Chapter 26
Flora hurriedly finished dressing up and went to the room where the Marchioness was staying. Because Grace had taken the Chandelier Room, the Marchioness was forced to stay in another chamber.
Clad in a light violet dress, Flora entered. She looked radiant and lovely, like a rose just blooming in the early morning.
“Oh my, Flora.”
“Mother!”
Flora’s mother, the Countess of Lewen, happened to be there with the Marchioness.
The Marchioness spoke in a subtle tone.
“The Duke’s gaze could not leave that beautiful figure of yours. You truly raised your daughter well.”
“It’s all thanks to you treating her like your own, Marchioness.”
“Oh, how modest you are. Flora, come in.”
The Marchioness closed her eyes, leisurely enjoying the maid’s touch. While one maid massaged her scalp lightly, another placed before her a jewelry casket of unusual splendor.
“I shall open it, Madam.”
“Do so.”
With the Marchioness’s permission, the maid turned the key and released the lock, opening the casket.
Flora and the Countess of Lewen’s eyes were drawn to it like iron filings to a magnet.
Even at a glance, the jewels inside were extraordinary, resting reverently upon the red velvet lining. Though they could not take them in detail, they could already be certain that a single thick diamond necklace was worth as much as a fine mansion.
In truth, to put a price on them was laughable. The casket contained treasures known as The Richmonde Jewels, the collection of duchesses throughout generations.
Of course, that was only one such casket, and their rightful owner was none other than the Dowager Duchess, Eliza. But since Eliza had withdrawn into seclusion, the Marchioness had seized control of the inner residence and, first of all, taken the key to the “Blue Room,” where the Richmonde Jewels were stored.
From then on, she freely adorned herself with them. Depending on favor and loyalty, she began lending the jewels to other noblewomen. She assigned seats at gatherings according to loyalty, even regulated the order in which one walked through the corridors of the inner castle. Naturally, those closest to the Marchioness wore Richmonde’s treasures upon their necks, ears, and fingers.
To the Marchioness, the Richmonde Jewels were her stature, her power itself.
“Marchioness, would this diamond necklace not be perfect for you today? Whenever you wear it, I cannot help but think…”
The Countess of Lewen let her words trail, then whispered softly.
“…that you look like a queen.”
The Marchioness’s lips curved slightly upward as she kept her eyes closed, enjoying the maid’s care. Encouraged, the Countess flattered her further.
“The late Duchess also wore that necklace on occasion, but… I feel as though only now has it truly found its rightful owner.”
“Do not say such things. What if someone hears?”
“That is simply how I feel.”
The Marchioness laughed aloud, clearly pleased, and dismissed the maid massaging her shoulders. Rising from the sofa where she had been reclining, she beckoned Flora closer.
As Flora sat beside her, the Marchioness personally pushed the jewelry casket toward her. Priceless, storied jewels were spread before Flora as though it were a grand feast.
Flora stared in a daze, bewildered.
“Which do you like the most?”
Flora lifted her gaze to the Marchioness.
“Choose the one that pleases you best.”
“Marchioness, to offer something so precious to Flora…”
“I have always wanted to give her one.”
“Truly… we are most grateful, Marchioness. Instead, why don’t you select one that suits her? Who could match your taste? Don’t you agree, Flora?”
At her mother’s prompting, Flora quickly nodded.
“Please choose for me, Marchioness.”
The Marchioness chuckled at the mother and daughter, then picked out a pink-tinted diamond set. It had once belonged to Eliza, gifted to her by Emperor Argon III when she was still a princess, which she had personally brought with her when she married into the House of Richmonde.
“Try this on. It has always reminded me of you. No, let me place it on you myself.”
The Marchioness rose and fastened the necklace around Flora’s neck. A perceptive maid immediately held up a mirror for Flora, while the Countess of Lewen lavished more praise on the Marchioness’s taste.
The Marchioness looked at Flora intently and murmured:
“Do not worry the Duke may be displeased.”
