The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 79

“Do you want to go see it?”

 

 

 

“Yes, I’ve always enjoyed lakeside views.”

 

 

 

“There’s not much to see, really.”

 

 

 

“Just once. I’ve never actually seen the Linden viscounty’s lake with my own eyes.”

 

 

 

“That’s fair.”

 

 

 

How often could Benjamin have visited the Linden viscounty? And even if he did, it was likely only a brief stop at the manor house.

 

 

 

Grace led Benjamin to the lake with familiarity. Benjamin looked around with curiosity.

 

 

 

“You seem to know this path well, My Lady.”

 

 

 

“I used to come to the lake a lot when I was younger.”

 

 

 

When other children teased her, she would escape to the lake. It was so vast that if she went to a secluded spot near the forest, hardly anyone was there.

 

 

 

Grace approached the lake with ease and dipped her hands in. Her sleeves and the hem of her dress absorbed the water.

 

 

 

“It’s quite beautiful, isn’t it? I can vouch for it. You’d be hard-pressed to find a lake as lovely as the one in the Linden viscounty.”

 

 

 

“…You might be right to be confident.”

 

 

 

The lake’s surface shimmered with a subtle iridescence, rippling gently. Benjamin stood, taking in the sight of the lake and, more specifically, Grace as she looked at it.

 

 

 

“Indeed, coming to the Linden viscounty was a good decision.”

 

 

 

“Was it?”

 

 

 

“Yes, despite some… inconveniences.”

 

 

 

Benjamin smiled slyly.

 

 

 

‘Could those inconveniences be the greenhouse incident from yesterday?’

 

 

 

Grace managed a polite laugh. She could dismiss that as a mere trifle and move on.

 

 

 

‘I’ll have to look into this Baron Remante that Gloria mentioned once we return. So far, there has been no trouble, so it should be fine.’

 

 

 

Little did she know at the time, all these thoughts would become significant variables for Grace.

 

 

 

⋆★⋆

 

 

 

“Would it have been better for you to stay in the viscounty a few more days?”

 

 

 

After walking around the lake and returning to town, Benjamin asked.

 

 

 

‘Wasn’t the plan to return in three days?’

 

 

 

Indeed, the duration of her visit was short considering it had been a long time since her last visit. However, Grace was aware that even this brief stay was generous considering Benjamin’s schedule.

 

 

 

“The western expedition took too much time, and don’t you have scheduled meetings back in the capital?”

 

 

 

“Uh…”

 

 

 

Benjamin couldn’t deny it and simply sighed.

 

 

 

‘I’m not oblivious to that.’

 

 

 

The original Duchess of Felton might have been unaware, but Grace was a devout reader of ‘The Saint’s Wish.’ There might not have been an emergency meeting due to the absence of the gate explosion incident, but there were other matters to attend to.

 

 

 

‘After the expedition, there were already meetings with the association and the noble’s council, therefore an emergency meeting would have left him exhausted.’

 

 

 

Grace understood that even though he was busy, he had made time for her out of consideration for her homesickness.

 

 

 

‘Well, perhaps there’s a bit more free time without the emergency meeting of the original story.’

 

 

 

Still, having a relatively free schedule didn’t mean there was an abundance of free time.

 

 

 

“I also want to return to the capital.”

 

 

 

“Are you sincere? If you wish, I can adjust our plans so we can stay longer.”

 

 

 

“I’ve told you before, I’m thinking of getting back into the social scene. It’s nice to see my family after a long time, but… I haven’t maintained close friendships.”

 

 

 

‘It’s been well over a month, so Tom Birkin’s trial should be over, and with the temple’s help, he would be free by now; it’s time to start.’

 

 

 

Grace felt not just fondness but also discomfort about her hometown, making it preferable to leave the Linden estate sooner rather than later.

 

 

 

‘I can’t ask Benjamin to investigate Baron Remante without any evidence.’

 

 

 

Even if Count Parmer was indeed Baron Remante, he was Gloria’s husband, and any misstep could bring harm to her.

 

 

 

‘What a headache.’

 

 

 

As the afternoon slipped into the evening and they were returning to the Linden estate, Grace’s pace slowed, her mind evidently heavy with thoughts. Benjamin looked at her with concern.

 

 

 

“Should we make reservations at another restaurant?”

 

 

 

“Suddenly?”

 

 

 

“If you would prefer to dine elsewhere, I can arrange it now. I’ll tell Abel to make preparations.”

 

 

 

Benjamin seemed to be considering the awkward dinner at the Linden estate the previous night.

 

 

 

‘I wasn’t that upset about it.’

 

 

 

Perhaps it was Benjamin’s support that kept her spirits from sinking too low. She had actually felt surprisingly heavy after receiving Gilbert’s apology.

