Episode 8
The restaurant I planned to visit for lunch had already been chosen. However, even with the destination decided, leaving for it was not easy.
“Are you all planning to make me miss my meal like this?”
It was already lunchtime, yet I still hadn’t even stepped out of the manor.
“Madam, we still think it would be better for you to go out after your condition has improved further.”
The servants were trying to stop me.
“The head chef hasn’t even been able to enter the kitchen yet because of what happened yesterday when he was dragged off by your husband. He’s been too shocked.”
“Well, that may be true… but we can always have others prepare the food.”
“Just yesterday, all the kitchen’s food was inspected. For the time being, I feel more at ease eating outside.”
I used yesterday’s incident as an excuse.
“If you put it that way, it does make sense… but still…”
In the end, the servants couldn’t overturn my firm decision.
“Then, in case of any emergency, we will stay right beside you at all times. Please bear with the inconvenience. And after your meal, please return directly to the duke’s residence.”
“It’s fine even if you stay beside me. Don’t worry.”
I successfully overcame the servants’ objections and boarded the carriage heading to the restaurant.
I had no intention of lying in bed at home just because I wasn’t feeling well. I had already lived that kind of life in my previous life—I had no desire to go through it twice.
Since the restaurant was located in a hotel not far from the duke’s manor, we arrived quickly. Fortunately, we made it before my starving stomach could start protesting.
“Welcome, Duchess.”
No fewer than three hotel staff members greeted my carriage with deep bows.
“It is an honor to have you dine at our hotel restaurant.”
From the entrance, I was treated with utmost hospitality.
“Welcome, Duchess.”
Staff members standing along the path to the restaurant bowed in unison as soon as I entered the hotel.
“I’ll take a terrace seat.”
“Yes, madam.”
I followed their guidance.
The terrace was enclosed like a glass greenhouse, so there was no need to worry about wind while dining, and it was warm. Moreover, the view of the river flowing through the capital’s center was spectacular.
Yes, this is it. This is exactly what I wanted.
The waiter pouring water with perfectly restrained movements, the beautiful tableware found only in this hotel restaurant—this was the kind of luxurious life I wanted to experience.
“We will prepare flowers for you.”
The waiter placed several flowers into the vase on the table. They were even a pale pink color similar to my eye color.
Such excellent service!
For my main course, I chose rigatoni in tomato sauce with fresh mozzarella.
“Ah…”
With every bite, a sigh naturally escaped my lips.
The head chef at our ducal household was excellent as well, but this was on a completely different level.
When I return to the castle later, I should praise Ria for finding such a wonderful restaurant.
“Is the meal to your satisfaction?”
The polite waiter didn’t forget to check on my satisfaction. Truly top-tier service.
“It’s wonderful. Absolutely excellent.”
“Thank you. Please enjoy your meal.”
I enjoyed the wide terrace as though I had rented it entirely to myself—at least, until the intruders appeared.
“Oh my, it’s the Duchess.”
“She’s alone.”
Unfamiliar voices disrupted my peace.
Two noblewomen, seemingly unconcerned despite being in the same space, spoke about me. It looked like they intended to sit on the terrace as well.
I had expected that other guests might arrive since there were several empty tables, but I hadn’t anticipated they would openly gossip about me.
Even after taking seats at a nearby table, the two women continued whispering.
“Where is the duke that she’s sitting here all alone… how pitiful.”
Do they not realize I’m right here nearby?
Their boldness in openly criticizing me was astonishing.
They were likely so confident because they knew Echette’s personality was mild. And because I, the duchess, was an insignificant figure ignored by the duke.
It was common knowledge that the duke was indifferent to me. People even whispered that I was merely a placeholder—that one day, when the duke found a woman he truly liked, I would be cast aside.
“If she comes to a restaurant alone, will she attend the imperial banquet alone as well?”
Since there were only the three of us on the terrace, their conversation carried clearly. Annoyingly so.
“Come on, how could she attend without a partner? She probably won’t go.”