How could a man who had wandered abroad for over ten years know of the jewel collection?
“The reason I give you this necklace is to announce your presence to the noblewomen of Richmonde’s inner castle.”
More than that, it was to make clear that she herself had chosen Flora.
She had chosen Flora as a future duchess because she and her family were the easiest to handle. A face where every thought and feeling was written plain. Even if she were someday widowed, she would likely smile over a few tossed jewels, so small and paltry were her ambitions.
The Marchioness let out a quiet laugh, then, as though by chance, turned her gaze to the maids.
“Hmm?”
Staring at them intently, she tilted her head.
“Are you two unwell?”
Following her gaze, Flora and the Countess of Lewen turned their heads. The maids startled and quickly shook their heads.
“N-no, Madam.”
“Of course not.”
“Not so. I saw you yesterday, and your complexions are different.”
The Countess chimed in softly.
“Now that you mention it… their faces are pale, their lips drained of color. They do seem unwell, Marchioness.”
The Marchioness’s expression hardened. She gestured firmly.
“Come here.”
The two maids exchanged a frightened glance, then slowly approached. As they drew near, the formidable Marchioness of Rinko surprisingly took their hands gently. The maids froze, startled, holding their breath, while she looked at them with sympathetic eyes.
“What is it? What troubles you?”
In an instant, tears welled in their eyes. Their lids reddened as the Marchioness tightened her grip.
“Do not be afraid. Speak. I hold you in special regard.”
At that tender voice, the maids finally broke down, their sobs spilling forth.
“M-Marchioness!”
＊ ＊ ＊
At that same moment.
Grace was crossing the garden with Walter.
“I’ve been thinking. If the maids truly were secretly imprisoned and beaten at the Marchioness’s orders… there’s a chance she might claim I was the culprit.”
Walter unconsciously glanced her up and down, then quickly turned away.
“Accuse you of imprisonment and assault? Me, maybe—but you?”
“Every action leads to a desired outcome. Accusing you would gain them nothing but trouble.”
“And so?”
“The details will become clear soon enough, but one thing is certain: they will soon take the bait that is me. To do that, they’ll have to ignore your guarantee of my identity.”
In other words, they would have to commit an act that infringed upon the Duke’s authority. And that, indeed, was Grace’s ultimate purpose in concealing her identity when she entered.
“They surely know this. They must realize that such an act could become a blade turned against themselves.”
“While they bite at the bait, I won’t be idle.”
Grace glanced at him sidelong. Walter gave a sharp smile and added:
“The finances are a disaster. Half the gold bars are missing. To reclaim Richmonde, we’ll have to recover its treasury too.”
“You’ll be busy, then.”
Just then, the guesthouse came into view.
“Will you simply wait until the Dowager grants an audience?” Walter asked.
Grace gave a small nod.
“That was my plan for today.”
“Hence the thick book you’re carrying. You’ll bury yourself in that tomb of a place all day.”
Something about his tone was edged. Grace tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
What’s this?
From the very morning, since meeting Walter, she had sensed something different about him. Yet it was not easy to pinpoint. It was no change of physique or appearance—it couldn’t be.
Then Walter spoke again.
“Don’t wait for permission. Go straight into her bedchamber.”
Grace was struck speechless.
“Wait outside, and you’ll never meet her. Not in years.”
“Are you saying I should enter her chamber today?”
Eliza Richmonde might have lost all will for life, sealing herself away in her room, but she was still a princess of Dekan and the true mistress of the House of Richmonde. To barge into her chamber uninvited?
But Walter seemed to think otherwise.
“Whether today or tomorrow, you’ll have to enter unannounced. Better today.”
Grace’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“How can you be so sure?”
Walter shrugged, eyes fixed on the guesthouse where Eliza resided.
“Because I know her temperament.”
He had, after all, lived with Eliza for nearly three years, though not by choice.
“She wouldn’t come out even if the outside were on fire.”
“…”
“So, set the fire inside instead.”
