Chapter 182

 

After the secret and scandalous relationship between Viscountess and Sir Peter was revealed, Iona found herself overwhelmed by an unexpected sense of crisis.

 

It wasn’t because her original plan now needed revision due to a miscalculation.

 

Iona’s real concern stemmed from something far more personal.

 

To sum up Iona’s primal anxiety in a few words, it was this:

 

Everyone, except her, seemed to be in love.

 

Whether those relationships were socially acceptable or not was another matter entirely.

 

‘Honestly, I’m probably better off in comparison,’ she thought.

 

Unlike those who nurtured their love in secret, Iona was in a legitimate marriage with Leroy.

 

It was an overwhelmingly advantageous situation for romance.

 

Surely, they spent more time together, with no outside interference, and yet, their progress seemed frustratingly stagnant.

 

To be more precise, their physical connection was intense, but the emotional distance remained ambiguous.

 

Moreover, they had even skipped the essential exchange of wedding vows after canceling their wedding ceremony.

 

‘...Perhaps we should have held the ceremony after moving to the duchy.’

 

But regretting it now was pointless—it was water under the bridge.

 

The excuse that they skipped the wedding due to her father's funeral was widely known, so changing her mind and setting a new date now wasn’t feasible.

 

Even if Leroy were to utter an obligatory "I love you," it wouldn’t mean much unless it was genuine.

 

‘Yes, sincerity is what matters.’

 

She had been putting off any action because she lacked the courage to express her true feelings.

 

Iona smirked faintly, a touch of self-mockery in her smile.

 

Despite Viscountess and Sir Peter’s immoral relationship, their unwavering passion had somehow sparked a new resolve within her.

 

Lifting her head slowly, Iona gazed ahead with newfound determination and spoke.

 

“The reason I’ve called you both here today is because I need to ask a favor.”

 

The two people seated across from her reacted in contrasting ways.

 

Yudia, the head maid, simply nodded in understanding, while Schneider, the head of the knight's order, blinked in confusion, his eyes darting around restlessly.

 

Yudia sent him a subtle, steady glance, and Schneider quickly straightened his posture again.

 

“Please, do not hesitate to give us any orders,” Yudia said.

 

“If there’s anything I can do to help, I will gladly offer my assistance,” Schneider also added.

 

They exchanged glances as they answered in turn.

 

They had both been puzzled ever since the Duchess summoned them that morning, especially since they received the order together—an unlikely pairing.

 

Neither could quite guess what the Duchess intended to discuss, given how different their respective fields of work were.

 

“I’ve more or less settled into life at the estate, but truthfully, that’s mostly thanks to the Duke being considerate of my needs. I’m grateful and would like to do something in return, but I’m not entirely sure what he likes,” Iona said awkwardly.

 

The fact that she knew so little about him, despite their long marriage, had always been a source of embarrassment for her.

 

Although the passage of time had somewhat eased that discomfort, others no longer found it odd.

 

“So, I called you both here to ask for advice on selecting a gift. If you’re not too busy today, I’d like you to accompany me on a little outing.”

 

Upon hearing Iona’s explanation, Yudia and Schneider finally seemed to understand, nodding as if their earlier confusion had been cleared up.

 

They had worked in the Duke’s household for many years, spending ample time with Leroy. It seemed that the Duchess had called them together to help her figure out her husband’s preferences.

 

In essence, they were now playing the role of bridge-builders, tasked with strengthening the relationship between the Duke and Duchess.

 

Upon realizing Iona’s intention, Yudia’s eyes gleamed with determination.

 

“If you’d like, my lady, I can summon merchants here right away. There’s no need for you to go through the trouble of leaving the estate—I can handle everything right here…”

 

“I’d prefer to keep this a secret from the Duke,” Iona interjected quickly, halting Yudia’s overly eager enthusiasm.

 

Then, she calmly added her true request, “I want to go out quietly, under the pretense of touring the estate, without him knowing.”

 

“…I understand your deep intentions, my lady,” Yudia’s voice returned to a composed tone, realizing that she had gotten a bit carried away.

 

Schneider, who had been quietly observing their conversation, let out a long sigh and rubbed his temples.

 

“I’m truly moved… The depth of your affection for the Duke is truly remarkable, my lady! Just last year, my greatest worry was, ‘What if the Duke never gets married?’ But now, seeing him so happy with such a wonderful partner, I feel like I can finally rest easy…”

 

His response seemed a bit exaggerated, especially considering his relatively young age.

 

Iona assumed it was just another attempt at flattery and simply smiled in return.

 

She had grown accustomed to such remarks over time. Whether she took them to heart was another matter entirely.

 

“The Duke is such a great person. I’m sure he would’ve found someone wonderful even if it weren’t me,” Iona replied with a light shrug.

 

Since Schneider had praised her, it felt only proper to return the favor by speaking highly of Leroy. Unlike Schneider’s words, which were likely half-exaggerated, Iona’s reply held a bit of truth.

 

After all, she genuinely believed Leroy could have found someone much more suitable if it weren’t for her.

 

But Yudia shook her head, disagreeing as she spoke.

 

“I’m not so sure. I agree with Sir Schneider. In fact, the Duke was quite late to marry compared to others of his rank, and that was because he never had much interest in marriage to begin with.”

 

“It wasn’t just that he lacked interest—he had no thoughts of marriage whatsoever. And honestly, that was only natural, given the circumstances.”

 

“Sir Schneider,” Yudia interjected, casting a troubled glance in his direction.

 

The sudden introduction of such a sensitive topic created a slightly awkward atmosphere.

 

Iona tried her best to maintain her usual composure, choosing to remain silent. It would have been strange for her to step in and change the subject too abruptly.

 

Sensing Iona’s hesitation, Yudia realized it was necessary to steer the conversation in a more neutral direction. She carefully chose her words, aiming for a gentle approach.

 

“...Losing both his fiancée and parents at the same time was a great tragedy. Of course, Lady Viviana and the Duke were more like close friends, but… I believe that’s why he hesitated to start a new family.”

 

“I understand,” Iona replied calmly.

 

She knew what Leroy had gone through in the past and had heard the story directly from him. There was no room for misunderstanding on her part about the relationship between Viviana and Leroy.

 

Still, Yudia must have found it uncomfortable to mention Leroy’s former fiancée in front of Iona, even as a maid concerned for her mistress’ feelings. So, she continued carefully, as if trying to reassure Iona.

 

“For that reason… when I received the Duke’s order to prepare the master bedroom for you both, I felt a great sense of relief. The Duke had continued to stay in the room he’d used since childhood until then.”

 

This had also puzzled Iona.

 

When she first arrived at the duchy, she had assumed she would be moving into Leroy’s existing bedroom. 

 

However, what greeted her was a newly furnished master bedroom, completely unused, as if it had been prepared specifically for their marriage.

 

Logically, as the head of the family, Leroy should have been staying in the master bedroom regardless of his marital status.

 

“Traditionally, when inheriting the title of Duke, one is expected to also move into the family master bedroom… but the Duke didn’t. He said he was more comfortable in his old room, but I believe there was also a reluctance to encroach on his parents’ space.”

 

Yudia’s voice was measured and calm, betraying no emotion, but there was a clear undertone of sympathy for her master, who had lost his family so early in life.

 

Iona now realized why, when Yudia had first shown them to their rooms, she had asked Leroy if he wished to continue using his old bedroom. It was all connected to this deep-seated reluctance from his past.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

 

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