Chapter 65 - The Mad Duchess (3)
Matteo did not act himself. This incident had to be something his father did alone, so he decided to remain at a distance, playing the role of an advisor.
And Wyatt had no idea his son was thinking such things.
"She is the woman who tried to kill Edith, so she must pay the price. Asking about her treatment is something you, as a father, ought to do."
"Yes, that's right."
He had held back until now, thinking it would look suspicious if he went around asking about Juna's whereabouts when Edith hadn't even woken up.
"And... isn't Edith infuriating? To think she paid her respects at the Royal Palace but still hasn't shown her face here."
"Yes!"
Wyatt shot to his feet.
"It's an outrageous act. The ungrateful wretch! Does she have no gratitude for being raised all this time, sending just a single invitation?"
"This is the time for you to act as a father."
Hearing it put that way, it made sense. It might be a world where a woman becomes her husband's property upon marriage, but that didn't mean she cut ties with her family entirely. Didn't Lillian visit the Reynolds estate all the time as if it were her own home?
If Edith had died, that would have been fine, but if she was alive, he could still make more use of her.
"That foolish, timid girl won't go spouting nonsense. Besides, she'll believe the one who poisoned her cup was some woman infatuated with the Duke."
"Of course. She will never know it was your doing, Father."
Matteo drew a line, making it clear that 'his father was the one who did it,' but Wyatt didn't notice.
"She's a stupid wench, so she'll eventually spill what's going on. I should go see her when the Duke isn't around."
***
"Marquis Reynolds might come to see me soon. If he does, please show him to the drawing-room."
Edith had summoned Dwayne and told him this just this morning. Dwayne was inwardly surprised that Wyatt had actually come.
It wasn't strange for a father to visit his married daughter, but when that daughter was a duchess, it was customary to send a letter beforehand to request permission. Yet Wyatt had arrived unannounced, and Edith had expected it.
As Edith had instructed, Dwayne led Wyatt to the drawing-room.
"I will inform the Duchess."
After Dwayne left, Wyatt looked around the drawing-room of the Duke Myers' Mansion, which he was seeing for the first time.
All his life, Wyatt had dreamed of owning a mansion on this Gold Road. Gold Road was a place worthy of such aspirations.
Long ago, when the honor of the Family of Marquis Reynolds was at its peak, they had held a property on Gold Road, but they were driven out due to the mistake of an ancestor. Since then, the Reynolds family had desperately tried to return to Gold Road, but they had not succeeded as generations passed.
'I will succeed in my generation.'
Everything in the drawing-room was of high quality, a pleasure to behold. Even to the Marquis, who knew little of art, the paintings on the walls looked magnificent. The ornaments on the mantelpiece were also a delight to the eyes, so the Marquis set aside his worries for the first time in a while and took his time looking around.
But after about thirty minutes, it became tedious. He grew tired of appraising the value of everything—how much for this sofa, how much for that table.
'Why isn't she coming?'
It was an unannounced visit, so she would need time to prepare. But no matter how much preparation was needed, unless she was going to a party, it shouldn't take dozens of minutes. They hadn't even brought Wyatt a cup of tea.
Only then did Wyatt realize that Edith was being utterly insolent.
'This little thing... the Duchess's seat has gone to her head.'
A hollow, incredulous laugh escaped him.
'I suppose she wants to see me lose my mind and throw a fit?'
Her petty ploy was laughable and irritating.
Edith was probably hoping that Wyatt would lose his patience and cause a scene. Wyatt had no intention of acting as she wished.
So he sat and waited calmly. He endured, thinking that the most a brat like her could do was make him sit and wait, and he could certainly withstand that much.
After waiting for just over an hour, Edith finally entered.
Wyatt, making a show of it, sat with his legs crossed on the sofa and looked back at Edith. Edith stood still just inside the drawing-room door. She didn't move, and Wyatt belatedly saw through her intentions.
The drawing-room door was still open, and behind Edith stood Dwayne and women who appeared to be her maids. With so many eyes watching, Wyatt was not showing the proper courtesy due to a duchess.
Wyatt gritted his teeth inwardly as he stood and bowed his head slightly.
"Your Grace, the Duchess."
Seeing through Edith's ploy and feeling humiliated by it were two different matters. The reality of having to bow his head before Edith, who had trembled before him just a short time ago, churned Wyatt's already twisted insides even more. His stomach throbbed with a sharp pain.
Edith walked in without a word. Dwayne closed the drawing-room door, and Edith sat on the sofa, gesturing with her eyes to the seat opposite her.
"Sit, Marquis."
But Wyatt didn't sit; he glared at Edith.
"Edith."
"That's not right, Marquis. You were doing so well just a moment ago, what's wrong?"
"Are you mad? Do you truly wish to die?"
Before, this would have made Edith bow her head and tremble. But the Edith of today showed no sign of fear. She placed a finger on her chin and tilted her head slightly.
"Hmm. Should we open the drawing-room door and continue our conversation?"
Wyatt ground his teeth. He felt he had to smash Edith's head in right this instant, but doing so would lead to dire consequences.
Unaware that Edith's petty ploy was working perfectly, Wyatt glared at her before plopping down onto the sofa.
"What brings you here without notice?"
"For a father to visit his daughter, is notice... required?"
Wyatt wanted to escape this situation where he had to use honorifics with Edith, but there was something he needed to find out from her.
As long as he could get information while the Duchess of Myers was feeling down, he was more than willing to play along with her little game.
Thinking this way eased his frustration a little.
"It is necessary, Marquis. Isn't that proper etiquette? I have my own schedule and plans. I would appreciate it if such rudeness does not happen again."
"Yes, Duchess. Of course."
Wyatt wondered how he could naturally extract information, then asked in a voice feigning deep concern.
"But how is your health?"
"I'm fine. Very healthy, in fact. There are no aftereffects, and my appetite has been quite good lately."
Wyatt couldn't fathom how that was possible.
It was Plarin poison, of all things. There was no way Juna had mistaken the poison and used the wrong one, nor was it possible she had used too little. Even if she had used a small amount, it was impossible to drink Plarin and have no lasting effects, yet Edith looked perfectly healthy.
"Yes, that is a relief. This father of yours was greatly worried."
"So it seems. Your skin is quite damaged, Marquis."
"Yes, what father could sleep well while his daughter's life hangs in the balance?"
"That's a bit strange. I heard that Duke Myers told you I was fine a few days ago. Why do you still look as if you haven't slept?"
"......"
"As if you have some other worry on your mind."
Wyatt was flustered, but he quickly composed his expression and spoke.
"Because I hadn't been able to confirm the Duchess's safety with my own eyes. How was I to know if the Duke was merely saying you were fine, or if you were truly all right, when I received no word? That is why I came here myself."
"Oh, my."
Edith smiled brightly.
"How very sweet of you."
Edith's smile was beautiful. Blooming like a flower on her clean face, now free of the hideous boils, it was dazzling.
But why?
The moment Wyatt saw Edith's radiant smile, something he had never seen before, goosebumps erupted all over his body.
Silence fell.
Wyatt hoped Edith would say something more and reveal an opening, but she only stared at him, her face filled with that chilling smile.
In the end, Wyatt was the one to back down.
"You must be heartbroken. I am so upset myself, so the Duchess must be even more so."
"Should I be heartbroken?"
"Of course! That madwoman poisoned the Duchess's cup because she loved the Duke. Are you saying you're all right with that?"
"Ahahaha."
This time, Edith laughed out loud, and Wyatt froze like a rabbit that had heard a beast's roar.
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