TGDHC 66

Chapter 66

Goldrain’s Invitation

The news that the Grand Duke had repaired the old garden for the Grand Duchess quickly spread—even reaching Count Avoir’s household.

As expected, Meisel called for Marzella.

They met this time at Café Delitar, located in the center of Goldrain’s busiest district.

It was to avoid being noticed by Tiern.

***

“What exactly happened?”

At Meisel’s sharp question, Marzella, the head maid, kept her lips tightly shut.

A few days ago, almost everyone in the castle had been called upon by the Grand Duke’s sudden orders.

Surprisingly, no one complained.

In fact, the servants were excited, whispering cheerfully that it was the first time their master had prepared an event for a woman.

The Grand Duchess had looked genuinely happy when she saw the garden, and many of the staff had secretly watched from behind the break room window, smiling at the scene.

The story soon spread outside the castle.

But the only person who refused to believe it was Meisel.

‘If someone says the Grand Duke has fallen head over heels for the Grand Duchess, she’ll probably explode.’

***

“Didn’t you say an envoy is coming from Rondoris soon?”

Marzella smoothly delivered her prepared excuse.

“The garden was renovated for that occasion. It was the lower staff who exaggerated the story.”

Meisel nodded, but bit her nails anxiously.

Renovating the garden might be explainable—but didn’t the Grand Duke also open the lake for the Grand Duchess?

Ever since her tea time with him, Meisel hadn’t been able to focus on anything.

She was happy that the young boy she once knew had grown into such a fine ruler—but it hurt that he didn’t recognize her.

On top of that, despite Marzella’s words, the Grand Duke had been incredibly respectful toward the Grand Duchess.

Of course, “respectful” was just Meisel’s way of denying the truth—she simply couldn’t admit he had been affectionate.

‘He’s only fulfilling his duty as a husband.’

Naturally, Meisel’s resentment turned toward the Grand Duchess.

That cunning fox of a woman, living inside the castle where even Meisel couldn’t enter freely.

—“I just said I liked fruit, and the Grand Duke went out of his way like that.”

Recalling the Grand Duchess showing off during tea time made her stomach turn every time.

Marzella, too, was deeply frustrated.

The Grand Duchess had been slowly winning over the maids with small tricks.

Up until now, Marzella could control the maids with the master set of keys to the castle, but who knew how long that would last?

The Grand Duchess looked completely satisfied lately. If they wanted her to leave, they had to make things more uncomfortable for her.

‘It’s hard to do anything while the Grand Duke keeps protecting her inside the castle.’

So the only way to corner the Grand Duchess was to look outside the castle.

After thinking it over, Marzella raised her head.

***

“My lady, what if we use the rumors?”

“Rumors?”

“There’s been some fuss about an inn in Goldrain. Apparently, the Grand Duchess is quite close with the innkeeper.”

Marzella shared the circulating gossip that it was the Grand Duchess who had helped the now-successful Marie’s Inn and that the inn was facing pressure from the Merchant Guild because of it.

“She helped an inn?”

Meisel frowned in confusion.

“Is she doing charity work or something?”

“Some fools praise her, but let’s be honest—what reason would the Grand Duchess have to help a mere commoner?”

Marzella added slyly,

“Wouldn’t it make more sense if she was receiving a bribe or giving the inn special treatment in return?”

“You’re saying she took a bribe?”

‘Why would a Marquis’s daughter need pocket change?’

Meisel snorted at the ridiculous claim.

That wasn’t just an insult to the Grand Duchess—it was an attack on noble pride.

“Say something that makes sense.”

“Whether it makes sense or not doesn’t matter.”

Marzella pointed out that everyone knew the Grand Duchess had come to Blenheim with nothing.

That rumor, of course, had also been spread by Marzella using the traveling maids.

All it would take was dropping a few hints here and there again.

‘The penniless Grand Duchess is using Goldrain’s merchants to fill her own pockets.’

Whether it was true didn’t matter.

Merchants, already sensitive from poor business, would be quick to anger if they heard such talk.

A protest in front of the Grand Duke’s castle wouldn’t be surprising at all.

Then the Grand Duchess—who wandered around Goldrain like she owned the place—would get a taste of how fierce the Northerners really were.

“There’s enough kindling,” Marzella said. “We just need to pile on the logs.”

Seeing Meisel leaning forward, intrigued, Marzella delivered the final push.

“Besides, my lady, aren’t all men the same regardless of status?”

“What do you mean by that?”

“No matter how much they care about a woman, if trouble keeps following her, they get tired quickly. Especially someone like His Grace, who values public opinion.”

