< — Meeting People — > (2)
With the Duke of Taran as the center, the radius of people around him strangely fell silent like it was in a different world. Only the Duke who caused this situation was perfectly calm. Even his movement as he placed his empty glass on a passing servant’s tray and picked up a new glass was very natural. He was normally a brazen person. He didn’t know the meaning of shyness or embarrassment. The only time he cared about a person’s gaze and thoughts was when it came to his wife.
“…Your relationship with the Duchess seems good.”
Kwiz broke the silence. He couldn’t contain himself and opened his mouth. At first, it was intriguing but because he was just watching, they actually showed off their romance at his celebration party. It irritated his eyes.
“Newlyweds, aren’t they?” (Kwiz)
Everyone nodded their head then they felt a sense of incongruity. Hadn’t it been a year and a half since the ducal couple got married? It was a vague period to confidently call them newlyweds.
Kwiz then asked the question they all had in mind.
“How long is the newlywed period?”
“Until a baby is born.”
Oho, indeed. Those nodding their head realized one beat too late that the definition of ‘newly-wed period’ was not the important thing here. The problem was that even if he had married yesterday, the action they had just witnessed was done by none other than the Duke of Taran.
People’s gazes were already drawn to the ducal couple from when they began exchanging affectionate whispers. Even those that were debating grew silent and trained their eyes on them. Whatever the two of them were talking about, they were happy and didn’t seem to care who saw.
The warmth in the Duke’s eyes as he gazed at his wife was surprising, and his affectionate loving expression was simply jaw slacking.
“…Gong, you seem to have fallen in love.” (Kwiz)
As expected of His Majesty. Everyone inwardly clapped for Kwiz who boldly and bluntly said what they were unable to say.
Hugo looked at Kwiz expressionlessly. He had no intention of falling for the King’s eloquence and providing a clue for the rumors.
“I did not know Your Majesty knew that word.”
When the Duke of Taran changed the subject, the people around looked regretful. Especially the women. It was regrettable because they would have been able to make a topic that could be gossiped about for three days and nights. Although sometimes there were groundless rumors, there were no rumors that dropped from the cloud. There had to be at least one word of credibility for it to be ‘fleshed out’. All the rumors that hit the social circle were made that way.
“Hm? How does Gong see this King? This king is a romanticist.”
Many people broke out in merry laughter.
Hugo chuckled. The throne was a position gained by stepping on the blood and lives of many. The owner of that seat saying such a thing was a very humorous. Kwiz killed his brothers to keep his position. Even if they were his half-brothers, he had no hesitation in cutting down his flesh and blood. This decisiveness played a role in why Hugo chose to support Kwiz.
“Speaking of which, Gong. Consider telling us little of the inside story. I’m not the only one interested in Gong’s love story.”
It was a remark that could devalue the dignity of the King but that was Kwiz’s strange charm. Even when he moderately tossed authority to the side and joked around, he did not lose his dignity. He was good at walking on a tightrope without going over the edge. Which was likely why there were a lot of young nobles that supported Kwiz.
“No, thank you. One word will turn into a hundred words.” (Hugo)
“Gong doesn’t care about rumors, no?”
The memory of her asking if he liked busty beauties rose up in Hugo’s mind. All this while, he had been diligently collecting rumors in case a bad rumor rose up about her, or in case she heard a ridiculous rumor about him and misunderstood. But it would seem, that just that wasn’t enough. He didn’t care about trashy rumors, but he felt the need to crack down more aggressively.
* * *
Lucia fled to the break room. It hadn’t been long since the party started so there weren’t many people in the spacious break room.
“Bring me a glass of water.”
Lucia sent the attending maid by her side on an errand and took time to catch her breath. She covered her burning face with her hands.
‘I have to rest till the tipsiness subsides.’
She was not that drunk but without realizing it, her mood had gotten excited. And a mistake can happen when she was like this. But soon, Lucia’s expression darkened. Didn’t she already make a huge mistake? It was mistake in of itself to induce his mischievousness.
‘Even while knowing he doesn’t care about people’s gazes…’
She shouldn’t have given him a reason. No matter what she said, he didn’t change, so she should have been careful.
Lucia drank the water that the maid brought back and when she took off her shawl, cool air hit her shoulders and her back.
‘Don’t tell me…because of my back?’
Lucia toyed with the shawl and was lost in thought. She had been wondering why he suddenly gave her a shawl and didn’t want her to take it off but now, she felt like she knew the answer and couldn’t help but laugh.
