The Grand Duke's Soulmate
Chapter 145: A Wicked Jealousy

Chapter 145: A Wicked Jealousy

The resounding echos of footsteps filled the long corridor as an exquisite noble lady approached the front door of an opulent office room in the very early morning.

Her presence exuded elegance and a demanding aura, with her striking blonde hair flowing down her shoulders in cascading waves. With a graceful touch, her delicate pale fingers, adorned with expensive and exquisite rings, twisted the handle, effortlessly pushing the door open.

As she entered, a group of ladies-in-waiting who had already gathered inside rose in unison and bowed, their expressions filled with respect and admiration for the blonde lady.

"Lady James! You have finally returned! We have eagerly awaited your presence," exclaimed one of the ladies-in-waiting, her voice brimming with anticipation.

The noble lady named Lady Sarah James remained silent, her expression composed as she gestured for the ladies-in-waiting to take their seats. With graceful poise, she settled into her chair behind the study table, clasping her fingers and fixing her dark grey gaze upon them.

"Well... I suppose everyone is aware of the updates by now, correct?" Sarah began with a steady and measured tone.

The news of the Grand Duke of Gerhard’s marriage had sent shockwaves throughout the city, dominating conversations for the past few days. When she first caught wind of it, her heart seemed to plummet in her chest, and a surge of emotions threatened to overwhelm her.

Years of profound and unwavering affection for the grand duke crumbled instantly, shattered by the news she believed would never reach her ears, especially after his public declaration of celibacy.

"Y-Yes, Lady James," one of the ladies-in-waiting replied, her voice trembling.

She was unsure how the noble lady would react to the news. Sarah, however, remained seemingly unfazed, her calm demeanour unyielding.

"They had an audience with Their Majesties yesterday, and there seemed to be a bit of commotion. Rumour has it that His Majesty ordered them to spend the night at the palace in separate rooms due to it," reported another lady-in-waiting, relaying the event’s details.

Sarah let out a disparaging smile, her lips curling into a mocking expression.

"Oh... the first day at the palace, and she’s already causing a scene," she remarked, her voice dripping with disdain. "How bold."

The ladies-in-waiting exchanged puzzled glances, attempting to decipher the underlying meaning behind Sarah’s cryptic comment. The noble lady averted her gaze, revealing a touch of annoyance in her voice as she continued to speak.

"I never anticipated His Highness would carry out such actions in secrecy. To bring his new wife to Gantz discreetly, without anyone’s knowledge, is truly surprising," she expressed.

"If it hadn’t been for the chaos caused by the fan club at Gerhard’s mansion, no one would have been aware of his marriage," added one of the ladies-in-waiting.

The other ladies widened their eyes and shot disapproving glares at her for the remarks as if she had unintentionally emphasised the wrong word in front of Sarah.

"I suspect His Majesty, the King himself, instructed everyone involved to maintain utmost secrecy," Sarah predicted, her voice tinged with speculation and insight.

"Lady James, I must clarify that we were not summoned by Her Majesty the Queen following our dismissal after escorting her to the throne hall. Our duties have been limited to the usual tasks. Even the meals with His Highness the Grand Duke and his wife were conducted privately, without our involvement," one of the ladies-in-waiting clarified, providing insight into their restricted access to the new arrival.

"I see... It does make me wonder why they are keeping her hidden so fervently. Could she possess an exceptional beauty, talent or title?" Sarah pondered aloud, her curiosity piqued.

"I have heard whispers from those who witnessed the procession of His Highness being halted by a maid on their way to the palace. It is said that she possesses eyes as green as emerald, reminiscent of the legendary first Ro’an Emperor. And... well, she is considered quite attractive," another lady-in-waiting revealed, describing the rumoured features of the mysterious woman who had married Kyren.

"Her casual beauty could never surpass the radiance of our Lady James! She would be fortunate to even dream of being on par with you, my lady," another lady-in-waiting interjected, expressing unwavering loyalty towards Sarah.

The remaining ladies-in-waiting nodded in agreement, acknowledging Sarah’s unparalleled beauty and reaffirming their admiration for her.

"Another commotion occurred because of her? It appears this woman has quite the appetite for attention," she remarked. Her eyes turned into a slit. "Tell me, what exactly happened?"

"It was Rania, Lady Grey’s personal maid, who caused the scene. Her lady was apprehended due to the disturbance caused by the fan club. The maid was begging for her release," one of the ladies-in-waiting explained.

Sarah let out a scornful scoff.

"That serves her right! Meredith and her useless fan club. Who in their right mind would transform a simple book reading club into a fan club dedicated to His Highness? It’s utter foolishness. She should have experienced the consequences of her own actions."

