DTBBW Chapter 55

Chapter 55

A disgruntled expression adorned Finn’s face, his dark eyes flashing with defiance. It seemed as though he was protesting why all such tasks fell to him. Stefan, on the other hand, was equally flustered. Since he had entrusted Leopold to Bell, it only seemed natural that Hazel would fall under Finn’s care.

“Who else if not you?”

“Your Grace, I’m already quite busy. Between managing the accessory shop and overseeing the Bayton Guild, I hardly have a moment to spare, and now you’re asking me to take on more?”

Finn’s tone was firm. Whether it was because he disliked taking on Hazel or simply because his workload was increasing, it was clear he wouldn’t accept Stefan’s command.

“Finn, hand over the Bayton Guild.”

“Do you not realize how much work that would entail?”

“Then, manage the accessory shop for me.”

“The accessory shop is my only joy and my lifeline.”

Stefan glared at Finn, who constantly opposed him at every turn. While Bell would feign disagreement, Finn stood unmoving, which only exacerbated the situation.

“Then what do you suggest? Leave Hazel at the estate indefinitely?”

“You shouldn’t have brought Hazel into the estate in the first place. Don’t you remember how vehemently Bell and I opposed it?”

Stefan paused, his face momentarily frozen at Finn’s counterattack. Hazel, whom he had expected to be a means to control through Rita, was now controlling him.

“I admit my mistake. I overestimated Hazel.”

“…You underestimated Rita.”

“I thought provoking Hazel would stir a desire for revenge, but instead, she’s just terrified. Rita, the devil?”

Stefan gave a derisive laugh, causing Finn’s face to darken in anger.

“Rita is not someone who can be caught so easily.”

“…True.”

“We’ve spent a decade digging, but we’ve only managed to grasp at her tail.”

“Barely a trace. We have only suspicions.”

Stefan furrowed his brow at the bitter thought, his expression growing tense. Finn continued relentlessly.

“Was it not the Duchess who suggested teaching Hazel upper-class work?”

“Indeed.”

“Then, why not leave her in the Duchess’ care?”

“Her? Hazel?”

Finn nodded lightly, and Stefan’s true feelings leaked out in a sharp, heated tone.

“Enough nonsense.”

“Then entrust Hazel to Marquis Burke. Bell has sent a letter saying he’ll be arriving in the capital within three days.”

“Better to leave her with Bell. What use does Leopold have in teaching Hazel?”

“I’m not suggesting teaching her. I’m proposing assigning a watch over her.”

“A watch?”

Stefan, meticulous in business but clumsy in personal matters, especially regarding relationships, was caught off guard.

“Your Grace, has something happened at the estate?”

“…There was a minor issue, but I did not act on Rachel’s suspicions.”

“Please explain further.”

Stefan honestly revealed the extent of Rita and Hazel’s misdeeds. Finn simply stared at him in silence.

“Do you truly believe it was a minor matter?”

“….”

“The Duchess wants to build on the relationship between you and Hazel. Therefore, placing Marquis Burke beside Hazel would prove there is no such connection.”

“What does that even mean?”

Stafen’s simplicity, bordering on naivety, was almost painful to see.

“What do you think is the worst thing that could happen to you in this situation?”

“….”

“That your husband spends a night with another woman, and you remain unfazed.”

Though their marriage was devoid of affection, Stefan and Rachel were still the official couple of Duke Edmond. Having shared countless nights together since their union, it meant a bond had been formed—an intimate connection that was hard to sever.

“Rachel trusts me, so she doesn’t waver.”

Stefan mumbled, as though unaware of what jealousy even felt like. Finn’s breath hitched at the sight.

“Your Grace, jealousy is the bare minimum of concern for one’s partner.”

“Concern?”

“If you have no interest in your spouse, meeting or spending time with anyone wouldn’t matter. For example, if a stranger warmly greeted and approached your partner, you wouldn’t care at all.”

Only then did Stefan fall silent. It finally clicked that the unease he felt whenever Rachel was around other men stemmed from jealousy—the very emotion he had been denying.

‘Then what about Rachel? Is she not simply a devoted wife who trusts her husband completely, thus handing Hazel over to me?’

Stefan struggled to speak, his dry lips barely parting.

“Finn, just as appearances can be deceiving, so too can emotions.”

“Yes, that’s true, but I don’t believe a wife would ever try to link her husband with a suspicious woman.”

“Why not?”

“Because it shows she wouldn’t care even if they were committing adultery.”

Stefan’s face twisted at Finn’s blunt words. When he saw Stefan clenching his fist in anger, he stopped himself from saying anything further.

It was a relief that Stefan had finally come to understand the true nature of his emotions, but Finn was less thrilled about the inevitable fallout landing on him due to the couple’s problems.

“You’re right. Hazel will be handed over to Leopold.”

“Understood. Please take care, Your Grace.”

Finn’s hurried attempt to dismiss him saw Stefan instinctively rising.

“Yes, I should return home early today.”

***

At that moment, I stood before Hazel’s bedroom door. She had locked herself in her room since yesterday, refusing to leave.

Since the staff had tried delivering meals but were turned away at the door, I brought a tray of food along with Mary.

“Miss Hazel, I’ve brought your meal.”

“….”

I tried to sound friendly, but she didn’t respond. It was worth a try to change the approach.

“Hazel, please open the door. It’s me, Rachel.”

Inside the room, I heard hurried footsteps, as if the staff had been mistaken. However, upon hearing that it was the Duchess, the response was different.

After a brief pause, Hazel cautiously opened the door slightly, her unusual appearance met me with confusion.

“What brings the Duchess here?”

“Were you about to leave?”

Even with a polite tone, Hazel looked flustered as she awkwardly adjusted a bizarre hat atop her head.

“Uh… could you come inside alone?”

I exchanged a glance with Mary and cautiously entered. As soon as I stepped inside, Hazel swiftly shut the door behind me.

“I brought your meal since you weren’t eating.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“Why won’t you tell me what’s wrong?”

I set the tray on a tea table, facing Hazel, who hesitated before removing the strange hat from her head. Her hair was a disheveled mess, the uneven and jagged cut making her head look like a charred pinecone.

“I can guess who did this,” I said gently, but my heart ached for her. Still, I needed to know how she felt.

“Good heavens, who did this to you?”

“Lady Rita…”

“Why? What could possibly be the reason?”

“She said that if I’m going to learn upper-class work, short hair would be better.”

“Even if you didn’t like it, this is too extreme.”

Unlike my heavy sigh, Hazel smiled faintly. Seeing her smile despite her awful appearance was strange.

“Are you laughing?”

“…Yes.”

“Were you too embarrassed to come down to the dining hall?”

“Well… yes, but… since you’ve come, it’s fine now.”

“What do you mean?”

I furrowed my brow at her strange words, and her expression grew brighter.

“I thought of you as an ally against a common enemy.”

“…….”

“So, I gladly accepted Stefan’s hand.”

I couldn’t comprehend her words. What did she mean, ‘accepted Stefan’s hand’? Saying something like that in front of his wife, the Duchess, was incomprehensible.

“Now, what exactly are you saying?”

“I’ve decided to stand with you, the Duchess.”

‘Who decided that?’

Though I harbored no affection for my husband, becoming allies with his mistress wasn’t something I had in mind.

“Wait a moment. I didn’t ask you to learn upper-class work to help you.”

“Then why?”

“I’m offering the position of Duchess to you.”

“What? What do you mean?”

“…But not the children.”