Chapter 21
She couldn’t understand why she had even been dragged here in the first place. In truth, her condition was far worse than yesterday. The numbness in her stiff hands hadn’t improved either, so Mina had refused Rose’s invitation.
But soon Gisella had stormed into her room, snorting angrily like a wild boar.
“Do you even have any sense at all? After pouring hot tea over His Highness the Crown Prince, do you think you’re in any position to be making such ridiculous displays of arrogance right now? You should be grateful that Rose invited you again at all. Yet you don’t even know how to show gratitude. How shameless! Stop arguing and attend immediately!”
As always, Mina’s opinion was naturally ignored. What else could she do? With no power at all, Mina had no choice but to obey Gisella’s command.
“Oh my! Then perhaps you might become the Grand Duchess of Tessen someday?”
“That’s right! The Grand Duke is unmarried, isn’t he? And since you were childhood friends, you might have a greater chance than anyone else!”
“Wow! The lady of the Tessen household… I’m so jealous!”
“What? What are you talking about…?”
Grand Duchess of Tessen! Mina jumped from her seat in shock. Cold sweat ran down her back. The rough hands that had boldly groped her chest and those terrifying eyes flashed through her mind.
What if that man, who clearly seemed to hold a grudge against her now, was actually her true Name pair? Just imagining it made her dizzy. She might even have to beg him to take her to bed. And now they were talking about becoming his wife? Marriage? If that happened, he would obviously use it as an excuse to push her around however he pleased.
“H-Ha, ha, ha. No way! That can’t be true!”
Flustered, Mina quickly lifted her teacup as if trying to escape the sharp gazes of the four young ladies. But her trembling hands, already stiff from losing all strength, couldn’t even support the small weight of the teacup. It slipped from her hand and fell loudly onto the saucer.
Clink!
“Oh my! Are you alright?”
Lady Kellinger cried out in surprise beside her.
Mina hurriedly grabbed the teacup again. Some tea had spilled over, but fortunately it hadn’t overturned or broken. Flustered, Mina stammered.
“Ah… I’m sorry. I must really be very tired. I think it would be better if I went back before I cause more trouble. So then…”
After hastily finishing her farewell, Mina quickly stood up from her seat.
Rose watched Mina’s retreating figure as she hurried away and smiled faintly. She was certain now. She’s suffering from the side effects of the Name.
Rose glanced at the deeply furrowed brow of Lady Achstein. Coincidentally, the first time Tilda’s paralysis symptoms appeared had been during a tea gathering. She heard that the Empress had spilled tea and that was how everyone discovered the manifestation of her Name.
The person who had told that story was Angela Achstein herself, so she must be recalling her aunt’s appearance at that time.
Rose smiled to herself and casually cast out another piece of bait.
“Hehe… it’s no wonder she’s tired. His Highness the Grand Duke doesn’t leave my sister alone for even a moment.”
“Oh my…! Then what have the two of them been doing together all day?”
Lady Engelmann asked with her eyes wide.
“Ah… honestly, it’s a little embarrassing for me to say this myself…”
As her voice lowered, the other three girls leaned in closer as well. Rose continued in a subtle tone, as if she were worried.
“Well, they were childhood friends, but… His Highness the Grand Duke is still a healthy man, isn’t he? And I heard that in armies made up only of men, there are women who act as… what was it again? Women who play the role of lovers. After all, it’s a place filled with vigorous men…”
“Oh my!”
“Oh my goodness!”
At the completely unexpected statement, everyone’s eyes widened in shock.
“After spending eight whole years in a place like that, do you really think his feelings are pure? I personally don’t think so. That’s why the moment he returned he used his childhood friend as an excuse and suddenly asked His Majesty the Emperor to recognize her as his partner. What do you think that kind of partner is really for?”
Rose tossed convincing bait to the hyenas. Nothing was more perfect for tearing apart than a story that stirred their dirty imaginations. As expected, the malicious intention worked beautifully.
“Oh my goodness! Then does that mean the Grand Duke is using your sister as a substitute for those kinds of women…?”
Lady Engelmann gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. She looked properly shocked, as if hearing such a disgusting story for the first time.
“But… if that’s true, then he doesn’t intend to make Mina the Grand Duchess, does he?”
Lady Kellinger asked with a worried expression.
“Well, who knows? Even if he did, would she really be a proper Grand Duchess? At best she would only pretend to be one, like a doll that simply offers her body.”
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