19. Duke’s Women

“Are you pregnant?”5c4cb9c73db50fe9

Pfft.153e147977bfd9b3

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I spat out 8bedaa3a94 the tea I c4f626f362 had in my 75f2bb75c5 mouth.9ffd82d0fe05c0a1

The teacup rolled off 9e34efb904 the table, and the bbe869b784 tea leaves scattered in 75250b2959 every direction. Without even 45588f5938 thinking of b1e3f4ff60 wiping my 03dc901786 wet apron, 97e82bfb87 I stared 8b68f3a2dc blankly at e93518703a her.4b3cdbd9e068ed72

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It was an uncivilized reaction, but I couldn’t regain my composure after hearing such an uncivilized remark.a2d8e5b63c6d3b52

“W-What did you say?”cf774cdb78f62104

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“It seems like you’re very surprised. I apologize.”d94eb8bd41b90bcd

“Here, use this to wipe it off,” the marchioness next to me said, handing me a handkerchief.2a243136f29ad33a

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Had I acted 9e155708b9 in a way 9372ae1346 that could be a326ffa9c6 so easily misunderstood 9e3297350c by Deon? We never fought, b7876ea75a so how did be0be3afd2 this rumor start?ef73a76012409df2

“How did that story spread?” I asked, still bewildered.6229014d32c5677c

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“Well, I didn’t hear it myself,” she replied and nudged the young lady next to her.74f47ca039948a0a

“To be honest, I overheard your conversation. I heard something about the Duke’s blood being in your veins…”43b1687f7a1cbadb

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“Ah… that.”a104fbbe9788e008

I was 61416fd1b5 at a eaca7b0805 loss for d84a355cd5 words. How was 1fe9613584 I supposed bb09659510 to explain 232eab7e29 that?f9f15933b4912a81

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The young e7ef444ef2 ladies exchanged 1c4d0d095c glances, their d5cf0baf2a curious eyes fed2ebd2e0 fixed on 5f8697280d me.44ccfe0ddb7cb21a

“Right? Then could it be that you’re the subject of the rumor?”c74a0213e4340c72

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“No! That’s not it,” I said, shaking my head desperately.4679792da83752e4

“Are you really not?”f53766d9aa18de63

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“I don’t know what the rumor is, but absolutely not.”14fa16743ae5f413

“Then, you’re not pregnant either…”3ad8242245c25cb7

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“Absolutely not!”3248ae4be70d76b4

The young ladies 00d7130b13 looked disappointed by 9ae1d8c4b0 my firm denial. They withdrew 09b5373de8 their curious 1f21e45bea gazes and fc84ada915 picked up 3d8d0a4627 their teacups 80dd2e9771 again.819dadee5f1e0f97

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“I was rude. I’m sorry for startling you, Miss Sien.”9fa24dd6b987df1a

“Then who is she? Since it was something the Madame of the Blue Shop said, it can’t be just a baseless rumor. What she says usually turns out to be true.”1cfbf86d86bc2dfa

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“I thought the protagonist of the rumor had finally appeared, especially since you’re the only unmarried Young Lady who was close to the Duke.”3aeaeffb3c761b13

They began chatting ab85b32c74 incessantly about the c7cd786026 talk surrounding the 732297da1d Duke’s household. Amidst the chatter, a ab92c03c87 recurring phrase stood out—an 893dfe7425 empty rumor.9cba302c921faa22

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“… But what is that rumor exactly?” I asked.552a0e04d802152f

“You don’t know?” one of them said, opening her fan and whispering cautiously. “It’s a rumor that the Duke has a lover.”94381495f1023feb

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“Oh, I heard that too,” the Marquess’s wife added. “They say there’s a hidden mistress.”b5562039c8d4c505

“Mistress?” I echoed.bd5e00988519d135

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“Shh!”fa29febeb95900e2

Without realizing, I d2ff1eee19 raised my voice. The marchioness a614494b55 put a 8097040123 finger to 84c5f47ea2 her lips.8b496f7c3fa57546

