Chapter 6

After the Duchess finished speaking, her lady-in-waiting, the Dowager Duchess, Marianne, and Lord Charles all gathered around. I held my breath, feeling a chill run down my spine.

Everyone started talking at once.

The lady-in-waiting said, "Those eyes and that face shape—he really looks just like Lord Charles when he was a child."

The Dowager Duchess agreed, "Her Grace has a sharp eye. He does look remarkably similar..."

Marianne forced a laugh. "What a coincidence..."

The Duchess, delighted, took James's hand. "What a sweet child. Where are your parents?"

Snapping out of my fear, I realized I couldn’t hide any longer. I forced myself to calm down. Lord Charles and the Dowager Duchess were such high-ranking nobles that they wouldn’t remember someone as insignificant as me. As for Marianne, as long as I denied everything, what could she do in front of all these people?

I stepped forward and called out, "James, have you had enough fun? Come back inside and rest."

I watched everyone’s reactions closely. Lord Charles remained calm, but the Duchess and Dowager Duchess looked confused. Marianne, on the other hand, was so shocked that she couldn’t close her mouth. Hearing me speak must have stunned her.

James ran into my arms, calling me "Mother." My aunt then explained to the Duchess, "Your Grace, this is Miss Marianne, who has been staying in your cottage."

It turned out that the noblewoman who had lived here forty years ago was the Duchess herself. The man she had met in the mountains was the late Emperor!

I curtsied deeply to the Duchess. "It’s an honor to meet you, Your Grace."

The Duchess smiled warmly. "Master Hyman mentioned that someone had been staying in my old cottage. I never expected it to be such a well-mannered young lady."

I offered a few polite words. "Your Grace’s compassion knows no bounds, blessing all who cross your path. It has been a great fortune for my family to have your protection."

The Duchess beamed and suggested going inside to take a look. A large crowd of people filled the already cramped courtyard. The ladies went inside while Lord Charles and a group of servants and guards stayed outside.

Seeing Rose inside the house, the Duchess was even more pleased. She praised, "You’re very fortunate, Miss Marianne, to have such adorable children."

The Duchess immediately had her lady-in-waiting bring out gold coins as gifts for the children. I tried to refuse several times, but my aunt eventually persuaded me to accept. I then had the children bow and thank the Duchess.

Marianne, standing nearby, made a snide remark, "Miss Marianne, your surname is Wyth? What a coincidence—there was a runaway servant in my family who also had that surname."

Wyth was my mother’s surname. I knew Marianne was suspicious, so I calmly replied, "Yes, quite the coincidence."

Marianne was about to say more, but the Dowager Duchess shot her a warning glare, and she reluctantly stepped back.

The Duchess seemed to take a liking to me and took my hand, asking with concern, "Miss Marianne, why are you living in seclusion here with your children? Where is your husband?"

I lowered my gaze and replied with a mix of truth and lies, "My husband joined the army years ago, and we’ve had no news from him since. My children and I had nowhere to go, but thanks to your generosity and Master Hyman's kindness, we’ve been able to stay here."

As I spoke, Marianne’s expression darkened further.

The Duchess, moved by my story, said, "Poor child, you’ve suffered so much. It must be fate that brought you and your children to my old home. Is there anything I can do to help you?"

Overwhelmed by her kindness, I responded, "Thank you, Your Grace. Your compassion is truly boundless. Thanks to Master Hyman and the others, we’ve been well taken care of and have no troubles."

The Duchess continued to ask about our well-being, and Marianne couldn’t help but interject, "Your Grace, it’s getting late. Perhaps we should go and have our meal?"

As soon as she spoke, the Dowager Duchess scolded her, "The Duchess will decide what we do. You should know your place. As a younger member, how dare you interrupt? Do you not understand the meaning of decorum?"