Chapter 27
As soon as I stepped out of the garden gate, it didn’t take long before I spotted Countess Ellen.
Judging by her brisk and agitated steps, it seemed she had left her seat in a fit of frustration.
Curious to uncover the truth, I called out and approached her.
“Countess Ellen.”
“Oh, Duchess Dylan. What brings you here? Don’t tell me you followed me?”
Tilting her head in a rather insolent manner, her tone made it clear she wasn’t treating someone of higher rank with the appropriate respect.
Smiling, I took a step closer.
“You’ve made quite a few rude remarks today, Countess. I’m guessing something’s upset you?”
“Oh, not at all. I think you must be misunderstanding me, Duchess.”
“Toward me, toward Baroness Valérie—it was all very curious, so I thought I’d ask.”
“Ask what?”
“What makes you think you can be so insolent?”
“…Excuse me?”
Countess Ellen blinked as if she hadn’t heard me correctly.
To outsiders, this might have seemed like a breach of etiquette. But with just the two of us here, I didn’t see any reason to be overly polite.
“I’m asking how you, someone of lower rank, dared to speak so rudely to a duchess like me, Countess Ellen.”
“Well, I must say… You’re quite different from what I’ve heard. Or are you simply putting on a show?”
“I don’t know who’s been feeding you information, but what does that have to do with how you treat me?”
“Oh, everything. A very strong connection.”
When I looked at her silently, inviting her to explain, Countess Ellen scoffed and crossed her arms before continuing.
“I happen to have a very close friend I share everything with.”
“And?”
“You know her too, Duchess.”
“I can’t imagine who that would be. Who is it?”
“Countess Cassandra.”
“…”
The unexpected name caught me off guard. I was momentarily speechless. Ellen took that as her cue to smirk and keep going.
“Countess Cassandra is my closest friend, and she used to tutor the Dylan children. I’ve heard quite a bit.”
You, who are looked down on in your own household—how dare you pretend otherwise?
You’re treated like a ghost in the duchy, so I guess you came to a low-ranking baroness’s tea party just to feel important.
Too bad for you—I already know exactly what kind of person you are. You should stop pretending.
Heh.
She stood there proudly, as if she’d won some imaginary battle. But when I laughed unexpectedly, her expression stiffened.
“…What’s so funny?”
“Did you say you’re close with Countess Cassandra?”
“Yes. That’s what I said—”
“Funny. Sounds like you haven’t been in touch with her lately, then. For someone who claims to be a ‘close friend.’”
“…”
Surprised by how I knew, Ellen quickly composed her expression.
“If you want to act like Cassandra’s dear friend in front of me, you should get your facts straight.”
“Then… you mean you know what’s going on with her?”
“Of course I do. She was my children’s tutor—though she’s no longer in that position.”
“She’s… no longer their tutor?”
Ellen was visibly rattled.
“You’ve believed whatever your ‘dear friend’ told you and acted so rudely at this unrelated tea party hosted by a baroness.”
“Still, I didn’t say anything wrong, did I? The dessert and tea you brought weren’t to my taste—I was just being honest. And I only asked the Baroness a question because I was curious after not seeing her for so long. Was that such a crime?”
“If that’s the excuse you’re going with, then fine. But deep down, you know the truth. Keep pushing, and you’re the only one who’ll look foolish.”
“…”
At that, Ellen clamped her mouth shut.
Though she clearly didn’t want to continue the conversation, I addressed one part of our earlier exchange that stuck in my mind.
“Actually, something you said earlier bothered me.”
“Oh? If it’s about Countess Cassandra, I’ve just been too busy to stay in touch—”
“No. Not that.”
“Then what are you referring to?”
“You said Cassandra shared a lot with you because she used to teach our family’s children.”
“…”
Ellen began to visibly panic, perhaps realizing the trap she’d walked into.
She’d probably just meant to mock me, but she should have been more careful with her words.
Cassandra likely said plenty of disrespectful things about me—calling me a puppet duchess, a cuckoo, a shadow. She must’ve looked down on me without even having met me.
“So you’re saying Countess Cassandra has been talking to you about House Dylan?”
“No—no, that’s not what I meant…!”
“According to you, you’re such close friends that you share everything. And you did say she told you quite a bit about our household.”
“No, no! Not about the duchy! Only about you, Duchess! I never heard or said anything about House Dylan!”
“Even if it was just about me, that’s not something to overlook. You’re saying she disclosed information about me, the acting head of House Dylan. And my personal affairs are, by extension, the duchy’s.”
“I… I didn’t mean it that way—”
Now visibly shaken and rambling, Countess Ellen stammered an apology, then hurriedly excused herself, claiming an urgent matter before swiftly retreating in the opposite direction from the tea party.
“Countess, shouldn’t you at least inform the host before leaving?”
