The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 52.1
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‘Now that I think about it, Marquis Charles, it’s a name I’ve heard somewhere before… Where was it?’
Grace tilted her head for a moment, trying to recall where she might have heard the name Marquis Charles before.
If it was related to some big event, it would have come to her mind easily. But she couldn’t remember any significant event associated with him, and it seemed more like a name mentioned in passing conversations of the novel.
“Has the installation of gates increased in various places recently?”
“Yes, the rapid development of magic tools is contributing to it. It’s good news as it means the lives of the empire’s citizens will become more prosperous.”
‘And more gates means more profits for the Felton Duchy”
Considering the fact that Duke Felton was the biggest investor in the gate project.
As Grace nodded in agreement and sipped her coffee, Benjamin hesitated before speaking again.
“…so please don’t be sad.”
“What?”
Grace looked questioningly at Benjamin, who seemed to be suddenly soothing her. He looked back at her with slightly sunken eyes.
“The gate has not yet been installed at Viscount Linden’s Viscounty, but in a little more time it will be there as well.”
“…”
Grace stared at him, unsure why he was suddenly mentioning the installation of a gate in Linden Viscounty.
“That…”
Benjamin seemed hesitant to continue.
“My Lady… weren’t you considering visiting Linden Viscounty after our marriage?”
“…”
“My Lady, in the past, you often said that it would be nice if there was a gate in Linden Viscounty.”
“That was quite a while ago, though….” he muttered.
‘So, the original Grace often wished for a gate to be installed in Linden Viscounty.’
Grace tried to recall fragments of memories from the previous Grace, the original Duchess Felton.
The children of the Linden family naturally got along with the residents of the territory, and Grace was often teased by so many of the children.
But when she thought about the Linden Viscounty that the original Duchess Felton remembered, a tender feeling arose within her.
‘She seemed to care about her hometown.’
“I… I just wanted to say that I’m glad nothing happened when we visited the gate management office last time.”
“…!”
Benjamin seemed hesitant, struggling to express himself. Grace finally understood what he was thinking.
‘He probably thought I was feeling homesick and that’s why I wanted to visit the gate management office.’
The fact that she hadn’t visited her family in two years implied that she hadn’t seen her family’s faces for a long time.
As Duchess Felton’s depression was so severe that everyone in the mansion knew about it, it was easy to assume that she might long to see her family.
“That’s probably why he didn’t ask any further questions.”
Even though it was easy to assume the reason, isn’t it normal to properly ask why she went there? Grace found it a bit unusual that Benjamin treated her with such delicacy as if she were more fragile than sugar craft.
“I’m sorry for causing you to worry.”
However, Grace decided not to clarify the reason for her visit that day.
If she did, she would have to explain why she had gone to the Gate Management Office in the first place.
“Perhaps we could visit Linden Viscounty together soon if you feel up to it?”
“That should be fine… I can see my family too.”
Grace replied, feeling a lump in her throat when she mentioned “family.” No matter how much she acknowledged herself as Grace now, she couldn’t be certain if she would feel the same emotions as the original Duchess Felton when she meets them.
Benjamin noticed her hesitation as she was tinkering with the coffee cup and asked, “By the way, what brought you here?”
“Oh, right.”
It was only now that Grace remembered the purpose of her visit.
“This expedition is going to be initiated through the gate, right?”
“Yes, we’ll depart through the gate to reach a midway point and then divide into teams to explore the inner and outer areas.”
“Which side will we be on?”
“For now, we’re hoping to head towards the outskirts.”
“Hoping?”
Benjamin was a duke and was officially in charge of this mission.
If he said he was “hoping,” it meant that approval from someone else was required.
“Apparently, with all the priests coming along.”
‘Moreover, the fact that Benjamin insists on going to the outskirts…’
“And which way will the Saintess be going?”
“…She will be going to the outskirts.”
‘As expected.’
Grace had anticipated that Benjamin would wish to accompany Aria.
‘I don’t know if he’s really in love with her or not, but he’s trying to stay in her line of sight.’
Benjamin could have said he didn’t know, but the fact that he was so honest about it made her feel weird.
‘How do I describe this feeling…….’
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