Chương 15: Duchess

Vanessa Diary #11 excerpt 2 The convoy had started moving, and Jen and my sister were in the carriage, waiting. But before I could step inside, I felt something warm and furry on my back. I glanced behind me and saw a cloakless Duke. Steam rose from his wide, thick shoulder. I tried my best to hide the butterflies in my stomach as I laid eyes on this tall Duke. Jen smiled wryly at me.

"Wouldn't want the lady to be cold."

"Grace- Tarion, I can't-" He then put his hand up to pause me.

"It's ok, Vanessa. The battle got me heated up anyway. I could sleep in 100 inches of snow- fuck sake… Come on, idiots, shovel faster!" His ruby eyes settled back on me.

"Sorry, fools need guidance." He grinned wide, sharp canines proudly present and as white as the snow shovelled.

"But I would be more of a fool to let you continue this journey in such thin clothing. I gazed at him, from his vascular, long neck to his large build bulging in his black jerkin. Stretching the fabric to its limits.

"Lady Jen, Lady Caroline-""No need." The spikey-tempered girl looked away.

"I came prepared."

"Haha, I'm sure. Sad you couldn't spare one of your dozen to my wife."

"She doesn't deserve a single one! She doesn't-" Caroline jumped from her seat. Jen interrupted the incoming tirade with an arm and a kind smile.

"I don't mind a coat, Your Grace." Blocked by Jen, Caroline remembered who she was talking to. She returned to her seat in a huff, staring out the window again. His Grace motioned for his Captain, and as if he read his leader's mind, he gave his jacket over to my friend. Blond hair, serious and beauty more valuable in the theatre. Jen's Ideal man. But she was better at hiding her emotions than me, accepting the jacket with the grace of a true lady. To be confident like her...

I shouldn't feel jealous of a best friend. An only friend.

"Sorry in advance." His Grace lifted me into the carriage like I weighed nothing. Sickly duke? What do healthy northerners look like? I looked further down. Red stained his jerkin. Embarrassment fled me, and guilt plagued me.

"It's not your fault. In a struggle for life and death, it comes with the territory. I protected you. That's all that matters." He said, with concerned eyes. He bowed and left, black hair flowing in the wind, insulting his men with a grin. Back in the carriage, a sister scowled at me. Jen elbowed me, and a wink gave me a hint of her dirty thoughts. I spoke honestly, a smirk creeping on my face.

"Maybe marriage won't be that bad." Tarion With the saving of Jen has been struck off my "Divorce the Mc plan," I began thinking through the events of today as I rode my horse. Bandits swapped places with the cursed and attacked with dozens of warriors. A deliberate ambush. Could they have planned it with the blizzard in mind? All this trouble. For who? Me? No. By now, everyone knows my whereabouts in the city and wouldn't expect me to come out here, especially in a blizzard. For my brother, a prospective Duke?

No, bandits would gain more from his terrible reign. And by the look of their armour, his guards barely had any trouble. Gold bars or rare goods are untouched. Even those on the duchess and Joshua's necks. Most of their focus was on Vanessa's carriage. But she's just an illegitimate child, sold for business reasons at this point in the story. She has no importance to woodland bandits. Yet. Her Op Saintess powers don't kick until the second half. She doesn't have her powers...! Exactly!

Someone planned this, knowing her future. More changes. I scratched my stubble. I f things keep changing... I must get ahead of it. I should talk to her. Tell her everything. Arriving at Osberg City, at last, we travelled the main street. My horse trotted down the snow-filled street, and civilians gazed upon me as if I had slain a dragon. I dropped back into the parade of officers and carriages to meet Vanessa by her window. She watched life in the city with wonderment.

"How's my winter wonderland?"

"It's beautiful!"

"This cold, old place? You're kidding me."

"I am surely not! The stone masonry is amazing, and the Gilliard architecture! I did some research before and during my journey here and learned about the ingenious heating system installed in every home that pushes warm air through vents. Do you think it is possible to build a system connecting all the homes and… sorry I got sidetracked…" As she continued, I remembered my Father's facination of Francis Gilliard, who was a very famous entrepreneur and adventurer.

