The Fake Madam Disappeared

“What is this?” Sophia picked up what Edmund handed her. It was a note.

“I believe Godmother would know best.”

Sophia, reading the note that Marinda had written just before her suicide, set it down with an indifferent expression.

“This is my first time seeing it. Ah, is this from the maid who committed suicide?”

“Godmother.”

Edmund stood up from his seat, his voice indifferent.

“You once held responsibility for the Duke’s household, so I’m addressing you with respect.”

“...”

“Please leave.”

“Your Excellency.”

“Do nothing, say nothing, and leave before dawn.”

Sophia’s lips quivered. The trembling even reached the hand clutching her shawl as Edmund placed his hand on the door handle.

“It was all for the sake of the Winter’s household.”

An excuse he no longer cared to hear.

“No matter how much I think about it... Madam simply doesn’t suit the Winter family, Your Excellency. I’ll bring a young lady to your liking—noble, refined, and beautiful…”

Edmund turned to look at Sophia.

“When did you change like this?” His words, closer to a murmur, neither filled with pity nor mockery.

“…It was all at the Madam’s request.”

Edmund froze.

The ‘Madam’ Sophia referred to was not his wife Daphne. She meant Edmund’s biological mother, the former Duchess.

“One of the Madam’s wishes was for you to marry a woman from a good family. She loved you so dearly, Your Excellency. You believe me, don’t you?”

Love. What a beautifully wrapped, dreadful word.

“All for Your Excellency…!”

Edmund ignored her and shut the door. Right outside, Johann was waiting.

“Help the Grand Mistress pack her things.”

“I’ll take full responsibility for her care.”

As Johann opened the door, a noisy clamor spilled out through the gap. Edmund left it to Johann and walked down the empty corridor.

“She loved you so dearly, Your Excellency.”

Edmund furrowed his brow. The place he was heading to was Daphne’s room.

Entering the quiet space, he felt a sense of relief. Approaching the bed, he reached out a hand while watching Daphne in the faint moonlight. She stirred. Her eyes slowly opened.

“…Edmund?”

Her voice was hoarse as she called out to him. Startled, Edmund pulled back his hand. Still half-asleep, Daphne blinked slowly, her expression hazy. Gradually, her blinks became fewer, and her eyes closed again.

Edmund silently watched her before leaving the room at dawn.

* * *

“They say the maid Madam brought in committed suicide.”

“…Marinda?” Damian recalled the name upon hearing Vent’s words.

“Yes, that maid.”

“Why?”

“They don’t know the exact reason, but she left a note before she took her life.”

A perfectly healthy person had committed suicide overnight. To make matters worse, early that morning, Sophia’s illness had suddenly worsened, prompting her to be rushed to the southern estate.

With so many events occurring in just one night, the mansion was in turmoil. However the young master’s day carried on as usual.

“ Marquis Sovel sent a letter.”

Damian opened the letter Vent handed him and skimmed through its contents. Stripped of all the flowery language, the gist was an invitation to have tea with the Marquis’ daughter.

“Why the look on your face?”

Damian noticed Vent’s displeased expression.

“Are you really considering marrying the Marquis’ daughter?”

“She’s not a bad match.”

“That’s true.” Damian picked up a quill to reply but, after a moment, put it down without writing anything.

“Why?”

“Have you spoken with His Excellency?”

“There’s no rush. If he had someone else in mind, he would’ve hinted at it already.”

“That’s also true.”

After finishing the letter, Damian set the quill aside.

“By the way, did you complete the task I assigned you yesterday?”

“Ah, here it is.”

Vent handed him a stack of documents.

“Why did you ask me to investigate Baron Graun, though?”

Baron Graun was the subject of Vent’s investigation this time. This included from his personal background to any potential weaknesses.

“For no particular reason…”