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T/N: I’m now sure that Marinda has some kind of brainwashing magic or something like that. I guess Daphne knew that and sent her away before she left so Marinda won’t know the place she will go to.
E/N: That's plausible. I wonder what Damian would say though. I wish he takes Daphne's side this time.
“Uh, that….”
For a moment, their eyes met. As Marinda’s bright brown eyes turned crimson, Sophia’s gaze lost focus.
“We must expel the Duchess. Such a disgraceful incident has occurred. And for the new Duchess… recommend me.”
“Expel the Duchess… and recommend a new one….”
Sophia muttered Marinda’s words absentmindedly. For the spell to work, Marinda didn’t blink, sweating profusely. But soon enough, Sophia’s eyes shot open, and her brows furrowed.
Something had happened just moments ago, but she couldn’t remember what. More pressing, however, was the fact that the Lady of the House had eloped with another man.
“Why the cold sweat...? No, more importantly, do you have solid proof?”
“Yes.”
Marinda wiped the sweat from her brow and nodded.
“I meant, are you sure you won’t get caught fabricating it?”
Marinda’s lips curled into a smirk. “Of course. You needn’t worry.”
After all, there was no one here who would believe the Madam’s word. No matter how much she denied it, neither His Excellency nor the Young Master had any trust in her.
“We must summon the vassals. They all need to know about this significant matter.”
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
“The vassals?”
“Yes. It seems the Grand Mistress has called for them.”
Vent reported to Damian what he’d witnessed.
“Shall I find out what’s going on?”
“No need. If it were something important, I would have been informed first.”
“That’s true. Oh, by the way, Young Master, how shall we craft the magic stone we received from Count Wiesz?”
“Ah.”
Damian belatedly remembered the magic stone he had received from Count Wiesz. Its size and purity were too valuable to use for mere heating, and Vent had spent the entire day persuading Damian to have it crafted.
Vent, having anticipated this, had already made a reservation with a famous jeweler in the capital, and thanks to the Winter Dukedom’s name, they had been contacted immediately.
“Craft it however you see fit.”
“What? Really? Are you sure?” Vent’s eyes widened in surprise. “Then I won’t hold back.”
Though the magic stone belonged to Damian, the fact that Vent could choose its design thrilled him, and he couldn’t contain his excitement.
“Oh, right. You asked me about something before.”
Vent fished a piece of paper out of his pocket. It was a drawing that Damian had given him to investigate, asking who had made his fountain pen and sword.
“Oddly, there’s no information on it.”
“No information?”
“Yes. In cases like this, it’s usually one of two things: either someone is deliberately hiding their identity, or they’re an unknown nobody. Should I dig deeper?”
“…No, it’s fine.”
Damian glanced down at the pen he had a habit of using.
‘Since Father had gone to find her, Mother would return eventually. I could just ask her, as she had been the one who gave me these items as gifts.’
Knock, knock. Someone knocked on the door. It was late, and no one was expected.
“I’ll go see.”
Vent got up and headed for the door. Moments later, he returned, his face somber.
“Young Master, you need to come right away.”
“Suddenly?”
“Young Lord.”
Just as Damian was wondering, someone appeared behind Vent.
∘₊✧──────✧₊∘
“Is this really true?”
At the vassals’ questioning, Sophia nodded, her face pale.
“The Grand Mistress seems to be quite shocked.”
“To think something like this would happen….”
Sophia dabbed at the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief.
The vassals were baffled by Sophia’s sudden summons, but her news was nothing short of shocking. The Lady of the House, of all people, had eloped with another man. It explained why she hadn’t attended the Young Lord’s coming-of-age ceremony.
“So, that’s why she didn’t attend the Young Lord’s ceremony….”
As the murmurs grew louder, a faint smile crept across Sophia’s lips, hidden behind her handkerchief.
“What will happen to the Duchess now?”
A brief silence fell after the question, only for the room to erupt into commotion.
“She must get a divorce, of course.”
Having a lover in this aristocratic society wasn’t uncommon. While eloping was rare, divorce wasn’t such a scandalous issue, and things would usually be settled quietly or through negotiation. But the vassals seemed to have no qualms about skipping the usual considerations and bringing up divorce immediately.
“Then, who will be the next Duchess?”
