The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 102
“I apologize for being late, Your Majesty. This time, my wife wanted to attend the banquet after a long absence and desired to present a gemstone to Your Majesty, which took time to prepare perfectly. I would be grateful if you could overlook this just once.”
Benjamin smiled gently as he opened the gemstone case, and exclamations of amazement spread around.
“I’ve never seen such beautiful light.”
“Is…. that really a gemstone? It shines even from afar.”
“I wonder how beautiful it must look up close…”
It was a gemstone-encrusted goblet, made from a gemstone found in Ardel County, elaborately crafted to make the beholder feel enchanted. The largest and most flawless gem was prominently set in it.
“I present this goblet to Your Majesty.”
“…What a beautiful gemstone. Does it have a name?”
The emperor muttered briefly as he looked at the gem in the goblet.
“It doesn’t have one yet. But, shouldn’t we first choose the one who has created the most beautiful embroidery?”
Benjamin smoothly changed the subject.
‘Did he know already?’
Grace looked at Benjamin, who had changed the subject as if he already knew everything, despite him just barging in.
“Many are waiting to hear about Empire’s well-being, Your Majesty.”
⋆★⋆
A lady was chosen as the winner for the finest embroidery.
After the event concluded safely, Benjamin had a private meeting with the emperor. Grace waited for Benjamin during this time, and fortunately, or unfortunately, no one asked her to dance.
“Were you waiting for me?”
“…You could say that.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
Rather than actively waiting, Grace was left alone after the friends she made at Lady Charles’s baby shower went to the dance hall, and Sylvester and Aria went elsewhere following the plot of the original story.
‘Still, it might not be wrong to say I was waiting here.’
Benjamin chided, but he still seemed not to be in a bad mood, smiling faintly.
“What were you discussing with His Majesty?”
Curious, Grace didn’t beat around the bush or put on airs, but asked Benjamin directly with a straightforward question.
“We discussed the gemstone I presented. The Ardel County is significant because the nearby barony is under the crown prince’s domain, and it has a substantial impact on the Rondel Canal.”
“Hmm…”
“If this gemstone draws attention in the market, it could also bring focus to the far west, where trade routes are developing. It’s a good outcome, as it would help regions that suffered damage recover quickly.”
“Come to think of it, a merchant I met in the Linden estate was heading towards the west. Could they have heard about this?”
“I doubt it’s about the gemstones. We haven’t deliberately leaked any information regarding them. If it’s concerning you, I’ll look into it.”
“Please do.”
Grace decided to ask Benjamin to investigate and planned to do some research herself, thinking it would be good to verify whether the information matched.
“Anyway, His Majesty was pleased with the outcome and the gemstone presented, and he granted me two favors.”
“What kind of favors?”
“He said he would grant us two requests within the authority of the Imperial family.”
Both the Emperor and Benjamin knew that it was not possible to make significant requests in such circumstances. Benjamin himself was not a greedy man, and the Emperor’s words ‘within the powers held by the imperial authority,’ clearly implied that he would not exert external pressure.
“So, I decided on the spot, too happy to consult with my wife about it.”
“No, it’s fine. I had nothing to request anyway. May I know what you asked for?”
“First, I requested something regarding the portrait in the Hall of Mirrors.”
“…”
Benjamin was still smiling, but it seemed a bit bittersweet.
“Since it wasn’t to my liking, I asked His Majesty’s permission to have the portrait redone. And it was granted.”
Grace felt a flutter in her stomach at his words, but it wasn’t a bad feeling.
“And the second favor?”
“I asked to name the gemstone myself, to give it a name of my choosing.”
It wasn’t a difficult request to grant. Since the current owner was the Duke of Felton, it was likely that Benjamin’s wish would be honored. Yet, the fact that he made it an official ‘request’ meant there was a name he was particularly set on.
“What will it be called then?”
“Grace.”
“…!”
“From now on, everyone will call the gemstone Grace.”
‘Come to think of it, I think I’ve heard that somewhere before.’
Grace remembered stories of men naming jewelry after their wives or lovers as gifts. It was considered a romantic gesture—a piece meant only for one person.
But naming the gem itself, it’s quite…,
‘It’s so embarrassing.’
She wasn’t used to it. Grace’s heart was pounding, her whole body tingling, and she felt like screaming. This kind of treatment was unfamiliar to her.
“That’s, that’s nice! It means elegance and suits the gem well. T-That’s right.”
Grace pretended not to place much significance on it, as if it wasn’t because of her name.
Benjamin looked at her as if wondering why she was acting that way.
“Yes, and it’s also My Lady’s name. So it is even more meaningful.”
‘There’s no way out.’
Grace wanted to cry. This kind of ticklish event was unfamiliar to her.
As Grace blushed and stammered, Benjamin observed her with a gentle gaze and then looked around.
“By the way, have you danced yet?”
“N-No. Not yet.”
“…”
Benjamin did not seem pleased to hear that Grace hadn’t danced even once. Though he usually wore a gentle smile, Grace could tell he wasn’t happy.
“…Do you know where His Highness the Crown Prince has gone?”
“I sent him off because he was busy.”
With his love venture.
Grace swallowed these words.
‘Those two need to get together quickly. Only by ending the protagonists’ bumbling around can we reduce the chances of Benjamin turning dark.’
“It’s customary to dance the first song with one’s partner.”
“Since the first song has already passed, doesn’t that custom mean nothing to me?”
“That’s true.”
“…”
Grace glanced at Benjamin, then extended her hand.
“…Shall we step outside?”
Grace had two reasons for suggesting they step outside. Firstly, according to the original story, Aria and Sylvester were meant to develop their relationship in the garden.
‘And although I don’t remember the details, there was definitely some kind of incident after their romantic moment.’
Unfortunately, it was a secretive rendezvous without a knight accompanying them, which made it difficult to manage. Sylvester fell into peril, and Aria, who had only experienced pleasant times until then, was so shocked that she couldn’t recall anything from her happy memories to help heal Sylvester’s wounds.
Though the best way to handle this would have been to call the Imperial knights to strengthen security in the garden….. the problem was Grace couldn’t remember what the incident was supposed to be.
‘If I remembered what it was, I would have taken action. But what if there’s a spy among the knights? It would be like serving up a problem on a silver platter.’
Secondly, she suspected that if things continued as they were, Benjamin would suggest they dance a song together.
Grace couldn’t dance.
In her memories, she didn’t know how to dance. She had hardly learned and hadn’t received much proper education as a lady during her baroness days.
As the youngest daughter of a poor viscount, most of the education went to her elder sister and brother. Grace’s education consisted of listening in on her siblings’ lessons or being taught by them after they attended their classes.
‘The Linden Family wasn’t exactly a wealthy family, so it couldn’t be helped.’
Worried about what would happen if Benjamin suggested they start dancing, she hesitated, but he just smiled wryly and took her hand.
“I was about to suggest a walk myself. It seems we think alike.”
“Indeed.”
Some might gossip about the duchess who attended a social event and didn’t dance a single dance, but she had already made her presence felt at the embroidery contest.
‘If scandals are going to follow regardless, it’s better to be thought of as clumsy at dancing than anything else.’
Stepping into the garden alone as a couple wasn’t a bad picture. She felt many eyes on them.
‘Come to think of it, wasn’t I in the middle of divorce proceedings with Benjamin?’
She suddenly remembered this and gave a wry smile.
“Why that expression?”
“I just remembered something I had forgotten. I wonder how I could have forgotten it…”
Despite the hectic times, it seemed the moments spent with him weren’t all that bad. Grace thought briefly.
