Chapter 4 – Part 7

“I’ve found out about Lady Marie Grit.”

“Tell me.”

Sorvan, who had been eagerly awaiting the news, leaned forward expectantly.

“The last Marquis of Grit died unexpectedly. As a result, the family went through a tough time.”

“A prestigious family like the Grits faltered just because one Marquis died?”

Sorvan was questioned in disbelief.

“It seems that the late Marquis Grit had invested in a business venture on his own. Unfortunately, it didn’t generate much profit. This information was revealed after his death.”

“I see.”

Sorvan nodded as if he could understand.

“The loss was significant enough to almost liquidate the family’s assets.”

Frank mentioned not taking his eyes off the documents. “Apart from the unprofitable mansion, they practically sold everything,” he added.

“At that time, it seems the management of the estate shifted towards profit. The Marquis Grit opened parts of the mansion for art exhibitions, including paintings and sculptures. They even created a tourist attraction within the estate. It seems like the lake renovation took place around that time.”

“They did everything they could.”

“Yes. The survival of Shuban until now can be attributed to the new Marquis Grit’s management. The lives of the estate’s residents also seemed to have changed during that period.”

The lake in Shuban, renovated during that time, became a well-known excursion spot for nobles passing through their territories. With more people visiting, it naturally led to increased revenue.

“Next. What about Marchioness Ruby?”

Having finished his rough speculation, Sorvan inquired.

“She was thoroughly alone. Even during tea parties, there wasn’t a single person who would stand by her or even openly mock her. It seems like she had no allies whatsoever.”

“And?”

“She followed the Dowager’s instructions even in her choice of clothing. However, because the chosen attire didn’t suit the Lady, it became a subject of ridicule. Even among the servants, it seems she was openly laughed at.”

Frank added, glancing at Sorvan with a meaningful look. The situation with the Marchioness strangely resembled the way Sorvan was treated in noble society.

“She must have picked that outfit on purpose.”

As expected, Sorvan hardened his expression and commented, “So, everyone in Shuban mistreated the Marchioness.”

“Yes. It seems even members of the same family joined in, openly ignoring and ridiculing her.”

The information obtained through a maid who had worked in Shuban for a long time was trustworthy. She had lost her job suddenly when the Marquis replaced many of the staff, making her readily share details about the Marchiones’s life for the bundle of money Frank offered.

“What did Marquis do about it?”

His tone hinted at irritation.

Sorvan knew that the Marquis of Grit was busy, but he felt a surge of irritation.

“They say the Marquise wasn’t the type to make a big deal about it. Not only the Marquise, but no one else in the estate would have thought to tell the Marquis.”

Since Marie Grit had led the Marquis of Grit before Eli did, it was the Dowager who actually had the trust of the people of the manor, including the vassals.

Therefore, it is likely that whatever choices the Dowager made, they would have followed them, believing them to be right. In short, Shuban would have been her kingdom.

It was nothing short of isolating a disagreeable marquisate on a remote island. It was no wonder it was such a petty place.

“They say it’s a way to separate the real people from the fake ones, which is weird because it’s the same thing, right?”

“You want to be an aristocrat who would judge people by such a useless thing?”

He realized that the lack of authority in her voice and the way she sounded worried were because she knew what he was going through and what Sorvan was going through.

“Continue.”

Sorvan tried to maintain composure even as he lightly clenched his fist.

“I also looked into the pineapple tea, as you mentioned. She bought a large quantity of pineapple every month. According to the maid who worked for her, the Marchioness enjoyed it every day.”

“Every day?”

“Yes. When meeting the Marquis, there were instructions from the Dowager herself at parties. Even when the Marchioness drank tea alone, she would be served pineapple tea. If the doctor’s words about the tea being a strain on the body were true, the Marchioness probably had no idea about her physical condition.”

“The maids didn’t know?”

“Yes, pineapple tea was usually the head maid’s responsibility.”

As far as Sorvan knew, if she had been drinking pineapple tea every day for nearly a year, her body had already taken a toll. It was likely that she would not be able to conceive at all. That would be a fatal weakness if she were to bear an heir.

Of course, the Dowager must have targeted that weakness.

“To keep her out of social circles after the divorce…….”

Sorvan murmured.

Even if she were removed from the marquisate for not having an heir, she would not be able to remarry another nobleman. No family would be happy to see her without an heir.

Perhaps the Dowager was planning for something to happen after Ruby was divorced.

“Is there a reason for her to go this far?”

“Oh, according to the maid who used to work for Marquis Grit, the Marchioness had an ordinary background. She came from a poor and undistinguished family. How she managed to disguise herself as a noble and live like this is quite baffling.”

Despite reading the report, even Frank had a subtly furrowed brow.

“They would kill their own family for money and power.”

Surprisingly, however, Sorvan was more relaxed about this part of the story. Frank was surprised to find that his master was aristocratic in some unexpected ways.

“And yet you want to be a noble?”

“I don’t have a family that would kill me, and no one to torment me. What reason is there not to?”

Sorvan nonchalantly accepted it, his illogical argument sounding convincing enough that Frank was almost deceived.

