Chapter 59: [Chapter 059] New Grand Duchess Candidate
*Noticed*
- The translation isn't accurate and the language used is considered informal or "messy".
- It's recommended to add this to your reading list to stay updated.
- Readers are encouraged to support the original creators by purchasing the official version when it's available.
- There are links provided to support the translator financially.
- Readers are asked to enjoy the fan translation quietly and avoid causing any trouble or seeking attention.
That's all, happy reading everyone!
*********************************************
A throng of vassals, led by Count Railon, the father of Jimska and a supporter of the Crown Prince, had gathered outside the Grand Duke's residence, mounted on horseback. Each of them insisted on a private meeting with Grand Duke Noebian and seemed willing to camp out until the gate was opened. They had all come immediately after requesting a noble status, specifically a plausible adopted daughter position, for a potential new Grand Duchess.
Noebian, who had been watching the small commotion from inside the mansion, slammed the window shut. It was similar to when he had first asked for their cooperation to launder Blier's identity, but the reaction was even more intense. Bardenaldo, who had arrived at the Grand Duke's residence earlier than Count Railon, shrugged as if he had expected such a commotion and waved the newspaper he was reading.
"Soon, this newspaper will be filled with stories about my uncle's wedding again."
"No, Your Highness. It won't be as noisy this time."
Noebian pressed his temples with a haggard face, as if he hadn't slept all night. Bardenaldo, who was looking at him with a smile, folded the newspaper he was holding.
"I've made a difficult decision, uncle."
"It's much better to have her under my supervision than to let that woman run wild."
"But I wonder if it wasn't a bit of a hasty judgment. Duke Castagna probably wouldn't have wanted it this way. It might look like she's slipped away again, like an eel."
Noebian let out a wry laugh as he rubbed his aching head. As the Crown Prince had said, Duke Castagna would want Blier, whose identity had been laundered by him, to become the official Grand Duchess and influence him, who was a thorn in his side. It was more beneficial to humor Blier's love story and bring her in, completely cutting ties with Doris, rather than letting her be a spy for Castagna.
"It wouldn't be good if there was even one line in the newspaper saying that I 'stole the Second Prince's lover' at this time. I'll just have her nominated and say that I'll decide when to make her the Grand Duchess after the Grand Duchess's funeral. And even then, I'll delay the schedule as much as possible."
"...About that woman, uncle."
The Crown Prince, who was now empty-handed, smiled mysteriously.
"Are you sure you want her by your side without any ulterior motives?"
"What do you mean?"
Noebian twisted his lips.
"If it weren't for Duke Castagna's pressure, Your Highness would have opposed it as well. Regardless of what that woman looks like."
The Crown Prince stared intently at Noebian, who was about to raise his voice, and slowly got up to approach him. A look of worry appeared on his gentle face.
"Don't I know best how much my uncle cared for the Countess? I'm sorry if I offended you. I know you always sacrifice for this nephew of yours, so I'll leave this matter entirely up to you. Even if it's not what Duke Castagna wanted, at least he'll know that you made the maximum concession by choosing a woman who has a connection to Doris."
Bardenaldo patted his shoulder once and then left the study leisurely. Left alone, Noebian reflected on the sleepless night he had spent, thinking about this absurd situation.
"You're trying to shake me by using Count Acacia, and I'm trying to shake you by using the Second Prince. In the end, we want the same thing."
"Are you sure you want her by your side without any ulterior motives?"
The voices of Blier, which he had pondered all night, and the Crown Prince, who had just left, crossed his mind.
"Rather than wasting time on something you can't have, take what you can have."
"Don't you have even a little desire to have something similar to replace what you couldn't have?"
Noebian shrugged and laughed. He felt like the desire for Adrienne, which he couldn't have, was a phantom that was wrapping around him and mocking him. Thinking about the woman who had laughed loudly at his letter, saying that she would just play along, his heart twisted. But at the same time, a thought dominated his mind that bringing that woman to the Grand Duke's residence was ultimately inevitable. As soon as the word "fate" crossed his mind, Noebian suddenly threw the crystal glass in front of him towards the study door. Shards flew in all directions with a loud crash.
"Your, Your Grace?"
"Gaspard."
Gaspard rushed into the study at the sound of the shattering glass and stopped short. The glass shards scattered on the floor looked dangerous. But what was more dangerous was the cold expression on his master's face.
"Prepare a new room."
"Yes? What kind of room..."
"A new Grand Duchess candidate will be arriving soon. This information should be known to only a very few people until it is officially announced after the funeral, so you need to keep the servants tight-lipped."
"A Grand Duchess candidate, you say..."
"Countess Blier Acacia."
"!"
"Say that the poor widow is being taken in by a widowed lord... Just make up something like that."
Ignoring Gaspard's gaze, which clearly showed that his master was not so kind, Noebian sent him out of the study without further comment.
***
The maids who quickly followed Gaspard had their eyes lit up as if they had been waiting. They had overheard the conversation between Railon and the vassals at the entrance of the mansion a long time ago, so they were all in a state of agitation.
"What's going on, butler?"
"Is Lady Railon going to be the new Grand Duchess?"
"Now, everyone pay attention."
After leaving the front of Noebian's study and walking for a long time, Gaspard opened his mouth in a trembling voice. His gaze naturally turned to Annie's group and Marie, who was standing far away from them, trembling.
