CHAPTER 138………………………………….
The Duke’s Jealousy (1)
“Fired? Did I make some kind of mistake…?”
As soon as Anje got up from her sickbed, she was dumbfounded by the sudden notice of dismissal. Of course, she had known that, since she was about to inherit the marquisate, she couldn’t stay at the Side family mansion forever.
But still… fired!
Was this what it felt like to be suddenly hit over the head? Her mind went blank, and a ringing in her ears made it hard to think at all.
“A mistake?”
Elliot avoided Anje’s gaze and furrowed his brows, looking troubled.
Even he, who usually made wise judgments, didn’t understand why the duke was acting this way. If he himself didn’t fully understand it, there was no way he could give Anje a proper explanation.
Although the air was chilly, being early winter, Elliot took out a handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
“It seems… it’s just that, now that you are about to become the marquis, he doesn’t think a position like assistant is appropriate.”
Pleased that he had at least found a reasonable excuse, Elliot wiped his forehead again.
“I wish His Grace had told me directly. Is he so busy that he can’t even spare the time? Or… did he just not like the way I handled my duties…?”
Or perhaps, for some reason, he simply couldn’t bear to see me.
You know how it is—sometimes lovers who once couldn’t live without each other suddenly fall out of love over the smallest things.
Anje had seen couples break up because a piece of food got stuck in one’s teeth during a meal, or because of eye gunk or a mole on the neck that became unbearably repulsive.
And she and the duke were in a relationship too ambiguous to even call it a romance. Without her needing to intervene, a single word from a third party like Elliot could easily define their relationship.
Just like that… so easily.
“That’s impossible. Anje… no, now… I mean, His Grace’s handling of his duties was, as always, perfect. So much so that it’s almost disappointing I won’t have another chance to work for him. Really! Where would one even find another talent like His Grace? It’s quite a predicament.”
Elliot, speaking polite flattery, glanced at Anje to gauge her reaction.
“Fortunately, the renovations on the hilltop mansion in Primrose Hill have been completed. Shall we move your belongings there? I think the previous marquis’ mansion in the city might still be inconvenient for you.”
It was unclear what the duke’s exact intentions were, but if by some chance he wanted the two of them to meet often, wouldn’t it make sense to stay close?
Elliot spoke, harboring his own wish in his words.
Anje, not entirely willing to enter the house that Crow Marquis and Hildegart had recently occupied, still nodded.
“Very well. Please move all my belongings to the hilltop mansion. My dresses…”
Since the dresses were custom-made, leaving them behind would mean they’d go to waste. The jewelry, likewise. Anje, lost in thought for a moment, dug into her bag and pulled out a small box.
“All the other items too. But I’d like you to return this to His Grace. It turns out it’s quite valuable.”
She had learned this while checking out the Crow Guild’s mood after reclaiming her belongings.
An employee, who immediately recognized the opal, even hinted that Hildegart had tried every possible means to acquire it—and ultimately failed.
‘Its value now must be even higher than back then. Such high-quality stones could easily be worth several large mansions.’
Several mansions for a single piece of jewelry!
Anje was stunned by the unexpected value.
“For having only served as an assistant for a few months, it feels excessive and almost burdensome to keep it.”
Elliot frowned in embarrassment as he looked at the opal jewelry resting in her small palm.
“You almost lost your life, so ‘excessive’ isn’t the word. It’s His Grace’s gesture—you should keep it.”
“I already know I’ve received more than I deserve. I heard the mansion’s renovation alone cost a fortune.”
Who would dare tell Anje such trivial details about the mansion’s repair costs? While Elliot inwardly tried to guess the culprit, Anje forced the opal box into his hands.
“Please, Elliot. And thank you for everything, truly.”
“Miss… no, Your Grace, the Marquis.”
Elliot suddenly felt his eyes sting, as if he had grown attached over time.
They were merely moving a few houses up the hill. Yet even knowing that, a surge of unexpected sadness welled up.
“If anything in the mansion is inconvenient, please let me know anytime.”
“You’ve already done so much for me, Elliot. I can’t keep imposing.”
“Nonsense. Why would I feel that way?”
Unlike the formal etiquette she used for the marquis, Elliot’s gaze remained polite yet kind, just as before.
“All right, thank you, Elliot.”
Finally, the day of the Emperor’s coronation arrived.
The event, planned a month in advance, doubled as the wedding of the new emperor, making it far more lavish than ordinary banquets. The only difference was that, considering the kingdom’s finances, all attending nobles had to pay an entrance fee.
It was a bold move that would have embarrassed many, but it was still the Emperor’s coronation. And this emperor was famously unforgiving. Everyone could see what had become of the nobles who had sided with the previous emperor—many had vanished quietly into their rural estates, or their families had been ruined overnight.
So failing to attend could have consequences.
Thanks to the duke’s matron’s consideration for Anje, who had yet to hire proper staff, Josh and a few servants helped prepare the hilltop mansion early in the morning.
“His Grace is so careless. How could he be busy on a day like this?”
Anje’s gaze turned to the grumbling Josh.
“What do you mean ‘careless’?”
Why would his being busy matter to me? What were we, anyway? Only a client and an informant—or at most a duke and assistant.
Anje tried to think rationally as she scolded Josh, but she couldn’t completely suppress the feeling of hurt. Despite being busy with guild and intelligence work, she often glanced toward the duke’s household.
Josh, running his fingers through her glossy black hair, slammed his palm down on his comb in exasperation.
“Miss… no, Your Grace, aren’t you angry? You always stick to the reluctant marquis like glue during banquets, yet today, when you need him, he’s nowhere to be seen!”
Josh glanced at Anje in the mirror and continued.
“Did you two fight? If so, you need to talk. But to talk, you first need to meet… Sigh, the duke has been so busy lately he hardly comes home. He’s practically living in the palace. The matron’s worries are endless.”
“……”
“So… Miss… no, Your Grace…”
“Josh, just call me as usual. Just because I’m now a marquis doesn’t mean I’m not still the same person.”
“Really…? Then maybe Miss should acknowledge His Grace first? Men are such foolish creatures—they can’t apologize due to pride, even when they know they’re wrong.”
“We didn’t fight. The Duke of Side did nothing wrong. How many times do I have to tell you, Josh?”
“Then why is this happening? Look at Miss Anje. She’s beautiful, yet she’ll attend the banquet alone.”
Before the banquet even started, Anje felt drained by Josh’s relentless nagging. While Josh’s effort had made her look stunning, she didn’t want to be questioned further about the duke.
Because nothing had actually happened, and she herself didn’t know why the duke’s attitude had changed.
“The duke might not even attend the banquet. He might have someone else with him. And you don’t need to worry. There will be a partner waiting for you at the banquet.”
“Partner? Wh-who? Someone more handsome and distinguished than His Grace? Even so… Miss, you—”
Josh, who had just been scolding the duke, now looked at Anje in disbelief.
“Well, I can’t help it. It’s an arrangement by His Majesty.”
Of course, she had no intention of dancing to the emperor’s tune.
