Chapter 51

At Queen Louise’s curt dismissal, Margaret placed a sheet of white paper before her. Margaret’s eyes darkened as she watched Queen Louise write the letter with a trembling hand.

Margaret, who had followed her from Benoit to Windfog in order to serve her, was the only one who knew how painfully Louise had endured the past four years.

On a single day, the former King and Queen, who had abdicated and were living out their remaining years in a quiet place, the King’s younger brother who had become King, and even his wife had all been beheaded on the guillotine. What had come to Queen Louise, who collapsed from the shock, was mutism and partial paralysis.

Fortunately, she had overcome both conditions, but the aftereffects of the paralysis still remained with her.

It was not that she had some grave illness, but even now, after regaining her strength, if she was not careful, her fingers would not move as she wished or her hands would tremble.

At the physician’s useless words that the cause was psychological, she had devoted herself to rehabilitation, but she had still not reached full recovery. Though it was now possible for her to maintain the bearing required by royal etiquette even with legs that had once made movement difficult, she still took great care that the faint tremor of her hand would not be noticed by others.

That was why Margaret, who had to be careful lest something else be said, asked cautiously,

“Your Majesty, forgive me, but if the Duke and Duchess have truly grown close again, is there not a chance that the Duchess may confess everything to the Duke.”

“Do not worry. My eye for such things cannot be wrong.”

Queen Louise scoffed and recalled the dark expression Yvonne had worn when they last met. It had been the face of a woman worn down in both body and spirit by an exhausting experience.

Just like Louise herself in the past, when she had wanted to leave her husband. So there was no way she would believe the gossip papers claiming that the affection between the two, who had long been estranged, had flared back to life.

“We must coax that woman well and use her as a useful card. Even a man without blood or tears cannot completely turn his eyes away from a wife once he is legally bound to her.”

* * *

Clank.

As the heavy door opened with a harsh metallic sound, a man came walking slowly from some distance away. It was Luca, his face noticeably gaunt, as though he had suffered hardship during his confinement.

“Come out.”

As he staggered out, Luca narrowed his eyes at the sunlight pouring in through the window, perhaps finding it too bright. Then, when he saw who was standing before him, his narrowed eyes slowly widened.

Just as Yvonne was about to open her mouth, she gave a slight shake of her head to Luca, meaning for him to stay quiet. Fortunately, quick-witted as he was, he read the atmosphere at once and lowered his head.

Having heard that the Duchess had appeared at the Metropolitan Police, the Chief Superintendent had hurried out and now spoke in a manner so respectful it bordered on excessive.

“How did you come all the way here. You suffered a great deal the last time. There really are so many people who deceive innocent noble ladies.”

“No, not at all. It was I who was rude last time, Chief Superintendent.”

At Yvonne’s words of thanks, the Chief Superintendent touched the area around his chin with an embarrassed expression.

“Even if His Grace had not come, I had intended to handle things on my end so you would not be inconvenienced, but truly, is he not an extraordinary man? Saying things had to be handled according to principle, he brought you all the way here, Duchess and even had you confront the culprit in person. I was impressed by such fairness myself.”

The Chief Superintendent, who had been all but trembling before Carlisle Polshared, the Kingdom’s national hero, now seemed to have heard the news of reconciliation, and in front of Yvonne as well he lowered himself, at a loss.

The Metropolitan Police of Windfog held autonomous investigative authority over public order, but compared to the military’s power it fell far short.

If a criminal under investigation was a soldier or a matter directly tied to national security, the police had so little influence that they could not utter a word when ordered by the military to hand the person over. Thus Carlisle, who had left the military while already designated to become commander-in-chief, wielded authority far beyond that of a mere Duke, and the Chief Superintendent had no choice but to bow and scrape before him.

“For you to say such things, Chief Superintendent, I feel embarrassed instead. It was all because I was lacking.”

“N-no, not at all.”

Whatever the rumors might say, the Chief Superintendent, admiring Yvonne’s beauty like that of a doll, let out a hearty laugh.

In the meantime, Luca, still held by an officer’s arm, hesitantly stepped forward.

“So then, what is it you wish to say to this criminal today? If you would prefer, we could move to a more comfortable room….”

“That’s all right.”

Yvonne gently declined the Chief Superintendent’s excessive courtesy and looked at Luca.

“You’re busy with official duties, so I cannot take up your time with something like this. I’ll take this man with me.”

“Of course. Wh—what?”

The Chief Superintendent blinked, doubting his own ears at her demand that he be released immediately. It was the same for the officers glancing toward her ever since she arrived, and for Luca himself.

“Y-Your Grace.”

As the Chief Superintendent showed visible difficulty, Yvonne blinked her innocent eyes wide.

