Let’s Just Make a Child, Your Grace - Chapter 9 Part 2

“Tomorrow. Give me an answer before I go to the Renigrad grand ducal family’s dinner tomorrow. Wouldn’t it be better to do business with Renigrad rather than the Wayne family? If you just give me an answer, I’ll try to talk it over well tomorrow. Whatever you’ve calculated, it will be more than that. It’s Renigrad, after all.”

The Duke really wavered at Arne’s last words.

“Honey!”

The Duchess’s sharp voice continued, but the Duke couldn’t take his eyes off Arne.

“Wouldn’t Renigrad be better for marriage too?”

Your Grace, I wonder what answer you’ll give when weighing your ambition against Bianca.

The servant had just brought out a warm steak, but Arne put down her utensils. It was the first time she had refused dinner with the Duke. Arne rose gracefully and turned away without regret. Only the sound of her elegant heels echoed in the hall.

‘You didn’t know that I no longer need dinner with you.’

When Arne returned to her room, Penny looked at her with surprised eyes.

“Is the dinner over already?”

“I just came back because I wasn’t in the mood to have dinner together. Anyway, if I ate in this state, I’d probably get indigestion.”

“You shouldn’t skip meals, my lady! I’ll bring something light for you to eat!”

Seeing Penny hurriedly bringing a sandwich, Arne couldn’t help but smile. Just a moment ago, she hated this Ronia ducal residence so much, but just having Penny by her side made her feel like she could breathe.

“Thank you.”

“It’s nothing. Your complexion doesn’t look good, how about taking a walk?”

“That’s not a bad idea. I’ll change into comfortable clothes and go.”

Arne took off her pearl necklace and placed it on the table. As she removed other hair accessories, Penny quickly brought a dress to change into.

“Penny, I’m going to the Renigrad grand ducal residence tomorrow, what happened to the dress I told you to clean before?”

“I’ll iron it and bring it soon!”

“Thank you. I’ll go to the garden.”

Arne, who had already put on a shawl over her chemise, headed to the garden with a sandwich. Just as she was about to take a bite of the sandwich while sitting in the rocking chair…

There was a commotion inside the Ronia ducal residence. The sandwich fell from Arne’s hand as she saw several shadows reflected in her room. Arne hurriedly moved her steps.

* * *

The air circulating in the banquet hall was chilly. After Arne left the banquet hall, the Duke also left, saying he had something to think about. Despite the Duchess’s attempts to stop him.

Bianca anxiously bit her nails. The sound of her teeth hitting her nails, tap, tap, grew faster and faster.

“What if it really comes out that I did that? What’s this talk about an antidote? He didn’t answer when you asked, Mother. What should I do? I need to know how the situation is going to do something.”

“Calm down, Bianca. If he doesn’t open his mouth, we’ll make that child open hers.”

“Will that stubborn girl talk?”

The Duchess once secretly put a necklace in that child’s drawer to drive Arne away. Even though she was beaten to the point where she couldn’t walk, that stubborn child absolutely said she never stole it.

But one day, that child finally confessed that she stole it. It was because she broke the wrist of the maid she cherished. For a maid who stole her master’s belongings, that much punishment is lenient. Because it’s a necklace that can’t be repaid even with that maid’s life.

Still, Duke Ronia didn’t drive Arne away. But Arne’s infamy spread thoroughly. Things didn’t go exactly as the Duchess wanted, but she was satisfied with that for that day.

“There’s a way to make that stubborn child open her mouth.”

The Duchess called Betty.

“Betty, you’re the one who committed the mischief of putting mana perfume in Arne’s water.”

“Madam!”

Betty’s eyes grew round. That was true, but it was on Bianca’s orders.

“That was Lady Bianc……”

“Betty! How could you?”

Betty’s heart pounded at the Duchess’s fierce gaze that cut off Betty’s words in an instant. The Duchess raised the corner of her red lips as she looked at Betty’s trembling hands.

“So, you need to do well today, right?”

As the Duchess whispered in Betty’s ear, Betty swallowed hard. The Duchess’s hand on Betty’s shoulder tightened.

* * *

“Lady Bianca, why are you doing this? Lady Bianca!”

“Move aside! Who do you think you’re blocking!”

Bianca struck Penny’s cheek as she blocked her way. While Penny staggered, Bianca slashed Arne’s dress with scissors. Bianca burst into laughter as if feeling relieved at the sight of the beautiful dress being randomly mutilated.

