Chapter 29

Breakfast consisted of wholemeal bread, salad, and beef stew. The Delacroix family usually kept their breakfast simple, but the condition of the food was clearly bad.

The wholemeal bread was tough. One of the two bread rolls had mold growing on it, while the other had a burnt backside. The salad greens were all wilted and slightly slimy, with patches of discoloration on the surface. The stew was in a similar state, with the beef chunks resembling rocks and emitting a sour smell.

“Could you please call Hanson and the head chef?”

“Yes.”

Lariana waited for the two in the seldom-used study reserved for the Dowager Duchess. The study was grand and opulent, filled with furniture that reflected Marcella’s taste, which Lariana found a bit excessive. Normally, she maintained a more modest presence within the Duke’s household, but today she made sure to dress impeccably. She wore a specially tailored dress made of the finest emerald silk from Serren, a gift from Cain, along with intricately crafted diamond necklace and earrings.

The butler Hanson and the Duke’s head chef, Dorvan, entered the study looking bewildered. Though Lariana was the Duchess in public, Marcella was the one who handled the practicalities of running the household, so it was rare for Lariana to call upon anyone other than Jena, her maid.

“Madam, you called for us?”

Hanson and Dorvan, who had entered the study, swallowed their admiration and surprise at Lariana’s appearance.

Ignoring their greetings, Lariana took a sip of the prepared tea on the table. The tea leaves seemed to be of poor quality, as the taste was bitter and unpleasant. Lariana spat out the tea into the cup. Taken aback by the lack of elegance in the Duchess’ actions, Hanson and Dorvan exchanged glances.

“Did you prepare today’s meal, Dorvan?”

“Yes, madam.”

“Hanson, come here and bring the food tray. We have somewhere to go together.”

Hanson hesitated upon seeing the food tray on the tea table.

“Is it your breakfast, madam?”

Lariana smiled without saying a word and nodded her head. Dorvan stood behind her, gripping his hands together anxiously.

“I apologize. It seems I overlooked something and caused this problem. I will be more careful in the future.”

Lariana gave no response to Dorvan’s words and spoke in a cold tone.

“Hanson, bring the food tray and follow me. Dorvan, come along as well.”

“Where are we going, madam?”

“Seems like you’ve become quite talkative, Hanson. Is it the Delacroix way to question and defy your master’s orders?”

“I apologize.”

Hanson and Dorvan followed hesitantly behind Lariana. They gradually found a sense of calm as they realized she was leading them not to the Duke’s bedroom or study, but to the annex.

The servants in the annex looked at the three people with curiosity, but none of them dared to approach or inquire about the situation.

“Where is my mother?”

“She’s in the greenhouse.”

“Is that so? Let’s go to the greenhouse.”

Lariana headed towards the greenhouse, filled with the scent of lavender. Lavender filled the area, creating a purple-hued greenhouse.

“Mother.”

Marcella, who was reading a book, frowned slightly at the interruption to her rest. Nellua, who was doing needlework, stood up and bowed silently.

“What is it? I didn’t call for you, did I?”

“I apologize for interrupting your rest, but I wanted to seek your opinion.”

Lariana carefully chose her words, not wanting to upset Marcella. Marcella, on the other hand, wasn’t particularly bothered and lightly tapped her fingers, motioning for Lariana to come closer.

The two servants, Hanson and Dorvan, stood before Marcella, while Nellua gathered her hands nervously.

“Here is the breakfast that Dorvan served to me. In my opinion, it doesn’t look good, and I’m hesitant to eat it. What do you think, mother?”

The situation was a clear act of defiance. Marcella, known for her impeccable management of the servants, had been visited by her daughter-in-law to address a matter she had no control over. With a slightly narrowed gaze, Marcella responded to her daughter-in-law’s words.

“It looks fine to me. So, go ahead and have your meal without worry.”

Marcella’s words brought relief to Hanson and Dorvan. Among them, Dorvan couldn’t help but let out a sigh, earning a sharp glance from Nellua.

“Well then, I understand. Thank you for sharing your wisdom as always.”

Without showing any particular reaction to her mother-in-law’s words, Lariana led Hanson and Dorvan out of the greenhouse.

Feeling disgusted by her detestable daughter-in-law, Marcella threw the book she was reading onto the lavender field. She couldn’t bring herself to read anymore.

The three of them returned to the study room. As soon as Hanson arrived, he handed the food tray to Jena.

Dorvan eagerly spoke to Lariana, “Madam, please take a look. Even the Dowager Duchess has no issues, right? Do you know how hard it has been for me every time Jena asks me to prepare a meal again?”

