Episode 7 – Switching Duchesses
Enoch couldn’t shake off his doubts from the moment butler Emma told him about Hawthorne Brandon.
It had only been ten days since Duke Philip Brandon’s funeral.
If Philip had a son, the title would’ve passed immediately, but with no heir, it going to a relative this fast was unusual.
And the fact that it wasn’t even the new duke himself, but his son who came swaggering in and acting like the master?
Way too bold for just some spoiled noble brat.
You’d need some serious backing to pull something that shameless off.
“Did this Hawthorne guy bring any official papers from the royal family?”
“Yes. He said it was an official decree with the king’s seal.”
Just as he thought—King Morios must have given the next Duke Brandon power that went beyond tradition.
Clearly, the king was counting on the fact that Enoch wouldn’t be able to turn his back on a displaced Irene Brandon.
“Damn it!”
Enoch’s anger boiled over again at the thought of the king practically shoving his late friend’s wife at him before the
dirt on Philip’s grave had even settled.
On top of that, he felt horribly guilty toward Irene, who was dragged into this mess because of him.
He couldn’t even face her, so he pushed their meeting to the morning.
Feeling suddenly drained, Enoch went to the bath and sank into hot water, his head spinning.
His newly acquired Cornell territory had once belonged to the Kingdom of Cornell, last ruled by Irene and Nora’s
grandfather.
It had been part of Morios for a generation now, but pockets of rebels were still active.
If the new duchess happened to be a princess from the fallen Cornell royal family, things would change drastically.
And if the two of them had a son, it’d almost certainly calm the unrest in the region; a half-Cornell heir would win
the people over far more easily than a full-blooded Morios noble like him.
That’s exactly what the king was aiming for.
“Strong denial comes from strong feelings, doesn’t it? You’ve been holding them back for nearly ten years. I value a
living Enoch more than a dead Philip.”
Enoch remembered the king’s words and scowled.
Then Nora’s words came back to him too.
“Don’t you think you’re being too much? It’s Irene! How could you say no?”
She clearly believed Enoch should run straight to Irene.
‘Great. Everyone’s dying to pair me and Irene off.’
He sank under the water, trying to drown out the thoughts.
When he finally got out, dripping wet and in just a bathrobe, he walked barefoot back to his room only to freeze.
There was Irene, sitting at the table by his bed.
“What are you doing here?”
“Waiting for you! Been here a while~”
Her eyes were unfocused, her words slurred she was definitely drunk.
“It’s late, Irene. Let’s talk tomorrow.”
“Right, the duke’s soooo tired. Who cares if Irene cries or not”
It wasn’t just her words that were wobbly, she was clearly hurt and bitter.
She staggered to her feet.
“I won’t fall apart. I survived the most awful marchioness in the world, and I’ll survive this too! You’ll see!”
“Irene Brandon, I won’t let you fall apart so stop worrying and go to bed.”
“Enoch…”
Suddenly her face twisted and golden eyes filled with tears.
“Liar. Even Philip, who swore he’d protect me, left me and died. I won’t believe you either.”
She turned to leave and stepped on her robe, stumbling hard.
“Careful.”
Enoch lunged to catch her, grabbing her waist and pulling her toward him.
His back and hips hit the floor hard, but Irene landed on top of him without a scratch.
Lying there catching his breath, he found her face inches above his.
“Irene, if you’re okay, could you”
“Enoch!”
Her gaze shifted almost… heated. She slowly licked her lips and leaned closer.
Their breaths mingled; one small move and they’d be kissing.
She brushed her fingers along his cheek.
“Enoch, will you really keep me from falling apart?”
“Yeah. I will.”
She smiled brightly at that.
Enoch reached for her shoulders to set her aside but suddenly her lips crashed into his.
Startled, he tightened his grip on her shoulders to push her away—
“Irene Brandon, you’re drunk. Get up.”
Nora’s calm voice cut through the moment like a knife.
When I walked into Enoch’s bedroom and saw Irene practically straddling him on the floor, I froze.
For a second, I wondered if I should quietly back out and give them privacy.
But then I heard footsteps in the hall the maids had realized their lady was missing and were searching for her.
If they came in now, it wouldn’t take long for rumors to spread: “The widow, just ten days after her husband’s death,
is seducing his best friend.”
To protect her reputation, I had to step in.
“Irene Brandon, you’re drunk. Get up!”
I made sure to stress “Brandon,” hoping it would snap her back to her senses.
Both of them looked at me in surprise, and I hurried over to haul her up.
“Irene, you said you were coming to my room. You must’ve gotten lost because you’re so drunk, huh?”
We all knew it was nonsense, but at least it gave her an excuse.
Enoch quickly got up and straightened his robe not that it made him look any less indecent.
“Nora, why—”
Before Irene could complain, I shoved her toward the door.
“Emma, Jane! The lady’s here, come get her!”
They rushed over.
“My lady, when did you leave your room?”
I smiled as if nothing was wrong.
“Enoch, Irene, and I had a drink together, but she’s had too much. Take her to her room.”
“Yes, miss.”
Emma looked suspicious, glancing past me toward Enoch’s room, but I blocked her view.
Once they led Irene away, I turned back to Enoch.
Luckily, he’d changed into indoor clothes.
“Enoch, remember at Philip’s grave when you told me to behave myself?”
I lowered my voice, letting my anger show.
“You need to behave yourself. Have some decency how could you already be making moves on Irene?”
“That’s not what happened.”
“Oh, really? I saw it with my own eyes!”
“Nora, do you think I’m that much of a piece of trash?”
His face was twisted with anger.
“I didn’t think so, but after what I saw, maybe I was wrong.”
I shot back and stormed out.
I almost went straight to my room, but the Confucian girl in me just couldn’t leave it alone. I went to see Irene.
She was lying in bed with an ice pack on her face.
I tried to keep my voice calm.
“Irene, what you did tonight was disgraceful. Enoch’s been helping you so much you can’t treat him like this.”
An ice pack flew at my face.
I thought I’d dodge, but nope, it hit me dead-on.
Damn this slow, weak body.
“If you’re here to nag, get out. And don’t act like you care you just can’t stand to see me do well, can you?”
“I was helping you.”
I forced myself to stay calm.
“The maids were looking for you. If I hadn’t stepped in, you’d be branded as the widow who seduced her late
husband’s best friend.”
“And what does that have to do with you?”
I sighed. If only she’d take some responsibility as the heroine.
“Don’t you care about Philip’s honor? You can’t do this for his sake, at least?”
Her face twisted.
“Knew it. You did it for Philip, not me.”
Why was everyone obsessed with pairing me with Philip?
“Don’t you remember? Back at the academy, you left your diary lying around the one full of your deep, heartfelt
feelings for Philip.”
“My diary?”
“The one I caught you with. You were so embarrassed, you ran back home pretending you were sick!”
What the hell, Nora? You liked Philip back then? Is that why Enoch accused you of not getting over him?
“That was ages ago!” I tried to play it off, but Irene smirked.
“Please. You faked being sick and ran home.”
“I was really sick, okay!”
Given how fragile this body is now, I’m sure Nora was just as frail back then.
“Anyway, Nora, stay out of my business.”
“What are you planning?”
“If I can’t be Duchess Brandon, I’ll just become Duchess Osmond! Enoch coming here now is fate.”
“You’re being selfish. What about Enoch’s feelings?”
Of course, she acted like a true ‘It’s-okay-to-be-a-nuisance’ heroine, always using someone for her own benefit.
But Irene just looked smug.
“Enoch wants me too. So it’s a win-win.”