ETDO Chapter 7

The Countess of Lennox welcomed me warmly with an almost exaggerated enthusiasm. While it could be attributed to her position as a vassal of the Beaufort family, it seemed more like she was keenly aware of Arthur, who had personally escorted me here.

I sat in the cool shade of a tree in the garden, leisurely taking a sip of fragrant tea. This was my first social gathering since the wedding, one that Arthur had carefully vetted and recommended. My earlier worries about fitting in were unfounded; I felt quite comfortable among these strangers.

The ladies present, as well as the young women, were openly eager to ingratiate themselves with me. Seeing the looks of admiration in their eyes, I was once again struck by the power of the Beaufort name.

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“Oh my, the Duke looked at you so sweetly earlier, Duchess.”

A slightly boisterous, but warm laughter erupted. They were still praising Arthur profusely. That the great Duke of Beaufort would set aside everything and volunteer as his wife’s coachman!

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Everyone agreed it wasn’t a common occurrence. Thanks to this, I received the envious gazes of all the ladies present.

“You’re newlyweds, after all. And you’re so beautiful, Duchess…”

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“Exactly. Ah, a passionate honeymoon… such a wonderful time. Makes me nostalgic.”

A lady fanning herself vigorously in agreement made everyone giggle. The older ladies exchanged knowing smiles, while the younger ladies and Misses blushed shyly. I, too, blushed slightly and joined in the laughter.

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Just then, the Countess’s butler appeared.

“Madam, Lady Wellington has arrived.”

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“Ah! Show her in quickly.”

I turned my head to follow the Countess as she stood. A slender young lady with black hair was about to enter when she stopped short, noticing me. The Countess of Lennox smiled brightly.

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“Welcome, Lady Wellington. Please, sit here.”

She sat down next to Countess Lennox, opposite me. The Countess, beaming, introduced her to me.

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“Duchess, this is Lady Charlotte Wellington. Lady Wellington, this is the Duchess of Beaufort. You’ll soon be family, so it’s good to meet beforehand.”

‘Ah!’

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It was only then that I finally realized who this young lady was. 

Ethan’s fiancée.

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That strange man had a fiancée! 

I was inwardly surprised, but aristocratic marriages were often political marriages, so it wasn’t entirely unexpected. I took a closer look at the young woman with a prim expression sitting before me.

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She had black hair like mine, but her eyes were a light hazel. Her slightly sharp, pointed chin was striking. Her fair skin, with a slight blush on her cheeks, looked healthy and vibrant. However, her overall demeanor, like Ethan’s, seemed rather cool.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Elizabeth Beaufort.”

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“Hello. I’m Charlotte Ashley Wellington.”

Lady Wellington replied with a prim expression after I greeted her first. As a servant brought a new teapot and set it down, the Countess began to speak, unable to contain herself any longer.

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“Lady Wellington, congratulations! You must be so happy the war is finally over.”

“Indeed. I heard it was a resounding victory. You must be very proud.”

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“Now that the war is over, your fiancé will be returning soon. You must be busy preparing for the wedding.”

“Thank you!” 

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Lady Wellington smiled brightly at the congratulatory messages pouring in from all directions. The cool indifference on her face that she had shown me earlier vanished completely, replaced by an almost childlike happiness. Intrigued by the stark and sudden change, I kept my eyes fixed on her.

“I’ve been preparing for a while, but now I have to get serious. Choosing the dress is the hardest part, it’s giving me a headache.”

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“That’s true. After all, the wedding dress is the most important thing for a bride…”

The experienced married ladies and the young misses who were yet to be married all chimed in excitedly.

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I listened to their conversation, recalling my own wedding with Arthur. Along with that memory came the recollection of spending what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime moment feeling like I was sitting on pins and needles because of the young lady’s fiancé sitting across from me.

Unlike his brother with a disabled leg, he was a war hero renowned throughout the Empire. A rising power in the Empire, highly trusted by both the Emperor and the Crown Prince.

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Originally, Ethan, not Arthur, should have been the Duke. However, Ethan willingly relinquished the position to his younger brother and went to war, leading the Imperial Army.

