Chapter 47. Nothing Changes

Back in my room in the Winter Palace, I reflected on what Enoch had told me.

First, Angela Besnard is not what she seems.

Second, Princess Roelyn is lonely and has been deceived by Angela, who fills that void for her.

Third, Enoch’s conclusion is that I should get close to Roelyn and separate her from Angela.

After that, Enoch shared various pieces of information about Princess Roelyn and a few anecdotes related to Angela Besnard.

“Angela isolated and subtly tormented a lady who displeased her in the social circles…”

That lady eventually shut herself in her family’s territory and never came to the capital again, not even for a single day.

And it wasn’t just that one lady who suffered such treatment…

“Angela Besnard doesn’t frequently appear in social circles, so how did she manage that?”

My curiosity was soon resolved. Jasmine, a maid with a surprisingly deep knowledge of the social circles despite her quiet demeanor, kindly explained while helping me change.

“Instead of frequently hosting or attending large events, Lady Besnard invites prominent figures with strong social standing one by one to her tea parties. I’ve heard that those who attend her tea parties receive rare gifts. That’s how she builds alliances one person at a time. When she gets the opportunity to invite His Majesty the King, Her Highness the Queen, or Princess Roelyn, she finally hosts a grand party. At that party, she flaunts her personal connections with the royal family to draw more people to her side.”

“Hmm…”

Lady Besnard was quite meticulous. I couldn’t understand why she went to such lengths, though.

“But as you know, the person Lady Besnard is most interested in—our Grand Duke—has no interest in her. People call them childhood friends, but I don’t know. They don’t seem to have a particularly close friendship, do they?”

Jasmine tied the waist ribbon of my indoor dress loosely and smiled faintly. I also responded with a faint smile, agreeing, ‘That’s true.’ Then Jasmine dropped a few drops of lavender perfume on my neck. The scent helped with deep sleep.

“I always think it’s not love or friendship but obsession. That’s why His Highness the Grand Duke ignores her… Now, it’s time for you to sleep, Miss.”

After placing a nightcap adorned with delicate lace on my head, Jasmine gently pushed me towards the bed. I thanked her briefly and laid down.

When Jasmine turned off the gas lamp, the bedroom became as dark as a cave. ‘Have sweet dreams,’ she said kindly before closing the door with a click.

I stared blankly at the barely visible ceiling painting in the darkness before closing my eyes. I quietly tried to sleep, thinking with a bit of melancholy that I couldn’t enjoy such peaceful and prosperous days forever.

The day I fear will inevitably come.

* * *

“Filthier than I expected.”

Enoch muttered coldly after reading the report just brought up by the investigation team. His lips curled into a slightly more twisted smile.

He first decided to investigate because he found the funding sources of Viscount Gillen’s group suspicious. The investigation revealed that their source of funds was, as expected, Robert Anderson.

It was unlikely that Anderson financed gamblers who brought no profit. Enoch suspected there was something more beneath the surface.

Sure enough, the Gillen group not only gambled in social clubs frequented by nobles and gentry but also in pubs often visited by workers, swindling them out of their entire fortunes. Moreover, they even trafficked the victims’ family members in the human trafficking market.

If the victims had spouses or children, they were sold to illegal brothels to make money, and some were taken by Anderson and the Gillen group.

Worthless scum. They never stick to just one crime.

The heinous crimes that plagued the kingdom often had corrupt noble factions behind them. The previous king was a good man but incompetent, failing to unite the noble society and granting them too many rights.

As a result, some noble families, who were obsessed with wealth and power, began engaging in illegal activities, causing a part of the kingdom to rot away.

Diplomatic and defense issues were also constant, leading to the 7th Atreos-Freuden War during King Henry’s reign.

The shadow of that war accelerated the corruption of the nobility, allowing scum like Anderson to thrive.

Enoch took a drag from his pipe and leaned back in his chair, propping his heels on the desk and stretching out his legs.

Hoo, the smoke he exhaled clouded the air. His golden eyes, lost in thought, gleamed sharply.