He set the style for a lot of the newer, richer parts of the city. Tudor-like architecture with its signature wooden frame filled most of Osberg's suburb, occupied by poorer civilians, while a Georgian and Victorian mixture were the fashion for the homes of the well-to-do. With chimneys rising high and ingenious sewer systems underground. All this made for a spectacular city visited from all over the world despite its horrible weather. A shame it is that I had to be the one to bring it back to its former glory.

Her voice became silent. I found her looking at her hands, embarrassed, and I grinned.

"Why did you stop? I'm interested."

"I've been told I talk too much." She spoke meekly, blushing pink, twisting her face away from me. She's the MC, alright. Nerdy as ever.

"Ignore her. Head deep in the books, but she has yet to learn social cues." Caroline said from the opposite seat. With her arms folded under her bosom, she presented her assets.

"If you require, your grace, I can help her." I squeezed my eyebrows, and squinting eyes peered at her. She changed her priorities pretty quickly. Still a Hodge.

"Help her with what? Finding a teacher? Maybe you can help her and join in on the lessons. She needs a partner of equal skill." Jen erupted in loud laughter, slapping her knee. Vanessa turned her head, stifling a chuckle.

"Ye-yes, Your Grace..." Caroline looked down, embarrassed.

"Oh," I interrupted.

"Remember who you speak to at all times, my young lady. Not every duke is as patient as I. Although your stay will be short, I want to have a good time. So..." I tapped my cold lips.

"Watch it." Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more. I bowed and left on my steed, with muffled laughter behind me. Some people can't recognise their place until reality smacks them in the face.

I dismounted, darting over to the carriageway. The Dowager rushed through the courtyard to the Greystone Manor entrance in a huff. I guessed things were settling in her mind. If she went straight to 'her' room, she was going to have a surprise waiting for her. No Joshua in sight. He must have gone to his usual spot. Caroline and Jen were led out of the carriage by Kurt and Charles. I held out a hand to Vanessa. Got to be the perfect gentleman. It's good PR.

Vanessa graciously accepted my hand, and I guided her to a rolled-out navy blue carpet in front of the porch. My maids stood at each side. Headmaid Beatrice strutted out of the manor, awaiting my order.

"Welcome back, Duke."

"Bring everyone to the foyer. I have something to address. And Charles, carry their things inside, can you, big man?" Charles bowed and plodded on. Beatrice curtsied, sparing a glance for the woman by my side and left to do as I ordered. An old lady wailed. Stomps cascaded down the staircase.

"TARION. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" I guided my duchess down the carpet, ignoring the noise. We entered the foyer, the dark wood floor gleaming, and gold paint splashed on every edge. A crowd started to gather, with my stepmother in front. Greying hair unfurled as her face twisted with anger.

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH ANYTHING IN MY BEDROOM!!?"

"Sorry, Vanessa. I need to speak to her for a second." I let go of Vanessa's hand. My mana circles instantly revved. With a single step, I crossed the hundred-metre-wide foyer to grab the Dowager's shoulder. A gust blew her red dress and ruffled her hair. That face. The fear. The little things make life so enjoyable. I bent down low, smelling her god-awful perfume. Mouth to her right ear, I whisper, "Be happy that I took to your...

education well, or my maids would have to spend days cleaning your guts off my floor." I squeezed her shoulder a little bit, and her fimble body shook.

"Heed my warning, you old crone. My master bedroom, my castle, my city—MY TITLE. Change has come, and it will be bloody. Ask your mayor friend." I hugged her, shouting aloud, "Thank you for your forgiveness, Mother! I will make sure you get your things put in your new room." A big smile hid the sickling resentment I felt for this woman, but I let the dowager go, gesturing for Vanessa to follow me. She looked around at the crowd, summoning courage. She skipped, placing a hand on mine. Up the stairs, we went.

Wearing my cloak, I watched her curious eyes gaze upon the paintings of generations past. She noticed an ancestor wearing a cloak of the same kind. I nodded to her in agreement. It's ancient history you're wearing. The crowd started up in anticipation.

"Everyone, I have an announcement to make." I projected from the balcony, overlooking the foyer. The muttering among my workers continued.

"Although it was on short notice, there is a new addition to the family. Meet Vanessa Hodge. Now, Duchess Vanessa Greystone." Gasps and chatter ripple through the crowd. I could understand their reaction. Not of any noble lineage, dressed in a second-hand kleider for ordinary women, that's been restitched many times. Caroline would have been a "better fit" than her. Fitting, only if appearances mattered as much as connections.

