Chapter 40
Chapter 40
It’s not sothing insignificant. They’re really out here trying to put in a ntal institution without my consent.
No matter how many weeks passed by while I looked like I was out of my mind…! Still, how ridiculous could they get!
I wanted to run to Camilla right this second, grab her by the collar, and shake her violently.
But.
Ah, calm down, let’s relax. And let’s think about this one by one.
There would be nothing in it for if I fought Camilla while I was living in this mansion. There would only be a high possibility of her shipping off to a ntal hospital while saying, ‘Have you gone so crazy that you can talk back to now?’
Camilla had reason enough to send to a hospital and lock up so securely that not even a rat or a bird would find .
It was a fact that other nobles didn’t know my existence at all. High society knew that Amoide was now married, but my identity was being kept under wraps. No one knew who I was, so I could make a plan based on this.
If I disappeared, no one would try to look for . It would be easy to erase my existence when we divorce and he finds a new wife.
Then, it would be another woman who would have to give birth to a successor…
“This is great. Really great.”
It was a simple plan, and I’d be able to adjust accordingly if needed.
“But wait a minute.”
Why did Camilla suddenly co up with that?
No, was that really what Camilla thought of ?
That question quickly took over my whole train of thought.
If Camilla really thought I’d gone insane, then she would surely try to ship off to a ntal institute.
But why all of a sudden?
[ Madam Camilla is always concerned about Your Grace’s health. Not only physically, but ntally as well. She’s worried that the whispers you hear around here might be bothering you. ]
“The whispers around …”
If that’s what she’s worried about…
Then Greta was the only one.
‘Just why are you so wary of ?’
I recounted all of Greta’s previous actions.
Greta was naturally arrogant due to Camilla’s unwavering confidence in her, which made it so that nobody in the mansion could defy her.
It was the sa with .
I was a Duchess with no power around here. If one were to regard the proper hierarchy in the household, then Greta would feel threatened by my presence because I was higher up on the ladder than her.
‘You must’ve felt unsettled by my recent actions.’
Moving the kitchen to another place, spending so money, buying high quality ingredients…
Before that, everything was under Greta’s control. If a kid had lost their candy, they would raise their voice and cry out. This could be the case with Greta and her position in the Duchy.
Perhaps it’s true that she really wanted to get rid of . But the problem was… this was all just conjecture.
I couldn’t even ask Camilla herself if it was Greta who told her to put in a ntal institution.
Knock, knock.
The sudden staccato brought to my feet, even as I almost collapsed earlier.
“Co in.”
I looked at the door, unconsciously shielding myself with a pillow that I now embraced. No one should ever catch looking as if I was having a breakdown.
“The Madam’s maid is here to see you.”
The young maid, who followed behind Rona, bowed when she t my gaze. She wasn’t soone I was familiar with. Perhaps she’s a new hire.
“What’s going on?”
The maid hesitated to answer my question.
“The Madam is calling for you.”
“Alright.”
“She requests your presence at the Skylark Room.”
“The Skylark Room?”
The room, which was nad after the mural of larks painted on the ceiling, was a room where Camilla greeted guests.
“The Madam said it’s sunny today, so you should have tea with her on the veranda…”
“…Really?”
Camilla’s invitation to ‘have a cup of tea’ was almost always just an excuse to nag .
This ti, I really had no idea of what she’s going to do.
* * *
Standing in front of the Skylark Room, I took a deep breath.
Inside was the person who was trying to lock up in a ntal institution. The one who held the contract. The one who held my life.
“…”
I was dumbfounded by the scenery I saw in front of .
‘What the hell’s going on here?’
As the door opened, Camilla stared at with her eyes wide open. The problem was that there were more people inside.
There were three other ladies sitting around the tea table, looking at with curiosity.
‘There’s no way Camilla called here.’
If there was a tea party being held today, Camilla would never have called for . In the first place, I could never seek out Camilla without being called by her first, so I wouldn’t have been able to show up at any of her tea parties.
I an, what was happening right now should be impossible.
“…”
I was so stunned that my mind stopped working. On the other hand, Camilla was glaring at , as if to ask what I was doing here.
“Oh my, are you the Duke’s wife?”
A cheerful voice echoed through the room. The owner of the voice was the youngest of the three ladies.
“We could finally see your face!”
“My oh my, we finally et the Efret household’s new madam.”