He had claimed that his brother was better suited for the meticulous practical work and management of the dukedom, and he drew a firm line against anyone who questioned his decision. But with the Imperial family’s official acknowledgment, who would dare to object?

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It might be difficult for outsiders to fully understand the strong bond between the twins. I suddenly wondered what Lady Wellington, his long-time fiancée, thought about it all.

Near the end of the party, which continued in a friendly atmosphere, I excused myself to the powder room. I splashed some cold water on my cheeks, which were flushed from the pleasant conversation, and felt slightly refreshed.

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I went into the restroom at the far end and locked the door behind me. Shortly after, the outer door of the powder room opened, and someone bustled in noisily.

“Oh my, is it true? Why hasn’t such a rumor spread outside?”

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“That’s obvious, isn’t it? Someone must have silenced the rumors.”

“Lady Wellington doesn’t seem surprised. I guess she already knew.”

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At the mention of Wellington, I froze and held my breath. The cool image of the young lady with black hair, similar to mine, came to mind. And soon, a clear, ringing voice reached me from outside.

“Of course, I knew. I’m sure everyone who needs to know already knows that she was practically sold off because of her father’s gambling debts.”

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My heart plummeted to the floor with a deafening crash. Trembling, I raised a hand to cover my mouth. I couldn’t move, listening intently, afraid to make a sound.

“Oh my, I think I’ve heard that somewhere before. I couldn’t believe it, but the rumor was true.”

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“It seems the Duke of Beaufort paid off all the debts. And I heard he even allowed that gambler’s wife to live in their old mansion, which was about to be seized. I was so impressed by his generosity.”

“The gambler’s wife? You mean the Countess, the Duke’s mother-in-law?”

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“Mother-in-law? She’s practically a beggar, isn’t she? I heard she was on the verge of being out on the streets. A family with no sense of aristocratic decorum.”

“Well, now that I think about it, you’re right.”

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The crisp voice dripped with sarcasm, and the other voices responded with amused giggles. Someone feigned a shudder.

“Oh dear, how embarrassing. If that woman has any shred of conscience, she should devote herself to serving the Duke for the rest of her life.”

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“All she has is her body, so I guess she’ll work hard to repay him with that.”

“Well, doesn’t it seem like she’s already doing that? With that sultry face, I’m sure she’s excellent in bed.”

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“Hahaha! That’s right, she looks like she knows how to work her charms in bed.”

“She’s debt-ridden and penniless, but it’s fortunate she has a pretty face and a voluptuous body, isn’t it?”

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“At this point, hasn’t the Duke taken in a bedroom slave rather than a wife?”

“My, but wouldn’t a night with a male god of his caliber be an honor, even for a bedroom slave?”

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“Oh, aren’t you forward?”

“Haha! Well, the other male god now belongs to our Charlotte. We’re so envious.”

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“Shh! Now, now, let’s stop this and go!”

The merry chattering voices gradually faded away. I leaned against the wall, barely managing to support my trembling body. Cold sweat trickled down my skin. I stood there, motionless, taking deep breaths until I calmed down a little.

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I finally managed to stand up and reached for the door handle with trembling hands. As I lifted my head to wipe the sweat from my forehead, a pale face stared back at me from the mirror. I lowered my gaze silently and slowly washed my hands, working up a lather.

Lost in the bliss of happiness I had never known in my life, I had forgotten that high society was a battlefield in miniature. A cruel place, no different from a real war, except without swords and spears.

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Where had I heard that before? Well, it doesn’t really matter now, does it? Having been busy dodging debt creditors, I had never stepped foot in high society, so I was completely unprepared for this kind of subtle mockery and scheming.

No one would dare openly criticize me in front of my husband’s family and the influence of his power. However, it wasn’t difficult to belittle and slander someone behind their back.

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Especially if the target was someone like me, from a powerless family without any substantial wealth or backing. But what could I do? This was the price I had to pay for marrying Arthur.

Whether Arthur had saved me from the clutches of debt creditors truly for my sake or simply for his own satisfaction didn’t really matter. People only saw what they wanted to see; they weren’t interested in hidden motives or grand intentions.

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In the end, truth could be reinterpreted and changed endlessly depending on who was looking and what they wanted to see.

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