[DISCONTINUED] I was reincarnated in The Abandoned Empress as a minor character

.03. Escort

"the Duke has died!"

"he was executed on spot after declining the lady's marriage proposal from the neighboring kingdom! at least that's what the rumors say"

"do you think the lady will be able to handle this?"

"well right now I'm much more worried about our situation"

"haa...first the Lord of the house, now the two eldest, why such misfortune"

"should we quit our job and get new ones, i doubt the house will even last a day with the lady's' capacities"

"should you not be working instead of spouting such nonsense!"

" ! "

"talking behind the lady's back you should be ashamed of yourselves!"

"forgive us head butler!"

They bowed their heads almost touching the ground shivering as if they've faced there doom

"if you have time to waste on futile conversations, then how about clean the stables instead I'm sure a cut of salary would be a fair punishment "

everything started with a rumor, one that resolved the mystery, that spoke the unspoken.

that same rumor, was leading to the downfall of the household.

'The castillo's are cursed' they say,

'it's because of that woman, the former duchess! carrying an illegitimate child!' they say,

they all blamed it on the hopeless, me and my mother.

"honestly I'm glad the Lord isn't here to see what an incompetent child you are!" i froze,

the head butler's words were harsh, difficult to take in, and they crushed a certain part in me.

"haa...the imperial family has sent an invitation for the grand celebration that would be held for the empress' child"

"..."

"i will be your escort, if you have no inconveniences, archduchess"

he was the only one who seemed to call me by my tittle... archduchess...i liked this devotion...

"I accept your kindness, jean" i replied with a smile

he seemed to respect me much more than these maids...Lila...

Lila in the end you left me...but that time in my room you had promised to stay by my side forever, 

of-course that was selfish of me, i should've been happy that you got married to a wealthy husband and got accepted in high society!

but i wasn't, you were my mother figure. And yet you ported, just like everyone else who left me in these empty halls,

but I still had Jean! the thought made me happy

After a long day of work and preparation, i was ready for the banquet, 

"you look ravishing duchess" jean bowed as he complimented me, 

"Thank you butler!"

'At that time, how had i missed that sly smile of yours, Jean'

entering the carriage, jean who was always talkative seemed rather nervous for once, 

'How stupid was i, to believe that face of yours.'

"there's no need to be nervous about the banquet, this will be my first time attending so please take care of me!" i smiled lightly, I hope I've made him more comfortable...

"of-course, I'll take good care of the lady" he returned the smile,

'How foolish i was to believe such words, butler'

when we arrived at the imperial palace, jean took my hand as we entered the hall,

Everything came to a halt, just for a second it was filled with whispers,

"why invite such a person!"

"of all people, she received an invitation!"

"she's a disgrace!"

then everything resumed, like nothing had happened. the tension seemed dense,

I looked at Jean for some sort of comfort, but we never met eyes. he was looking in the crowd of chatting people

'How did i miss, the person you were looking at that time, Jean?'

At that brief moment, Jean led me to a table, pulled out a chair for me to seat, then left in a hurry, without a word, he never left a glance as he walked away.

'Since when, had I became so obedient, he had tamed me, got me where he wanted.'

"Duchess Castillo, empress Jieun has requested an audience with you" said viscountess Adonia as i was still waiting for Jean,

viscountess  was The Empress's Lady in Waiting, she was also known as the social butterfly, she was pretty with her dark blue hair and hazel eyes, fair skin and a nice figure. but she wasn't blessed with a good future. how unfortunate.

The Empress?

Why now of all times?

"...lead the way" viscountess did as i said, and we both fled from the hall. as though we weren't there in the first place, we disappeared from the crowd

'i hope Jean doesn't worry while I'm away' i thought walking thrrough the palace halls,

'but you never came back, did you...butler'

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