The Echanting Duchess

Chapter 19: The Duchess' Authority

With all of these being said, Atallie's authority should not only be rooted and established in Leonor's heart or on just a few people's hearts. Since she already decided to try her best to make the marriage work, Atallie knew that she must also take her role as a duchess seriously.

Hence, establishing her authority should commence, starting on this little play of her.

Atallie was clear on the things that she needed to do. But first, this was the primary task on her agenda.

Purge the swarming flies!

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Inside the luxurious, elaborative yet classy, and intimidating study room of the duke.

There was a woman kneeling in front of the man, whose standing against the window with the hue of the glaring sunset behind him, masking and hiding his expression through the shadow of his own.

There was a numbing and terrifying silence brewing in the room.

Even the kneeling woman was not making any noise. Maybe she was afraid. Maybe she was terrified. Or maybe she was scared witless. Different ways to express what the woman must have been feeling at the moment. But it all came down to one word: fear.

And that woman who was kneeling and full of fright was none other than Janette.

Janette could not even lift her head and dare to look at the duke.

"Janette," Duke Calex spoke. His cold tone and voice that was devoid of any emotions sounded, cutting through the impregnable silence.

Upon hearing her name from the mouth of the duke, Janette could only feel pain and trepidation.

"You are fully aware of the rules," Duke Calex said.

Janette inhaled a cold air that seemed to penetrate deep within.

"Have I not treated you well enough?" Duke Calex asked.

Duke Calex's sharp and fathomless dark eyes were gazing down at the kneeling Janette who could not even lift her head up.

"I know that you are a rational person, and yet, a situation happened involving you," Duke Calex continued to speak. His every word was like shards of glasses for Janette.

"Perhaps, I've been too lenient on you, thus making you forget about the rules and even your place," Duke Calex said further. His every word was like shards of glasses for Janette.

And Janette, a proud, well-known, sophisticated, and outstanding daughter of a Marquis could only stay silent as the duke continue to speak.

However, no matter how proud she was and how firm her self-control was, this kind of confrontation and upon hearing the sharp words of the duke, Janette's tears couldn't be stopped.

Duke Calex, upon seeing the now trembling Janette in front of him, could only say, "Speak up."

Upon hearing the signal from the duke for her to speak, Janette let out a sigh with her quiet tears.

Looking up with her redden and tear-stained eyes, Janette said, "Your Grace, this humble person knows her wrongdoings."

Janette was a very beautiful and stunning woman filled with graceful bearing and proud air of nobility, yet at this very moment, only frailty and vulnerability could be seen on her appearance.

However, this could not bring any favorable effect when it came to the duke, as he further asked, "Yes, I believe you know, then do you dare to speak of your wrongdoings?"