Secret Wardrobe of the Duchess

Chapter 27

The sun was almost gone now when two luxurious mana stone carriages glided to a stop in front of the king’s castle. Carl got out from the smaller one first and opened the door of Edgar’s carriage. Carl would never let servants from the castle serve the duke.

“Your Grace, are you alright?”

Without replying, Edgar moved his long and strong legs to step out from the carriage.

“What about the meeting?”

“It is dinnertime, so they are taking a one-hour break.”

“I arrived early.”

“Will you join the feast as well?”

Edgar shook his head at the servants’ offer. Going to such a crowded occasion only made him more tired.

“Then let me escort you to the resting room.”

He led Edgar to the resting room that had simple refreshments and sofas.

As the feast would take about an hour, he would probably be able to use the room alone during that time.

“Your Grace, should I bring you some food?”

“No.”

Edgar sat down on the sofa and stretched his long legs. Then, he tilted his head to look up at the ceiling. His head was full of thoughts because of the meeting that would soon take place.

“Then please, rest.”

Carl left the room so that the duke could be alone. Edgar just stared at the stars through the windows and tried to clear his mind.

‘When the cannon I invented this year will be tested by the adventurers and sold…’

Creak-

The sound of a door opening broke the silence. It wasn’t the direction of the main door through which Carl had left. Edgar looked toward the sound and found a woman in a pretty dress, but he couldn’t see any door near her.

‘Secret door.’

The palace was ancient, so having a secret passage was nothing weird.

“Edgar.”

Before he could ask who she was, she leaped forward and hugged him. He didn’t like the sudden contact.

“Let me go!”

He brutally pushed the woman away who went back. Tears ran down from her green eyes. She was beautiful and knew how to cry pitifully, but it couldn’t rouse any feeling on Edgar.

“It’s nighttime and you are a mature lady. It would be bad for your honor to be alone with a man, so leave.”

Edgar thought about calling someone, but he decided to take care of it quietly for the both of them. Then, her crying eyes glared dangerously at him.

“Then will you marry me?”

“What?”

“You must take responsibility for dishonoring me.”

Edgar started to now get a headache.

“I have done nothing to you, and I don’t even know your name…”

The woman was disappointed, but she soon boldly raised her head.

“It’s Helena Leofold.”

Marquis Leofold. He was the reason why she was so confident. But Helena? I’ve never heard of her.

Edgar looked confused. So, Helena continued to speak,
“We danced together in this year’s New Year’s Eve ball.”

Still, it didn’t ring any bell.