We did not hear from Somerset until the evening, when Jenkinson brought us the news.
“So, Somerset now...”
“He is under house arrest in his room.”
“…”
“The leader of the White Eagles has been dismissed effective today.”
She murmured in astonishment… “So, it was the iron-bladed wooden sword that caused his injury.”
I clenched my teeth when I heard the truth from Jenkinson.
“That bastard! Is this enough punishment?! Just house arrest?!” I knew I couldn't hit him since he was still a minor, but that thought made me feel helpless.
“Ah! When he becomes an adult, I will beat him to death without feeling guilty!”
It did not make sense to me that the person who harmed Dedrick in such a horrific way would be satisfied with the punishment with house arrest only. As for Jenkinson, who did not hear my angry speech, he continued to worry about Dedrick.
“Is your head okay?”
“Yes, fine.”
Deidrick had visited the doctor in the morning and received another thorough examination.
“There will be no more incidents under the pretext of duels. I am truly sorry for what happened,” Jenkinson said, bowing deeply. He hesitated a little before speaking again. “Please, don’t hate the Duke so much.”
I stared at Jenkinson in amazement. “How can he not hate him after he ignored the evidence? Let that bastard do whatever he wants!”
Jenkinson quietly withdrew. I looked at Dedrick and repeated what I said. "Do what you want with him! If you want to hate him, hate him all you want. Understood?" He stared at me for a moment before he smiled warmly, looking satisfied.
“...You're really on my side.”
"naturally!"
I smiled brightly, shaking his hand.
“You're just a good person, Diedrick. Good people like you always end up surrounded by good people.”
Even the Sword Master came forward to defend you, so he must care about you in some way, right?
“One month of house arrest is too much, but at least now, you won't have any more problems. Right?”
“...Yes. I think I can relax a little.”
Looking at Deidrick's calm face, I gently ran my hand across his cheek. I was hoping this safety would last longer. 'But maybe it won't last.'
Once his house arrest is over, maybe he'll start causing trouble again. 'Anyway, that's okay.'
Delaney's reputation has taken a major hit, and he has lost control of the White Eagles. Now, no knight would follow her. Some may protect her, but they won't do anything else. This was a great shame for the Duchess. She will probably be in shock and will be bedridden for some time.
That was refreshing.
______________
When Somerset's house arrest ended, Delaney began working hard to regain her lost honor.
“Miss, here is the guest list for the party.” Delaney took the list from Gemma. She smiled as she looked at the long list of noble families.
Most of the families on the list were friends of Somerset. She had invited neutral families as well, and now she needed to lure them to Somerset's side forcefully. ‘And with all this, some of the servants have moved away from us.’ She had to return them to the Somerset class.
Delany's first goal was to move her servants and provide support to Somerset.
“I left the First Prince off the list. But...” Gemma hesitated, and Delaney’s eyes stopped at the name “Joanna Primrose.”
“Is this about Joanna?”
"Yes, miss. What should we do?"
Joanna had fled the ducal palace, and the first thing Delaney did was spread rumors about her. She deliberately spread gossip that Somerset was unhappy with his engagement to Joanna. She mixed up the lies, making it seem as if Joanna was at fault. As a result, the Primrose family became a laughing stock in society.
Delany then sent a letter to the Duke of Primrose saying that the engagement between Somerset and Joanna had been broken off. She ignored all messages sent from the Primrose family.
“Exclude the Primrose family. I have more right to show this immature child the consequences of backing down from me and my son.”
“I see, miss. Should we prevent the younger son from attending the party as well?”
“Hmm...”
Delaney hesitated for a moment, then shook her head.
“Let him come. We can't miss this opportunity.”
With this decision made, Delaney's lips curled into a graceful smile as she tasted the tea.
Once things were settled, Gemma stayed for a moment, hesitating before speaking.
“Miss, I have something urgent to tell you.”
Gemma came closer and whispered in her ear.
“...He has arrived.”
crash! The cup Delaney was holding fell to the floor. She asked in a trembling voice,
“...Who arrived?”
It wasn't that she didn't understand, but she wanted to hear Gemma's confirmation.
Gemma asked cautiously,
“What should we do?”
Delaney's hand was shaking as she gripped the arm of the sofa.
“What is the reason for his visit?”
“He wants to start working again as a jockey.”
Delaney couldn't believe it. He came to the Duke's Palace for such a trivial reason?
She could not contain her growing anger, so she shouted,
“Then just put it somewhere out of sight!”
“…He wants to join the Black Eagles in Blackwood.” “Ha!”
Delaney pressed her red lips together. After losing control of the White Eagles, he wanted to join the Black Eagles? Was he making fun of her?
“How bold I am!”
"Should we get rid of him? It might be dangerous to leave him alive."
Gemma suggested, but Delaney pressed her eyebrows together tightly. Although she wanted to get rid of him, she couldn't.
“The evidence is in his hands.” If he dies, all the evidence will be exposed. That can't happen.
"Tell him to be quiet until I communicate with him. It won't take long."
“Yes, miss.”
Delaney was grinding her teeth, shaking with anger.
Later…
I was stealing blueberries when the door suddenly opened, making me stop.
“Come here.”
Hearing Gemma's calm voice, I quickly grabbed the remaining blueberries and stuck my head out to see. A man entered, and when Gemma looked around, she quickly closed the door behind her into the fruit store.
'What's going on here?' It looks suspicious.’ Has anyone visited the Duke’s Palace today? Why are you leading him here? It seems that he is not a low-status person, since Gemma treats him very politely.
Has Daedric been left alone for too long, and now someone is starting to move behind the scenes? 'What is he planning!'
This wasn't her guest then? ‘Could it be Gemma’s weakness?’ Perhaps this was a good opportunity to get rid of Gemma, who is practically the Duchess’ right-hand man. I didn't leave my eyes on the two of them.
In the dark warehouse, Gemma was holding a lamp, standing next to a wall full of apple crates.
Craik…
The bricks moved on their own, revealing a secret passage.
“Has this been here the whole time?”
“Follow me.”
I was surprised and rushed to follow Gemma. The blueberry bag I was carrying was dark, so in this dim light, no one would notice what I was carrying. However, I wrapped it as quietly as possible, so as not to make any noise. Just after I entered, the brick door closed behind me. In the completely dark place, Gemma's lamp was the only source of illumination.
‘Since Gemma is leading this man herself, he must be a guest of the Duchess.’ But why take him through a secret passage like this? I wanted to look at the man, but he was completely covered by a hood so I couldn't see much. Even trying to catch a glimpse of his face was difficult, because the aisle was narrow, and I couldn't stand in front of him. When I tried, I didn't mean to bump into him. 'He's carrying a sword. If he's a knight, his senses are probably sharp. He might not think it’s just a ghost.’ So I decided to quietly follow them and listen to their conversation instead.
“The vortex asks you to wait a little.”
“I've waited more than ten years, and now I'm being asked to wait more?”
I could hear the tired man's voice. Even though I couldn't see him, I heard Gemma's frustrated sigh.
“Lord Arnold, do you think bringing you here was easy?”
Arnold? It was a name I had never heard before... No matter what I thought, I couldn't remember anyone named Arnold. 'And now she's leading this man to the duke's palace?'
At that moment, I heard Arnold's sarcastic voice.
“It seems that Delaney still hasn't settled down. I heard that she was severely reprimanded by the Duke recently. Ha ha.”