Chapter 2 (Part 8)

By the time Therese returned to the Richard estate, it was quite late.

‘Roshan wasn’t at the office either.’

Changing back into her dreary navy dress, she wore a serious expression as she encountered Maria on the first-floor parlor. Katrina, arm-in-arm with her mother-in-law, wore a triumphant expression.

“So, did you enjoy the exhibition today?”

At her mother-in-law’s words, Therese nodded roughly.

“What exhibition was it again?”

Though her mother-in-law’s unusually kind demeanor was troubling, Therese decided to make something up.

“It was carpets and fine fabrics from Pasa.”

“Products from Pasa are quite luxurious. Then you must have met Baroness Ferdian, who visited today.”

“……Ah.”

“Baron Ferdian hosted the exhibition, but you didn’t know that, did you? I’m really curious about where you have been going every night, deceiving everyone, Duchess.”

From Katrina’s words, Therese realized their intention.

‘They found out I didn’t go there.’

She had provided a pretext to those who were always eager to find something to criticize.

“Could it be that the Duchess is busy following the latest trends?”

Katrina acted as if she was shocked.

‘What trend is she talking about?’

Then she remembered something Sophia had mentioned in passing.

‘Well, these days, noblewomen are said to keep young lovers. It’s quite scandalous.’

Although she intended to divorce, she didn’t want to bear disgrace. Therese couldn’t help but think of her father, who suffered from heart disease.

Just as she hesitated on what to say, someone approached her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

Startled by the Duke’s scent, Therese flinched as he spoke softly.

“What are we discussing?”

“Duke, you came at the right time. It seems the Duchess, who should set an example for everyone, has been meeting another man.”

Maria acted as if Therese had committed adultery.

“That can’t be. The Duchess was with me today.”

“But Baroness Ferdian said she didn’t see the Duchess today.”

“That’s because we went horseback riding in the countryside. Are you not tired?”

The Duke, who countered Maria’s words, gently stroked Therese’s shoulder, causing her to bite the inside of her lip in surprise.

‘Why is he doing this?’

It was an awkward situation where she couldn’t help but play along with the Duke.

Therese carefully opened her mouth, looking up at the Duke’s elegant profile, draped in a red cloak with gold tassels.

“On my way to the exhibition, His Grace came to meet me…….”

As Therese blushed slightly, Katrina ground her teeth. With the sharp gazes from several people, the Duke spoke lightly.

“Instead of this, you must be tired, so let’s go rest. Excuse us.”

Taking Therese’s hand, the Duke briskly ascended the stairs.

Even after reaching the second floor, the Duke didn’t let go of Therese’s hand for a while.

‘Why did he help me?’

Or rather, was it really help?

But it was true that without the Duke’s words, she would have faced a slightly troublesome situation today.

With Roshan missing and exhausted from dealing with that pervert, she didn’t even have the energy to make excuses.

Lost in thought, the Duke gazed at the dark sky beyond the balcony for a long time.

“……Your Grace.”

At Therese’s voice, the Duke finally lowered his gaze and scrutinized her intently. It was an unfamiliar gaze she had never received before.

“Surely what Lady Volez said isn’t true, is it?”

“What do you mean?”

From the hint of mockery in the Duke’s black eyes, Therese realized he was asking if she had engaged in adultery.

“Are you really seducing a young man somewhere, avoiding the eyes of me and the family?”

It was a time when noblewomen having affairs with young and handsome men outside of their husbands was spreading like a trend. A noblewoman without a handsome lover was considered unattractive.

“……I.”

The Duke’s current gaze was so accusatory, as if she were a cheating wife, that Therese’s words caught in her throat. As she hesitated to speak, he tightened his grip on her hand.

“No matter how trendy free love is.”

If even Duke Richard, who spent a long time on the battlefield, knew about it, it was undoubtedly a social trend.

“……Ah.”

Pushed helplessly by his strength, Therese let out a small groan. The plunging back of her plain navy dress touched the cold wall.

The Duke, who had been scrutinizing her, ran a hand through his golden hair and untied his cloak.

Just as he seemed to release her hand, he draped his cloak over Therese’s shoulders.

