Grace in Wonderland - Chapter 139

139. Side Story VIII

“If you won’t introduce her, I’ll have no choice but to ask Sebastian for help.”

“Absolutely not.”

Richard scowled and blocked Graham.

“Why not?”

Graham asked incredulously. Was Richard planning to keep the Young Countess completely isolated? Wasn’t this a bit extreme? Could such obsessive behavior toward one’s wife really occur in the civilized nation of Ingrint?

Even the mythical god who kidnapped a woman to make her his wife and hid her in the underworld allowed her to return to her homeland for a few months each year. Richard Spencer must be an even crazier man.

“It’s none of your business.”

Richard dismissed him with a wave of his hand, answering weakly.

“Oh, but I think it is.”

Graham was the son of a press magnate. Of the six newspapers Richard Spencer subscribed to and read every morning, three were published by companies owned by the Winchester family. Additionally, countless monthly and quarterly magazines, academic journals, art critiques, and even yellow journalism tabloids across Ingrint were all owned by Winchester.

Growing up in such a household, Graham Harold could not turn a blind eye to what he perceived as barbaric behavior. Armed with a journalist’s spirit, he smiled slyly and spoke in an exaggerated tone.

“I really don’t want to write a story about how Richard Spencer, the Young Earl, has imprisoned his wife.”

And with that, Graham pulled out a small notebook from his pocket and waved it teasingly.

You… unbelievable bastard.

This was always Graham Harold’s approach. He would stop at nothing to satisfy his curiosity. His skill in uncovering secrets—even those of kings—was no coincidence.

“…Grace hasn’t been feeling well,” Richard said vaguely, hoping to dismiss Graham quickly.

“The Young Countess?”

Graham’s eyes widened. His light blue irises, catching the afternoon sun, turned almost white. They seemed to both absorb and reflect everything at once, an enigmatic gaze.

Got him.

Sebastian thought to himself as he listened to their conversation. Richard Spencer, the unsophisticated rustic, stood no chance against the polished and urbane Graham Harold.

“Where, how, and how badly is she ill? Oh dear, if I’d known this was a sick visit, I’d have brought flowers. I saw some lilies for sale just nearby.”

Graham fussed as he spoke. Richard rubbed his throbbing left temple as he watched him.

Noticing this, Graham glanced at Richard’s unguarded expression with a slightly flustered look. For the prideful Richard Spencer to so openly reveal such behavior in front of him—it was truly a first.

“…Who is the Winchester family’s physician?” Richard asked, resigning himself.

He had already instructed Sebastian to compile a list of Ingrint’s most renowned physicians, but summoning a physician tied to another grand noble family without prior arrangement would be considered impolite. Hence, he sought to prepare the groundwork.

“Someone who worked for the Spencer family until last year, I believe.”

“Dr. Seton?”

“Yes, I think that was the name.”

Dr. Seton had served as the Spencer family’s physician for a long time. He was also a friend of Lady Mary Montague.

After Lady Montague’s death, Dr. Seton stepped down from his position. Though he had fulfilled Lady Montague’s request, he had delivered false findings to Richard Spencer, which left him feeling deeply guilty as he watched Richard suffer after her passing.

Richard accepted Dr. Seton’s decision and bore no ill will toward him. Both Grace and Dr. Seton had their reasons—a realization Richard came to during the long night he spent beside Lady Montague’s body.

“Richard, just tell me. Believe it or not, I’ve studied medicine.”

“What? Since when?”

Graham Harold had studied law at Christ Church College, as was typical for noble sons. Richard had often criticized him for lacking conviction. And now he was claiming to have studied medicine?

“I dabbled in it during public school and occasionally read medical books at Grentabridge.”

Graham replied nonchalantly. He conveniently omitted the fact that the books he read were veterinary texts for his younger sister’s pet turtle.

Oh…

Even though Richard had a physician employed at the Spencer mansion, he hesitated to call for one. His ears perked up. If Graham Harold’s presence didn’t alarm Grace, Graham might naturally observe her condition.

Got him again.

Sebastian’s gaze darted around. Outsmarting Graham was simply impossible.

Had it been just Richard Spencer and Sebastian, he might have intervened. However, a seasoned attendant must remain inconspicuous in front of external guests, so Sebastian held his tongue, regretting that he couldn’t step in.

And so, unable to prevent Richard from falling for Graham’s ploy, Sebastian followed his master’s order and escorted Grace Spencer, the Young Countess, to the drawing room. At that moment, Grace had been dozing on the couch in her bedroom.

“Greetings, Young Countess.”

Graham spoke politely. To Richard, however, Graham’s voice dripped with a flirtatious air.

“Oh, hello, Young Marquess of Winchester.”

Still groggy from sleep, Grace’s eyes perceived Graham Harold as nothing more than a pale, radiant figure. He appeared entirely pure and translucent, as if a mere touch of a fingertip might reduce him to fine, powdery fragments…

An angel?

Grace blinked. With his heavenly appearance, Graham Harold looked like the Archangel Gabriel descending to the mortal world.

“You’ve greeted her. Sit down.”

Richard snapped, watching Grace hesitate as she prepared to speak. Graham raised a hand to cover his mouth, hiding a smile as Richard carefully helped Grace into a chair.

Enjoying the honeymoon phase, I see.

From over 20 years of observation, Graham Harold knew Richard Spencer didn’t care who sat where as long as his chair was the highest. The sight of Richard fretting over a lady was unimaginable.

Even as a child, when they visited Lake Windermere to welcome Eleanor d’Estrée, Richard’s betrothed from Gallia, his demeanor had been entirely different. They had been old enough to understand their roles as men and women.

Eleanor d’Estrée was Richard’s fiancée, yet he responded to her clumsy Ingrintian mechanically, making no effort to clarify when he didn’t understand her. His use of Gallian wasn’t for her sake but to avoid the hassle of asking her to repeat herself.

Instead, it had been Lancelot who consistently soothed Eleanor’s frustrations. Lancelot, unable to bear seeing anyone uncomfortable, naturally stepped in.

In hindsight, the first step down the path they eventually walked together was dug by Richard Spencer himself.

The embarrassing scenes witnessed at Richard’s wedding were not mere public displays. Richard Spencer was no different from a cat rolling over at his wife’s feet, exposing its belly.

“You don’t look well, Young Countess.”

Graham sipped his lukewarm tea before speaking. Grace, who had been staring at the pale man before her, flinched and replied with a startled expression.

“I… I’m perfectly fine.”

In just two more days, she could call for the physician and finally confess to Richard. Or perhaps she’d end up disappointed, tears brimming in her eyes. Though she calculated the odds—half and half, though realistically skewed toward one side—Grace couldn’t entirely dismiss the slimmer possibility.

Out of habit, Grace reached for her teacup, leaning forward slightly. The special desserts crafted by the head chef, displayed on the table, emitted an overwhelmingly sweet and sticky aroma.

Grace’s body instinctively recoiled. Her fingers brushed the teacup handle, spilling some tea, and the breath she had been holding escaped in a choked sound. A low, gagging noise echoed repeatedly through the drawing room like a reverberating cry.

“Grace.”

Richard rose, his face full of concern. Introducing Grace to a fraud like Graham had been a mistake. Watching his wife dry heave, Richard was on the verge of losing his composure.

Forget waiting a week—the physician needed to be summoned immediately.

His patience had worn thin; he could wait no longer.

As Richard gently helped Grace to her feet, he glanced at Sebastian. His plan was to send Grace straight to the bedroom, dismiss Graham, and immediately summon the physician.

“It’s wonderful news.”

For a moment, Richard couldn’t believe his ears at the words Graham Harold had just uttered.