After having lunch with Anastasia, Miss Magdalena followed Rosa to her room. When she got inside, she noticed that Rosa had also carried the gift sent by the Emperor into her room.
"Those are for your lady, " Miss Magdalen said as she pointed at the few gift boxes.
"oh, " Rosa was dumbfounded. Although she had not opened the box, she knew from the look of the box that what was inside must be very precious.
"I am sorry. I would go get hands so we can move them, " Rosa said as she excused herself from the room. The other two maids in the courtyard only arrived that day. She did not know if they were capable of stealing, so she had to keep a close eye on them.
After Rosa left, Miss Magdalen's eyes fell on the few boxes. She had no idea why, but she decided to check if the content was still inside. From Rosa's behavior, she could tell that she did not check the content. After witnessing a few things, Miss Magdalene could already guess what was happening in the duke's residence.
The Kitchen had sent lunch to Anastasia, but the food was no different from that of a maid in the palace.
Although the Duke's residence could not be compared to the royal palace, it should not be so poor that a daughter would eat like a maid in the palace.
Miss Magdalen checked each box. There were a total of six boxes. Five contained jewelry, while the sixth boxes contain gold coins.
The least member of the royal family got a hundred silver coins as an allowance every month. Looking at the box that was more than half empty, Miss Magdalene immediately realized that someone had stolen from it. Running her hands through it, she was sure that at least sixty pieces of Gold were missing.
Just as she wanted to count to verify her doubt, she heard a knock on the door.
"come in, " Miss Magdalene said after she had shut the box and took a few steps away.
Rosa came in with two other maids. "Has someone been watching over my things, " Miss Magdalene asked carelessly.
"Miss Magdalene, I was the one who received these few boxes, but just as I moved them to the hall, Leah, the Duchess maid, came by. She ordered us to leave the courtyard, " Rosa answered. At that time, she(Rosa) thought that Leah would move these few things away, but she was surprised that she left empty-handed and later returned with more decorations. Although Rosa had her doubts, she did not voice them out.
"Oh, " Miss Magdalene nodded her head. "Thank you for helping me, settle down, " she smiled.
Rosa smiled as they moved the boxes away while Miss Magdalene's frown deepened. She just arrived at the duke's residence and could not start questioning people. It was a fact that the silver was missing.
While Miss Magdalene was worried about how to find the thief, she suddenly remembered that the empress had specially sent those silver coins. It was meant to serve two purposes: first, to be her allowance as a potential member of the royal family, and second, to monitor her spending habits. The empress had specially given her the marked silver.
Every merchant within Nexit knew to report if such silver was spent at their place.
Now that someone has stolen the silver, it would be easy for the thief to be caught. As long as they spend the money, finding them would be easy.
.....
In the Duke study.
"Are you really going to allow that girl to marry the crown prince? " Steward Murman asked. He has been thinking about it since the duke's discussion with the emperor.
"Do I have a choice? " Duke Thomason asked. He and Steward Murman had known each other for many years, so their relationship was not just of master and servant.
"But what if she finds out later, " Steward Murman looked worried as he asked this question.
"They are both my daughters. Even if I have made some mistakes in the past, it changes nothing, " Duke Thomason replied after a short pause.
If he had a choice, he would have given such an opportunity to Elisabeth, but the emperor chose Anastasia.
"Do you think the emperor found out the truth from back then, " Steward Murman asked. He was not qualified to speak to the emperor, but he found it strange that he would pick the daughter of a mistress to be the legal wife of his son.
"No, " The duke shook his head. He thought about his meeting with the Emperor the previous day.
The Emperor told him the plan to marry his first daughter without asking his opinion. According to law, that should be Elisabeth, but the emperor corrected this assumption.
"Her mother was a virtuous woman. I am sure that she would be one too. " The emperor said. He reminded him that Lady Maureen was of noble birth and was once married as his legal wife. More so, Elisabeth and Anastasia are both his daughters, if he questioned the emperor's decision too much, he might give something away. So, in the end, he could not understand why the emperor made such a choice.
"It's been so many years, if he had tried to investigate back then, he would have found the truth. It is already over eighteen years ago, even if he suspects there are not many clues left."
"If not that he found out, why would he make this decision? " Steward Murman asked. He felt that there was a chance the emperor knew something.
"I don't know. But whatever he(the emperor ) knows are just clues. If I am able to play right, then he might give up those clues, " Duke Thomason answered. He was never one to take chances.
"Do you think she is also unaware? " Steward Muman asked. It was easy to fool the emperor, but what if Lady Maureen informed her daughter?
"She is not aware, " Duke Thomason replied. He was resolved because he knew Lady Maureen well. She was never someone to hide in the dark. Moreover, her biggest goal was for her daughter to be free from the reality of life. She would never give her information that would become a burden.
More so, after Lady Mureen's death, he had tested Anastasia on three occasions, but he realized that she was clueless. "At the end of the day, they are both my daughters. Whoever becomes the prince's wife would be of benefit, " Duke Thomason said after a while.
"Yes, but you have never been there for her. Do you think she would hold a grudge aganist you? One can be humble without power, " Steward Murman said.
Duke Thomason paused, "As long as I make her understand that her marriage to the prince was because of the support of the duke resident and her stable position is only guaranteed if our resident holds more power, she would support us, " he said. He knew Anastasia had nothing to hold onto once she left the household.
Why would she want to help the duke resident become more potent in the royal court when Duchess Anita, who has not treated her well would benifits? The only way out was to tie their benefits together.
"Her Grace would fight against you, there is really no room for peace, " Steward Murman said. He felt the need to remind the duke that as long as his wife continued to go against Anastasia, his plans might remain a dream.
"Let her try. It would be good if she is successful, but if she fails, she would pay the price, " Duke Thomason said with a smirk.
Steward Murman lowered his gaze. He thought that, for the first time, the Duke was going to do something right. Steward Muman was disappointed that, like before, he decided to do nothing. He wants to benefit from the situation if it is successful and sacrifice a scapegoat if it is not. "Your grace is wise, " Steward Muman praised against his conscience.