The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 84

The Viscount Linden hadn’t kidnapped Grace out of greed. Could it have been an act of desperation? The situation was dire, with villagers taken hostage over debts, and there was no quick way to make ten million zens on this land.

 

 

 

Grace, realizing she was trying to empathize with him, felt a sting in her heart.

 

 

 

‘Why am I doing this?’

 

 

 

If only the Viscount had asked for her help, she would have felt embarrassed but would’ve sought help from Benjamin. Considering the maintenance funds Grace hadn’t used for a while, ten million zens could have been arranged.

 

 

 

But not for the Viscount. To him and the territory, ten million zens was an astronomical amount…. Furthermore, as a man running a territory, borrowing such a sum so suddenly was inconceivable.

 

 

 

Moreover, Viscount Linden had always been subtly supported by the Felton dukedom. With Grace having withdrawn from society for a year and having no contact with the Viscount’s house, it would have been even harder for him to ask for a loan.

 

 

 

Her defense of the Viscount stemmed from what happened in the carriage upon her arrival at Linden estate.

 

 

 

That day, even while speaking only with Benjamin, the Viscount had shown concern for Grace first when the carriage jolted. It was a small thing, but it stayed on her mind.

 

 

 

‘Yes, it started with the carriage wheel.’

 

 

 

Even when guests were visiting the territory, the only available carriage was not just shabby, but its joints were loose. In his rush to prepare goods that could be sold for cash, the Viscount inadvertently touched the crops Grace had left behind.

 

 

 

It was all because of poverty.

 

 

 

The Viscount’s territory was responsible for many, yet it was desperately poor.

 

 

 

“You money-guzzling child!”

 

 

 

“Worthless. If you can’t do anything useful, at least don’t fall ill.”

 

 

 

“I wish you would just die quickly…”

 

 

 

The abusive words she had grown weary of in her original life began to echo in her mind. At least the real Grace hadn’t grown up hearing such things.

 

 

 

Imperfect as it was, she had been raised with affection from her family. Perhaps that’s why it hurt even more.

 

 

 

If the people of the Viscount Linden’s house had been anything like her original family, Grace wouldn’t have hesitated like this.

 

 

 

What was it about those scant memories filled with affection that caused her such bone-deep pain?

 

 

 

‘What’s similar anyway.’

 

 

 

There was a time when she had thought that the former Duchess Felton, the original Grace, and herself were alike. But the only similarity ended up being how they were both treated as incapable and inadequate.

 

 

 

At least in this world, there had been people who loved Grace.

 

 

 

Once again, tears formed in her turquoise eyes and started to fall. She couldn’t make a sound for the sobbing that took her breath, and her body trembled.

 

 

 

Benjamin’s gaze, which had been on Grace, turned stern, and he gestured for those nearby to step back.

 

 

 

“My Lady.”

 

 

 

“……”

 

 

 

“My Lady, may I hold you for a moment?”

 

 

 

Benjamin always asked for permission before touching Grace. With tears that wouldn’t stop, she nodded slightly. Then, he reached out with his large hands to pull her round shoulders into an embrace.

 

 

 

Encased in his warm arms, she felt his breath on her. The human warmth felt hotter than the blaze of the nearby fireplace.

 

 

 

“I actually have almost no good memories from this estate.”

 

 

 

Being back on this land had brought it all back to her. The Linden family, a family that could boast of nothing but a title, had failed to protect their own child.

 

 

 

Her mother had inflicted subtle psychological violence under the guise of love.

 

 

 

Everything she did was labeled strange, odd, or incomprehensible, and she was never acknowledged for anything.

 

 

 

The nickname ‘Incompetent Grace’ wasn’t something that came about after her marriage; it started as a small-town joke for a child whose slightly different behavior was incomprehensible to others.

 

 

 

And because a child’s heart is more delicate than an adult’s thoughts, all those words took root deep within her heart, making her easily shattered by any harsh words.

 

 

 

“And yet, why do I still love this estate?”

 

 

 

Despite everything, there was undoubtedly still love in Grace’s heart.

 

 

 

The occasional good memory made it impossible for her to completely hate them. The Viscountess, her mother, always stayed by Grace’s side when she was sick and, despite their modest means, insisted on preparing her favorite cake as her birthday approached.

 

 

 

When the merchants visited, the Viscountess would secretly give Grace a little extra spending money, behind the Viscount and her siblings’ backs. And the townspeople always made sure to maintain the roads, worrying the children might get hurt.

