That morning, Duke Leslie received two notices from the Government Affairs Hall. The first was the news that Graces had become Duke Lu Xia’s main husband. It was a dream come true. If not for the need to maintain her dignity, Duke Leslie would have jumped for joy.

But the next notice was not nearly as pleasant. Her other "precious" son, Hugheska, had been stripped of his status as main husband, and his relationship with Mandela had been dissolved. He had been cast out by his Female Master!

Duke Leslie felt her vision go black, and she nearly fainted. The Leslie Duke Mansion had stood in the Empire for so many years, and never before had a male from their family been cast out. Hugheska had actually been driven out by his Female Master.

’She couldn’t understand how she had ended up with such a disgraceful male. She had given him far more resources than Graces, single-handedly elevating him to the position of main husband. And this was how he repaid her?’

’Once this news spread, what would people think of the Leslie Duke Mansion? What would they think of *her*?’

’Thankfully, Graces had made her proud. Thankfully, there were no other males in the family currently seeking a Female Master. Otherwise, Hugheska alone could have ruined the prospects for all of them.’

’Only males of poor character were cast out by their Female Masters, and Hugheska had been cast out from the position of *main husband*, no less!’

At this point, the incident had soured her mood so much that she couldn’t even feel happy about Graces becoming a main husband.

She couldn’t stand it for another second. She had to find out what exactly had happened!

When she contacted Mandela, the other party answered her voice call almost immediately. "Duke Leslie, I assume you’re calling me about Hugheska?"

"What unforgivable mistake did Hugheska commit that you had to dismiss him?"

"It wasn’t a major transgression, really. Hugheska is just a bit too jealous, but I’m no longer willing to tolerate it. I don’t even want to see him again. So, Duke Leslie, I’m very sorry, but I can’t keep Hugheska by my side any longer. I think he might have a better life away from me. Oh, by the way, I ran into Duke Lu Xia and Graces at the Government Affairs Hall today. Congratulations to you, Graces has become a main husband."

Duke Leslie was stunned. ’They actually ran into each other!’

After seeing the outstanding Graces, it was suddenly understandable why Mandela would choose to abandon Hugheska.

Even as his mother, she couldn’t help but be shocked by Graces’s transformation.

She couldn’t even recall if Graces had always been this outstanding, or if he had only started shining so brightly after getting together with Lu Xia.

’The truth was, she had paid far too little attention to Graces in the past.’

’The male she had considered the most disappointing had turned out to be the one who brought the most honor to the family.’

"Regardless, you should have informed me beforehand instead of unilaterally deciding Hugheska’s fate."

"I am very sorry, Duke Leslie." With the relationship already dissolved, Mandela didn’t particularly care what Duke Leslie had to say.

Duke Leslie, of course, was well aware that what was done was done. There was no room for negotiation. She was merely voicing her displeasure; it was impossible for her to actually do anything about it.

If she were to press the issue, Mandela had done nothing wrong. She was simply exercising her rights as a Female Master.

After the call ended, Hugheska, prompted by the old butler, walked in.

He looked completely dejected, as if he still hadn’t recovered from the blow. The moment he saw Duke Leslie, his eyes reddened. "Mother, please help me! What am I going to do now!"

"What to do? How should I know what to do? I wish someone would tell *me* what to do! As a male, Graces started with less than you, yet now he’s managed to climb from a mere husband to the position of main husband. And then there’s you! You managed to lose your perfectly good position as main husband. How did I end up with such a worthless son!"

"Mother, I didn’t want this to happen! Mandela was always bringing other husbands home. She never even came to my room and completely ignored me. I was upset, so I lost my temper with her. I just wanted to get her attention! I never thought she would end our relationship so decisively... oh, no, that’s not it. It was after she met Graces that she wanted to end things with me completely! At first, she only wanted to demote me to a secondary husband!"

"And is being demoted from main husband to secondary husband something to be proud of?! Stop trying to drag Graces into this. Anyone would abandon you after seeing how outstanding Graces is. Right now, you’re not even worthy of being compared to him! I don’t know what I did to deserve such a disgraceful male. I have clearly failed to raise you properly, so you can no longer stay here. I’m enrolling you in Xiongde Academy. Go there for remedial studies. Perhaps when you get out, you can find another Female Master. It’ll be impossible to become a main husband again, of course. You’ll be lucky if anyone wants you at all! Butler, take him to his room. Get him out of my sight!" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Duke Leslie looked like she had a splitting headache, unable to bear the sight of Hugheska for another second.

Hugheska, his face a mask of despair, didn’t dare to say or do anything else. His usual arrogant air was completely gone.

Lu Xia was oblivious to all that was happening at the Leslie Duke Mansion. After parting ways with Graces, she returned to the No.2 Institute and ordered a double-layer cake to be delivered to her home.

Although it was just a small, private get-together that evening, Lu Xia had no intention of being careless with the preparations.

After Graces returned to the military district, Admiral Snop called him into his office immediately. "What were you up to this morning? You took leave so suddenly," the admiral said the moment he saw him.

"I went to the Government Affairs Hall."

"What for? Wasn’t your status information already updated?" Admiral Snop asked, looking puzzled.

"Yes. My relationship with Xiaxia has changed. I’m her main husband now." Graces said it so naturally, as if it were a simple, casual answer to a mundane question.

Admiral Snop stared at Graces, who had just dropped this bombshell with a completely straight face. ’He’s showing off,’ the admiral thought. ’He has to be. This is definitely him showing off!’

"Well, congratulations?"

"Thank you," Graces accepted, as if he had been waiting for the congratulations all along.

Admiral Snop paused. "...You’ll be holding a public banquet, I assume? When is it? Remember to send me an invitation."

"I will." After replying, Graces looked at Admiral Snop. "Was there something you needed me for?"

"Oh, right. The Commander has scheduled an inspection visit to the First Military District. I want you to be in charge of hosting them. Think you can handle it?"

"Why me? Wouldn’t you be more suitable?"

"You can’t figure it out? Look how old I am. How many more years can I stay in this position? I want to hand the First Military District over to you before I retire. Don’t you need to make an impression on the Commander? How can you not understand something so simple?"

"I just think you’re still young."