Duchess Anita's chamber
"Mother, how could father do this to me? I am his first legitimate daughter. How could she be allowed to marry the crown prince, " Elisabeth complained.
She wanted to stay back and ask this question earlier at the receiving hall, but seeing that Miss Magdalene wanted to follow Anastasia to the classroom, she changed her mind. With such a noble person following her, Elisabeth was worried about the news spreading.
The only one who could marry the crown prince from the duke's residence was her. No matter how much she wanted answered, she knew it was best to cover up first.
When Duchess Anita heard this, she took a deep breath. She remembered her conversation with her husband the previous night. He said that the emperor decided the marriage without his input. Of course, the duchess did not believe his narrative entirely, but she was unsure of her next action.
The Emperor had blocked her on all sides, "I don't know why your father did this. Maybe you can ask him yourself, " Duchess Anita said after some thought.
The Duke has always been fond of Elisabeth, so she believed that he might change his mind if his daughter came crying. There were things she could not say as a 'mother,' but Elisabeth could.
"Mother, would you come with me, " Elisabeth asked. Although her father has always been gentle toward her, she was afaird of him as he always had a cold air around him. She knew that he hated when his decision was questioned, so she hoped her mother could help her out.
"No, as a wife, I can't favor one child over another. If I ask about it, your father might find some fault, " Duchess Anita replied. She already questioned his decision yesterday, but the duke threatened her instead. She was unsure what the duke was playing at, but she knew to be careful.
Elisabeth looked at her mother, she had not expected her to refuse but also understood that her mother's reason was valid. This made her more worried. 'could it be that father wants Anastasia to marry the crown prince? ' she wondered.
'How could that be? I am my father's first legitimate child. This marriage should be mine by right.' Elisabeth thought, enraged by the entire situation.
Just when Elisabeth wanted to leave, there was a knock on the door.
"Who is it? " The Duchess asked. Her voice did not sound good when she asked.
"Leah, Your Grace," Leag answered from behind the door.
"Come in, " Duchess Anita said. She knew that Leah would not come if there were nothing significant to discuss.
"Your Grace, my lady, " Leah bowed after she entered.
"His Grace sent words that he is going out for a few days, " Leah reported.
"Going out? " the duchess frowned. "Did he say where? " the Duchess asked.
"No, your grace, but I heard from Steward Muman that there seems to be a problem from one of his grace vineyards, " Leah said awkwardly. The Steward was always tight lip, so she could not get any reasonable information from him.
Duchess Anita felt like cursing out. She guessed that the duke had found a legitimate reason to leave the house. 'that selfish man,' she cursed in her head.
Elisabeth felt like the heaves had decided to turn against her. She was worried that the more time passed with Anastasia as the finance of the crown prince, the more it would become difficult for her to take what was rightfully her.
"Mother, what should I do now? " Elisabeth turned to her mother, not knowing the next step to take.
"Don't worry, the only person that can marry the crown prince is you, " Duchess Anita assured. Although she was unsure if her husband deliberately left the house to tempt her or if his excuse was real, this was a golden opportunity, and she would not let it go.
"My lady, I have an idea, " Leah said. She had seen the things that the palace sent. Every one of them was precious. Anastasia was just the daughter of a mistress; she did not deserve to have such things, in Leah's opinion.
"What? " Duchess Anita frowned.
"I think that Miss Magdalene is a breakpoint; if my lady can make her take a fancy of her, then she would send a report to the palace, " Leah said.
When Elisabeth heard this, she felt that Leah deliberately forced a bitter pile through her thoat. She was not stupid and knew the importance of Miss Magdalene. But the woman did not give her a good look but focused her attention on the good fo nothing.
Even the duchess was not very pleased with Leah's response. After all, everyone knew the significance of Miss Magdalene, but the woman did not seem easy to get close to.
"I think we should ruin Anastasia's reputation, " Leah said when she noticed the displeasure on the duchess's face. It was clear that the mother and daughter had failed at getting Miss Magdalene's attention. When the duchess heard this, her frown deepened.
Leah shivered when she saw the anger on her face, "what I mean is that the crown prince should marry Elisabeth as the first legitimate daughter, but Anastasia snatched it. Why don't we make Miss Magdalene believe Anastasia was spoiled and scheming? Surely, the royal family would not want such a woman, " Leah said. Leah could not stomach the fact that the un-favored daughter she had always looked down on had the chance to become the empress. The thought that she would have to bow to her in the future if she married the crown prince was like thousands of pins being stabbed into her heart.
When Elisabeth heard this, she frowned; she needed a plan that would make the marriage fall on her, not destroy Anastasia. Of course, she did not mind destroying Anastasia in the process, but she wanted to be sure she would reap the benefit.
"My lady, there are only two daughters in this residence. If one falls, the other would naturally benefit, " Leah said when she saw the look on Elisabeth's face. She had watched Elisabeth grow up so she could guess her thoughts, even if it were just a frown.
"Not necessarily. That girl is also the daughter of the Duke family, if we do not act carefully, we might hurt the entire family, " Duchess Anita shook her head. The royal family were no fools. If one daughter was terrible, who could be sure the other was any better? Moreover, her husband seems to be on Anastasia's side; if she ruined his family name, he might put his words into action.
"Then Mother, what should we do? " Elisabeth frowns.
"what if she becomes sick? " Leah suggested. She wanted to propose that Anastasia die, but she was worried that she would sound too evil, so she suggested sickness.
"A sick person would recover, " Elisabeth frowned. She felt that Leah was only coming up with one idea worse than the formal.
Leah smiled, but sge looked at the duchess, "Her mother stepped aside because she was sick and could not bear an heir for the duke. That girl would hand over the marriage to her sister if she had the same sickness," Leah explained.
The chamber fell into a deep silence after Leah finished speaking. There was nothing worse for a woman than her inability to give birth to a child.
Duchess Anita felt proud of herself for having someone like Leah by her side. The Duchess knew that her husband would suspect her, but without evidence, nothing could be done. Anyway, Anastasia's mother was not 'healthy' either. "when all this is settled, I will grant you a reward," Duchess Anita smiled.