My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 77

“It’s a trap. Definitely.”

“……right?”

The day after the dinner with my brother-in-law and the princess.

Even the lord of the “Hamilton Earldom Purebred Nobility” was so suspicious of the letter that it prompted an immediate response.

The sender is the Duke of Fairfanville.

The content was a request to come to the duke’s residence because they wanted to apologize to Anastasia. Unnecessary.

When I compare it with what my brother-in-law said yesterday, it seems natural to interpret that the duke, who was accused of abusing me, is hurriedly apologizing and trying to make amends.

However, I know.

In the dictionary of the duke’s household, there is no word for “apologize.”

I mean, what do you mean “come over because you want to apologize”?

If you want to apologize, come here. I don’t feel any intention to apologize from you already.

“There’s no need to go to something like this, of course. Ana should just cooperate with the hearing investigation, and leave the rest to the appropriate national agencies.”

What my husband says is quite reasonable.

If you think about it normally, you can understand that it’s the best option, but actually, I have a slightly anxious reason for doing so.

If the duke’s family was involved in my parents’ disappearance, punishing the duke as it stands might result in losing the opportunity to obtain that information.

In a way, this is one of the few chances I have to negotiate with the duke from a position of strength.

I want to make the most of this opportunity.

“Sir, I find it very difficult to say this, but… I think I will go.”

“Why!?”

My surprised husband grabs both my hands tightly.

“I mentioned it before, but there’s a possibility that the ducal family is involved in my parents’ disappearance. If we act now, I can take the lead in the conversation.”

“Then, I’ll go in her place. It’s only natural for the husband to attend the discussion instead of the wife. After all, I am the head of this household. I can’t afford to make any rash decisions.”

Your husband is in the duke’s family?

Sending a pure-bred husband into a duke’s family that seems like a concentrated version of the dirty parts of aristocratic society…

“Even Eugene-sama would totally fall for me if I just showed a little interest!!”

The words Christina had said when she barged into the count’s mansion and her lewd expression at that time flashed through my mind, and I felt the bl00d drain from my face.

“I don’t want to, I can’t, I won’t let you go! Christina is at that mansion too, you know!? Who knows what might happen to you there!”

“That’s why we can’t let Ana go!”

“Your husband is the one in danger! That’s like a duck carrying a green onion to the pot!”

W-w-w-what if you end up enjoying it too muchーー!?

“We’ll go!” “No, I’ll go!” As my husband and I were having a futile argument, suddenly the cold gazes of the spirits who had come to visit pierced through us.

“Sorry to interrupt the fun, but you two. Why is it assumed that only one of you will go?”

“That’s right. Go together, the two of you, together!”

“Or rather, there’s no need for just the two of us to go. Have Alexander come along too. We’ll come along as well.”

Y-You’re right. I don’t know why, but I was planning to go alone! That’s dangerous.

“Both of you, you know, when it comes to each other, you can’t see what’s around you, it’s dangerous, so be careful, okay?”

“I’m sorry.”

After being scolded by Kaiya, I bow my head with my husband.

…Wait, me too!?

In the end, it was decided that the two of us would go to the duke’s residence, and my husband hurriedly wrote a reply to the duke and a letter to my brother-in-law.

If I say I’m going, they won’t object.

Alright. Tomorrow, we’re storming the duke’s mansion.

Of course, the primary goal is to obtain information about my parents, but there are countless things I want to say to the duke. Since the opportunity has arisen, I’ll say everything I need to say.

Honestly, I don’t think the duke would sincerely apologize or reflect on his actions, but if he acknowledges even a little bit of his wrongdoing, I think I won’t need to press charges regarding the abuse.

Of course, it’s not for the duke or Christina.

Considering the people of the duchy and my brother-in-law, I don’t want to tarnish the name of the Fairfanville family any further.

“It’s terrible! Madam!!”

As I was absentmindedly thinking about such things, Marie rushed into the room with a pale face.

Before I knew it, the first floor of the mansion seemed to be in an uproar and noisy.

The news that Marie brought was shocking: my evening gown, which I had taken to the specialist shop for cleaning yesterday, had been stolen by someone.

It’s Christina.

Even though I shouldn’t jump to conclusions without any evidence, for some reason, I was convinced of it.

That little brat! Not even considering other people’s feelings!!

Even though I’m putting so much thought into the future and the position of the duke family, what on earth is the person involved doing?

That dress is extremely, extremely special to me.

The precious dress, the only one in the world, that was created with the combined efforts of all the servants and the people of the territory, given to me for the first time by my husband.

Unforgivable! I will absolutely, definitely get it back!!