The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke - Chapter 89
Of course, Grace had asked knowingly. Once the western contamination was entirely cleansed, the imperial family would host a celebration ball. Naturally, the temple and Saintess Aria’s contributions would be widely recognized.
“Yes, though nothing has been officially announced yet. With the western contamination cleared, a ball is likely to be held.”
And before that ball, there would be a baby shower for Marchioness Charles and Grace planned to make good use of all these gatherings.
“I’d like to attend that party too. Would that be alright?”
“…You, My lady?”
Benjamin looked at Grace with an expression of utter surprise. It wasn’t strange for him to be shocked. Grace’s attendance rate at social events was so low it almost reached zero.
But that was all in the past. This ball was significant in the original story, and for the plot to twist in her favor, Grace’s intervention was necessary.
“Yes, and I need to prepare some things to attend the party successfully.”
⋆★⋆
Fortunately, the letter and gifts sent to the Marchioness Charles were well-received, and a positive response came back.
“That’s great…”
It seemed that the news of the textile workshop’s strike had worked in her favor, making her presence even more appealing. Sally, pouring coffee into a cup in front of Grace, smiled.
“It looks like you received a favorable response.”
“Yes, fortunately. I was worried they might view me as an unwelcome guest since it was all so sudden. It’s a relief, isn’t it?”
Lately, if Grace wasn’t out, she confined herself to her bedroom or the study. Everyone was puzzled and concerned whether her range of activity had expanded or narrowed, but the reason was the mist was only visible to her eyes.
‘Hmm…’
She also worried about the gifts for the baby shower, but the method to dispel the mist was also an issue. Grace had tried to replicate the attempt similar to that day, but the same light and power did not emerge.
“And even if Benjamin had overseen the furniture, the person who actually contacted the suppliers could be someone else. I need to find out who that is and where the furniture actually came from.”
Normally, checking the financial management ledger, which is usually overseen by the Madam of the household, would do, but Grace, who hadn’t been managing the household, couldn’t have such an opportunity.
‘Wait a minute.’
Grace thought of one place, the only spot where the mist did not appear.
“Sally, who decorated the annex’s study?”
“Well, I’m not sure? I haven’t been serving you long enough to know.”
“That’s right, of course.”
Grace realized she had asked the wrong person.
“Oh, but whenever new furniture came in, the butler would say not to touch the study, by direct order of the master.”
“The study? Then, has new furniture often been brought into other places?”
Despite Grace’s rapid questions, Sally didn’t show any sign of finding them strange and answered them. Even Grace, who had confined herself to the annex for a year, hadn’t noticed much difference due to her lack of mental clarity to observe her surroundings.
“They used to bring in furniture often before. They thought it might cheer you up, considering you stayed inside all the time.”
‘Really, money down the drain…’
Grace, whose sensibilities had not yet left those of a commoner, was quite shocked to hear that furniture was frequently changed just for her sake. Furniture for a duchy wasn’t cheap.
And now that very furniture was threatening her life.
‘I don’t know the principle behind it.’
A substance that didn’t affect anyone else yet threatened her own life.
‘I’m not Superman. What is this, kryptonite?’
Grace thought of Sylvester. Aria had mentioned him to Grace, suggesting he might be similar in some way.
Perhaps Sylvester knew something. Although it was more likely he didn’t, since he was the only character in the novel who was cursed, but Grace had to grasp at this thread.
‘I definitely need to help Aria.’
She had always intended to help Aria, but now she resolved to make her support even more blatantly clear.
Sylvester was utterly smitten with Aria, and it just so happened that Grace had given Aria some advice recently. If that advice hadn’t gone awry, it would likely lead to positive progress for them both.
‘Good. Now, onto the next baby shower.’
There, she would give the perfect gift to the Marchioness and establish a faction.
‘But what would be the perfect gift?’
That was a bit challenging. Grace had never been to a baby shower. She stared blankly into space.
“Madam?”
“…….”
It wasn’t enough for the gift to be just likable. It needed to be the most memorable one.
