TISND Chapter 71

Chapter 71

“Have you heard that rumor?”

“Which one?”

“The one about Lady Rosalith?”

“I’ve heard it!”

Early in the morning, the servants who were cleaning began to gather and gossip.

“Actually, I’m not sure. But there’s a rumor that Lady Rosalith might be the Duke’s lover.”

“Otherwise, why would she come to the mansion like that?”

“Hmm, maybe to visit her sister?”

Of course, not all the servants believed the rumors about Caligo, Rosalith, and Helena.

“Don’t even get me started. She comes to the mansion to see her sister, but she doesn’t even glance at the mistress.”

“I heard she even went out for a walk with Jeremy not long ago?”

“Did you see the dress Lady Rosalith wore when she went out?”

“She really deserves to be called the empire’s most beautiful woman.”

As more and more servants started to gossip, doubts began to rise.

“Do you think the Duke really dislikes the mistress? I heard she was well-liked in Frantor.”

“Look at you. Just because someone is well-liked doesn’t mean they’re in love.”

“If I were a man, I’d definitely like Lady Rosalith.”

“Even with that filthy Eskel, it’s undeniable that she’s a stunning beauty.”

“…Well, that’s true.”

“I told you so!”

At first, the servants had been skeptical, but one by one, they started to believe it.

“You all know, right? The Duke hasn’t spent a night with the mistress.”

“Even after coming to the capital, they’ve never been together.”

“What do you think that means? He probably hasn’t because he doesn’t feel anything for her.”

“Could it be that the Duchess has a lover too?”

The rumors began to spread, and one by one, they started to build upon each other.

“What do you mean by that?”

“Didn’t you notice how the mistress has been avoiding the Duke lately?”

“What? How could anyone dislike someone like the Duke?”

“I’m not saying she dislikes him, I’m just saying she might have a lover of her own.”

“What?”

“Then, who could it be?”

As new details emerged, the servants raised their voices in a frenzy.

“What are you all doing here?”

At that moment, Emma arrived, shouting at them.

“Do you have time to gossip around like this? Can’t you get to work instead of chatting?”

“Sorry!”

The servants quickly lowered their heads and scattered at Emma’s furious tone.

“Goodness, all these ridiculous rumors are spreading.”

In Frantor, the good deeds Helena had done had spread, and that helped to soften the public’s view of her.

But in the capital, even staying quiet led to all sorts of bad rumors, and it was frustrating.

“Emma, don’t overreact.”

An old butler approached Emma and tried to calm her down.

“But! I’m so angry! It’s bad enough we’re trying to protect the mistress, but now these hurtful rumors are spreading! And the ones spreading them are our own servants!”

People who had served in Frantor for a long time genuinely wanted to see the Duke and Helena’s relationship succeed.

“I feel like these rumors are just messing with the already fragile relationship between the two of them.”

That’s why such rumors couldn’t possibly be beneficial for the Duke and Duchess.

“But we can’t exactly interfere either, can we, Emma?”

“I’m worried! The relationship between the two seems to be getting worse lately, and I’m afraid something big will happen! Especially with the mistress! She’s someone who could be shaken by these kinds of rumors!”

Emma fumed, unable to hide her anger.

“I’m worried that these rumors might end up being true. What if the Duke really does start to dislike the mistress?”

“It won’t happen.”

“But how can you be so sure, Butler?”

“The Duke will never dislike the mistress.”

The butler said confidently.

“He’s always been like this. He could’ve kept his distance from her, but he always kept her close.”

There was plenty of room to isolate her physically if he wanted to.

But the young Duke had allowed her freedom.

He even allowed her to spend time with the children.

“He didn’t even have to assign her any work, but he kept giving her responsibilities. And recently, didn’t he even allow her into his office?”

“Well, that’s true.”

The office was a space that even family members couldn’t enter freely.

Even Jeremy and Joshua had to ask for permission to enter the office.

Given the confidential nature of the documents handled there, the office was a highly secure place. For Helena to be granted access was a sign of extraordinary trust.

“But why does the master seem so displeased these days?”

“That’s something people like us can’t possibly know,” the butler chuckled.

