Chapter 146: Chapter 146: A Sense of Madness

Watching Lu Xia leave, Cecil put down his cutlery and said, "What does the Duke mean by that? Is she trying to keep us from worrying?"

Smelian was silent for a moment before saying, "Xiaxia must truly believe that Graces is not in any danger."

"Are you sure she’s not just pretending to be calm?" Cecil remained skeptical. "I’ve never met anyone who could think so rationally under these circumstances."

Smelian glanced at him. "Xiaxia isn’t an ordinary person."

Hearing this, for the first time, Cecil didn’t argue back.

Over the past few days, he had sensed that Duke Lu Xia was different from everyone else, which was precisely why he held his tongue. Smelian had spent more time with the Duke and knew her better. Cecil decided to trust him. "You’d better be right."

Smelian didn’t respond, simply picking up his glass and taking a sip of water.

Cecil spoke again. "Graces is missing. His whereabouts are unknown, and we have no idea if he’ll ever come back. What are you thinking?"

Smelian looked at him in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Cecil raised an eyebrow. "Isn’t this the perfect opportunity for you to make your move? You’ve already earned Duke Lu Xia’s favor. One more step and you could be a secondary husband. If Graces really is gone for good this time, then the position of main husband is also up for grabs, isn’t it?"

Smelian looked at him and said with a sigh, "You certainly think about these things a lot. If you’re so interested in those two positions, feel free to pursue them yourself. For me, just being by Xiaxia’s side is enough."

Cecil sneered. He didn’t believe Smelian was as selfless as he claimed. Every male coveted the positions beside their Female Master.

Faced with Cecil’s skepticism, Smelian offered no further explanation. What he’d said wasn’t the entire truth, but he truly wasn’t in the mood to think about such things right now. He was far more concerned with Duke Lu Xia’s state of mind.

Not lingering at the dining table, Smelian rose and went to the kitchen. He sliced some fruit, brewed a cup of black tea, and carried the tray upstairs to Lu Xia.

’Smelian really takes every single opportunity to ingratiate himself with Duke Lu Xia,’ Cecil thought, freezing for a second before giving a slight raise of his eyebrow.

’He says he doesn’t care, but his actions are certainly honest.’ Cecil’s lips curled into a sarcastic smile as he turned and left the dining room.

Lu Xia was in her study, not doing anything in particular. She reviewed all her past communications with Graces and recalled his strange behavior recently. ’My suspicions were correct,’ she thought, confirming it for herself yet again. ’Graces was hiding something from me. Perhaps he wasn’t taken—perhaps he left of his own accord. If he left willingly, could he be connected to the rebels?’

Just as she was pondering this, a knock came at the study door. Smelian entered with a tray. "Have some fruit, Xiaxia."

Lu Xia knew Smelian was worried about her, and her heart softened for a moment. "Smelian, I’m really all right. You don’t have to worry."

Smelian studied her. Lu Xia’s expression was calm, showing no signs that she was lying just to comfort him.

Smelian nodded. "I understand, Xiaxia. If there is anything I can do, please just ask. I want to be able to help you during a time like this."

"Okay, I will." Lu Xia didn’t refuse. She smiled, picked up the black tea he had brought, and took a sip. "I’m preparing to see Her Majesty Queen. This business with Lady Dain cannot be forgotten."

"Do you need me to accompany you?"

"No, Smelian. It’s better if I go by myself for this."

’After all, Her Majesty is so concerned with keeping up appearances.’

Smelian nodded. "Just let me know if you need anything."

The news of Graces’s disappearance was kept under tight wraps, but whispers had already started to circulate among the elite.

Duke Leslie hadn’t been out much lately. For one, she was worried about Graces’s disappearance. For another, she found the looks of pity she received unbearable.

The more she had been envied before, the more people were now waiting to gloat over her misfortune.

It was a stark contrast she had no desire to experience.

So she had been staying home, waiting for news. But while no news came, Hugheska did, returning from Xiongde Academy.

When the old butler informed her that Hugheska was back, Duke Leslie was taken aback for a moment. It had been so long she had almost forgotten she had a son.

Hugheska entered from outside. His months at Xiongde Academy had left him looking much thinner and far more somber. Standing before Duke Leslie, he lacked his former arrogance and willfulness, appearing much more docile than before.

Duke Leslie shot him a glance. The thought of how he’d been abandoned by Mandela, losing the position of main husband and making her the laughingstock of her circle, brought a look of disgust to her eyes. ’Why couldn’t Hugheska be as promising as Graces?’ she couldn’t help but wonder.

’Hugheska had started with so many more advantages and should have had a much brighter future, yet now he was nothing.’

Suppressing her irritation, she said, "Since you’re back, rest at home for a while. I will arrange some matchmaking for you later. I hope you’ll have learned your lesson this time."

Hearing Duke Leslie’s words, Hugheska replied obediently, "Of course. It’s all up to you, Mother."

Seeing him so compliant, Duke Leslie couldn’t help but take a second look, thinking that perhaps those few months of instruction at Xiongde Academy had been effective after all.

When she spoke again, her tone had softened considerably. "If you had been this obedient from the start, you wouldn’t have been abandoned by Mandela. Now, that’s enough. You may go, I’m tired."

She waved her hand, gesturing for Hugheska to leave at once.

Hugheska followed the old butler out. On the way to his room, he asked, "Is Graces really missing?"

The old butler started, hesitating on how to answer, but Hugheska simply continued, his tone dripping with sarcasm, "Mother must be so worried. Such an outstanding male, to just vanish into the sea of stars... Why, anyone would be heartbroken."

The old butler heard the mockery in Hugheska’s voice and dared not respond, simply lowering his head in silence.

It was as if Hugheska needed no response. He sneered, "I wonder what kind of Female Master Mother will arrange for me this time? It’s just a pity... without Graces, who else can bring her such prestige? That fall from grace must be hard to swallow."

Hugheska’s tone was breezy as he spoke, as if he was delighted by this turn of events. The old butler escorted him all the way to his room. As he turned to leave, he surreptitiously wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. He could clearly sense it: Hugheska had changed a great deal since returning from Xiongde Academy. There was an unhinged quality to him now. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

If before he had merely been willful, now a dark gloominess clung to him from head to toe. The butler had no idea what he had gone through at Xiongde Academy, but he’d heard that most males who graduated from there were... never quite right again. ’I hope Hugheska doesn’t do anything drastic and anger Duke Leslie,’ he thought.

He knew full well that if there was a next time, Duke Leslie would show Hugheska no mercy. The Duke had completely lost patience with him. Or perhaps, it was more accurate to say that Hugheska had lost all his value to the Leslie Duke Mansion.