At my words, she faltered, glanced toward the indoor garden, then, catching my cold gaze, turned and disappeared in the opposite direction.
She’d probably been acting like a queen here, abusing her status at a baroness’s tea party.
Her husband, the Earl, lacked political ambition and couldn’t satisfy her vanity—so maybe she enjoyed being treated like royalty here, among lesser nobles.
When I suddenly showed up, she likely assumed—based on what Cassandra had told her—that I’d be an easy target.
If that’s what she was banking on… then she’s not even worth dealing with.
After watching her disappear, I returned to the tea party and shared what had happened.
“I don’t think Countess Ellen will be coming back.”
“What? Did she just… leave? Why?”
“I ran into her earlier. She looked unwell and said she needed to return home.”
“She left without saying a word to the host? Even if it was urgent…”
“Exactly. Even earlier, she was unusually unpleasant.”
“She was downright rude to the baroness. It made everything so uncomfortable.”
I had no doubt the Baroness would never invite her again.
With just five of us left, we enjoyed the rest of the tea and desserts peacefully. At one point, I leaned toward the Baron.
“Baron Valérie, could we speak privately?”
“Of course, Duchess.”
As we stepped aside, the Baroness caught sight of us but smoothly redirected the other ladies’ attention.
“I imagine my sudden appearance today must’ve surprised you, Baron.”
“Well… yes. My wife hadn’t mentioned anything about your visit.”
“We haven’t interacted much, but I’d like to build a relationship with her. Socially, too.”
“With… my wife? May I ask why?”
Though pleased, he looked puzzled—unsure whether to believe my intentions.
It was only natural. In noble circles, a high-ranking noble taking interest in someone of lower status was almost unheard of.
But explaining everything wasn’t an option.
“She may not remember, but she helped me once.”
“My wife? When—?”
“Let’s not tell her.”
She likely wouldn’t recall anyway.
“…Still, I don’t understand why—”
“There may be rumors if I’m seen with her often. That’s why I wanted to speak with you.”
“Yes, Duchess.”
Though I hadn’t had a long conversation with him before, I trusted that as her husband, he must be a decent man.
I hadn’t come to the tea party just to see her—I also needed to speak to him to prevent future misunderstandings.
“I’d like you to purchase ownership of the Uren Harbor on my behalf. I’ll retain actual ownership, but I want the shares in both our names. I’d prefer you to be the visible owner.”
“Uren Harbor? Isn’t that the closed one? Why…?”
During the early Crossen Empire, Karon Peresia, bearing a map of the imperial palace, had gone there to recover but was caught under false charges of treason.
Later, Baron Dylan’s second son—once thought dead—reappeared there while fleeing treason charges.
Afterward, the imperial family shut the harbor down, and it faded from public memory.
But…
“Uren Harbor will reopen. And when it does, the official owner will hold considerable influence. Then, no one will dare whisper behind your wife’s back for spending time with me.”
“You know it will reopen? How?”
“Whether you believe me is up to you. I’ll remain close with your wife, and I don’t want her to suffer because of that. I’m offering a partnership. No strings attached.”
The Baron was clearly taken aback, his gaze unsettled.
Yes, I’m sure I seemed completely different from the Duchess Belladonna he thought he knew.
What you believe is your choice.
If you choose not to take my hand, that too is your decision.
But I thought he would need time to decide.
“…Very well. Let’s do it.”
“…Pardon?”
“I don’t believe your kindness today was a lie. Haha.”
Instead of hesitating, his eyes held a calm confidence.
His warm smile reminded me of how his wife had once quietly approached me at a social event, offering her kindness when no one else did.
“They really are a lot alike.”
With a natural smile, I reached out my hand.
“Then, I look forward to working with you.”
“As do I, Duchess.”
He clasped my hand with a genuine smile.
Though we hadn’t known each other long, I hoped we’d become good partners.
After our talk, we returned to the garden. The Baroness, relieved at his expression, welcomed me with warmth.
The party carried on cheerfully. Near the end, the Baroness held my hands and thanked me over and over.
I told her I hoped we’d become even closer—and asked her to invite me to the next tea party.
Beaming, she readily agreed.
“Of course, Duchess!”
She then offered to introduce her children, but a maid explained they’d fallen asleep after eating all the desserts I’d brought.
The Baroness laughed, promising a next time.
And so, I returned to the duchy.
The next day—
“What’s all this?”
“All of these are for you, madam.”
“All of them…?”
From early morning, the duchy was in chaos. Gifts had begun flooding in.
Though the inside was already packed, more kept arriving, and everyone stood speechless at the sight.
“What in the world…?”
As I stood dumbfounded, a man approached and bowed politely.
“Good day, Duchess Dylan.”
“…And you are?”
He took my hand, bowed, and pressed a gentle kiss on the back of it.
“I’ve come to pay for the cake.”
