BETRAYAL OF DIGNITY
Part 20
Side Story 2
"Your Grace," Count Weiss called out.
Dawn was on the cusp of breaking. Damien, who had been standing by the window of the north-facing study, turned his attention to Weiss, who had appeared unexpectedly.
"What is it?" Damien inquired.
"The Marquise is dead."
"Is that so?"
There was no hint of surprise in Damien's voice. Weiss concealed his shock upon realizing that the Duke was already aware of Isabella's death. Damien had ordered him to keep a close watch on her, but he had not anticipated coming across her lifeless body.
"Yes. A will was found beside her, but..." Weiss's voice trailed off.
"Isabella was not one to end her own life. It seems the royal palace intends to declare war on me."
Weiss nodded in agreement. "The maidservant she brought with her from the palace is clearly the culprit, but there is no evidence to prove it. It seems to have been meticulously planned prior to her arrival here."
"Yes, you are probably right."
The maid had likely been acting under the King's orders, receiving instructions to eliminate Isabella and disguise it as a suicide if she failed to lead the Duke to Windsbury.
"If word gets out that it was a suicide, the kingdom will be thrown into turmoil for some time," Weiss said in a low voice, his expression somber. It was not hard to guess that the King's aim was to tarnish the Duke's reputation and subject him to scandalous rumors.
"Since she was known to have a cardiac ailment, we could disguise this as a natural death."
"No," said Damien, shaking his head. "Since the King has set the stage, it is only right that I respond accordingly."
"And how do you propose we do that?"
"If there is no evidence, we must create our own."
As Weiss looked at the Duke, who had so calmly instructed him to fabricate evidence, he felt thankful that he had chosen to align himself with him.
"Let us fill the front page of The Red Veil with news that the royals tried to spy on the Duke by using a mistress, only to dispose of her in a grisly manner once she was no longer of use," suggested Damien.
"Very well. I will consult with the physician." Damien's plan had been meticulously crafted over an extended period of time. As he imagined the cornered King prostrating himself at his feet, he felt his spirits finally lift. However, when he turned back toward the window, his brows knitted together sharply. He could see a limping figure approaching the castle under the cover of night. It was Chloe striding across the castle grounds, an old blanket draped around her shoulders. A spark ignited in Damien's eyes as he realized to whom the item belonged.
"Weiss," he called out.
"Yes, Your Grace?" Weiss, who had been on the brink of exiting hastily, stopped in his tracks and spun back to face Damien.
"Remind me of the reason for your oath of loyalty to me."
"It was a token of gratitude for you saving my life on the battlefield," Weiss responded. The question was unexpected.
"Do you think a woman might feel indebted in the same way?"
Weiss hesitated, not grasping the intent behind his words.
Damien strode purposefully to a concealed location and retrieved something.
"It is time to adjust the plan," Damien said, pocketing a blue vial.
Chloe continued to walk breathlessly as dawn broke. Even later, she would remain unaware that the person who had the easiest access to her chambers that night was her own husband.