“It’s not just that; you should socialize and become friendly with such people.”

“I can’t help it, but I have my own reasons for being a noble.”

Frank nodded and closed his mouth, wondering why he wouldn’t tell me. He knew the basics of being a butler, even if their relationship wasn’t the most flawless.

“Anything on the Marquis lately?”

“Nothing special. Oh, by the way, there have been some strange rumors lately.”

“Rumors?”

“Yes, but the rumors are a bit odd.”

Fran spoke hesitantly, seeming unsure.

“What is it?”

“Marquis Grit has acquired a mistress.”

“What?”

Sorvan, who initially asked casually, sat up straight on the sofa.

“Who got what?”

The last rumor he heard was about the good relationship between the Grit Marquis and his wife, leading to various invitations to gatherings and parties for the Marquis’s wife.

“There’s a famous summer villa on the outskirts of the capital. It seems she was brought from there to the capital, and the Marquis even provided a house for her. Rumor has it that Marquis Grit cared for her enough to bring some of his employees to attend to her.”

Sorvan raised an eyebrow.

Was this what being a noble meant? Was he just pretending to favor Ruby for his own reputation?

“And what about the Marquis’s wife? Does she know about this? Do you have this information?”

The first person Sorvan thought of was Ruby.

“Currently, she is not in the capital; she is at the Devens.”

“Ha. Devens?”

He laughed, first in a disbelieving sort of way, then in a loud, booming laugh.

For a moment, he felt foolish for helping him.

“The gossip says that the Marquis’s wife is in the Devens because she knew the Marquis already had a woman.”

Sorvan’s expression changed.

The Marquis, who had been dispelling rumors, was, in fact, creating new ones. Even in this, he seemed to be working against Ruby.

This was the moment when Sorvan completely lost trust in Eli.

***

“Oh my, it’s been a while, Baroness Blora.”

“Thank you for inviting me, Viscountess Theora.”

“You only responded to my invitation now; how regrettable.”

“I’m still in my honeymoon phase; please understand.”

Lynn smiled as she spoke.

Although she continued to receive invitations, she wanted to take a break from social life for a while and only now decided to attend.

“Oh dear, if that’s the case, I should understand.”

Theora, the hostess, lightly patted Lynn on the shoulder while speaking.

“Yes, we’ve been waiting for Baroness Blora to come.”

Nearby, standing with the other women, Lynn lightly greeted the ones she wasn’t very close to.

“So, you were close friends with the Grit Marquis’s wife from childhood. Do you still keep in touch?”

It was a strange question in the peculiar atmosphere, but Lynn nodded naturally.

“Yes, of course.”

The two of them had kept in touch through letters. Lynn laughed a little as she remembered Ruby’s letter about how she was too pretty to stay and her own letter about how she would be coming to visit soon and would have to stay at the villa until then.

“Did you hear about the Marquis’s wife recently? Do you know what she’s doing?”

Caught off guard by the women around her, Lynn responded with a vague smile.

“In the new estate where Marquis Grit is living, they say that if a woman enters, she won’t come out for days. Could it be because the Marquis’s wife is not in the capital, and he’s feeling lonely?”

The women exchanged glances and lifted the corners of their mouths behind their fans.

Lynn couldn’t hide her confusion at the unfamiliar gossip.

Quickly detecting Lynn’s expression, someone interrupted with concern. Of course, the lady’s mouth was not worried at all.

“You didn’t know? about that…”

Before Lynn could ask what they were talking about, the concerned lady had already approached her.

They remembered how this woman, who hadn’t even been in social circles until recently, had suddenly appeared, pretending to be the beloved wife of her husband.

Lynn couldn’t help but notice the expressions on the faces of the women around her.

She couldn’t comprehend the whole situation of the Marquis of Grit seeing a woman over Ruby.

“Rumors are flying these days, and many have seen him.”

Viscountess Theora, who was close to Lynn, said it in a low voice.

It wasn’t until she saw the concern on her face that she realized it wasn’t a rumor someone was spreading out of spite.

She couldn’t spit out a quick response, but she had to think of something appropriate to say.

Then a voice interrupted.

“We saw with our own eyes how devoted Marquis Grit was to her wife.”

It was Countess Iana Chain.

“So it’s a bit early to make assumptions about their affairs, don’t you think?”

“But many of us have seen it, Countess Chain.”

“My Lady, I mean…….”

Iana approached the lady, who seemed to be upset by her words.

“Marquise Grit’s wife is still Marchioness Ruby; saying whether his affectionate demeanor is genuine or not doesn’t change the fact that she is Marquise Grit’s wife.”

Even if the rumors were true, Iana’s mindset wouldn’t change. Even if the relationship between the two wasn’t as good as the rumors claimed, if Marquise Grit intentionally portrayed it that way to everyone, respecting her as Marquise Grit’s wife meant respecting Ruby Grit alone. Even if there was a woman appearing every day,.

Iana intended to say more in response to her words, but the lady, who had no specific arguments to counter, turned away with a blush on her face.

“Let’s talk for a moment.”

Iana spoke to Lynn with words meant for her ears only and then headed to the lounge first.