Chương 256: [Chapter 256] A Perfect End, A Perfect Beginning
The Duchess of Elandria had it all figured out until recently.
She had caring brothers, a husband who indulged her every whim, and beautiful, healthy kids. Her family was the second-best in the world, so she felt no need to bow to anyone except the royal family.
Then, everything changed in an instant. Her family faced accusations, her husband killed her brother, and her world shattered. It felt like she was being punished for all the joy she had experienced, all at once.
The final blow came when she went to see her son after a long separation.
"Mother."
The last time the Duchess had seen Nellusion was last winter when everything seemed perfect.
After hearing that her brother, Lord Wells, had been killed by her husband—though she wasn't entirely sure yet, the suspicion grew stronger with each passing day—she left the ducal mansion in the imperial capital and cut off contact with both her husband and her son.
She despised her husband for his cruelty and felt a similar disdain for her son, who reminded her so much of him. She even wondered if her son had a hand in Lord Wells's death, considering how close the Duke of Elandria and his son had always been.
But unlike her husband, whom she could walk away from, she couldn't bring herself to hate her son. It broke her heart to think that her poor child was trying to hold the family together as it fell apart. No matter what, she loved him.
That's why she decided to visit her son again. She didn't care about the rumors that he had tried to kill her husband; she just wanted to know if he was okay, struggling with the loss of both his dukedom and the trust of the noble society.
The little house where Nellusion was staying instead of the grand ducal mansion was, as Valentine always described it, pretty run-down. Sure, it was a solid place made from quality materials, but to the Duchess, who had always lived in luxury, it felt no better than a servant's quarters.
To her surprise, she found her son sitting alone in the living room of that house. When he noticed her, he forced a stiff smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.
"Nell! My son!"
That smile melted away all her worries.
Why hadn't she come sooner to embrace him? As a mother, the Duchess began to doubt her own abilities and felt a deep sadness. Nellusion looked so worn out that it made her forget all her earlier concerns.
Nellusion, picking up on his mother's emotional shift, tried to mask his exhaustion. He gestured to the chair across from him and said, "It's been a while, Mother. I'm really happy to see you. I'm sorry I haven't been able to come by..."
"Sorry? What do you have to be sorry for! It's me who should be apologizing, my dear. What's with that tired look? And this house? We need to head to your maternal family right away. Even if they're in chaos, it's still better than this place!"
"How can I face my maternal family? Father did that to my uncle..."
Nellusion's gaze dropped, as if he couldn't bear to say more. He knew! The Duchess wasn't shocked. She was so convinced of her beliefs that she would have outright denied it if someone claimed that anyone else had killed Lord Wells.
How is this your fault? Son, just tell me you weren't involved. I've been so scared that you might be mixed up in this...
"No, Mom. I would never do that. Uncle Wells was so good to me all those years. I haven't known him for long."
Those words hit hard. Once her doubts faded, the Duchess was flooded with love and guilt for her son. She rushed over to Nellusion and wrapped him in a tight hug, crying and apologizing for not believing him.
Nellusion flinched a bit in her embrace. It felt different from what he remembered. It was weak, frail, and somehow had a hint of malice... 'that' Duchess of Elandria.
The most poised and graceful noblewoman around.
Nellusion's hand shook slightly where it rested. But after a moment, he decided to return the hug. A small smile crept onto his face.
'Everything is going according to plan.'
Nellusion had no clue who killed Lord Wells, who had been taken in Tropur. But he doubted the Duke of Elandria was behind it. There was no real gain in that for him. If Valentine hadn't let something slip, he might not have even known about his mother's misunderstanding.
'The real culprit is probably the Duke of Maindelant or Princess Caymil.'
But he had no plans to clear things up with his mother. Now that his father was back and openly hostile, he needed to make sure his mother wouldn't side with him or try to force a reconciliation.
He said in the most pitiful tone he could manage, "Mom, it's so tough. I'm scared. I don't understand how it got to this point. Dad says I tried to hurt him, which is just absurd, and I feel like I don't belong in the court."
The Duchess was furious. Of course, sweet Nellusion would never try to harm his father! It was all a lie!
It was puzzling why her sly and malevolent husband had faked his own death just to set up their son. It didn't seem to gain him anything. But for her, the priority was clear: keeping her child safe from a man who had already taken her brother-in-law's life!
"Don't worry, sweetheart! This mother will do everything to protect you. I know about the hidden funds on the estate and all the secrets he's kept from the royal family! Your maternal family has the support of many vassal lords! I will fight for you!"
"Thanks, Mom. It makes me feel better to hear you say that. Valentine... she seems confused. She's been innocent all her life. I told her she'd soon be a princess, but she doesn't believe me..."
"Princess?"
The Duchess was completely in the dark about the marriage talks between the royal family and the Elandria family regarding Valentine. She had already left for her family's estate when those discussions were happening.
Her interest piqued, and she smiled brightly at Nellusion.
"So, our Valentine still has a chance to join the royal family? I heard whispers that the royal family wanted to cut ties with the Elandria family. But of course, Valentine is the last noble lady left, right?"
