Secret Wardrobe of the Duchess

Chapter 36

“Then please, have a good time.”

Soon the maids, including Ann and Jennie, left the chamber at once.

When they were all gone and Rubica was alone, she quickly opened the second drawer of the chest next to the bed.

‘Thank the gods, it’s here.’

She put her hand between the gloves piled up inside the drawer, and she could feel Arman’s blue ring. Touching the cold stone made her finally relax.

‘It would be better to get a box or something to put it in. Should I try to find a candy box?’

She suddenly yawned. She closed the drawer and rubbed her eyes. The bed covered with soft silk tempted her, but she didn’t lie on it and headed to the duke’s chamber instead.

‘This will be the first and the last time the wall will be opened, so I should look around here now.’

She fought her own eyelids that kept coming down against her will and looked around the duke’s chamber. Unlike the duchess’ chamber that was decorated splendidly, the duke’s chamber was too simple.

‘Is this the duke’s private study? I think his bedchamber is not directly linked to here. That’s good. Hmm, should I take a look at the study first?’

She took a quick tour around the room and headed to the mahogany desk. He probably worked even when he rested there, as there were ruler, ink, and pen on it. He probably had mysophobia or something.

Everything was in the right order, including the white paper. Rubica was about to move on when she spotted a word written on it.

‘Stella.’

One small word was written on the corner of the paper.

“What are you doing here?”

“Hup!”

Rubica was startled at hearing Edgar’s voice so suddenly. He was leaning against the wall and was looking at her.

She hadn’t known he would come so quickly. Most bridegrooms drank on and on with the guests till it was late at night. Her hair hadn’t fully dried yet and he was here already?

“Just looking around.”

“Looking around?”

“I was a little curious…”

A corner of Edgar’s lips curled up.
“You’re curious about me?”

“No, of course not!”

The corner of his lips went down, a little below its usual place.
“I was just wondering at which shop this mahogany desk was made.”

“Oh.”

Edgar shrugged as if saying he could understand that.
“Your father was a merchant, I see.”

He said that without giving much thought to it.

However, Rubica’s face turned red. Only then did he realize how what he just said must have sounded to her.

‘You’re wondering the price of a piece of furniture the second you arrive here? Typical daughter of a merchant.’

He really didn’t mean that. However, even he himself had to acknowledge that he had no right to think it was unfair because of the words he had said and the things he had done.

‘… I should just not say anything.’

He couldn’t think of a way to escape from the awkward mood, but he knew how not to make it even worse. It was to shut his mouth that blurted out things without much consideration.
With a firm expression, he took off his jacket and vest. Then, he started to undo the buttons of his sleeves.