Barbaric Spouse, Descry the Night's Lure-Chapter 179: Scene CLXXIX
“Gasp?! Shut up! May no one have heard you, dumb girl!” — Lifting her hand to threaten with a slap to the young servant, the old one’s eyes widened frightened of the ears on the wall. — “It is an open secret! Yet one we have forbidden to mention!”
"H-however..."
“... Young girl, you should listen to your elders.” — Suddenly, the voice of a woman joined their conversation.
’Hm? Darn... They’re in trouble, heh.’
Gilead laughed, who had remained behind the wall where he ate the fruit he had stolen while nonchalantly listening to the information the servants exchanged. Nonetheless, to the third woman’s appearance, the guard decided to peek into the kitchen to see who the new servant was.
“Not only if the Archdukes learned of your talks would it bring your death, but the Orteu’s would also ask for your necks for such indecent lies you spread.”
“! Y-you are the Orteu’s servant...”
“Kelly is the name. And I am certain that Lady Dina would not permit a servant’s fooleny.”
Unfolding her hand a recently cut piece of bread was handed to the dominant Kelly, looking condescendingly to the frightened women to then inquire when was the meal to be served.
The guard that had listened sat back on the seat he had found for himself, thinking carefreely about the news obtained, while curious of the turn the present had.
‘The Orteu’s Young lady is here, huh... what an occurrence...’
Recalling the few times he had found sight of Dina, Gilead pondered on the current matters as well as those he had witnessed.
‘... Is she aware?’ — He first questioned. — ‘Months went by and the barons had no way to come back and meet her... Does she know they were killed...?’
Commonly, the stays at remote lands were to be long and uneventful if no animosity was held between the guests and lords.
Gilead’s knowledge was aware of the relationship the Archduke and his previous Lord had, more so after witnessing their sentence. Yet as it was Baron Orteu’s daughter who had been mentioned, the guard doubted of her knowledge in such matters.
‘If she suspected, letters must have been sent to the Archduke’s home... which wouldn’t be answered of course.’ — Bothered by the possibility, Gilead stood and scratched his head at the complicated situation lady Dina should be in if correct. Sighing to himself as curiosity unsettled the guard.
The piece he had stolen from a friendly savage was then fiddled with as it remained in the pouch he had kept it in. Touching its small yet smooth shape, wondering if he was also to show it to the one who was its last owner’s daughter.
A slow and quiet stroll was taken that afternoon by the young guard, and as he paced, the sight of the baron’s servant was once again found, taking with her the food she had requested and was to serve her master along with the two palace’s servants she had reprimanded.
“Be careful not to drop anything.” — Gilead heard her say with anger from the distance. Sighing deeply to himself as he thought informing the woman was the correct thing to do after this scene was accidentally met... Always placing his own benefit on the balance, however.
‘She should know about it... If she can’t give money for it, at least I’ll have something she wants... and the Archduchess should also see it. I’m sure any of them would want this...’
The piece was such that he knew those coming from the Orteu’s household would seek it if aware of its existence. And so, it was at this time that he decided to follow the servant... only to learn the place where Dina was a guest and from that knowledge, find a moment to tell what she was probably still ignorant of.
“... Is there anything you wish to tell as I see you standing there, Kelly?”
“Y-yes, milady Dina. As you are aware, the Archdukes have arrived at the palace today.” — After her food had been served, Dina demanded from Kelly as her hesitant stare was enough a notice that there was something to be informed by the servant. — “I have learned of the whereabouts of their stay.”
“... Where are they?... After all, they are probably under the same roof his majesty rests, am I correct?” — With displeasure, the young lady asked. Scowling at her food as the subject made her bitter.
“... Indeed they are, milady.”
“... Alright, I am to go to them and demand an answer.”
“! Wait, please do not, milady Dina.” — Exalted by the quick determination of her Master, Kelly’s hands became a wall trying to stop Dina’s impulse. Provoking the glare of the lady to fall on the servant as such insolence was not to be allowed.
“What’s the meaning of this? You dare give me orders?? A mere servant?”
“?! No! Please milady, such would never be my intention!” — Frightened for she had already been punished before because of her poor ways of communication as her demeanour was imposing with a face older than her age and severe even as joyful, Kelly quickly tried to explain her true intentions in becoming an obstacle. Nervous, for even if reasonable she feared her motives could be useless in the eye of her master. — “This servant has taken her time and has gone to the doors where Their Graces are to rest... I have been told by that one who guards and serves that door that, none of the Archdukes would leave their chamber until tomorrow. He suggested not to intrude in their rest, for his Illustrious Grace appeared enraged while entering those doors as he dragged E-... the Archduchess with himself.” 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
“... You still call her by name.”
“... I-it is a habit I am to correct...”
“You should. And yet it’s been months and you haven’t. She is not a servant like you anymore... She never was. Nonetheless, you called her by name and still do so even as you deceived her without a hint of guilt.” — With spite, Dina talked down to the woman, with disdain and no respect for any emotion she could feel at the acts she implied. — “... Then. It is your suggestion for me to not confront them this moment? Is that it?”
“... Yes... The Archduke’s discontent... it is a dangerous precedent if milady is to go before him to demand what she desires...”
