The Soulless Duchess

Chapter 3

Gaspar did a double take. What did she just say?

“Enjoy my trip? Does that mean you won’t come with me?”

“I believe you will do just fine alone. Is there really a need for me to accompany you?”

“Are you serious…?”

Gaspar clenched his teeth and knocked his head back. What was Yvona talking about? She knew that he couldn’t summon a thing without her.

He couldn’t understand why she was acting so strangely. Until now, he had believed that he had the upper hand in their relationship. His harsh treatment of Yvona and his disrespect for her as a person were all meant to keep her in her place.

He needed to prevent her, a girl of mediocre looks and lineage, from mistakenly thinking that she had power in this relationship just because she could perform summoning magic. He had successfully tamed her, and Yvona obediently wagged her tail like a domesticated dog.

She sat when told to sit and rolled over when told to roll over.

Had Yvona ever gone against his will?

Not once.

What’s gotten into her? Why the sudden power struggle after all this time?

An incredulous laugh escaped him. Yvona was fighting a battle she was bound to lose.

There was an old saying: “he who loves more is bound to be the loser.” Gaspar had the upper hand when it came to affection; he had no tender feelings for her.

She was lucky enough to be born a woman and become engaged to Gaspar, wasn’t she? When Tristan, who deserved the sun and the moon, would have to spend his whole life hiding in the shadows?

He believed that he could make her give in by behaving as though their relationship was over. This woman before him could never live without him. Besides, everything in life was within his control, including her heart.

If Gaspar were to put on the pressure, she would give up in no time at all.

“I’m taking my leave before I say anything I regret,” he said, rising from his seat. “I expect an apology from you next time we meet.”

But little did Gaspar know that the woman before him wasn’t the Yvona Bote he knew.

***

Yvona’s father, Viscount Colin Bote, was a man who lived for fancy things.

“You have a daughter my age? No way!”

“You’re so handsome. You look like royalty!”

Colin Bote was spending the afternoon, as he often did, at a bordello. He was known among the ladies for opening his purse at the smallest flattery.

“Alright, my beauties. Come here and I’ll give you something shiny. Butler!”

His lavish lifestyle wasn’t supported by the Viscount’s modest estate. Colin was able to indulge thanks to his daughter, who had hooked a big fish as her betrothed.

Gaspar, a contender for the next emperor from the prestigious Gieze family, was Yvona’s fiancé. He was showering his future in-laws with gifts.

“Fetch the jewels Lord Gaspar sent over.”

“Um...”

“What is it? Spit it out.”

The butler took a quick glance around, then approached Colin and whispered, “The regular gifts we used to receive from the Gieze estate were cut off yesterday.”

“What do you mean? I am Yvona’s father!”

Colin, astonished, rose abruptly. The two women beside him whined.

“What about the jewels you promised?”

“Where’s our shiny things?”

“Hmm, later. You can have them later. I have matters to attend to.”

Colin hastily gathered his things and left. His good mood, elevated by drinks and pretty women, vanished.

Turning to the butler hurrying behind him, Colin inquired, “What on earth is happening? Why was I cut off?”

“I’m not sure, milord, but the maids said they had a disagreement...”

“What? That little witch oughta know her place. I specifically instructed her not to go against Lord Gaspar’s wishes!”

Colin had always addressed Yvona as “that girl” or “the little witch” since she was young, but since she brought in a fiancé from a great family, he had been calling her by her name so as not to provoke her anger; but she was back to “witch” now.

“Let’s return to the mansion immediately!”

“Yes, milord.”

They hurried back to the mansion and found a carriage parked outside the house.

“Tristan?”

The handsome young man alighting from the carriage was a face familiar to Colin Bote.

“Good to see you, Uncle. Sorry for the sudden visit.”

“Oh, I don’t mind you dropping in, but what brings you here?”

“Gaspar told me that he and Yvona had a fight. I thought I’d try to smooth things over...”

“I’m glad you’re here. Your cousin must have lost her mind. I can only hope to straighten her out.”

“Yes. I should talk to Yvona. She must be upset.”

“Yes. The witch must know what a big mistake she’s made.”

Surely they both thought Yvona would be holed up in her room. Although Gaspar and Yvona had never had a big argument like this before, she would always blame herself when Gaspar got angry and cried in her room. Embarrassed to appear in such a disheveled state, she’d want to be alone.

But Colin and Tristan found Yvona not tucked away in her room, but in the garden.

“Oh, have you both come to see me?”

Her face showed no trace of distress. She seemed rather more carefree than ever.

***

Yvona was roaming the garden with a pair of gardening scissors as she collected ingredients for herself.

The servants had tried to dissuade her, fearing her delicate skin might burn, but they couldn’t sway her. She did, however, give in to their earnest pleading and put on the wide-brimmed hat they brought out for her.

