Chapter 47: [Chapter 047] As if I'm clueless
"Ma'am, are you feeling unwell?"
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"Hm?"
"I think you have a fever."
I didn't avoid Yona's hand as she approached me without hesitation. Seeing Yona's lukewarm hand grow warm against my forehead, I realized that I must indeed have a fever.
"No, I'm fine."
"But still, just in case, I'll ask Ma'am to get you some medicine!"
Yona quickly left the bedroom with a face full of worry. I lay in the unfamiliar guest room of the Duke's residence and stroked the soft blanket.
'If I kissed Blie Acacia's lips, would you be sad?'
My feelings for Blie Acacia were very complex. She was the woman who had taken my husband away. But she had also given herself up to be punished, as if to atone. I was using her body diligently, as she had declared it to be mine. But what if I had kissed Roardnes at that moment, pushed by the situation?
'I think... I would have been a little sad.'
I felt a petty feeling arise, as if both Noebian and Roardnes had taken something away from me, just like Blie had. But as I was about to feel depressed, the memory of Roardnes' arms and face, and his words...
'...because I'm afraid you'll be sad.'
The low voice that had seeped into my ears was instantly erased. Yona, who had returned with fever medicine, made me a tea with it in warm water. The winter bedroom air was a little chilly, but I wasn't cold because of the fever medicine Yona had given me and the sound of Roardnes' voice ringing in my head.
***
I wonder how many eyes and ears there are in the Duke's residence. Watching Annie and her group diligently cleaning the windows, I nibbled on the cookies I had made myself. I vaguely suspected that Annie might be one of Doris's people. If she had the backing of the Crown Princess, and if she had told Annie such a ridiculous thing as giving her the position of Duchess, she might have acted that way.
'But the Duke of Castagna, that's unexpected.'
Does Doris know about this? Thinking that there might be eyes and ears of Doris, or someone else around me, besides the Duke of Castagna, I felt a shiver down my spine. I glanced at Mary who was constantly circling me, watching my every move. Mary had been extremely kind to me ever since I came to this Duke's residence. She had even asked Yona to let her move to the Count's residence, saying she wanted to leave this place so badly, even though she had a good job at the Duke's residence.
'There's definitely no one behind Mary.'
If she had even the slightest backing, she wouldn't have clung to me, a temporary visitor. I had even slapped her a few times, not too hard, as she had ordered me to, and yet she still treated me with so much respect.
"Mary. Thanks to you, I've been doing well. I'll send Yona to ask about your well-being from time to time. Both Annie and Mary, I envy the maids of the Duke's residence. They work well and are loyal... isn't that right, Annie?"
Mary smiled brightly, finally seeming a little reassured by my words. On the other hand, Annie still flinched and answered in a small voice whenever she looked at me. It was pitiful, but it wasn't unpleasant to see.
"Madam, I have news that the Duke has arrived in the capital."
Gaspal, dressed smartly today, approached me. Today is the day Noebian returns. I had found the body and learned that Roardnes was 안, but I couldn't find out anything about Noebian. I seem to have secured Mary, and I can only keep an eye on Annie for now.
'I wish I had a few more days...'
I pounded the armrest of the sofa with my fist, feeling so frustrated and regretful that I had to leave. I have no right to question him about using the Duchess's seal. If he denies it, there's nothing I can do, and I can't search the Duchess's office either.
"I see. You've worked hard. My luggage has been packed since yesterday, so you don't have to worry about it."
I smiled casually at Gaspal, who looked a little dissatisfied.
"You seem to have forgotten. I am not a servant of His Grace the Duke now. I am a servant of Her Highness the Crown Princess."
Gaspal's weakest point. The Crown Prince. And everything related to the Crown Prince. As soon as I mentioned being a servant of Her Highness the Crown Princess, Gaspal didn't ask any more questions. Watching the servants start to move my luggage, I finished preparing to leave. The reason I didn't want to run into Noebian here was simple.
'Listen well. After this Elacon incident is over, and after the funeral... I will have you.'
I still had nightmares, and in them, I heard Noebian's voice from that time. His firm voice saying he would take Blie after my funeral. It had been almost two months since I died. He must be returning now that the Elacon matter he was in charge of is over, and the funeral is about a month away. Noebian's office. And the Duchess's office.
"If only I could enter that room without any restrictions..."
If only Noebian would make himself a target of other nobles by trying to make me the Duchess, no matter the cost... I might get a chance to pour dirt on Noebian, who stands at the pinnacle of honor.
***
The master of the mansion finally returned. All the servants bowed their heads in greeting, but Annie's group greeted Noebian with the most enthusiasm. Noebian, who had taken off his coat and handed it to the butler, didn't even glance at the servants.
"I thought you would be back in the evening, Your Grace."
"Prepare a bath. And bring the Countess of Acacia. Where has she been hiding?"
Noebian, who seemed to have arrived in a hurry, even took off his gloves and handed them over before answering quickly. When the butler hesitated for a moment, he frowned slightly.
"What is it?"
"Well... she already left this morning."
"What?"
"She said she was going to report to the palace after completing her mission."
Noebian's every action stopped abruptly. He couldn't believe either Blie's actions or the butler's report. Leaving all the servants behind, Noebian went directly to the room where Blie had stayed. Seeing the room completely empty, as if no one had stayed there, not even the fireplace, a cold rage surged through him. What on earth could Blie be relying on, knowing him so well and still doing something like this?