‘Was he always such a conservative man?’
She had heard that there were men who didn’t like the exposure of their wife or lover, but she did not know that he was one of them. Seeing as he went through the trouble of getting a shawl, he seemed to really not like it. By the looks of it, Antoine would be incriminated.
‘Oh well. Since it’s come to this, I’ll use this chance to make a deal with Antoine.’
Antoine had sent a receipt with an enormous price after her first visit but the charge for this coronation dress was considerably cheaper. Lucia had gone through purchasing a dress at the time of the victory party so she knew that the price should have been several times higher than the current price. No matter how you looked at it, it was strange.
Lucia kept silent because a debut dress was absolutely necessary for her but she planned on finding out what was happening sooner or later.
“Duchess. I’m sorry to interrupt your rest. May I trouble you for a moment?”
The break room was an area that wasn’t restricted by decorum. Even if the Queen came in, the resting women did not have to rise and give their greetings. The goal was to allow quiet rest therefore even if one were to have a discussion, speaking loudly was rude.
Lucia was not tired so the disturbed rest didn’t really bother her. She looked at the woman who greeted her.
“Have a sit, Lady Alvin.”
“Ah, you remember me. I’m glad.”
Today, the Count of Alvin brought his unmarried younger sister as his partner instead of his wife, Sofia. Ever since that day, Sofia had secluded herself at home. Even if today was the coronation party, if Sofia had come out, Lucia would have taken it as a disregard of her warning. It was fortunate that Sofia wasn’t foolish to the extent of not understanding the meaning of her words.
“My brother wanted me to apologize to Duchess for my sister-in-law’s mistake. He sincerely requested for me to talk to you if he did not get the chance in person. She made a really big mistake. Please, I ask for your indulgence. I don’t dare to ask for your forgiveness. I only plead that you release your anger.”
“I have already forgotten about this matter. There is no need for Lady Alvin to apologize. I will accept Sir. Alvin’s apology.”
“Thank you very much for your generous words.”
Lady Alvin smiled bitterly. If the Duchess had really forgiven her, she would have said, ‘When you meet the Countess, tell her we should have a talk sometime’, in order to make a promise for the future and lift the order of confinement.
This forgiveness was perfunctory. It was a mistake to think that because the Duchess was young, if she was humored and gently appeased, she would quickly soften. Lady Alvin said her farewell and stood up.
Lucia indifferently watched as Lady Alvin went to a corner of the break room and began talking to some woman. She couldn’t hear what they were talking about so she lost interest and turned away. Lucia suddenly remembered something and turned to look at the woman again.
‘That woman…’
Dark brown hair, cat-like eyes, slightly upturned lips and a mole under the eye. The woman was matching the description that Norman gave her. She was similar to the noblewoman that went to find Norman in order to look into Lucia.
Lucia asked the maid to find out who the woman was. The maid came back soon with information gotten from the older handmaids. As usual, she(the maid) was a tactful child.
“She is called the Countess of Falcon.” (Maid)
“…Good work.”
Lucia had never seen Anita in her dream. She had heard rumors that the woman had unexpectedly married three times but the Countess of Falcon did not really show herself in the social circle. If she had not overheard his conversation with Sofia, she would not have known that the Countess of Falcon was his secret mistress.
‘Why did she investigate me secretly?’
It was not clear if the woman was aiming for her or was aiming to use her to get to him. It was possible that, like Sofia, it was done because of personal feelings but it was also possible that there was some underlying motive behind it.
If there was really a purpose, the woman would definitely approach her. If the woman approached her for whatsoever reason, Lucia planned on telling him.
*.*.*
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 67 - December 21, 2024
- Forget My Husband, I’ll Go Make Money – Side Story 21 - December 14, 2024
- Emilone’s Temptation Labyrinth – Chapter 66 - December 14, 2024
Anita.. xd.. esta super buena el siguiente capitulo..quien se presentara primero, como lucia la confrontara, xd esto se pica y se extiende… gracias srta. Rubi por los capitulos.. me muero x leer lo que sigue
Thank you for the chapter.
Thanks for the new chapter!
Hmm… What Lucia gonna do??
Hugh.. You still in huge trouble.. Didn’t Hugo already warned Anita?! Hugh tells her to never bother his wife if not, next time head will be flying.. Or because Hugh retrieve his investment, Anita want to seek answers from Lucia to tell her Hugh to withdraw the retrieval form..
