My Husband Caught Me Having an Affair - Chapter 26

“Even if that were true, it wouldn’t be surprising, considering the kind of person the Duke of Dumont is,” Nadia said, her slender eyebrows arching.

“It’s unfortunate. Anyone could see that it was bound to happen…”

Despite her words, Nadia’s expression was anything but sympathetic. On the contrary, her green eyes glinted with a chilling intensity.

As Camille’s confinement extended beyond a month, Nadia’s speculations were being accepted as the truth. Everyone expected the news of the Duke and Duchess of Dumont’s divorce to break soon.

Until the rumor spread that the Duke and Duchess of Dumont were on the guest list for today’s ball.

Even then, many were skeptical until the day arrived. When Ethan and Camille appeared together, looking quite affectionate, it shocked many. Nadia was undoubtedly one of them.

“This can’t happen. It shouldn’t happen… ever,” Nadia murmured, biting her lower lip gently.

The dance had just ended. Her gaze was fixed on the Duke and Duchess as they walked arm in arm out of the hall.

***

The day after the Duke and Duchess attended the ball together, Victor began his routine before sunrise as usual. He meticulously checked the condition of the estate and the readiness of the servants, as part of his morning ritual. By the time he was finished, dawn had broken, casting a soft light through the windows.

‘I hope everything went well yesterday.’

He had been anxious since the night before, worried about whether the Duchess had adhered to his advice. The fact that she had mentioned divorce was no small matter. Yet, Ethan seemed to lack a sense of urgency.

To be honest, Ethan was not a man capable of understanding a woman’s delicate feelings. If he had been, things wouldn’t have reached this point.

‘I should have been more explicit for him to understand.’

It was a regret he could do nothing about now. Victor sighed quietly.

At that moment, he saw Camille descending the stairs, her hand lightly resting on the banister. When their eyes met, she greeted him with a bright smile.

“Good morning, Victor.”

Her usual smile reassured him.

‘Perhaps my worries were unfounded,’ Victor thought, adjusting his assessment of Ethan as he bowed to Camille.

“Good morning, Madam. Did you enjoy the ball last night?”

Camille’s clear face suddenly showed a hint of a frown. “Oh, um…”

Victor’s heart sank at her hesitation, and he found himself adopting a more serious expression. “Is there something wrong?”

“Huh? No, it’s nothing…” Camille trailed off, looking at Victor and then pausing.

“…Madam?”

“……”

Camille looked down without answering. Her eyes, hidden beneath her long, lush eyelashes, glistened faintly.

Victor swallowed hard. For a moment, he thought he had seen wrong. But no, there were definitely tears welling up in the Duchess’s eyes.

“Excuse me, Victor. I need to go.”

With a slightly hoarse voice, Camille excused herself and walked away. Victor could only stand there, staring blankly at her retreating figure.

***

“Excuse me,” Victor said as he entered the study, placing a cup of tea on Ethan’s desk.

Although Ethan had asked for tea, he hadn’t specifically requested Victor to bring it himself. Though finding it a bit odd, Ethan chose not to question it.

“Do you need anything else, sir?”

“No, thank you,” Ethan replied, not looking up from his papers.

After a moment, Ethan noticed that Victor hadn’t left. “Is there something you want to say?”

“How was the ball last night?”

“There’s not much to say. It was just another ball, like any other.”

“……”

Victor remained silent, his expression inscrutable.

“Why?”

“…It’s nothing,” Victor replied.

“It doesn’t seem like nothing to me,” Ethan pressed.

“I just wanted to know if you and the Duchess had a good time. It’s been a while since the two of you went out together,” Victor said, his tone carrying more weight than usual.

Ethan looked at him steadily before setting down his pen and clasping his hands together. “I understand what you’re implying. But there’s no need to worry. I followed your ‘advice’ to the letter. I complimented her dress and danced with her at the ball.”

“…Really?” Victor’s eyes widened behind his monocle, clearly skeptical.

Ethan frowned. “Yes, really. Do you think I’d lie about something like that? If you don’t believe me, ask Camille.”

“……”

Victor remained silent, his eyes flickering with doubt.

‘Could he have already spoken to Camille?’

Ethan suddenly remembered that Victor and Camille’s relationship was no longer the same as before. Perhaps Victor had already confirmed Camille’s feelings before coming to him.

“What did Camille say?” Ethan asked, trying to probe further.

“Nothing specific,” Victor replied quickly. But Ethan didn’t miss the slight tremor in his gaze.

“Victor.”

“……”

“Victor, tell me what happened. That’s an order.”

“Actually…”

Victor reluctantly began to speak. As Ethan listened, his eyebrows raised in surprise.

“…She cried? Camille?”

“Yes. When I asked if something had happened at the ball, she started crying.”

“That’s impossible. You must be mistaken.”

“I’m not mistaken. I’m certain,” Victor insisted firmly.

“……”

Ethan frowned deeply, remaining silent for a long moment. Victor watched him quietly, his gaze carrying a hint of reproach.

“…Why are you looking at me like that? I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t do anything to make Camille cry.”

Even as he protested, Victor’s doubtful expression didn’t waver.

“Seriously. As I said, I complimented her dress and didn’t say anything inappropriate,” Ethan added, clearly uncomfortable with having to justify himself to Victor.

“Anything else you can think of? Something unpleasant that might have happened at the ball…?” Victor asked, his expression serious.

“Not particularly. I stepped away for a moment, and when I returned, some scoundrel was pestering Camille…” Ethan replied.

“Pestering? In what way?” Victor inquired, his concern evident.

“I don’t mean he laid a hand on her. There were plenty of people around. The moment I showed up, he backed off immediately.”

“How did the Duchess seem?”

“She seemed fine. At least, nothing happened that would make her cry just by mentioning the ball.”

“Then why…?”

‘Damn it, how should I know?’ Ethan thought, scowling in frustration. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he reached for a pile of opened letters on the corner of his desk. He picked up one and handed it to Victor.

“What’s this about?” Victor asked, taking the letter with a puzzled look. The envelope had no sender’s name, and the letter itself was unsigned.

As Victor read the letter, his face slowly contorted in anger. It accused Camille of having an affair with Baron Liam Bernard, detailing the times and places of their supposed secret meetings.

“This is ridiculous. The Duchess has already been proven innocent, and now, to send such an absurd letter…” Victor said, his rare display of anger evident. If the letter had been addressed to him, he might have crumpled it up on the spot.

Ethan stared at Victor and asked, “You seem quite upset. Since when have you cared so much about Camille?”

“What? What are you implying, my lord? As her servant, it’s only natural to defend her honor,” Victor replied, slightly taken aback.

“Well, I think differently. You’ve been rather keen on defending Camille and accusing me, both yesterday and now, just because she shed a few tears,” Ethan remarked, narrowing his eyes.

Victor averted his gaze, a hint of guilt flashing across his face. “That’s not true.”

“Are you sure?”

Under Ethan’s scrutiny, Victor cleared his throat loudly. “In any case, my lord, you must not be swayed by these fabricated letters. Someone is clearly trying to drive a wedge between you and the Duchess.”

Ethan responded, his face impassive, “I already know who sent it.”