Beneath the Surviving Princess's Joyful Facade - Chapter 147

The next morning, Miesa headed to the Grand Duke’s residence. She needed to figure out what on earth the Grand Duke of Hagail was thinking. And she brought Gella along to see how the Grand Duke was treating her.

“I expected you would come again.”

The Grand Duke of Hagiil welcomed them into the dining room. This time, the table was clean, and everything was neatly arranged. As Miesa glanced around, her gaze settled on the Grand Duke’s face.

Indeed, it had only been about ten days since Gella started treating him, but the Grand Duke’s eyes were noticeably clearer. Although his complexion was still ashen, his hair was neatly groomed, and he was dressed decently.

“So, Your Majesty, will you accept my advice?”

“Are you suggesting I send Gella as an adopted daughter? What on earth are you thinking?”

The Grand Duke, seated across from her, didn’t respond. He simply tapped his fingernails on the table. As Miesa frowned at the sound—drdrk, tap; drdrk, tap—Gella’s muttered words from behind caught her attention.

“Oh, right. I need to trim his nails.”

“What?” Miesa scowled at Gella’s remark. “Why should you care about something like that?”

“Well, the butler tried, but his vision isn’t what it used to be, so he keeps nicking his fingertips.”

“I’ll send an attendant to do it. How many do you need?”

Miesa directed her question to the Grand Duke. But his face grew more serious.

“Everyone out. I want a private conversation with Her Majesty.”

But Miesa had no intention of putting herself in any danger. She glared at the Grand Duke and said, “Gella will stay. She’s involved in this.”

After all, Gella could easily handle that scrawny man with a swollen belly.

“As you wish.”

The Grand Duke agreed without hesitation. Yet even after the three of them were alone, he remained silent for a long time. Just as Miesa was about to lose her patience, he finally spoke.

“I’m interested in that woman.”

“No way,” Miesa responded sharply, determined to protect her from her cousin. “Gella is my only friend. I will never let her become your mistress.”

Gella was so flustered by Miesa’s declaration that she didn’t know how to react. MIesa, keeping an eye on Gella, glared fiercely at the Grand Duke.

The Grand Duke, who had been watching them both with a slight smile, leaned back in his chair. This only fueled Miesa’s anger.

“What on earth are you thinking? Besides, what can you even do? You—”

Miesa vaguely remembered hearing that the Grand Duke had a physical condition, but she wasn’t sure what to call it. Even in the middle of her outburst, she turned to Gella and whispered, “Gella, what do you call it? When a man… can’t at night…”

“A eunuch? Oh, in this case, it means he doesn’t function as a man—”

“I do function,” Grand Duke interrupted, shaking his head in disbelief. “After I ended up like this, some tried to console me with alcohol and women. I accepted the alcohol and sent the women back, and rumors started to spread.”

“You do function?”

“If you’re so curious, you can confirm it with the doctor.”

“Absolutely not! Gella, you can’t visit the Grand Duke’s residence anymore. I only sent you because I thought he was a eunuch.” Miesa trembled with anger.

Grand Duke made an even more outrageous statement, “I’m not thinking of making her my mistress. I intend to take her as my wife.”

“What?”

“I couldn’t marry when the late king was alive, but now I plan to. I intend to get married.”

“Why Gella, though? Why her?”

“Because I like her.”

This conversation was going nowhere. Miesa stood up abruptly. “I said absolutely not.”

“Your Majesty.”

“That woman, this woman, that doctor. Have you ever called Gella by her name even once?”

Miesa saw the Grand Duke freeze at her words, and without hesitation, she grabbed Gella’s arm and stormed out of the dining room.

“He’s gone mad. Well, I suppose he was mad to begin with, so it’s not really an insult.”

As Miesa stomped through the corridor, the butler of the Grand Duke’s residence approached her cautiously. “Your Majesty…”

“What is it?”

“There’s something I’d like to show you.”

The old butler was trembling as he spoke, so Miesa called Salachez and the guards to accompany her. Safety first, after all.

The butler led them to the basement. As they descended the stairs, he explained in a shaky voice, “So, the Grand Duke cannot converse for long unless it’s with someone he knew well before.”

“Then why not find someone he knew well before and assign them as his attendant?”

“He doesn’t like showing his changed appearance to those he once knew.”

