CH 20

As I was about to go back to the party, I heard someone running behind me. Turning around, I saw the golden dress and brown hair pass by in a blur.

I glanced at Enoch.

“The rat must have been listening. Well, I don’t care.”

Enoch looked in the direction she had disappeared and raised one corner of his mouth. It was the first time I had ever seen him make that kind of expression.

Looking at Enoch in front of me, I realized that what he showed in the novel wasn’t everything.

Soon, we returned to the party hall, where the music was still playing, and people were still dancing and socializing.

Crown Prince Enoch had many people to greet. I walked away from him and looked around the party hall.

In the opposite corner, Rupert and Chloe were talking. Chloe had tears in her eyes as Rupert comforted her with a serious look on his face.

I approached a group of noblewomen, smiling at them. Some of them were the ladies I had met at the Imperial library. Marchioness Raphael was fluttering her fan, and a smile spread across her face.

“Oh my, Madam. Isn’t this Madam Plada’s dress? You look beautiful.”

“Thank you, Marchioness. Even today, the clean scent seems to make Madam’s beauty stand out even more.”

I patted myself on the back for saying such a cheesy line, something I got from a novel I read recently, without faltering.

I was wondering if this would work, but fortunately, it did.

Marchioness Raphael seemed pleased with the compliment and handed me some champagne. Gossip about Chloe was a bonus.

Drinking liquor… a little bit should be okay, right? The taste of the champagne I took a sip wasn’t bad.

After greeting the Marchioness, I socialized with many others.

Then a familiar face went up and greeted me.

“It’s nice to see you again, Madam.”

It was the second prince Breiman. He had a beard that was easy to recognize.

“Yes, it’s nice to see you, Your Highness.”

I had nothing more to say to him, so I decided to leave after a short answer.

However, Prince Breiman blocked my way, and said, “Dance one song with me, Madam.”

“With me? I am…” I reflexively looked around to find where Enoch was.

Breiman smirked. “My brother, your partner, seems to be very busy right now.”

“Aren’t you busy, as well, Your Highness?”

“Would you only do it with my brother?”

Even with my question, he was immovable.

Then, an unexpected figure approached and stopped him. It was Rupert.

“Your Highness, I have made an appointment with this person first.”

The prince looked back at him with a smile. Judging by the way the two looked at each other, somehow, they seemed to be closer than expected.

“Oh, it’s you, Rupert. Right, since the husband said so, I have to step down.”

No, no. What’s this situation? I didn’t want Rupert or the Prince. After that conversation with Enoch, I didn’t want to dance with anyone even more.

“No, I’m not in the mood for that now… I’m drunk.”

It was difficult to argue with Rupert in front of a Prince she wasn’t familiar with, but I just wanted him to take the hint and get out of my way.

“That’s right. It looks like you’re very drunk.”

But Rupert took advantage of what I said to take me outside, pretending to support me to force me to walk with him. Then he put me on the carriage.

“What is this?”

“You said you were drunk. Go back first.”

“I wasn’t drunk. I just didn’t want to dance with the Prince.”

“I thought you liked hanging out with the people of the Imperial family but was it exclusive to the Crown Prince?”

Rupert suddenly rushed inside, closed the door, and signaled the coachman to start the carriage. My God, to leave like this without speaking to Enoch.

But Rupert didn’t talk for a long time, even though he looked ready to argue with me.

I moved to one end of the carriage and widened the gap between us.

“Why are you avoiding me? We are a couple anyway.”

“Can you hear what’s coming out of your mouth?”

At my words, Rupert shut up. I’d feel better if he could move further away, but he didn’t.

“Then…” After the awkward silence, his words were unexpected. “If I let Chloe go…”

He was obviously hesitating based on the way he spoke. It’s absurd, anyway. But I listened to the end of what he had to say.

“Are you going to be like you were back in the old days?”

“Can you let her go?”

At that, Rupert had nothing to say. If you wanted to let Chloe go and get closer to me, it was simply unacceptable.

