# 95
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Meanwhile, Eliza, who was sitting leisurely reading a book, paused at the sound of Ares's laughter piercing through the carriage. As she quietly focused on the sound, Grace's voice muttering something overlapped with Ares's laughter.
The old woman, raising her eyebrows, chuckled and whispered to Jesse.
You just stay here and keep me company.
"…yes."
The Duchess seems to be nagging about something, but I wonder what makes the Duke so happy. Summer is in full swing.
Eliza Richmond spoke in a warm tone.
However, as was often the case, her warm tone did not last long. As the journey toward the capital continued, she spoke less and less, and one day, she muttered in a tone of disbelief:
“This is a big problem. It looks like the Duke is going to switch careers to become the Duchess’s attendant.”
“Madam.……”
“Am I wrong, Arwen? Look over there. Jesse, you’re in big trouble too. You’ve run out of things to do.”
“…….”
At Eliza's words, the ladies-in-waiting in her carriage awkwardly turned their eyes away.
The Duke, clad in a black fur cloak, resembled a massive beast. The sight of him personally commanding the 50 knights who accompanied him to stand guard and receiving their absolute loyalty was enough to naturally evoke the image of a top predator.
However, what he was holding in his hand right now was a pink lunchbox given to him by the maid.
“Why is he acting like that……?”
Mrs. Rexton, who was leaning her head against the window opposite Eliza, said in an excited voice.
“Oh my, oh my! You are wrapping the lunchbox in fur right now!”
“I mean. Why is he acting like that…….”
“Oh my, what do you mean, Madam? I’m just worried the food might get cold! I want the Duchess to have a warm meal when she wakes up later. Oh my goodness!”
Around that time, the maid who had delivered the Duchess's share of food to the Duke tiptoed back, and the knights and servants passing by the Duchess's carriage were busy trying to keep their footsteps silent. Everyone seemed to be concentrating their attention on not waking Grace Richmond, who was sleeping soundly inside the carriage.
Meanwhile, Ares, who was about to board the carriage with a fur-wrapped lunchbox, glanced at the Madam's carriage as he was met with the fervent stares directed at him. And, naturally, his eyes met those of his own flesh and blood.
If the touch that affectionately wrapped Grace's share of food was like the sunshine of a spring day, the gaze that met hers was like the frost of midwinter.
The cunning tiger narrowed its eyes.
“…….”
What in the world is that?
The brazen tiger raised his eyebrows.
“…….”
Why, what?
In the end, the saying that there is no escaping shamelessness proved to be true once again today. Eliza clicked her tongue in disbelief and closed the shutters.
“Let’s get used to it. It seems there is no other way.”
Thus, when Duke Richmond and his party arrived at the mansion in the capital's first district, everyone who had followed them from Duke Richmond's castle reached a point where they accepted the Duke's duplicitous behavior as a matter of course.
"Welcome, Your Excellency."
The servants of the capital mansion, who were vassals of Richmond yet seeing the Duke for the first time, froze stiff and bit their lips hard. When his long, piercing gaze fell upon them, even the butler, who prided himself on his considerable experience, felt his heart pound.
Just as I was thinking that he was quite different from the gentle Duke of the past, the Duke extended his right hand toward the carriage. The sight of a fine cream-colored glove being placed over a pitch-black one felt somehow surreal, and the Duke spoke.
Watch out for the stairs, Grace.
The butler, the head maid, and the servants all looked up at once.
An elegant woman with splendid blonde hair styled up stepped gracefully out of the carriage, escorted by the Duke. Dressed in a cream-colored coat that contrasted with the Duke, who was clad in a crow-black suit, she felt as fresh as the sunlight pouring down upon them.
While the servants stared at Grace with blank eyes, the Duke standing beside her spoke.
"Isn't it cold?"
“They say the capital’s climate is just as mild as Taylor's. It really is. It’s not cold at all.”
As Grace answered lightly, Ares walked over to Eliza's carriage. Then he reached out his hand to Eliza as well.
“Oh, I am deeply moved, Duke.”
When Eliza laughed and made a joke, Ares also chuckled.
Eliza stepped out of the carriage, straightened her back, and slowly surveyed the capital mansion she was visiting for the first time in over a decade. Behind the yellow flag hanging on the pointed roof, her hometown came into view.
Grace approached her side.
You have worked hard on this long journey, Madam.
