The Echanting Duchess

Chapter 28: Confrontation

At exactly an hour past noontime, Lady Terav arrived at the receiving room of the duchess.

A table filled with sweet delicacies and a luxurious tea set was awaiting inside, together with the cold and impassive Duchess Atallie.

"Greetings, Your Grace," Janette greeted first as she bowed with her maidservant in tow. She was clever enough not to bring the troublesome maidservant Tae from the last incident with the duchess.

"Ah, you finally arrived. Please take a seat," said Atallie. Her voice was as mellow and gentle as cotton yet as cold and monotonous as a hard stone.

Janette gracefully took her seat across Atallie. The maidservant walked away and stood from one side together with Lila who also came in before them.

Atallie slightly waved her hand to signal Lila to bring the maidservant out.

Now, only she and Janette were left inside the massive and sunny reception room.

Atallie took a glance at the green-haired lady in front of her.

With long, straight dark green hair that was styled and pinned beautifully, a dress not gaudy yet was made from one of the highest quality textiles in the kingdom, and accessories that were not ostentatious yet were made of rare gems and stones, Lady Janette Terav, the only daughter of the Marquis, was a great beauty to be admired.

And Atallie could not just disregard how this lady has dressed so appropriately and looked so pretty. Yet she could still remember how her initial wardrobe and room interior were arranged so disgustingly and hatefully by the very same graceful woman in front of her right now.

Everything was still so fresh in Atallie's mind.

While Atallie silently recounted the hateful pink room, Janette had no idea about why the duchess, out of nowhere, invited her for tea. Yet, learning from her previous mistake of directly going against the duchess and displeasing the duke, Janette could do nothing but drag herself toward the duchess' lair.

With a perfect smile and shining yellow eyes reflecting the bright sunlight from the outside, Janette spoke, "I was wondering why Your Grace has called me today." She looked at the composed and rigid duchess in front of her. "To what do I owe this pleasure of being invited by Your Grace?" she asked.

Atallie gently lifted her cup to her mouth. Her long eyelashes fluttered as she took a sip, giving off a subtle gentleness and charm.

Putting her cup down, Atallie said, "There is just one thing that I would like to ask from you."

What could it be? Janette thought.

"Your Grace can ask me anything, and I will certainly answer as long as it's within my ability," she said with a gentle and demure smile.

Upon hearing her answer, Atallie looked up and fixed her cold but sharp amber eyes straight at Janette.

Being suddenly gazed upon by the duchess, Janette could not just unnoticed the distinct features of the duchess and how beautiful the duchess was.

But when Janette saw the piercing pair of the duchess' amber eyes, she could not help but feel the shiver down her spine. It was gentle yet cold and sharp. And for some reason, Janette felt like it was similar to how the duke usually looked at her.

But how in the world could they be similar? Isn't the duchess just a simple county girl?

Janette knew who the duke was and how the duke handled things, hence his coldness and sharpness. Yet, Janette was also aware that the duchess was obviously just a discarded pawn of an old and nasty count from a faraway place.