With a face of terrifying beauty filled only with emptiness, she walked with unsteady steps as though searching for something.
She looked as though she might scatter into smoke at any moment.
No one who witnessed such a pitiful sight could fail to feel sympathy.
Yet regardless of the servants' growing pity for the Grand Duchess, the retainers' dissatisfaction seemed only to increase day by day.
"Is the Grand Duchess still the same?"
Brisa, carrying a basket of laundry through the corridor, hastily lowered her head when she spotted Daren Dru Siorcan climbing the stairs.
Leading several knights, the man strode toward her and demanded,
"I asked about Her Highness the Grand Duchess's condition."
"Y-Your Highness is... currently taking her medicine and resting."
Though she knew perfectly well that he was asking about the Grand Duchess's state of mind, Brisa deliberately pretended to misunderstand.
After watching her silently with a cold gaze for a moment, the man let out a heavy sigh and held out a rolled parchment sealed with red wax.
"Deliver this to His Grace the Grand Duke."
Brisa quickly set the laundry basket on the floor and accepted it with both hands.
As though his business with her had ended, the man immediately continued upstairs.
Watching his retreating back for a brief moment, Brisa turned toward the Grand Duke's bedchamber to carry out the unexpected errand that had been thrust upon her.
"Your Grace, may I come in?"
She knocked cautiously.
Permission came almost immediately.
Careful not to make a sound, Brisa stepped into the dim bedchamber.
The Grand Duke was changing clothes that had been left in disarray while restraining another of his wife's violent episodes.
Rolling up the sleeves of a black velvet tunic, the man cast an indifferent glance over his shoulder.
"What is it?"
"As I was passing through the corridor... I was ordered to deliver this to Your Grace..."
Bowing respectfully, Brisa held out the sealed parchment.
The man accepted it, broke the wax seal, and unfolded it.
Brisa immediately realized that whatever was written there displeased the Grand Duke immensely.
His brows drew tightly together as his eyes raced over the contents.
Then he crushed the parchment in his hand and threw it into the fireplace.
A cold voice echoed through the room.
"I will be away for a short while. Do not take your eyes off her."