“You are the one who has worked hard. Let’s go inside. It is proper to pay respects to the Imperial Family upon arriving in the capital, but I cannot do so in this state.……”
Eliza's dark eyes gleamed fiercely as she gazed at the imperial palace.
Let's wash up first.
* * *
When did the Duke of Richmond's family arrive?
At the fierce question, the attendant cautiously opened his mouth.
Around noon, the fortress...,
“How insolent!!”
The Count of Saxony burst into rage. He frowned at the red sun that was beginning to hang low and shivered.
“You are supposed to come to the Imperial Palace as soon as you arrive in the capital!! You claimed to have arrived at noon, yet you haven't shown your face even now that the sun is setting?!”
The Countess of Saxony also supported her husband's words.
“The capital is rightfully His Imperial Majesty’s land. Wherever one goes, the custom is to pay respects to the landowner first. Dignity begins with such things. Tsk tsk.”
“Oh, absolutely. Dignity begins with things like that.”
As Duke Taylor nodded in agreement, the Countess of Saxony turned to him and laughed heartily.
"Did you two come to the Imperial Palace as soon as you arrived in the capital yesterday?"
Of course.
Yes, of course.
As expected. I am simply delighted to welcome such distinguished individuals as in-laws.
The Countess of Saxony, who had been giving a sociable smile to the Duke and Duchess Taylor, gazed at Rosette sitting beside them.
“You must be happy to have such distinguished parents, Princess.”
Rosette, who had seen the Countess of Saxony's true face, got goosebumps at her sweet tone. However, there was only one thing she could do: join this play.
“Yes, Countess.”
“You answer so demurely, don’t you, Jack?”
Rosette glanced at the man sitting opposite her. Jack Sachsen, who had been sitting there with a face full of boredom the whole time, answered reluctantly.
"…yes."
Then, the moment their eyes met by chance, Jack's gaze turned fierce. Rosette's neck went cold at the blatant hostility, as if he were looking at something extremely annoying. At the same time, it felt as if a fire was rising inside her chest.
They said there were six illegitimate children, but now one has been added, bringing the total to seven. It is only a matter of time before seven becomes eight, and eight becomes nine.
At that moment, the Countess of Saxony turned to Hedwig, who was sitting at the seat of honor, and spoke softly.
“Your Majesty, you have taken a woman of disgrace as your Duchess. You must already know that Saxony and Taylor are watching this capital with glaring eyes, so how heavy must your steps be as you journey to the Imperial Palace?”
The Duke and Duchess of Taylor clenched and unclenched their fists and muttered ominously.
“I cannot sleep when I think of that ungrateful girl. Even if she went somewhere to live in quiet hiding, it wouldn’t be enough; how dare she hold her head high and appear before our eyes?”
“You betrayed us, who fed and raised you all this time, just like that and ran away… Just you wait until you show up.”
Then Hetbiga, who had been listening all this time, asked the Count of Saxony.
How many troops did the Duke bring?
“We brought exactly the permitted number. Fifty men, including the Duke’s aide and the guards of the Duchess and the Grand Madam, crossed the castle walls.”
Are they all knights who have survived the Wall of Death?
“Yes, well… that is true, but they are not a threatening force, so please don’t worry.”
“Wouldn’t Richmond want to participate in the gladiatorial festival?”
“Participating won’t change anything. Trust the skills of the Saxon knights.”
"Just trust your brother," the Count of Saxony whispered softly, but Hedwig did not answer. She was just about to tell everyone to leave, as she habitually stroked the tips of her finely manicured fingernails.
Ivanka, the head maid, appeared with a flushed face.
The Duke and Duchess of Richmond and the Grand Madam have come to visit, Your Majesty the Empress.
At her words, the Count of Saxony lamented loudly.
“Ahem!! You’re here early!!”
Ivanka lowered her posture beside the silent Hetby and asked.
“What should I do?”
The eyes of the crowd turned to Hetbiga in unison. After remaining silent for a little longer as if deep in thought, she suddenly pulled her red lips together and smiled.
"Send them back. It would be good to... wait a little."
The Count and Countess of Saxony nodded in agreement at the Empress's words, and the Duke and Duchess of Taylor followed suit. Ivanka also smiled broadly.
“Yes, I will.”
However, unfortunately, the Empress's order was not properly carried out.
This is because just before Ivanka was about to leave the room, a servant with a frantic expression appeared and made this announcement.
“Your Majesty the Empress! His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has just summoned the Duke of Richmond to the Hall of the Black Tiger!”