Lady to Queen - Chapter 90 - Do You Think I Don't Know What You're Up To

Chapter 90 – Do You Think I Don’t Know What You’re Up To?

“Welcome, My Lady.”

The first person to greet the Duchess when she arrived at the mansion was the faithful butler. Instead of immediately comforting her over the loss of her son, the gray-haired butler first concerned himself on alleviating the fatigue the Duchess must have accumulated from her long journey.

“I ordered the ladies-in-waiting to prepare a bath for you in advance. If you may.”

“…”

Even as the butler spoke, Duchess Ephreney said nothing. Her eyes were glazed as a maid helped her drag her feet to where she needed to be. She was not at all interested in her surroundings, so she did not even notice the fact that her husband was not at home, nor that the concubine she always hated was watching her with strange eyes. In other words, Duchess Ephreney was not paying attention to the happenings around her.

“Elder sister.”

January knew it was wise not to interfere at this time, but she went after immediate pleasure rather than prudence. She called out to Duchess Ephreney in a gentle voice, but with an appropriate amount of sadness behind it. “You’ve arrived.”

“…”

Duchess Ephreney finally lifted her eyes to January. The moment their gazes met, January couldn’t help but be taken aback. The Duchess’ eyes looked so hollow that it was difficult to believe that they belonged to a living person. However, January continued to speak.

“You must be tired, Sister.”

It was a foolish attempt. Duchess Ephreney only stared at her, and said nothing as January continued to talk.

“I am sorry to hear about the Young Master.”

“…Sorry,” Duchess Ephreney muttered. “You’re sorry?”

“Yes, Sister.”

“Why?” A suspicious smile spread across Duchess Ephreney’s face. It was the first time she had shown any emotion. “This is a good thing for you. My son is out of the way for your Jacob.”

“…”

“Isn’t that so?”

“Sister, how could you say that—”

Duchess Ephreney strode up to January, muttering under her breath with a blank look. January was surprised, because it was so hard to believe that this woman had an ounce of life left in her. The concubine took an involuntary step backwards and the Duchess looked at her with a cool stare.

“Do you think I don’t know what you’re up to?”

“Sister, there must be a misunderstanding—”

But January’s words were cut short when Duchess Ephreney suddenly grabbed her hair. The concubine gave a high-pitched scream.

“Kyaaa!”

“Get out of my house, right now!”

“Sister! Why are you doing this!”

No one moved to stop the Duchess’ assault. January had no one on her side in this house, and even the servants who were usually neutral remained on the Duchess’ side that day. No one knew that January rejoiced in the death of the Young Master.

“Take that dirty blood and get out of here!” Duchess Ephreney screamed hysterically.

“Aaagh! This crazy woman is going to kill me!”

January managed to grab hold of Duchess Ephreney’s hair as well, and only then did the servants attempt to break up the fight. While January let go of the Duchess’ hair relatively easily, the Duchess clung on, and January wondered where such strength came from a dying woman. It wasn’t until several locks of hair were torn from January’s scalp did Duchess Ephreney let go. The Duchess glared at the concubine as she was held back by the servants.

“You,” she growled.

“…”

“Now that my son’s dead, you think that everything in the world is yours now, isn’t it? Do you think your half-blood son will be the successor to this family?” She threw her head back and gave a wild laugh that no one had ever seen from her before.

“You think you can do as you please? I’m the one that carries the Ephreney family bloodline in me, not that man. You are mistaken. If I adopt a son and make him my successor, the product of your low blood will only be an illegitimate child. Do you understand?”

“How could you…!”

January was shocked by the directness of Duchess Ephreney’s words, but unfortunately, nothing the Duchess said was false. If Duchess Ephreney really did adopt a son, he would be the next successor to the Ephreney family. January widened her eyes in anger, while Duchess Ephreney entered her room with an exhausted expression. Just before the door closed, January managed to hear what she said to the butler.

“Call Lady Petronilla.”

*

When Petronilla received news of Duchess Ephreney’s return, she moved without delay towards the mansion. She made sure to dress in black clothing, and she knocked at the door. As usual, the butler came to greet her.

“Lady Petronilla. It’s been a long time.”

“Yes, it has, Butler.”

“The Duchess is waiting for you. Please come inside.”

Petronilla stepped over the threshold. “When did she arrive?”

