Chapter 4.12

The tea time didn’t last long. Perhaps because Solnia had sided with the Viscountess of Dallohart, the atmosphere became subtly awkward, and Countess Moulton skillfully brought the subdued chaos to an end.  

It was a relief. Solnia herself found it difficult to endure the atmosphere.  

Society was often described as a place where smiles hid daggers behind one’s back, and today had been a vivid example of that. Her entire body, even her mind, felt exhausted.  

“Countess of Melfir!”  

At the sound of a youthful voice, she turned around to see Viscountess Dallohart approaching with hurried steps.  

“What is it, Madame?”  

“It’s nothing, really…”  

Viscountess Dallohart, who had rushed over out of breath, hesitated for a long time. Her tightly curled brown hair bobbed with every movement.  

“Thank you.”  

Solnia, who had been idly watching the bobbing curls, turned her gaze to the Viscountess at the sudden words of gratitude.  

The deep brown eyes blinked at her.  

“I just wanted to thank you. And, in truth, I’ve wanted to meet you for a long time, but I feel so ashamed that something like this happened on the first day we met.”  

“Madame…”  

“Still, I was truly glad to meet you today. Have a safe trip home, and I hope to see you again next time.”  

After abruptly saying everything she wanted to, Viscountess Dallohart hurried back toward her carriage as if fleeing.  

Solnia stood there with a baffled expression, even after the Viscountess’s carriage had departed.  

“Thank you.”  

Recalling the bobbing brown curls and the youthful face that couldn’t even meet her eyes as it babbled on, Solnia eventually chuckled softly and got into her own carriage.  

It seemed like it wasn’t such a bad day after all.  

At least, that’s what she thought. But as soon as she returned to the townhouse and stepped out of the carriage, her expression darkened.  

A black four-wheeled carriage was parked under the porch of the mansion. It was the carriage Luette used.  

Sure enough, Luette, whose expression was just as sour, stepped out of the carriage.  

“I didn’t expect us to return together.”  

He said, smiling only with his mouth. His attention to the gazes of the footmen and coachmen was commendable. Solnia also smiled with only her lips and replied.  

“Indeed. How romantic.”  

Hardly.  

In any case, the master and lady of the house entered the somewhat dreary townhouse together. 

“You’re both returning together, I see.”  

The butler’s face was dark as he greeted them. Noticing this, Luette handed over his coat and asked.  

“Is something the matter?”  

“Well, that’s…”  

“Where is Lady Gwen?”  

Now that he mentioned it, Lady Gwen was nowhere to be seen. She was always there to greet Solnia alongside the butler.  

As Solnia looked around behind the butler, she froze at the words she heard next.  

“Madame has visited.”  

“Mother?”  

“Yes, Young Master.”  

“Why the grim face over something so trivial?”  

Luette chuckled, but the butler’s stiff expression didn’t change.  

“Did something happen with Mother?”  

“I will explain.”  

It was Lady Gwen’s voice. She had just emerged from the kitchen, her expression seemingly as warm and gentle as ever. Her usual kind smile gave the impression that nothing was wrong.  

As she approached the couple, she lowered her voice to a whisper.  

“Young Madam, I’m so sorry.”  

Only then did Lady Gwen’s face reveal a look of clear discomfort. Behind her, the sound of sobbing maids could be heard.  

Solnia instinctively looked at Luette. He was also looking at her.  

The couple, now seated in the drawing room, were at a loss for words.  

“It’s my fault, Young Madam.”  

“……”  

After explaining the situation, Lady Gwen bowed deeply in apology.  

Solnia stared blankly at her, replaying the words she had just heard in her mind.  

The Duchess of Trovill had overheard the conversation the servants were having during their break.  

Unfortunately, Lady Gwen had taken her cold medicine and fallen asleep, and by the time the butler, informed by a servant, rushed down, the incident had already unfolded.  

In some ways, it might not have been a big deal. If the subjects of the servants’ gossip hadn’t been the Young Master and Madam. If the content hadn’t been about the peculiarities of the Count and Countess of Melfir.  

Her mind went blank for a while. Solnia could only stare at Lady Gwen, who looked as if she had committed a grave sin and couldn’t even meet her eyes.  

“Ha…”  

Luette let out a bitter laugh.  

“So much has happened in the short time we were away.”  

His words dripped with sarcasm, causing Lady Gwen to lower her head even further. Solnia instinctively pinched Luette’s sleeve.  

