TGDHC Chapter 105

Chapter 105 — Quick Thinking

“What exactly is a shuttle carriage?”

One of the Rondoris merchants had asked the question without much thought.

“You know that a new shopping district was built in Blenheim, correct?”

The merchant nodded. He had heard rumors that the Grand Duchess had played a big role in creating it.

“Since the district is so large, we operate carriages that circulate from the main gate to the west, north, and central gates, carrying customers around.”

“Does that make money?” the merchant asked with interest.

“The shuttle service is free.”

“Free? Why? Is it some kind of charity?”

“No. The operating costs are covered by the shopping district’s management office.”

“And what’s that?”

The merchant’s questions kept coming, and soon the whole delegation was listening intently.

“You’ll see when you visit the district,” Perel answered lightly.

“Once you see it, you’ll have even more questions.”

It was surprising to hear Perel speak so confidently, since he was normally so cautious during negotiations.

“I… I see,” the merchant muttered awkwardly, nodding.

Count Paccio clicked his tongue inwardly.

He had gone through the trouble of changing the schedule and creating trouble, yet it felt like the Duchess’s side had taken control of the situation instead.

Even after entering the castle, his sense of discomfort didn’t go away.

The old, barren castle was gone.

Inside, it had been transformed completely—bright rooms with soft bedding, cool lace curtains, and cheerful cushions.

Fruit and his favorite light wine had been prepared in advance, perfectly chilled.

Paccio gazed out the window at the blooming garden, suppressing his admiration.

‘There’s no way the Grand Duke suddenly became this refined.’

‘Could this be the Grand Duchess’s doing?’

Well, she was a marquis’s daughter after all. It wasn’t impossible she’d been trained to manage such things.

‘Looks like I underestimated the daughter of Fraise.’

Still, her weaknesses would eventually show.

She was young and had little real social experience. Leading diplomatic conversations at a formal banquet wouldn’t be so easy.

‘Tonight, before the Duke returns, I must find an opportunity to break her confidence.’

Sipping his wine, he smirked to himself.

Inside her room, Janet bit her lip nervously and carefully locked the door.

‘The delegation’s already here?’

She hadn’t even finished making a plan yet.

She double-checked that no one else was inside, then pulled a small case from her bag. Inside was a fine, brownish powder.

Black Caribein.

It was made from dried petals of a poisonous plant that caused severe stomach pains.

If she managed to slip it into the delegation’s meal, they’d all be bedridden for a day or two.

And if they got offended and decided to end negotiations early? That would be a huge success.

‘And tonight the Duke isn’t here.’

Security would be weaker, making it the perfect chance.

All she needed was to get it into the food somehow…

Click.

She froze. Someone was turning the doorknob.

Knock, knock.

Then came an impatient knock.

‘Tch. Don’t they ever give me a moment alone?’

“It’s your meal, my lady,” came the maid’s voice.

Annoyed, Janet yanked the door open.

“It’s not even dinner time yet. What meal?”

Leta, the maid, calmly replied without a change of expression:

“The kitchen is busy tonight, so I was ordered to deliver your dinner early.”

Janet’s eyes narrowed.

Busy? That must mean they were preparing the delegation’s banquet right now.

‘Maybe this is the perfect chance.’

“Take me to the kitchen.”

Leta’s face stiffened.

“And why would you…?”

Slap!

Janet’s hand flew before she even finished speaking.

“Do I need to report everything I do to a mere maid?”

She had once treated even Annette like she was nothing. A single maid was no obstacle.

The guard standing nearby frowned in pity at Leta’s red cheek.

“You’ll need Her Highness’s permission first,” Leta said steadily.

“It’s for Lord Raphael’s meal. I need to speak to the head chef. I’ll inform Her Highness afterward.”

“Tell me instead. I’ll pass it to the kitchen.”

“How dare a maid discuss the safety of a marquis’s son? Why should I trust you?”

Clutching the little case in her sleeve, Janet pushed to see the chef immediately.

“Lord Raphael has an allergy to shellfish? I never heard of that.”

In the kitchen, Chef Berni stirred a sauce with his thick arm.

“Yesterday morning he had clam soup and finished it completely.”

The kitchen was chaos.

With the banquet moved up and the guest list enlarged, they were overwhelmed.

‘Of all times, why now?’

Still, Berni gave a quick nod.

“Alright. From now on, we’ll leave shellfish out of his meals.”

But Janet lingered, not leaving.

“Do you have more to say?” Berni asked, impatient.

The guard and Leta were standing beside her, blocking the staff’s movements.

A pot of hot water sat on the counter, waiting for vegetables. Berni reached out nervously, fearing it might spill—

“No,” Janet said curtly.

She spun around roughly, bumping Leta with her shoulder.

“Careful—!”

Leta stumbled against the counter. The pot tipped, spilling hot water over her hands and arms.

The guard yanked her back, but it was too late.

“Ahh!” Leta gasped, clutching her red, burning skin.

“Ice! Quickly!” Berni barked, dropping his ladle to check her arm.

“Are you alright?”

“I… I’m fine.”

But her skin was already swelling.

‘She’ll scar if we don’t treat this fast.’

If the Grand Duchess were here, she’d summon the physician immediately. Berni hesitated, wondering if he should go to Whitley for help.

Then came Janet’s voice, annoyingly calm:

“Well, you should’ve been careful.”

Her face showed no guilt—if anything, she seemed amused.

“Guard, I’ll go back now.”

Ignoring the furious glares of Berni and the other maids, Janet walked out without a second glance.

Loic frowned as he read the urgent report delivered by magic courier.

The delegation had arrived early.

“Paccio, that slippery snake.”

Obviously, this was his attempt to trouble Annette while Loic was away.

‘But Annette won’t just sit back and take it.’

Still, his heart was restless.

“Pack up the camp. We’re returning to the castle immediately.”

The knights, who had just finished setting up, twitched at the order.

‘Even if we leave now, we won’t arrive until midnight.’

‘Wouldn’t it be better to rest tonight and leave at dawn?’

They glanced hopefully at their senior, Drimich.

But Drimich said firmly:

“If we ride at full speed, we can make it back by moonrise.”

‘Damn it.’

The knights swallowed curses.

Drimich loved these kinds of exhausting challenges.

“Will that be alright?” Johas asked carefully.

He glanced at the priest sitting miserably in a corner.

Dragged from his temple last night by the Duke’s “request,” the priest was now bound to live in the castle for a time.

Officially, he was “blessing the pious Duke.”

But in truth, after learning secrets he’d rather not know, the poor man was terrified he’d be trapped in the castle for life.

‘Should I try to escape now?’ he thought miserably.

“Someone carry him,” Loic said casually.

The knights looked away instantly.

None of them wanted to ride for hours with another man clinging to their back.

“Leon,” Loic said at last.

The others sighed with relief as Leon groaned and began helping the priest.

“Oh, and put that on my horse,” Loic added, pointing to a wooden box beside the priest’s luggage.

“What is it?”

“A gift.”

All eyes turned to the long box, about the size to hold wine bottles.

‘A gift? For who? Could it be for Her Highness? What’s inside?’

The knights were dying of curiosity, but Loic offered no explanation. He simply mounted his horse with a cold expression.