Chapter 93 – I Fell For You At First Sight
Dealing with all the attending mourners was a considerably tiring task. Duchess Ephreney still had not gotten over her own grief, and she had to receive the meaningless condolences of other mourners.
Duchess Ephreney entered her room, looking exhausted. The death of her son felt all the more definitive as the funeral ended, and she was drained and even more depressed.
Knock, knock.
Duchess Ephreney responded in a weak voice. “Who is it?”
“It’s me, Duchess.” It was the voice of the butler. “A package has arrived.”
“A package?”
The butler entered and handed her the package. The Duchess carefully examined its exterior. “To Duchess Ephreney” was the only thing written in neat print, and there was no return address. After dismissing the butler and all the servant girls, she opened the package.
“What… is this?”
In the package were seventeen letters. Duchess Ephreney began to read the first one. The first line of the letter was:
Dear Jani,
“Jani…?”
Duchess Ephreney wore a contemplative expression. Who is Jani? She resumed reading from the second line and went down the entire page.
You have a child? Congratulations. Looks like this is the first step towards your plan.
Though the Duchess also has a son, he’s sickly, so it’s not like you’re completely hopeless. If you end up having a son, then you’ll have a chance.
As I promised, I’ll help you become the lady of the Ephreney household, both physically and spiritually. So long as you help me.
In any case, take care of yourself and I hope you have a safe delivery. I’ll contact you if something comes up.
Burn this letter.
Yours, Rose.
“Hah…!”
Duchess Ephreney pieced together the whole story from that one letter.
So ‘Jani’ is January’s nickname, and the ‘Rose’ signed here is…
“Marchioness Ethylaire, she…”
Without her realizing, Duchess Ephreney’s entire body began to tremble and her grip on the letter tightened, crinkling the paper.
So she’ll help her become the lady of the Ephreney household, huh? By usurping me, the rightful blood descendant of the estate? It seems they both planned to kill me along with my son.
An incredulous laugh burst out of the Duchess’s mouth. Judging from the signature of Marchioness Ethylaire at the end of the letter, this wasn’t a fake.
She immediately started reading the second letter. It congratulated January on the birth of her son. The third and fourth letters didn’t contain anything of importance. It was in the fifth letter that confirmed one of Duchess Ephreney’s suspicions.
Dear Jani, it’s been a while.
Today, I finally met up with Duke Ephreney.
He finally found out that I knew about what happened with the deposed Queen Alisa. The letter sent to Queen Alisa regarding Janet is in my hands! You should have seen the look on his face! It was priceless.
If this is discovered by His Majesty the Emperor, he won’t be able to forgive the Duke. He’ll try to take revenge on anyone who’s directly related to the death of his birth mother.
The Duke is fully aware of that fact, and that is why he can’t do anything to me.
Of course, there’s a chance that he will try to assassinate me, but he’s not fool enough to try to eliminate the emperor’s favorite mistress. Besides, the palace guards are protecting me, so what is there to worry?
I’ll contact you if something comes up. Burn this letter.
Rose.
“So that’s why Marchioness Ethylaire…!”
Duchess Ephreney nodded her head in comprehension. She always thought it was strange that her husband suddenly decided to adopt the daughter of a mere Baron out of nowhere, but to think it was for this reason. The Duchess couldn’t get rid of the absurd expression on her face.
The matter Rosemond was referring to was actually something that Duchess Ephreney was familiar with as well. There was no way she wouldn’t know. After all, she was the one who encouraged and helped her husband to do the deed.
Duke Ephreney, who was originally the son of a marquis, wished for a higher position, and the fastest way to do that was to incite the jealous Queen Alisa to commit treason. From there, he could take the position of chancellor from the Oswins, Queen Alisa’s family. It was only possible because Alisa was blinded by jealousy.
Duchess Ephreney heard of her husband’s plan and went along with it. Because it was for the sake of the family, she had no reason to refuse. Together with her husband, Duchess Ephreney continued to drive a wedge between Queen Alisa and Janet—Lucio’s mother—and ultimately caused Alisa to despise Janet.
In the end, Queen Alisa was dethroned, and Duke Oswin isolated himself. Naturally, the position of chancellor was given to the Ephreneys, who were the highest of all the Marquis families, and they were eventually given the title of Duke a few years later in recognition of their distinguished services.
But to think that Rosemond knew about that! Judging from what was said in the letter, Rosemond found out not from the Duke, from another outside source. Ephreney Duchess chewed on her nails nervously.
Regardless, Rosemond would receive her punishment at the trial, and if nothing else happened, she would be sentenced to death. All the Duchess needed to do was stay quiet until then. If not, then she would kill Rosemond herself. It was not like anyone would try to investigate the death of a person already on death row.
Duchess Ephreney continued onto the next letter—a mundane one. It was the same for the next letter, and the next… Just as she was starting to get used to the mediocrity of it, something caught her eye.
Duchess Ephreney is quite pitiful.
She froze upon reading those words. Pitiful? Me? She quickly continued reading the rest of the letter.
Frankly speaking, there isn’t anyone as pitiful as she is.
Though she has the Ephreney family blood running through her veins, she had to give up ownership of the estate to her husband since she is a woman. Even worse, her husband isn’t even the same status as her—he’s but a lowly Baron.
Despite how devoted she is to her husband and family, he was seduced by the temptations of a prostitute and even had a son with him.
This is probably something you don’t know, but Duke Ephreney impregnated Duchess Ephreney by raping her. Of course, the Duchess doesn’t know of this fact and continues to believe that she chose him to this day. Even though the one who made the choice wasn’t her, but him.
