Duchess Anita’s Chamber
Duchess Anita was sitting at her dressing table, removing her jewels for the night. She frowned slightly, thinking about Elizabeth, who was yet to return. She hoped that Elizabeth had done well.
The door was suddenly pulled open without a knock. Duchess Anita frowned, wondering who would dare enter her room so rudely.
"Elizabeth?" the Duchess called, frowning at her daughter’s appearance. "What happened to you? You look as if you’ve seen a ghost."
Elizabeth’s hands trembled as she pulled off her gloves. "It’s Anastasia! She... she humiliated , Mother. In front of everyone!"
Duchess Anita’s expression darkened. "What do you an? Did she refuse to apologize?"
"Worse!" Elizabeth hissed, pacing the room like a cornered cat. "She turned everything against . That wretch told a story—one so twisted that even I began to doubt myself. She claid that the day the Queen Mother hosted that private feast, I was the one who deliberately replaced her in the bedchamber—that I deceived His Majesty!"
The Duchess froze, her face draining of color. "What did you just say?" The King had claid he was drunk back then, and the maid who ca to report to the Queen Mother had also claid that the lady in the room was Anastasia.
"She said I entered the room when she was sick! That the King thought I was her, and that’s how she ended up disgraced! Mother, she said it all before witnesses—Lady Amber, Lady Clarisse, and the others. Even their maids were there!"
The more Elizabeth thought about the conversation, the more she felt she had fallen into a pit. If those words spread, her reputation would be ruined—she might never be able to marry the King.
The Duchess was speechless for a mont. Then she rose sharply to her feet. "You fool! I warned you to be careful!"
Elizabeth’s voice cracked. "I didn’t think she’d dare! She’s nothing but a discarded queen, a woman with a ruined na!" she argued. She had been happy to go and show off her status to Anastasia; she never expected things to turn out like this. "If only I had waited in the side hall," she muttered, regretting her decision to enter the welcoming hall. But there was no dicine for regret.
"Not anymore!" the Duchess snapped. "You’ve handed her the perfect chance to twist the story in her favor. If those words spread, if the King hears them, he will start asking questions. Do you not see what you’ve done?"
"But Mother, I did nothing wrong! If the King asks questions, he will find innocent," Elizabeth said. She was convinced that with proper investigation, her na could be cleared.
Duchess Anita chuckled bitterly at her daughter’s naïve words. She felt like hitting Elizabeth for being so foolish. After spending years in the palace and handling various situations, it was foolish of her to have trusted Elizabeth with this task.
"What do you know? Do you think it is that simple? The King claid to have been drunk and mistook you for Anastasia. That was not His Majesty’s bedchamber. Do you really believe that was a coincidence? Or that the Queen Mother leading a few won with her was rely for care?" Duchess Anita analyzed coldly. Having lived so long, she could already guess that Queen Mother Mary and His Majesty had intended to trap Anastasia into returning to the palace. No matter how the investigation was carried out, Elizabeth would be unable to clear her na.
Elizabeth’s breath quickened. "Then what do we do? If the King hears... does this an I will no longer—would I beco the scapegoat?"
Duchess Anita cut her off, pressing her fingers to her temple in frustration. "We must control the damage. His Majesty must not hear those words," she declared.
"Mother, why don’t we visit the palace tomorrow and let His Majesty hear our version first? We can say I went out of kindness to deliver a gift and offer reconciliation, but Anastasia, consud by jealousy, made a scene and accused falsely. His Majesty doesn’t have a good impression of her—I’m sure he’ll believe ."
Duchess Anita thought about it but shook her head. Getting into the palace wasn’t easy, and the King was not soone whose thoughts could be directed. If they went to report first, he might think they had guilty hearts.
Elizabeth swallowed hard, trembling. "Then Mother, what should we do? Those ladies—Lady Amber and the others—they saw how things unfolded. What if they repeat her story?"
The Duchess’s tone turned cold. "Then we remind them who their future queen is. I’ll send discreet word through your grandfather. They will not utter a word of what they heard."
Elizabeth nodded slowly. "Do you think she’ll let it go just like that?" she asked, unable to hide her worry. "Mother... she looked so sure of herself. Even when she lied, she looked calm, as though she’d been waiting for ."
"Do not worry about that," Duchess Anita replied. "If she wanted to fight you, she would have spread the news long ago. As long as we don’t provoke her further, she should let it go." She paused. "I will talk to your father. I’m sure she’ll respect him enough not to drag herself down too."
Hearing her mother’s words, Elizabeth felt sowhat relieved. But in her heart, she swore to take revenge for that day’s humiliation no matter how long it took.
....
Duke Thompson’s study
Duchess Anita imdiately sent ssage to her father to help send warning to lady Amber and her friends, since Elizabeth did not recognize the other ladies with her.
Then she went to see Duke Thompson and explained what Elizabeth had told her.
"Is she really making up stories?" Duke Thompson looked at his wife. He understood that she had always wanted the royal marriage for her daughter.
"My Lord, I will not lie to you, that was the palace where would I gain such influence?" Duchess Anita asked with a frown, seeing that even her own husband doubts her, she beca all the more determined not to let Anastasia’s words spread.
"If you want to go and speak with Anastasia, it would be best if you told all the truth there is to know," Duke Thompson said not hiding the doubts in his gaze.
Duchess Anita was frustrated by his question, but she knew better than to argue with her husband. "This was really not our doing, perhaps they both fell into the trap of soone else. The kingdom is not quite stable, maybe soone did not want the king and Anastasia to reconcile," she said seeing that her husband was still unwilling she quickly reminded him what he stands to benefits from the marriage between their daughter and the king. "Your dukedom has been empty shell for ever, you know that Elizabeth marrying the king is an opportunity for our family. If this words get out, his majesty can use it against you, after all this concerns your daughters."
"Fine, I will go speak to her tomorrow, but rember you will co with apologize," Duke Thompson said. He knew from his last encounter with Anastasia that she would not just listen to his words. So he decided to use the soft approach. He even hopped that with this move he could reconcile their father and daughter relationship. This way, he would be the father in-law to two powerful n in the kingdom.
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