Sickly? Husband's Contractual Wife

Chapter 103

“Head Steward Colton.”

* * *

The Ifrit Ducal estate included the main house, annexes, and numerous smaller buildings, each with countless windows. The maids were responsible for keeping these windows spotless, so clean that birds might fly into them.

Every day, groups of maids were busy polishing the windows with dry cloths, engaging in gossip as they worked.

“About the Lord and Lady,” one maid cautiously looked around before speaking.

“I heard they had a huge fight in front of everyone recently.”

“They must really not get along.”

“The Lady’s been in a terrible mood lately.”

“She was so devoted last week… and now she’s back to eating cold bread.”

The maids continued their chatter and laughter as they polished the windows.

Colton approached them quietly.

“You’ve been working here for quite some time, haven’t you?”

“Huh? Yes, Head Steward.”

“Here, take this. It’s a check issued by the Duke’s House. It includes your severance pay and three months’ wages. You can exchange it for gold coins at any bank.”

“W-What…?”

The maids looked at each other in confusion.

“And leave this estate immediately.”

The old steward smiled kindly as he spoke.

“W-What…?”

“The Duke’s orders.”

“What do you mean, sir? Why are we being…”

“You’ve broken the oath you made when you started working here.”

“What did we do?”

“Do not gossip.”

Colton’s expression suddenly turned cold.

“This is the most important rule while working in this house. There’s no need for those who can’t keep their mouths shut.”

The maids, shocked by the sudden dismissal, began to tear up.

“Please, sir, we won’t do it again, we promise!”

“There are no second chances. Pack your things and leave immediately.”

The maids who had been working on the windows looked back at Colton but quickly turned away when their eyes met. They kept their heads down and focused solely on their work.

The gossiping maids had no choice but to leave the estate in tears.

* * *

Rona and I left the library and headed towards the main building to meet Colton. On the way, every maid we passed hurriedly bowed their heads. They seemed to be filled with some unknown fear.

“Why are they acting like this?” I asked Rona.

“Who knows?” Rona averted her eyes and replied.

“Maybe they’re showing respect for you, Madam.”

“Respect…?”

Why the sudden respect? I had always been the most approachable person in this house. The staff who worked around my living quarters and garden had indeed become friendlier, but the maids in Camilla’s quarters were always stiff and formal.

“But… it seems like some of the maids’ faces have changed.”

In the past few days, I noticed unfamiliar faces among the maids, especially in Camilla’s quarters.

“Really?”

Rona responded nonchalantly.

“Maybe they just quit.”

“Is that so?”

It was odd. The Ifrit Ducal House’s wealth was unmatched by any other noble family, and the working conditions for the staff were excellent, especially in terms of pay.

It would be hard to find a better place to work than this.

It was strange that there had been such a sudden change in staff.

“The Head Steward must have his reasons.”

Rona smiled awkwardly.

“What is it?”

“Oh, they probably did something wrong. I don’t know much about it.”

“…”

I stared at Rona’s face, but she offered no further explanation.

“You wanted to see the Head Steward, right? Please wait in your room, and I’ll fetch him for you.”

“…Alright.”

I tilted my head in confusion and turned away.

“What’s going on?”

Could it be natural for the maids to change so suddenly?

Among those who disappeared were some who used to speak freely, regardless of whether I was listening or not.

“I have one more thing to ask Colton.”

* * *

“I’ve brought Head Steward Colton.”

Colton, standing behind Rona, bowed to me. Rona left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving just Colton and me.

“You called for me, Madam?”

“Please, come in, Colton. You’ve been working hard managing the estate, haven’t you?”

“It’s my usual work; it’s not difficult.”

Since Greta lost her authority in the estate, Colton had been handling her role. I knew that Greta occasionally tried to interfere, but Colton managed to keep her at bay each time.

“I wanted to ask you something.”

“Please feel free to ask. I’m prepared to answer anything.”

“It’s about my husband’s illness.”

If I couldn’t hear it from him directly, the most accurate information would come from someone close to him, someone who had known him since childhood and had always been by his side.

“Amyud has too many secrets from me,” I began, catching Colton’s gaze.

“Truthfully, I should probably ask Raymond about my husband’s illness, but I have my reservations…”

“Is there something on your mind?”

“Raymond is aligned with his mother’s side. I don’t think he’d tell me everything.”

“What is it that you’re curious about?”

“Well, um…”

How should I begin? I hesitated for a moment before deciding to be direct.

“Does your mother’s family, the Anor family, have a tradition of intermarriage?”

Had I been too blunt? I felt a sudden fear after asking so directly.

Colton’s expression revealed nothing. Whether happy or sad, his face was always the same, making it impossible to tell his feelings. It was the same now. However, I did notice a slight flicker in his eyes.

“Colton?” I called him cautiously.

After a brief pause, the old steward spoke, “I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Did I misunderstand?”

“I will pretend I did not hear that.”

Colton’s expression was as unyielding as a rock.

Could I break through this?

“I overheard Lady Greta and Raymond discussing a disease that runs in the Anor family.”

Colton listened silently.

“They said the men of the Anor family have been dying from it. I want to understand the cause.”

The Anor family was practically the ruler of the north, a region so cold and harsh that the Empire’s power couldn’t reach it. It could be said they governed the area on behalf of the Empire.

They certainly knew the risks of intermarriage. But if the disease had persisted and affected later generations…

If that disease was afflicting Amoide, there was no way I could save him.

My only hope was that his illness had nothing to do with the Anor family.

“It’s related to Amoide’s illness. He believes he’s going to die soon. But… what if that’s not the case?”

I added urgently, “The astrologer said that the sun never loses its light. But someone is trying to obscure that light. He said it’s very dangerous.”

I was desperate enough to believe the words of someone I once thought was a charlatan.

“Help me. We have to find a way to save Amoide. We can’t just give up.”

I pleaded again. I couldn’t easily give up. Absolutely not.

“All I know is that the Duke was very healthy until he suddenly fell ill.”

Colton finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence.

“The Anor family did have a history of intermarriage. But they were aware of the risks and gradually increased marriages with other families. One of those families was the Ifrit Ducal House.”

“…”

“The Duke’s House needed allies as it was under imperial scrutiny, and that’s how the marriage alliance was formed.”

It was a sort of pact between the families. The Ifrit Ducal House gained the support of a family beyond the Emperor’s easy reach, and the Anor family brought in new blood to continue their lineage.

“When Duke Amoide was born without any symptoms of the disease, both families were relieved. They searched far and wide for a cure when he fell ill, but all efforts were in vain.”