I Became The Wife Of The Cursed Grand Duke Chapter 73

No one had ever asked her personal questions before, except for Kalian.

 

So it was a little awkward and difficult for Evelyn to think about her likes and dislikes and answer.

 

But not uncomfortable.

 

She felt her nerves slowly subside as she listened to the polite, caring tone, the eloquent words that came with age.

 

‘A veteran indeed.’

 

From past memories, the Handmaiden had been the one who had cared for Kalian, who had grown up in the shadow of his mother’s neglect.

 

Her smile and the way she looked at him made it clear how much she trusted and cared for him.

 

It’s no wonder she’s so concerned about me, the Grand Duchess.

 

The last thing she wants is for him to be criticized for his poor treatment of her.

 

Evelyn, having gotten the gist of her deepest thoughts, laughed softly.

 

“Where do the others usually dine?”

 

Mrs. Riktor, after a moment’s puzzlement had settled on her face, straightened her slightly slipped glasses and replied in a polite tone.

 

“The great lady dines in the outbuildings, and His Highness dines with the other knights in the common dining room.”

 

“Then, please have me dine in the common dining room.”

 

Past experience had taught her something.

 

Most of the hired help in the Grand Duchy come from the northern nobility, but they have no interest in dignity or class.

 

“You’re going to eat in the common dining room?”

 

Mrs. Riktor asks, perhaps because she thinks most of the nobility in the Empire are raised to be noble, even if they are fallen counts.

 

“But, my lady, the knights are much rowdier than you might imagine. They don’t even observe table manners, because they don’t need to be taught.”

 

This, too, was an effort to enhance the grand duke’s prestige by minimizing Evelyn’s discomfort.

 

‘How I hated my former self for being so loyal.’

 

In the past, Mrs. Riktor had not even tried to win Evelyn’s heart.

 

For her marriage to Kalian had been as tangled as a tightly wound thread from the start.

 

The culprit was, of course, her own family, a tight-knit group of greedy people.

 

They demanded an exorbitant bride price for Kalian and insisted on a wedding ceremony that rivaled that of an imperial marriage.

 

She was also given a substantial amount of magic stones each month, with the promise of healing powers to quell the grand duke’s rampages.

 

If she protested, the amount of purifying agents provided by the temple was drastically reduced.

 

The vicious cycle continued, and her place in the city grew ever narrower.

 

It wasn’t until her death that she realized that everything had been done to drive a wedge between them, leading to a catastrophic end.

 

As she recalled the past she had forgotten, her eyes lit up with a sudden question.

 

‘After all the insults and humiliations she had endured, why had he stayed married to me?’

 

Compassion was too heavy a word, and love didn’t make sense.

 

It was even harder to understand now that she knew there was someone else in his heart.

 

But even if she wanted to know, she couldn’t now, even if she wanted to.

 

“It’s okay, I just want to dine with you.”

 

“Then I’ll have the dining room set aside for just the two of you.”

 

Evelyn looked a little dejected. Seeing this, Mrs. Riktor let out a short gasp.

 

“…Okay, I’ll do as you say.”

 

‘Did she think she was being stubborn?’

 

Maybe they thought her refusal to play nice with people was an aberration of aristocratic etiquette, a hothouse plant.

 

Of course, it didn’t matter.

 

No matter what others thought, it was more important to her to bond with the knights she would be traveling with.

 

Besides, she couldn’t just stay in her bedroom to get information.

 

But Evelyn didn’t let on.

 

Mrs. Riktor, too, clasped her hands together beneath her navel, unwilling to be prying.

 

“I’ll assign the maid to a child with nimble hands and a quick mind, if you don’t like it, let me know. I’ll be sure to stop by every morning to check on her.”

 

“Yes, thank you, Mrs. Riktor.”

 

“Next time I see you, please call me Helen, and be sure to keep your voice down, and I’ll take my leave.”

 

With that, Mrs. Riktor turned to leave, but then she touched her forehead as if she’d forgotten something.

 

Then she took something from the maid waiting outside the door and handed it to Evelyn.

 

“These are catalogs from Gritta’s boutique and Eric’s jeweler. His Highness has sent word that you may choose as many dresses and gifts for the wedding as you like, if you wish. Of course.”

 

Evelyn stared blankly at Mrs. Riktor’s back as she rattled off what she had to say in a flash and then disappeared.

 

“What did I just hear?”

 

Gritta’s dresses are only allowed for royalty, and it’s impossible for even the highest noble to see her without a letter of recommendation from a member of the royal family.

 

Besides, it’s for weddings…

 

‘Am I mishearing? I thought Kalian said that a marriage is consummated without a wedding ceremony.’

 

Her position was the same.

 

She didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, not knowing when it would end.

