Chapter 2
James thought, ‘Have I heard that correctly? His Majesty, the king, is interested in Charles’s wife? That is unthinkable. A king taking a subject’s wife would invite scandal and ruin.
James instinctively opened his mouth to protest but stopped when he met Tristan’s unwavering, authoritative gaze. He realized that this was no passing fancy–it was a matter of intent.
After gathering his composure, James cautiously asked, “You… are acquainted with Mrs. Farr–that is, with Ms. Everhart?”
Now that he understood the situation, he no longer dared refer to Arabella as Mrs. Farrow. After two years of serving as Tristan’s close confidant, James had learned to read the signs.
Tristan nodded approvingly at his attitude but offered no further explanation. He simply said, “Return to the palace.
James lowered his head, silent, knowing better than to press the issue.
Tristan had trusted him with his ambitions. But James knew not to dig too deep into Tristan’s private affairs.
One thing was clear–the Duke’s estate was about to erupt in chaos, and the fire that would ignite there would burn fiercely.
…..
Back at the Duke’s estate, Arabella had just stepped inside, lifting her skirt, when she bumped into another of her personal maids, Rosalie, who had come to find her.
As she saw Arabella soaked through, looking disheveled and upset, Rosalie’s eyes filled with concern, and she choked out, “My lady, you’ve had such a hard time.”
Arabella noticed the barely contained anger in her eyes and immediately realized that Charles had indeed brought that woman into Duke’s estate.
A bitter, mocking smile curled at the corner of Arabella’s lips, and she spoke in a calm, measured tone, “I was forced into a marriage with Charles- no affection, no foundation–but I wouldn’t call it a hardship.
“What truly stings is the way he’s humiliated and wronged me, turning me into a laughingstock. This debt, I’ll be sure to settle with him.”
With those words, she turned and walked purposefully toward Charles’s mother Seraphina Farrow’s courtyard.
At that moment, Chamber of Roses was unusually busy. Servant girls and older maids filled the courtyard, each one craning their necks to peer inside.
When Arabella entered with a calm, indifferent expression, everyone’s reactions were mixed. Some looked on with sympathy, others with pity, and still others with a sense of indignation on her behalf.
These servants had grown up in the Duke’s estate and had served there for many years. They knew the inner workings of the family all too well.
The Duke of Eldenhurst was
both lecherous and mediocre, having been stationed far from Althoria for years, with little regard for his family’s well- being. The little wealth they still had was long gone.
For the servants, it was even worse. Not only did they receive no benefits, but they also had to work twice as hard, doing the jobs of two people. Life was miserable.
But ever since Arabella entered the household, things had improved. Not only was there more to go around, but she was always kind and respectful
to everyone.
She governed with fairness–rewarding loyalty, punishing deceit–yet never flaunted her status. Such poised wisdom in a noblewoman was a rarity, the kind even the greatest houses would covet.
Yet, only a shallow, fallen family like the Duke’s estate would fail to appreciate her.
The servants had overheard Seraphina speaking in a way that clearly favored the concubine, trying to give her the dignity of a proper wife.
The servants sneered inwardly, ‘A mere plaything for Mr. Farrow’s bed–how dare this whore think herself equal to Mrs. Farrow?”
“Mrs. Farrow, you…” An older maid, who did the rougher tasks, wanted to speak up to comfort Arabella, but was wary of her own position and didn’t dare to say too much.
Arabella smiled softly and said, “Today, my husband returns to the house, which is a joyous occasion. Clarissa, go to the accounts room and take out 300 dollars to distribute to everyone, so they can all share in the happiness.”
Now, more than ever, she needed to keep her composure. Only by winning over the hearts of others could she control the fate of the Duke’s estate.
Chapter 2
She would make Charles understand–without her, Arabella, the Duke’s estate’s world would crumble.
Seeing Arabella, despite everything she had suffered, still thinking of their well–being, the servants felt a deep sense of respect for her.
The thought, ‘This is what a noblewoman from a prestigious family should be–gracious, virtuous, and kind. She is leagues above that lowly concubine, who isn’t even worthy of comparison.’
After reassuring everyone, Arabella entered the main hall. As soon as she stepped inside, the once lively atmosphere turned thick and suffocating.
Seraphina slowly lifted her eyes to look at the door. The smile on her face disappeared instantly, and her gaze became colder.
Charles and that woman in the room also looked uneasy, their eyes shifting around, never quite meeting hers.
Arabella thought, ‘So they are aware of how shameful this is?‘
“Mother, I’ve finished tallying the accounts.” Arabella’s voice was cool and emotionless, though it grew a touch heavier when she briefly looked the child sitting on Seraphina’s lap.
She thought, ‘The child… He must be about two years old. That meant Charles had already taken another woman since leaving for the northern border, completely disregarding Arabella’s dignity, secretly indulging himself.
She thought, ‘What a hypocritical scoundrel–he has even fooled his own father.‘ Perhaps her sharp gaze gave her away, because Seraphina Instinctively turned her body, half hiding the child from her view.
“Ahem, just in time. Arabella, Charles has had a long journey. You should go and tend to him,” Seraphina said.
at
Arabella quickly looked away, a faint, mocking smile curling on her lips. She couldn’t help but laugh inwardly. “They humiliate me and now expect me to be virtuous, always putting Charles first? Who do they think they are?”
Her gaze shifted to Charles in the room, who looked distinctly uncomfortable.
Before their marriage, Arabella had met Charles a few times. As the king’s chosen top scholar, his looks were beyond reproach. In fact, even Princess Beatrice Moreau, the king’s sister, had once taken an interest in him and wanted to make him her consort.
However, the royal family had strict rules to prevent in–laws from gaining too much power, so consorts weren’t allowed to hold important official positions. To secure his future, Charles had shamelessly approached Alexander for help.
Alexander agreed to the match because the Farrow family had fallen on hard times, and marrying into it wouldn’t raise any suspicion from the late king. If Charles didn’t cross her boundaries, they could just muddle through life together.
“It’s good that you’re back safe.” Her voice was cold and distant, not even bothering to address him by name, her tone full of detachment.
Charles’s gaze darkened slightly as his eyes settled on Arabella–the woman he had married three years ago but never consummated the marriage
with.
She was stunning–her skin like porcelain, her eyes sparkling with life, and her lips subtly curved with a delicate smile that revealed faint dimples. She looked exquisite.
Wearing a soft pink gown, she exuded grace, delicate as a flower about to bloom in early summer. She was captivating.
Charles knew well that Arabella was beautiful. Before their marriage, she and Carmella Dixon, the daughter of the Fitzpatrick’s estate, had been known as the two greatest beauties of Althoria, admired across the land.
Now, with her hair styled in a bun, she had grown more mature compared to three years ago.
But she had never been with a man, and her beauty still lacked a certain allure. He thought her charm was something he could awaken.
“Arabella, these past years you’ve managed the household and been respectful to Seraphina. You’ve done well,” he said.
Arabella almost laughed at his complete lack of shame, as if her efforts were nothing more than an obligation. He seemed to think everything she did was simply expected of her.
Then again, she thought, ‘For a man with multiple wives, taking a concubine is no big deal–why would he feel embarrassed?‘
Not wanting to engage with such a hypocritical man any further, she turned her gaze to the beautiful young woman standing beside him and deliberately misunderstood the situation. “This bedchamber maid is quite beautiful, Mr. Farrow. You’re lucky.”
Everyone present was stunned, thinking, ‘bedchamber maid! That is even lower in status than a servant who attends the master‘
The beautiful young woman’s eyes instantly welled up with tears as she looked at Charles, adopting a pitiful expression as if she had been deeply wronged.