'Could it be Roardnes?'
Why were the gossip columns he had recently looked at suddenly popping into his head?
***
Doris was trying hard to hide her expression as she looked at me sitting there boldly. Although she was smiling, her furrowed brow kept popping up, clearly dissatisfied that her 'surveillance of her husband' was not going as planned. However, the Crown Prince, who was supposed to visit frequently, had only visited once that day, and unlike Doris's expectations, it was unlikely that he, who had to some extent understood her intentions, had taken any special action. Moreover, just as she had her own purpose, I also had my own important purpose, so even though I was disappointed, this was the best I could do.
"To say that one can sacrifice one's life for the country is truly a remark worthy of the Crown Prince."
"Yes, this was my first time having a private audience with His Highness, but His Highness is truly worthy of being called the saint of Rontania!"
When I answered more brightly on purpose, Doris's mouth shut tightly.
"And then?"
"...Yes?"
When I tilted my head as if I didn't understand, Doris opened her mouth with a slightly frustrated expression.
"He's close to the Duke because he's capable. They're about the same age and get along like brothers. I hope my father, Duke Castagna, gets along well with the Duke. Other than that, what else did he say or do?"
"Oh, I followed His Highness around all day that day."
Doris's eyes began to sparkle a little. I clasped my hands together, looking as if I was overjoyed to have a private audience with the Crown Prince.
"He really liked the garden. He said he dreamed of a pastoral life."
"That's quite new information."
Doris replied with a face that didn't seem to think so.
"By the way, Your Highness, how are things going with Madame Leblère?"
"Ah."
Doris, who had a look of disappointment, smiled contentedly as soon as she mentioned Madame Leblère.
"Well, it wasn't bad. She's doing a good job within the bounds of royal dignity."
"Were you talking about Madame Leblère?"
Noura and Irene, who had been far away, making tea that we had been gifted, approached the tea table where we were sitting. Noura looked as if she was dying of curiosity about what we were talking about, but she tried hard not to show it.
"I'm so curious about what the two of you were talking about..."
"Your Highness, the tea tastes so good. Could you share some with me when you leave?"
"..."
Doris drank her tea with an uncomfortable expression, so I immediately cut off Noura's words. Ignoring her irritated gaze, I smiled brightly as if I knew nothing.
"Yes, I thought it was too much for me to enjoy alone. Blie and Irene, take some too when you leave. Is that okay, Noura?"
"Of course, Your Highness."
Noura answered sullenly as Doris smiled broadly at me.
"When the envoy arrives from Elacon, you will greet him wearing Madame Leblère's new dress."
"Probably."
"How about changing your hairstyle a little?"
"Hmm."
Noura, who had been slowly scanning me from head to toe, quickly recovered her composure and made a suggestion.
"They say it's fashionable to dye your hair black these days. What do you think?"
Doris's eyes widened, and she looked at me as if asking for my opinion. This is what a lady-in-waiting is for. Leave the chores to the maids and chatter by your mistress's side. And I vaguely felt that Noura's words were not just her own opinion. Doris's seemingly gentle eyes did not leave me. Watching my reaction, Doris was dressed in a manner very similar to the dress Madame Leblère had designed for me, from head to toe.
"I don't like that."
Bang! Noura must not have expected me to say that, because she ended up bumping the teaspoon she was supposed to stir quietly into the teacup.
"What did you say?"
"If Your Highness dyes her hair black, I'm sure I'll look plain in comparison."
I spoke as if I were a slightly foolish woman. Not only Noura, but Doris, who had been stiff, was shaken strongly.
"I don't want to be called 'the ugly duckling next to Her Highness the Crown Princess.' And..."
While Doris looked at me with a strange expression, I continued to speak towards her, without even glancing at the dress that was so similar to mine.
"If Your Highness were to dye her hair black, would it be okay if I dyed my hair a deep brown like Your Highness?"
"!"
"Maybe Lady Jusetta got it wrong. Everyone wants to dye their hair brown, but they're probably keeping quiet because they don't want to be compared to Her Highness the Crown Princess."
I spoke with sincere eyes, trying to look foolish.
Doris, blinking her eyes, tried to understand the meaning of my words. While Noura couldn't dare to rebuke me in front of Doris, she reddened her face and put a hot cup of tea to her lips, unable to properly cool it down. She must feel like her tongue was going to burn. But like a seasoned noblewoman, she didn't show it.
'When someone tries to test you, just act like a fool.'
'A fool?'
'It means to speak as if you have no malice, even if you are impolite.'
'Why?'
'That way, they won't even think about attacking you.'
I suddenly remembered a conversation I had with Bianca when I was preparing for my debutante. And Doris, who had been smiling quietly to herself, stopped and revealed her face from behind the fan. Her satisfied expression was strangely bright, but her chin was held high, as if she couldn't suppress her curiosity about me. Although I couldn't fully understand human psychology, it was clear that she felt superior to me.
'She imitates me yet feels superior to me.'
It was a contradictory behavior that I couldn't understand, but at the same time, it seemed to tell me exactly what kind of behavior I should take in this group. I felt a little reassured.
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