“Picky, isn’t he?”

The butler led them into a dimly lit room in the basement and lit a candle. “So, Lady Gella resembles the late fiancée of the Grand Duke, the daughter of the Count of Vainer.”

In the room hung a portrait of a young woman. Miesa studied it carefully, then looked between Gella and the portrait.

“They don’t look alike.”

“Do I resemble her? Duke Salachez, what do you think?”

Salachez, fearing for his life, dared not answer. Instead, the butler stammered out a response, “You do resemble her. Especially in your expressions when you speak…”

Miesa frowned and looked at the portrait again. Brown hair, smooth white skin, and an elegant posture. Now that she thought about it, she recalled someone who fit that description.

“Oh, so that’s who it was.”

Miesa had seen this woman’s final moments. She had also witnessed the Grand Duke of Hagail vomiting blood as he was restrained by the guards.

“Of course, if I had to say who resembles her more, between myself and Gella, it would be Gella…”

They didn’t really look alike, but she understood why he might feel that way. Certain gestures, like the way they moved their mouths when they spoke, were subtly similar.

“Well, at least that solves one mystery. Thank you.”

Miesa considered asking the butler if the Grand Duke’s residence needed anything but decided against it. However, as she was leaving, she added one final comment to the butler. “Gella won’t be visiting the Grand Duke’s residence anymore.”

“But Your Majesty…”

“If the Grand Duke misses Gella so much, tell him to come to the palace himself. I’ll clear out a palace for him to stay in for a while.”

On the way back to the palace in the carriage, Miesa thought for a moment before speaking, “It’s strange. They didn’t look alike when I saw them side by side, but now that I think about it, they do seem a bit similar.”

“Really? Your Majesty, have you seen that lady before?”

“Yes. It wasn’t a pleasant situation. Gella, could she be a relative of yours? Oh, wait…”

Gella understood what Miesa was hinting at and smiled gently, shaking her head. “Tully was younger than me. She was my sister, but that lady must have been much older than I was.”

“Oh… I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright, Your Majesty.”

The carriage fell into silence. After a moment, MIesa spoke again, “I’m sorry. I won’t bring up Tully again.”

“You can talk about her. She was very beautiful.”

Miesa turned to look out the window, changing the subject. “Doid, there’s a budget set aside for me, right?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. Even after spending on the alms house for your birthday, there’s still a considerable amount left.”

“Is it enough to cover the repairs for the Grand Duke’s residence?”

Salachez thought for a moment before answering honestly, “I’m not sure about the cost, but I’ll find out.”

“Alright.” Nodding, Miesa reached out and took Gella’s hand, which was resting on the seat opposite her. “Gella, I’m sorry to ask this, but could you help me with something?”

“Oh, Your Majesty, please don’t apologize. Just give the order.”

“…I don’t want to send you to the Grand Duke as his wife. But we can’t just leave him as he is.”

“If he comes to the palace, I’ll treat him and keep him company.”

“Yes, exactly. But remember to always have the guards with you.” Miesa held Gella’s hand tightly and whispered, “Grand Duke seems to be healthier than I thought. Be careful.”

“Your Majesty…”

Gella was touched by Miesa’s concern but couldn’t help feeling that Miesa, who didn’t know the ways of the world, was simply too endearing.

To the daughter of a blacksmith, marrying even the son of a butcher would be a step up. To carry the child of a noble would be a blessing, and being connected to royalty, even for a night, would be an honor. Miesa, however, could never understand this.

“…I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Never be alone with him. You still have your dagger, right?”

Even though she was a maid in the palace, it’s not like she would ever be in a situation where she’d have to stab someone. But Gella simply smiled and responded, “I don’t have the dagger. I left it at the Cladnier estate because of the guards’ searches.”

“Do you want to go get it now?”

“No, it’s fine. You told me to stay with the guards anyway. Besides, I’m stronger than His Highness the Grand Duke.”

“Alright. But don’t let your guard down. And make sure the door stays open when you’re with him.”

Not even her father back home had been this strict. Gella had to lower her head to hide her laughter.

To Miesa’s surprise, the Grand Duke of Hagail arrived at the palace early the next morning. His face was as pale as ever, drenched in cold sweat, as he sat in the reception room. Miesa sighed and ordered that a suitable palace be cleared for his stay.

***