The only exception was Ilya.
“Ilya.”
“...Yes, Your Highness.”
Ilya, who always walked around the mansion with a bright face, was much quieter than before. It was an expression of her will to lie down flat without drawing attention by coming forward first.
“Today’s matter was resolved successfully. The Duke of Somerset and the Marquis of Clinton were understanding and agreed to accept the invitation to dinner.”
Cecilia took off the shawl that was wrapped around her shoulders and handed it to Abby, who was standing next to her, as she spoke.
“Oh, thank goodness. I was so worried...”
Ilya, who was sitting, felt great relief and shed tears. Abby, who was watching her, visibly wiggled her forehead. Before even saying sorry, she seemed to be upset that she was saying thank you.
"But."
“...”
“We can’t just ignore this problem.”
However, Cecilia's firm attitude quickly put Abby's discontent to rest. Abby immediately straightened her brow and stayed by Cecilia's side with an expressionless face.
“As you know, this was a party to celebrate His Highness’s birthday. It was the first event since his marriage, so everyone’s eyes were on him.”
Cecilia sat on the sofa, her hands folded on her lap. Her upper body was facing Ilya, but she didn't lean close to her. It was a simple action, but the atmosphere became strangely cold.
“This is my reputation, and His Highness the Grand Duke’s reputation.”
“Your Highness.”
“I am wondering if it is right to continue to have Ilya as my maid.”
How can I keep someone who can't even do such an easy thing properly? Ilya began to cry at the reproachful gaze.
“But I really did write and send out all the invitations without fail. Your Highness must have checked the number.”
Ilya made excuses as if she was being wronged. However, Cecilia, who was tired from guarding the banquet hall for a long time, had no time to listen to such a poor excuse. Cecilia raised a hand and cut off Ilina.
“So, what was the result? Did all the families you had planned to invite attend the banquet?”
Cecilia couldn't stand to see her reputation being tarnished like this. She couldn't stand it any longer.
“Besides, I don’t know if Ilya knows, but some strange rumors are going around in the mansion.”
Ilya stared at Cecilia with a tearful face. Her yellow eyes were shaking anxiously.
“A vulgar rumor that Ilya is trying to seduce His Highness the Grand Duke, my husband.”
Cecilia explained the scandal she had heard in a flat voice. Ilya swallowed with surprise. Did she hope that no one would know while she was talking so openly? It was funny.
“I’m also worried that I might hear rumors that I asked the government to organize my husband’s birthday party.”
Ilya flinched at Cecilia’s emotionless voice and shook her shoulders. At the same time, Cecilia’s expressionless gaze ran from Ilya’s exposed neck to her slender shoulders.
Ilya thought Cecilia was a simple and funny woman. Cecilia's eyes staring at her gave her goosebumps. There was no emotion mixed in, but that made her feel even more disgusted.
“His Highness the Grand Duke also wanted Ilya to be sent away.”
The very next moment, Ilya looked more dumbfounded than wronged. She had a blank expression as if she didn't know what Cecilia had said, but then her face crumpled as if it couldn't be true.
“That can’t be true. I know that His Highness the Grand Duke is a kind and affectionate person.”
Ilya protested. Cecilia's eyebrows, which had maintained a calm demeanor throughout, furrowed uncomfortably.
“Just tell me honestly that you don’t like me.”
“...”
“Isn’t it too much to say that His Highness wants me to be sent away when you are lying about it?”
It was an excessive belief that Eden was only kind and affectionate, even though she didn't know half of the man's true nature.
“Just tell me honestly that you feel uneasy about me being seen around His Highness the Grand Duke.”
Cecilia ended up just laughing.
“Ilya, of course, you are beautiful.”
“...”
“But beauties like you are everywhere. Your Highness the Grand Duke has many such beauties at his feet.”
Of course, after that brief laughter passed, only cold, almost icy contempt remained.
“If you had spent even one night with my husband, it might make a difference, but you’ve never even touched skin. What kind of confidence is that?”
Ilya blushed with shame as if she had been beaten naked.
“It’s late at night, so let’s pack and leave tomorrow morning.”
Cecilia nodded toward the door. Ilya trembled in humiliation.
“I see that Miss Nova has a sore leg. Help her back to the bedroom, Abby.”
Abby immediately lifted Ilya up with great force. Even though they were both adult women, Abby, who had worked as a maid, and the young lady who had grown up nicely had different strengths. Ilya was dragged out by Abby’s hand like a fluttering piece of paper.
“I’ll go on my own two feet, so let go of this!”
Ilya, who was dragged out of the living room, shook her body as if in a fit and screamed.
“You don’t even know what it’s like to be a virgin, and you covet another man. Shamelessly.”
Tsk, Abby clicked her tongue and turned around. The door slammed shut so hard that it made a loud noise.
“Ha. How cheeky of a maid...”
Ilya burst into laughter as if she found it ridiculous. However, there was little point in getting angry beyond the closed door. This was especially true considering that Ilya had no allies in the mansion.
She's sure she checked the number of invitations several times. She was so careful because it was related to Eden. It was impossible unless someone had deliberately rigged it.
“...Your Highness the Grand Duke!”
What could be wrong? Ilya was lost in thought and forgot to go back to her bedroom. Eden, dressed comfortably, was approaching Cecilia's bedroom.
“Miss Nova.”
