“Excuse me? Well...as I recall, she's not on the list,” Viscount Rochefort replied, looking puzzled as to why Ethan was asking such questions.
“May I ask what this topic is?” asked the Viscount.
"Nothing. Thank you," Ethan said, shrugging it off before walking away.
Viscount Rochefort remained standing in confusion as he watched Ethan's retreating figure.
Lost in his thoughts, Ethan returned to the dance floor.
After Camille was released from detention, she only went out once.
Ethan ordered Jack to have someone follow her, not because he expected her to do anything suspicious – Camille would likely assume she was being watched and wouldn't risk meeting any informants directly.
The surveillance was just a precaution, a security measure.
“The Duchess visited the homes of Viscount Rochefort and Viscountess Grandbert respectively, spending about two hours in each house.”
Jack informed Ethan about this that evening.
“Rochefort and Grandbert? Why do you visit these two places?
"I don't know. We could not enter the properties. Shall I bribe the servants to find out?'
“Do it. And make sure they keep quiet about it.”
“Understood”
The next day, Jack submitted a report with information he obtained from the servants in each palace.
Camille's actions to Viscount Rochefort exactly matched what the Viscount had just described. Her visit to the Grandbert Palace was to meet Viscountess Audrey Grandbert.
“She was the only Viscountess who sent flowers and congratulations during the Duchess’ imprisonment. It appears that the Duchess visited the place to express her gratitude and present her with a gift.”
“Is that all? "There was no important conversation?"
“It seems so. The Duchess inquired about community events over the past two months, likely to gather information for her return. I suppose that's the same reason she wanted the guest list.”
“What was in the gift?”
“Flowers, an embroidered handkerchief, tea, and chocolate. “As we mentioned earlier, we checked everything before she left the palace and found nothing suspicious.”
“Is there any possibility that there is a message hidden in the gifts?”
“It is unlikely. According to the driver, the Duchess did not touch the gifts after they were loaded into the cart. The estate servants unpacked it.”
By then, Ethan's doubts had almost vanished.
The reason he asked Viscount Rochefort again today was to make sure Camille didn't try to silence him. If she had, it would have been an indication of something she was hiding. But she didn't.
It was learned that Viscountess Grandbert was not invited to today's event either.
'Maybe my fears were excessive'
At this point, Ethan no longer believes Camille is having an affair with Gerard. If she had been, she wouldn't have asked for a divorce.
Although she may have been trying to escape a dangerous situation, it is unlikely that she would resort to formal divorce proceedings if she was planning to run away. Escaping quietly would be safer, to avoid possible prosecution by Gerard.
It did not appear that she was seeking spousal support either.
Camille hinted that revealing the source of her information could put others at risk.
This meant that it was reasonable to assume that Camille had someone providing her with confidential information about Gerard.
Gerard was known for leaving no evidence, as evidenced by his attempt to eliminate Bernard.
Anyone privy to Gerard's secrets was likely deeply involved. There was no guarantee that this person would be on Dumont's side.
Perhaps they were exploiting Camille for personal purposes, or at worst, this could be another one of Gerard's elaborate traps.
No matter the scenario, Ethan had to determine who this informant was. Whatever Camille meant by 'freedom', he couldn't let her go, not before she answered all his questions.
But why did he feel so worried?
It must be Camille's dress today. Victor's unnecessary comments made him feel too much.
“You mean... it's okay for me to wear this dress?”
The wary look she gave him when she asked him that question was still etched in his mind. She was a mystery.
Not long ago, he had thought she was a childish fool who was incapable of acting appropriately for her age, but now it seemed that this was not her true nature.
She had asked for a divorce, said that she no longer cared about impressing him, but suddenly she looked at him with such an expression and said such words.
“As I mentioned, it is a precious and special dress, so I thought I should only wear it on important occasions.”
...What's so special about the dress?
Ethan had completely forgotten that he had chosen a dress like that for her.
Even on his way to the concert, he tried to remember but failed.
Throughout their five years of marriage, he never deprived Camille of anything she wanted, whether dresses or jewelry. However, she cherished this dress simply because he had chosen it for her.
“The Duchess wearing this dress after all these years is undoubtedly what will make you recognize her. The important thing is that she will undoubtedly give you one last chance tonight.”
Ethan's brow furrowed in a deep knot.
If that were true…she would truly be a foolish woman.
***
I leaned against the wall of the ballroom, sipping my lemonade.
Many people were peeking at me from afar, but no one dared to approach. Maybe they heard my conversation with Nadia and her friends.
Or maybe it's always been like this, I thought.
Despite everything, I am still Duchess Dumont.
I expected people to flock to me, hoping that I would gain their acceptance.
It was surprising that, except for Audrey, no one had asked about my health over the past two months.
However, the rumor of my relationship with Liam must have scared them.
They didn't want to risk angering Ethan.
This was the nature of relationships based on power.
I took another sip of my drink, only to find my cup empty.
I looked around, hoping to see a servant passing by.
“Can I get you another drink?”
“Oh yes, thank you...”
I turned to the voice next to me, and narrowed my eyes slightly.
The man who spoke did not look like a servant.
His smart suit and elegant demeanor indicate him as a gentleman.
Moreover, he was tall and handsome.
Let's see. Dark blonde hair, about Ethan's age, and that striking appearance… I quickly reviewed the information Audrey had provided me.
"Thank you for the offer, but it is not necessary, Count Brunkel. I do not think I would give you such a task," I replied.
“Please do not refuse. I will be very happy to bring the Duchess some drinks,” Count Clovis Bronkel said with a charming smile.
Look at this guy, tsk.
I noticed the flirtatious sparkle in his eyes.
Audrey did not mention any close relationship between Clovis and Camille, although she would not have said so if there had been.
Since the original Camille had a crush on Liam, it is unlikely that she would have a secret relationship with Clovis. Maybe this was just innocent flirting.
"No, really, I don't want to bother you. Ah, I see a servant now," I said, raising my hand to summon a servant.
But Clovis, pretending, hurried to fetch a new cup himself.
“Here you go,” Clovis said, handing me a lemonade with what he probably thought was a dazzling smile.
What a pretense! Does he think bringing a drink is a great gesture?