Families with daughters of marriageable age, or those of a similar standing to Edmund, glanced at each other furtively, though they tried to hide their intentions by clearing their throats or fiddling with their beards.
“The Grand Mistress should be consulted first on such matters.”
“Grand Mistress, do you have anyone in mind?”
Finally, the situation she had been waiting for arrived. Sophia adjusted her posture. With a face full of concern, she sighed deeply.
“I’m sorry, but the situation is too chaotic right now. I’d rather discuss this later.”
A few, sensing they’d gained time to court Sophia with gifts, brightened at her words. As they quickly began plotting in their heads, Sophia added, “Besides, the Lady has been the Lady of the Winter family for five years. I don’t think it’s appropriate to discuss bringing in a new Duchess so soon.”
“What’s the point of showing respect to someone like her? An affair? This is the height of disgrace!”
The one who had just spoken so vehemently was a Viscount who had been the subject of gossip for changing mistresses five times in the past week. But no one seemed to remember that as they nodded in agreement.
“The Winter family can’t give her a single coin. How about we only return her dowry?”
“Did she even bring a dowry in the first place?”
“No, didn’t she arrive with nothing but the clothes on her back?” As the group laughed amongst themselves, Sophia watched, pleased.
“Are you certain?”
It was at that moment that a voice cut through the noise.
“Baron Nuvelle, what are you doing?”
One of the vassals sitting next to him gave Baron Nuvelle a nudge, but he didn’t seem to care.
“There’s no evidence. Surely the Grand Mistress must have a reason for coming to this conclusion.”
The Nuvelle family, like Benjamin’s, had been loyal to the Winter family for generations. Baron Nuvelle was known for speaking his mind regardless of rank, which earned him many enemies but respect as well.
Though a Baron, his family had a long and illustrious history, and he was currently responsible for teaching Damian as part of his succession training. Sophia, having anticipated Baron Nuvelle’s reaction, gestured to her maid.
“I, too, found it hard to believe at first, Baron. But after seeing this, I had no choice.”
The maid beside Sophia pulled out a stack of papers.
“This is Marinda. She was brought in from the Bled family when the Madam married. It was she who discovered this.”
“Well, that's undeniable evidence.”
The stack Marinda presented was none other than letters. Not just any letters, but ones brimming with affection and longing, almost overflowing with passion. As the letters progressed, they detailed secret plans to elope, including the time and place for their clandestine meeting.
“Then, the Madam really did….”
“Marinda, was it?”
Baron Nuvelle fixed his gaze on the teary-eyed Marinda.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You were the Madam’s personal maid?”
“Due to certain circumstances, I’m not her personal maid, but I’ve served her since before her marriage, so I know her better than anyone.”
“I heard she had another maid.”
Marinda’s drooping shoulders flinched.
“That maid… was brought close when the Madam became angry with me for being overly concerned about her.”
“And you knew about these letters?”
“I’m terribly sorry!” Marinda fell to her knees, trying to act pitifully. “The Madam threatened to… ruin me if I revealed anything….”
She stifled a sob.
“Baron Nuvelle. That’s enough. This maid has shown great courage in exposing Madam.”
One of the vassals finally stepped in to stop him.
“And, if we’re being honest, isn’t this a good thing?”
“Indeed. Is there anyone here who is particularly fond of Madam? No? Then let’s get everything out in the open.”
Another joined in.
“He’s right. Did the lady ever fulfill her role as mistress of the house? Or did she bring in a substantial dowry?”
“She’s hardly a match for the Winter family.” One of the vassals sneered.
“I’m surprised she lasted this long. Do you remember our bet? The longest anyone thought she’d stay was two years, yet she lasted five. Perhaps her… nighttime skills were impressive.”
“What?”
A voice, out of place, interrupted. Sophia and the vassals all turned to look.
Damian stood there, flanked by Benjamin and Vent, his expression cold. With measured steps, neither fast nor slow, Damian approached the retainer who had spoken last.
“Say that again.”
Hearing Damian speak so harshly for the first time, the vassal broke out in a cold sweat.
“Young Lord, I think you misheard….”
“ ‘I’m surprised she lasted this long. Do you remember our bet? The longest anyone thought she’d stay was two years, yet she lasted five. Perhaps her… nighttime skills were impressive.’ Isn’t that what you said?”
The retainer paled as Damian recited what he said word for word.