"A new mistress will be coming to the mansion as soon as the funeral is over."
"Oh my!"
"Really?"
"Already? Right after the funeral?"
The maids, who had pressed their hands to their mouths to muffle their exclamations, looked at Gaspard with eyes filled with a strange mixture of anticipation and anxiety. Annie was especially like that.
"Countess Blier Acacia has become the designated Grand Duchess. Please start preparing a room to accommodate her comfortably, and let the head maid know so she can give you instructions."
"That's ridiculous!"
Gaspard shook his head at Annie's low cry and disappeared like the wind.
"Annie!"
Annie's friends caught her as she was about to collapse to her knees. Annie glared at Marie, her lips tightly pressed together. But there was nothing she could do.
***
Everything was going too smoothly to be normal. I received a message from Marie. Gaspard, who had come out of the Grand Duke's study, had ordered the preparation of a room for the new Grand Duchess candidate, Countess Blier Acacia. Judging by Doris's attitude of welcoming me warmly as soon as I entered the palace, it seemed that her words about having eyes and ears in the Grand Duke's residence were not false. What she didn't know was that Noebian intended to confine me to the Grand Duke's residence, not to form a connection with a vassal of Duke Castagna, but under the sentimental pretext of a 'widowed lord taking in a poor widow'.
"Ladies, there's good news for one of us."
Noura's eyes lit up at Doris's cheerful voice. Doris had recently been working hard to receive dresses from Madame Leblère after a big event, and Noura had been eagerly looking for an opportunity to supply jewelry to match those dresses.
"Blier has become the designated Grand Duchess."
"...What?"
Noura's face, which had been sparkling with anticipation, cracked. I smiled shyly at Doris. Seemingly pleased with my expression, Doris placed her hand on mine, which was beside her, and smiled brightly.
"As I said. It may sound sudden, but in fact, I've known about Blier and the Duke's feelings for a long time and have helped them in every way I can. Don't be upset that I kept it a secret from everyone, as the Duke is at the center of so much attention. Of course, everyone must keep their mouths shut until the wedding."
"But, but how can Lady become the Grand Duchess... Are you joking?"
"Nora. Do I look like I have that much time?"
When Doris replied coldly, Noura's trembling eyes turned to me. I smiled quietly.
***
Doris dismissed me early, saying that she had a lot to prepare. As I was heading towards my carriage, I heard a loud noise from behind.
"Lady! ... Lady!"
It was Nora. I turned around and saw Nora, still looking dazed, breathing heavily.
"I need an explanation! ... I need an explanation!"
"...What do you want to hear?"
"I don't understand how you could become the Grand Duchess. You've only been a widow for a short time, and the Grand Duke..."
"That's why there are no obstacles to the two of us being together."
"...So you've been aiming for this position from the beginning?"
Nora looked at me with clenched fists trembling.
"Anyway, you're just a Grand Duchess in name, someone who can't even appear in public because of your background. What's your real scheme? Don't tell me it's just personal feelings. If you were trying to use Her Highness for such a trivial reason, that's even more despicable!"
I looked around briefly, as if to check if anyone was listening. Only then did Noura shut her mouth, realizing that my voice had been quite loud.
"You, on the other hand, were desperate to have the jewels you sell attached to Her Highness's dresses. Compared to that, isn't my reason quite romantic?"
"No. I'm different. I'm worried about someone like you, who I can't trust, being by Her Highness's side."
"I think your trust is even more questionable. At least I'm not driven by money."
Noura trembled as if she had been greatly insulted. Her bloodshot eyes, like those of someone who hadn't slept properly for days, gleamed as if ready to hurl insults at me at any moment. I sighed softly.
"Why don't we just get along? I can guarantee you'll make a lot of money, at least."
"Don't insult me. My feelings for Her Highness are sincere."
Visit frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓ for the b𝘦st novel reading experience.
"Oh, but that doesn't explain it."
I dramatically opened my fan and fluttered it leisurely.
"Her Highness sometimes calls you 'Nora,' as if she's forgotten your name, and seems to subtly ignore you. Am I mistaken? It doesn't look very good to see someone who can't even be properly addressed by name still trying to show Her Highness more jewelry, despite receiving such insults."
"...What do you know."
I laughed softly at Noura's words, spat out with reddened eyes.
It was a waste of my time to argue with Noura Jusetta, who had lost her reason due to jealousy. But if Noebian was going to separate me from Doris, I needed sharper eyes and ears than Madame Leblère or the naive Irene.
"Instead of making me your enemy, you should try your best to make me your friend. Unlike you, I've done things you can't even imagine to get to this position."
I was confident because it was a statement that only someone who had gone through life and death could make. Noura opened and closed her mouth, looking resentful, but then people who were scheduled to have tea with Doris started to approach, so she glared at me and disappeared like the wind. I didn't blame her or try to stop her. I had hurt Noura's pride, who had been influential in the social circles for quite a long time and had become arrogant while serving as Doris's maid. I had to give her some time. After all, I was the one who was currently the most favored, and Noura was being subtly ignored, so she must have a lot of resentment.
***********************************************
Cheer me on 😍🤗🤩!!!!!!!!
Your votes, comments, and treats will really motivate me. You can treat me via
Trakteer: trakteer.id/gurujadul/tip
Saweria: saweria.co/ibuibujadoel
Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/guru_jadul