 

 

 

“I really don’t want to forgive them, but I can’t bring myself to fully hate them either.”

 

 

 

“……That’s understandable.”

 

 

 

It was a vicious cycle. Grace found herself unable to either punish or forgive those who had used her in a kidnapping for money.

 

 

 

Benjamin soothed her.

 

 

 

“Haven’t you always been kind?”

 

 

 

“It’s not about being kind.”

 

 

 

It wasn’t that Grace lacked the courage to impose punishment on the Viscount Linden’s family because she was kinder or softer-hearted than others.

 

 

 

She just didn’t trust herself not to regret it.

 

 

 

To decide based on emotion and then face an irreversible outcome filled with regret was too late. Grace was simply afraid of that.

 

 

 

There had already been a death because of a choice Grace made.

 

 

 

Of course, that tailor had committed many crimes. Yet, the idea that someone could lose their life so easily because of her words was terrifying.

 

 

 

That was also why she had given Tom Birkin a chance. The thought of someone dying so easily because of a single choice she made was unbearable.

 

 

 

“……I’m not that good of a person.”

 

 

 

Grace feared that by using her power to punish as she wished, she might become someone who deserved to be treated in the same way.

 

 

 

All her fears intertwined with an undiscardable love, making her hesitate in her decision.

 

 

 

Even if Grace couldn’t forgive Viscount Linden’s family, it was unlikely they would end up dead like that tailor.

 

 

 

Yet, she couldn’t help but fear. Becoming accustomed to wielding such power was not something Grace relished.

 

 

 

‘Grace Felton, would you have made this choice?’

 

 

 

Grace addressed the woman without answers. Yet, she already knew.

 

 

 

The foolish woman in the novels.

 

 

 

The one who loved more foolishly than anyone else couldn’t have made a different choice.

 

 

 

Grace was the only one who could understand everything about her, even though she had never actually met or spoken with her, and who had essentially stolen her life away.

 

 

 

No one else could comprehend the breath and love of Grace Felton, who was once Grace Linden.

 

 

 

“I’m just a coward.”

 

 

 

Grace didn’t have the heart to let go of even this pitiful love and live on. To others, it might seem trivial and worth discarding, but this pathetic emotion was the faint light that kept her going.

 

 

 

“……”

 

 

 

“Your Excellency, I’m sorry. Could you possibly pay off the Viscount’s debts? I will repay it someday.”

 

 

 

Grace squeezed out these words through her tears. Benjamin looked at her with sorrowful eyes.

 

 

 

“That’s not possible.”

 

 

 

“……”

 

 

 

“I can pay off the Viscount’s debts. But to let you take on that burden is something I cannot allow.”

 

 

 

Benjamin had a duty to protect Grace.

 

 

 

“My Lady, you are indeed a kind person. No matter what others say, you are kind and strong. Don’t belittle yourself.”

 

 

 

Grace couldn’t understand Benjamin. She couldn’t fathom why he would go to such lengths to be on her side, offering her such gentle words.

 

 

 

Where his kindness stemmed from was a mystery to her.

 

 

 

With a mind clouded by confusion and sadness, Grace gathered her thoughts and spoke again.

 

 

 

“Then, could you possibly take on the Viscount’s debt from the Felton dukedom, and arrange for it to be repaid by the Viscount Linden’s house over time?”

 

 

 

“That can be done.”

 

 

 

“And if there is a mansion prepared by the dukedom on the capital for the Viscount Linden’s family, please ensure it cannot be used.”

 

 

 

“Understood.”

 

 

 

The Felton dukedom had prepared a small mansion on the capital; in case the Viscount Linden’s family ever decided to expand there.

 

 

 

The maintenance fees were also being paid by the Felton dukedom, but if they started expanding to the capital then the Viscount Linden’s family would have to regularly visit the capital to maintain their presence there, and they lacked the funds for such upkeep, so they just kept postponing their expansion.

 

 

 

This alone would be punishment enough for them.

 

 

 

Prohibiting the use of the mansion would also convey to the Viscount Linden’s family that ‘by paying off this debt, the Felton dukedom will no longer provide any support.’

 

 

 

“And also, the debt was probably incurred by Baron Remante.”

 

 

 

“That’s the name you mentioned before.”

 

 

 

“Later on, please investigate Baron Remante.”

 

 

 

The story Gloria told Grace that night likely contained advice about this kidnapping ordeal.