Chapter 65
After the other ladies had left, I sat face-to-face with Marchioness Mayer.
Why did she want to meet me alone? What could she possibly have to say about Countess Russell?
Just as I was about to ask, the Marchioness opened her wrinkled lips.
“Actually, I happened to see Countess Russell on the street a few days ago.”
Her golden eyes blinked slowly as if recalling the moment.
“And she was with Lady Ella.”
“Countess Russell was with Lady Ella?”
“Yes.”
“…….”
For Countess Russell, Ella was a rival from the Baisen family. With her personality, she would never willingly associate with Ella. But they were together?
It felt like hearing that oil and water had mixed.
Marchioness Mayer observed my expression before speaking again, slowly.
“It might just be my unnecessary worry, but I thought I should let you know, Duchess.”
“Thank you for your concern, Marchioness. Do you know where they were headed?”
“No, I don’t. I saw them while returning to my estate in my carriage.”
I thanked the Marchioness once again and left the Mayer estate.
Since preparations for the party were still underway, I needed to return to the duke’s mansion quickly.
However, instead of heading straight home, I changed my destination.
Standing in front of the Anais Guild hideout, I recalled what the Marchioness had said.
Countess Russell had been with Ella. Then suddenly, she stopped attending the gatherings where she had been trying to build a relationship with me.
Could these two events really be unrelated? Could they have nothing to do with Ella?
‘It could just be my imagination. There’s no actual evidence linking the two events.’
But I was a reader of The Fallen Noble Lady Captures the Young Lord.
That novel was mostly told from the perspective of the female protagonist, Ella. So I knew a lot about her past, her thoughts, and her values.
‘I can’t just ignore this.’
Rather than letting my doubts fester, it was better to confirm things. I stepped into the Anais Guild.
A guild member who recognized me hurried off to inform the guild leader.
Moments later, the guild leader came running, greeting me enthusiastically without a hint of exhaustion.
“Ah, Madam! Welcome back! You must have another request for us!”
“That’s right. How did you know?”
“It’s not the day you usually come for regular reports. Haha!”
The guild leader grinned, rubbing his hands together.
“Madam, I have an expert in my group who knows everything about romance and relationships.”
“……Really? That sounds like a useful subordinate for people seeking love advice.”
“Exactly! He’s an expert at marriage troubles, confessions, proposals—anything!”
I wasn’t sure why he was promoting this person to me, but that wasn’t the type of subordinate I needed right now.
“Guild leader, do you—”
“Yes! I’ll bring him right—”
“—have someone skilled in tracking and tailing?”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
I had been too focused on speaking and missed what the guild leader had been saying.
But when our eyes met, his expression was strange. Though his mask covered his lower face, his trembling pupils and slightly open mouth seemed to say, Wait… this isn’t right.
“Sorry, were you saying something important?”
“No! Not at all. Haha….”
He scratched his head with an awkward laugh.
“But if it’s tracking and tailing, who do you need to follow? …Don’t tell me, His Grace?”
“No, it’s someone else.”
“Phew!”
He let out a sigh of relief, clutching his chest as if a great weight had lifted.
Then, with a confident smile, he stepped aside and whispered conspiratorially.
“Tracking and tailing are specialties of the Anais Guild. Please, come to my office.”
Meanwhile, Evan was grinning as he stood outside Harold’s office.
Despite the difficult work, he had recently experienced the highest level of job satisfaction in his life.
For a moment, he thought about the resignation letter hidden in his coat, but he quickly shook his head and knocked.
“Excuse me.”
Evan entered and stood before Harold, bowing slightly before delivering his report.
“…And the bracelet you ordered is expected to be completed the day after tomorrow, according to the workshop.”
The bracelet—Harold had been preparing it for Diana for months.
It had taken a long time because he couldn’t find a gemstone he liked. But his persistence paid off, and he finally found one.
The gemstone wasn’t originally meant for jewelry. It was worth enough to buy three castles and still have money left over. But neither of the two men in the room seemed to care about that.
“Tell the craftsman to do his best until the very end, Evan.”
“Understood.”
Evan continued his report.
“As for the vacation homes in the Prolang Kingdom, here is a list of three properties. Since three months isn’t enough time to build a new house from scratch, I focused on existing homes that could be remodeled.”
Harold glanced over the list.
“Only these?”
“No. I also prepared additional options, in case Madam changes her mind about the location.”
Evan swiftly pulled out another set of documents.
While the first list had been prepared with the other aides, these properties were ones Evan had selected himself.
“I prioritized locations where you can enjoy unique scenery or have a peaceful retreat together.”
Harold reviewed the selections before nodding in approval.
“Buy them all.”
“Yes, sir.”
Evan had expected this.
The other aides had assumed Harold would pick just one, but that was because they didn’t know him well enough.
Harold had never been one to hold back on spending. And since this trip was for Diana?
‘Of course he’s going all out!’
Spending this amount wouldn’t even make a dent in Harold’s wealth. His fortune was vast, and it continued to grow.
Evan clenched his fist, smiling brightly. He was completely invested in this trip.
‘Madam is definitely going to confess to His Grace during this trip.’
She had been thinking about this journey ever since deciding to confess. That couldn’t be a coincidence.
And she had plenty of reasons for holding back her confession until now.
Evan was ready to do everything in his power to ensure that the historic moment happened.
He couldn’t wait for them to acknowledge their feelings and live as a real couple. And he wanted to see their future children too.
‘A little lady and a little lord who take after both of them…’
Evan’s nose turned red.
Just months ago, he wouldn’t have even dared to imagine this. But now, it was within reach, and the thought made his chest swell with emotion.
‘Can I really be this happy?’
Tears welled up in his eyes.
Harold, seeing this, silently pulled a handkerchief from his drawer.
“Get out.”
“Yes, sir. Sniff.”
Evan picked up the handkerchief and left.
Harold went back to work, but he quickly became thirsty.
He picked up the glass of water on his desk, but even after drinking, his thirst wasn’t satisfied.
Frowning, he pressed his fingers against his temple.
Harold had the same guess as Evan. Otherwise, there was no reason for Diana to keep avoiding the confession.
“…Guild.”
Harold muttered in a displeased voice, recalling the planned travel date.
At that moment, he heard movement outside the door.
“Your Grace, the tea you ordered has been prepared.”
Harold had never ordered tea. That meant…
“Come in.”
With his permission, a guild member sent by the guild master, Anais, entered.
“Nice to see you again, Your Grace.”
“What is it?”
“The guild master asked me to inform you that the duchess visited the guild.”
Harold stood up as if he was about to go there immediately. But the guild member stopped him.
“The duchess has already placed a request and left.”
That meant the guild master had judged it was not necessary for Harold to go in person.
Harold frowned slightly before sitting back down.
“What request did my wife make?”
“She asked for an investigation and surveillance on Countess Audrey Russell and Lady Ella Garcia.”
“Investigation and surveillance…”
What had happened at today’s gathering? Diana wouldn’t have made such a request for no reason.
Harold tapped his desk, deep in thought. Under his thick eyebrows, his navy-blue eyes gleamed sharply, as if chasing after Diana, who was not here.
“Tell the guild master to share the results of the investigation and surveillance with me as well.”