 

 

 

‘But if there’s no trouble tonight, Gloria should show up for dinner.’

 

 

 

Gloria wasn’t much visible since giving that strange advice, but she was expected to appear at dinner. However, Grace felt uneasy about facing Gloria, who had thrown such an enigmatic bombshell.

 

 

 

“Alright. But may I stop by the manor to change clothes? I’m worried I might smell of lake water.”

 

 

 

“I don’t notice any smell.”

 

 

 

“It bothers me, though.”

 

 

 

Grace was particular about her own scent, concerned that even a slight smell of water could be offensive to others.

 

 

 

“If it truly bothers you, let’s do that.”

 

 

 

Without further argument, Benjamin summoned his aide, Abel, and instructed him to find a reputable restaurant in the Linden estate and make a reservation.

 

 

 

‘Sally went to send a letter, so I’ll need another maid to help me freshen up.’

 

 

 

Although she had always been hesitant to receive help with personal matters, this was the Linden estate. There were those here who had taken care of young Grace.

 

 

 

Seeing the maids who came out to attend her, Grace told Benjamin,

 

 

 

“I’ll be quick to change.”

 

 

 

“I’ll wait by the carriage then.”

 

 

 

The maids from the Felton ducal house tended to engage Grace quite familiarly, while the Linden estate’s maids were more reserved.

 

 

 

So much so that the silence was almost puzzling as they walked to the dressing room.

 

 

 

It wasn’t until she started selecting an outfit that the maids finally spoke.

 

 

 

“Your clothes from the ducal house are quite plain for their finery.”

 

 

 

“The fabric is high quality, but as a duchess, well…”

 

 

 

“Are they not providing your allowance for maintaining appearances?”

 

 

 

“No, that’s not it…”

 

 

 

Grace found herself uneasily gauging the maids’ reactions. She took the situation in very naturally but had there been even one maid from the ducal house present, it would have been quite the scandal.

 

 

 

“I’m not sure if the fit will be right. Might it be too large?”

 

 

 

‘It will fit perfectly.’

 

 

 

Before leaving on the expedition, Sally had altered it to fit her perfectly. And the maids’ so-called concern was bordering on rudeness.

 

 

 

The maids of the Linden viscounty didn’t overtly harass Grace, but there was a subtle disregard. She heard a faint snicker. Instinctively bracing to shrink away, she forced herself to stand tall instead.

 

 

 

‘It wasn’t this bad before.’

 

 

 

Thinking about the difference between her childhood and now, the answer was clear.

 

 

 

‘The gossip magazines.’

 

 

 

The imperial gossip magazines sensationalized how inept Grace was as a duchess. While the nobility read them, it was the commoners who actively gossiped about their contents.

 

 

 

Grace had always been unable to protest against her peers’ bullying, and her passive nature had continued after becoming a duchess.

 

 

 

Workers at the viscounty were typically hired from among the local population. They had been hopeful that the connection to the high-standing Felton ducal house would finally allow the viscounty to prosper.

 

 

 

‘But since my marriage didn’t make much difference, they must feel let down, and that frustration is now directed at me.’

 

 

 

It was a form of taking out their frustrations on someone they saw as an easy target. With the fuel of the gossip magazines, it was as if they were given a free pass to express their negative feelings towards Grace.

 

 

 

“It’ll fit fine, there’s no need to worry.”

 

 

 

Grace wasn’t in a foul mood like the day she had met with the tailor, nor did she want to leave a poor impression on the staff of the Linden viscounty.

 

 

 

Moreover, mishandling the situation here could lead to the viscountess siding with the maids, or even if she sided with Grace, it could brew resentment.

 

 

 

‘And fueled by anger, they might just tip off the gossip magazines.’

 

 

 

Grace considered letting it go, reasoning that since she’d be returning to the ducal house in a few days, it wouldn’t matter. But then she had a change of thought.

 

 

 

‘If I handle myself well here, could I perhaps turn the gossip to my advantage?’

 

 

 

The empire’s gossip magazines were produced and distributed from the capital, meaning that the local gossip in the Linden viscounty could outrun the gossip magazines’ circulation.

 

 

 

And with the viscounty being a hub for merchants at the moment, it was prime time for rumors to spread.

 

 

 

‘Hmm.’

 

 

 

“Then I’m afraid it wouldn’t be right for you. Sorry about that. If I shouldn’t give this… then something else…”

 

 

 

“…?”

 

 

 

Grace trailed off, touching her cheek and feigning distress. The maids looked at her, puzzled by her sudden change in demeanor.

 

 

 

“Actually… no, I shouldn’t speak of it.”

 

 

 

“Madam, what’s the matter?”

 

 

 

“It’s nothing. It’s just something from the expedition, not a happy story. It’s best not spoken of, lest it becomes gossip.”