Chapter 66: An Invitation to Gold Lane
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 66: An Invitation to Gold Lane
The news that the Grand Duke had restored an old garden specifically for the Grand Duchess quickly reached the ears of the House of Arbor.
Naturally, Meisel summoned Marzella immediately.
Their meeting took place at Cafe Delitar, located in the heart of Gold Lane. It was a choice made specifically to avoid the watchful eyes of Tiern.
"What on earth is going on?"
At Meisel’s sharp demand, the head maid kept her mouth tightly shut.
A few days ago, nearly everyone in the castle had been mobilized by the Grand Duke’s sudden command. Surprisingly, no one had grumbled. On the contrary, the servants were abuzz with excitement, thrilled to see their master preparing an event for a woman for the first time.
The Grand Duchess had seemed quite pleased upon seeing the garden, and the servants had huddled behind the breakroom windows, stealing glances at the scene with fond smiles.
The rumors had reached beyond the castle walls in no time. Meisel was the only person who refused to believe them.
If I tell her the Grand Duke seems head over heels for the Grand Duchess, she’ll fly into a rage immediately, Marzella thought.
"The delegation from Rondoris is arriving soon, is it not?" Marzella smoothly offered the excuse she had prepared. "The garden was repaired in preparation for their visit, but the lower staff have simply exaggerated the rumors."
Meisel nodded, but she continued to gnaw on her fingernails. Even if she dismissed the garden, it was an undeniable fact that the Grand Duke had opened the lake for the Grand Duchess.
Ever since meeting the Grand Duke at the tea time, Meisel hadn't been able to focus on anything. She was delighted that the young boy had grown into such a magnificent ruler, but her heart ached at the thought that he didn't recognize her.
Furthermore, contrary to Marzella’s claims, the Grand Duke had been quite attentive to the Grand Duchess. Meisel told herself he was merely being "formal," a desperate act of denial because she couldn't bring herself to admit he was being "affectionate."
The Grand Duke is simply fulfilling his duties as a member of the Imperial family.
Naturally, Meisel turned her arrows of resentment toward the Grand Duchess. That fox-like wench was ensconced in a castle Meisel couldn't even enter at will.
— "I only mentioned that I liked fruit, but the Grand Duke really went too far."
Every time Meisel recalled the woman’s boastful, insulting display at the tea time, her stomach churned.
Marzella was equally frustrated. The Grand Duchess was using petty tricks to win the maids over to her side. Until now, Marzella had been able to control the staff thanks to the castle’s key ring in her possession, but there was no telling what the future held.
The Grand Duchess seemed quite satisfied with her current life; the only way to make her want to leave was to make her situation miserable.
It won't be easy inside the castle since the Grand Duke is protecting her.
That meant the means to corner the Grand Duchess had to be found outside the castle walls. After a moment of deep thought, Marzella looked up.
"My Lady, what if we make use of the rumors?"
"What rumors?"
"One of the inns in Gold Lane has been causing quite a stir lately. It seems the Grand Duchess is quite close with the innkeeper in various ways."
Marzella relayed the local gossip—that it was the Grand Duchess who had helped the now-thriving Marie’s Inn, and that the inn was being pressured by the Merchant Association because of it.
"She helped an inn?" Meisel frowned, puzzled. "Is she playing at charity?"
"Ignorant people might praise her, but honestly, why would a Grand Duchess have any reason to help a mere commoner?" Marzella added slyly. "Wouldn't it make much more sense if she granted the inn special favors in exchange for a kickback?"
"Are you saying she took a bribe?"
Why would the daughter of a Marquis need such petty cash?
Meisel snorted at the absurd suggestion. This was an insult that pricked her pride as a noble, regardless of her feelings for the Grand Duchess. "At least make it sound plausible."
"Whether it’s plausible or not isn't the point."
Marzella pointed out that it was common knowledge the Grand Duchess had arrived in Blenheim empty-handed. Of course, that was a story Marzella herself had spread through the commuting maids in the past.
It would be simple enough to leak it again, as if whispering a secret to one or two people.
The penniless Grand Duchess is trying to line her pockets by exploiting the merchants of Gold Lane.
The truth didn't matter. What would happen if the merchants, already sensitive due to poor business, heard such a rumor? It wouldn't be strange if a protest broke out in front of the Grand Duke’s Castle immediately. The Grand Duchess, who strolled through Gold Lane as if she owned the place, would finally experience the volatile temperament of the Northerners.
"The sparks are already there; we just need to add the firewood."
Seeing Meisel lean in, clearly intrigued, Marzella drove the point home. "Above all, My Lady, men are all the same regardless of status."
"What do you mean, 'the same'?"
"No matter how much a man dotes on a woman, his heart will quickly cool if she keeps causing him trouble. Especially since His Highness the Grand Duke places great importance on public sentiment."
"Who said anyone was doting on anyone?" Meisel snapped, but her mood didn't seem particularly foul as she glanced at Marzella.
