Chapter 31
Chapter 29
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A silence as sharp as an awl lingered, as maids appeared from beyond the open door. The Marchioness straightened and gestured, and a maid stepped aside.
“……!”
But, as the maid stepped aside, the Marchioness’s eyebrows shot up like mountains.
The moment a woman with flowing, brilliant blonde hair stepped into the room, it felt as though an invisible wave crashed against them. Among the noblewomen adorned with Richmond's Treasure, Grace's attire was exceedingly simple. Yet, despite her simple attire, all senses turned toward her.
Grace, who had silently overwhelmed everyone, stared at the chair placed alone in the center, then took a light step. Across the silent space, so quiet that the rustling of her skirt could be heard, Grace arrived at the chair and opened her mouth toward the Marchioness, who was glaring at her from the front.
“Is this my seat?”
Her monotonous tone held neither excitement nor fear. The Marchioness, regaining her senses, immediately glared fiercely.
Meanwhile, Grace sat in the chair and arranged her skirt. Then, straightening her back, she faced the Marchioness.
At that, some of the maids standing behind the Marchioness blinked and stirred without realizing it. It was as if the high seat had been reversed. Not only the maids but also the noblewomen felt that way, and Countess Lewin whispered quietly to the person sitting next to her to break this strange atmosphere.
“She learned etiquette haphazardly and has no tact. Shameless and ill-mannered.Then, one of the noblewomen, who had been momentarily distracted, quickly chimed in.
“That’s how etiquette is. You have to go to various places with a chaperone and learn how to act according to the situation. Those who imitate always miss something.”
“Those who have nothing but their own bodies don’t have the insight into how quickly that body loses its light, how youth fades.”
Whispered curses and scornful gazes poured toward Grace.
The Marchioness watched with a pleased look as her henchmen spewed high-level criticisms at Grace.
“Hmph.”
Flora’s suppressed laughter was heard from behind. The corners of the Marchioness’s lips also rose upward.
‘Of course.’
The Duke’s woman, who had dared to look her straight in the eye, lowered her gaze. The Marchioness, who had been silent until now, finally opened her mouth.
“Are you truly from the Dekan Empire?”
When the Marchioness opened her mouth, the noblewomen who had been adding curses one by one became quiet at once.
Grace, glancing slightly at the maids, replied in a dry voice.
“Yes, I am.”
“But how can you be here unmarried? If you are from the Dekan Empire, no matter how humble the family, the parents would not leave their child like this… Ah, perhaps… do you not have parents?”
“……”
Grace was silent, and the Marchioness rejoiced inwardly. With this, the suspicion about her origin was solidifying into conviction. Of course, she would take more time to confirm it.
“Oh, dear. I asked something unnecessary.”
“No. What did you call me here for?”
How presumptuous.
The Marchioness muttered inwardly and took a sip of the tea held by the maid to refresh her mood.
“In the world of nobles, marriage is a kind of contract. It is natural that the wealth, authority, and honor of both families must suit each other, and the individual’s ability to overcome the weight of the title acquired through marriage is also important.”
“……”
“So, in a noble’s marriage, love is not even a consideration.”
The Marchioness smiled kindly and whispered in a friendly voice.
“You must love His Grace very much. His Grace may need such a woman.”
Flora stared at the Marchioness with a puzzled face, but she ignored it and continued.
“But be satisfied with being a loved woman. When you come out of the Chandelier Room, I will prepare a nice room with good sunlight. I’m not saying this because I hate you. I’m saying this for His Grace.”
Indeed, Marquise Lincot was not someone who had taken over the family by luck alone. If she were someone who lost her temper and reason, she would not have been able to seize Richmond's Inner Palace. But there was one thing the Marchioness did not know.
“Yes, I will.”
“……”
What Grace was interested in was not the position of the Duchess of Richmond, and certainly not the Chandelier Room.
At Grace’s immediate and indifferent answer, the Marchioness’s eyebrows rose crookedly. Even the noblewomen sitting around the Marchioness like wings stirred, and Flora clenched her skirt tightly and raised her voice.
“The reason the Marchioness called you is not just because of that!”