“Who says he cares about her?”

But Meisel didn’t seem too upset by the remark.

‘If I’m doing this, I’m going all the way.’

Her lemon-colored eyes gleamed sharply.

Wait for the merchants to rise up? How long would that take?

She was already of marriageable age.

“This café belongs to the Merchant Guild leader, right?”

Meisel pushed her over-steeped teacup aside and gave a command.

“Bring the manager. I want to know where the Guild leader is right now.”

Forget piling logs.

If you want a fire, just pour oil on it.

***

‘What am I even doing?’

It had been 20 minutes since I flopped onto the bed and started staring at the ceiling.

—“I’ll be home late today. I’m inspecting several harbor villages.”

The Grand Duke had come to report his schedule, even though I didn’t ask.

He made Berni promise to make sure I ate dinner, then reminded her of it several times.

He’d stood there awkwardly until I re-tied his cravat and even held his hand—only then did he leave with a reluctant face.

‘These days, when he holds my hand, he keeps trying to interlock our fingers, too!’

It had already been four months since I arrived at the Grand Duke’s castle.

My plan was to stay quiet, avoid notice, and prepare for the future.

I thought just avoiding a divorce within a year would be enough.

But this puppy in a wolf’s skin kept wagging his tail in front of me like I was his owner, and it was seriously confusing.

‘Especially that garden—it makes me happy but also restless every time I look out the window.’

Sure, it’s better to get along than fight.

But if we stay close like this and then just get divorced after a year, won’t that feel a little sad?

Still, I couldn’t avoid the divorce. I needed to go live my own life eventually.

Even if I couldn’t return to my old world, I couldn’t spend my whole life pretending to be Anette, playing the role of the Grand Duchess.

Of course, until then, I planned to fulfill my role properly.

I picked up a letter I received a few days ago from Baron Gelfry, the Merchant Guild leader.

He wrote that he would be honored to introduce me to Goldrain whenever I had time.

On the surface, the letter looked polite and proper.

But the timing was too suspicious for it to be sincere.

Was it because of the complaints about Goldrain at tea time? Or maybe he wanted to bring up the issue with the inn?

Ever since that moment I felt those cold stares from outside the carriage, I had been uneasy about going out to Goldrain.

***

“Your Grace, if you plan to go out, shouldn’t you start getting ready?”

Cecilia stopped mid-step as she saw me sprawled on the bed.

“Should I reschedule if you don’t feel like it?”

I let out a long sigh and sat up.

“No, it’s better to get it over with quickly.”

‘If they try anything, I’ll be ready.’

I had plenty to say about Goldrain, too.

Fueled by a fighting spirit, I headed toward the carriage.

Then I saw Marzella speaking with Tiern.

‘What is she doing here? She’s been laying low lately.’

Recently, Marzella had been hiding, avoiding me as if afraid of losing her authority.

Reta had even said—

—“These days, she even hides the master key ring carefully.”

I had stepped in a few times about how the staff were treated, but I never intended to challenge Marzella’s authority.

I was leaving in a year anyway—I didn’t want to stir things up just to leave it behind unfinished.

When I appeared, Marzella quickly greeted me and slipped away before I could even say anything.

‘You’d think I bullied her or something.’

As expected, Tiern frowned at me disapprovingly.

I gave the order to depart.

This outing felt unpleasant right from the start.

***

“Your Grace, what an honor to have you visit.”

Baron Gelfry ran up, holding down his thin, wind-blown hair.

He was not at all what I expected.

I thought he’d be arrogant and snobbish.

But he practically bowed to the ground, so much so that I felt a little embarrassed.

Because of that, when he insisted on showing me around cafés and shops I’d already seen on my first day in Goldrain, I couldn’t bring myself to refuse.

***

“It is truly an honor for Your Grace to be here.”

The shopkeepers said the words, but their faces didn’t show any joy.

In fact, they looked colder than before.

‘Is this the Grand Duchess effect again?’

Trying to lighten the mood, Baron Gelfry clapped one shopkeeper on the shoulder with a laugh.

“What are you standing around for? Her Grace might become your best customer. Make a good impression!”

The shopkeeper reluctantly bowed and said I could visit anytime.

“You know Marie’s Inn? That rundown place? Her Grace made it what it is today!”

“I didn’t make it. That’s exaggerating. And it’s not rundown.”

“Come now, no need to be modest. Everyone knows the truth already.”

The Baron winked in the icy silence, but somehow the shopkeeper’s lips tightened even more.