Chapter 78: Collateral of the Body (3)
"—Freda! You’re still at the Marquisate? What in the world is going on? Weren’t you supposed to leave for the capital with the Second Princess? I heard you’re causing trouble, using the gold coins I gave to the Marquis as leverage!"
“N-no, it’s not like that...”
Freda sat demurely in front of the crystal orb, now completely shriveled like a scolded child.
Since this wasn’t a high-end two-way communication but a recorded message, the fact that she cowered like that meant the Duke must be seriously strict.
"—The Third Princess herself sent me a letter. I went through all the trouble of establishing friendly relations with Moonlight Palace, and now you’re going to ruin everything over a measly ten thousand gold coins? Return home immediately!"
Pop. The projection ended, and Freda pouted.
Asella had sent a top-grade messenger falcon to the Duke with a report on what was happening at the Marquisate.
Though she used refined wording, the message essentially boiled down to: "Your daughter is hitting on my fiancé. Do you not have any sense of decorum?"
Three days later, Asella received a reply filled with apologies, and Freda must have gotten a message too. I’d been keeping watch on her ever since she ran out in the middle of breakfast.
“See? I told you I was right.”
Asella declared triumphantly.
“So the young lady really did act on her own, without the Duke’s knowledge. How did you know?”