The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 65.1
🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀
“No, that’s odd. Even if it wasn’t because of Duke Jarte’s patronage, if there was a thief, wouldn’t they have wanted to steal other items as well?”
Was the thought of theft a sudden desire kindled by seeing the accumulated goods? The thought was unsettling.
“Where is the Saintess now?”
“The Saintess has gone to view the river with His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince. Thus, our aim is to apprehend the culprit and settle the matter before she learns of this situation.”
Aria’s abilities were deeply intertwined with her emotions.
Grace understood their intentions to resolve matters before any negative turbulence could affect Aria’s emotions.
“…In that case, is there any way I can assist?”
“…”
Hesitating at Grace’s inquiry, the knight cautiously began to speak.
“…We have been ordered to inspect the Duchess’s quarters.”
It appeared that even the temple knight understood the gravity of such an intrusive act, but he showed no signs of backing down.
“How dare you! Are you suspecting our Madam now?!”
Sally’s voice rose sharply in response to the knight’s words. Just as Grace was about to reassure Sally, saying it was okay, heavy footsteps echoed from the side.
“Doubting the Duchess is akin to doubting the entire Felton Duchy.”
“Dame Vantrin?”
Hearing his words, Roselia faced the temple knight with a visibly displeased expression.
“We don’t suspect your ladyship. We’re just checking the quarters out of precaution.”
“It’s strange that you haven’t even investigated other tents or the entire territory, yet you wish to inspect the lady’s quarters? It sounds very suspicious.”
“…”
“D-Dame Vantrin, I’m fine, really.”
The atmosphere had somehow turned palpably tense, making it hard for Grace to bear.
‘It feels like it’s my fault…’
“Since the location of the backup tents is close to my quarters; that’s probably why they’re making this request.”
“Madam…”
Sally looked at Grace with a face that screamed injustice.
Roselia murmured lowly as she glared at the temple knight.
“If we find nothing in the lady’s quarters, we will apologize to the Lady.”
“That should be a given.”
The knight gave a bow to Grace. Sally, looking quite displeased, led him into the tent, with Grace and Roselia following behind.
‘A theft? Since it wasn’t in the original work, I can’t help you at all. I’m sorry.’
Given Aria’s gentle and sweet nature, once she found out that the gift was stolen, she would undoubtedly feel guilty every time she looked at Duke Jarte.
‘Is there any clue or something that can help?’
As Grace was mulling over how she could help, a loud voice came from ahead.
“We found it!”
“…Hm?”
“Huh, what?”
Both Grace and Sally looked at the knight, their eyes filled with incomprehension.
In his hand was a jewel necklace, so dazzling it hurt the eyes.
“This necklace!”
“Certainly, that necklace doesn’t belong to madam…”
‘No, why is that necklace here?’
Feeling a sense of unease for some reason, Grace looked behind her to see a crowd of onlookers observing the situation.
“…Oh.”
All eyes were fixed on Grace.
“Duchess, can you explain about this necklace?”
“I… I don’t know anything about it. Sally and I were just distributing food supplies…”
Even though she was speaking the truth, her voice faltered as if she were a child caught in a lie.
“That’s right! Madam didn’t return to her quarters the whole day!”
“In the past, there was a young girl who tried to steal the Saintess’s belongings. She also protested her innocence, but soon her guilt was exposed.”
‘I know about that. It was in the original story.’
But I really didn’t do it.
Grace felt wronged.
No matter how much she defended herself, it felt as though no one would believe her except for those from the Felton dukedom.
Even though Grace had arrived first and acted out of goodwill, when it came to credibility between Aria and Grace, it was undeniably Aria who held the higher regard.
‘Even if the Felton dukedom tries to suppress the matter with the influence of their house, they can’t stop all the rumors that would spread through people’s whispers.’
Therefore, it was crucial to clear her name as quickly as possible, but Grace simply couldn’t think of a way to do so.
Her mind went blank, and a tremor ran through her.
‘Maybe I shouldn’t have come at all.’
She should have listened to those voices in her head. Just as she was filled with regret, she heard Benjamin’s voice.
“What’s going on, My Lady?”
“…!”
“I greet the Duke of Felton. It seems the missing item of the Saintess was found in the duchess’s quarters…”
🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀⚔️🥀
