Duchess Anita frowned when she heard Nanny Lala’s words. This was the first ti Lala was making the effort to give advice on her own, but Duchess Anita was indeed scared to make another move that would harm her.
"What?" Although she had doubts, she was tempted. After living so many years in bliss, it was uncomfortable to suddenly fall so far. She also did not dare reach out to her father regarding this issue; after all, she was scared that further pressure on her husband would only lead to a complete fallout.
"I have listened to many versions of the rumors out there. It all started with a drunk man spilling so words in an inn. Would everything not be clear if the beggar stepped forward?" Nanny Lala said. Since the ti her past was exposed, she had little standing, so she had carefully thought about this situation and hoped that by giving a good solution, it would grant her favor with the duchess.
"You can say that? Anyone with a bit of sense can tell that soone deliberately used that drunk man. Besides, this concerns the royal family. Do you think we can fool them?" Duchess Anita felt disappointed.
"My lady, you did not harm Lady Anastasia that night. Even if the real drunk is already in the royal family’s hands, there is still a way. Confront him and find a way to leverage the loophole in his story. As long as there are no traitors on your side and on the side of the queen, everything should play out fine," Lala said.
Duchess Anita paused. She felt that this was a reasonable solution—to face the issue head-on—but she was also worried and scared.
"But finding that drunk man will not be easy," Duchess Anita said. Having grown up in a noble ho, she understood that no one used a pawn and left it for others to leverage.
Nanny Lala opened her mouth to speak, but she hesitated.
"What is it? Speak clearly," Duchess Anita said.
"I have a way, but it might put Your Grace in a difficult position," Lala said after thinking carefully for a bit.
"Say it," Duchess Anita said. She had beco desperate not just because of herself but also because of Elizabeth, who was affected by this news. She had just beco queen, and her reputation could not take such a fall.
"Ring the bell and cry for justice," Lala said.
Duchess Anita was shocked by her suggestion. Only commoners ever took the route of ringing the chapel bell to seek justice if they had been oppressed. As a duchess, doing that would an she was declaring to the whole world that the Duke Mansion was powerless. Even if she succeeded, what about the sha afterward? Besides, she could not be certain she would gain justice.
"Do you think I am not disgraced enough? Were you sent by that ungrateful girl?" Duchess Anita questioned, beginning to suspect Lala.
Lala quickly got on her knees. "Since I joined the estate, I have never had any direct dealings with Lady Anastasia. I have no reason to betray Your Grace, but sotis... only unconventional thods will give you a chance," Lala said.
Duchess Anita looked at her, but she was not convinced.
"This goes against the norms. It would ruin no matter the outco," Duchess Anita shook her head. She could see the sincerity in Lala’s gaze, but she felt that, being of low birth, Lala did not understand the self-pride every noble protected.
"My lady, I dare say that if you succeed in clearing your na, you will not only preserve your dignity, but you might win the king’s favor," Lala said.
"Get up. You know nothing. No matter what, I am still the daughter of a general. Besides, a few days have passed, and His Majesty has not decreed to relinquish Elizabeth from her position as queen. I will just bear with it for a while, and everything will be taken care of gradually," Duchess Anita refused to take such a foolish move.
"Your Grace, forgive , but I feel the need to speak plainly," Lala said. She understood that as a servant, the fall of her lady ant the sa fate.
Duchess Anita wanted to snap. She suddenly missed Leah, who knew when to stop.
"Speak."
"Your situation is not as optimistic as you think. No matter how much your father dotes on you, you are a married daughter. Moreover, in the eyes of everyone else, you are the one who has done sothing so disrespectful. If His Grace decides to take a mistress at this ti, no one would bla him. Besides, the king already has a mistress he loves. I was once deeply loved by Lord F. If his wife had gone straight to the elders and threatened her life, forcing them to send away, I dare say I might have driven the main wife to her death and taken her place.
"Lady F could use this ans to force out because she had a good reputation. The king’s mistress already bore his first son. As a woman, Your Grace, you are not ignorant of the hold His Majesty’s mistress has on his heart for him to dare to consider naming the son of a mistress the crown prince," Lala paused and looked at the duchess.
Duchess Anita’s heart skipped a beat. In the past, she had been happy to hear this news; after all, if Anastasia was uncomfortable, she felt blessed.
"But His Majesty already sent that mistress away," she tried to reason.
"Yes, but she was sent away because of Lady Anastasia’s actions. It has nothing to do with Queen Elizabeth. Can you guarantee that with such a bad reputation the king would not bring his mistress back to the palace? Do not forget, His Majesty’s first decision was to take Lady Elizabeth as a mistress. She only beca a wife because of Lady Anastasia’s confession. With Her Majesty’s current reputation, the king can logically bring back the mistress, stating that he can trust Queen Elizabeth to take care of him," Lala said.
Duchess Anita understood the logic, but she refused to believe that the king would do that, especially with the banner of rebellion raised.
"You do not have to worry. It will not happen. After being a mistress for so long, do you think a man’s love is sothing special?" Duchess Anita refused to believe the king would do sothing so bold.
Lala opened her mouth as though she was going to speak, but remained quiet.
What Duchess Anita never expected was to hear news from her daughter two days later that the mistress was back in the palace.
According to the letter Elizabeth sent back, the king had not visited her room since the marriage. On the wedding night, he had been angry with her, after which those unpleasant rumors started.
Although Elizabeth felt uncomfortable, nothing bad had happened. The rumors grew worse, and people began to say that Duchess Anita could not tolerate a daughter and was not a good wife. On the surface, this had nothing to do with Elizabeth, although she was worried for her mother. She did not expect Dorothy to suddenly kneel at the palace gate at about the ti the court officials were leaving.
She had just one request—to see her son. She said she feared for his safety. Although she had not ntioned Elizabeth, everyone knew what she ant. After all, if there was a mother, there was definitely a daughter.
Many felt pity for her. The king invited her in and soon allowed her to stay in the palace for a few days to take care of her son.
Although the king said it would be only a few days, Elizabeth beca anxious. Moreover, the king spent the night in her courtyard that very day.
Reading the letter, Duchess Anita felt as though she had been slapped hard across the face. It had only been two days since she confidently declared to Lala that the mistress was nothing, yet in the next mont she was back in the palace.
The most annoying part was that she could do nothing about it. Left with no choice, she told Lala about the ssage. She only ntioned the part about the mistress returning, not about the king refusing to share a bed with Elizabeth.
Lala was also shocked. Although she had considered the possibility, she did not expect everything to progress so quickly.
"Your Grace, I dare say you have to take extre asures. Remaining passive will not do you any good," Lala said.
"And you think your foolish plan would do any good?" Duchess Anita raised her brows.
"I may not be certain, but you will never know unless you try. I have taken my ti to think about it, and I have a refined plan—one that does not require you to gamble your dignity," Lala said.
Duchess Anita looked at her. Being at her wit’s end, she asked her to speak. Although she could endure it herself, she feared that her impatient daughter, Elizabeth, might do sothing foolish.
Lala stepped forward and whispered in her ear.
Duchess Anita frowned at first, but as she listened, her eyes suddenly lit up.
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