psithurism

ii: charlotte vandecois

"Happy anniversary, Your Grace!"

I forced a smile when the servants greeted my second year as the duchess of the Vandecois.

"Thank you," I said shyly. "You shouldn't have bothered preparing a banquet."

They all just smiled at me and we started feasting. Somehow, in my two years of staying in the duchy, I never felt lonely because of the warmth of the duchy's servants.

I smiled at them while wandering my gaze around the servants. I gave Sir Juandre a confused look when I saw him carrying a tray of food while going out the dine.

I quietly followed after him. "Sir Juandre," I called him.

He looked at me and curtsied. "Is there anything I can do for Her Grace?"

"Where are you going to bring that food?" I asked him.

He looked at the tray before smiling widely. "I'm going to serve it to His Grace, Madame."

I put my hands behind me and clenched them in a tight fist. "C-Can I bring it to him personally?" I asked.

"Y-Your Grace."

My shoulders fell when I saw his reaction. I bit my lower lip before forcing a smile. "I can't. I understand. S-Sorry for asking."

I went to bed early that day while wondering what my life would be if I had not volunteered to marry His Grace two years ago. I am eighteen now. Would I be able to find a loving husband rather than someone who was as good as the wind to be considered my husband?

In our two years of 'marriage', if it's worthy to be called one, I never knew anything about him. The servants seldomly talk about the Lorde of the mansion and all I can hear from the nobles during tea parties are rumors and them bad-mouthing me.

Warren Vandecois.

Aside from his name, I don't really know anything about him. Is he a dying old man? I'm oblivious of his age.

I heard rumors of his origin but nothing was ever clear to me.

His appearance. Is he hideous?

The only paintings I can see around the hallways of the mansion were my face, if not the empress', or some random scenery and expensive painting I bought which happened to tickle my fancy.

There's not a single portrait of my husband nor their ancestors before him and his sister.

I was woken up by a loud commotion outside the duchy. I had Elle make me look decent before I went out the mansion.

"Your Grace-"

Sir Juandre tried to stop me but I kept on walking until I saw an old man together with a familiar lady, holding an infant in front of our gate.

"W-What's the matter?" I asked softly.

The ducal knights immediately curtsied and gave way to me while the old man glared at me.

"Where is the duke? He's the one that I need! Not some trash!"

The knights immediately unsheathed their swords hearing his words. I quickly ordered the knights to halt, not wanting to shed any blood.

"The duke impregnated my daughter! He should take responsibility of their child and my daughter should be the rightful Duchess Vandecois!"

I froze hearing that. I looked at the lady who cannot meet my gaze. "L-Lady Antoinette Ancouive?"

I looked at the infant she's holding. It couldn't be any older than a month. Suddenly, I remembered the rumors about the lady's affairs with my husband. Was those really just rumors?