founding of the country?”

“The founding party… It is a festival enjoyed only by the Imperial Family.”

That was odd.

There were two people who contributed to it, so why was it that only one person was excited? One was impatient to tell the whole world, the other was too quiet. She even wondered if there was something hidden. It was right to pretend that it never happened.

“I don’t know the exact reason either. I just know that the Grand Duchy did not show up at the founding party.”

“That… has it been like that before?”

“Yes. Ever since I was very young.”

If so, there was a possibility that the Grand Duchy did not attend the founding party from almost the first Grand Duke.

…Why was that? Elysia didn’t understand. It was strange that they didn’t participate after making a contribution. And judging from Damon’s attitude, it seemed that the Imperial Family and the Grand Duchy were not on good terms… very much too.

“Aren the imperial family and the Grand Duchy not on good terms?”

“Hmm… I don’t know, but for generations, the Imperial Family and the Grand Duchy kept each other in check.”

Was it because each other’s forces are so strong that they had no choice but to keep the other in check?

If that was the case, she could understand a little bit. The only family that could pass the Imperial Family was the Grand Duchy. From the point of view of the Imperial Family, the Grand Duchy could have been a thorn in the eye.

Still, it seemed that there was something deeper than that. They hated each other too much to be a simple check.

“If I attend the founding party, things will definitely come out.”

“I don’t think it can be helped.”

“How are my rumors now?”

Did they already find out that she was an illegitimate child? Unless the Countess was an idiot, there was no way she would have said it already though she didn’t know.

“There are currently no rumors about Your Grace because the Grand Duke manages it thoroughly. If there is even the slightest strange noise, he will deal with it immediately.”

Elysia couldn’t believe the words that came out of Estelle’s mouth. She thought he wouldn’t mind that at all, but she couldn’t believe that he had managed it so thoroughly.

“His Highness takes care of it?”

“Yes. The other day, he dismissed all the pre-wedding rumors. He said that slander against Your Grace would be regarded as an attack against the Grand Duchy.”

“Regarded as an attack?”

He even said that…

The more she listened, the more she couldn’t believe it. She was just amazed. Why would he care about trivial rumors? The more he behaved like that, the more people would mistake her for the beloved Grand Duchess.

Damon wasn’t the kind of person to do such a bother.

“Don’t worry too much. Currently, the Grand Duke is taking great care of it.”

“…Is it so.”

Elysia’s expression went blank at the words she couldn’t believe even after hearing them with her own ears. It was hard to understand Damon’s sincerity. The better he treats her well, the harder it will be to get rid of her quietly.

In any case, she was destined to be poisoned by him.

“I will also find out whether the previous grand duchesses attended.”

He was trying to brainwash her already. She didn’t know why he pretended to be a good husband behind her back. He’d kill her soon, anyway.

“…Thank you.”

“Don’t worry too much, because His Grace said it was okay.”

“Yes.”

Not knowing what Estella was talking about, Elysia just nodded her head like a robot.

* * *

After sending off Estelle, who said she would visit again tomorrow, Elysia sat blankly. Her head was still full of shock. She was troubled because Damon was becoming increasingly elusive. She couldn’t bridge the gap between the man she knew and the man he was now.

“Maybe I have a mental illness.”

Now it has come to the point where she doubts herself.

…What if it was all her delusion?

No, it wasn’t. Everything was so vivid, and there was no way this could be a lie. And, in fact, the Grand Duchy’s rule? Several things fit. It wasn’t completely wrong. However, many things were different and it didn’t go the way she expected at all.

“I don’t know anymore…”

So was the secret of the greenhouse she learned yesterday. She had no recollection of reading such a secret. Of course, she could have forgotten. All she was interested in was Damon’s misdeeds since the original story was also focused on that.

After all, he was the villain, not the main character.

The villain’s past was not very important. Certainly, it was a different story if it was a villain who gained sympathy, but he wasn’t such a villain… he was truly evil. That meant that he couldn’t be edified by pity or love. He couldn’t be understood by anything.

“And why did he give me the greenhouse?”

Seeing the key still shining brightly on her bedside table, Elysia buried her head on the bed in pain.

Everything was jumbled up. He gave her the greenhouse that no grand duchesses had ever received except for the first Grand Duchess… what did it mean?

“I don’t know.”

She wanted to go and ask Damon right away. Why was he doing this to her? Nonetheless, she couldn’t because he shouldn’t have found out what she knew about him.

“Greenhouse, Grand Duchy… Damon.”

Nothing was easy. It all seemed like a mystery. She could never find an answer to that either.

“The founding of the country is also a problem right now.”

In this state, it seemed that nothing would change if she went to the founding party. She was lucky if she went and didn’t have a hard time.

…How did Elysia, who grew up in the attic, would end up in that situation?

Even if she tried to wrap her head around it and think about it, she couldn’t come up with an answer. So in the end, she ended up pulling on the rope above the bed. She had to do what she had to do anyway.

Not long after, a knock came.

“Did you call?”

“Ah, Julia.”

She didn’t know that Julia would come right away.

“Is there any problem?”

“Did Julia hear that I got the greenhouse key?”

“Yes.”

Although she didn’t have to hear about it beforehand, she must have noticed it while cleaning the bedroom since the key to the greenhouse was placed on the bedside table anyway.

“I heard about it from His Grace last night, but can you explain the greenhouse in detail?”

“I don’t know either… It’s a secret that only comes down to the Grand Duke’s lineage.”

Did Julia not know that it was dangerous for the Grand Duke’s blood to enter the greenhouse?

“I just know that it’s a bad memory for the master. Also, if they are a descendant of the Grand Duke, they will not enter the conservatory.”

It seemed that Julia didn’t even know it was dangerous, or maybe he was hiding it from her.

“I know it’s not good for the body if you go in. Is there any problem?”

“No, no. I heard that Julia also has the key to the greenhouse.”

Damon said that not only she but also Julia had the key.

“The original greenhouse key is kept by the Grand Duchess and me, the head maid.”

“His Grace gave me the greenhouse and told me to do whatever I want… What should I do?”

Giving her such a terrifying greenhouse and telling her to take care of it, of course, Elysiadidn’t know what to do.

“And I heard that Julia is renovating the greenhouse, which was originally abandoned.”

“Yes, I first told the gardener to organize the greenhouse.”

“I heard that it’s not a good memory for His Grace…”

Should they leave the greenhouse that Damon didn’t like too much? She was worried.

“I think it would be okay to decide on the greenhouse slowly. Other places need to be touched now.”

“Oh, the party hall and the outdoor garden were also a problem.”

Originally, the parlor was also a mess, but she was told that it was hastily tidied up before she came. There was nothing good about this man’s Grand Duke’s castle.

“There’s one thing I didn’t tell you…”

Hearing the hesitant tone in her words, Elysia couldn’t figure out what Julia was trying to say. In the first place, Julia had always been a straightforward speaker.

“For the time being, it seems that His Grace and Your Grace will have to stay in the outer castle.”

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