"Quiet." And it was.

"She is Duchess Greystone. Not just in name. Any disrespect to her is disrespect to me. UNDERSTAND?" From cooks to gardeners, maids to guards. They shout aloud.

"YES, YOUR GRACE!"

"Good." I have always loved these scenes. The great affirmation. When the ML gets all the servants to respect the MC, unfortunately, the ML wasn't there, or it would be his job. However, I couldn't let her be scorned for the short time she would be here, like my brother did. That arc was so grating.

"You're dismissed. Back to work." The crowd dispersed, and the workers gossiped to themselves about the news. Which, I am sure, will be spread to the public by the evening. T he Dowager stared daggers from below in the foyer. Balling her fists, she leaked blood on my carpet. Her teeth were biting on her lips as she contained her rage. I smiled and bowed to my stepmother. Davis held her back from running over to me. He should have been by my side. Thankfully, I already found a replacement. But seeing her face?

True bliss. Show me more, Dowager. More anger. Once a shame to be hidden away, my worth will never be questioned again. And there is nothing you can do about it. It has only been three days since I made my big entrance. Just the start. I turned to an awestruck duchess.

"Vanessa, I would like to see you in your room. Could you meet me at 10 o'clock?" Her face appeared stunned, then resolute. She nodded as if she had made a big decision.

"Beatrice, please show her to the Duchess suite. Give her whatever she needs. Guide the ladies below to their guest rooms as well. Watch the haughty one. Her hands tend to touch things that don't belong to her."

"How did you know!?" Vanessa turned back to ask. I shrug. I read about it.

"She looked like the type. I know. It's not good to discriminate based on looks. But come on…" That brought a chuckle out of Vanessa. I kept trying to see that smile again.

"Anything for you, sire?"

"Umm… A lot of water. I am going to train." After a sweaty meditation session, I rested on folded legs on my bedroom carpet. With my hand on my heart, I checked its progress, and I frowned. The battle was rough on my body and even rougher on my circles. Fissures kept appearing despite my meditation. Without mobile meditation, would I even be alive? Half a year. Can I last that long? I had to speed things along. Get someone stronger to protect her till her awakening. The Prince...

"Shall I bring him into the story earlier?" Plonk No Blue box nearly gave me a heart attack. Quiet for days untill now? I was so curious, I whispered to the blue box.

"Wait, lemme ask again. Should I bring the prince?" Plonk NO.

"Geez, okay, blue box. I won't bring him. Don't blame me if it makes completing the task harder." The blue box disappeared with my affirmation, leaving me alone to ponder the bullshit I just saw. I know he is kind of a prick, but his can be that bad. Could he?

"Charles, ask for a bath to be done, please?" Lying on my bed, Charles peeked from a book of mine.

"Done speaking to self? Didn't know you were an aspiring summoner."

"What? Maybe need to learn since my resident summoner is too lazy."

"I will get your bath ready, Tarion." He got off my bed, dropping one of my books on the large mattress. Shirtless, I dry myself off, touching the scabs from today's battle.

"Oh, can you also get some razzorflower? And some lemon tea. Ah, also some-" Charles raised his eyebrow.

"If you need some alone time, all you need to do is tell me."

"Haha. Sure, I will do that. I still need the bath, though. Now get the fuck out." Charles walked out of the room, jolly as ever, and I waited in front of my immense circular stained window, overseeing the garden on the rear of the castle, covered in eight-inch snow.

"How long will you stay up there?" Nothing. I glanced up, and a ceiling-crawling ninja stared down. Creepy ass Ninja Spider-Man. I love this world. I blinked, and the ninja disappeared from the ceiling. Luckily, I always keep my senses high at home. With my enhanced reaction speed, I rotated back, facing the hiding ninja. Mana armour coated my fingers as I grabbed the black dagger, aiming for my neck.

"It's bad etiquette to kill a man at his home without a word." Mana coated my right elbow. It arched towards the assailant's face, blowing the ninja's skull away. My fingertips of my sword hand, still on the dagger, pulled them back to me.

"I also have problems with etiquette too." My left fist dug into the intruder's stomach.

"Let's learn together."