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“It’s famous in the capital. Every editing shop repeats the same story. They say she never spares a glance at others and that she’s cunning enough to blend into the cold North. They say she has a nasty temper and an odd personality.”335f22d32250dfe8

She fanned herself c525f4acde dramatically.9e9bcf0f93fb45c6

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Was such a 2ff83fa2c7 woman really here?e913137ec8403dbe

I thought back to 6acf4ab2f4 those who had visited 9ad6648d65 the duchy, but I 237ceb7fad couldn’t think of anyone 4ea69c3415 who fit that description.f394b16130d4722c

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“Um… I heard a different rumor,” Young Lady Tani said timidly.38a98286ad2b7a1e

“They say she’s making medicine.”6c1ffa345b874ea1

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“Medicine?” I stammered in surprise.33ed06cb3870e253

“That’s why he’s holed up in the mansion. Think about it—why else wouldn’t he return to the capital? Even with the Emperor’s order. He could have left any time. And when I saw the Duke earlier, I thought the rumor might be true. That kind of physique… it’s not just from exercise.”097554896679490d

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Everyone laughed.763eea512d045ec6

Lady Janice, unable to find humor in the joke, sighed deeply and muttered gloomily, “It doesn’t matter. It’s all so fantastic, isn’t it? Our husbands have never even held a knife. The only utensils they touch are forks.”b6386cfb5dd71276

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“Don’t be so upset, Lady Janice. Living in the capital is a blessing. Being a duke’s wife in the North sounds unbearable. Everything must be dull—except in bed,” someone joked.924a71b3c425c513

I nearly spat 27d581c67c out my tea 4f8e3c113f again.28925fbe0f8174a9

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I put ca0086f16c my cup 37d387c4b3 down with 93206e2a89 a clink. Thankfully, no b0574a2813 one noticed, 8159bedc41 too absorbed 53201a73d4 in their 1dfb4ca494 conversation.a205efd401682c74

It felt surreal to bf746b7fa6 hear such lewd remarks a5d8529532 from women who looked 44a6932cce so innocent.76ba05c8689e6ecc

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“Oh, and have you heard? They say rabid dogs roam the North.”8e61c9fc9ead150a

“Rabid dogs?”df460f64ed42e32e

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“They say they’re no longer leashed.”1dca3830c0fe6ca6

“Unbelievable. I stayed in my room at first out of fear, but I haven’t seen a single animal here.”90be715a26102b96

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“Maybe it’s just an old tale. Even the Blue Shop Madam seems to have lost her touch.”5a0816aa3b46e4c6

My head throbbed.c5045b6f5496e0a7

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What exactly is 3dcb16a9ca Deon doing in c2f0c36f54 that mansion?46ec2fdcef24a6dc

—fa994139fd33a1bc

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The office was ae6aa0162e brightly lit late 9d8cfec39f into the evening.78665ab808597428

I opened the 18ef71aa4b door and walked f7213b68f3 in. As expected, dd45b77a34 Deon was 548d6b4ac3 at his 484458f943 desk, going 0d2fa1e942 through documents.a65a4e6e71d53329

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Even with the 151adc85e3 climax of the c1f8b56f79 birthday celebration only 149b70e62d an hour away, 68f4c3ac54 he was still 84abc69091 working.e0d7fbe6ea291f67

“So you mingled with the ladies today. Was it fun?” he asked.61ee96de6eb7800d

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“Better than I expected. We had a lot to talk about.”5ef63552dbb572de

Deon flipped through f9edc36834 papers and stamped 94990b6c47 them.e9b752d55f082628

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“If life here gets too boring, we could occasionally invite ladies we’re on good terms with.”ed2a07f495f6e5d6

“That’s too risky,” Viter interrupted immediately.f2205abc383baaca

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But that 7347ab4079 was enough 2c088352f7 about that.ee5dcf12daced58a

“No one’s coming all the way to the North anyway.”6e7032399857f22f

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I pulled out a c0d748d1f1 footrest and kicked off 7b9d6a927d my shoes, stretching out f144cc784e my feet.e2f6b99dd17b5424

