Chapter 122: Behind the Rockery

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Behind the Rockery

The Duke of Merlinspire hesitated.

"Duchess Elysia, is that truly necessary?"

As far as he was concerned, Cassiel meeting another woman—scandalous though it might be—was ultimately a private matter between husband and wife. He couldn’t understand why Elysia was determined to pursue it in front of everyone.

"Is it too much trouble for you, Your Lordship?" Elysia asked.

"It’s not that..."

"Then please have it done."

Elysia’s tone was firm.

There was no time to waste.

If they delayed much longer, the servant who had lured Cassiel to the west wing would finish whatever task he had been assigned and slip away. Once he disappeared, finding the person behind all this would become considerably more difficult.

"I’ll arrange it."

Reeve stepped forward from the side.

The Duke of Merlinspire immediately shot his son an irritated look.

Always so soft-hearted.

His son seemed incapable of seeing trouble without sticking his nose into it.

"You, step ba—"

Before he could finish, Elysia turned towards Reeve.

"Thank you, Lord Reeve."

The Duke swallowed the rest of his rebuke, his expression souring.

Elysia gave Bran a meaningful glance.

"Go with them."

"Yes, Your Grace."

Reeve and Bran immediately departed to carry out the order.

Once they were gone, Elysia turned back to the Duke.

"Your Lordship, please continue leading the way."

The Duke could only sigh.

"Very well."

He led the group towards the west wing.

The moment they entered the courtyard, however, a strange sound reached them.

It came from somewhere deep within the rockery grotto to the east.

A woman’s soft, breathless moans mingled with a man’s rough groans, rising and falling in a rhythm that left little doubt about what was happening.

The entire group fell silent.

Several guests exchanged awkward glances.

Then, almost instinctively, their eyes turned towards Elysia.

There was pity in some expressions.

Mockery in others.

A few seemed almost reluctant to look at her at all.

Evren’s brows drew together.

He stepped towards Elysia, clearly intending to cover her ears and shield her from the indecent sounds.

She brushed past him without slowing.

The Duke of Merlinspire hurried after her.

"Duchess Elysia, don’t!"

His voice dropped as he caught up.

"Barging in like this will only anger Duke Cassiel."

Elysia stopped and looked at him in confusion.

"Why would something like this anger him?"

The Duke was momentarily speechless.

Why?

Looking at her youthful, innocent expression, he sighed inwardly.

She’s still so young. She probably still believed marriage meant having one man’s complete devotion. Discovering her husband with another woman in broad daylight would surely be devastating.

Before he could answer, a derisive snort came from behind them.

Elysia turned.

Gideon stood among the guests, wearing a knowing, almost leering smile.

"Your Grace, surely your father taught you that it is perfectly ordinary for a man of status to have mistresses and concubines."

He chuckled, "Never mind if His Grace wants another woman. In time, you’ll probably be the one choosing his concubines for him."

Elysia’s brows knitted together.

Gideon’s smile widened.

"Besides, His Grace is rather... occupied at the moment."

His voice dripped with insinuation.

"If you rush in now and interrupt him, you might offend him so badly that he refuses to speak to you for days."

Understanding finally dawned on Elysia.

So that’s why they’re trying to stop me.

They all think Cassiel is in there.

The sounds from the grotto continued, growing increasingly fervent.

Gideon’s expression became even more suggestive.

"It seems His Grace was restrained for far too long during his illness."

He gave a low laugh.

"To have this much energy in broad daylight—and in a rockery, of all places..."

A man nearby chuckled.

"Doesn’t Duchess Elysia satisfy Duke Cassiel?"

A ripple of masculine laughter spread through the courtyard.

The Duke of Merlinspire’s face darkened.

Speaking so crudely in front of the young Duchess was beyond improper. They were taking advantage of her youth and lack of established authority.

He was about to reprimand them when Elysia spoke first.

"That isn’t Duke Cassiel in there."

The Duke froze.

"It... isn’t?"

Elysia shook her head.

"No."

She listened for another moment.

"The sounds clearly aren’t his."

The Duke hesitated before focusing on the noises himself.

Now that he paid attention, he realised she was right.

The man’s voice did sound different.

Gideon, however, let out a contemptuous laugh.

"If it isn’t Duke Cassiel, then who is it?"

He swept his gaze around the courtyard.

"We’re all guests here. Who would be shameless enough to carry on with a secret lover in someone else’s garden in broad daylight?"

Another nobleman snickered.

"Duchess Elysia is young. She’s only trying to save herself some embarrassment."

Gideon nodded sympathetically.

"Exactly. If she insists it isn’t Duke Cassiel, then naturally it isn’t."

His smile became more pointed.

"Let’s only hope we don’t hear, a few days from now, that His Grace has taken himself a beautiful new concubine."

Laughter broke out again.

Elysia didn’t respond.

Instead, she studied Gideon.

He was still wearing that smug expression.

From the grotto came another burst of increasingly fervent sounds, the man’s cries rising louder than before.

Elysia cleared her throat.

Then she suddenly raised her voice, calling towards the rockery, "Lord Barek! Stop making such a racket. Your father is here looking for you!"

Her voice rang clearly across the courtyard.

Gideon heard it.

So did the couple inside the grotto.

The colour drained from Gideon’s face.

The sounds from within ceased at once.

Silence.

Complete and absolute.

The guests stared towards the rockery.

"Lord Barek?"

"That’s... Lord Barek in there?"

Whispers of disbelief spread through the crowd.

Someone looked around in confusion.

"Now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Lord Barek for quite some time..."

Every gaze turned towards Gideon.

His face darkened terribly.

He gritted his teeth.

"That is absolutely not—"

Before he could finish, the foliage around the grotto suddenly rustled violently.

A half-naked figure stumbled out from the bushes.

His upper body was bare, several fresh scratches marring his chest. His face was flushed, his hair dishevelled, and his expression frantic.

It was unmistakably Lord Barek.

Having heard Elysia call his name, he had tried to flee without even taking the time to dress properly—only to emerge directly into the crowd waiting outside.