Duke's wife

Chapter 12

"...what's wrong with you both?"

Leon called the two, wondering why they looked silent, creating a suffocatingly awkward atmosphere. Instead of answering him, Grace thought while hugging Leon more tightly in her arms, 'I hope someone breaks this silence.'

"Madam! Madam! Where are you? ... Sir Oliver, you said you saw Madam and Prince Leon here?"

"Yes, I did."

"So, she should be over there. Madam, if you're here, please answer!"

At the time of this stifling silence, Sally and Sir Oliver's voices were heard looking for Grace on the other side of the garden.

Grace responded to their voice with a noticeably brighter face, "Sally! I'm here!"

"Oh! You were here?" Grace came running to where Sally and Oliver stood, with hastened footsteps.

When they saw Arthur standing at quite a distance, they opened their eyes wide and said,

"Oh, the Duke was with you. I greet His Excellency."

"I greet His Excellency."

"Long time no see, Sally," Arthur, greeted Sally with a blunt look on his face, and spoke to Oliver, who sat on one knee in front of them, "But Lord Oliver, where have you been? I'm sure I told you not to leave Leon's side."

"...I'm sorry. Sir, it's my fault."

"Don't scold him, brother. I just wanted to go for a walk with Sister-in-law alone!" Leon quickly struggled and shouted in Grace's arms at the sight of Arthur berating Sir Oliver in a cool voice.

Arthur, who glanced at the scene, sighed briefly and scolded Leon in Grace's arms, "Even if you want to be alone with your wife next time, never let Sir Oliver leave you. It's dangerous."

"......Yes, I'm sorry."

"Don't scold Leon. I told Sir Oliver I'd take care of Leon," When Leon replied timidly at Arthur's stern words, Grace sided with him. Arthur his head with a burning gaze, and nodded slightly towards her, "I know. I heard that, and I came down."

"...what? Ah......" At Arthur's reply, Grace's face grew blank, and an exclamation left her mouth.

Come to think of it, that night, the building right next to this garden was his office. Arthur was probably listening to Leon's conversation in the garden as he did last time and intervened.

'Did that mean he's been watching me take a walk there all this time?' When she thought so, she got goosebumps all over her body.

'Did I make any mistakes while I was walking alone? I've never spoken of words like escape or smoke, have I?' Grace's hair was standing up with embarrassment, and she rummaged through her memories to see what she had mumbled to herself.

"But Sally, what brought you here? If there's anything you have to tell her, I'll leave you alone," Arthur asked Sally in a frank, business-like manner.

Sally replied, shaking her head slightly, "No, that's not so. What I would like to inform her this time is something the Duke should know."

"Something he also needs to know? What's that?"

"Oh, really? What's going on?" Arthur asked back, frowning, and Grace also questioned Sally in a curious voice.

Sally then took out a letter of red silk from her arms and put it in front of Arthur. Arthur picked it up and opened it. Grace approached him slightly and checked the letter he had opened.

"...from the royal family, a wedding celebration for us?" Grace, who read the letter muttered, soon hardened her face.

Just a few days ago, she remembered the conversation she had with Sally.