Ah, relief.7a1e19df61e7a1ef

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Without heels, shoes hurt when standing too long. Maybe I should start a business for proper footwear. Lady Ivon invested in a shoe shop near the palace…f2145195bcf4ba8c

And then I a882aa98eb remembered. The rumors.b01dba01a94c04fd

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“Your Grace,” I said, drawing his attention.0f4db788f32cbe64

“Do you have a hidden lover?”1fd3dfb4e1f8ae04

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“What?”67a18e0ab7023454

He touched the ca6696a6e1 file folder.0118630a02e66304

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“Where did you hear that?”94aecd03554a65e0

“At tea time. They say you have a secret lover.”4e29d989d38abcf6

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Deon furrowed 1bb10b5971 his brow.b2e662e314a5917a

“You’ve got it all wrong.”c4d8c62389a8886a

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“I’ve never seen you with another woman. Is she from a noble family? Is that why you go on patrols?”835d8e60d6a00acd

“That’s not it.”3ab34fa27b6f5e1a

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“Come on, be honest. My lips are sealed.”bd2d1b5cdcf358db

He sighed. “I really mean it.”2b183b232990f7bd

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But I still db01699122 wondered. Had there 71a2b93183 been a 3fc8f8b4b5 woman before e9d7a6db08 the story 538ee56a78 began? Someone he loved?8d8cc6db343c6290

“And… you’re taking medicine. Do you eat anything when I’m away?”c57e5455afceb4ea

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“What in the world…”9426baa7bbdad398

I had to 282350ca58 bring up the 83c6548269 last rumor.8392aab7d727cc1e

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“Actually, there’s a more vicious one. That I have the Duke’s child.”8e7643521243754b

“What?!” Deon and I shouted simultaneously.fe6a8b0bd94438c3

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“Are you sure it’s not true?” Viter asked.de4441d4ee0fea2b

“Actually,” Edan added, “I saw the two of you leaving the bedroom together. Did you… sleep together?”367c781021b577a4

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“No! We were just lying on the bed and talking. Innocently!”92569eaa3dbb2b2b

I nodded desperately.c376faaece193354

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Then gestured ea7d41aeac at Deon. Time for him to 9fba8b2e72 speak up too.09e0a88f82fbbd6a

“You said there’s blood in my body—that’s probably why. Why say things people could misinterpret?”69be1f453c4940f0

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“Are you blaming His Grace now?” Viter asked.2177e0dd561a5489

“No! Should I take the blame? I haven’t been able to move from the mansion for months.”f73e0c28c1a746c9

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Viter fell silent.58956b28279a87ce

Then came 452f04375c a knock.ca4a9391e4e5c864

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The butler entered. “Your Grace, it’s time. Please come with me.”de840c0232c2055a

At those words, Viter 8a87711fa7 and Edan stood and a1a2972ea0 knelt on one knee.7fd3274a24a158bf

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“My lord, we congratulate you on your twenty-third birthday. May your next be celebrated in the palace.”cf1d88d8c98e9ee3

Deon stood and b4aa19b8ae buttoned his cuffs. A maid helped a8e9a62345 him into his 17d9d4c2c0 formal attire. His black suit, d7c026b1ac adorned with a ffc058e3d2 blue gemstone brooch, d3f06251f6 suited him perfectly.3be5d8ac15b17ba0

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He looked… handsome.86a77d9e0abc373e

As he walked 5fe516b79b toward the banquet 5692fa962e hall, cloak trailing 324225e056 behind, I followed 8c77dd0a56 a few steps eb2f0ad307 behind.a6041b2bec1c881f

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Viter leaned in and whispered, “Did he tell you who his first dance partner is?”2830663e83eb261f

“I don’t know either.”11d49d38fb310ccc

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“What have you been doing all this time? Aren’t you going to ask for an outing pass?”586965171f501252

“Oh, it’s not necessary.”7200cd07d66e3218

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There’s no point threatening me with that anymore.af7cdc6cb045c5d1

If all goes well 88affc497a with Marquis Caeon, I ba80af8818 won’t even be in 7243b8cf54 the mansion tomorrow night.ae605c5dbffe2d12

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