Chapter 29: The Duchess and the Merchant Chairman’s Wife

The current Duchess of Pharmason, Noralia Pharmason, was a woman born of a princess of the time.

Although the Pharmason family already carried royal blood, by marrying a princess who had married down, the royal lineage became even stronger.

The one who legitimately inherited both the blood of the “Duke of Pharmason” and the royal family was Noralia, the wife, while her husband Jack had entered the family as a groom.

Jack himself was born to a marquis family, and his original status was by no means low.

However, there was a difference so vast that it could not even be compared to Noralia, who carried both royal and ducal blood.

Because of that, it was only natural that Noralia always took precedence in everything.

Perhaps because of that position, Jack took another woman nearly twenty years ago.

That woman was Livia’s mother, a commoner named Fatima.

Fatima was a very beautiful woman, with the same golden hair as Livia.

Of course, Noralia herself was not lacking in beauty.

But at the time, Jack harbored some dissatisfaction toward the circumstances imposed on him by blood and lineage.

And so he drowned himself in a commoner woman.

He made her bear his child.

Naturally, Jack’s infidelity did not go unnoticed by Noralia.

He was driven into a corner because of it, but at the time, Noralia had only just given birth to a child, and a divorce would have been a scandal.

It was judged that it would also have a negative effect on the child.

Thus, Jack’s affair was handled in secret, he was made to swear never to have contact with Fatima again, and their marriage was maintained.

Unable to see Jack anymore, Fatima later gave birth to Livia at a church, but her recovery after childbirth was poor, and she passed away.

Jack regretted that deeply.

He wondered if Fatima would not have died had he been by her side.

That regret led him to dote on Livia even more.

This time, making sure Noralia would not find out.

He believed everything had gone smoothly.

He believed his wife had never noticed.

He even arranged for Livia’s wedding to be held in the royal capital, shortening travel time.

At that time, his wife Noralia was supposed to be away from the capital.

That was why Jack volunteered to escort Livia down the aisle.

Everything should have gone perfectly.

Noralia should not have known.

“…Nora… why, since when?”
“Jack.
This is the middle of their wedding ceremony.
Do you intend to disrupt the couple’s new beginning?”
“N-No, I—”
“Then sit down quietly.
Both of you, please don’t worry and continue.
Today is a very auspicious day.”

Jack, drenched in sweat as if under a waterfall, staggered toward the seat beside Noralia.

He noticed the woman in the black dress sitting next to her, but he no longer had the composure to pay her any attention.

“Um…”

Harid and Livia stared blankly at the exchange between the ducal couple.

They had come to celebrate their wedding.

And yet… there was something distinctly strange in the air.

What was with Duke Pharmason’s panicked behavior?

“Ahem!
Are you two ready?”
“Y-Yes!”
“Yes, of course!”

The wedding ceremony resumed.

The words of marriage vows.

Though Harid had been married before, this was the first time he would speak such vows.

“—Do you swear?”
“Yes, I swear.”

And so, at last, Harid and Livia were joined.

As preparations for the reception began, the guests’ attention naturally gathered on the ducal couple.

Jack Pharmason, who for some reason had escorted the bride.

And when he noticed Duchess Noralia, the joyful smile he had worn until then transformed into fear and despair as if it had been a lie.

Seeing this, the guests began whispering among themselves about what relationship the two shared.

“Duchess Noralia, and Duke as well.
It has been some time.”
“Yes, Lady Mizetta.
You attended as well.”
“Yes, I received an invitation to the wedding of the famous Hero and Saint.
I expected prestige, but I didn’t think it would be this large-scale…”

Countess Mizetta of Farse murmured this while glancing back and forth between Noralia and Jack.

Jack already looked as though he were on the verge of collapse.

And all he had done was attend a wedding.

“Could it be that the Pharmason family was hosting this ceremony?”
“…No.
It seems Jack offered some help, but all expenses are borne by the Carlson Viscount family.”
“Oh my, is that so?
But to hold such a grand wedding in the capital…”
“Hehe, indeed.
I don’t know which house they expected to receive financial support from.
But from here on, the Carlson family will surely have a hard time.
Showing off at a wedding only to end up in debt.”
“My, debt?”
“Yes, that’s what I hear.
Perhaps they expected someone to fund them.
They agreed to hold the wedding in the capital just because they were told to.
But is there really any house that would provide such funding?
If it were me… I would never provide money for something like this.”

“……!!”

Beside Noralia as she spoke, Jack’s eyes widened.

“W-Wait, Nora, that’s—!”
“Oh my, what’s wrong, Jack?
That expression doesn’t suit the wedding of the Hero and Saint.”
“No, it’s just—”
“Hehe.
But really, wedding poverty.
I worry so much about how they’ll manage, living their days buried in debt.”
“…Is that true, Duchess Noralia?”
“Yes.
Isn’t that right, Meirin…?”

Noralia addressed the woman in the black dress standing beside her.

“Yes, my lady.
That is what I have heard as well.”
“Um… who is this lady?
And why is she wearing such a black dress…?”
“Oh, my apologies.
I shouldn’t keep the veil on forever.”

Saying that, the fake Electra—called Meirin—removed her black veil.

“Nice to meet you, Countess Farse.
My name is Meirin Albright.
I was actually employed by the Carlson Viscount family and have been working at their estate until recently.”
“My, at their estate?”
“Yes.
This black dress was chosen to reflect the wishes of both members of the Carlson couple.”
“My…
Oh, but Albright, that name sounds familiar?”
“Yes.
The chairman of the Albright Trading Company, a partner house of the Pharmason family, is my husband, and we are relatives of the Pharmason family.”

Yes.

She responded with a gentle smile.

But Jack could not overlook the words spoken by Meirin, the fake Electra.

“Wait.
You were employed by the Carlson family?
You?
Why!”
“…Oh my.
As for why, it was at their request.
Apparently, they needed a ‘woman with light blue hair.’”
“W-What!?
A woman with light blue hair!?
Why!”
“That would be—”

Just as Meirin was about to explain, the bride and groom entered the reception hall.

Having no acquaintances to speak of at the reception, and harboring no suspicions at all, Livia—now in a change of attire—spotted Meirin and walked straight toward her.

“Lady Electra!
How do I look?
Am I beautiful!?”

…Yes.

She said it loudly.

The fact that she had introduced herself as Meirin Albright had already been heard by those listening nearby.

“…Lady Electra…?”

Such murmurs of confusion naturally spilled from the mouths of the guests.