Chapter 167 (1/2)

Chapter 167: Chapter 167

Is it because she heard it repeatedly from Duke Jenna, or is it because she heard the rumors about me circulating in social circles since the recent conference at the palace? When I unwittingly stiffened, Duchess Lars, who was staring at me, said with a blank look, “Oh I didn’t say that with you in mind.”

“… I know.”

“I heard something from my husband. Anyway you’re the legitimate daughter of the Monique family.”

What she meant was although she was not sure if I had vulgar blood, she would recognize me as the legitimate daughter of the Monique family. I suddenly felt a swift surge of anger, but smiled gently, controlling my raging anger.

“My point is you should not lose to Lady Jena. She isn’t fit to be the crown prince’s bride candidate at all. I happened to encounter her last time, but how rude she was! I really couldn’t tolerate her.”

“I see.”

Last time? Did she refer to what happened at the Rose Palace?

What the hell made her so upset like that?

I heard about it from him, but at that time I was aghast about the results of the conference, so I let the news about the Rose Palace accident in one ear and out the other. I didn’t know the exact situation.

“At that time, she was just a commoner even before she got her status as the duke’s foster daughter. She harshly scolded a maid who looked down on her. How rude and arrogant! Although I was briefly away from the Rose Palace because I had to take care of some work at the summer palace, I was in charge of the affairs at the Rose Palace. When I rebuked her because she scolded my maid in front of me, she balked strongly, arguing that as long as the crown prince let her stay at the Rose Palace, she was in charge of managing the maids at the palace. I was speechless.”

“Really? I didn’t know that.”

I threw away the lukewarm tea and poured hot tea back into the teacup. The duchess, who received the new mug, enjoyed the fragrance elegantly.

But when is the maid coming? I gave her instructions a long time ago.

‘Why is she so slow in carrying out my order these days? I don’t understand.’

Thinking that I should give her a piece of mind, I lifted the mug.

“That’s what happened. I was dumbfounded when she was so arrogant, telling me the crown prince gave her the palace, which was totally new to me… After all, the matter was resolved only after the crown prince arrived at the palace.”

“What did the crown prince do?”

“Well, he solved the issue quickly by calling her a guest at the palace.”

“Oh I see,” I nodded.

It was the best solution because he reminded the maids that they should serve Jiun, but it was the duchess who was in control of the palace, not the new guest.

At that moment, I heard somebody knocking at the door. Only then did the maid who appeared carefully put down the pie dish in front of the duchess and me. It was an apple pie sprinkled with cinnamon powder.

I looked at the maid with an annoyed expression.

‘You brought the pie too late!’

Thinking again that I have to scold her later, I cut the pie into small pieces and almost took it to my mouth, but I dropped it because of the intense cinnamon scent.

The fork rolled down to the floor.

“What’s going on, lady?”

“Ah… Sorry, Duchess. I suddenly felt dizzy.”

“Um, dizziness? Are you sick?”

When she tilted her head at me, she looked overlapped in my view.

‘What’s wrong with me?’

I tried to come to my senses by putting my hand on the forehead when a servant came in after knocking.

“I’ve got a message from the crown prince, Lady Monique.”

“… What is that?”

“The crown prince asked if you could have a cup of tea with him at his palace if you had time.”

Oh my… this time I have to deal with the crown prince?

‘What should I do?’

‘I’m in the middle of a spooky mountain.’