Thanks for the chapter
Can’t even imagine hugo’s reaction when lucia meet or even talk to anita. Btw, thx for the chapter!
Ohhh… Another update! 🤩 Would it be wrong for my ❤️ to expect this steady update this vacation?
Ruby-nim, thank you for the effort! 🤗
Hugo’s exes came one after another… Is this perhaps another face off?
What is worse in this relationship, an ex-lover or an ex-mistress meeting the new wife? 🤔
Heh. I knew Lucia shouldn’t be left alone, or else some crazy stuff would happen, because PLOT lol
Many thanks
Thanks for the update. 🙂
Could anyone refresh my memory of who Anita is?
The last person became Hugh Ex..after Sofia.. Send yellow rose last…The one that husband died 3 times ..
She is the Countess of Falcon and last recipient of a yellow rose from Hugo. The author shows her perspective sometimes.
I dont have anything to say
Anyway, thanks for the chapter
Thank you very much for the update! So sorry to hear that many sites stole your translation :((
Just spent a whole day reading lucia from ch 01 and was super happy to find that you frequently release translated chapters. Ty for your hard work! 🥰
Thank you for the chapter!
I wonder if Anita will dare to talk to Lucia?
Thank you for the new chapter!
I wonder how Hugh will get in trouble again. *snickers
I caught up to the latest chapter.
Thank you for your hardwork.
Keep the smexy coming.
Thank thee for the chapter.
Thank you for your translation. Hope you have a nice holiday 🙂
Heck yeah kwiz you outright told Hugo 😂
thank you 😍😍😍
Thank you ruby~
ohhh we finally meet Anita
haha poor Fabian. ..more work for him
thank you 😊
Can Hugo get more flustered than he does now? :’D we’re counting on you, falcon
The author made so many mistakes about etiquette. I have a spanish blood and english blood, etiquettes were highly taught meticulously. I never said something before but, there are clear distinctions that the author doesnt know how noble society works. One particular one is bowing in the presence of a royal, especially king and queen or emperor and empress. Resting room is not quite like that, too. Traditionally and currently, if the royalty such as princesses and queen comes in a room, such as resting room… everyone must rise immediately and greet the queen first and then the other royalty. When the queen dismissed the pleasantries, then they can resume resting. This is implemented carefully in the noble society. I really do love the novel about hugh and lucia… but the author’s depiction of higher status (nobility and royalty) is out of place.
True. Not only this “bow” thing, but the ridiculous procedures of Kwiz’s accession as well. Then again, this novel oddly has quite a bit of Korean aspects with regards to nobility. So it might not actually be the English standard. Besides, this is a different world altogether. Who’s to say their standards are strictly English. It’s not like the author claimed it was so in the first place. We just assumed it because it is convenient or because we’re so used to seeing such setting being used in stories. Kwiz’s accession procedure for example is more “Korean”. Have you ever heard of an English king’s coronation taking place waaaay after the previous king died? As far as I know, coronations happen almost outright, if not for greed for the throne, but for appeasing the people’s worries and returning everything to normalcy so that the country can be secure from the bordering nations’ attempts to take advantage of the situation.
Ever since I noticed these few discrepancies here and there, I’ve actually began to think that the setting is closer to Korean nobility (in historical times) with the fashion having been subtituted with modern attires. Honestly, backless dresses and tuxedos have never actually existed in the old English times. I can just imagine how horrified the nobles would have been if they see a backless dress in a society of people that faints after seeing a lady expose her ankles.
Forget the real etiquette, dress and even customs and laws that happened in real life. In Western novels, he escapes a little from reality. I say this with complete certainty because I’ve read many historical western novels and manga.
As they are not portraying a real country or place, they have no problem changing customs, etiquette, dress and so on. So it’s better not to worry because it’s not just this novel, but almost every other novel doesn’t follow the real labels literally.
*from the west
SERIOUSLY!? COMMON LUCIA! How can you be so oblivious to Hugh’s love for you when EVERYONE ELSE CAN SEE IT?! Ugh! Shes really starting to frustrate me. *crys*
I love how he unknowingly? Or Consciously? Let’s everyone know how much he loves his wife. He didn’t confirm it, but he didn’t deny it. I wonder if in the past timeline someone had asked something like that to him, how would he have answered?
If you thought Sofia was bad enough, wait till you see what that bitch Countess of Falcon does. At least Sofia had the tact to realize her mistake. This bitch? This bitch of Falcon is criminal.