"But, Lady James... I heard that she was released yesterday. What’s even more surprising was that the guards said that His Highness’s new wife and the Knight of Gerhard personally went down to the dungeon to secure her release," another lady-in-waiting shared, revealing the unexpected turn of events.

Sarah’s eyebrows arched with intrigue, her curiosity sparked by the unexpected involvement of Anna and Alex in Meredith’s release.

A subtle shift in her expression revealed a change in demeanour. Fixing her gaze upon the lady-in-waiting who had shared the information, Sarah’s stare was eerie, causing the lady to fall silent hastily.

"So, you’ve been hearing rumours about her, but none of you have laid eyes on her yourselves, is that correct?" she inquired, her voice laced with suspicion.

"Yes, my lady," the ladies-in-waiting responded in unison, their voices filled with trepidation as fear gripped their hearts from the stare. Sarah’s countenance darkened, casting a shadow over her face.

"Summon all the servants who attended to the queen and that woman yesterday immediately! I want to know every detail," she commanded, her words leaving no room for hesitation.

"I have already made the arrangements, my lady. They are on their way here," Naise, one of the ladies-in-waiting, responded promptly. "Furthermore, the queen has requested our presence for breakfast alongside Lady Raychard in about an hour. I presumed Her Majesty would be introducing her to us."

Sarah’s smile widened, acknowledging Naise’s efficient actions.

"I appreciate your swift response. This will grant us ample time to prepare ourselves. I prefer to be fully prepared before facing my adversary. However, it seems you have overlooked something," Sarah pressed, her tone firm.

Naise maintained steady eye contact with Sarah, her gaze unwavering.

"What is it?" she inquired.

Sarah’s eyes narrowed to her, their intensity sharpening.

"Never address her as Lady Raychard before me. That title should have been mine before I ascended as the Grand Duchess of Gerhard. Is that understood?" Her voice carried a subtle warning.

"Yes, my lady. I apologise for my oversight," Naise replied, her gaze lowered.

At that moment, a knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Upon receiving permission, a group of servants, summoned by Sarah’s right-hand person, Naise, entered the office.

All servants bowed respectfully to the assembled ladies, upholding the formalities and hierarchy within the palace. They displayed apparent concern on their faces, as it was unusual for the ladies-in-waiting to summon them unless they had committed grave errors.

As the highest-ranking officers in the queen’s retinue, the ladies-in-waiting possessed the authority to question and hold the servants accountable for any mistakes made while attending to the queen.

Among them, Lady Sarah James, the chief of the ladies-in-waiting, held the power to reprimand or dismiss them from their positions, aside from the king and queen themselves.

One by one, the servants were interrogated about any information they possessed regarding the new wife of the Grand Duke of Gerhard. However, none of them has provided any valuable insights thus far.

"I’ve only been given useless tidbits of information so far," Sarah remarked with impatience evident in her raised eyebrows and arms crossed over her chest.

"As you all know, I am swamped and about to meet Her Majesty, the Queen. Unless any of you can provide me with beneficial information, I won’t make it easy on you. Is that clear?"

Her tone conveyed a sense of sternness and a warning to the servants, emphasising the importance of their cooperation.

The assembled crowd of servants trembled in fear, their anxious expressions palpable. They were well aware of Sarah’s strictness, and her reputation had instilled a deep-seated dread among them.

Anything that failed to meet her exacting standards was bound to be discarded or replaced. Those who didn’t align with her expectations or failed to fulfil her demands faced punishments, transfers to more challenging departments, or even dismissal from their positions.

In short, crossing paths with the noble lady never yielded positive outcomes. If she set her sights on someone, it spelt the end for that individual.

It was well known to everyone that Sarah hailed from a distinguished and influential noble family, having earned the complete trust of Her Majesty, the Queen. Her father held the esteemed position of Minister of Defense, while her brother served as the admiral of the Kingdom of Cassian.

Timidly, a young maid raised her trembling hand, mustering the courage to speak. She was new to the palace and relied solely on her salary to support her family. Losing her job would have dire consequences for them.

"I... I heard something about the lady, Lady James," the maid stammered, her voice barely audible.

Her hand continued to shake, and her gaze darted nervously around the room, reflecting her nervousness and the weight of the situation she found herself in.

"It had better be something significant," Sarah urged, her tone expectant.

"I overheard her admitting to running away from the slave traders!" the maid blurted out, her words hanging in the air.

"What?" Sarah’s eyes widened in disbelief, and her curiosity was immediately piqued. Rising from her seat, she approached the maid, eager to hear more.

