How To End This Marriage-Chapter 119: Tea Party Tales: Unraveling Threads

"How are you now, Your Highness? The last time I saw you, you attended the meeting hall. I assume you’re no longer sick," I remarked cautiously.

"I might be sick, but I can’t lie in bed all day without doing anything. Hence, I decided to attend the meeting with the emperor. However, I noticed how promptly you presented your own issues. Frankly, I felt disappointed to see how you continually fail in your duties as a duchess," she said, causing me to clench my fist in frustration.

"If I were in your position, I would have handled things differently. I would have addressed the issues before they were pointed out by others. Isn’t that the responsibility of a duchess?" she continued, implying that Abila would have managed the role better than me.

"Yes, Your Highness, you would have handled the situation better than the current duchess did," one of the members chimed in, stealing a glance at me.

"I’m not trying to make you feel bad, Duchess," the princess claimed, acting like the victim.

"It’s okay, Princess. After all, it’s just a thought, a made-up scenario. It’s not like you’ve become the duchess," I replied with a smile. I noticed her clenching her teeth aggressively, confirming my suspicions.

As I analyzed the situation, it became clear that the duchess wanted the princess to become her daughter-in-law and needed someone to secure the position. I had unwittingly become the scapegoat due to the princess’s health issues. The pressure was palpable, and it seemed like both sides were conspiring to discard me. This tea party wasn’t a warm welcome but a deliberate plan to assert the princess’s dominance.

"Maid! Where is my ashtray? Do you wish to be fired?" the princess erupted in anger.

"Here it is, Princess!" the maid nervously presented the ashtray.

"Do you think I’m blind? I can’t see," she shouted again, rising aggressively and hurling the hot cup of tea at the maid.

"This is your place. You’ve been given a position to work well, so do so unless you want to understand how dire your situation is and where you came from," she declared, looking at me, fueling my anger.

"Princess, I don’t think you should treat the maid like this!" I exclaimed, rising from my seat and approaching the maid.

"Your Highness, she earned this position on her own merit, not through recommendation. Speaking ill of her receiving it through recommendation doesn’t reflect well on you," I said, smiling.

"If you can’t see the ashtray, it’s not her fault. You’re unwell, Your Highness, and such reactions may be a result of prolonged illness," I added, patting her shoulder, intensifying her anger.

"It could be the reason, Duchess!" she retorted through gritted teeth.

"You can go now! Don’t show me your face any longer," the princess ordered the maid, and I returned to my seat, now able to hear the gossip more clearly.

"The war has started!" I overheard them speaking.

"I don’t understand how the duchess has remained oblivious to the princess’s affection for the duke. Why has she been silent for so long when she should have spoken up against this?" another voice remarked.

"Maybe she has been kept in the dark about it all this while," someone speculated.

"Duchess, isn’t it lonely in Ablia? I’ve heard people don’t show much respect to you," the princess chimed in.

"Yes, princess. That’s true," I responded calmly.

"Perhaps it’s because the empire has spoiled them?" I suggested, raising an eyebrow.

"What do you mean, duchess?" she inquired.

"It’s a well-known fact. They are spoiled because the duke is rarely present in Ablia. They never got the chance to be disciplined. If the duke were more present, I doubt anyone would be disrespectful toward his wife," I emphasized the word ’wife’ pointedly.

"Wife!" I heard her mutter.

"Yes, with a husband’s presence, no one could do anything to his wife," I added with a smile.

"As the duke loves me more than anything," I said, lifting my eyes slightly, noticing her tight grip on her cup in anger.

"Who knows, duchess! My cousin can be quite cold," she commented.

"Is that so? I’ve never felt that way. He is actually quite warm," I replied.

"He asks me every time how I’m doing, cares about me, and respects my opinion. And he’s very romantic too," I revealed, recalling the kisses he left on my neck when he departed for war. My face flushed in front of everyone.

"Oh god! Look at the duchess’s face! It’s turned red. Something must have happened to make her blush like this," one of them remarked.

"Yes, the duke must be so romantic!" they whispered, making me realize I had won this battle with my own language.

"I think the tea party should end here," the princess declared, rising from her seat.

"I’m not feeling well, so I would like to go rest. If you want to stay, you can. I have no worries," she said, walking toward the palace.

"Of course, we will stay! We have a lot to ask about from the duchess," they said, circling me and making me gasp.

"What do you want to know? I don’t think I have anything you all want to know," I said, trying to push myself behind.

"Don’t be shy, duchess! Tell us about your moments with the duke. We only know the cold side of the duke, but we’ve never heard anything romantic. We’ve never even heard of him being romantically involved with anyone. So, we’re curious. Enlighten us!" they insisted, and my face flushed once again.

"I don’t think he is that cold," I said, avoiding their gaze.

"Tell us more! How was your first night? Is it passionate, or is it just like any other, over as soon as it begins?" they asked, making my flush intensify.

How could I admit that nothing like that had ever happened? He came to my room, but he never came closer to me. How could I say he never once approached me except for the last time I saw him? How could I admit that I’m still a virgin after four years of marriage, and I’ve never experienced the feelings of a married woman?

"He was beyond romantic," I lied.

"He keeps me up all night!" I blurted out without fully understanding the emotions behind my words.

"Ohhh, the duke is not what we thought!" they all gasped in surprise.

"Yes, the empire only labeled him as a monster, but look at the color of the duchess’s face. No one could say she regrets marrying the duke. She is blushing. She is shining. She is glowing just at the mention of the duke," they exclaimed, making me blush even more.

I wondered what would happen once he returns. Will he come to my room just like that day but not leave so early, instead staying behind, loving me all night, proving that he loves me only? I pondered, but I’m not sure. Soon, the women around me began taking their share of food, leaving me alone, and that’s when my maid seized the opportunity to approach me.

"Duchess, are you okay?" she asked.

"Did anyone disrespect you?" she inquired, making me chuckle.

"No one did anything to me. They only talked to me. They became such good friends to me, which I never expected. Isn’t it good?" I said.

"Oh, that is so good. I’m glad, Duchess!!" she exclaimed, sighing in relief.

After a while, the tea party concluded, and I once again boarded the carriage, preparing to return to Ablia. However, one of the tea party members approached me and handed me something while I was lost in thought.

"A handkerchief?" I said.

"Yes, Duchess. It was really nice to meet you and see you. This is the handkerchief I made myself, so I hope you will love it too. Consider it a gift from me to you, celebrating the establishment of friendship between us," she said, blushing, and then ran off as soon as she finished her words.

"Such a cute person I have found," I smiled, watching her run like a rabbit.

I’m not sure which family she is from or whether she is married or unmarried, but she looks younger than me. Nevertheless, I’m glad I made a friend.

"Madam, the carriage is all ready. Let us return!!!" my maid said, escorting me into the carriage.

"Driver, start driving!" I ordered, and the carriage began moving, allowing my thoughts to once again consume me. The thought was lingering in my mind for a long while, but these ladies made it harder to focus. It is the duke’s thought. When is he coming back? Is he not sending me letters, or am I just failing to receive them? I can’t figure out the reason, but I want to know. I want to know every detail about him, and my mind is going crazy with thoughts of him.

"Madam, what is it? Are you feeling bad?" my maid asked, noticing the sadness on my face.

"No, everything is fine," I smiled, assuring her.