Chapter 18
Episode 17
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"Yes!"”
“Thank you!”
As they left, Flora rose from her seat and went to the mirror.
Her pink hair and eyes, said to appear once in several hundred years, were lovely even to her own eyes. When she bit her lower and upper teeth together, her slender cheeks became slightly plump. If she looked up at someone with wide eyes in that state, ten out of ten would blush and clear their throats.
Flora gently stroked her hair and murmured.
“Duke Richmond should have someone befitting his reputation by his side.”
Isn't that for the good of everyone?
Flora's expression in the mirror was full of confidence. She had never lost in such matters. The young ladies who boasted about loving her, and the fiancés they bragged about, she only blinked a few times and smiled, wondering if their love was genuine, and they all became Flora's followers. It was as easy as changing clothes for her. And frankly, it was fun.
Flora languidly tilted her eyes.
“That woman shouldn't get too attached to this castle. I'm worried.”
Because she'll soon be kicked out naked.
The day that woman is kicked out, I'll see her off with tears. Like an angel.
＊ ＊ ＊
After Walter left, Grace slowly looked around the splendid and magnificent room.
The carpet spread wide on the floor seemed to have been brought in recently. It was an Estosan carpet that used gold thread lavishly, so it would have cost at least tens of millions of gold to lay it out in this size. Not only that, but everywhere she looked, there were porcelains, oriental mother-of-pearl boxes, gold watches, etc., the entire room was comparable to a high-end boutique.
“Even the Emperor's bedroom isn't as good as this room.”
A bitter sneer formed on her white face, as elegant as a lily.
“The only room comparable to this one would be Duchess Taylor's room.”
Emma Taylor, who moved all of her mother's belongings to the warehouse and decorated that room as lavishly as possible, came to mind.
“She must have been thrilled. Decorating and enjoying this room like this.”
“So that's why she looked so angry.”
Jessie muttered, recalling Marquise Lincot, and Grace chuckled. The word 'angry' couldn't have been more amusing. To covet something that wasn't originally hers, and then get angry because it was taken away.
“I want to go and tell her.”
“Yes?”
“It's just the beginning.”
That's right. It's just the beginning.
She wouldn't stop until she had regained everything she had lost and returned to her place.
Grace straightened her shoulders and swept the hair that had fallen over her forehead. At the same time, she put on the elegant mask she had briefly taken off. As soon as she put on the mask that had thoroughly deceived Duke and Duchess Taylor, Grace looked like a docile and innocent noble lady, itself.
“Jessie, let's go to the Grand Duchess.”
＊ ＊ ＊
Grand Duchess Eliza's residence was in the annex behind the Main Castle. There was a vast garden between the annex and the Main Castle, and the garden trees, dyed in autumn colors, were showing off their beauty.
Grace walked calmly along the path between the gardens and asked.
“Is there anyone following us?”
“…I don't know if I should call it following. Duke… no, Miss.”
Jessie glanced behind her and made a pathetic expression.
“Either follow openly, or hide properly.”
“So you don't think they're professional spies?”
“If that level of skill is professional, I should change careers.”
Grace smiled brightly.
“They must not feel the need to attach a professional spy to me.”
A woman Walter brought suddenly, after being away from aristocratic society for ten years.
From the lowest maid to Marquis and Marchioness Linko, they would all say that her status was at best a fallen noble or a commoner pretending to be a noble.
If three people gather and say the same thing, they say they can create a country out of nothing, right? Soon they would think, no matter how perfect Grace's etiquette was, 'A commoner is trying to seduce the Duke.'
So even if she steadily visited the Grand Duchess, they wouldn't even care. They would think it was a combination of a woman who would soon be kicked out and an old woman in the back room. All Grace needed right now was that level of neglect.
'An old woman in the back room.'
Grace stopped as she entered the garden of the annex.
The lawn was short as if it had just been mowed, and the smell of grass was strong. But if you look closely at the exterior walls of the annex, you couldn't feel any touch.
“It looks like they cleaned it in a hurry.”
“Yes. It doesn't seem like it was usually like this.”
Strength entered the hands clasped demurely.
At that moment, as if sensing their presence, the door opened and a middle-aged woman appeared.
