The Military Doctor Excels at Being a Contracted Duchess - Chapter 17

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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【Chapter 17】

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The next day, breakfast was held in the dining hall on the first floor of the Archduke’s Mansion.

As soon as she opened her eyes and changed into an indoor dress, Ebel was walking through the corridors, enjoying a small shock.

‘It’s so dark! Even though it’s morning!’

No one draws the curtains or opens the windows.

When she asked Elroy, she was told they only ventilate briefly when the sun is at its highest, then immediately close everything again.

‘Are they cheering on the mold to thrive or something?’

The dining hall she arrived at while clicking her tongue was at least bright. The curtains were open, after all.

“Did you have pleasant dreams, Ebel?”

“Yes. I don’t even remember falling asleep.”

I was so exhausted that I seemed to have passed out as if enchanted.

As she waited blankly for her soup, Genevieve appeared before long. The twins were… naturally absent.

“Oh my, it’s getting hotter by the day.”

Breaking the ice with that conversation starter, Genevieve glanced at Ebel and headed to her usual seat.

The left side of the head of household was where the family’s eldest sat.

‘This seat is still mine.’

That was somewhat satisfying, so Genevieve was able to regain her peace of mind.

Though she had tossed and turned all night and her nerves were still on edge, she couldn’t leave that young woman of unknown origins alone with Victor.

Who knows what schemes they might concoct?

Victor’s change was probably all because of this young woman anyway. He was still at an age when his blood ran hot.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, did you both recover from your travel fatigue?”

The greeting was smooth for now. It was bothersome that no honorifics were used… but truthfully, Genevieve’s position was quite ambiguous.

She had no independent title, no profession. She wasn’t the lady of this house, nor was she married to be called ‘madam.’

Knowing this, Genevieve let it pass despite her displeasure.

Meanwhile, Victor quietly pulled the salad bowl placed in the center of the table toward him.

In a typical grand ducal house, even this would be done by a servant, but he didn’t favor excessive attendance.

“Angelm is grounded, and Damian isn’t feeling well, so I’ve arranged for him to eat in his bedroom.”

Soon Victor served salad to Ebel’s plate first.

Knowing she disliked kohlrabi, he left that out.

“I understand. You’re not starving them, are you?”

“Of course not. Angelm will also eat in his room.”

Genevieve listened to their conversation in silence, her eyes flashing.

So how much influence did this woman of unknown family background have over Victor? That was the most important issue for her.

“Of all things, for Angelm to cause such trouble! I hope you weren’t too shocked.”

Having set the tone, Genevieve continued speaking with feigned kindness.

“You weren’t hurt, were you? If an unmarried woman’s body gets scarred, how heartbroken her parents would be.”

Now, tell me who your parents are. Let me see what family you’re from.

Thinking this as she held her spoon, Genevieve was left speechless by the response.

“There was no real problem, so it’s fine. The child was just playing around.”

Playing around? Shooting steel balls was something to be dismissed as play?

Tsk tsk.

Genevieve clicked her tongue conspicuously and raised her voice.

“As I thought, you don’t know how to handle children. I’ll have much to teach you.”

“It would be nice if I could learn, but I’ll wisely resolve the children’s issues with my stepmother’s help in the future.”

“What?”

Stepmother? No, more than that, to so boldly mention bringing in her birth family.

Not knowing where to begin her criticism, Genevieve gaped.

“I don’t really like long conversations during meals, so may I eat now?”

Ebel, who had been patiently waiting, finally pointed to the pumpkin soup in front of her and tilted her head. Victor, who had been observing the entire situation, had to struggle to suppress his laughter.

She really was an amazing person.

Even before, Ebel had unintentionally caught people off guard.

“I’ll inform you of what Aunt is most curious about. Ebel is an adopted daughter of House of Eberstain.”

“Eberstain? Are you saying Lady Eberstain had a second child?”

“That’s correct. Now that your curiosity is satisfied, let’s continue our meal.”

Nothing, absolutely nothing had been resolved!

From Genevieve’s perspective, that is.

But if it wasn’t a refined aristocratic hint but an outright ‘let’s eat’ that came out, pressing further would only damage Genevieve’s dignity.

‘Well, really. He’s completely bewitched. Anyway, I need to contact Lady Eberstain immediately. An adopted daughter? What’s that woman thinking, the one who grieved so much over her daughter’s death and went into seclusion?’

Victor’s marriage was an enormous problem that had fallen into her peaceful life. Unable to sit idle, Genevieve barely touched her food before hastily rising.

If Lady Eberstain was really interfering in House of Bayern’s internal affairs, she needed to meet her before the wedding and give her a stern warning.

Bayern’s internal affairs were under her management, so she should keep her hands off.

* * *

After the meal, Ebel decided to look around the manor’s surroundings first, partly to aid digestion.

Victor was busy with work and had to head straight to his study, but she wasn’t so fragile that she couldn’t wander around alone.

She wasn’t completely alone either.

“I’m Dotson, the gardener. Please treat me well.”

“I’ll be counting on you too.”

Dotson, who removed his worn straw hat, was a middle-aged man with a full beard. The crinkled wrinkles around his eyes showed what a cheerful person he usually was.

Following Dotson, she toured several peach trees, apple trees, and lemon trees.

All of them showed no signs of insect damage and were growing vibrantly.

There was also a small kitchen garden, near which was a rabbit hutch, and they fed the rabbits vegetables grown right in the garden.

“His Grace the Duke instructed that everything should be self-sufficient within the manor. If you walk just a bit further from here, there’s also a vineyard, which I manage as well.”

“Do you handle all that work alone?”

“I have some lads who help me. During busy seasons, we also hire workers from the village.”

Indeed, it would be impossible to do alone.

Whoooosh.

In the wind blowing from afar, the grape leaves swayed gently. Beneath them, summer grapes that would ripen properly in autumn were gleaming fresh and bright.

The sunlight stung her eyelids, but even that felt good.

Being surrounded by the fragrant scent of wildflowers and grapes made her feel happy.

“Um, I heard from my daughter. The young masters played another nasty prank, but you protected her…”

That’s when it happened.

Dotson hesitated, then cautiously spoke to her. Then he bowed his head deeply.

“Thank you. Elroy is my only daughter, and I was truly grateful when I heard the story.”

“A parent’s heart is always the same. I only did what I could to protect her, so don’t worry about it too much.”

So Elroy was Dotson’s daughter.

After storing this new information in her mind, Ebel leisurely strolled through the vineyard.

Yesterday’s incident was accidental, but if it resulted in good rumors… winning over the maids wouldn’t be too difficult.

* * *

The incident occurred when she was finishing her walk and about to return to the manor.

“You must come inside now, Young… Aaaaah!”

“Grrrrrrr!”

Thinking the entrance was noisy, what Ebel witnessed was a boy covered in dirt biting a servant’s forearm.

The only fortunate thing was that the servant who had just fallen had leather guards on his arms.

“Everyone grab the second young master!”

“Don’t let him get away!”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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