Deceived 56

Chapter 56

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09. The Extension

Blair and Edmund left the Marquis of Lancaster's country house early that morning and were able to return to Eldenvale by midday. As they entered the ducal estate through the mist-shrouded avenue of trees, Blair spotted someone beyond the carriage window and placed a hand on Edmund's forearm.

"Edmund, the Duchess has come out to greet us."

A furrow appeared between the man's thick eyebrows as he looked at Blair. Edmund glanced out the window and soon let out a hollow laugh.

Isabelle and a group of servants were indeed waiting to greet them at the main entrance. What on earth was the Duchess doing here? She hadn't even shown her face when Blair first set foot in the estate as his fiancée.

"It's a strange sight, her coming out to greet us personally. Since I married, she hasn't cast a shadow on Eldenvale in the hundreds of times I've visited."

"Could it be bad news?"

"Not if she's smiling so brightly. No need for concern."

Just as Edmund said, Isabelle was grinning from ear to ear. Her face was unnervingly bright, sending a chill down Blair's spine. Unsuited to Eldenvale, where mist hung like a curtain, a strange vitality, blooming overnight, lingered on the Duchess's face.

Shouldn't they be even more concerned that she's so joyful, unlike her usual self? Blair thought this inwardly but didn't voice it. Instead, she slowly withdrew the hand she'd placed on Edmund's arm.

Then, a hand with a low temperature gently grasped her hand. A large palm enveloped her small one. Blair felt a sense of security in that touch, which had become somewhat familiar.

"Don't worry. Nothing will happen to you."

The hushed voice eased her anxiety. Blair stared at Edmund with wide eyes before nodding.

The car, having made a wide turn around the fountain, came to a stop. When the valet arrived and opened the door, Edmund stepped out first, reaching out to help Blair disembark. Standing side by side, the two faced the Duchess.

"Welcome, Edmund. And Blair. Did you enjoy the hunt? Did you socialize well?"

"Yes, we returned safely. Thank you for your hospitality."

Isabelle's gaze, radiating happiness, shifted to Blair. Blair offered a formal greeting.

"Thank you for welcoming us personally, Madame. It is the greatest honor for us. "

"You're too kind. Are you hungry? Shall I have breakfast prepared now?"

"It's fine, Mother. We were well taken care of at the Lancaster estate. We'd rather retire to our bedroom and rest now."

Though polite, Edmund's attitude clearly drew a line. Blair bit her lip, watching Isabelle’s expression. And no wonder—the confrontation between the two on their wedding day had been nothing short of murderous.

Yet Isabelle smiled. She crinkled her wrinkled eyes into crescent moons and pulled the corners of her mouth into a long, drawn-out grin.

"Very well, very well. After all, you've been away on a two-day trip immediately after the ceremony, so you must be tired. Go rest now. But don't skip lunch. "

Edmund gazed silently at Isabelle's peculiar expression before extending his arm to Blair. She bowed her head in greeting to the Duchess, then cautiously took his arm. As they walked toward the main house, Isabelle's humorous gaze seemed to pierce her back like thorns, following them.

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Since it was said that the couple shared a bedroom only on their wedding night, she was to return to the room she had been shown on the first day. Edmund personally escorted her there and made an unexpected proposal.

"Shall we have dinner together, just the two of us, tonight?"

Facing the awkward Duchess would be far worse than dining alone with him, so Blair had no reason to refuse. True to form, she immediately brightened, then hesitated.

"But is that really okay? Shouldn't the whole family dine together?"

"It's fine. I can make up a plausible excuse."

"Then I... I'm fine. Have dinner together."

"That's settled then."

Squeak. Edmund flung open the bedroom door and set the trunk down in front of the wardrobe. He turned back and looked down at Blair for a moment. Even after hearing her answer, he lingered in the doorway, taking a brief pause before continuing.

"I'll come pick you up for lunch. Rest now, Blair."

"Thank you."

"If you ever want to act spoiled again, knock on your husband's bedroom door."

"...I... never acted spoiled."

"You didn't say no. Anyway, I'll be going."

Her awkward denial was rather endearing, and Edmund couldn't help but chuckle. Seeing Isabelle waiting to greet him lifted his spirits considerably after his earlier turmoil. Leaving Blair's bedroom, he headed toward his own with a lighter step. Though on the same floor, his bedroom was at the far end of the hallway past the staircase landing, requiring a longer walk.

Tomorrow was his day to report to Borsa. One of the businesses he'd inherited management of from the Duke of Liberte was the hotel industry. A recent report indicated delays in the banquet hall expansion project, so he needed to review the documents himself. Edmund planned to change clothes the moment he returned to his bedroom and sit down at his desk.

It wasn't urgent enough to warrant rushing, and since it was Sunday morning, taking a break wouldn't be bad either. But wouldn't signing off on it early mean he could leave work earlier tomorrow? Edmund wanted to return to Eldenvale even an hour sooner. Leaving Blair alone here weighed on his mind. Spending pleasant time with her was, of course, a bonus.

"...am I out of my mind?"

He was like a newlywed enjoying his honeymoon. How many days had passed before he fell into this false dream? He let out a hollow laugh at the absurdity just as he stepped into the bedroom. He was about to close the door and change when urgent knocking sounded. Edmund could easily guess who stood behind the door.

"What is it?"

"Edmund, I need to come in. It's urgent."

When he opened the door, Benjamin appeared, panting heavily as if he'd run here, leaning against the wall. After catching his breath, he shuffled into the bedroom, plopped down in a chair at the round table, and sat. Edmund watched his frail friend, whose every talent seemed concentrated solely in his head, for a moment.

"I hear you saw the Duchess as soon as you returned to Eldenvale?"

"Yes. She came out to greet us herself, as if seized by some whim."

"Did she say anything in particular?"

"Nothing."

Benjamin sighed deeply and closed his eyes. When he pushed his eyelids open again, a resolute light appeared in his face.

"It happened the day after you and Miss Twyford left for the hunting party. I didn't hear about it right away either; I only found out when I was summoned that evening..."

"Explain clearly."

"It was Rufus."

The air grew heavy the moment that unsettling name was spoken.

"He... showed a standing reaction."

Edmund blinked slowly. Benjamin calmly continued his explanation, looking up at the cold man.

"You could say there were signs of recovery in his male function. Rufus checked once in the morning, and then that evening, while with the Duchess, he reacted again, prompting him to urgently summon me for confirmation."

"......"

"Of course, he still can't ejaculate. He can't maintain the erection for long either. But compared to before, when he was completely impotent, it's a tremendous improvement...."

"So that's why Mother was so pleased."

Edmund's face froze in a bitter sneer. Returning to the manor only to hear news of his half-brother's restored sexual function. The implication was clear.

"The Duchess seems to be planning a grand party soon. I've already received word that she's had her close servants draft hundreds of invitations."

"A party to celebrate her grown son's erection? She's truly tarnishing the family name."

While the invitations wouldn't feature such blatant wording, was this something a sane person would do? Isabelle was the very embodiment of how far human affection could be twisted.

"How is Father's condition now?"

"It's steadily worsening. Last night, he complained of particularly severe pain, so I had him take a strong sleeping pill and stay in bed."

"Have a servant watch him closely and notify me the moment he wakes."

He needed to speak with his father. Though gravely ill, the Duke of Liberte still held official authority. While the family seal remained in the Duke's hands, Edmund had to make him personally acknowledge his legitimacy.