Spoils of War Duchess

Chapter 13

 

“What on earth is the rumor circulating among the nobles? I clearly stated that I would use that woman as a maid.”

 

I knew that the nobles regarded me as a barbarian, but it was unfair to believe that I would resort to force to take a woman who refused.

 

Whether it was because I had raised my younger sister since she was young or not, what Riche was doing was despicable even for beasts.

 

And those noble families, who rushed forward with saliva dripping from their mouths, were even more despicable.

 

“Isn’t it too much for someone who hasn’t even held a woman’s wrist once?”

 

Riche, muttering to himself, vowed not to touch Idel to avoid disappointing the expectations of society.

 

He briefly unfolded Barbara’s letter and then put it back into the envelope. It seemed that Celestine Viscountess would still need to be watched, but it didn’t seem like they had colluded with the Lancaster Marquess.

 

Suddenly, he remembered the mistake he had made.

 

“Look at this. You’re shaking like you’re going to strangle someone right now.”

 

So, he spat out in front of the woman who had lost her husband and stepchildren as if she were unjustly wronged.

 

“I’m such a thoughtless person. How could I say such a thing in front of her?”

 

Even if she had been distant from the Lancaster Marquess lineage, the fact that those who lived under the same roof had died so brutally couldn’t have left her indifferent.

 

Yet she answered calmly.

 

“The fact that I am still alive is the strange thing, and it’s nothing that the Viscount would find difficult to express.”

 

For a moment, I felt somewhat awkward and found myself staring at her.

 

“How can she remain so composed even in that situation?”

 

Even if she considered me an enemy, it would be difficult to resent someone who held my life in their hands. I knew that, but even so, such a subtle smile, devoid of even a trace of resentment!

 

“Should I call her a true Lady of the Manor…?”

 

Although he had only been given the title of Viscount, Riche, sitting idly in the Mercenary Guild building and eating peanuts, felt that he had hardly changed from the past.

 

The feeling at that moment… Well, it was embarrassing, wasn’t it?

 

It was quite strange. Until now, I had never felt embarrassed or ashamed in front of anyone…

 

“Let’s stop thinking about it. There’s a lot to do.”

 

He sighed and, as if suddenly remembering something, called a servant.

 

Then he pointed to several items he had picked up to the servant who had come running.

 

“Take these to ‘that woman’s’ room.”

 

“‘That woman’…? Ah! I understand.”

 

The servant quickly realized who ‘that woman’ was and brought a silver tray.

 

Watching as expensive stationery, a pen, ink, and so on were placed one by one on the silver tray, Riche hoped that Idel wouldn’t laugh at them, at least while looking at those things.

 

* * *

 

“Good work today, Daisy.”

 

“Make sure to rest well, Sister.”

 

Returning to her room after exchanging greetings with Daisy in the next room, Idel’s eyes widened. On the small, shabby table were placed high-quality stationery, an envelope, ink, and a pen.

 

“Oh! Marquess Chryseros….”

 

She had hesitated to write a reply directly to Barbara’s request, but seeing the stationery prepared like this, her heart swelled again.

 

There were so many things she wanted to say to her, but Idel tried her best not to get too excited as she picked up the pen.

 

“Dear Viscountess Celestine Viscountess,”

 

After writing that one line, she stared at it for a long time.

 

Previously, it had started with ‘Beloved and respected Barbara,’ but now it seemed that wouldn’t be appropriate.

 

She was no longer a noble, just a common maid.

 

“I don’t know how to express my gratitude to the esteemed Lady who worries about this sinner without forgetting. I understand that you may be concerned, but I am doing well….”

 

It was easy to start, but she hesitated when it came to explaining her situation.

 

Rather than reassuring Barbara with lies, it seemed better to explain how fortunate she considered her current situation, but she was unsure which words would convey her sincerity properly.

 

“I can’t afford to annoy Marquess Chryseros’s eyes by writing something that could be offensive….”

 

Unable to waste the stationery, Idel rewrote the sentences several times, stopping the pen many times to revise them in her mind. As a result, it wasn’t until well past midnight that she finally completed the letter.

 

“…Furthermore, I pray deeply for the health and well-being of the Lady.

