My Disfigured Duke Husband Helps Me Plot My Revenge
Chapter 302: The Beginning

Chapter 302: The Beginning

Leonor was in the capital for another week as winter started coming to an end. While there were still technically weeks left until spring arrived and blooms appeared, she was amazed at how mild it was in comparison to Montclair. The one winter she experienced there was hard to get used to. It made a lasting impression, however, and she based all other regions of Castille on the place she called home.

She sighed as she looked around at the Queen’s Palace. Rather, that palace was the place she was calling home.

Her work was done by receiving messenger hawks and sending Eve with responses. There was little oversight needed and Gideon maintained the estate to the best of his abilities. Since Montclair was practically dormant in the winter, her job was easy. She felt spoiled to benefit from the wealth but not have to do much for it.

Her mage duties were easy as well. Much of it was simply overseeing students. If she didn’t have an answer they sought, she would research with them. Tending to Quinn’s plants also took a bit of her time as well. At least it was better than spending all of her time in the palace and twiddling her thumbs while she thought about the direction her life had turned.

The last time she made contact with Desmond, he told her not to send another letter until he sent something first. He said it was too risky to receive anything. Despite how much it made her worry, she managed to keep her word.

She needed his words to comfort her. The depletion of her mana the last time was still affecting her and it was making her worried.

It was difficult to get used to how exhausted she was. Whatever had happened due to the dark magic made it hard to wake up in the morning and often sluggish throughout the day. The days with sunlight seemed to rejuvenate her the most and she was certainly hungry during her meals.

A healer saw her but they were certain all she needed to do was keep resting and not use her mana beyond Eve delivering letters. The thing about black magic was that it didn’t just negate natural mana, it also stuck around like some sort of disease.

To take her mind off of it, Leonor was sitting in Quinn’s study when a palace guard came in with a letter from Count Braulio.

Considering how emotionally charged their first meeting was, she was certain he would want to stay away for quite some time. Yet he had tea a couple more times with her since then.

During their last meeting, he mentioned her needing to meet someone and she had been waiting at the edge of her seat ever since.

Eagerly opening the envelope that he always prepared with such care, Leonor’s hands went to her lips when she saw that the guests had arrived.

Unable to help her curiosity, she had already asked Stephano about Count Braulio’s family and she found that he had a wife and a son. As much as she hated her initial response of jealousy that he had married after her mother, she realized the hypocrisy of her feelings considering her mother did the same.

Even though Braulio hadn’t told her who she was meeting, she assumed it was his family and she didn’t know how to feel.

Regardless, she got a nice golden yellow dress on that kept her body warm and allowed her to wear a simple ruby necklace to display the beautiful jewels Desmond got for her on their autumn winterization trip around the duchy. It felt like so long ago but it had been less than half a year.

Next to the ruby necklace, she of course wore the chain that held Desmond’s ring which she had been subconsciously playing with a lot. Releasing one habit of playing with the locket, she picked up another one in the form of her husband’s ring around her neck.

She realized it was becoming a nervous habit and she made sure the necklace was tucked underneath her neckline so perhaps she would be deterred from exhibiting such nervous behavior.

Having already discussed the situation with Stephano, he decided to allow Braulio’s guests to be invited into one of the sitting rooms in the Guests’ Palace off of the Main Palace. Leonor appreciated him opening up his own space but it was better that the situation between Leonor and the de Marro’s could be monitored and easy to escape if she needed to.

After having such a rough life with a father and sister who very much despised her, she hated that she saw the worst in people and could see the facade’s drop and the true hatred, perhaps true purpose for reaching out to her as well, coming to light. For that, it was wise that she had an out to escape to the Queen’s Palace if needed.

The guests were already announced by palace guards so the duchess stood at the King’s side in the throne room, awaiting whoever would meet her.

Sure enough, the doors to the long room were open and Count Braulio arrived followed closely by his wife and son. It was easy to tell who they were considering the countess held onto Braulio’s arm and he gently placed a gloved hand over hers. His son, on the other hand, looked so much like Braulio, Leonor wondered for a moment if he was how the count looked around the time he was with her mother.

The thoughts of the affectionate love her mother missed out on would always break her heart.

"Your Majesty," Count Braulio greeted first, as was the custom when entering the throne room. "Thank you for allowing us to use your palace today."

The countess curtsied appropriately and their son bowed similarly to his father. They both gave their own greetings before the count acknowledged his supposed daughter who was politely standing off to the side.

"Your Grace, please meet my wife, Countess Micheline de Marro, and my son, Jose de Marro," he introduced them. "They are eager to meet you and get to know you as I have."

Even though Leonor was feeling standoffish, she knew that it was going to be important they had a good first impression of her.

Rather than acknowledging her sweating hands or racing heart, she simply curtsied, resting a hand on her chest as she did. Even through discomfort, she tried to remain deserving of the title she carried. Plenty already thought she was very young to be the duchess of the largest duchy in Castille.

She always hoped that her wit was enough for people to look past her age. Most noble women didn’t have lifetimes of experience in a few short years, but she did.

"It’s wonderful to meet you both," Leonor finally said. "Shall we sit down for a tea?"