"Don't look... It'll traumatize you." Alexander murmured as he kept her wrapped around his arms. Rachelle remained quiet, standing there while grinning hard. She could hear them murmuring about the dead body that was now removed from the Duchess' room.
"Secure the premises of the castle, let everyone not leave or enter the gate without getting identified. Those who will let out this issue will be imprisoned for life. I shall not hear this issue going out of this manor because if I did, there would be hell to pay." The Duke announced to everyone, remaining calm.
"How could you do this to me, your Grace? Do you not fear that someone in this room might be the one who sent this to me?" The Duchess exclaimed, feeling hurt by the Duke's action. It's as if he doesn't give a damn about her in any way.
Rachelle could feel her eyeing her, blaming her once again. This woman really thinks she's the one who sent her the body when she was the one who sent the assassin to her room.
Basically, in Rachelle's logic, she's returning the thing that she owes towards the Duchess-and that is the man's body.
"Right. Because how would the assassin end up in the Madame's room? I suggest we should tighten the security and add more guards inside and outside patrolling for something suspicious. We should also look at our employees' unusual activities. For example, contacting someone outside of the manor." Rachelle said towards them as she pulled away from Alexander's arms.
"Are you accusing our employees of unfaithful people, Felicia? That's not a reason to pry for their private time outside. If they wish to communicate with their loved ones, they shall do." The Duchess said, feeling annoyed with her.
"Madame, with all due respect, not only would this help us to find if anomalies are happening inside our household, but it is also stated in the terms of agreement and policies when applying as a servant in our manor. To be transparent in line of work." She answered back.
She really is testing her patience and knowledge. Good thing she read such things in preparation for something else. Her good skills are not put to waste, which she is thankful for.
"Aren't you the Duchess? You're supposed to know that. Isn't that your work? To harmonize the internal duties, handling budgets and doing what you're supposed to be as the Duchess?" She said, smiling like a bitch in front of the Duchess who suddenly turned red because of her words.
'How about that?' Rachelle thought to herself while smirking, enjoying the woman's anger right in front of her. Ahh, it's so good seeing your enemy speechless and couldn't find the right word to fight back.
"Please... Let's all calm down. Please stop insulting my mom, Felicia. She's still shocked because of what happened. I ask you to refrain from using any harsh words and accusing everyone else." Helena commented, acting like a saint and painting her the villain once again.
"She should face the reality-"
"Stop." The Duke stopped Rachelle from further causing a mayhem early in the morning. He sighed, why can't they be friends with each other and form a family?
"No, I agree with what Felicia said, father." Alexander voices out after listening to their argument which took Felicia by surprise. She thought that he would remain quiet as ever, it looked like she really made him a puppet.
"The butler has been handling everything for quite some time now. Why don't we have the Duchess work since it's officially her duty to control the inside of the castle?" He even added, suggesting it towards the Duke.
The Butler's face went pale after hearing what the young master had recommended towards the Duke. They will simply remove his power in controlling the mansion! He can't let them do that! He'll be exposed to them!
His eyes then looked at Rachelle and the time his eyes saw her standing beside the young master, a shiver ran down his spine, He felt scared upon seeing how her eyes never left him, it was as if her plan worked the way she wanted.
She was smiling at him like a devil, ready to pounce on her victim and destroy his life. For once, his eyes started to plead for mercy, looking at her while looking like a whimpering dog. Yet it didn't bother her at all, she kept on keeping a subtle smirk on her lips.
"That reminds me, the butler does a pretty good job actually in keeping the manor work," Rachelle commented, not breaking her eye contact towards the butler who was now pleading for his life through his eyes.
"Shall we check the account books? In that way we can reward him for his hard work and at the same time give the work to the Duchess. I can see that he clearly can't continue to work anymore due to his old age." Rachelle stated, smiling sweetly at the old man.
At this point, both the Duchess and the Butler became pale, losing the colour of their face as Rachelle and Alexander started to talk about the transferring of Jeremiah the Butler's work to the Duchess.
"N-no! I can still work, Your Grace. In fact, I am still strong enough to handle everything inside the mansion." Jeremiah immediately objected to their decision, smiling while trying to bring justice to himself. He doesn't want to let go of such a position!
"He's right, darling. Let Jeremiah handle the work as he's already confident and very familiar with the work. I am still trying to fit in perfectly and adjust so that I can perform my duties well." Tyren also tried to fawn the Duke into siding with them.
"Oh dear, still adjusting despite the years of you being part of the family? Madame, isn't that basically dawdling around while spending the wealth that the Duke had earned through any means? I thought you would value family, Madame?" Rachelle once again attacked the Duchess.
"Of course! I value the family, but what does it have to do with-"
"Madame, with all due respect once again, you're simply giving the butler, out of our family a job that only has been managed and handled by the Duchess over the decades, since the birth of our household. You are entrusting such an important job towards someone else rather than handling it rightfully as the Duchess of this household." She cut her off before she could even finish her own words.
Disappointment rushed through her tone which everyone could definitely tell judging by the way she tried to point to the Duchess' idling while doing nothing but bragging about her wealth.
"If you truly value family then please, do your job well and handle it with care. Even the Empress and every noblewoman in this empirhandledle the internal family affairs. Shouldn't you be doing the same?" Felicia added, striking another hit on the Duchess.
Silence fell in, even the servants who had heard their argument were lost for words. Imagine, fighting with the Duchess without any fear. They immediately realize that the young lady, who was once locked in the Annexe has begun to change into a fearsome young woman that they shouldn't offend.
"I see... What about your stand, Alexander?" The Duke asked, asking his heir about his opinion. Even Alexander and the Duke were baffled by her words that it struck them with such amusement.
"I agree with Felicia, Your Grace. The Duchess has clearly adjusted her life in the manor and as a family, it's her time to step up as the Duchess and handle our family with you, Father. We shall also reward Jeremiah for keeping up with the Duchess' work." He responded.
"Well then... We shall do that." The Duke agreed, pointing at the servant. "You, take all the accounting books from the Butler's office. Do not leave any single thing, including receipts and personal journals." The Duke ordered a couple of servants nearby.
"But Darling! I am still not prepared! Please, give us some more time to learn more about how to be a good Duchess! We can't rush such things, right?" Tyren desperately called the Duke. Fear was evident in her eyes while the butler was trembling.
It's all over...
"What do you mean not prepared? It has been years since you became the Duchess. Normally, Duchesses would assume their duty and their position after their marriage, handling the internal affairs to balance with the external duties. But since the Duke clearly loves you, he gave you years to idle. It's time to step up, Madame." Rachelle said, smirking at their demise.
"Shut up! You have no right to tell me that! It's between adults!" The Duchess barked at Felicia, glaring at her for doing this to her. What would she do with all the work? She can't handle them at all!
"I am an adult already, Madame. I have turned 18 already, turning 19 next year." Rachelle said, sighing as she displayed an upset emotion on her face, toying with her anger.
"What? You're 18? But you're... Small." Alexander gasped, even the Duke was taken aback by her claim that she was already an adult. The hypocrisy of everyone inside this room, after what they did to her.