He didn't know that Ilya would be guarding Cecilia's bedroom until now. Eden stopped at an appropriate distance from Ilya.
“It wasn’t my mistake. Really.”
Ilya explained in a pleading voice without realizing it. Eden looked down at Ilya.
“Once Cecilia calms down, we can talk at night. Then I’ll go back.”
And then she whispered softly. Her voice was so small and tender that no one else nearby could hear it.
While Ilya's eyes sparkled, Eden passed Ilya. Then he opened Cecilia's bedroom door. The door hadn't even closed yet, so a small voice leaked out.
“Cecilia. It’s okay.”
It was a gentle voice comforting his depressed wife.
That should definitely be mine.
Ilya gritted her teeth.
Eden's fingertips touched the forehead of his sleeping wife. She looked very unhappy about the unexpected problem, and even her sleeping face was slightly frowning.
“...I didn’t know you would put in this much effort.”
That's why he couldn't say that what happened today was his doing.
While traveling to the Isle of Lanier with Cecilia, Eden had his servant steal invitations from the Duke of Somerset and the Marquis of Clinton that were kept in Ilya's bedroom.
There were two reasons for this.
One was because Enon had informed him of the results of Count Nova's investigation, and the other was because he was sick of Ilya's low-level tricks.
'I heard that the Count recommended her daughter as Duke Lane's wife.'
'...Who?'
'Ilya Nova, he said. She is young and healthy, so she will have a strong successor.'
It was the problem Cecilia mentioned last time.
'I suspect that her reputation in the realm has recently become bad, so she is trying to cover up the problem by marrying the Duke of Lane.'
Even though he said it was to strengthen the alliance between the families, it was just disgusting greed. Was it even possible to force a woman who was as young as her daughter to Curtis? If she had known that fact, Cecilia would not have called Ilya as her maid.
***
Eden's fingertips touched the forehead of his sleeping wife. She looked very unhappy about the unexpected problem, and even her sleeping face was slightly frowning.
“...I didn’t know you would put in this much effort.”
That's why he couldn't say that what happened today was his doing.
While traveling to the Isle of Lanier with Cecilia, Eden had his servant steal invitations from the Duke of Somerset and the Marquis of Clinton that were kept in Ilya's bedroom.
There were two reasons for this.
One was because Enon had informed him of the results of Count Nova's investigation, and the other was because he was sick of Ilya's low-level tricks.
'I heard that the Count recommended her daughter as Duke Lane's wife.'
'...Who?'
'Ilya Nova, he said. She is young and healthy, so she will have a strong successor.'
It was the problem Cecilia mentioned last time.
'I suspect that her reputation in the realm has recently become bad, so she is trying to cover up the problem by marrying the Duke of Lane.'
Even though he said it was to strengthen the alliance between the families, it was just disgusting greed. Was it even possible to force a woman who was as young as her daughter to Curtis? If she had known that fact, Cecilia would not have called Ilya as her maid.
'Recently, the capital of the duchy has decreased the amount of taxes collected, but the tax items have become more detailed and diverse. There is even a joke that taxes are collected just by breathing.'
Seeing that tax issues were involved, the intentions seemed suspicious.
'Find out more about Count Nova. Pay special attention to tax matters.'
Cecilia had a gut feeling that there was no need for her to be overly kind.
'And it is said that once Ilya became the maid of the Grand Duchess, the talk of recommending marriage to Duke Lane disappeared.'
From that point on, the Count started talking to her daughter. He probably thought that Eden, who was young and of royal blood, was better than Curtis.
The father who thought of selling his daughter to the government for power, and the daughter who tried to seduce Eden, were both in a mess.
'If Ilya Nova or that maid approaches you to find out anything, make up an answer and tell me. I will give you double the money they offer you.'
Especially, Ilya Nova was so low-level that he couldn't stand to watch her. When she asked his servant about his ideal type, Eden's servant said that he had told her about hia tastes. Then, from the next day, the clothes Ilya wore were worth seeing.
He had been engaged to Cecilia for ten years. And even before the formal wedding, Eden had never set eyes on a woman other than Cecilia. But how could he have looked away when he had been married for so long?
And he left such a beautiful Cecilia for a mere Ilya Nova?
Eden laughed briefly.
Isn't the dream too big?
***
Ilya felt like she was falling into despair and trudged back to her bedroom late at night.
“Miss. Where have you been? The atmosphere in the mansion is a bit chaotic.”
Her maid, Sally, who had been staying in her bedroom, keeping an eye on her surroundings the whole time, scolded her.
“The Grand Duchess called.”
“Did you get scolded a lot?”
“They told me to get out?”
When Ilya answered, Sally closed her eyes tightly as if she had expected that. It was natural, considering the cold atmosphere between Cecilia and Eden earlier.
“I’ll pack your bags in advance tonight.”
“Don’t pack it.”
"Yes?"
Sally's eyes widened at Ilya's command. Ilya snickered at her innocent eyes that seemed to be asking if there was any way to be forgiven.
“His Highness said we should talk at night, so he must have a plan. Don’t pack my bags in advance. Got it?”
Sally nodded at Ilya's order, feeling a bit uneasy, but it was her master's order, so there was nothing she could do.
“I want to rest. Please change into my pajamas.”
At Ilya's command, Sally packed her pajamas. Ilya's eyes, wearing pajamas so thin that her underwear was transparent, sparkled with a strange light.
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