‘Money… spending lavishly… no, that seems off. Am I being a miser?’
As Grace recalled the days when social media was riddled with materialism while gripping her teacup, she was interrupted.
“Madam, a letter has arrived for you.”
“Is it from the textile workshop?”
“No, madam. It’s from a friend of yours…”
Up to this point, Grace thought, ‘Friends, of this body?’
“…It’s from someone named Sireni.”
“…!”
Hearing the familiar name, Grace abruptly stood up and reached out to the butler who brought the letter.
“Give it here!”
“Here it is, madam.”
It was rare to see Grace this excited. The butler and Sally exchanged glances but said nothing more, as it didn’t seem to be a bad omen.
‘It really came.’
Sireni was one of the merchants Grace had interacted with during her time as a Linden. It was a shot in the dark when she reached out, but now that she had actually received a reply, her heart pounded with excitement.
The letter was filled with warmth for an old friend, longing, a desire to meet, and a positive response about wanting to discuss a transaction. All this was spread out over three pages.
But when Grace turned to the last page, she was so surprised that she dropped the letter.
“…?”
[From the owner of The Siren’s Song Merchant Guild, Sireni Harpy.]
‘It was right in front of me all along…!’
Grace couldn’t fathom why the head of Siren’s Song Merchant was so amiable towards her.
‘Is it because of the duchy’s name?’
She quickly dismissed this thought. Sireni, the guild head, was kind to Aria, sure, but there was always a clear boundary.
So much so that despite having read the novel, Grace didn’t know Sireni’s real name. This guild’s head had different names for every customer encounter in the novel, and ‘Sireni’ wasn’t one of them. So this name could be another pseudonym or perhaps her actual name.
‘But perhaps she is showing goodwill thinking there’s something to gain from the duchy.’
Even if Sireni’s interest lay in the influence backing Grace, there was no reason not to exploit this show of goodwill.
‘Turning this one-time opportunity into a long-term relationship depends on how I use this meeting.’
Tapping her fingers thoughtfully, Grace tried to recall what a merchant guild’s head from the novel would appreciate.
‘I’m in trouble, with no information to go on.’
Despite the character’s significant role as the head of a major merchant guild, Sireni had almost no presence in the novel.
She appeared briefly in the middle of trade negotiations with the Kingdom of Arsia, exchanged a few words with Aria, flaunted a bit of influence, and then just vanished.
‘It was such a meaningless exit.’
All Grace knew was that Sireni was from the Kingdom of Arsia. Of course, she hadn’t memorized the entire novel, so it was possible she missed something.
‘Maybe it’s worth preparing anyway?’
Grace pulled out a diary she had brought from Linden Viscounty. Maybe it held some clues.
⋆★⋆
Instead of inviting Sireni Harpy to the duke’s mansion, Grace decided to meet her outside.
‘The fact that she didn’t write ‘ From Siren’s Song’ openly outside the letter suggests she doesn’t plan to reveal her identity when visiting the mansion…’
Regardless, it was always good to be cautious. Inviting someone home signified a display of closeness and might also become a means to gain information for Sireni Harpy.
Though she had shown warmth through her letter, Grace didn’t truly know who Sireni was or what her intentions were.
‘If she wants to establish a friendly relationship with me, I’ll find out during our meeting.’
Merchants always act in their own interests, after all.
More than anything else, the issue was that the location Sireni Harpy had chosen for their meeting was a dessert shop in the capital.
There was nothing inherently wrong with the cafe. In fact, Grace had seen it advertised in the newspaper, and it was renowned for a particularly delicious cake.
‘Sounds tempting.’
And that was precisely the problem for Grace. In the throes of an earnest effort to lose weight, the aftermath of indulging in cake was more than she dared to contend with.
Before entering the café, Grace checked her appearance in the carriage.
Lacking extravagant jewelry and her dress free of abundant lace or ribbons, it was still adequate.
‘This dress should be enough to draw attention.’
Moreover, Grace’s choice of subtle adornments was deliberate, intended to concentrate attention in one direction. She touched the single gemstone hanging at her neck.