“Oh my, I thought my husband had already sent word. Have you still not received it?”

The Chief Superintendent’s eyes widened at not having heard anything. Had the Duke, who last time had looked fearsome enough to demand the man be thrown straight into a cell, changed his mind already.

“Ah, was that it? Ha ha.”

With an awkward laugh, the Chief Superintendent waved a hand at his subordinates to hurry and confirm it. He turned his gaze back from the men rushing off, and then, seeing Yvonne smiling sweetly at him, his expression softened immediately.

“Thank you, Chief Superintendent. He too will be very grateful to you.”

“Ah. Yes…. We are the ones who should ask for your favor. What are you doing. Remove the handcuffs first.”

Though the officer sent to confirm had not yet returned, the Chief Superintendent still urged his men on, saying such ugly handcuffs had no place before a noble lady.

Surely the confirmation would be fine.

At the Chief Superintendent’s order, completely taken in by beauty, the handcuffs binding Luca’s wrists came off with a click.

At Yvonne’s glance after confirming his hands were free, Luca turned his body toward the exit.

“Then I’ll be going now.”

The moment Yvonne turned after smiling at the stunned man, the smile that had been spread over her face the entire time vanished.

Once they had left the Metropolitan Police in one breath, Luca, looking ashamed, parted his lips.

“Thank you, Your Grace. I will never forget this kindness.”

“Of course. You shouldn’t.”

Instead of the sort of polite reply that would have said formality was enough, the cold answer that came back made Luca lower his eyes slightly.

Though he felt wronged at having fallen into a trap someone else had set, those were not the feelings he should be showing before the Duchess, his client in name.

Luca, who had once been full of expectation at becoming the proud head of a well-regarded company in Windfog, let out a sigh.

“I would have nothing to say even if you dismissed me. You suffered because of me….”

“Yes. So from now on, you’ll have to carry things through even more thoroughly. Be suspicious of anything that seems off, and if you’re not certain, I’d like you to consult me.”

“Uh… you mean you intend to keep employing me?”

Thinking it was all over because she had hardly even looked at him until just now, Luca asked with a thoroughly baffled face, and Yvonne nodded as though she too was reflecting on things.

“I hired you because I trusted you, Mr. Luca. I’m not such a cold person that I’d tear up a contract immediately over one mistake. And this matter happened because of me, so in that regard I’m sorry to you.”

Seeing Yvonne apologize belatedly, Luca waved both hands as though startled.

“No, not at all. Tricks like this happen often enough in this line of work. If anything, this whole incident made me realize sharply that I can’t afford to let my guard down. Even thanking you, Duchess, who got me out is nowhere near enough.”

He had been certain he would rot in prison for years. He too knew a few people with influence and connections to powerful figures above him, but once they learned the royal family was involved, they pulled back immediately, saying they wanted no part in it.

Faithless bastards.

So it had been entirely unexpected that the Duchess would save him. Nobles were, more than anyone else, selfish creatures, and rumors that the Duke and Duchess were on bad terms were widespread throughout Aerondo.

Who would take the risk of getting dragged into it themselves. Hiring someone else would have been much cleaner.

“To be honest, I’m a little puzzled. Why would you bother with someone like me…”

“Someone like you… don’t say things like that.”

“What?”

Yvonne, displeased by the self-mocking tone, returned to the point as if to say that was not it.

“For now, get your body back in order first, and then please resume the work as planned. Ah, your coworkers are currently working on the annex at the ducal residence.”

“Ah. Yes. I heard that from a friend who came to visit me.”

“It’s nearly finished, so resume the halted work….”

Yvonne said that much, then added as though she were not especially pleased about it.

“For the lacking materials, someone will come from Rein Kleint Company, so you may ask them.”

“What? Rein Kleint Company?”

Why there, he almost flinched, when he suddenly remembered what the officers had been gossiping about. That both the Duke and Duchess, who had been in the middle of divorce proceedings, had withdrawn their intentions to divorce or something along those lines. Then had the relationship between husband and wife improved.

He was curious and wanted to ask, but remembering the icy atmosphere between the couple he had seen in the interrogation room last time, he held his tongue.

“We’ve already finished discussing it, and they agreed to supply the missing materials. So, Mr. Luca, focus on pushing ahead with the original work as quickly as possible.”

After reminding him once more, Yvonne turned and climbed into the carriage.

* * *

When Yvonne stated their destination, a gentle vibration followed. Looking out the window at Luca meeting with his coworkers as he receded into the distance, Yvonne accepted the large rattan basket Jane had meanwhile bought and handed to her.

“Thank you. It won’t take long today.”

Before long, the carriage arrived at Valley Lane, located on the outskirts of the capital.