Chapter 33: Did He Have a Wife?
You can learn a lot about someone from their belongings.
“Now this is scary. Are you telling me the Grand Duchess even informed you that I was married?”
“I figured it out from the ornament on your sword.”
His sword bore not only the imperial crest but also a tassel, intricately crafted and delicate. There’s no way the emperor would have attached something so ornate—and even less likely it came from a subordinate.
But from a wife? That would make sense.
“What if you hurt yourself with a sword your wife gave you to ensure your safety?”
“She’s a wife I’ve only met twice.”
I paused wrapping the cloth and looked up at him.
“In that case, you should’ve brought her here with you.”
Even if love triangles and drama were a headache, leaving your wife behind was going too far.
“You want me to live in this tent with my wife?”
“You could at least build a house!”
“You’re overreacting. It was a political marriage, anyway.”
At his indifferent reply, I shook my head. I suddenly felt a bit thankful for Hertian. Even though ours was a contract marriage, he still cared about my health and daily life—maybe too much, but still.
“My husband is the complete opposite of you.”
“…You have a husband?”
He asked without missing a beat.
“Of course! Look at my beauty. You think men would just leave me alone?”
I shrugged. His eyes closed slowly before reopening lazily.
“That’s true.”
I’d said it as a joke, but I didn’t expect him to agree.
“I was kidding. Don’t take it so seriously—it’s embarrassing.”
“I never lie.”
I laughed it off as his idea of a joke.
“Are you two close?”
That was a hard question.
We got along, but the relationship was artificially constructed.
“Well, it was a political marriage, too.”
I answered honestly. After all, here I was acting as the Grand Duchess.
Meanwhile, Jackson returned from a business trip and was shocked by Gilrota’s report.
“What? Madam resold the herbs she bought for 50 million gold… for 3 billion?!”
“Shhh! Lower your voice, Jackson!”
Gilrota shushed him frantically, worried someone might overhear.
“It’s a secret from the master.”
“Why? Didn’t she sign a contract already? I thought she was planning to tell him once the deal was done?”
Gilrota shook his head vigorously.
“It’s not over yet. The people from Kurcia insisted Madam teach the treatment personally.”
“And the Grand Duchess agreed?”
“Yes, she goes out every day, saying that’s the only way to make the 3 billion.”
Even though Jackson still looked confused, Gilrota explained everything that had happened.
“Okay, I get the situation. But doesn’t something feel off?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why is Madam so passionate about this business?”
Jackson couldn’t understand it.
“Didn’t she have enough budget?”
Living in the capital—no, as the Grand Duchess—her lifestyle was luxurious.
Fresh meat three times a day, new dresses from top boutiques every season… she lacked for nothing.
So why? What was missing?
“Actually…”
Gilrota hesitated, then began.
“Gilrota, please tell me everything. No secrets.”
Jackson grabbed his shoulder, determined to know the truth. Though they hadn’t told the Duke, Jackson was his direct superior, and Gilrota felt like he was walking on thin ice keeping it from him. Finally, the truth slipped out.
“It’s because of the repairs to the Grand Duke’s castle.”
“Repairs? Because the castle isn’t fancy enough? Well, it is a bit old.”
“No, that’s not it. The Grand Duchess doesn’t care about ornaments. But she said it was too cold and asked for repairs. When I told her the funds went to Kurcia and there was no budget, she launched the business.”
“So… she started a business to fix the castle?”
Jackson repeated it slowly. Then his eyes lit up with realization.
“No, wait.”
“Yes?”
“Think about it. Have you ever seen anyone start a business just because they were cold?”
“Hmm… No?”
“You and I have been living here for ten years, and we’ve never once set aside a budget for castle repairs.”
“That’s true.”
Jackson slung an arm around his shoulder and whispered.
“Would Madam be any different? Besides, she has clothes made of rabbit, fox, and squirrel fur, and a warm room. Would she start a whole business just because she’s cold?”
“Now that you mention it… she could’ve just bought more clothes.”
It made sense. Who starts a business because they’re chilly?
“There must be a hidden motive.”
“Ah!”
Of course—Jackson had a point! Gilrota felt all the confusion lift from his mind.
“Then why did Madam start the business?”
“Listen carefully, Gilrota.”
Jackson steadied his trembling voice and said:
“I think Madam… may have bigger ambitions than the Master.”
“Pardon?”
