DTBBW Chapter 53

Chapter 53

The morning sky was bright and clear, thanks to the torrential rain that had poured all night. My spirits were equally high, partly because of my plan to use Stefan and Hazel’s secret to accelerate my agenda.

To emphasize decorum, I donned a modest black dress that buttoned up to my neck, presenting the image of an innocent wife. With a tray of asparagus soup and lukewarm honey water—said to help with hangovers—I made my way to Stefan’s study.

Knowing him, he would likely try to soothe his hangover with coffee. Determined to stop him, I quickened my steps.

“Your Grace, are you awake?”

The study was spotless, its earlier chaos completely erased. The disheveled scene I’d witnessed in the early hours, including the bloodstained slip, had vanished without a trace.

“Why is my lady bringing this herself?”

Stefan, greeting me with his usual composure, looked as collected as ever. He was a far cry from the desperate man who had kissed me feverishly the night before.

“I’ve brought you soup and tea to help with your hangover.”

“…”

“What caused you to overindulge last night?”

“…A few new wines arrived. I may have gotten carried away during the tasting.”

His excuse was ludicrous, but he offered it with a faint smile, feigning gratitude for a wife concerned about her husband’s hangover.

“Thank you, my lady.”

Before I could even set the tray on his desk, Stefan downed the honey water in one gulp, a sign of how severe his hangover-induced thirst must have been.

“Let me put the tray on the desk for you. You should eat the soup as well.”

“…Very well.”

“Do you have a headache?”

“A slight one, perhaps…”

His fingers, as they brushed against his smooth forehead and temples, appeared unusually white and long. A shiver ran through me, remembering how those fingers had caressed my chest the night before.

‘Does he remember what happened yesterday? Surely, he must recall holding Hazel…’

Feeling anxious, I opened the window wide to regain my composure.

“You shouldn’t take medicine on an empty stomach. Let’s air out the room for now. Once you’ve eaten and the air inside clears, your headache should improve.”

“Thank you, my lady.”

His repeated expressions of gratitude felt awkward. He must have some memory, however faint, of what he’d done last night.

“Your Grace, is something troubling you?”

“…Businessmen always have much on their minds.”

Stefan smiled with ease, showing no hint of guilt. If that was the case, I’d need to take a different approach.

“They say a worry shared is a worry halved…”

“Don’t trouble yourself, my lady. I’m not the type of man to bring business concerns into the household.”

Was he blocking me from interfering altogether? If so, asking him to teach Leopold about business would be out of the question.

As I bit my lip nervously, a knock came at the door.

“Come in.”

“Your Grace, I thought this might help with your hangover…”

Hazel, upon seeing me, froze mid-sentence. From the familiar scent wafting over, it was clear her tray also contained honey water and asparagus soup.

‘She must have asked the chef for a hangover remedy.’

The busy chef, likely unwilling to entertain an outsider trying to curry favor with the duke, had probably replicated the menu I’d already taken.

Suppressing the laughter threatening to escape, I stepped forward and greeted her warmly.

“Thank you for taking such good care of His Grace, Miss Hazel. It feels as though a loving older sister has returned to fuss over her brother.”

At my comment, Stefan let out a quiet scoff. Of course, there was no such sisterly figure named Susan, but Hazel didn’t know that.

Her face darkened instantly, likely overwhelmed by shame at the implication that I couldn’t possibly imagine their inappropriate relationship.

“I didn’t realize the duchess was here. In that case, I’ll…”

“You’re just going to leave? You brought this food for His Grace, didn’t you?”

I stopped Hazel, who was clearly trying to escape the awkward confrontation. She seemed desperate to avoid this uncomfortable three-way meeting.

‘I can’t let such a golden opportunity slip by.’

With a bright smile, I slipped my hand through her arm. Since she was holding the tray, she couldn’t move an inch.

“Take a seat over there, Miss Hazel. I have something I’d like to talk to you about.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…?”

Ignoring her question, I guided her to the tea table and motioned to Stefan as well.

“Your Grace, please have the asparagus soup over here. It should still be warmer than the one I brought.”

“…I’ll eat the soup my lady brought.”

Was Stefan also trying to avoid the awkward situation? His choice to stubbornly eat the lukewarm soup from the desk made it clear.

I let out a long sigh and turned to him. There was no way I’d forgo the opportunity to sit and watch their ever-changing expressions from the tea table.

“Your Grace, why don’t you eat your soup at the tea table?”

“….”

“You can’t leave Miss Hazel sitting alone over there, can you? Besides, there’s something I need to discuss with you.”

Without waiting for his opinion, I picked up the tray and placed it across from Hazel at the tea table. Seeing the identical contents to what I had brought, Hazel flushed red. She must have realized how the staff of the duchy viewed her.

Stefan eventually joined us at the tea table, though his discomfort was apparent. Ignoring the awkward tension between them, I opened my mouth to speak.

“…Your Grace, please assist Miss Hazel.”

His face stiffened as though he couldn’t believe what he’d just heard. Hazel, now pale, whispered to me hesitantly.

“Duchess, what do you mean?”

I smiled cryptically and continued with a statement they wouldn’t understand.

“Do you know the most dangerous kind of help you can offer someone in need?”

The two of them stared at me in silence, just as I had hoped.

“Giving them a few coins, like throwing alms to the poor.”

Hazel’s face twisted in embarrassment at my blunt remark, while Stefan’s voice emerged, tinged with irritation.

“My lady, what exactly are you trying to say?”

“From tomorrow, please take Miss Hazel with you and teach her about the merchant business, Your Grace.”

Hazel, too shocked to speak, sat there with her mouth agape, staring at me. Stefan also seemed dumbfounded.

“If you truly care about Miss Hazel’s future, Your Grace, rather than simply giving her a cozy bed and a few coins, shouldn’t you teach her how to earn her own?”

At my decisive words, Stefan let out a laugh.

“My lady, do you even understand what you’re suggesting?”

Oh, I understood perfectly.

What I was really doing was mocking Hazel for her lowly behavior of depending on others for her livelihood. At the same time, I was hoping their affair would take place outside the duchy.

But I had no intention of being honest about my true motives, so I offered a plausible excuse instead.

“Your Grace has extended similar help to the Burke family. I assumed it was because you cared about me, but was I mistaken?”

At my retort, his gaze sharpened, and his crimson eyes burned.

In my previous life, his piercing gaze would’ve made my knees tremble. But that coward had long since died.

“It would be even better if you brought my brother to the capital to learn alongside Miss Hazel. What do you think, Your Grace?”

Finally realizing my intentions, Stefan’s lips curved into a charming smile. Locking eyes with me, he spoke slowly.

“I’ve already provided your brother with an excellent mentor. Is that not enough?”

“My brother would benefit from broader horizons and deeper waters, and Your Grace wouldn’t need to waste any more manpower. Isn’t that a win-win?”

Satisfied with the prospect of bringing his assistant to the capital, Stefan smiled brightly.

“Very well. I’ll do as you wish, my lady.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Shall I leave it to you to contact Marquis Burke?”

“I’ll handle it.”

Smiling serenely, I turned my attention to Hazel, whom I’d momentarily forgotten about.

“Now that I think of it, I haven’t asked for Miss Hazel’s opinion.”

“If you’re willing to teach me, I’d like to learn about the merchant business.”

I was relieved to see she wasn’t as foolish as I’d feared. After all, traveling freely with a merchant group was likely far preferable to being cooped up in the duchy and pandering to Rita’s whims.