Chapter 26: [Chapter 026] My husband invited my ex-husband to dinner
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I fiddled with my hands, my mind racing with the day's excessive homework.
"...You look just like the Grand Duchess of Trovica."
No, actually, what I kept replaying in my mind was Roardnes's voice. Since I'd taken on Blier's body, only Roardnes, Noebian, and I knew how much I resembled the original Blier. But Roardnes was the first one to say it out loud. Of course, Noebian might have been whispering the same thing ever since he'd married Blier to the Count of Acacia. Snap!
"Oh dear, let me get you a new one, Madam!"
Yona, who had been tidying up my messy desk filled with Elacon language dictionaries and the homework Roardnes had given me, rushed out to get me a new quill after I'd snapped mine. Ink splattered everywhere, staining my hands and the papers. Sometimes, I couldn't control the strength of Blier's healthy body.
"Ugh."
It had been a tiring day. I had to attend social gatherings from time to time and was planning to attend the upcoming debutante season with Noebian, looking as much like Adrien as possible. To drive him to despair, I could try to win his favor and then betray him later, but I could also plant the idea in society that I might become his new wife and then humiliate him by rejecting him. Since people were more interested in Noebian than in me, it would be a bigger blow to him. Whatever method I chose, I would have to stay in society with him for a while. Those were the only options I could think of right now. Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door.
"Madam-"
"Count?"
It was Count Acacia. He looked more frail than usual, as if he'd been under a lot of stress lately. He stood in front of my desk, his eyes scanning the scattered papers. He cleared his throat.
"I'm leaving for the estate today."
"Again?"
"Yes, and... "
He usually spent only about a month a year at the manor, as it was far away and prone to incidents. So, this wasn't particularly unusual news. But the Count was looking at me expectantly.
"The Duke will be visiting the manor today."
"...Why?"
"I invited him to dinner."
"So you'll be leaving for the estate after dinner?"
When I asked, confused, the Count nodded slightly.
"I'm leaving now."
I stood up abruptly. This loyal servant of Noebian was inviting his master over but planning to leave himself.
"Was it the Duke's request?"
"No."
"Then why?"
"Well, even though I'm an old man, I'm not completely oblivious..."
He forced a smile, his face flushed. It was pathetic. A man over seventy was going all out to help a young lord with his love life.
'So he's coming here now?'
"The Grand Duchess's funeral hasn't even been over for long. It would be inappropriate for the Duke to visit. I'll go instead."
I couldn't imagine the chaos that would ensue. What would the servants think? Rumors of me being his mistress were already circulating, and now this poor Count would be the only one to suffer.
"No, you can't."
The Count looked at me with concern.
"Why not?"
"Because there have been a series of disappearances of women in the capital. The Duke is worried about your safety, and he's asked you to avoid going out unless it's absolutely necessary. I've even reduced the number of knights accompanying me to the estate."
"Disappearances?"
"Yes, so if you do go out, please make sure you're accompanied by at least two knights..."
"I understand."
I replied quickly, feeling sorry for the Count. If I didn't know the truth, I would have thought he was a terrible servant. But I knew better. He was simply a victim in this twisted game. I couldn't burden him any further.
"Don't worry. I'll have twenty knights with me."
"Then I can leave without worry."
And with that, he placed a set of keys on my desk.
"These are the keys to the manor. Traditionally, the mistress of the house manages them."
"I..."
"I've come to trust you and the other servants more recently."
"I know you'll leave eventually. As you can see, I'm getting old and frail, and it's difficult for me to manage everything around the house."
"Then I..."
"Yes, I've entrusted the tedious tasks to the head butler, but I would like you to take care of these keys, Madam."
Such a slow old man. I couldn't bear the Count's trusting gaze and took the bunch of keys. The servants were starting to warm up to me, probably because the previous Blier had been such a terrible person. It felt like I had accomplished something great. I bit my lip to suppress the strange surge of emotion.
"Don't worry."
Just as the Count left the manor, as if he had been waiting, Jimsker, Noebian's aide, arrived. He bowed deeply upon seeing me and looked startled when his eyes met mine.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no. Madam."
He hadn't seen Blier's face before, even though he was such a trusted aide. I guessed why he was so surprised but pretended not to notice. Jimsker pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his brow.
"My legs are a bit sore. Could you please greet the guest?"
"Yes?"
Before I could fully reply, I headed towards the dining room. Why on earth would Noebian expect me to greet him at the entrance?
I felt a twist in my stomach. Only Yona followed me, while the rest of the servants stood rigidly in front of the manor's grand entrance.
"Chickpea soup?"
"Yes, the chef is almost finished."
"Steak, very rare."