She knew it wasn’t out of concern for her, but out of fear of Colin that the servants needed to protect her fair skin. Except for Sally, her lady’s maid, the servants had not served the neglected daughter of Colin Bote in high esteem.

All of that changed the moment she became engaged to Lord Gaspar.

“Let’s see, I’ve pretty much gathered everything that can be found in the garden...”

With the resurgence of the Demon King, the Tower of Magic received unprecedented support from all nations, with which the alchemists of the Tower of Magic sought ways to better equip their forces to stand against the demon army.

Their research yielded the Kiridan elixir, which, when consumed, could slightly increase mana. Unfortunately, the Kiridan elixir was not put to effective use in the war, as it was created around the time the demon army was retreating.

However, Yvona had returned from the future with this memory; she would use this knowledge at the opportune moment. She made her way around the garden and picked the Seline leaves last.

Most importantly, I’ll have to buy the Kiridan fruits.

The sun shone bright and warm in the garden. Adjusting her hat, Yvona looked up at the sky. It was peaceful. In the distance, she could hear the chirping of birds as they jumped from branch to branch.

Wanting to feel closer to nature, she removed her hat. The spring sun was warm on her face. Just as she was relishing the lovely moment, two unexpected visitors ruined it.

“Yvona! You, you… Why are you in the garden?!”

“I wanted a stroll.”

“Your skin will burn! A fair complexion is crucial for a woman! Don’t you know gentlemen do not like tan women?”

“Is my worth only determined by what men find desirable?”

“That’s the way of the world! Grow up!”

“But there’s a small problem. My fiancé, Lord Gaspar, is very upset with me. He hasn’t contacted me in a week.”

“How…?”

Flabbergasted for a moment, Colin instantly turned furious—bordering on murderous—as he glared at his daughter.

“You crazy witch... Do you have any idea what you did? All of the support he has been giving us has been cut off because you ran your mouth. You did this to us! What am I going to do with the debts I have to pay the day after tomorrow? We’re going to be out in the streets begging before long!”

“But Father, is that my fault?” Yvona gazed back at her father, completely unaffected by his rage.

“The mouth on you...”

“The debt you speak of must be what you owe at the bordello. I believe you are responsible for that.”

Colin was astounded. Not once in her life had his daughter stood up to him. He thought a little bit of yelling would suffice to make her run back to Gaspar, begging for his forgiveness.

To hide his surprise, he yelled even louder, “How dare you talk back to me! I am your father who brought you into this world and raised you!”

Colin stepped up toward Yvona, ready to raise his hand. Tristan intervened to stop the situation from getting out of control.

“Come, Yvona. Stop this. There’s no need to get so worked up. You know he means well.”

Tristan often said that to her. Because he was her cousin and Colin’s nephew, he “couldn’t take sides.” He said he had to “remain neutral.”

But he always said to Yvona—only to Yvona—that she ought to take it in stride. Tristan witnessed Colin abuse her for years and never once stepped in to protect her. The only time he intervened was when Yvona tried to stand up to her father.

Tristan thinks he’s mediating.

Her mother left home when Yvona was a child, unable to bear Colin’s abuse, and even the nanny who spoke up for her was fired. The servants found the neglected daughter a nuisance. They had nothing to gain by taking good care of her, so they opted to neglect her.

Tristan, her only source of warmth in those difficult times, had become the most precious thing in her life. He continued to “mediate” through her courtship with Gaspar. No matter how much she loved Gaspar, there were times when he hurt her feelings and she began to harbor doubts about him.

But in those moments, Tristan always stepped in to help them reconcile.

Like today.

“Yvona. Lord Gaspar granted me a title and land. When the Emperor asked him what he wanted, he requested this for me. No man cares for his in-laws like this. You will never find another man like him.”

The fact that Yvona was summoning beasts as Gaspar’s shadow was meant to be a secret between the two of them, even from Tristan. But at some point, Tristan must have known.

Yvona was a little disappointed that Gaspar did not ask for her permission before revealing this secret, but his subsequent excuses put her at ease: Tristan and Gaspar knew each other long before they were engaged. He was able to get close to her from the start because Tristan spoke so fondly of her.

“Now, if you’re done pouting, keep working hard on your summoning arts. Even if no one knows, you have the honor of serving your country. So don’t slack off, okay?”

And here Tristan was now as he chided her.

“Uncle is just worried about your argument with Lord Gaspar. Don’t get angry. Let’s talk this through.”

A thought suddenly occurred to Yvona. Did Tristan come up with the idea to use her in their plan?

She had seen the end of her life. Gaspar was concerned that Tristan was overcome with guilt for using his own cousin for his gain. Besides, Gaspar was a selfish, hotheaded man, perhaps not clever enough to concoct the scheme to use Yvona.

“He is very angry. He said you wouldn’t even come to apologize. As you know, Lord Gaspar has a strong personality, whereas you’re easygoing. You need to be more accommodating. This is the longest fight you’ve had. I’m worried he’ll turn his back on you.”