Penny stared blankly at Bianca before coming to her senses and crawling on her knees to grab Bianca’s legs.

“Lady Bianca, this is the dress Lady Arne needs to wear to the dinner tomorrow. Please stop.”

Bianca kicked Penny away as if something dirty had touched her, and Penny rolled on the floor. Betty smirked at the ridiculous sight of Penny, who had always been annoying, seemingly feeling satisfied, and approached Bianca.

“Lady Bianca, the snow rabbit has already caught the scent.”

“Already? There’s still a lot left. Can’t be helped. Pour it.”

“Yes.”

Just as Arne entered the room, Betty poured filth over Arne’s wardrobe. A terrible smell spread.

Bianca stepped back from the smell of filth and looked at Arne.

“What to do? With no dress to wear, I wonder if you can go to the dinner tomorrow?”

Arne’s gaze lingered on Penny, who was holding her swollen cheek with disheveled hair. Then it moved to the table.

‘The pearl necklace is gone.’

Arne turned back to Bianca.

“You’re still the same. Running wild recklessly.”

“What?”

“Are you anxious?”

Arne approached Penny and examined her face. She stared for a long time, engraving the image of Penny’s slapped cheek, sprained ankle, and bruises.

“Lady Arne, I’m sorry. The dress… the dress……”

“It’s fine as long as you’re safe. Don’t go near the stairs for a while.”

Penny couldn’t continue speaking and sobbed. Following Penny’s gaze, Arne turned her head to see that Ella’s cherished possessions, each praised as a masterpiece, had become dresses soaked in filth, emitting a foul stench and ruined.

A bitter smile spread across Arne’s lips.

“You thought I wouldn’t dare go to the dinner if all the dresses were ruined. That’s truly a thought expected of you, Bianca. So vile.”

“Vile? Expected of Bianca? You should respect me your older sister!”

Arne stared blankly at Bianca, who had grown up thoughtlessly in the Duchess’s care.

Bianca would often protest by refusing to leave her room until a new dress arrived, claiming it was shameful even if there was just a tiny stain on her dress.

It was utterly ridiculous, but it would be very troublesome if she kept acting like this.

‘If I let today’s incident slide, Bianca will interfere with my every connection to Renigrad. Penny could really be in danger too.’

Since Bianca and the Duchess seemed to have chosen today anyway, Arne was willing to play along.

As if on cue, the Duchess appeared.

“Arne, I’d like to have back the pearl necklace I sent you. Would you bring it?”

The corners of the Duchess’s mouth turned up slightly. Her gaze shifted to Penny.

“Penny, was it? Arne’s dedicated maid.”

“Yes, it’s me.”

Penny bowed her head before the Duchess, not even wiping away her tear stains.

“Managing Arne’s belongings is your responsibility, isn’t it? Bring it.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Penny nodded her head and, holding back her tears, examined the desk. The pearl necklace that was clearly here was nowhere to be seen. The jewelry box was still there, but precisely the pearl necklace was missing. Penny began opening all the drawers of the desk.

“Uh, uh…”

With increasingly frantic movements, the drawers shook and wouldn’t open properly. Meanwhile, Betty approached and brought the empty pearl necklace box to the Duchess. Penny’s head turned to follow the box.

“Duchess, the pearl necklace is missing! Didn’t you send it in this jewelry box?”

“The pearl necklace is missing! Do you know what that means!”

The Duchess’s voice echoed throughout the room. Penny collapsed, trembling. The disappearance of the mistress’s jewelry was a serious matter.

“Could someone have stolen it?”

At Betty’s words, everyone’s gaze turned to Penny.

“I, I didn’t do it! Really, I didn’t!”

Penny knelt down and said tearfully. She had seen the pearl necklace on the desk when Lady Arne went out to the garden. It had disappeared as if by magic during the commotion when Lady Bianca suddenly barged in.

“We must find the pearl necklace immediately. Search every corner. Anyone who dares to lay hands on the mistress’s belongings will face severe punishment. They will be beaten harshly and never be allowed to set foot in the Ronia ducal residence again. Isn’t that right, Arne?”

The Duchess’s lips slid like a viper’s. She expected Arne to tremble, but instead, Arne approached the Duchess and smoothly raised her lips.