“Not long ago, My Lady.”

“How is she feeling—” Petronilla started, but then paused upon reflection. The Duchess probably wasn’t alright. Her only son was dead after all.

However, the butler answered calmly. “She is not well, I’m afraid.”

“Yes…of course.”

“It would bring me happiness if you could be of help to the Duchess.”

Petronilla looked around. “I don’t see the Duke.”

“He’s busy at the palace working on state affairs.”

“…”

Even after his son died and his wife returned from a foreign country, the Duke was to be found at the Imperial Court. Was he unaware of his household, or was he too busy with work? Either way, he was making a mistake.

“My Lady, it’s me,” Petronilla announced at the Duchess’ door.

“Lady Petronilla?” a weak voice replied from inside. “Come in.”

Petronilla opened the door and stepped in. The Duchess’ appearance was fresh and tidy, as if she had just finished taking a bath, but she could not conceal her impoverished, darkened face. Petronilla sensed that she had been through a lot.

“Are you alright, My Lady? You look very tired.”

“My only son was taken too soon,” Duchess Ephreney said calmly, and held out her hand in gesture. “Please sit down.”

“Thank you, My Lady.” Petronilla took the seat and reported on the last few weeks. “You left me with the household, but because I’m an outsider, I tried not to interfere as much possible. The butler took care of most of the work, and I only helped out on the more important affairs.”

“That’s why I could trust you. Even if you weren’t competent, it was better than leaving it to the mistress,” Duchess Ephreney said cynically. “So, are you doing well?”

“I’ve been doing fine, but there’s been some noise here and there.”

“What do you mean?”

“Her Majesty the Queen was almost assassinated,” Petronilla said bluntly. “Some assassins were captured alive and are currently being interrogated.”

“Has a suspect been arrested yet?”

“Marchioness Ehtylaire is in custody.”

“Is she?” A slight frown crossed Duchess Ephreney’s face. Technically speaking, Rosemond was the Duchess’ adopted daughter, but the Duchess didn’t seem particularly interested in her. Perhaps it was the husband that was interested in adopting Rosemond for political reasons?

Petronilla continued. “The Emperor overheard a conversation where Marchioness Ethylaire planned to hurt the Queen. That was why the Marchioness was detained immediately. This was not the first time she has been accused of such a thing, either.”

“I see.”

“You don’t seem surprised.”

“I’m not that interested in her. It was my husband’s will that she become a member of the family. She never even said hello to me, so I don’t think she wanted a normal mother-daughter relationship.”

“…”

Petronilla didn’t have anything to say to the political side of this, and Duchess Ephreney changed the topic.

“Are there any other news from the Imperial Palace?”

“…”

At that moment, Petronilla wondered if she could carry out her plan. The woman sitting in front of her had just lost her son. It was too cruel to tell her that her child was the product of rape. However…

I can’t drag things out.

Petronilla strengthened her resolve and opened her mouth to speak. “There is a strange rumor going around.”

“What strange rumor?”

“…”

Petronilla hesitated, but this was done more to amplify Duchess Ephreney’s curiosity rather than to ease her own guilt. As expected, Duchess Ephreney pressed her for more.

“What’s the matter?”

“I don’t know if I should tell you this…” Petronilla trailed off.

“Is it related to me? Or my son?”

“Well…”

“Please tell me. Don’t I have the right to know?”

Petronilla pretended to be troubled by the Duchess’ request. “It’s such a vulgar story…”

“What is it?”

“Duke Ephreney married you despite being a baron.”

“Yes.”

“I heard there was a lot of talk about it during that time.”

“It was indeed shocking.”

“You married your husband because you loved him, didn’t you?”

Petronilla’s words sounded strange to the Duchess, and she lifted an eyebrow. “Why do you ask that?”

“My Lady,” Petronilla said with a sigh. “I don’t know where such bizarre rumors began, but people say that the Duke raped you, and you were forced to marry him when you became pregnant with his child.”

“…I beg your pardon?”

“That’s what I heard…”

“Who…who started such ridiculous rumors?” Duchess Ephreney said in a low voice and shuddered pitifully.

“Yes, it’s ridiculous…” Petronilla replied. She then dropped her tone. “If you really married Duke Ephreney, it’s because you love him, right?”