“I’m worried about the mistress too. She’s been keeping to herself in the mansion lately, spending so much time alone…”

“Hmm.”

“Butler, you’re far too calm about this!” Emma grumbled.

“I’m worried something might happen. If these rumors die down, then fine, but still…”

Understanding her concerns, the butler thought for a moment before responding.

“The best thing we can do is to stop these baseless rumors from spreading.”

“…I suppose so.”

“We must also make sure that neither of the young masters hears these rumors, now or in the future.”

—

Meanwhile, amidst the swirling rumors, Joshua arrived at the mansion.

Although he hadn’t been away for long, he seemed genuinely delighted to be home. As soon as he stepped down from the carriage, he blushed upon seeing Helena’s face.

In the past, only the servants or Jeremy would come out to greet him. His father was always busy, after all.

“Joshua!”

But now, even Helena came out to greet him, rushing to hug him tightly the moment he stepped out of the carriage.

“What’s this? It’s only been a few days, and you’re this happy to see me?” Joshua mumbled shyly, embarrassed.

“It hasn’t been just a few days.”

Seeing how happy she was to see him, he tried to hide his embarrassment and asked, “Have you been well?”

“Yes. And you? Are you hurt anywhere?”

Even though he didn’t appear to have any injuries, her eyes were full of worry as she carefully examined him.

“There’s no way I’d get hurt like before!”

“Even so…”

“Helena, do you think I’m a child?”

“You are a child.”

Looking around, Joshua asked, “Where’s Jeremy?”

“…Ah.”

The brightness on her face dimmed slightly at his question.

“He went out with Rosalith.”

What’s going on?
Noticing the fleeting shadow on her face, Joshua grew curious.

“Rosalith?”

“Yes, my younger sister.”

“…Your sister?”

An Eskel relative had come?

The atmosphere in the mansion felt slightly off, and it seemed odd that the mention of her sister caused the servants to exchange glances.

“Let’s head inside. You must be tired,” Helena said, offering to escort him to his room.

She seemed to know the layout of the mansion so well now, guiding him effortlessly. Yet, with Jeremy absent, she looked a bit lonely.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but her expression also seemed somewhat sad.

Back in Seantillen, Helena had appeared as her usual self. What had happened while he was gone?

“Have you gotten thinner again?”

On top of everything, Helena’s health didn’t seem great either. She hadn’t looked this frail in Seantillen or even Frantor.

Her face and frame appeared much more delicate and fragile than before.

“Have you been seeing that doctor regularly? Did they say you’re fine?”

“Joshua, since when were you so nagging?”

“You make me nag, Helena.”

Joshua grumbled, “I’m not starving, you know?”

“Even so…” Helena gave him a serious look.

“Something feels off.”

At this point, it was undeniable that Helena had become someone important to Joshua. Jeremy likely felt the same way. Although they all referred to each other as family, each of them carried their own deep concerns and wounds, including Jeremy and Joshua. Even Caligo wasn’t exempt from this. But since Helena had come into their lives, things had changed. They had become a bit more attuned to each other’s hearts, and the guilt that had weighed on them seemed to lift.

Back then, they had denied it, but now, hadn’t they truly become family?

Because of this, Joshua wanted to know what was troubling Helena. In fact, Helena was the one who had the most secrets among the family. She had always been by their side, yet her past and inner thoughts remained unknown to them.

“Helena, if you have something on your mind, you can tell me…”

But just as he was about to speak, a loud growl came from his stomach.

“Are you hungry?”

Helena looked at him with a face as though the sky had fallen, shocked and serious.

“I’m not hungry! I’m just starving after sitting in a carriage for 8 hours!”

“Starving?”

Joshua suddenly realized his mistake and quickly clamped his mouth shut.

He knew that, in front of Helena, speaking about being hungry was as sensitive as talking about starvation itself.

“I need to get some food ready right now,” Helena murmured, rolling up her sleeves.

“Wait, Helena! I’m really not that hungry,” Joshua rushed to stop her.

“How can you be hungry?”

“Please, just a simple meal! Got it? Don’t make it too fancy!”

Joshua exclaimed urgently.

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