 

That’s when the knock came.

 

There was a rhythmic knock on the door, and a maid who looked about her age entered.

 

As soon as she locked eyes with Evelyn, she smiled broadly and bowed deeply.

 

“It is truly an honor to meet you, my lady. I’m Lucy!”

 

Lucy straightened her back at the bubbly greeting, her tightly tied brown hair bouncing in the air.

 

Evelyn smiled, forgetting her earlier confusion at the sight of the rosy cheeks, cute and full of life.

 

“Yes, Lucy. Take care.”

 

Lucy smiled softly as she scooted over and put her house shoes at the foot of the bed.

 

“I heard there was a disturbance at the tabernacle, how are you feeling, shall I send for the councilor?”

 

Evelyn, who had pulled on her robe with Lucy’s help, shook her head as she slid her feet into the fluffy slippers.

 

“No, I’m not in any particular discomfort, but I’d like to freshen up. Can you get me some warm water?”

 

As if waiting for her to say that, Lucy slapped her palms together. Her clenched fists showed determination.

 

“Of course! They say flesh to flesh is the best way to build intimacy, right? I’ll make sure you’re groomed from head to toe!”

 

Oh, you don’t have to go that far…

 

But the way she was looking at her, her eyes were so bright, she couldn’t resist.

 

“I hope you don’t mind…?”

 

She was about to say goodbye to her godfather even if she didn’t.

 

“Then I’ll do you a favor. While you’re getting the water in the tub, I’ll make some tea for you!”

 

She got out of bed and sat down at the table by the window, and soon a pot of hibiscus tea and several newspapers were on the table.

 

Her gaze, fixed on the teacup, naturally wandered to the headlines.

 

“Oh, my God…!”

 

Evelyn flipped open the paper in disbelief.

 

There was an article about her in bold letters all over the place.

 

 

<Shock! Grand duke Orpheus’ strange act of affection! “Everyone, return to the dinner hall.” What’s going on in the outbuildings?>

<Recollections of the Marquise of Saxony, Alina, ‘If it were not for the Grand duchess, she and her child would not be here today.>

 

 

Evelyn’s assistance in the birth of the Marquise of Saxony was described as the center of attention in the Empire.

 

The reason for this is explained in the next chapter.

 

 

<The Shocking Crime of Viscount McHale: Smuggling the Horn of Iblis, and…>

 

 

Viscount McHale’s daughter-in-law, who had been unknowingly jealous of Lady Saxony, had used the herb to induce her to abort her unborn child.

 

That same day, Lady Saxony suffered a sudden onset of labor, shortly after drinking some of Mrs. McHale’s tea.

 

The good news is that Mrs. Saxony is disenchanted, so she doesn’t have to suffer from magical reflux.

 

It’s a shame what happened, but thank goodness she hid her pregnancy and kept her baby.

 

Sighing, she sipped her tea and nearly spewed red tea water as she read another article.

 

 

<The dignity of a true grand duchess. Her frugality impresses the people!>

 

 

She gulped down the tea and a smile of conversion crossed her lips.

 

“That’s it!”

 

In the past, people had puzzled over the Grand Duke’s choice of a woman who was so far inferior in every way.

 

It was said that she had healing powers, but most people felt that there would soon be a saint who could fulfill those powers, so why diminish the prestige of the Grand Duke’s family?

 

When such a woman entered the Grand Duchy wearing a colorful dress that did not fit the atmosphere.

 

The proud elders and castle employees openly mocked and ridiculed her.

 

In their eyes, Evelyn was a foolish woman, blinded by luxury and oblivious to her surroundings.

 

Is it different now?

 

A lot has already changed, but not everyone will be happy to see her.

 

‘I’m sure there are some people watching me to make sure I don’t make a mistake.’

 

The day of the dinner party.

 

Instead of the expensive dress given to her by the Duke of Parminion, she chose a gown she had bought in the Adelheimplatz.

 

Instead of dressing up like a doll, she entered the North as a plain-looking moll, a move to escape her past, where she had been pelted with insults.

 

“My ball was stolen from me, so this petty revenge is acceptable, right?”

 

The crimson dress Evelyn wore a few days ago was actually chosen by a saint to be worn to a temple ceremony in a few months.

 

A saint who sets an example by her intrinsic value, making even the cheapest dresses look expensive.

 

The clever ploy paid off, of course, and the praise of the saint was now hers.

 

And the favorable public opinion of Evelyn would make it much easier for the Empress to make her a Grand Duchess, which had been delayed over her objections.

 

“The bath is ready, and so am I!”

 

Lucy exclaimed as she finished folding up her newspaper, which she had just finished checking for the weather at sea.

 

Now that everything was ready, it was time to wait for the news.