TGDHC Chapter 116

Chapter 116 – A Personal Opinion

Following two knights down the dark, spiral staircase, Meisel wrinkled her nose.
The damp, musty smell of the underground assaulted her senses.

‘This dress cost a fortune!’

She lifted the hem of her skirt high, terrified that the dirty floor might stain it.
All the jewels on her body sparkled under the dim torchlight of the dungeon—it looked more eerie than elegant.

As they walked deeper into the corridor, a thin figure appeared behind the thick iron bars.

“Nanny? Are you there?”

When Meisel stepped closer, there was a clanging sound. Out of the shadows, Marzella appeared.

“My lady?”

In just one day, her face had become pale and hollow. She reached desperately through the bars.

“My lady, please… please get me out of here.”

Meisel hesitated but eventually took Marzella’s dirty hand awkwardly. The knights stood too close for her to ignore it completely.

“It’s freezing in here. There are rats, too…”

“Rats?”

Meisel’s voice shot up in alarm.

“Since yesterday, I’ve only had one bowl of soup,” Marzella whispered hoarsely, her cracked lips trembling. “I’m starving.”

“Nanny, why did you do such a thing?”

“…What?”

“Even if you hated Her Grace, how could you? And how could you use the brooch I gave you for something like that?”

Suddenly, Marzella’s eyes flashed with resentment.

“My lady… are you abandoning me?”

“Abandoning you? How could I do that?”

“Then please, get me out of here.”

“I don’t have that kind of power.”

Meisel said softly and gave her nanny a small, meaningful glance.

“…?”

“But if you show remorse and repent, I’m sure His Grace will show mercy.”

“But, my lady…”

Seeing her panic, Meisel took a blanket from the basket she had brought.
But one of the knights immediately stepped forward, blocking her.

“What are you doing?”

“It’s just a blanket. I only want to give her this.”

“This isn’t an inn, my lady. Not allowed.”

“She’s old! If she freezes to death down here, will you take responsibility?”

Meisel snapped, raising her voice.

The other knight narrowed his eyes.

“Hand it here. We must check if there’s anything suspicious hidden inside.”

“It’s just a blanket!”

Meisel unfolded it herself and waved it around to show them.

“Sir Hedrick gave permission!”

At the mention of the vice-captain’s name, the knights finally relented.

“Nanny, it’s cold at night. Make sure you cover yourself with this,” Meisel said as she handed the blanket through the bars.

She subtly pointed at one corner of it with her eyes.

“Th… thank you, my lady.”

Marzella clutched the blanket tightly. Her eyes widened slightly as her fingers brushed the corner Meisel had indicated.

“Just do as I told you. You’ll be free soon,” Meisel whispered.

She straightened her back to leave—

“S-sir Knight!”

A loud clanging came from the next cell, and a woman suddenly pressed her face against the bars.

“Why haven’t I been interrogated yet?”

“Quiet!”

The knight banged his sword against the bars.

“Kyaa!”

The woman screamed, then leaned forward again stubbornly.

“I’ve been locked up here forever! Did everyone just forget about me?”

She shouted, her voice full of frustration.

“Do you even know who I am? I served Her Grace the Grand Duchess when she was still a young lady!”

‘She was the Grand Duchess’s maid? Why is she here, then?’

The knights ignored her as if they were used to the noise and began walking out.
The woman, however, quickly turned her desperate eyes toward Meisel.

“You there, young lady! You know Her Grace, don’t you? Tell her that Janet has something important to say! If you deliver my message, she’ll agree to see me!”

‘Why should I?’

I already have enough of my own problems.

Just looking at her dirty sleeves made Meisel’s nose wrinkle.

She scoffed and followed the knights out of the prison without a word.

“I’m innocent! I don’t even know why I’m here! How can I explain myself if no one tells me my crime?!”

Janet’s angry cries echoed hollowly through the dungeon.

Count Paccio of the envoy delegation walked with Loic through a small garden near the guest palace.

“Did you enjoy the shopping district yesterday?”

Paccio nodded politely.

“Her Grace herself guided me.”

Loic’s lips curved upward in a faint smile.

“How was it?”

