My Dear Husband, Let's Keep It Business-Like! ~Countess Anastasia, Raised in The Downtown, Won't Give Up Her Way~ - Episode 78

What I saw when I went down to the first floor to hear the detailed situation were the store staff, who were utterly exhausted and bowing repeatedly.

As a professional, it is absolutely unacceptable to have items entrusted by clients stolen.

That’s true, but if there were no deficiencies in management or security measures, it is also undeniable that they are victims.

Moreover, if the culprit had their sights set on my dress from the very beginning, then this store might even be considered a victim in this situation.

Personally, I couldn’t possibly bring myself to blame them.

The one to blame is undoubtedly the person who stole the dress.

Hey, Christina. If you stole the dress to harass me, do you fully understand that such actions would also cause suffering to unrelated people like this?

The next day.

Seeing off the worried servants, my husband and I headed towards the ducal residence.

The duke’s residence that came into view was as luxurious and elegant as ever, and if judged by appearance alone, it was undoubtedly a magnificent mansion that people would envy.

Only the appearance, you know.

Going back to the place where I was once oppressed doesn’t feel very good.

I was looking up at the duke’s mansion with the feeling of biting into a bitter bug.

When I was escorted by my husband and got off the carriage, there were not two knights from the duke’s private knight order standing in front of the entrance, but two knights from the national knight order.

Ah, I see. Since Christina is currently under house arrest, a knight has been dispatched to keep watch over her.

As I was thinking about such things, the front door opened and my brother-in-law came out. I had been thinking of asking him to come with me, but then I realized that this is also his house.

“Welcome back. I’m sorry, I never thought Father would call for Anastasia. …You could have ignored him, but it seems Anastasia has something she wants to ask Father, right?”

“Yes. I’m fine, brother-in-law. I came here of my own free will.”

“Yeah, that’s fine then. …Don’t push yourself too hard.”

Saying that, my brother-in-law invited my husband and me into the mansion.

The servants I pass by on the way avert their eyes awkwardly or look at me with surprised expressions.

Of course, I recognize every face.

For example, the maid over there is the clumsy one who frequently drops my food on the floor, and the maid who just hid as if she were running away is the one who always bumps into me or steps on my feet, the unfortunate person with a brain that can’t judge distances.

The ducal family must be in dire need of talent.

Well, in a house that doesn’t value people, good servants won’t grow.

As I was shown into the reception room and sat down, a maid brought in tea. She was one of the top-tier worst people among the servants who had harassed me.

Hey, hey, what’s going on with the selection of people?

There’s absolutely no way I’m going to apologize for this.

As I was watching the maid while thinking like that, I was glared at from an angle that my husband and brother-in-law couldn’t see.

Ah, I see. Among the servants here, I still have the image of when I used to live here.

I smiled sweetly at the maid and tried to talk to her.

“Well, it’s been a while. How have you been?”

She probably never expected me to be the one to speak up. The maid stammered with a surprised look on her face.

“Were you feeling unwell somewhere?”

When her brother-in-law asked curiously, the maid hurriedly denied it. It would be troublesome if they thought she was sick and sent her away.

“Oh, is that so? I’m sorry, you see, you used to spill water on me all the time, so I thought you had some kind of illness that made it hard for you to grip things. I see I was mistaken.”

Hearing that, my husband must have realized that this maid had once oppressed me.

He looked at the maid with eyes that showed no attempt to hide his hostility.

The air in the room had become extremely foul, and perhaps the maid thought it was bad, as she left the room in a hurry with a pale face, barely managing a proper greeting.

“Sigh… I’m sorry, Anastasia. I’ll consider replacing the servants soon.”

“Indeed. Even setting aside my own matters, the quality of the servants reflects the dignity of the household. For the future of you and the ducal family, I recommend that you do so.”

We have such conversations in a room with just the three of us.

Even so, I think it’s quite rude for the duke to call me and then not show up. He must really be underestimating me.

Perhaps they want to either persuade or intimidate me to make the facts of the abuse disappear.

There was a knock on the door, and the duke finally appeared, accompanied by his attendant.

I saw you from a distance at the ball, but it’s been since the wedding that we’ve actually faced each other like this.

Even in this situation, the duke still holds a higher status.

My husband and I stand up from the sofa and greet the duke.

The duke greeted us with a smile on the surface and then urged us to take a seat.

“It’s been a while, Anastasia. You seem to be doing well.”

“Yes. Thanks to you, we are being well taken care of at the count’s residence.”

It seems like just an ordinary conversation, but there’s a sharp tension running through it. After all, he is the current head of the leading duke’s family, even if it has its issues. The pressure is quite palpable.

But, I can’t back down here.

My throat made a gulping sound.

“Well then, which story shall we begin with, Your Grace?”