Stop it.  

Her eyes conveyed the message. No matter how wrong the servants were, Lady Gwen had once been his nanny. She had raised him before he was even capable of uttering such biting remarks.  

Moreover, she was the one who had helped Solnia adapt to this place without any issues.  

Above all, if blame was to be assigned, shouldn’t it fall on the maids gossiping in the kitchen rather than Lady Gwen?  

But the look in his eyes was filled with annoyance. ‘What do you want me to do? Not even be angry?’ His gaze seemed to say.  

We have nothing to say.  

Don’t we?  

The fact remains that we’ve never shared a bed, and we’ve always used separate rooms.

Are you suggesting we simply forgive and overlook such behavior?

Then, are you saying we should dismiss everyone?

A fierce, silent battle unfolded. The couple glared at each other before simultaneously looking away, as if by agreement.  

“Did the Duchess have anything else to say?”  

At Solnia’s question, Lady Gwen nodded her head.  

“Yes. She only asked that the two of you visit the ducal residence upon your return, but she didn’t say anything else.”  

“……”  

Does she want to talk face-to-face?

That thought was even more terrifying.  

“Stand up.”  

Before she realized it, Luette, who had risen from his seat, looked down at her and spoke.  

“She asked us to visit, so we should go. I believe in getting scolded sooner rather than later.”  

*

The Trovill Ducal Residence was as serene and peaceful as ever. However, the subtle tranquility it exuded was deeply intimidating.  

Solnia swallowed nervously as she stepped inside, tightly clutching Luette’s arm just in case.  

“Young Master, Young Madam! What brings you here?”  

Not knowing the situation, the butler, Riven, greeted them warmly with a bright smile.  

“It seems Mother has something important to discuss.”  

“I see. I’ll bring her right away. By the way, it’s so nice that the two of you are staying in the capital now. It means I can see you more often.”  

With a hearty laugh, Riven guided them to the drawing room.  

“Please wait here for a moment. I’ll bring her shortly.”  

Once Riven left, Solnia let out a heavy sigh. Luette, narrowing his eyes as if looking at something pathetic, said to her,  

“Don’t make any unnecessary mistakes and relax a little.”  

“I’m not tense. There are plenty of couples who use separate bedrooms.”  

Though she wasn’t entirely relaxed, she wasn’t overly worried either. It was common for noble couples, who had been raised delicately, to use separate bedrooms and studies even after marriage.  

As for sharing a bed, it could be easily excused with a reasonable pretext. In the past, such matters would have been scheduled, and even servants would have been stationed to eavesdrop, but those days were gone.  

However, despite her words, her fingertips felt cold.  

“Our mistake was continuing to use separate rooms even after coming to the capital.”  

When Solnia murmured this while rubbing her fingertips, Luette replied with disdain,  

“As if you would have shared the same room anyway.”  

“What did you say?”  

“Anyway, just explain it as the meddling assumptions of nosy servants. Mother probably doesn’t want to believe such rumors either, so she’ll think about it in a way that suits her.”  

“……”  

“If it comes to that, just stay quiet. I’ll do the talking.”  

Though it essentially meant she should keep her mouth shut, Solnia didn’t argue. At this moment, that might actually be for the best.  

However, when the Duchess of Trovill finally appeared in the drawing room, her expression was entirely different from what the couple had anticipated.  

“You’ve arrived. Would you like some tea?”  

Though they had expected her to be furious, the Duchess appeared unaffected. There was a faintly cold air about her, but that was her usual demeanor. Her black hair, flawless white skin, and the striking features she had passed on to her son contributed to this impression.  

Once the maid had set the tea table and left, the Duchess leisurely picked up her teacup.  

When Solnia, sensing the mood, followed suit and lifted her own teacup, the Duchess’s gaze turned to her.  

“There’s no need to be so tense.”  

“…Pardon?”  

“You must have heard a rough explanation from Gwen, haven’t you?”  

“……”  

“It’s not unusual for a married couple to have separate bedrooms.”  

Unconsciously, Solnia glanced at Luette. At that moment, he also shot her a sidelong glance.  

“Sharing a bed is also not something I have any right to interfere with.”  

“……”  

“Since you’ve suddenly started living in the capital, I imagine there must be many things to adjust to.”  

With a soft clink, the Duchess set down her teacup and looked at the couple with a faint smile.