After knowing that, I thought that I could understand the meaning behind the remembered conversation.
No matter how much the former duchess backed Catherine, Abella had allowed Catherine too much power.
It was a strange thing that I noticed after becoming Abella. Regardless how much power the head maid held, Abella is the duchess.
It doesn't make sense to have it gone on for this long.
It's obvious that there was something between the two.
I don't know.
I thought perhaps I would understand the contract between Charles and Abella after I figure that part out. Also maybe, I will also understand the involvement of Baron Farhan as well.
When I think about it, it's weird.
The news of her falling down the stairs and scraped herself were already pervasive in the capital.
That's why the baron must have known that Abella was in critical condition.
I didn't receive a letter.
"Not a word to ask if I'm okay."
The moment I try to think of Baron Farhan from Abella's memory, there's a sentence that comes to mind:
[Don't think about coming back. Let's die together.]
Right.
I lift myself up from the railing.
I belatedly recall from the novel what Lord Dane had said to Abella.
"!"
I then rush into the bedroom and lift up the mattress. I encounter the paragraph in the novel that I will face in the future.
[We can't die together, Ella.]
"Ella."
It's a sentence that I read over and over again.
A scene that I've read time and time again.
Why have I only seen this now?
As I raise my hand, temporarily lost in thought, I turn around and look at Abella's face in the mirror. Right at that moment, apart from the emotions that I feel, my heart beats erratically against my will, reacting to the name "Ella" in the novel.
Or to be more specific, it's not me but Abella's body.
.
.
"Eonnie, she's been doing funny things these days."
Evangeline sits by Marissa's side and crosses one of her leg. Even though it's her sister, does Marissa disapproves of the way she's shaking her leg since she has put down her teacup?
"... "
Evangeline straightens her posture and untwists her leg.
"She—"
It's still too undignified to say it from her mouth.
"Evangeline Ricalen Diago."
Marissa turns her head and calls out her full name.
Because Evangeline knows well enough what that gaze and call mean, and what would happen if that gaze persists, she corrects herself.
"The current duchess is acting strange—no, she's doing something."
She then licks her lips and chooses her words carefully as she stares into Marissa's eyes.
"What...?"
Only then, Marissa, who has her gaze on Evangeline, raises her teacup and takes a sip.
"She goes to the ranch to drink milk."
"Milk? Is that still being drank, Catherine?"
Marissa tilts her head towards Catherine, who's standing behind Evangeline.
"Most of the stories that came out of Evangeline's mouth now come from you, so explain it yourself."
"... "
"Tsk."
Evangeline pouts at Marissa's words and leans into her chair. Her face shows dissatisfaction, but she does not voice it. Even though she consistently acts spoil in front of Charles, she knows from experience that her childishness doesn't work on Marisa.
Marissa is also one of the few people the former duchess trusts.
That day, she must have sent my older sister a letter.
To be honest, she thought that it'd be her mother's maid, Fossett, who would come, but Marisa appeared instead. Therefore, she became a little embarrassed to be caught like that.
Marissa's more demanding than the former duchess.
Because she's scarier than my mother.
Marissa's personality is cold like a sword.
"She said that she would start a business."
Catherine begins to explain calmly.
Marissa responds in a bewildered voice, a bit late.
"... Business?"
"Yes."
"What...?"
"A few days ago, a story circulated from the diner table of the duke. It seems that she intends to sell milk in a glass bottle."
"Milk? Glass bottle?"
"I think she's crazy! Is she not?!"
Evangeline shakes her head as she bounces up and down, finishing up Catherine's explanation.
"The Duke of Diago and his wife in a milk business! It's amazing."
Evangeline fans her face to cool herself down. The more she thinks about it, the angrier she gets. She strikes the chair and makes a sound.
"She should feel bad for acting like a beggar! Who do you think our duke is, really! The position of the duchess is not an easy thing to get!"
Marissa bites her lips and looks at Catherine.
"I feel the same way. Not only that, but also glass smiths and a wizard from the tower will come in the next few days..."
"Wizard?"
Marissa, who now feels the seriousness of the situation, narrows her eyes slightly.
"And the chief executive."
As Marissa presses firmly on her temple, Catherine sighs, taken it a sign that she's upset.
"But the bigger problem is getting a maid to assist in order to stop it ..."
Catherine, who deliberately breaks between her words as if she's carefully picking what to say, glances at Marissa, who still has her eyes closed.
'Do it quickly,' Evangeline silently communicates via her facial expression.
Catherine sighs at her prodding and continues.
"However, the head maid appointed by the current duchess, My Lady, doesn't know her place and standing. What's more, there might be a relationship between her and the ranch manager, Paul. She also allowed a dirty soo-in to be there."
"... "
"At first I didn't understand why the former duke fiercely opposed, saying that he would abandon the Diago's Castle. ... ."
"But?"
"When I think about it now, it seems that he probably had a foresight. We shouldn't allow just anything without an origin or status to enter..."
Catherine then takes the silence as a positive note. At least what she said has the support of Evangeline.
"Catherine."
Marissa calls out as she slowly opened her eyes, still touching her temple.
"You're also from a baron."
"... "
"That kind of gossip is damaging to your reputation so be careful."
Catherine turns speechless. Her throat clogs up for a moment at Marissa's words directed to her. She then curls her lips and bites them.
"I'm sorry, my lady."
She takes a step back. That's also when she finds out what Marisa's thinking.
"What is the use of selling milk?"
"I mean—"
Marissa shakes her head and moves her hands in opposite directions, closing her eyes.
"She, no, the current duchess, likes milk tea."
"Milk tea?"
"I heard that you're supposed to brew tea with milk. It looks like dirty water. I saw her drinking it a few days ago, and it was disgusting."
Evangeline's arms cross as if she's annoyed just thinking about it.
"From one to ten, I really don't like anything about it. She added milk to those expensive tea leaves, and even put in sugar. She's really low class."
Evangeline then shakes her head, chewing on her lips.
"I mean, she doesn't deserve those things just because she met a well off man—'"
"Stop."
"Eonnie."
Marissa raises her hand to stop Evangeline from further complaining. This was something that she has not stop doing since the capital, and she no longer wants to hear it anymore. She then turns to Catherine.
"Where's the duchess?'
"I'm sure that she's in Lian Garden."
"Tomorrow, there will be a tea party before the banquet."
"Hmm."
"Eonnie, I really want—"
As Evangeline prepares to complaint again about her own suffering—
"I need to see her."
Standing up, Marissa smiles, ignoring Evangeline words.
"It will be fun."
"Can I go with you?"
"You'll stay here."
Marissa speaks firmly to Evangeline, who's jumped up from excitement, thinking that she could follow her.
"Why?"
"Let the adults talk to each other."
"Eonnie."
Evangeline frowns and looks up at Marissa with a sad gaze.
"Catherine."
She ignores Evangeline and stares at the main palace.
Hmmm.
Perhaps the current Duchess of Diago is a more interesting person than when she knew her in the capital.
Besides, there's a reason why she came to Lapel, and it's not just for a random reason. As per Evangeline's letter, she has to check if the duchess is really willing to divorce.
"Tell the duchess that I want to see her."
.
.
.
.
T/N: this chapter may or may not be badly edited so I really have no thoughts. All I can say is Marissa is probably a better opponent than Evangeline because she's not dumb.