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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
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Chapter 28: The Grand Duke's Plan (1)
A week had passed since the Grand Duke's party returned to the capital.
During that time, Will and Janus were able to grasp the situation.
"I never thought they would come up with such a scheme. Whoever spread the rumor, it's like the Imperial family is getting something for nothing."
"What kind of rumors are going around?"
"The rumor is that while you were away, Lady Arsene clung to you and followed you to the military operation site. People are also saying that you used the Emperor's authority to avoid criticism by leading the Imperial Knights to Count Arsene's mansion."
Valerie Fezel clutched her chest in disbelief.
"They say Lady Arsene always tried to capture the Crown Prince's heart, but when Lady Hazel made it difficult, she tormented and even tried to kill her. But when things didn't go her way, she turned to you, seduced you, and tried to become the Grand Duchess. She disregarded her family's wishes, became obsessed with a man, followed him to a military stronghold outside the capital, and then shamelessly returned home recently."
Then, Matteo Fezel asked, full of curiosity.
"A new rumor started circulating the other day. They say she shamelessly kissed you in front of everyone. Is that true?"
Janus's face turned red at the Fezel twins' words.
Will spoke up beside Janus, who was coughing awkwardly.
"If you show such a reaction, everyone will think it's true. It's rude to criticize a couple for showing affection at home, not even on the street. It must have been Ruth spreading those rumors. The nerve of that guy. He's clever, though. Tsk."
As Will said this, the Fezel twins looked at each other and thought.
'So they really did kiss?'
'Our Grace kissed a woman in front of people?'
'Our Selina initiated the kiss?'
Janus, having regained his composure, asked, "How is Lady Arsene doing now?"
"The Count's family has confined her to the mansion. We've sent letters several times, asking to visit, but we only received replies saying that she's not well enough for visitors. The name of the acting head of the family on the replies was Brandon Arsene, not Selina."
"That means we don't know her exact condition."
Janus said with concern and took a sip of tea.
"The most pressing concern right now is the dispatch order that might come soon."
Will sighed as he said this, and Janus spoke up as if he had made up his mind.
"Now that I know who my true mate is, there's no need to be dispatched according to the Imperial family's will. I'll tell them I'll return to the border after taking care of my father's illness."
"That might buy us a few days, but we won't be able to hold out for long. We're worried that the Imperial family might harass Count Arsene's family if we resist."
As soon as those words were spoken, Janus punched the desk as if he wouldn't allow such a thing.
After calming down and thinking for a moment, Janus spoke.
"It would be easier for them to target the Grand Duke's family. But Count Arsene is known as a close friend of the Emperor, so they'll need a big excuse to touch him."
Will nodded and said,"It might be fortunate that Count Arsene is on a merchant ship at this time. It'll be difficult for them to touch someone who's far away. However, I'm concerned that the Grand Duchess is confined. There's no one to protect her within the family."
"It would be good to meet the current Acting Head of the family."
"Brandon Arsene... I hear he was a commoner, but became the eldest son of the Count's family through the Count's remarriage. There's not much known about him. He's not someone who's been active in public like the Grand Duchess."
"Judging by the rumors about Selina and me, people's words aren't reliable. It's better to meet him in person and find out. Can you arrange a meeting?"
"Let's have the Fezel family host a tea party and invite him. I'll make sure you can meet him discreetly inside the mansion."
"Yes, please."
'I hope we can talk to the Acting Head and get Selina out quickly.'
Janus fiddled with the ring around his neck, thinking of Selina, whom he'd missed from the moment he'd turned away.
* * *
"How long do we have to serve this kind of food to the young lady?"
One maid asked worriedly as she carried the musty-smelling food sent from the main house.
"We can't disobey the Madam's orders," another maid replied, looking guilty, and silently lowered her head.
The servants of the Arsene estate knew who their true master was.
Therefore, they were always diligent in serving the Head of the family, Count Arsene, and Selina, who meticulously cared for all the servants as the Acting Head of the family.
But now, they felt a great sense of guilt for having to serve food that even the servants wouldn't eat to their young lady.
Brandon and Flora always grumbled while sending such food to the east wing where Selina was.
"To think we have to send three meals a day for someone like her."
"We changed it to food that's about to be thrown away, but it's still a waste."
"Should we just starve her for a few days as punishment for ignoring us all this time?"
"That stubborn girl will survive even if she starves for a few days. But for now, people are watching us, so we have to pretend to send her food every day. That way, no one will say we mistreated her. We can just say we didn't know about the food's condition. We can't blame the servants for doing what we told them to."
Brandon gained the support of the vassals not because Selina was incompetent, but because her reputation was deteriorating day by day.
Now was the time to lie low and appease the family members.
It had already been a week since Selina was confined to the east wing without even a single maid.
They thought she would be begging to be released by now.
But contrary to their expectations, Selina was overflowing with composure.
Selina carefully selected the least spoiled food from the meal the maid had left and put it all on a large plate.
Sitting on the sofa in the drawing-room, she forgot about table manners and ate the food with her hands, one by one.
In her other hand, she held a book explaining the power of dragons and read it.
It was the same focused look Selina had right before the academy exams.
[Each heir of the dragon's power is given a special ability. This special ability manifests differently depending on the heir.]
'Princess Christa's power was telekinesis, and Janus's power is the power of command. The power to make others obey orders. Depending on how it's used, it could be the most powerful.'
Selina put the book on the table and touched her forehead, thinking.
'But what about the mate? Does only the person with the dragon's power have power, and the mate has none?'
As Selina was pondering, she heard a tapping sound on the window.
'There you are.'
Selina went to the second window on the left side of the drawing-room and carefully slid it open.
There was a note tied to a pebble.
[We will meet as planned.]
The neat handwriting was something Selina had taught Cathy, slowly and patiently.
Every day at a set time, Cathy would sneak past the Arsene estate's security, briefly inform Selina of the situation outside, and return to her hiding place.
Flora and Brandon claimed they had reluctantly confined Selina due to the pressure from the vassals, but had appeased Count Arsene, promising to release her as soon as possible, and sent him off on the merchant ship.
Of course, as soon as the Count left, they fired Cathy and Nora as if they had never said such a thing and gave Ben work in the main house.
But this was also something Selina had anticipated.
'They must be thrilled, thinking they've cut off my hands and feet. That's the extent of their thinking.'
She had instructed Ben, Cathy, and Nora in advance on how to act if this situation arose.
Selina burned Cathy's note with a candle and sat back on the drawing-room sofa.
'I hope they meet well.'
Her hand habitually sought the pouch on her necklace. The pouch containing the proof of their marriage and the ring.
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HELHEIM SCANS
[Translator - Kie]
[Proofreader - Starfall ]
Join our Discord for release updates!
https://discord.com/invite/dbdMDhzWa2
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