"I've passed the message on!"
Noebian hated chickpeas and always preferred his meat well-done. Yona seemed excited to witness my dinner with the Duke. The rumor that I was his mistress had already spread throughout the manor, and many believed in the idea of a 'true love' between a mistress and her lover. They would be thrilled to see me with the young Duke. I could hear a commotion coming from the entrance, and I assumed Noebian had arrived.
"Countess."
"Welcome, Your Highness."
I offered him a pleasant smile. My hands were clenched tightly beneath the table. Noebian, who seemed slightly annoyed that I hadn't come out to greet him, relaxed a little. Maji, who had followed him in, covered her mouth with her hand and whispered excitedly to the other maids. "He's so handsome! I feel overwhelmed just by entering the manor. He looks so perfect with Madam."
"Enough," I said, unable to tolerate their whispers any longer. The dining room fell silent. I walked towards him and offered to take his coat.
"No need. You can leave it."
"I'd like to."
It was the truth. When I was ill, I had envied the maids who got to take Noebian's coat. Feeling this healthy body perform such a simple task gave me a sense of peace. Noebian seemed to appreciate my gesture and quietly allowed me to take his coat. Maji's eyes widened.
"Maji."
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"Yes, yes! Countess Acacia!"
"Make sure there's not a speck of dust on His Highness's coat."
"Yes, yes!"
Excited, Maji took the coat and hurried out of the dining room with the other maids. With their prying eyes gone, I finally relaxed.
"Please, sit down, Your Highness."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you much notice. I've asked the kitchen to prepare your favorites."
"Anything is fine."
He looked at me intently, studying my face.
"This is..."
Prompt: A scene where a woman, posing as another, serves a deliberately unappetizing meal to her husband's former lover to express her disdain.
Translation:
"I know you'll leave eventually. As you can see, I'm getting old and frail, and it's difficult for me to manage everything around the house."
"Then I..."
"Yes, I've entrusted the tedious tasks to the head butler, but I would like you to take a care of these keys, Madam."
Such a slow old man. I couldn't bear the Count's trusting gaze and took the bunch of keys. The servants were starting to warm up to me, probably because the previous Blier had been such a terrible person. It felt like I had accomplished something great. I bit my lip to suppress the strange surge of emotion.
"Don't worry."
Just as the Count left the manor, as if he had been waiting, Jimsker, Noebian's aide, arrived. He bowed deeply upon seeing me and looked startled when his eyes met mine.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no. Madam."
He hadn't seen Blier's face before, even though he was such a trusted aide. I guessed why he was so surprised but pretended not to notice. Jimsker pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his brow.
"My legs are a bit sore. Could you please greet the guest?"
"Yes?"
Before I could fully reply, I headed towards the dining room. Why on earth would Noebian expect me to greet him at the entrance?
I felt a twist in my stomach. Only Yona followed me, while the rest of the servants stood rigidly in front of the manor's grand entrance.
"Chickpea soup?"
"Yes, the chef is almost finished."
"Steak, very rare."
"I've passed the message on!"
Noebian hated chickpeas and always preferred his meat well-done. Yona seemed excited to witness my dinner with the Duke. The rumor that I was his mistress had already spread throughout the manor, and many believed in the idea of a 'true love' between a mistress and her lover. They would be thrilled to see me with the young Duke. I could hear a commotion coming from the entrance, and I assumed Noebian had arrived.
"Countess."
"Welcome, Your Highness."
I offered him a pleasant smile. My hands were clenched tightly beneath the table. Noebian, who seemed slightly annoyed that I hadn't come out to greet him, relaxed a little. Maji, who had followed him in, covered her mouth with her hand and whispered excitedly to the other maids.
"He's so handsome! I feel overwhelmed just by entering the manor. He looks so perfect with Madam."
"Enough," I said, unable to tolerate their whispers any longer. The dining room fell silent. I walked towards him and offered to take his coat.
"No need. You can leave it."
"I'd like to."
It was the truth. When I was ill, I had envied the maids who got to take Noebian's coat. Feeling this healthy body perform such a simple task gave me a sense of peace. Noebian seemed to appreciate my gesture and quietly allowed me to take his coat. Maji's eyes widened.
"Maji."
"Yes, yes! Countess Acacia!"
"Make sure there's not a speck of dust on His Highness's coat."
"Yes, yes!"
Excited, Maji took the coat and hurried out of the dining room with the other maids. With their prying eyes gone, I finally relaxed.
"Please, sit down, Your Highness."
"Thank you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't give you much notice. I've asked the kitchen to prepare your favorites."
"Anything is fine."
He looked at me intently, studying my face.
"This is..."
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