Chapter 22
It was so beautiful that Felice momentarily forgot why she was there.
“The plants have really multiplied since I last saw them. And they’re all species I’ve never seen before.”
“Pierre just came back from a performance tour in the Valahasta Empire. He brought the plants as gifts.”
The Duchess’s face blushed like a young girl’s. Apparently, the romance with the ballerino she’d consulted about was progressing smoothly.
Felice smiled warmly.
Love was like an oil coating on the Duchess’s face, making it radiant.
“That’s good to hear.”
“Of course, my husband did bring home another mistress after finding out about mine.”
“…What?”
Felice’s eyes widened in surprise, and the Duchess let out a small laugh.
“Shall we sit and talk?”
Following the Duchess’s gesture, Felice sat at the tea table and looked at her seriously.
“You said it didn’t matter if your husband found out… but are you really okay with that?”
“Of course. It’s fine. That man was the one who told me to have a lover from the start of our marriage. But I never expected him to bring home a new woman as soon as he found out about mine. And of course, he wanted me to accept the new one as his son’s mother.”
“Oh dear…”
Felice lowered her gaze, sighing with pity.
“I don’t even know where he brought her from this time.”
“Are you alright?”
“Surprisingly, I’m not even angry anymore. The past few years of begging for his love feel utterly pointless.”
“Madam…”
Felice parted her lips. No matter how much she thought, she had no words to comfort the Duchess.
Though the Duchess was now in a new love, Felice knew how much she had suffered for years, struggling with her husband’s mistress and illegitimate child.
“My news seems to have darkened your face. But don’t worry. I’ve found new love and am happy now. I even have the luxury of scoffing at my husband’s words.”
The Duchess looked at Felice with a teasing smile.
“I truly think that’s wonderful, Madam.”
Felice smiled back and nodded.
“Yes. I think it’s best I stop talking about myself now. Today is Miss Felice’s day! And it’s going to be very interesting.”
“Ha ha, I’m the one who’s indebted to you, Madam. Thank you for accepting so readily.”
The Duchess smiled as she rang the bell on the table.
A maid by the greenhouse entrance came over and handed Felice a yellow envelope.
“I received word yesterday, so I prepared this just in case.”
Felice took the envelope and pulled out the documents inside.
“You said you’re looking for an intelligent and assertive woman… I added my personal opinion since intelligence is hard to gauge. It doesn’t seem you’re looking for academic credentials.”
At the last comment, Felice thought, “That’s so like the Duchess who once ruled the social scene.”. Though still famous, she had withdrawn somewhat due to family matters and her new love affair.
“Thank you. If I decide on one of these, can I meet her tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
The Duchess smiled, gesturing toward the papers as if urging Felice to look quickly.
Felice opened the documents.
Several young ladies were already on her mind, but she couldn’t force them into a fateful meeting right away.
As a mere tutor, she couldn’t just ask them to meet immediately, and it would surely take at least a month for the ladies to accept Felice’s proposal.
But she had no time to wait for them to deliberate.
In that regard, it was very fortunate the Duchess agreed to help.
Not only could she easily approach the young ladies, but they would also feel honored to receive the Duchess’s request.
Felice carefully read through the young ladies’ profiles.
“…Elise Robert?”
Then she found an unexpected name.
A family politically completely opposed to the Queen.
Felice stopped at the last page, looking up at the Duchess in surprise.
“We can’t expect cooperation from her. As you know, her family stands politically opposed to ours. But… we can still try for a fateful meeting. You know what kind of attacks Prime Minister Robert has been making against Her Majesty lately…”
Felice parted her lips, and the Duchess asked again about her opinion.
“What about her? The other ladies will follow orders like puppets, but Elise is genuine, so the meeting might feel more fateful.”
The Duchess put down her teacup and smiled gently.
At the same time, Felice realized for the first time that the Duchess was quite politically formidable.
“Madam… isn’t that something that must be kept absolutely secret from the Queen?”
Felice asked again.
“If it serves Her Majesty, a little white lie is always acceptable. And I only take on what I can handle.”
The Duchess smiled brightly like a flower in the greenhouse.
Felice looked down at the documents again.
But the important question remained: would Claude be interested?
[Elise Robert.]
Felice stared at the name and finally spoke.
Discussion
0 CommentsReactions
No comments yet.