“Think about it. Even with her prophetic powers, she could’ve easily done business within the Empire. But she risked it all to extract 3 billion from the Kurcians. What does that tell you?”
“I’m not sure—oh!”
Gilrota gasped.
“Exactly. It means the Grand Duchess is trying to win the revenge the Emperor and the former Grand Duke never could.”
Jackson sniffed, his voice slightly choked.
He’d felt something different from the first time they met. When he asked about her smooth hands, she’d boldly proposed a business deal.
If someone with that drive had their people taken from them and did nothing—that wouldn’t make sense.
She was truly worthy of the Grand Duke.
Jackson’s heart swelled with pride.
“We may need to stockpile weapons… or even redraw the map!”
“I had no idea that was Madam’s intention…”
“She’s quite the strategist. But let’s keep playing dumb. That way, she’ll feel more comfortable.”
“Absolutely.”
Just then, the door creaked open.
Gilrota was the first to notice the man leaning on the doorframe.
“M-Master?”
There stood Hertian—someone who definitely shouldn’t have heard any of that. Arms crossed, he spoke in a low voice:
“I’ll give you a chance to report honestly.”
Three weeks passed.
Every day, I traveled to frontier villages to teach soldiers the treatment method.
And each time, I had to lie to Hertian.
“Heading out again today?”
“Yes. There are still some places left. I think I’ll be done in about a week.”
He just stared silently and nodded. At times, I wondered if he already knew and just chose not to say anything.
But that couldn’t be.
If he knew, he would’ve stopped me.
Then the study door burst open, and the butler ran in.
“Master, Madam! There’s a guest at the castle.”
“A guest? We didn’t invite anyone.”
“It’s Prince Serdis.”
An uninvited guest.
Our eyes met, and I sighed.
“Looks like I won’t be going out today.”
Since coming to Blandeche, I hadn’t heard that name in a while.
“Prince Serdis.”
“Anette. Long time no see.”
I never imagined I’d see him all the way in the North.
Apparently, neither did Hertian. He glared stiffly at Serdis.
We could’ve kicked out the uninvited guest right away—if not for the woman trailing behind him.
“Lady Violette.”
I remembered inviting her to the territory but hadn’t expected her to arrive with Serdis.
I looked between the two, a bit thrown off. They didn’t seem close. More like Serdis had stubbornly followed her.
With a weary expression, I gave up.
“Come in, then.”
The four of us sat awkwardly in the drawing room. This marriage only happened because of Serdis, after all.
“Lady Violette!”
Just then, Riri burst in, breaking the silence. She sat beside Violette, speaking familiarly.
“You didn’t mention you were coming north. How did you get here?”
“Riri. It’s been a while.”
They must’ve known each other. Her expression was much friendlier than when she spoke to me.
I turned my attention to Serdis.
What’s he scheming now?
He wouldn’t come to this remote northern land for no reason. Whether to spy on us or with another agenda—there had to be a motive.
“To what do we owe the pleasure, Your Highness?”
“I was curious how you were doing. The North is just as bleak and cold as they say. Even the castle’s rough.”
He pretended to innocently look around.
“Well, now that you’ve seen how we’re doing, you should have dinner and head back. If you leave tonight, you’ll make it back by tomorrow afternoon.”
“Anette. Marriage’s made you so prickly. Did you two have a falling out?”
Hertian slammed down his glass.
I glanced at him and replied. We hadn’t spoken much since that day. He still held me warmly at night, but only after returning late.
This wasn’t how I wanted things to be.
I just didn’t want him to be more exhausted because of me.
But the relationship had gone cold overnight. It was too late to take back what I’d said—at least until the deal was done.
“You sound like you’re hoping we fell out.”
Hertian’s voice cut through my thoughts. Serdis shrugged and replied smoothly.
“Come on. That hurts. I genuinely congratulated you—before the wedding, during it. Don’t you remember?”
“I do.”
I answered.
“So much so that I didn’t even notice there was poison in the Empress’s cup. I almost drank it myself.”
I brought up the incident on purpose. I wanted him to know I was aware of what he did—that it was time for him to leave.
But Serdis wasn’t the type to back down that easily.
“Exactly. That caused me a lot of trouble too. Why was it only in Mother’s cup? Makes you wonder if someone had it out for her.”
Feigning innocence, he tried to pin the blame on someone else.
“There was only one person in that room who could’ve done it. Don’t you agree?”