“Dorvan, can’t you keep your mouth shut?” Hanson reprimanded Dorvan. Lariana smiled kindly and gestured with her hand.

“Hanson, enough. Dorvan is right. It was my mistake for not knowing the ingredients well and making this mistake. It’s perfectly fine food, so you should eat it.”

“Pardon?”

With her angelic face, she gave a cold, piercing gaze at Dorvan.

“Right here, eat it yourself.”

She was the weakest and most powerless among the Delacroix household. Yet, at this moment, her voice was filled with authority.

“You, you’re referring to me, madam?”

“Why are you hesitating? It’s food you made yourself, and my mother has no objections. I’ve been eating this until now, and I’ll continue to do so, but I’m not familiar with ingredients and food preparation. So, if it looks strange to me, you should come and eat it for me. That’s how it’ll be from now on. Understood, Dorvan?”

Lariana straightened her back and sat upright at the table.

“Jena, can you bring some tea? Ah, the Duchess’ tea leaves are old and of poor quality. Just bring a glass of cool water instead.”

In response to her words, Hanson finally bowed his head. Neither Hanson nor Dorvan said a word.

To break the silence, Lariana tapped the table twice.

“Dorvan, can’t you eat it?”

Although she was now being oppressed by the Dowager Duchess and ignored by the servants, she was originally the lover of the Crown Prince. She had received the best treatments in the past. Her reputation had made a name for itself within the capital of Petika. The display Lariana was showing today was by no means a coincidence.

“Oh, no. I will eat it.”

There were no spoons or forks on the food tray. Dorvan picked up a moldy piece of bread with his bare hands. With his eyes tightly closed, he furrowed his brow and took a bite.

At that moment…

“What are you all doing here?”

Cain’s growling voice reverberated through the study, instantly silencing everyone present.

Cain leaned against the study doorframe, his gaze fixed on Hanson and Dorvan, radiating a menacing aura.

Leaning against the office door, Cain tilted his head defiantly and glared at Hanson and Dorvan.

Lariana had thought it would take a few more days for Cain’s madness to dissipate. But it seemed she had miscalculated. He had returned.

It was a big problem. Her husband, who would rush to her side even if it meant risking his life, had returned to his senses.

“Whose food is this?”

Entering the study, Cain looked at the food tray on the tea table and interrogated Hanson with an authoritarian tone.

“Cain, let me explain.”

Despite Lariana’s objection, Cain only stared at Hanson.

“Hanson, can’t you hear me?”

Hanson, who had been hesitating, finally spoke up.

“It’s breakfast prepared by Dorvan for the Duchess. It was my mistake. I apologize, Your Excellency.”

“M-My lord, I… I…”

Overwhelmed by Cain’s aura, Dorvan stuttered, his forehead beaded with cold sweat. Cain glared at him as if he could kill him at any moment.

“You all seem to be having quite a fun time.”

To change the tense atmosphere, Lariana approached Cain.

“So, you’re back a bit earlier this time?”

Resting her arms on her husband’s arm, Lariana spoke. His voice, filled with anger, softened somewhat as warmth spread from her arms to his chest.

“Did you wait long?”

“Of course. Hanson, go out with Dorvan.”

Lariana replied calmly and pulled Cain toward her study desk chair. He narrowed his eyes and scrutinized Hanson and Dorvan until they left the room in a hurry.

“Cain, I’ll take care of this matter myself.”

Lariana whispered softly, massaging the back of Cain’s neck with a gentle touch.

Unable to resist the sweet whisper, Cain gestured as if to say, ‘Enough.’

Hanson and Dorban sighed and quickly left the office.

“I need to give the servants a warning.”

The memory of Leshian’s death flashed through Lariana’s mind, making her restless. Hanson and Dorvan hadn’t made such a grave mistake.

Lariana sat on the chair and climbed onto Cain’s lap. As she did, his body stiffened.

“Well, you know, I’ll handle this. After all, I am the Duchess of Delacroix.”

She playfully swept her fingers across Cain’s nose, philtrum, and lips. Her finger touched his red lips.

Seemingly forgetting his previous anger, Cain bit down on her little hand.

* * * 

Lariana had been bedridden for several days.

With Cain’s madness gone, his sexual desire became particularly strong. They spent days and nights together in the bedroom, oblivious to day and night, for a day, two days, three days.

Just as three days had passed, Cain’s madness returned. And when his madness subsided again, Dorvan had disappeared. Read ahead here.