TDSWM Chapter 15

Chapter 15

Inside Duke Gerald’s office at Schulesen Castle.

Drip.

Tears streamed down onto Mori’s skirt.
Gerald, looking awkward, slid his handkerchief toward her.

“Thank you.”

She buried her face in it without restraint, sobbing softly.

Ha…

This was the first time he had ever seen a woman cry so bitterly in front of him.
Not even his mother, the late Empress Stephanie, nor his sister Xenia, a Sword Master, had ever shed tears—believing it to be a woman’s shame.

Of course, whenever Mori looked at Theodore, she seemed on the verge of tears, missing her husband and lost child. But never like this, never with such force.

Gerald rubbed the underside of his chin with his fingertips.

This is troublesome.

He and Mori were not particularly close. As the daughter of his sister’s wet nurse, she had been Xenia’s childhood companion, not his. Their relationship had been limited to exchanging bows in passing.

Five years ago, during the Jiang Suppression, she lost her husband, and the child she carried—nine months along—was stillborn.

At Xenia’s funeral, when baby Theodore cried inconsolably, Mori had offered her overflowing milk and naturally became his wet nurse, entering Schulesen Castle for good.

Gerald had been grateful. She raised Theodore like her own, and thanks to her strict upbringing, the boy carried himself with all the dignity befitting a duke’s heir.

She had never once taken a holiday, devoting herself entirely to Theodore—and now here she was, in tears.

“Perhaps you should consider taking a break?” Gerald suggested.

A holiday?
Mori stiffened. She had come to resist Sinclair’s encroachment, yet he was trying to send her away?

Her grip on the handkerchief tightened. Crying would solve nothing.

Dabbing at her eyes, she took a deep breath.
“Theodore was placed in my arms less than a month after his birth. To me, he is no different from my own child. How could I abandon him to go on holiday?”

“But he isn’t truly your child, is he?”

“…!”

Mori froze. She had assumed Gerald would side with her.

“Now that I have a wife, you may rest.”

Mori’s brow furrowed.

He called her “my wife,” not “the duchess.”

Inwardly, she had long wished Gerald would marry her instead.

She had watched him since childhood: a man who seemed devoid of ordinary desires, devoted only to sword and sorcery. Perhaps that was why he became the Empire’s youngest hero, fighting alongside the late Emperor Julius in the Demon Realm.

After Julius’s death, Gerald had thrown himself into demon subjugation, never once appearing at balls or social gatherings.

Mori had only glimpsed him before or after his campaigns, when he came to visit Xenia. To her, he was like a distant star, forever out of reach.

When she came of age, she buried her unrequited love deep inside and married an ordinary man—who died soon after.

Fortune, however, had made her Theodore’s wet nurse, giving her a reason to remain close to Gerald. She had thought that perhaps, as she raised Theodore, his heart might eventually turn toward her.

But then the unexpected happened.

Gerald, who seemed destined to remain Theodore’s father and nothing else, suddenly married. And not just anyone—the daughter of the Marquess from the Empress’s family.

Mori had been stunned. Yet she could not voice her feelings. She had been married already, and her station was inferior.

Worse, the new duchess’s very first act was to strip Mori of her duties.
How dare a rolling stone try to dislodge the one firmly in place?
That could not be allowed.

“I am not crying for myself,” Mori insisted. “It is for Theodore.”

“…!”

Gerald leaned back into the sofa, folding his arms and crossing his legs—signaling he was ready to listen seriously. His steady gaze fixed on her.

Mori cherished these rare moments: sunlight filtering through the office window, Gerald setting aside his books to listen, his eyes filled solely with her.

“As you know, many seek to harm the young lord. I have always overseen his diet and meals personally.”

Indeed. After multiple poisoning attempts, only food prepared and tested under Mori’s supervision was deemed safe for Theodore.

“But the duchess intends to overturn all of that.”

“I see.”

“Your Grace?” Mori faltered at his calm response.

“My wife tells me she wishes to do her utmost as Theodore’s mother. This seems to be her first step. Do not take offense.”

“Did you agree to this?”

“My wife’s will is my will.”

Mori bit her lip to hold back her fury.

“But if even the slightest danger befalls the young lord—”

“Unlikely. Is there anything else you wish to add?”

He straightened, uncrossing his arms and stretching his legs, preparing to rise.

