# 53
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'Wasn't he supposed to be by her side instead of getting into fights?'
The more rumors spread, the more obscure the truth that must be hidden becomes.
With all eyes on Elinor, it's easy to hide who she's really looking for, and the difficulties the duke's family faces.
Elinor was someone worthy of the Hilliards' gratitude in many ways.
However, he was acting stupidly like this.
How remorseful he will feel later when he realizes his feelings.
'My foolish son, what does he find so attractive about helping her?'
But, as a mother, she didn't want to see her son suffer emotionally.
The Grand Duchess heaved a sigh and opened her mouth.
“Eleanor, give me the baby.”
"What?"
"Let's go."
The Grand Duchess extended her hand to Elinor.
Elinor hesitated for a moment, then handed her the baby.
The child no longer felt alienated with the Grand Duchess. He did not cry, but smiled joyfully.
The surrounding servants quickly picked up on this scene.
‘At the very least, Elinor should not be publicly insulted by people.’
Therefore, it was better to clearly show that she loved Elinor.
That's why she intentionally invited her to the tea party.
She wanted to make it clear that, as the eldest person in the duke's family, she cherished Elinor and the child, and to warn others not to do anything ridiculous.
The Grand Duchess was planning to say something else here today.
“When I was in the Imperial Palace...”
“Yes, Grand Duchess.”
“Actually, I didn't like that place very much.”
Although the change of subject was sudden, since the Grand Duchess seemed willing to talk, Elinor asked quietly.
“Can I ask you why?”
“Because everyone was talking about me so much.”
The Grand Duchess smiled faintly.
“A woman becomes the commander of the Imperial Knights? This is unbelievable. She certainly did not reach this position through skill, but rather through flattery. I saw her entering the Crown Prince’s bedroom.”
The Grand Duchess delivered the words dryly, but the last words were teasing.
The Grand Duchess noticed Elinor's stiff expression and laughed lightly.
“Such rumors were spreading.”
“This is very rude. Is the position of Knight Commander something that can be achieved by luck? Being a Knight Commander means that you are the best knight of your era, so how can they say such things?”
“They didn’t like that a woman like me had reached a higher position than them.”
The Grand Duchess smiled wryly.
“Of course, I didn’t let it go. Since they thought themves capable of underestimating me, I confronted them with a sword. Then another rumor started saying that I gained my power illegally, and that I was involved in black magic.”
Everyone wanted to discredit her.
Because they couldn't justify their skills being superior to a woman.
The rumors swelled by the day.
The Grand Duchess also became more and more tired.
So much so that, even slightly, she considered giving up her life as a knight rather than endure this miserable situation.
“Then I met my husband.”
He was a special person.
He was surrounded by women wearing beautiful dresses and makeup, but he showed interest in her.
The Grand Duchess was training in the training ground, her scent was more like dirt than perfume, and she was rough instead of elegant due to her holding the sword.
However, he approached her.
As if she was the only one he saw in the world.
“Everyone wanted me to give up my job as a knight, but he told me never to do that. He said I was more beautiful when I held a sword, and that he fell in love with me because of that.”
“It seems that the late Duke loved you very much, Grand Duchess.”
“Actually, I thought it was all nonsense.”
It was a period when her f-confidence was low.
She wondered if even men, who weren't knights, were making fun of her now.
“Sometimes, men play pranks like this, don't they? They pretend to like a woman they don't like and bet on whether she will fall in love with them.”
“I… I know. There was something like this when I was in the academy. A bad joke.”
“Yes. I thought the Duke would certainly be making such a bet. But...”
One day, she saw him by chance.
He was confronting knights who were spreading dirty rumors about her, and demanding a duel with them.
“If I win, you will be held responsible for the rumors you spread.”
“Ha, even if you are the Duke, we will have no mercy on you.”
The opponents were three skilled knights from the Imperial Knight Squad.
She believed that the Duke would not be able to win.
But the Duke won the duel, with overwhelming skill.
The knights, who were badly beaten, could not hold their swords for long.
Because their buttocks and thighs swelled and they could not move.
That day was the beginning of the opening of the Grand Duchess's heart to the Duke.
"From that day, I decided something. If someone was being wronged, I should be someone who could help them, just like my husband did."
The Grand Duchess sighed and paused for a moment before speaking.
“That's why I feel even more sorry for you. Because I know what you're going through and yet I stay silent.”
“The Grand Duchess.”
“You told Matthias that you would take all the blame and leave, right? But I swear, there will be no harm to your reputation. I will not allow any stain to follow you back to your place.”
“Even though you feel wronged now, trust me and bear with me a little.”
The Grand Duchess's look was serious.
She was genuinely worried about Elinor.
How did a villain like Mathias get out from under such a wonderful woman?
"Yes."
Elinor nodded softly, feeling a moment's wonder about the setting of the original story.
“Thank you for your interest.”
"Good."
The Grand Duchess finally sighed in relief.
"Now, let's watch Tidian win. By the way, the final is starting soon. Where did that boy Matthias go?"
* * *
While the Grand Duchess was trying to calm Elinor down.
“Your Honor, you must stand here. And Miss Grace, next to him.”
Mathias was rehearsing the award ceremony with Grace.
Usually, Matthias does not attend rehearsals.
He was used to the situation having been through it many times.
But today, he participated in the rehearsal for Grace, who is taking on the role of assistant for the first time.
Grace looked a little nervous, but she played her part well.
“Good job. Then, I'll see you later.”
After the rehearsal was over, Matthias intended to return to the audience seats.
But Grace, who should have returned to her seat, followed cloy behind him.
Matthias asked her in surprise.
"Is there something you want to say? Why don't you go back to your seat?"
“Can’t I sit next to you, Duke?”
“Next to me?”
Matthias frowned.
His place was reserved for Hilliard's immediate family.
Even Lady Margaret, the Grand Duchess's lady-in-waiting, was in the servants' quarters.
“Do you want to watch the match with Cornelia?”
“No? No, that's not what I meant...”
“However, it is best that you go by Lady Margaret today. Since it is the final match, it is best to maintain formal procedures.”
Matthias gently calmed Grace down and turned to leave.
Grace looked at him as he looked away with a blank look.
When she heard that she would be helping him at the award ceremony, she thought something had changed.
The maid said her advice was helpful.
And the Duke certainly lost any attachment to that woman.
'Even when that woman was around, he chose me to be his assistant.'
This is a sign for me.
A sign that he will accept me as the Duke's wife.
So why does he leave me and go?
Grace trembled with the feeling of betrayal.
She couldn't accept the situation.
In the end, she couldn't take it anymore and shouted loudly.
“But that woman is with you! A cheap woman to meet any man is with you, so why can't I, who plays the duke's wife, be with you?”