Chapter : 25
“Emma.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Prepare the carriage.”
I waited for a while, but no answer came. When I lifted my head, Emma was biting her lip.
“You’re going out?”
“Yes.”
“To where…?”
Looking again, I could tell Emma was uneasy.
“The duke is already furious right now. How about lying low and staying quiet for a few weeks?”
She frowned, as if remembering the day I was called to the duke and scolded.
“I just won’t get caught. Not like I’ve ever been caught before.”
“That’s… true, but…”
“I need to check something before I meet the young duke. Just prepare the carriage.”
When I didn’t change my mind, Emma finally nodded.
“Yes, my lady. Then I’ll prepare the carriage.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Tak.
Once Emma left my room, I changed clothes.
Instead of a gaudy dress dripping with lace, I put on a simple linen one-piece.
By the time I grabbed a hat, Emma returned.
“My lady, it’s ready. You must leave right away.”
“Thank you, I’ll be back.”
“Where should I take you?”
“To Arse’s Photo Studio, please.”
I told the coachman before getting in the carriage.
Arse’s Photo Studio.
From what I had learned, it was the most famous one in the capital.
Lawrence’s mother had probably taken her photograph there too.
Maybe I could find what I was looking for.
Yes—maybe the studio still had a copy of the photograph. Or at least the film.
I didn’t know how far photography had developed in this world, but the photo studio was my only hope now.
“……”
If I’m being honest, I wasn’t confident.
Not confident that I could find anything there.
But searching through Patricia’s room had turned up nothing.
So Arse’s Photo Studio—that place was my last hope.
Clop, clop.
A commoner’s carriage shook wildly even over the smallest stones.
The wooden seat was so hard it had no cushion whatsoever.
For the overly sensitive Patricia to endure this every day just to visit Lawrence…
It showed how much she must have liked him.
“Haa…”
Anyway, my relationship with Lawrence had to be sorted out as soon as possible.
I appreciated that he visited the Herarilla duchy to spare me from traveling, but I hated the needless attention it brought.
The duke’s nagging, fueled by delusions about Lawrence, had gotten unbearable.
He believed that if I spoke more gracefully, walked more elegantly, and became prettier, Lawrence would surely marry me—so he nagged over every little thing.
Shorten your stride while walking. Cut your food into tiny bites. Then came nitpicking about my skin looking dull.
The day Lawrence dropped in unannounced, the duke’s nagging got even worse.
What had we talked about?
Why had I sent him away so quickly?
As if I had done anything—Lawrence merely finished what he wanted to say and left.
Yet the duke ranted, calling me a fool who didn’t know how to seize the opportunity handed to her.
If Lawrence came even once more, I’d end up listening to the duke’s nagging from dawn until sleep.
Who knows—he might even try to dictate how I slept, saying I needed to lie straight with my mouth shut.
Just imagining that made my head hurt.
It wasn’t entirely his fault, but Lawrence’s lie about inviting me to the ball only made everything messier.
“Haa…”
Still, maybe lying about asking me to the ball was better than exposing my past misdeeds.
“Yeah, it’s all my fault anyway.”
While I spiraled into pointless thoughts, the carriage slowed down.
Neighhh!
The horses’ cry signaled our arrival.
“Please, I swear I’ll live a good life from now on, so just—!”
I clasped my hands together, staring up at the studio building.
“Haa…”
On the carriage ride back, I was empty-handed.
“What did I expect?”
Arse told me the duchess’s portrait was a daguerreotype—so even if the original existed, it couldn’t be copied.
And what even is a daguerreotype?
I never imagined ignorance of photographic history would cost me something, but remembering Arse treating me like an idiot made me regret never having studied it.
“Damn it.”
A curse slipped out alongside a deep sigh.
My last hope had vanished.
I assumed they’d at least have a copy since it was the duchess’s portrait.
Neighhhh!
“Ugh!”
Suddenly the horses shrieked and the carriage lurched violently.
“Ow…”
My head hit the wall from the jolt.
“What… happened?”
I rubbed my aching forehead and looked outside.
All I saw was the back entrance of Herarilla duchy.
“……”
Then why was I so uneasy?
I didn’t dare turn toward the door.
Bang!
“Get down here immediately!!”
The duke’s roar crashed like thunder.
I froze and fell back as if struck by lightning.
“You insane girl!”
From that moment on, I was dragged without any control of my own.
The duke seized my wrist and yanked.
I glimpsed Emma crying, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I’m sorry.”
She mouthed the words to me.
Morgan and Baber stood there as well.
Morgan was smirking, pleased to see this. Baber only shook his head.
Judging from Morgan’s grin, this would not end easily.
“Ah! That hurts!”
I pulled against the duke’s grip in defiance, but it was useless.
Even bracing my legs couldn’t stop him from towing me forward.
For a moment I thought—maybe I could win if I fought.
But I couldn’t even pull free from his hand.
Helplessness washed over me, followed by dread—what would happen once he dragged me inside?
Before fear swallowed me whole, I looked around for help.
Surely among all the servants, at least one person…
But no one dared meet the duke’s eye. Heads bowed everywhere.
“It hurts, I said!”
Once the duke passed, they finally raised their heads—staring at me with curiosity, wondering what was happening.
None stepped forward.
“My lady!!”
Carlos appeared.
“Mmff!”
He tried to say more, but the butler beside him covered his mouth.
Carlos strained to run to me, but he too was restrained.
And honestly, that was a relief.
I didn’t want a child dragged into this mess.
“……”
The butler lowered his gaze when our eyes met.
In that downcast look, I understood he would not help either.
“……”
I realized resistance was useless and finally stopped looking around.
Bang!
“Where have you been dressed like that?!”
Once the office door shut, the duke finally released my wrist.
“Speak. Now!”
My arm throbbed. His voice crashed again.
Whip.
Crash—the teacup shattered on the floor.
The shard had flown past my ear close enough to cut the air.
My legs weakened.
“I went to the plaza.”
“I told you not to wander!”
He was panting with anger.
“Tell me exactly where at the plaza. And do not dare lie. I will ask the coachman and know instantly.”
“The photo studio. Arse’s Photo Studio.”
“Photo studio?”
He frowned, clearly not expecting that answer.
“Why go there?”
“…I wanted to take a picture.”
“You’re not lying?”
His eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Of course, it was a lie. But telling the truth was impossible.
I nodded.
It was the best I could do.
“Haa…”
He sighed deeply.
Rattle.
“I tried to handle this gently, but clearly a dumb girl needs discipline beaten into her.”
He rolled up his sleeves and pulled a long switch from his desk drawer.
“W-wait! I don’t particularly want to be hit—”
“You’ve been caught disobeying me three times. If kindness doesn’t change you, the cane will.”