“Look, Rupert, we have to keep things the way they are. A year of marriage, and that’s enough.”

“I can’t stand it!” Rupert suddenly screamed.

I jumped in surprise, and he moved closer. He only stopped when I had nowhere else to retreat.

“Every time the Crown Prince meet you, or you meet him, smiling and holding hands and dancing… it’s driving me crazy.”

What… so he’s jealous. It didn’t matter to me how he felt, but I wanted to get something straight.

“What about the Verezian girl?”

“Why are you talking about that here?”

“How can I not?”

“You came to me even though you knew it. Why did you change your mind? As soon as we get married!”

“I told you everything last time.”

Rupert grabbed my chin and forced me to look him in the eye.

“Then why don’t you ask me to get rid of Chloe? You’re jealous, so why don’t you just tell me to let her go?”

Because I’m not really jealous. The two were destined to be together in the novel, and I didn’t plan to get in the way of that, as long as they didn’t get in my way, too.

“Since when did you and the Crown Prince become like that? Then why did you come to me? Money, huh… That’s right, he doesn’t have that much money, does he?”

As soon as he said that, the carriage stopped, and he tried to kiss me. I turned my head as far as I could to avoid him.

Fortunately, Rupert stopped there and growled. “Don’t keep irritating me, Erin Spilet.”

After Rupert had said those words, he jumped out of the carriage. Once he was gone, I took a deep breath to calm my trembling heart.

Soon, the carriage arrived in front of the Duke’s house. I had to go inside that house now.

I got off the carriage and slowly crossed the garden. Looking at the lights in the annex, Chloe must have arrived at the mansion earlier. Rupert seemed to have gone there too.

It’s really weird. Jealousy was an emotion you had for someone you like. Rupert obviously liked Chloe. So, was his feeling for me just possessiveness?

I silenced my footsteps and quickly entered my room in the main building.

Jenny, startled, followed me in and said, “Madam! Oh my God, your face has gone pale.”

“Ah, hmm. I’m okay.”

Jenny helped me take off the dress, checking my complexion. I must have been very surprised.

If Rupert had hit me on the spot or even attacked me, would I have been able to get out of the situation?

This house suddenly became scary. Was there any way to divorce him a little faster? Money… Money was the problem.

I wandered around the bedroom and began to ponder. From my perspective, having already read the original, it wasn’t completely out of the question.

It was quiet for a while.

Rupert was so busy that he went out almost every day. Chloe often went out with him, so there seemed to be no problem between the two.

Enoch often sent greetings, but I did not reply to them. For now, I had no intention of provoking Rupert.

Thinking of Enoch broke my heart, but he would understand me if what he said that day was sincere.

When I came up from dinner alone, the butler dared to bring my underwear laundry and handed it to me.

“This is what the maids do, so why are you bringing it?”

“Hmm, I just brought it because it was on the way up.” The sly eyes were looking at me disgustingly.

I’ve been busy with work, so I haven’t been paying attention.

That person probably worked in this house for a long time.

I was only the wife of the Ducal heir in this house, and I had no real authority. My pride was hurt, but it’s funny that I’m trying to get it back even though I was full of thoughts of getting divorced.

Just as I was thinking about it, a visitor came from afar. Since Rupert and Chloe had been away from work, I had no choice but to greet them.

The visitor, a middle-aged man who reminded me of a bear, bowed on his knees, politely greeting me even when he saw me for the first time.

“Madam, His Grace the Duke has sent me. Please call me Richard.”

It’s finally here!

I have not neglected to write letters to the Duke. Even though there was no reply, I continued to write, thinking it was insurance.

It wasn’t much, but I acted like a daughter-in-law by asking about the little things and the Duke’s wellbeing.

The results have just arrived. Richard was a loyal servant of the Duke and also a character in the novel introduced as a watcher of the townhouse.

“Welcome, Sir Richard. It’s nice to meet you.”

I grabbed his hand and lifted him up. Richard had a ragged body and a ferocious impression, which I greatly liked.