If I’m going to do this, I should do it properly.
Meisel’s lemon-colored eyes flashed sharply. Wait for the merchants to rise up? How long would it take to drive the Grand Duchess out that way? Meisel was already of marriageable age.
"You said this cafe belongs to the President of the Merchant Association, right?" Meisel said, pushing away her over-steeped teacup. "Bring the manager. Tell him to find out exactly where the President is right now."
Firewood? Please. If you want to start a fire, you just pour oil on it.
*
What on earth am I doing?
I had been lying sprawled on the bed, staring at the patterns on the ceiling for twenty minutes.
— "I'll be back late this evening. I plan to inspect a few villages near the port."
Even though I hadn't asked, the Grand Duke had come to report his schedule. He had repeatedly urged me to make sure I ate dinner, saying he had given Berni strict instructions.
Even after that, he had lingered for a long time. It was only after I retied his cravat and held his hand that he finally departed with a reluctant expression.
Lately, when I hold his hand, he keeps trying to interlace our fingers.
It had already been four months since I arrived at the Grand Duke’s Castle. My goal was definitely to stay out of sight, live quietly, and plan for my retirement. I thought it would be enough as long as I didn't get divorced within a year.
However, that man—who was like a puppy in a wolf’s mask—kept wagging his tail in front of me as if I were his master, leaving me quite confused lately.
Especially every time I see that brightened garden through the window, I feel a mix of happiness and agitation.
Of course, this was much better than being on bad terms. But if we stayed this close, would we still get a clean divorce after a year? That felt like it might be a bit... lonely.
But it wasn't like I could refuse the divorce and stay.
I have to leave to live my own life.
Even if I couldn't return to my original world, I couldn't live as the Grand Duchess under Annette’s mask forever. Of course, until then, I planned to be faithful to my duties.
I picked up the letter that had arrived a few days ago from Baron Gelfry, the President of the Merchant Association. It said he would be honored to introduce me to Gold Lane whenever I had the time.
On the surface, the letter was perfectly polite. However, given the exquisite timing, his invitation couldn't possibly be out of pure intentions.
Was it because of the complaints about Gold Lane during the tea time? Or did he want to pick a fight over the inn? Furthermore, ever since I encountered those cold gazes outside the carriage last time, I had felt uneasy about going out to Gold Lane.
"Your Highness, you should start getting ready if you're going out..."
Cecilia, entering the room, paused when she saw me sprawled out. "Shall we postpone the date if you're not feeling up to it?"
Sigh. I let out a breath and sat up. "No. It's better to just get it over with."
Whatever your game is, just try me.
I had plenty to say about Gold Lane myself.
I was heading out to the carriage, burning with a fighting spirit, when I saw Marzella talking to Tiern.
What is she doing here? I thought she was keeping a low profile lately.
Recently, Marzella had been avoiding me as if she were hiding. Reta had mentioned that she seemed to be laying low, perhaps afraid of losing more power if she caught my eye.
— "These days, she even keeps the castle’s key ring hidden away."
Although I had intervened a few times regarding the treatment of the servants, I fundamentally had no intention of interfering with Marzella’s authority. I was going to leave the castle in a year; I didn't want to upend the entire household when I wouldn't be there to take responsibility for it in the end.
As soon as I appeared, Marzella hurriedly bowed and scurried away before I could even speak to her.
Anyone would think I’ve been bullying her.
Sure enough, Tiern was scowling at me as if in silent accusation. I ignored him and gave the order to depart. It was an outing that felt uncomfortable from the very start.
"Your Highness! It is an honor that you have visited us."
Baron Gelfry, who came running while holding down his thinning hair to keep it from blowing in the wind, was quite different from what I had expected. I had assumed he would be a man steeped in arrogance.
Instead, his attitude was so subservient he looked ready to dig a hole and crawl into the ground. I didn't know what to do with myself.
Because of that, I couldn't bring myself to refuse when Baron Gelfry insisted on personally guiding me through the cafes and shops—places I had already seen on my first day in Gold Lane.
"It is... an honor to have Your Highness visit."
There was no hint of welcome on the faces of the merchants who spoke hesitantly. If anything, they felt even colder than before.
Is this also the 'Grand Duchess effect'?
Baron Gelfry laughed, patting a shopkeeper on the shoulder as if trying to liven up the atmosphere. "You there, why are you so hesitant? Her Highness might become a major patron of your shop, so you'd better make a good impression!"
The shopkeeper bowed his head reluctantly, telling me to visit anytime.
"You know Marie’s Inn, don't you? It was Her Highness who turned that shabby little place into what it is today."
"I wouldn't say I 'turned it into' anything; that's an exaggeration. Besides, it wasn't shabby."
"Your Highness, there's no need to hide it. Everyone who needs to know already knows."
The Baron gave a wink amidst the frozen atmosphere, but for some reason, the shopkeeper’s expression only grew more rigid.