Plop. The letter dropped to the floor. Duchess Ephreney’s fingers were shaking.
“How… how does she…”
The Duchess’s face turned pale from shock and anger. She buried her hands in her face, not making any move to pick up the letter that dropped under the chair. That was twenty years ago. She didn’t even remember it now.
*
“Lady Izu.”
Upon hearing someone call her name, Izu Ephreney looked behind her. A handsome blond man had called her. Feeling her heart fluttering in her chest, she responded.
“Yes, good sir. What is it?”
At the time, it had not been long since the coronation of the new Crown Prince. The entire kingdom was in a revelrous mood, and the nobles spent the nights drunk on pleasure. Izu Ephreney, the daughter of a Marquis, was no exception.
“You dropped your handkerchief,” the man said politely as he held out a white cloth. Izu Ephreney’s face turned red as she accepted the handkerchief.
“Thank you, sir. I can be rather clumsy.”
“No, I’m glad that I was the one who found it.”
“Oh, rather than that… how do you know my name?”
At her question, the man put on a gentle smile.
“I heard the daughter of the Ephreneys was a woman of unparalleled beauty, and was able to tell that it was you at first glance.”
“Oh my.” Upon hearing the man’s compliment, Izu Ephreney’s face only grew redder. “But who are you? I don’t believe we…”
“Ah, I apologize for not introducing myself.” The man politely bowed. “I am James Newton Le Hedwig.”
“And I am Izu Catia La Ephreney. Are you perhaps Baron Hedwig’s son?”
“Yes.”
“Ah.”
Izu inwardly was disappointed. He was a good-looking and kind man, but he was of a lower rank. She could never marry someone like him. There was no way her father would approve. She made an effort to hide her disappointed face.
“In any case, thank you, sir. I hope you enjoy the rest of the party…”
“Wait, my lady.”
At James’s words, Izu stopped. With a strange expression, Izu looked up to the taller man.
“If you haven’t acquired a partner yet,” James began with a gentle smile.
“…”
“Lady Izu, would you be so kind as to be my dance partner?”
“Ah…”
Izu, unable to refuse, nodded minutely. It was obvious that she was already attracted to him at that point. With her permission, the smile of James’s face grew ten times brighter.
“It is my honor, my lady.”
“…”
Izu’s cheeks flushed pink. The couple then began to dance together. James waltzed as if he had received extensive upper class training and led Izu well. Izu, who was confident in her dancing skills, only fell for him more. When the dance ended, Izu bid him farewell, her face glowing.
“Today was so much fun, sir.”
“I had a wonderful time as well, Lady Izu.” He wore that kind smile until the end. “Are you not thirsty? I’ll bring you a cocktail. Please wait a moment.”
“Ah… thank you.”
Izu nodded before heading towards a more remote area. He’s a considerate man. It would have been nice if his father was a little higher in rank…
“What are you thinking of, My Lady?”
James had returned. Izu gave a soft smile before replying.
“I was just thinking.”
“It seems that there’s a lot for you to think about.”
“Just a little.”
Having said that, Izu took a sip of the cocktail that James brought. It was sweet on her tongue.
“I have rather low alcohol tolerance. I don’t want you to see me when I’m drunk and unsightly.”
“Please don’t worry, my lady.”
James gave a charming smile before leaning in to whisper into her ear. Perhaps it was because he too drank some alcohol, but his breath felt hot on the shell of her ear. Izu felt like her entire body was turning to mush and she began to wobble. James immediately caught her.
“Please be careful, Milady. It’s not a strong cocktail…”
“I thought I wouldn’t get tipsy from just a single cocktail, but it seems that I’m getting old now.”
“Please don’t say such things,” James protested while shaking his head. “Shall we go to the terrace?” he suggested.
“Alright.”
The two then started heading towards the terrace and sat on the bench while they finished off their cocktails. A warm, pleasant feeling started bubbling inside Izu—from the alcohol, she assumed. Perhaps it was because of the person next to her.
“It’s a little hot,” she murmured.
“Are you hot?”
“My body… feels hot…ngh!”
It was then that she moaned. Ah, this is strange. Her body didn’t feel like it was hers tonight. A heat started pooling inside her belly…
“My body feels weird,” she spit out, her voice trembling.
“Oh dear,” James murmured in a regrettable voice. “Where do you feel uncomfortable?”
“Ngh… just…”
“It seems that you have overworked your body from dancing so much.” With a worried voice, James placed a hand on her body. “I’ll massage your muscles to relax you.”
“It’s fi—ngh!”
James then stroked her skin on the pretense of giving her body a massage. In reality the cocktail that James had given was spiked with an aphrodisiac. Unaware of that fact, Izu looked like she was about to cry as she begged to him.
“It’s strange. My body feels… too hot…”
“My lady.”
It was then that James called to her, and she looked at him with reddened eyes.
“I love you,” James whispered.
“What?”
Upon hearing the sudden confession, Izu made a shocked sound, having momentarily forgotten about her body’s fever. In a bashful voice, he continued.
“To be honest, ever since I laid eyes on you…”
“…”
“I fell for you at first sight.”
“But, we’ve only just…aah!”
Izu wasn’t able to finish her sentence as James pressed his lips against hers. Her thoughts grew foggy as she felt the softness of his lips, and she thought she had lost her mind as she pressed up against his body. It was then that she started to feel her consciousness slip away.
“Ah…sir…”
With those words, Izu lost consciousness.