***

On the morning of Richt’s departure to the capital.

Richt exchanged brief greetings with Timogere and headed towards the carriage waiting outside. While Richt received farewells from some of the servants, including Mia, Isabelle didn’t show him a single glance. He felt bitter that she acted as if he didn’t care if he went to the capital.

As Fabian suggested, Richt had tried his best to apologize and turn Isabelle’s heart during the limited time he could spare. Although he wanted to sweep everything away, it was difficult to resist the imperial summons.

When Fabian and the coachman were ready to leave, they waited for Richt to climb into the carriage. Before he did, he called out to Mia. He didn’t feel comfortable leaving his wife like this. Mia approached quietly, waiting for his instructions with a humble bow.

“Ensure that Isabelle does not entertain any foolish thoughts.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“She’ll get depressed if she stays in her room, so make sure she goes for a walk or some activities.”

He explicitly warned against any negative thoughts Isabelle might entertain.

“What does she usually do during the day?”

He knew nothing about Isabelle’s daily life, what she did in his absence. She couldn’t possibly stay inside the room all the time. He wondered what she enjoyed doing during her leisure time.

“She mostly stays in the room. Sometimes, she takes short walks in the garden, but she comes back in less than ten minutes. Yesterday, for some reason, she wanted to do some flower arranging, so I arranged it for her.”

“So, she keeps herself confined to the room even when I’m not here?”

“Yes. After you came to House Blanchette, she has been like that.”

Richt pulled his eyes together and stared at Mia. There was a hint of displeasure in his gaze. The maid’s words were strangely accusatory as if blaming him for Isabelle’s seemingly lifeless state.

There was nothing wrong with that since Richt had followed her home and harassed her, but he couldn’t help but feel dirty hearing it from a lowly maid.

“What was she like before?”

“When she was at the Calitheon mansion, she enjoyed embroidery, playing the piano, and painting.”

“She must have liked activities like tea time with the ladies.”

“That’s…….”

Mia hesitated to speak, quickly closing her mouth as if trying to withhold something. His finely arched eyebrows twitched.

“What is it?”

“No, it’s nothing. I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to say.”

“If it’s about Isabelle, I need to know.”

The maid, who was bold just moments ago, now lowered her head and glanced around as if trying to hide something. Her hesitation and avoidance made Richt’s eyes narrow. If there was something he didn’t know, he needed to find out.

“Mia Gray.”

The voice calling the servant’s name was cold and steady, lacking any warmth in its gaze.

“Tell me.”

“Well, you see…”

As Mia glanced at the rigid muscles on the face of the Duke, she hesitated before finally opening her mouth.

“In truth, it’s because of the former Duchess, your mother. She didn’t like exposing Isabelle in social circles.”

“What do you mean?”

“Because of the rumors surrounding Count Blanchette, there were talks behind her back. Your mother values her reputation so much…”

The unexpected words flowing from Mia’s mouth left Richt momentarily stunned. It was a difficult statement to comprehend. Diana was looking down on Isabelle as if she were somehow involved in Count Blanchette’s disgrace.

“Tell me exactly.”

Richt’s eyes deepened. Mia glanced at him and added cautiously.

“The Grand Duchess, your mother, was a bit of a nuisance, and though she pretended not to be in front of you, I’ve been around her long enough to know.”

“…”

“With all due respect, the Grand Duchess wasn’t as gracious as you think she is. She built walls and kept Lady Isabelle distance for no reason, and she was always unkind to her, even when she did nothing wrong. Lady Isabelle always hung her head like a sinner and said the same thing: ‘I’ll try harder. I’ll do better.”

“…”

“Lady Isabelle looked so pitiful, even in the eyes of a maid like me. I really don’t know why she deserved to be treated like that. I begged her many times to tell you, your Grace, but she didn’t want to be a burden to you.”

“Did I not know this for the past three years? If your words are true, why didn’t Lucien report this to me?”

“Because not only did Your Grace not know about it, but neither did the butler. The Grand Duchess cherished her dignity, so she didn’t openly show it. She subtly and cunningly did it, making sure only the person being treated that way would know.”

He couldn’t believe it. That Diana would act in such a manner. While Richt was busy and couldn’t come down to Barsk, Isabelle was being humiliated without his knowledge. His head was pounding.

Suddenly, he remembered Isabelle asking for a divorce, but never giving a real reason. Saying she was bored and tired of it all didn’t explain everything convincingly.

He had his suspicions when he saw her with Viscount Ross, but it turned out to be a misunderstanding. The real reason was Diana.

“So, was there also my mother’s intervention in Isabelle’s demand for a divorce?”

Mia silently lowered her gaze. It was a silence of affirmation. Still, it was hard to believe, but the maid had no reason to lie. There was nothing to gain from confessing to something that didn’t happen.