Chapter 30
There are three main decision-makers in Cromford.
The Head of House who handles external affairs, the House Owner who manages internal affairs, and lastly, the Elder Council composed of long-serving loyal associates of Cromford.
For example, if the current head maid Aida and the chief attendant Jade retire without issues, they’ll naturally enter the Elder Council.
From then on, they’ll be treated just below the Head of House and will retain significant influence over Cromford for life.
Lastly, there’s the House Owner—the wife of the Head of House.
In cases like now, where Madame Benoit is still active and healthy, even if a new Head of House gets married, she may remain in her position until death, should she wish.
On the surface, the Elder Council and the former House Owner exist to help guide the young new Head and spouse so they don’t lose their way…
“But both I and the current Elder Council fully support the Duke’s decisions.”
With that one line, Madame Benoit summed up the situation.
“So whatever you do, just make sure to get the Duke’s permission. Easy, right?”
“Yes, I will.”
The problem was that the Duke was by no means an easy man.
A tax officer who tried to embezzle and deceive him had his limbs cut off and was left for the crows.
An elder of Cromford who attempted to assassinate the Duke was beheaded in front of his own family.
To eliminate seeds of rebellion, the Duke’s subordinates killed not only parents but even children.
Seeing this peaceful version of the world now is truly jarring, especially compared to the story’s original version, where the protagonist barely survived while battling this monstrous tyrant.
After leaving Madame Benoit’s room, Frizia asked her maid,
“What exactly happened?”
“You were very upset, milady.”
“Because of my disgrace?”
“No, it was our failure to properly care for you.”
All the maids who had come with her in the carriage were reportedly disciplined, which made her feel even worse.
Was he upset simply because she socialized with others? As she was lost in thought, Aida gently offered a clue.
“You didn’t do anything wrong last night, milady.”
“Huh?”
“You were just… well, a bit excessively…”
Aida finished, “Cute,” making Frizia doubt her ears.
“You’re joking, right?”
“Of course not. I’ve never seen Madame Benoit so happy before.”
Frizia had assumed she’d gotten scolded like a wayward daughter, but in retrospect, it didn’t actually feel that bad.
The strange way Madame Benoit had patted her head reminded her a little of her sister, Rose.
“Then why is the Duke angry?”
“I’m not sure.”
“…”
Frizia couldn’t make sense of his thoughts. Apparently, seeing her drunk had put him off. But if he really hated it that much, he should have just sent her home.
Oddly enough, the urgency she used to feel wasn’t there anymore.
“Where is the Duke now?”
“He has been in his study since last night.”
The thought that she might no longer be needed by him made her feel strangely bitter.
“Well, it’s only natural he doesn’t want to see me.”
“That’s not true at all! He even carried you personally from the carriage to the bath!”
“I threw up, didn’t I?”
If he took her straight to the bath instead of the bedroom, that had to be the reason.
Seeing Frizia sink into a pit of shame, Aida firmly denied it and confessed everything.
“It was for hangover relief! In Cromford, when someone is drunk, they soak in herbs that reduce body heat to detox.”
“Really?”
“Of course. You did nothing wrong, milady.”
“I didn’t drink on purpose…”
To access the magic mirror, she had to build rapport with the princess.
Located in the Imperial Library, the magic mirror served as a guide, helping the protagonist choose the right path whenever she was lost.
It allowed glimpses of the future, even if vague.
While the original protagonist only understood the mirror’s clues much later, to someone who already knew the plot like Frizia, it was a priceless advantage.
It was essentially a deus ex machina—the biggest power-up a writer can give a protagonist.
“I don’t think I should speak on the master’s emotions, but I don’t believe he was angry,” Aida said.
“Then what?”
“More like… he was hurt. You pushed him aside to run to Madame Benoit.”
“It’s like saying, ‘Sister, I love you, but I hate homework.’”
While simple and childish, Frizia’s statement wasn’t entirely untrue.
Madame Benoit had made it clear that she didn’t assign the homework, which meant it was actually the Duke who had piled it on—just to keep her from meeting Lily.
“Jealousy?”
“I would never assume, but if it were me… that’s what I’d think.”
No way. That couldn’t be it.
Even so, Aida looked genuinely sorry as she continued carefully.
“From the day the marriage was announced, the master told us to treat you with utmost respect as the future Lady of Cromford.”
Now that she thought about it, even though she had arrived late at night unannounced, the staff had treated her impeccably.
“If there’s any shortcoming, it’s on our part. The Duke truly treasures you.”
“I’ve never felt like I lacked anything.”
As the real power of a prestigious family, the Duke was far more respected than a fallen noble.
It was thanks to his help that she had been able to safely entrust Deblanc to her sister.
“I’m always thankful to the Duke.”
“Milady, the Duke…”
“I also want him to be happy. That’s something I genuinely feel.”
At least that much was true.
In the original story, the Duke sometimes acted like a man possessed, driven to eliminate the protagonist at any cost.
Of course, Frizia had seen glimpses of his softer, more vulnerable side.
“That’s what makes it scarier. That he might end up hating me.”
“Milady, that will never happen.”
“You never know with people.”
She didn’t know what would trigger his descent into madness, but at the very least, she had to make sure Lily and Rose never got dragged into it.
At first, she really had meant to run away.
“But everyone’s been so kind. I’m staying here until someone kicks me out.”
Being cared for after turning twenty had felt strange at first, but Aida, like a mother, took meticulous care of everything in Frizia’s daily life.
It wasn’t a bad feeling.
Standing beside Aida, Frizia gently leaned her head on her shoulder.
“I wish my mom had been someone like you.”
“Oh, my. Please, I’m unworthy of such praise.”
Despite her words, Aida smiled brightly. More than Madame Benoit, Frizia trusted Aida the most.
She stood close to Aida and stared at the tightly closed study door.
“So he’s still in there?”
“He even skipped his meals. He seemed very busy.”
Not knowing what else to do, Frizia headed straight to the kitchen.
“I’ll take some tea to the Duke. Prepare a simple tea snack too.”
“Yes, milady.”
Once the Duke got immersed in work, he often skipped meals.
It was a wife’s duty to look after her husband’s health.
She didn’t do this out of affection, but if she didn’t properly apologize, even Aida would keep worrying.
Recalling how Madame Benoit had stressed it multiple times, Frizia took a deep breath and approached the study to face her humiliation.
She knocked several times, but there was no response.
“Excuse me.”
As she cautiously stepped in, she saw the Duke slumped over his desk, fast asleep.
He had fallen asleep gripping his fountain pen, piles of papers stacked around him.
She didn’t want to intrude, so she quietly poured hot water over the tea leaves. But even by the time the tea had steeped, he didn’t stir.
“He must be really tired.”
Was he so overworked that he fainted?
Worried, she drew closer—but his deep breathing showed he was just peacefully asleep.
If he was going to sleep like that, he might as well do it in bed.
Not wanting to wake him, Frizia gently took off her shawl and draped it over his shoulders.
“What was he writing?”
The pages scattered around were written in terrible handwriting, making it hard to read anything.
She had once misread “duel” as “wedding,” so it was nearly impossible to make out these scribbled cursive notes.
Still, she thought she might be able to decipher a few words.
As she cautiously reached for one of the papers—
“Ugh!”
The Duke abruptly opened his eyes, grabbed the paper knife from the edge of the desk, and held its blade to Frizia’s neck.