"Yes, Mother."
Nellusion laughed softly. The Duchess was ecstatic.
"I knew this day would come! Our Valentine is so beautiful and charming! There are hardly any ladies who are both noble and as lovely as she is! My angel! So, when can I call myself the Prince's mother-in-law?"
"It won't be simple, Mother. You know our family has many vulnerabilities that the royal family could take advantage of, so we need to show them some goodwill."
"Goodwill? ...But we don't have enough for a lavish dowry..."
The Duchess's expression darkened as she thought about their nearly empty Wells family mansion, where even the servants had been let go. Nellusion whispered gently, "It won't be simple, Mother. You know our family has many vulnerabilities that the royal family could take advantage of, so we need to show them some goodwill."
It's not about having a huge dowry. What the Prince really needs right now is some solid accomplishments. With the front lines struggling, he needs to show the nobles that he's got results. I've got some valuable intel on how to hit the enemy where it hurts, but I'm a bit low on cash to make it happen. I know you're not exactly rolling in money, Mom, but if you could pitch in a little, I think I could speed things up.
The Duchess, who had been consumed by her resentment towards her husband and the allure of the title "princess," snapped back to reality when it came to her finances. The Wells family had already been through a rough patch with the Tropur incident, and they had spent all their remaining funds to keep the Prince happy. They had lost a lot of their trading partners to competitors, leaving them with only a few weak connections.
But when she looked at her son's charming face, her heart melted. After a moment of thought, she nodded and met his gaze with resolve.
"Sure, I'll give you everything I have left. Do what you need to do. After all, if our Valentine becomes a princess, she'll make it worth our while, right?"
Nellusion couldn't help but laugh with joy. A wave of excitement washed over him.
1. He wasn't lying when he said he wanted to make Valentine a princess. At this point, he couldn't care less about who she ended up marrying or what her future held. The Elandria family could fade into obscurity for all he cared. Abelus seemed clueless about the old secrets, and with the Emperor out of commission, Nellusion was safe from any threats.
All he wanted was to finally make it happen this time. He was itching to uncover that secret passage he could almost feel and cause some serious chaos in Maindelant.
He was also aware that the Wells family was struggling financially compared to the Elandrias. His mom might have to sell everything, from her little villa to the tiny jeweled keepsakes she had from childhood. Regardless of Nellusion's success, his mom's life would be tough. Would Valentine still be able to afford her tuition?
But what could he do about it?
The days of their happy family were long gone.
****
Make sure every village knows how to use straw boxes before autumn hits. We'll do our best to support from the center, but some villages are definitely going to struggle with firewood. It's crucial to really listen to the community now more than ever, so we don't end up in a tough spot due to a lack of manpower.
"Absolutely."
Rex Bronson, now back in charge of the administration since Neris became the Duchess, responded with confidence. The other officials in the meeting room shared the same determined expressions.
With soldiers off at war and the elderly and sick tending to the fields, farming and livestock management just can't be the same as usual. That's why the officials have been brainstorming and providing guidance on how to tackle the everyday challenges people face with fewer resources and less effort.
The straw box was something Neris discovered in old records. It's pretty straightforward: you put food in an iron pan, boil it for a bit, then take it off the heat and place it in a box filled with straw, close the lid, and let the residual heat finish cooking the food overnight.
Using this method for common dishes like stew and porridge saves a ton of firewood and lets people get on with other tasks while the food cooks.
Along with the straw box, White Swan Castle has been developing, testing, and creating educational materials to share ways of living that can assist the community as much as possible. But with a war going on during the peak farming season, it's inevitable that some folks will have a tougher time than usual.
Even though the officials at White Swan Castle were weighed down by heavy responsibilities, none of them looked tired. The daily updates of victories from the front lines kept everyone's spirits high, and the Duchess, always the first to take action and ensure that no one faced unnecessary danger, was a true source of motivation.
"Now, go."
With that, the officials hurried out of the meeting room. Neris stood up too, ready to tackle her next task.
"...Oh."
Her vision started to blur.
Neris wobbled, and Dora, alarmed, rushed to catch her.
"Are you okay, Madam? Do you need a doctor? I can get one right away!"
"No... I'm fine. No need to make a scene."
It was a traditional role for a lord's wife to stay strong and safeguard the castle while her husband was away at war. Neris wanted to excel in that role. She didn't want to frighten the castle's residents or dampen their spirits.
Dora looked confused. Noticing her worried face, Neris offered a reassuring smile.
"I'm really okay. I might just be a bit worn out."
"Of course you're tired. Didn't you just take a nap not long ago?"
"Yeah, I've been dozing off a lot lately. I can barely even smell food anymore; my senses are all off..."
Neris trailed off. A moment later, Dora fell silent too.
Neris started to think. Had her period come last month? She had been so busy that she might have overlooked it, but...
Before Neris could say anything, Dora raised her hand.
"I'll get a doctor. Quietly. Right away."
Her heart raced. Normally, she would have insisted on waiting until her work was done, but Neris simply nodded in agreement.
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