“Flora.”
The Marchioness stopped her, as Flora seemed about to lose her reason.
“I feel sorry for my maids.”
“It’s not just because they are Flora’s maids, but also for the peace of Richmond, you must address this.”
When Countess Lewin chimed in after Flora, the Marchioness sighed as if she couldn’t help it.
“I tried to handle it quietly as much as possible, respecting His Grace’s honor… but for the peace of Richmond, I have no choice.”
Then she gestured to Flora’s two maids who were waiting on one side. As the maids came forward to the Marchioness, the Marchioness asked Grace.
“Do you remember who these people are?”
Grace braced herself and replied calmly. From now on, she had to keep her wits about her.
“They are the ones who served me meals.”
“Yes. They are formal maids employed by the Duke of Richmond’s castle, and currently, they are in charge of attending to Lady Flora Lewen. Flora, considering His Grace’s affection for you, personally sent her maids to attend to you.”
“That’s very kind.”
As Grace expressed her gratitude with a clear face, Countess Lewin reacted as if she were having a seizure.
“How did you repay the kindness Flora bestowed?! How dare you lay a hand on my daughter’s maids?! You! Tell us here and now. What happened to you!”
The maids’ eyes trembled finely.
Last night was a nightmare itself. An unforeseen disaster had struck suddenly.
‘Kyaa!’
With a short scream, they were dragged into a space where not a single ray of light entered. They didn’t even see who had dragged them in.
‘If you open your mouth, you’ll die.’
A lively voice with girlish innocence was heard from the darkness. At the same time, something as hard as stones flew from all directions. They couldn’t even tell where they were being hit. The only thing the maids could do was to cover their heads and curl up.
‘S, stop… Please.’
They just begged and begged, but an annoyed voice was heard.
‘So, who told you to serve dinner like that?’
At that moment, the maids recalled Grace’s appearance. In the room where nothing could be seen, she had grabbed their chins tightly.
‘Please forgive me.’
‘Forgive? How dare you serve me, who came as His Grace’s lover, like that and ask for forgiveness?’
The beating continued, and just when they thought they were going to die, it ended with threats.
‘If you tell, you’re dead.’
But, in the end, they confessed.
As far as they knew, there was no one who was safe after being out of favor with the Marchioness. From the maids’ point of view, Marquise Lincot, who could control the great noblewomen with a single word, was the queen of Richmond.
Grace, whose origin was unclear, and the queen of Richmond. The variable was the Duke, but he could not be deeply involved in the affairs of the Inner Palace. As the fear that had filled their hearts turned into anger, the maids burst into tears and denounced her.
“We were imprisoned in a room without light!”
“On the way back after serving the meal, that woman dragged us into a room. There… sob, she tried to kill us!”
At the maids’ cries, the Marchioness’s noblewomen covered their mouths with their hands and sighed.
“Oh, my!”
“Goodness! Such barbaric things in this Duke of Richmond’s castle…!”
Grace turned to the Marchioness and retorted.
“That never happened. After finishing the meal they served, I was with His Grace.”
Then she asked the maids.
“Are you sure you saw me correctly?”
The maids cried out tearfully.
“You took us to a place where we couldn’t see anything and beat us!! Waaah, but we know when we hear your voice!! You talked about serving meals and stuff, things only the young lady would know!!”
“That’s right, sob sob.”
Flora ran out, shedding tears.
“I… I should have protected you. No, I shouldn’t have sent you. I’m sorry.”
“Waaah, young lady……”
Even the noblewomen sitting on the wall stirred, and Countess Lewin, seizing the opportunity, jumped up from her seat.
“Tell us in detail what you have done!!”
Grace carefully organized the situation calmly, making sure not to get out of breath.
The confinement and assault took place in a dark room, and the maids pointed to her as the culprit in front of numerous noblewomen. And the Marchioness maintained a blank expression, but the confidence in her eyes seemed as solid as ancient strata. She was confident in her victory.
First of all, she had to get out of the confinement and assault case. It would be troublesome if she was caught not by her status, but by her actions.
Grace quickly chose her words and opened her mouth.
“Usually, there is a motive for any action.”