“Indeed. How embarrassing it must be to attend alone despite having a husband. It’s not like she could persuade the duke to accompany her.”
“The duke has no interest in banquets, and he doesn’t love his wife either, so there’s no way he would agree.”
“Honestly, one shouldn’t covet what’s beyond their station. Tsk tsk.”
Who said anything about clinging desperately to my husband just to attend a banquet?
They were portraying me as if I had desperately loved and chased after the duke to marry him, only to be treated coldly.
I don’t care about my husband either!
“This time at the banquet, His Majesty will probably choose the Best Couple again. That means one couple is already out of the running. Well, if you can even call them a couple.”
“Thanks to that, we’re one step closer to the prize money.”
They chuckled.
Banquet? Best Couple award? Prize money?
I quickly recalled what they were talking about.
An imperial banquet hosted by the emperor was scheduled soon. Only a few days remained.
Due to the emperor’s peculiar hobby, each year at the banquet, a “Best Couple” was selected. It was said the elderly emperor enjoyed watching romance plays in theaters and had a fondness for observing others’ love lives.
Naturally, the winners were chosen based on highly subjective criteria.
The emperor had watched so many romance plays that ordinary stimulation no longer moved him. As a result, couples with melodramatic, almost scandalous backstories—akin to tragic love dramas—were often chosen as Best Couple.
Last year, a couple who had openly fought with both families at the banquet had won the prize. Rumor had it the entire conflict was staged to win the prize money.
That kind of award had nothing to do with me.
I had no intention of attending the banquet in the first place. With Chiron gone as well, what was I supposed to do there alone? I would rather visit this restaurant again than go to a place like that.
Someone might gossip that the duke and duchess didn’t attend the banquet—especially people like those women at the terrace.
But I didn’t care. Social reputation like that was exhausting. What mattered far more was the food entering my mouth and the clothes on my body.
Deciding there was no need to pay attention to the noblewomen’s conversation, I returned to my meal.
After finishing dessert—madeleines and tea—my luxurious meal came to an end.
To help digest, I decided to take a walk through the hotel’s gallery.
“But… isn’t it getting late…?”
“It won’t take long, Ria.”
I appreciated her concern, but I didn’t want to be so cautious that I couldn’t even take a short walk. Still, Ria followed me anxiously.
“If you happen to collapse again like yesterday… we wouldn’t be able to respond properly here, since we’re not at the ducal manor…”
Even as I strolled leisurely and admired the paintings in the gallery, Ria remained restless. It was clear she was still trying to dissuade me.
“The duke will be returning soon…”
Wait, what?
I stopped walking at her words. I doubted my ears for a moment.
“What did you just say, Ria?”
Though unintentional, my voice came out low and sharp.
“R-Ria?”
Ria looked visibly flustered. It was clear I had failed to control my tone.
After a brief moment of being speechless, she hurriedly spoke.
“I said… His Grace the duke will be returning soon, madam.”
Ria seemed anxious, worried she might have misspoken.
“…My husband is coming back?”
He had left earlier.
The refined service and excellent meal I had just enjoyed felt as though they were lifting me into the clouds—but now, it felt as if the ground beneath me had suddenly collapsed, dropping me onto something hard and cold.
“Y-You didn’t know, madam?”
I would’ve known if someone had told me. Chiron had never properly informed me of anything.
“…I need to return immediately.”
I had to see it with my own eyes—whether Chiron truly was coming back.
There was no way that was true. Ria must have misunderstood. The Chiron I knew would never return to the manor within half a day.
“Ria, you’re mistaken.”
“I-I hope you’re right, madam…”
Ria added in a timid voice, clearly startled by my unusual reaction.
I should end my gallery visit here. I immediately headed toward the hotel entrance where the carriage was waiting.
And then—
“…Cough!”
As I walked toward the entrance, I reflexively covered my mouth with my arm. A cough burst out uncontrollably.
“Cough!”
Ah, damn it.
Here? Again?
