Chapter 5

Fiona stood at the door of the bedroom, taking a deep breath, and tightly held the letter containing the secret that her mother had given her.

---

Fiona, trying to act like a new wife, waited every night with a pounding heart for Aloysius to come. However, after three days, Aloysius had not even returned home. The lack of sleep was starting to take its toll.

Without a doubt, he must have a lover outside. She had thought he was devoted to the third princess and was heartbroken, but it seemed that was not the case. He probably has a secret residence somewhere.

She decided it was better than bringing a lover into the house like her father used to do.

Then, Edith, her sister, whom she had not invited, came to see her, exhausted from lack of sleep.

The butler, Chester, came to inform her.

"Madam seems tired, so I can turn her away if you wish. What would you like to do?"

He said it so casually. Was he suggesting she pretend not to be home?

The servants here all had a sense of pride in serving the Duke's family. They were very different from the relaxed servants in Fiona's old home, and she felt tense when facing them. They were undoubtedly more dignified, cultured, and excellent than Fiona, and she felt a bit inferior.

Fiona quickly tidied herself up. The clothes she was wearing, which were supposed to be casual, were better than the best clothes she had when she was a countess. They were provided by the Duke's family.

She went downstairs accompanied by two maids, which was a rule in this house. They followed her wherever she went, and Fiona felt suffocated.

"You must be tired too. It's fine if you step back."

She tried to ask politely with a smile and a low profile on the second morning, but was rejected with, "It is Mr. Aloysius's order, so I cannot comply."

The servants here were shockingly loyal to Aloysius. It seemed that the Duchess of Roseblade was not allowed to act alone, not even for a bath. Thinking about it, Fiona felt a bit nostalgic for her poor but comfortable family life.

When she entered the living room, her sister was dressed in her finest, adorned with jewels that shone brightly. She was sitting in a luxurious chair, relaxed as if it were her own home, drinking tea.

"There you are, you're late."

That was her first words, and she started complaining without even a greeting. Aria, the young maid, looked momentarily stunned. It was understandable. Even though Edith was her sister, Fiona was now of higher status.

"Could you all please step outside? You're in the way."

Edith, shockingly, started giving orders to the servants of another household. Fiona was flustered by Edith's lack of manners. There were two maids assigned to Fiona and Chester in the room.

"I'm sorry, but could you step outside for a moment? My sister is being rude."

Fiona apologized sheepishly.

"Madam, I am sorry, but according to the rules of this house, we cannot leave you alone with a guest. However, if you order it, Chester and Aria will step out."

Chester emphasized "Madam's order" slightly and left with Aria.

"Well, what is this? You're not properly trained to answer back to the master."

Edith was indignant. Her comments were as unfortunate as ever. The master here was the Duke of Roseblade, and the servants were so well-educated that they only followed the master's orders.

Moreover, they were professionals. Maria, who was standing by, did not change her expression at Edith's rude comments. Fiona sighed softly. She thought it might have been better not to let Edith into the house.

She had no choice but to listen to Edith's boasting and complaints about her in-laws for a while.

"By the way, do you know what your husband does for work?"

Edith brought it up casually.

"I don't know much. He doesn't talk about his work."

Fiona knew nothing. Moreover, she had not seen him, and it was forbidden to pry.

"He's said to be sorting documents in the royal office. Historical records, I think."

"Is that so? It sounds difficult."

She nodded along.

"It's not. Robert said it's an easy job that anyone can do and that he envies it. Robert is always in demand and has a hard time. He said he wishes people would do their own work. That's why he comes home late every day, and your husband, who has a leisurely job, is enviable."

Fiona involuntarily glanced at Maria. Was it okay to criticize the master of the house? Maria's expression did not change, so she was relieved.

Fiona still did not feel like Aloysius was her husband, so she was not angry, but she was appalled by the rudeness to the Carington family, who had been kind to her.

It might be time to ask her sister Edith to leave. She thought this while glancing at the expressionless faces of the Roseblade family's maids.

---

Two weeks passed. Aloysius was still out of touch. Fiona stopped waiting for him in the bedroom at night. If he came in, she decided to pretend to be asleep.

However, she started to worry. But the condition of their marriage was "not to pry."

Fiona, after much hesitation, asked Chester:

"Is Mr. Aloysius alive?"

She managed to make the iron-faced butler smile for a moment.

It seemed that survival checks were allowed. She was relieved to hear that he was well. Edith had said that Aloysius had a leisurely job, so he was probably spending all his time at his lover's house. Fiona prayed that he was not seeing multiple women. That would be too unclean.

---

Edith came every three days, and her mother Melissa joined in. The space felt like the living room of the Carington family. Edith boasted about her husband, and Melissa complained about her mother-in-law from the Muhead family.

Why were they doing this here? Fiona could not understand. More shockingly, they made a bold proposal.

"Hey, when are we invited to dinner?"

Edith said it as if it were a given.

"Huh?"

"Yes, since we're family, you should invite us, right?"

Fiona had never been invited to the Muhead family.

"That's not something I can decide on my own. I need to consult with Mr. Aloysius."

"Really? You can't even decide that as the lady of the house?"

Fiona smiled at Melissa's words.

"Mother, sister, it's late. Isn't Mr. Aloysius waiting for you?"

She barely managed to hold back the words, "Please go home now."

---

That night, Aloysius returned. It had been three weeks since the wedding. This was only the fourth time Fiona had seen him.

It was the first time they had a meal together in the Roseblade household.

In the dining room, where the candlelight flickered, Fiona asked the master of the house:

"I would like to invite the Carington and Muhead families to dinner. Is that alright?"

"Sure, no problem."

She had expected him to refuse because he did not want her to pry, but he agreed easily and seemed uninterested.

Fiona felt conflicted. They were a hassle to invite, but not inviting them was also a hassle.

---

That night, Fiona thought that since Aloysius had returned, it might be their first night together. However, after dinner, Aloysius went to his study without even having tea with his wife, and her anticipation faded. He seemed to have no interest in Fiona at all.

Thinking about it made her hungry, so Fiona decided to go to bed early.