Mori’s mouth went dry. Gerald always dismissed her with impeccable formality.

“…No, Your Grace.”

He rose and returned to his desk.

Bowing her head, Mori left the office, her hands trembling with suppressed anger.

Even this time with him, stolen by the duchess…

Once the door closed, she leaned against a pillar in the corridor, struggling for breath as though in pain. Clutching her shoulders to still their shaking, she fought to master the dread of the formidable obstacle now before her.

Inside Sinclair’s reception room at Schulesen Castle.

Thomas, the butler, with neatly slicked-back white hair, and Madeline, the head maid—stern as a schoolmistress from Mistress B and the Love Letter—sat before Sinclair.

Both carried themselves with such courtesy and dignity that, to modern eyes, they seemed like a king and queen.

Sinclair grew tense. She clenched her hands, then relaxed them, lifting the corners of her mouth in an elegant smile.

“Did you bring the records I asked for?”

“Yes. These are the young lord’s ingredient logs, and this is the castle’s general provisions ledger,” Thomas said, handing over thickly bound books.

“I would also like to know how poisons are managed—whether in the kitchens, laundries, or cleaning departments.”

Madeline’s jaw dropped. She had served as head maid since the late Emperor’s reign, and it had been years since she had seen such a thorough mistress. She straightened instinctively.

How does a noble young lady know such specifics?

Sinclair, noticing her shock, quickly explained with a graceful smile.

“I overheard the wet nurse in the kitchens earlier. I realized that unifying all records and inspections would ensure everyone’s safety. So don’t look so startled.”

“Ah…!”

Madeline folded her hands with respect.

Her manner reminded the maid strongly of the late Empress Stephanie, who had stabilized the castle’s finances while Julius campaigned in the Demon Realm. The Empress had even forced guilds to compete fairly for royal supplies, saving vast sums without conflict.

“This is the young lord’s lesson material,” Thomas added.

As Sinclair skimmed the documents, she suddenly asked, “Do you check Theodore’s health regularly?”

“His… health?”

In my world, children would have vaccination records in a health log. Surely they keep some record here too.

Sinclair nodded, worried about how thin Theodore looked.

“I’d like to know if he has any allergies.”

“Ah… such things cannot exist within the ducal house.”

“Of course. Then are the Duke’s medical records kept secretly by the palace physician—or destroyed?”

“I imagine the physician keeps them in confidence.”

“Then I must speak with him. Please arrange a meeting.”

“The physician?”

“Or perhaps I should go directly to where he works?”

She quickly jotted notes into her pocketbook with a quill.

If I meet him, I can also learn about medicinal herbs and poisons in this world.

Thomas blinked, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.

Why does this feel like meeting the late Empress again?

He glanced at Madeline. Her lips were pursed as they had been when serving Empress Stephanie herself.

Looking up, Sinclair asked, “The healer resides here as well, doesn’t he?”

“Yes, Madam.”

Her lips curved into a satisfied smile.
“Perfect. With a healer’s botanical knowledge, I can track down the herbs I need.”

Thomas and Madeline exchanged puzzled glances.

Perhaps the healer can also help me find the spices I want.

Sinclair’s heart raced with excitement. Everything seemed to be falling into place.

She tapped the stack of documents.
“When should I return these?”

The two were caught off guard. They had assumed she would only glance briefly, not review them so thoroughly.

“Whenever you finish, Madam,” Thomas replied quickly.

“Very well. I look forward to working with you both.”

She extended her hand. To their astonishment, she used the etiquette reserved for the imperial court.

Thomas instinctively kissed the back of her hand, while Madeline embraced her and kissed her cheeks.

What on earth…?

Sinclair froze, unsure how to react, while the two bowed and began to withdraw.

“Oh, and one more thing,” Sinclair called after them. “I’ll be preparing Theodore’s dinner in the kitchen tonight. Tell the head chef to have the place properly cleaned beforehand. The ceiling was dusty, and the dishes still had chalky limescale marks. A good wipe with a cloth will take care of that.”

Madeline’s face flushed red. With the whole castle to oversee, she hadn’t had time to fuss over the kitchen—and the duchess had noticed.

“Your command will be obeyed.”

The two hurried out, exhaling long breaths. Yet despite their fluster, their hearts quickened with anticipation. Perhaps, under the new duchess, Schulesen Castle might regain the order and dignity it had once enjoyed under the late Empress.