Dark gray hair and eyes, a tall height that far exceeded the average female height. The Queen's maid who stayed by the side of Queen Richmond, whom everyone once feared and trembled before, for the longest time.
There was not a shred of warmth in her gaze towards Grace. But Grace said in a voice mixed with laughter.
“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Isaac. I've come to see the Grand Duchess.”
Mrs. Isaac watched Grace a little more with an inscrutable expression, then turned around.
“Follow me.”
The inside of the annex she followed was like a monastery if you put it nicely, and like a tomb if you put it badly.
Mrs. Isaac led Grace to the drawing room. As if there wasn't even one proper maid, she directly served a cup of warm tea and disappeared, leaving the words to wait a moment.
And by the time Grace had finished her cup of tea, she returned alone.
“The Grand Duchess says she will not meet you. Please go back.”
“You said that the lady brought by the Duke wants to meet her, right?”
Grace put down her teacup without making a sound and stared up at Mrs. Isaac.
“Go and tell her again.”
At the command-like words, Mrs. Isaac's eyebrows reflexively shot up. But she stiffened at the unexpected introduction that followed.
“Tell her that Grace of the Taylor Dukedom wants to meet her.”
＊ ＊ ＊
The name that had frozen Mrs. Isaac also woke Grand Duchess Eliza, who had been sleeping all day.
“…What?”
“The woman that His Grace brought claims to be Grace of the Taylor Dukedom.”
Eliza blinked while lying down, and after a long time, she opened her mouth.
“Taylor?”
“Yes, Grand Duchess.”
Eliza slowly raised her body, which was heavier than anything else in the world. Mrs. Isaac's heart was pounding with just this small reaction. It was because Eliza had only been lying down all day.
“…Her name is Grace.”
“Yes.”
Eliza paused for a moment, lost in thought, then asked.
“That child. Is she blonde?”
“Yes, she is a lady with blonde hair and light green eyes.”
“She must be a descendant of the late Duke.”
“…Would you like to meet her?”
Mrs. Isaac thought that Eliza should meet Grace. If she could arouse even a small amount of interest in Eliza, it didn't matter who or what it was.
Eliza, who had been silent for a long time, asked in a locked voice.
“Did you say the Duke brought her?”
“Yes. Would you like to meet her?”
But Eliza lay back down on the bed. Her body was heavier than anything else in the world.
“Tell her to go back.”
“…Grand Duchess.”
“Arwen.”
“Yes.”
“You've done enough too. Your sons have returned. Stop being my maid and return to your family.”
Mrs. Isaac's eyes turned red. She widened her eyes and swallowed her tears, then tidied up the Grand Duchess's bed as if she hadn't heard anything. Then she spoke in a bright voice.
“Rest. I'll go and deliver the message.”
Mrs. Isaac headed straight to the drawing room not far away.
Grace was standing up from her seat and slowly looking around the drawing room.
“I'm sorry, but the Grand Duchess says she will not meet you. Please go back.”
Although she was rejected again, Grace didn't show the slightest agitation. Instead of leaving the drawing room, she deliberately looked around the room more and said.
“Why is the place where the Grand Duchess stays in this state?”
“……”
When she glanced at Mrs. Isaac, she could see a slight crack forming on her face. Grace questioned her a little more in a soft tone.
“Why is there only you as a maid, and why can't I see a single servant? The smell of grass is strong because you just mowed the lawn today, so what was it like usually?”
She could see the blood vessels bulging on Mrs. Isaac's neck. Grace didn't miss the opportunity and moved closer to her. Mrs. Isaac tried to step back, but Grace's whisper was one step faster.
“Why have you been standing by while your master is being treated like this?”
“That's…!”
Mrs. Isaac's face crumpled. Grace looked at her icy face and said soothingly.
“I know. How those who have taken the master's place come out.”
“……”
“Because I, too, have endured like a living corpse in Taylor for the past thirteen years. But, I was always preparing without anyone knowing. That's the same for His Grace, right?”
“……”
“Look at me. Do I look like someone who just came here blinded by love?”
It seemed like light was flashing in her green eyes, reminiscent of verdure. While Mrs. Isaac was at a loss for words, overwhelmed by an unknown force, Grace whispered like a devil.
“Mrs. Isaac, it's time to return Richmond to its rightful owner.”