“You’re quite mischievous, Your Grace.”

Paccio gave a wry smile.

“Do you really need to hear it from me?”

“You’re an honest man, Paccio. I can’t miss the chance to hear an objective opinion,” Loic said with a teasing grin, hands clasped behind his back.

“Over lunch, several merchants said something interesting,” Paccio replied. “They called it the downfall of Rondoris.”

He glanced at the garden full of Nephras flowers.

“They said all the summer tourists will flock here instead.”

“They’re exaggerating,” Loic said—though the amusement on his face betrayed his pride.

It was a polite denial; even Paccio could tell.

Having seen the impressive shopping district himself, he decided to speak honestly.

“The fountain show and the carousel… even I couldn’t help but be impressed.”

“All of that was my wife’s idea,” Loic said proudly.

“She seems very knowledgeable about commerce.”

“She practically designed the entire district herself,” Loic said, unable to hide his smile.

“She’s so clever and creative that the officials working with her can barely keep up.”

“That remarkable?”

“And she has such a kind heart, too… Did you see the children’s play area? After visiting the orphanage, she worried that children had nowhere to play. When she planned the district, that was her first concern.”

He licked his lips as if there was still so much more to brag about.

“You know the orphanage built a few years ago? She visited it right after arriving in Blenheim—no one even asked her to. She bought all the toys herself using her own private funds…!”

He was still talking enthusiastically when he caught sight of Paccio’s stiff expression and quickly cleared his throat.

“She’s… more than I deserve,” he muttered.

“Your Grace,” Paccio said quietly, lowering his voice. “There’s something I must tell you regarding that.”

He glanced around to make sure no one was near.

“When winter comes, the Queen’s mourning period will end.”

Loic’s expression hardened immediately.

“You remember our prior agreement concerning your marriage, don’t you?”

“…”

“Princess Felianes asked me to confirm whether your earlier promise still stands.”

“I’m already married.”

“And you also said you would divorce within a year.”

A bird fluttered suddenly from a nearby bush.

Loic looked toward it and spoke in a low voice.

“If you’re bringing this up now, it means even you realize the situation has changed.”

“I have heard rumors that things between you two seem… different.”

Paccio rubbed his forehead awkwardly.

“When I saw you rushing to Her Grace by the lake yesterday, it made me think a lot. What do you plan to do, Your Grace?”

Loic stayed silent.

“If you’re no longer considering a divorce, then I must think carefully about what to report to the princess.”

“The divorce…”

He looked down at the slightly drooping Nephras flowers.

Then, in a firm voice, he said,

“The only Grand Duchess of Blenheim is Annette Blenheim.”

No one could ever replace her.

His fist tightened.

“Forgive me, Your Grace, but didn’t you once pursue the royal marriage to free yourself from the Empire and the Marquis of Freis’s influence?”

Paccio frowned slightly.

“Surely you haven’t forgotten whose daughter the Grand Duchess is.”

“You’re being too nosy, Count.”

“…I apologize.”

“I won’t change my mind,” Loic said firmly.

Paccio looked at him for a moment, then said in a slightly lighter tone,

“That was the Foreign Minister speaking just now. But if I may speak personally…”

Loic arched an eyebrow.

“You have a personal opinion?”

“As someone who’s watched you for many years, yes.”

Paccio gave him a teasing smile.

“I sincerely hope you don’t let Her Grace go.”

“…What?”

“Just look around, Your Grace. Everything here has changed.”

He looked around the bright, flower-filled garden.

“A blooming garden in the north—before this, I’d forgotten such a thing was even possible.”

“Be quiet.”

Loic brushed his fringe with a slightly embarrassed look.

“Even Blenheim itself feels different now,” Paccio continued, thinking of the laughter and cheers he’d heard near the lake the night before.

“But the greatest change is in you, Your Grace.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. It seems the sun has finally reached the north.”

Loic didn’t deny it—he just smiled, a little flustered.

Watching him, Paccio felt both pleased and conflicted.

He had known the lonely Duke since Loic was ten years old, so seeing him finally find a partner was heartwarming.

But the thought of what he would have to tell the waiting Princess Felianes back in Rondoris filled him with dread.