The profits from human trafficking and prostitution went to Anderson. The Gillen group provided victims to Anderson in exchange for funds.

How to kill that piece of human trash. Henry would undoubtedly argue for a trial instead of k*lling him.

But Enoch genuinely believed that some people were better off not existing.

Well… for now, the priority is to trace their human trafficking routes. Enoch took another drag from his pipe and tilted his head back.

As he lazily opened and closed his eyes, exhaling smoke, a knock sounded from outside, followed by the butler’s voice.

“Your Highness, it’s Hubert.”

“…Come in.”

Enoch remained in his poor posture, holding his pipe. Hubert, who entered the office silently like a ghost, frowned slightly at Enoch’s improper position, neither lying nor sitting properly. With genuine concern, he dared to speak.

“How about sitting properly? Or lying on the sofa.”

Enoch glanced at Hubert from the corner of his eye and replied.

“I’ll go to my room after finishing this. Has Ellen gone to bed?”

“Yes, Jasmine reported that she just went to bed.”

“I have such a proper and lovely fiancée.”

Enoch chuckled, put down his pipe, and got up, removing his feet from the desk. As he rounded the desk, Hubert bowed respectfully, as always.

Enoch looked at the butler, who seemed to have been born with a polite demeanor, and asked indifferently.

“Did you find a Katarian language teacher for Ellen?”

“Yes, I was just about to discuss that. There are three candidates, and it would be best for Your Highness to interview them personally.”

“Interview?”

“Since they will be close to the future Grand Duchess, it’s prudent to choose carefully.”

“Well, okay…”

Enoch answered half-heartedly and walked past Hubert towards the door. The old butler quickly followed, cautiously asking with a hint of hope.

“Will you be retiring early tonight?”

“No, I’m going to drink.”

“…Wouldn’t it be better to lead a healthier lifestyle? Especially since you’ll be getting married soon…”

“Nothing changes after marriage.”

What does that mean? Hubert stood there, blinking in confusion. Enoch looked back at him and added in a light tone.

“People don’t change that easily, right?”

Hubert watched his young master’s departing figure with a somewhat complicated feeling.

* * *

“An interview?”

“Yes. Since they’ll be your teacher, it’s better for you to see and judge them yourself.”

Enoch, whose dark circles seemed deeper today, came to me after lunch and told me this: He had found three candidates for my Katarian language teacher, and they would be visiting the mansion today for an interview.

An interview… I’ve never done anything like that before. Should I just ask basic questions? And maybe judge their impressions…

“The three candidates are waiting in the drawing room now. Let’s go.”

“What? So suddenly? I need to fix my hair… and my clothes!”

“Why are you so concerned? You’re just going to see someone you’re going to hire.”

Enoch scolded me with a dissatisfied tone as I flustered. …Maybe he’s a bit tired? Perhaps he went to bed late last night. The dark circles under his eyes suggest as much.

“Sorry, please wait for five minutes. After all, I am the Grand Duke’s fiancée… I can’t show up looking so disheveled. —Jasmine? Can you help me?”

“Yes, Miss. Of course.”

So, I put on a blue cashmere spencer jacket (a short coat that reaches just below the chest) over the white muslin dress I was wearing, took off my slippers, and changed into shoes with satin covering the leather.

Then, Jasmine skillfully braided my hair and adorned it with a headband decorated with lace and pearls.

The entire process took about seven minutes. I went over by about two minutes, but considering the circumstances, it was really quick.

I approached Enoch cautiously, watching for his reaction. He still looked at me with an expression of incomprehension but extended his hand to me without any harsh words.

“Good thing it didn’t take you seven days to get ready.”

But I couldn’t escape his sarcasm. I just gave an awkward smile and avoided his gaze.

Anyway, we arrived at the drawing room without much delay, and the interview began. All three candidates made good impressions, and two of them were men. After talking with them, I found all three to be pleasant and likable, making it hard to choose just one.

But fifteen minutes later.

“Kenneth Radian, Franklin Burnett. Sorry, but you’re both dismissed. You may leave.”

Enoch eliminated the two male candidates.