 

– With endless respect and affection, Idel.”

 

After putting the final period, she carefully read through the letter again, checking for misspellings or sentences that could be misunderstood.

 

Fortunately, since she had carefully chosen her words from the beginning, there didn’t seem to be any major problems.

 

Idel folded the letter again, suppressing the urge to write more.

 

“Will Barbara receive this letter warmly?”

 

Rubbing her sleepy eyes, she lay on the bed, but sleep didn’t come easily. Only the dark ceiling stared back at her, and she found herself thinking of the day she had met Barbara.

 

* * *

 

Seven years ago, it was the day of the tea party hosted by Lady Radrick, known as a big shot in society.

 

The tea party was the largest of its kind that year, held in midsummer.

 

The attendees were all carefully selected, and those invited to the party felt a subtle sense of pride.

 

However, if Idel had known that someone in the room had plans to ridicule someone, he wouldn’t have attended.

 

“Oh, my, it’s Viscountess Celestine! You really came.”

 

“What’s wrong with Viscountess Celestine coming?”

 

When Idel innocently asked, the friend who attended with him grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear.

 

“Lady Radrick and Viscountess Celestine don’t get along very well. Just look, their styles are completely different.”

 

“Why did Lady Radrick invite Viscountess Celestine then?”

 

“It seems she’s planning something to put Viscountess Celestine in her place… Oh, dear, this room is like a thorn bush.”

 

At that talk, Idel felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

“It’s despicable and cowardly to conspire to harass someone like that.”

 

It was only natural to dislike such behavior. Even at the age of just seventeen, Idel already knew that the moment you made even a small mistake, you could become the victim yourself.

 

“But they’re all cultured ladies. Why would they do something like that?”

 

It was a statement to reassure her friend’s anxiety, but it was also Idel’s own hope.

 

However, the ladies, who had been so dignified and cultured in their interactions with her, revealed their true nature as they openly disparaged the noblewoman they found distasteful.

 

The tea party that day was held at Lady Radrick’s secondary residence.

 

Styled after a summer villa, the place was entirely constructed of wood, which made a cheerful sound as shoes met the wooden floor with every step.

 

But that would have sounded cheerful only to those with intact limbs; to those less fortunate, it would have been quite a disheartening noise.

 

“Viscountess Celestine has arrived.”

 

With the servant’s announcement, Barbara entered the secondary residence’s parlor, and Lady Radrick gestured around, while her acquaintances rose from their seats to greet Barbara.

 

Silent, with just a smile.

 

At that moment, Idel realized that there was no music playing.

 

There was a strange silence in the parlor, and Barbara walked stiffly towards her designated seat.

 

Thunk, clack.

 

Thunk, clack.

 

At the sound, Idel unconsciously looked at Barbara’s legs.

 

She was wearing a prosthetic. From the sound, it seemed she had put on a wooden prosthetic.

 

“Could it be… Did she intentionally quiet things down to aim for this?”

 

Idel, as well as everyone else around her, glanced briefly at Barbara’s legs.

 

“Why did Lady Radrick choose this place for the tea party…?”

 

Idel had been puzzled by why Lady Radrick, who was so proud of the marble parlor in the main residence, would host the party in the secondary residence.

 

But to think that it was all just to humiliate one person, it made Idel seethe with anger.

 

“Whatever happened between Lady Radrick and Viscountess Celestine, it’s unacceptable to mock someone’s disability like this!”

 

Trying not to show her discomfort on her face, Idel greeted Barbara warmly, putting aside any thoughts of what might happen later.

 

“Oh, what a coincidence!”

 

Breaking the silence in the parlor, her voice drew everyone’s gaze from Barbara’s legs to Idel.

 

Barbara, with a look that said ‘What’s going on?’ in her eyes, was met with Idel’s slightly excited voice as she spoke to those around her.

 

“Last time, there was an accident in the city where our carriage wheel got stuck in a gap. A person from another family’s carriage passing by helped us out of the crisis.”

 

“Oh, really?”

 

“Yes. The person who helped us then refused any reward and just left. I only remember their face reflected in the carriage window, but it turns out it was Viscountess Celestine!”

 

Idel naturally approached Barbara’s side, hoping to appear casual.