How To End This Marriage-Chapter 106: Deceptive Ledgers

"Madam, I don’t think you should be stubborn. Let me bring some food for you," the same maid repeatedly implored, attempting to follow me to my room. But I stopped her at the entrance.

"I said there’s no need."

"You don’t have to do anything."

"I don’t require anything," I reiterated.

"Didn’t you see the consequences of yesterday? Do you want to face that as well? Do you want to go through that and get slapped by your master? You mustn’t want that. So please don’t do something that will harm you," I pleaded, my voice filled with desperation.

I could see the furrowed expression on her face, but I felt helpless too. I was already caught up in this situation. I didn’t want anyone else to be drawn into this further.

I locked the door in her face, but soon, I heard a knock on my door. I got up and walked toward the door to open it. The duchess rushed into the room and threw the ledgers at my face, causing my nose to bleed once again.

"M-mother, what are you?" I stammered while trying to stop the bleeding.

"Yes, I should be the one asking this. What are you doing? I gave you a simple task, and you can’t even do it properly? Are you an idiot? Your father didn’t teach you to do such simple tasks?" She insulted father once again, making me bite my lip to keep from saying anything.

"What have I done, mother? I don’t understand," I still tried to reason.

She grabbed my hair tightly, pulling me toward the ledgers. I yelped in pain, but there was no one here to stop her and save me.

"See what you’ve done? Bloodstains? Do you want to tell everyone that I’m torturing you? Do you want Alex to see this? Do you want to tell him? Ha, I didn’t know you were such a smart girl. You’re doing everything to make me look bad and turn me against my own son. Ha, I underestimated you," she said while gripping my hair, making me scream in pain.

"M-mother, let me go. I didn’t do anything. It’s not the way you’re thinking. I could never do such things. I swear," I begged, but it was in vain. She threw me harshly onto the ledgers, leaving marks all over my body.

"Consider this a warning. Don’t play smart with me. Correct everything as I’ve instructed. I don’t care how you manage it, but the ledgers need to look exactly as they did before. You can replace them with new ones, but their appearance must remain the same. If there’s anything else, you’ll see what I’ll do to you," she threatened before glaring at me and leaving, slamming the door behind her.

I struggled once more to stop the bleeding. It took a while, but it finally ceased, allowing me to return to the ledgers. However, another knock on my door made me jump. I quickly gathered the ledgers from the floor, even though my dress got dirty. I hid them as fast as I could before opening the door.

"Duke? Why are you here?" I asked.

"I came to speak with you," he said, entering my room. However, I was more afraid that he might discover the ledgers, and the duchess would also find out.

"What’s with all the dirt? Didn’t the cleaners come to the room to clean?" he asked, his eyes falling on the soiled floor.

"Ah, no. They did come. They cleaned everything, but it got dirty again, it was my fault. I’m rather clumsy, you see. While I was picking soil for the plants, some accidentally fell here and there, and I forgot to clean it up. You must feel uncomfortable entering such a dirty room. We can go talk outside if it’s more convenient for you," I started making excuses.

"No, there is no need. I’m fine as it is," he said, sitting on the couch. However, I could feel his eyes wandering around, as if he were searching for something.

"Duke, do you need something?" I inquired.

"No, I was checking where the plants you purchased for decoration are. I couldn’t spot a single plant on the balcony," he remarked, catching me in my own lies.

"Oh, those! The maids came, saw them, and suggested I place them in the garden. They were concerned the plants might overgrow the balcony walls. Some varieties can be quite invasive, so I decided to heed their advice," I lied again.

"Oh, I see," he replied, but didn’t pursue the matter further. I stood there, waiting for him to speak.

"Wife, where were you last night?" he asked, causing me to clutch my dress nervously.

"Where was I? I was in the kitchen. Where else would I be, if not in this mansion?" I replied.

"No, I’m not referring to that. I want to know where you disappeared to after that. I came to your room, but you were nowhere to be found. I checked the garden, but you were absent there as well. I’d like to know where you were," he inquired, leaving me apprehensive about how to respond.

Could I reveal that I was inside the study room, given a task by your mother? Could I admit to being subjected to your mother’s torture? Could I confess that I am unable to eat due to her actions? Can I?

"Actually," I began, but was interrupted as the duchess suddenly burst into my room.

"Alex, there you are! I’ve been searching for you for quite some time," she exclaimed, casting me an odd look.

"What’s going on, mother? Why are you so out of breath?" he asked, rising from the couch.

"Alex, we need to go see the emperor," she declared, leaving me bewildered.

"Why all of a sudden?" I inquired.

"I’ve just received news that the princess is seriously ill, and we’ve been summoned to visit her," she explained.

"But, mother, the princess’s parents are already there. I’m not sure what more we can offer. I doubt they require our presence," the duke expressed.

"It’s essential. We are going, and that’s the end of the matter," she declared, ushering him out of my room.

"But shouldn’t the duchess accompany us?" he suggested.

"No, why should she go? What purpose would she serve by joining us? Who will manage the mansion in her absence? Isn’t that right, duchess?" she inquired, giving me a smile.

"Yes, I will attend to the mansion," I responded as they departed once more.

From my window, I observed them as they arranged themselves in the carriage. I yearned for even a single glance from my husband, but he remained aloof. Opening the curtains, I entered my room and gingerly placed the ledgers whose pages were nearly crumbling.

"Is there anyone here?" I inquired from inside.

"Yes, madam. Do you require anything?" the maid responded.

"Yes, could you bring new materials for the ledgers? They should neither look too old nor too new. I’ll manage them, so please retrieve whatever you find that hasn’t been used in a long time," I instructed.

In no time, the maid returned with a stack of ledger hardcovers and paper sets, arranging them in front of me.

"Where did you find these? I haven’t seen such a collection," I exclaimed, truly impressed by her efforts.

"They were all in the storeroom. I didn’t procure them from the primary storage; they were already designated for disposal. I brought them here. Some are old, and some are new. I hope this will facilitate your work," she explained, a warm smile gracing her face.

"Thank you," I murmured appreciatively.

"No, madam, no thanks are necessary. I’m just an illiterate maid. But you are educated and possess a wealth of knowledge. It pains my heart to see you being treated this way," she said, her brows knitted with concern.

"It’s alright. You can return to your tasks," I assured her. She left, and I commenced transcribing the budgets, meticulously replicating the handwriting from the old ledgers into the new ones. I aimed for precision, ensuring that no one could detect any variance, and I succeeded. The writing process was time-consuming, demanding an uninterrupted eight-hour effort to reach completion. Now, the challenge was to make the paper appear aged once more.

I lifted my coffee cup from the table, dipping a brush into the coffee and allowing it to flow over the paper, bestowing upon it a weathered, rusty, and old appearance.

"Now, no one can claim these aren’t old but new," I whispered to myself as I transformed each sheet into an entirely different entity. I didn’t pause; the entire night was devoted to preparing the ledgers without a single moment of rest, and the arrival of morning signaled that I had met the deadline for my work.

"Madam, let me clean up all the mess that has accumulated here. I don’t know what will happen if the mistress sees it otherwise," the maid said as she began to tidy up.