The young maid recounted what she had heard, her words painting a shocking tale. She spoke of Anna’s capture by a gang of slave traders at the border of Ardel and Dracor, her harrowing escape from one of them who had attempted to violate her, and the marriage to the grand duke—a desperate measure to save her life from the effects of aphrodisiac poisoning.

The others in the room were left stunned, their jaws practically dropping at the revelation.

"I was standing closest to the door when I heard it. The sliding door wasn’t fully closed then, and when an attendant noticed, she quickly pushed it shut. That’s all I managed to hear, I swear!" the young maid explained, her voice filled with anxiety and sincerity.

"Why didn’t you speak up about this earlier?" Sarah questioned firmly.

"The attendant of the Queen that day strictly forbade us from revealing anything to anyone. I was terrified," the young maid explained, her voice trembling.

A sly smile slowly formed on Sarah’s lips, a glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"How intriguing! I had expected my rival to be a formidable opponent, someone of substance... but it seems she’s nothing more than a mere slave!" Sarah chuckled, her laughter laced with a sense of superiority.

Her reaction sent a ripple of mixed emotions through the room as the others absorbed the implications of Anna’s revelation. Some exchanged hesitant glances, uncertain how to respond to Sarah’s amusement at another’s misfortune.

"But how could a royal family member marry a slave? And she isn’t even a Cassian. If she was caught at the border between Ardel and Dracor, she must be someone from there," one of the ladies-in-waiting remarked, voicing her confusion.

Sarah’s grin widened, a hint of satisfaction evident in her expression. She swiftly turned her attention to Naise, issuing an explicit command after writing a note.

"Naise, quickly relay this information to my father. He should be in his office at the royal council building."

Naise nodded in understanding as she accepted the note, her efficient demeanour indicating that she would promptly fulfil Sarah’s request. The lady quickly fled through the door.

The chief lady-in-waiting then directed her gaze back to the young maid with a stern look.

"And what about you? Have you breathed a word of what you’ve heard to anyone?"

The young maid shook her head fervently. Fear and loyalty intermingled in her eyes.

"No, my lady. As members of Her Majesty’s retinue, we are forbidden from spreading rumours recklessly. I would never dare to betray that trust."

Sarah’s little laugh took on a sinister undertone, her amusement morphing into a cruel satisfaction. With a calculated move, she approached the young maid, firmly grasped her chin, and tilted her head. Then, she lightly patted the maid’s cheek, a gesture that held a hint of condescension.

"You don’t have the right to call yourself one of the queen’s retinue. You’re nothing more than a lowly servant," Sarah taunted, her voice dripping with disdain. "Now, I want you to open that cute little mouth of yours and spread what you’ve heard to everybody."

The maid’s eyes widened in fear and desperation, her voice trembling as she pleaded for understanding. "But... but, if I do that, I could end up in prison and lose my job. Please, my lady, I truly need this position! My family relies on me!"

A wicked smile played on Sarah’s lips as she leaned closer, relishing her power over the maid.

"If you refuse, I will ensure you suffer a worse fate than that slave. I have numerous ways to fabricate accusations against you, to frame you for any crime I desire. So, you have a choice to make. Either you follow my orders and betray your so-called loyalty, or you can cling to your principles. Choose wisely. Should you stand by me, I promise to reward you generously."

Though velvety soft, her voice carried a sharpness akin to the edge of a warrior’s sword.

The young maid’s desperation outweighed her sense of loyalty, and she consented with a nod.

"Yes, my lady," she whispered, her voice filled with resignation and fear.

"I want all of you to proceed with spreading the rumours! Let it be known that if any of you dare to disclose my instructions to Their Majesties, you will face grave consequences," Sarah commanded, her voice laced with a mixture of authority and menace.

Turning her gaze towards the ladies-in-waiting, her expression hardened.

"As for that foolish attendant... I don’t care who her parents are or how close she is to Her Majesty. What matters is that she will no longer be working in this palace. Is that understood?"

"Yes, my lady," the ladies-in-waiting replied in unison, their voices filled with obedience.

Following Sarah’s orders, the servants filed out of the room, each tasked with spreading the carefully crafted rumours.

A wicked smile played on Sarah’s lips as she contemplated her next move.

"Ladies, let us go and pay a visit to Her Majesty the Queen. We shall confront this wretched woman who dared to snatch my grand duke away from me," she declared, her eyes gleaming with vengeful intent. "I will tear her apart piece by piece."

The ladies-in-waiting, aware of the fire burning within Sarah, followed silently, bracing themselves for the storm about to unfold.