‘If this continues, I’ll be swayed by him.’

Steeling her resolve, Therese shook her shoulders vigorously to avoid wearing the cloak and spoke.

“It’s not something you should concern yourself with, Your Grace.”

The Duke, tying the string of the cloak, which was so large it dragged on the floor, whispered lowly.

“But Duchess, I’m rather old-fashioned, so I find it hard to accept that.”

His sincere gaze made her cheeks flush. She couldn’t let him see her heart fluttering easily at his touch.

“What will you do if you don’t accept it!”

At Therese’s provocation, the Duke’s golden hair fluttered softly in the breeze from the balcony.

“……Well.”

When he lowered his head slightly, it was Therese who panicked.

As the distance between them closed enough to share each other’s breath, Therese hurriedly turned her head to the side.

Her explicit rejection brought a cool smile to Jeremy’s hardened face.

“Having spent my time only on the battlefield, I may not be able to resolve it in such a refined manner.”

He elegantly implied that if Therese had a lover, there would be bloodshed.

After completely tying the cloak’s knot, the Duke straightened his posture and bid farewell.

“The wind is chilly. Please go inside.”

“Have a pleasant night, Your Grace.”

Stammering, Therese quickly headed to her bedroom across the hall.

❖ ❖ ❖

Early the next morning, an employee guarding the Duke’s office announced a visitor.

“Your Grace, the Knight Commander is here.”

“Let him in.”

Shortly after, Knight Commander Dupont, wearing a red jacket made of satin, appeared in the Duke’s office with a smile.

“Your Grace, did you not sleep well? You look a bit worn.”

“Cut the nonsense and start the report.”

“Thank you for your affectionate words.”

Despite Duke Richard’s harsh tone, Georges Dupont was never discouraged.

“My head is pounding, so just report.”

At the Duke’s urging, Georges opened the documents and cleared his throat.

The sharpness in Georges’ eyes as he recited the investigation results was evident. Despite always seeming playful, his work efficiency was undeniable.

Therese Demori had been visiting the gambling den under an alias for about two weeks. She didn’t have a particular game she enjoyed, and her win rate wasn’t high. She didn’t socialize with new people and always had a guard with her.

“……Ah.”

At the mention of a guard, Duke Richard’s eyebrow twitched. It reminded him of the irritating man with red eyes.

‘He was incredibly insolent.’

Despite knowing who Jeremy was, he had tried to reach out to Therese.

“Commander, that level of report seems like something anyone could do.”

“Your Grace, I stayed up all night investigating the Duchess’s activities over the past two weeks.”

Ignoring Georges’ grumbling, the Duke rubbed his forehead hard.

‘My head feels like it’s going to explode.’

It felt like facing a problem more difficult and complex than dealing with a fierce monster.

Jeremy wasn’t interested in simple facts.

‘Why did she visit the gambling den, deceiving everyone’s eyes?’

He sensed something suspicious about his wife and then experienced something unbelievable. Therese was wandering Oxford Street dressed as a man, frequenting a gambling den, and even had a slave.

‘Ambiguity always leads to disaster.’

Jeremy Richard was plagued by threats of poisoning throughout his life. The previous Duke had indeed been killed that way, and no one in the family could escape such a crisis. 

For this reason, the Duke intended to leave no unexplained parts in his life.

“Is there anything else?”

“If something new comes up from additional investigations, I will inform you.”

After hearing the report, Duke Richard stood up and quietly tapped the window frame with his long fingers.

‘Could she really be a spy sent by someone?’

Considering the greedy Baron Demori, it was entirely possible. His father-in-law was a repulsive man who wouldn’t blink an eye at people dying if it meant making money.

‘Extravagance, gambling den visits, free love.’

Why was she committing such lowly acts so blatantly?

Deep in thought, he suddenly opened the window vigorously.

“The reason someone uses such an obvious move is.”

“Perhaps it’s to have their hand read.”

“Then, did I misinterpret it?”

If she wasn’t a spy, there was only one answer.

He recalled Therese’s face, which would turn away sharply just at the sight of him.

She acted as though she couldn’t stand to even look at him.

Everything pointed so clearly that it wasn’t even amusing.