~Chapter 57~
It was a refreshing morning.
I forgot all about crying like the saddest person in the world last night.
How could I not? Baldwin and I skipped dinner and were completely lost in each other, falling asleep like we fainted.
I couldn’t think about anything else.
If Baldwin’s plan was to help me forget, it worked perfectly.
We were about to have breakfast on the balcony. Baldwin said he’d be a bit late, so I waited for him with my coffee.
A letter from the Ministry of Justice arrived, as if to bless the new day.
It was a document with my name and Egbert’s name written side by side.
There was also a letter inside the envelope.
Lawyer Lorexer.
I remembered him because Egbert had hired him recently.
The letter started with long, apologetic words. The lawyer said he had quit working for Egbert and managed to settle everything quietly because the Minister of Justice was his relative.
[“…So I’m dropping the lawsuit, and I ask for your understanding, Your Grace the Grand Duchess.
—Lawyer Lorexer.”]
I was finishing the last line when Baldwin’s face appeared over my letter. His usual gentle smile was on his bright face.
Baldwin looked at me, asking with his eyes what I was reading.
“A letter from the Ministry of Justice. And this is the letter that came with it.”
I handed Baldwin Lorexer’s handwritten letter. He sat down and read it.
While he read, I checked the official document.
I made sure it had the right signatures and the Minister’s seal.
[Notice: The case has been closed due to withdrawal of the lawsuit.]
My hand shook.
Egbert’s defeat was only natural. His claims were ridiculous, and everyone knew I was innocent.
Lorexer probably knew it, too.
But the world wasn’t always on my side. Even Janus said court verdicts sometimes made no sense.
That lawsuit had a huge effect on my marriage.
I looked up at Baldwin.
He was looking back at me gently.
It was unfair, but right after marrying Baldwin, I finally got this notice. I didn’t have to do anything. The scared lawyer just gave up.
Even the powerful Graham Marquis couldn’t win against the Constantine Duke. Egbert always acted tough behind my back, but in front of Baldwin, he was as quiet as a lamb.
I felt empty inside.
Egbert was always weak against stronger people. To him, I was just a bug he could crush with a flick of his finger.
But at the same time, I felt happy. It was proof I made the right choice.
Seeing Baldwin’s gentle face, I felt a strong sense of victory.
Egbert probably still curses me.
Maybe he thinks I’m an evil woman who stole his things. But now, I was with Baldwin.
With a man who was a gift.
I folded the documents and put them on the table.
“Ella, burn these for me, please.”
“Yes, Your Grace!”
Ella, who was serving us, answered happily. She stuffed the papers into her apron and stepped back.
I looked back at Baldwin.
“Baldwin.”
He smiled softly at me.
“I always knew the world was unfair. But…”
Baldwin tilted his head.
“I’m glad you’re here in this unfair world.”
I meant it with all my heart.
If Baldwin hadn’t shown up when he did, I’d probably be in another hell right now.
Maybe I would’ve gone back to Egbert, or be married to a man three times my age.
But now, I was pretty happy.
“Thank you, Baldwin.”
He took my hand. Baldwin opened my palm and traced letters with his long finger.
[Anna. I’m glad too.]
“But I didn’t do anything…”
I felt like crying again, though I’m not usually so emotional.
Baldwin kissed my fingertips. His red lips covered my index and middle fingers.
“Baldwin…!”
Ella gasped and ran out of the sunroom. My cheeks burned with embarrassment. I tried to pull my hand back, but Baldwin held on tighter.
He opened my palm and traced letters again.
[Don’t forget that I’m always by your side.]
I bit my lip and nodded.
It was a childish thought, but maybe he really was my guardian angel.
We were truly on the same side now. In a way, we were perfect business partners, too.
I was glad this marriage wasn’t hell for us.
I was so glad I wasn’t Baldwin’s misfortune.
Today was the second lesson day.
What would they make me do this time?
Now I was even a little curious.
Instead of clearing my schedule and waiting for them, I wrote a letter to the director of Sezares Hospital.
I wrote that I’d visit next Monday.
I had to get my father and mother out of Sezares Hospital before Egbert did something.
Or I needed to stop Egbert from interfering at the hospital.
The director wouldn’t refuse my meeting after seeing my letter.
I sealed the envelope and handed it to Ella.
“When the postman comes, send it by express mail.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“And in the afternoon…”
“Are you going to wear those high-heeled shoes and dance again today?”
Ella asked with a fierce look.
Sometimes, Ella felt more like a big sister. She often showed her teeth to protect me.
I shook my head.
“I don’t think so. They told me to wear an outdoor dress today.”
That was the duchess’s order.
“The Duke knows about all this too, right?”
I nodded.
For the first time, I saw Baldwin off in the morning because our schedules matched.
Baldwin looked back at me several times, not trusting me to stay at home alone.
He promised not to interfere, but he really hated me going through all this.
“Nothing will happen. It was fine before too.”
“That wasn’t fine, Your Grace! Your legs were so swollen, and your heels were all bruised!”
Ella shook with anger.
But this kind of predictable bullying was nothing. Unexpected, sneaky wounds hurt more.
Wounds that seemed healed could still be poked open again. Egbert was that kind of wound for me.
Compared to Egbert, these people were nothing.
“Compared to the Graham Marquis, this is nothing. Emotional wounds are worse than physical ones.”
“…Even so…”
Ella sighed deeply.
“I just wish you didn’t have to go through things like this, Your Grace.”
I gave a small laugh.
As long as I was part of Estus’s noble society, I could never fully escape.
Unless I changed my family or the parents I was born to, things like this would always happen.
“Get used to it, Ella.”
Ella sighed.
“I’ll do my best to dress you up. I’ll pick the best outdoor dress we have. Please wait, Your Grace.”
“Don’t overdo it. No matter what I wear, they’ll find something to criticize.”
I said it calmly.
These people gathered just to bully me. Better to not waste my energy and get criticized than try hard and still get criticized.
“Anyway, what about the thing I asked for?”
“I should find out soon. I’m meeting that person this weekend.”
Ella’s eyes sparkled.
“Really? Then soon… this will all be over.”
Ella smiled brightly at my words.
What I asked Ella to do was get evidence of Count Crenbell’s gambling.
Ella was friends with a maid who worked at an illegal gambling house.
Crenbell’s gambling was already rumored in the finance world.
Bankers are more sensitive to money than anyone. Even those who ran illegal gambling houses worked in banking.
So everyone knew the count lost all his fortune gambling. That’s why the countess was so desperate.
Even though I was the Grand Duchess of Constantine, she still rushed at me like a moth to a flame.
If I take down the countess, the others will stop. This is a warning for them.
If the duchess and Lady Gwenndolyn don’t stop even then—
Next will be Lady Gwenndolyn.
In the end, even the duchess won’t escape my blade.
I’ve never fought a fight I couldn’t win.