“Goodness, how fortunate. It would be great to have tea together.”
The other ladies kept adding remarks. The more attention was directed at , the more forced Camilla’s smile beca. Then, a scene I never thought I’d see in my life unfolded before my eyes.
“Selena, co in,” Camilla gestured toward as she smiled.
“…”
Of course, my feet were rooted to the ground. I’m sure it’s the sa case for Camilla.
‘You didn’t call for earlier.’
It was a trick. Soone was pulling strings behind our backs. I was screaming internally, but I couldn’t make it obvious in front of these ladies.
“Yes, Mother.”
Following Camilla’s example, I also had to act as naturally as possible. I approached the table where the wives were sitting, walking as gracefully as I could.
“She’s very shy, that’s why she’s reluctant to show herself in front of people. I called her here specifically today so she could say hello to you.”
Camilla even hugged warmly and patted on the back.
Ah, I don’t know what to do.
As soon as she touched , my body trembled unconsciously.
“…”
I put on a wide smile just as Camilla did so that my unease wouldn’t be seen by the ladies.
“It’s a pleasure to et you all.”
I made eye contact with all three ladies, who were looking at with hawk eyes.
“Shall we introduce ourselves first?” Camilla laughed with a big smile on.
I could see one corner of her eye twitching from the forced laughter.
“First, this is Marchioness Morde.”
The brown-haired lady with so streaks of grey was looking at with curious eyes. She greeted with a slight smile.
“This is Countess Lafangue.”
The woman with bright blonde hair smiled brightly at . She was the youngest of the three ladies.
“Lastly… Marchioness Aven.”
The short lady with friendly eyes smiled at .
All three ladies were unable to hide their curiosity towards .
“My, my. The Duke of Efret does deserve to hide you away and never let you out of his sight. How could you be so beautiful?”
As the complints increased, more goosebumps up my spine seed to rise.
“By the way, I heard that the Duchess is holding back on attending social gatherings because of her husband’s health…”
As if prodding for answers, Marchioness Morde looked pointedly at . Camilla only pursed her dry lips as she waited for my response.
‘Does she think I’ll say sothing weird?’
It was a clear mistake for to join the tea party today, but it wasn’t enough that mud was slinged onto Camilla’s face.
“Yes, my husband isn’t feeling very well, so I have to watch over him.”
As if satisfied, I could see the corners of Camilla’s lips creeping upwards.
“All I want is for my husband to recover quickly.” I opened my eyes wide and pitifully gave a heartbroken smile.
“Oh my, he must be happy to have such a devoted wife.”
“I’m sure he’ll get better soon.”
The wives added so words of encouragent.
“Thank you all. I won’t ever forget your kind words.”
Camilla sighed as she looked at , relieved.
“Co now, let’s continue. The tea is going to get cold. I hope the refreshnts I prepared for you today suit your tastes.”
“These are refreshnts from the Duchy of Efret. There’s no way it wouldn’t suit my taste.”
At that, the wives simultaneously lifted their teacups to savor the taste of their drinks.
I unconsciously also lifted a teacup and smiled amiably with them. I wanted to just grab the skirt of my dress and bolt out of here, but Camilla might kill if I did that.
On this leisurely afternoon, everyone needed to look elegant and sophisticated in a tea party, of which its purpose wasn’t just for people to gather and sip tea.
It was where all kinds of desserts and tea used by the host would be scrutinized to asure the household’s standing. The conversations would also range from gossip, all the way to politics.
And today…
“Have you heard? There has been so talk about Count Saulton.”
Countess Lafangue initiated the conversation. In fact, this must be what she wanted to talk about the most, but she could only bring it up now because the atmosphere finally allowed it.
“I think it’s been five years since I’ve heard news about the Count,” Marchioness Morde responded, as though she had rehearsed this line.
“Larson, the family’s only son in five generations, must be very precious.”
“That’s why it’s rumored that the Count had tried to sire a son with several won.”
“Then he’s an illegitimate child.”
“I’m not sure. The mother and the godfather said that the child would be raised as a legitimate heir, so that he would inherit the title in the future.”
“As expected, even the love of the millennium cools in the face of heirs and successions.”
If I were to prioritize acting like a proper noble lady, how could I possibly respond to a subject like this elegantly?
I just nodded here and there with a gentle smile on my lips. But it seed like Camilla wasn’t happy with my performance.
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