Chapter 68
Janice, who hadnāt slept a wink, stared at the dawn sky.
One thing she realized from this whole situation was that the Dukeās affection for the Duchess was deeper than she had expected.
ā…Cassius is testing me.ā
Now she understood.
Cassius didnāt give her the responsibility of managing things because he cared for her. He was watching to see what she would do.
A chill ran through her.
āI need to be more cautious for a while.ā
Everything started to go wrong when Charlotte began to change. Janice frowned.
āI thought the medicine was working. Damn it.ā
She bit her nails in frustration.
If everything had gone according to Janiceās plan, Theo would have died, and Charlotte would have been blamed for it. The North would have been neatly resolved.
Then, the vacant position of the Duchess would have been filled by Lorencia.
“Tch.”
Janice lowered her hand. As she turned her head, Lorenciaās overly beautiful figure caught her eye.
Janice thought that, as a man, Cassius would surely be attracted to Lorencia, but he didnāt seem to care much at all.
“Iāll have to come up with something,” Janice muttered, pressing her temples as a headache set in.
She stepped out into the morning dew, leaving the mansion. She was on her way to deliver the last will of Count Mers.
Since the sun hadn’t fully risen yet, the streets were empty.
Janice went to the shabby inn where Count Mersā family was staying. They hadnāt been able to sleep either.
“Who are you to come and speak of my husband’s fate?”
“I cannot reveal my identity,” Janice replied, pulling her hood lower.
“I was once acquainted with Count Mers, and Iāve come to deliver his last will.”
“Fine, speak.”
The woman, who had once been the Countās wife, spoke. Despite the rough situation, she still carried herself with the noble beauty of her past.
āI wonder how long itāll take for her to fall from grace,ā Janice thought, swallowing a laugh.
“He asked that you not forget him. He sacrificed himself for our family…”
“Crazy bastard.”
The woman spat angrily.
“For our family? That bastard was just fulfilling his own desires! Do you think I didnāt know about the young girls he was fooling around with behind our backs? Now he talks about family?”
The womanās rage made Janice take a step back.
“Is that all?”
“ā¦Wouldnāt you want to get revenge on Duke Cassius, on the Duke’s family?”
Janice asked in a strangely low voice. The woman scoffed.
“I donāt know what kind of nonsense that is. Duke Istheria was always fair and never strayed from the right path. Heās the justice that protects the North, a living god!”
The womanās voice grew more intense. She lowered her voice again, as though trying not to disturb the children sleeping in the room.
“I wonāt betray him! Iām not like my stupid husband!”
Janice clicked her tongue inwardly. The woman was far too rational when what she was needed was a soul full of hatred and revenge.
“I plan to follow my fatherās wishes and move to my fief. Luckily, Duke Istheria has shown mercy and left my status intact, so I can start anew. These children will now carry my name. I never want to be involved with that man again! Donāt come looking for me again.”
Janice stood up at the woman’s cold rejection and left the inn.
“Hmm.”
She looked up at the inn. Normally, after such an event, people would look for someone to blame, but the belief the Northern people had in Istheria was almost religious. Even the dying Count Mers hadn’t shown any hatred for the Duke.
There was no sign of the negative emotions she needed. Janice scratched her chin.
“This North is really strange.”
She sighed.
She ended up with nothing, losing everything. But no, she did learn that even Cassius, who she raised, doubted her, so it wasn’t a complete loss. It seemed she would have to wait for Count Solovis.
He would bring a new wind to the North.
—
Meanwhile, in the Imperial Palace,
The young Emperor, Carlos, leaned back in his chair with a bored expression.
“The people of the North are so lazy, Your Majesty. After sending the request for support, the North is still standing strong, arenāt they? There must have been complaints.”
Count Solovis raised his voice among the noblemen who were discussing the matter, seeing the North as a tasty piece of meat.
“Istheria isn’t doing its job properly! If I were Duke Istheria, I would have torn apart those filthy monsters!”
“Ah, enough now. Iāve already ignored the support requests as per your wishes. Besides, Iāve heard that even the lords near Istheria have refused their requests. Istheria will come to its senses soon enough.”
Carlos said indifferently. Before the late Emperor passed away, he left a last word:
“You can replace everyone else. Theyāre all the same, Carlos. But not Istheria. Never touch the North.”
Carlos had kept those words in his heart. Thatās why, even if he ignored and turned his back on the North, he had no intention of interfering with Istheria.
“ā¦How about I go take a look, Your Majesty?”
Count Solovis interjected at the right moment.
“Everyone is worried about the North, so Iāll go check it out. My daughter is currently the mistress of Istheria, so it will be a good excuse.”
“Oh.”
“I will thoroughly investigate Istheria and return, Your Majesty.”
“Hmm.”
Carlos licked his lips.
He wouldnāt touch Istheria, but he wanted to keep its power in check.
That’s why he had wanted to place a central noble in charge of the North, and Count Solovis had caught his attention. It was said that the late Count Solovis had even made a verbal engagement with the previous Duke of Istheria.
The marriage was a convenient excuse, and it helped prevent Istheria from forming marriage alliances with surrounding lords.
It had been a satisfying memory.
“You?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Please leave it to me.”
Carlos had heard that recently Solovis’ business had failed and he had been living in a state of decline, but now he seemed to be looking for an opportunity for a comeback.
He would probably work relentlessly to gain something, perhaps even uncover Istheria’s weaknesses.
“…Alright, good. A good idea. Do the others agree with Count Solovis going to the North?”
“Your Majesty, please give me a chance…”
Baron Refild stepped forward. He was about to mention that his younger daughter was working as a tutor in the North, but Carlos raised his hand to silence him.
“We have many matters to discuss today. I donāt want to waste time on this.”
Baron Refild shrank back under Carlosā cold gaze.
“Then let Count Solovis prepare to leave. I hope he will return with satisfactory results.”
“I will do my best, Your Majesty.”
Count Solovis bowed his head. With that, he officially got the chance to head to the North.
After the meeting, as Count Solovis was leaving the Imperial Palace, when Baron Refild grabbed him.
For some reason, Baron Refild had never hidden his animosity toward Count Solovis.
So this approach wasnāt welcomed by him.
“Whatās the matter?”
“Count, when you go to the North, my younger daughter will be working as a tutor there.”
Count Solovis raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Please check if sheās doing well. Sheās been weak since childhood.”
Baron Refild smiled faintly.
“And thereās something I want to send to her. Could you deliver it?”
“…If you want, thatās possible.”
Count Solovis spoke generously.
