Chapter 39
Titania’s expression stiffened slightly. In the end, what Ludmila had said turned out to be true.
Even Fernandez, who had been wearing an innocent face…
“Then why did you come here? Are you carrying Fernandez’s child?”
Amy shook her head. Pulling a trick like that would lead to big trouble. The role Amy was supposed to play was that of a pitiful and wretched woman.
“Actually, I thought the Duchess should know the truth.”
“Me?”
“I thought you were being deceived without knowing anything.”
Amy murmured and lowered her head.
“I also wanted to apologize.”
Titania felt her breath catch.
She had never encountered this kind before. In the past, Titania had met mistresses of all sorts. But this kind of variation was new to her.
“…You did that knowing everything?”
Titania asked, with a trace of anger in her voice. This was the first time she had ever received an apology from a mistress.
“I truly am sorry. I’m leaving today, Duchess.”
The woman mumbled softly.
“So please, don’t be too angry. The Duke and I will never meet again. I came here for your sake, as a woman, for the sake of your life as the Duchess.”
The woman looked at Titania with a sorrowful face. With just a few words, she had turned Titania into a pitiful woman. No—Fernandez had turned Titania into a pitiful woman.
Titania realized something. Even in a political marriage without exchanged affections, there was room for expectation. And she realized that, unconsciously, she had been expecting something from Fernandez.
“…Thank you for telling me, Amy. Then let me give you some advice too.”
But Titania wasn’t someone who would just sit there and listen.
“If you value yourself, I hope you never have a relationship like this again. There’s no need to tarnish your own worth, is there? You understand what I’m saying?”
Amy let out a small, bitter laugh.
She was a little intimidated by Titania’s unshaken demeanor. But Amy’s mission was already complete. The outcome of this matter didn’t really matter.
Amy rose from her seat and bowed her head.
“I’ll keep that advice in mind. Then, farewell.”
The woman who had behaved so neatly from the beginning left just as neatly.
Had Ludmila known about this woman’s existence? Was that why she said those words, to humble Titania? Titania’s golden eyes turned cold.
As Titania drank her tea, the aura she exuded made Sara press her lips tightly together.
Titania gripped the teacup with force.
There was no need to hesitate.
“When Fernandez returns, let me know, Sara.”
At the ominous voice, Sara lowered her head.
“Yes, Madam.”
Sara swallowed her tears. It seemed she wouldn’t be able to stop Titania this time. The Duke—what a bastard. She hadn’t thought of him that way before… Sara cursed him endlessly in her head.
No one heard her, though.
Today was the day of the Sunrise Club gathering. Fernandez appeared as promised to Carpus. The members of the club looked at Fernandez in surprise.
He had never attended before, yet he sat there elegantly without a hint of nervousness. Fernandez was, as always, an infuriating man. If someone has a perfect background, then at least his looks should fall short. But Fernandez had been born with everything.
Because of that, there were quite a few men who felt a sense of inferiority toward him. That was why, when Fernandez got married, the men of the Empire had cheered. Of course, the women had sighed in disappointment.
“You haven’t changed.”
People gathered around Fernandez. No matter how irritating he was, they couldn’t shun him, not with his background. The nobles swarmed to him, and the area around Fernandez grew crowded.
Fernandez endured the nuisance and dealt with them.
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
“It’s been a while for you too.”
For Titania’s sake, he had to endure.
In business, research—every field, Titania displayed more exceptional talent than Fernandez. Then it was only right for Titania to do what she excelled at, while Fernandez supported her from behind.
“You had your wedding like a gust of wind and then went off to the west without a word. I thought the Duke of Agaphilia had become a ghost.”
Fernandez frowned. He saw no reason to endure such veiled insults, but for Titania’s sake, he held back. At least one of them needed to show up, or the social circles would start spreading ridiculous rumors.
In truth, when he was in Aryanguard, Fernandez spent most of his time training with knights, managing mines, and taking care of the territory.
“Luckily, you’re alive and well. You know how busy I’ve been, so I couldn’t contact you properly. Forgive me for that.”
Fernandez smiled sweetly. Those who caught sight of the cold sharpness in his eyes coughed awkwardly. Perhaps because he spent so much time on battlefields, the aura he gave off was unusually deadly.
“Ah, I heard the Duchess is such an outstanding talent?”
“Yes, I heard the same. Didn’t you lose miserably to her in a previous bet?”
“Ah, that time. So how does it feel to meet your exceptional wife after three years? Honestly, I was worried. A wife more capable than her husband—just thinking about it gives me chills.”
“I heard the Duchess doubled the estate’s profits while you were gone. Hmm, I’m not sure if that’s a good thing. When a woman’s pride soars too high, it’s the husband who suffers.”
Fernandez listened to every bit of their nonsense.
He picked up his glass and smirked, as though he’d never heard something so laughable. Then he shrugged and spoke in a smooth tone.
“Now this is surprising. Are there still men out there with such inferiority complexes that they feel threatened by their own wives? That’s such an outdated way of thinking. My wife increases our wealth and prospers our family—why would I dislike that? Don’t tell me you’re one of those idiots?”
Fernandez looked at each man around him one by one. His gaze made them cough awkwardly and turn their heads away. These were the same men who had badmouthed Titania while Fernandez was away.
But hearing words like “idiot” and “inferiority complex” thrown at them so directly made their throats tighten. The sarcasm was aimed right at them.
“And women versus men? Again, such an antiquated mindset. Ah, didn’t you recently have a daughter? Then I suppose you won’t educate her and will just teach her embroidery like in the old days?”
“That’s…”
No great nobleman wanted such a wife. These days, capable women who could assist their husbands were highly valued. In the northern regions, there were even female heads of households emerging.
“Ah, I understand now. The ones so desperate to belittle Titania must be jealous of her. Of course, I’m sure the gentlemen here are all enlightened intellectuals, so that can’t possibly be the case, right?”
The men’s faces flushed bright red. Unable to say another word, they turned their backs and fled. Fernandez smirked arrogantly as he watched them go. Really, these fools gathered only to spout foolish nonsense.
Fernandez clicked his tongue. Carpus approached him, having noticed Fernandez’s sneer while chatting with others.
“Why that look? I told you to come and mingle.”
“Your Majesty, do you truly believe this ridiculous gathering is of any benefit?”
“At least these fellows have money and power. That alone makes it worth it. Why? What happened?”
“They were nothing but bundles of inferiority complexes, spouting nonsense. They have less productivity than the dirt under a monster’s claws.”
Fernandez’s words dripped with scorn.
At first, he had come with the thought of sacrificing for Titania’s sake, but now he was thinking maybe it would be better to just ignore high society altogether and live alone.
“That’s because you were mingling with those punks. Not everyone in this club is the same. There are others. Come on, get up.”
Carpus pulled Fernandez along.
