The Duke's Eccentric Lady

The Heartbroken Woes

"I am having a word with the Crown Prince after this to talk about the lousy performance of the Royal Knights," Duke Grahams murmured in an annoyed voice after they had assigned a knight to properly make a report of what the both of them had found before. Realizing that a lot of the evidence was missed is a sign that the knights didn't thoroughly check the room. "I thought I could trust them to do such a task, but it seemed that the foolish Captain Gunther had told them to stand off due to the bribes he received."

"Is this why you decided to take cases into your own hands and received that infamous 'Duke of Crime' title? Because this kind of thing happened between the knights?" Fiona asked as she followed him out of the Crystal Hall.

"One of the reasons, yes. But the main one was…" He looked around, there were still some knights on the compound. "... I'll continue this conversation after we are inside the carriage."

He led her back inside the carriage, though didn't follow suit immediately as he conveyed several words to the coachman first. Fiona drummed her fingers against her lap while waiting for him to emerge.

Once the Duke already joined her inside, she raised both of her eyebrows, asking him to continue what he was about to say.

"I took this matter into my own hands because I felt like there were too many members of the Noble Parliament who often felt like they were above the law," the Duke explained to her while letting out an exasperated sigh. "They thought they were untouchable due to their status, committing crimes without any semblance of regret whatsoever."

"Ah, I see. So that is why you took cases where the main culprits seemed to be the nobles?" She inquired further.

"Exactly. I know some people must've thought I was naive, but when I inherited this position as a Duke, being enlightened by how the nobles behaved infuriated me.

"And then I realized that my status was higher than most of them. Only the Royal Family was above me and there were only two other dukedom families. I enjoyed a close relationship with the Crown Prince ever since we were children, it was easy for me to talk to him about this matter. Soon enough, I was granted this authority to investigate crimes committed by the Noble Parliament members. Of course, while taking care of my territory as well."

Fiona was amazed by him. His dedication to purging crimes by people who thought were above the law is truly admirable. He used his position to create a change in the kingdom, even though at the expense of his own reputation.

"So, I take it that you do not only solve murder?"

"Murder, briberies, embezzlement—Anything I can solve, I shall solve them." Though, his face then became slightly grim. "I have to begrudgingly admit that not every crime was touched by my hands. Some hid their tracks excellently."

Of course. Even in her previous world where the law enforcement had greatly improved, there were still several crimes that were left unsolved. She wasn't surprised if it was the case in this kingdom as well.

Some things aren't meant to be uncovered.

"Back to this case," Duke Grahams continued. "Let us talk about Lady Davenport. Since we now know that she was most likely murdered by a man, how well do you know about the men that surround her life?"

Fiona sighed heavily, her memory of Lady Davenport wasn't exactly pleasant. "Well, I am sure that my feud with her was infamous because… she flirted with my fiancee," she started. For a brief while, she was able to see a hint of pity from the Duke's gaze. "I wasn't too close with her, but I do have heard rumors that she was a debauched lady. To talk about the men around her… I'm sure there were a lot of them. Each with their own motives for murder."

"Can you specify some of them? I'm afraid I do not exactly follow rumors," he asked further.

Fiona rubbed her chin as she remembered the rumors surrounding Lady Davenport as objectively as she could.

"If I remember correctly, there was Viscount Lloyd du Thompson," Fiona said. "She promised him that she would marry him, humoring him after the premature death of his previous wife. But after the Viscount had given her a diamond-studded ring—just as she asked for—Lady Davenport soon dumped him. All while keeping the ring to herself. I'd say that is a good motive for murder."

"Good. We'll add him to the list of possible suspects. Anyone else?"

"I think… Lord Santiago. The son of the Santiago Marquisate. Another man she seduced and dumped afterward. The scandal she had with him was infamous since he spent a lot of fortune on her. She would bring him to luxurious shopping districts and ask him to buy everything in her sight. Which he obliged, only to be dumped as well by her."

"I see. That's unfortunate for the lord, but it does give him a motive."

"There were a lot of other men that she flirted with, but I guess those two were the ones with the strongest motives," Fiona explained to him.

"Anyone else? Maybe someone with other motives other than being the victim of her greed and sweet lips?" The Duke asked.

"Hmm… Let me think," she mused. "Oh! This one is not related to her flirtatiousness, but I think it is also a strong motif. Baron Carter. Two years ago, Lady Davenport threw a tantrum because she claimed that the staff at Baron Carter's clothing shop were rude to her.

"It was unknown whether it was true or not, but her father took her complaints seriously and retaliated in the worst way possible. He built a more extravagant clothing shop next to the Baron's and influenced the other noble ladies to shop there instead. It made the Baron's shop bankrupt, rumor has it that he still held a grudge against Lady Davenport that his business was ruined due to her tantrums."

Duke Grahams sighed, "It was unfortunate that I couldn't arrest nobles like her for improper acts." Fiona stifled a giggle hearing that the Duke implied how improper she was as a lady. "Nonetheless, we shall pursue those three as suspects, then. I want you to accompany me during the interviews, Lady Coventry. If one of them did frame you, perhaps we can catch some… interesting reactions out of them."

"It would be my pleasure to assist you, Your Grace," Fiona replied with a smile. She was still incredibly pissed at whoever dumped the crime at her, so of course, she wanted to question them herself.

"Excellent. But first, we may have to stop by and talk to someone. I should warn you, this someone may bring discomfort to you."

The black-haired woman blinked several times. "May I ask who, Your Grace?"

Duke Grahams stared at her with uncertainty in his eyes, as if he was feeling guilty towards her. "... I wanted to have a word with Lord Oscar du Anderton."

Hearing that name, it was as if thunder clapped behind her ears. Fiona averted her gaze and looked down at her lap in order to hide her conflicted feelings. She still remembered how devastated Oscar was when he saw Lady Davenport's corpse, weeping as if he lost the love of his life. All while abandoning her, his own fiance.

Fiona Campbell may not have any feelings for him, but Fiona de la Coventry took the engagement very seriously. Her memories were mixed inside, brewing a storm inside her mind.

The Duke cleared his throat awkwardly. "You said the last thing you remembered was Lord Anderton walking together with Lady Davenport. That was why you followed after them, wasn't it? Then I have to ask him a few questions, maybe he saw something out of the ordinary."

"I understand," Fiona answered in a cracked voice.

"Lady Coventry," he called out. His gentle voice made her raise her head and gazed at him. She was stunned by how his usually serious expression had become tender, staring at her with concern. "You do not have to come with me if meeting Lord Anderton will hurt you. I saw what happened that night. I shall drop you off in a nearby restaurant if you are uncomfortable."

Fiona thought about his offer, then gave him a sad smile. "Thank you for your consideration, Your Grace. But… this is something I needed to face as well. I needed to hear things from him. I've been running away far too long, acting as if I didn't see the love in his eyes for Lady Davenport. It is time that I face it."

Duke Grahams nodded and decided not to push further. If she wanted to come along, so be it.

Soon enough, their carriage stopped in front of the gates of a grand flower garden. The magnificent communal flower garden was where nobles would often take leisure walks and even host tea times and other outdoor events.

This was also the place where they said Oscar du Anderton frequented after Lady Davenport's death. As it was the place where they first met.

Duke Grahams helped her get down off the carriage like before, though this time, he didn't offer his arm to escort her. He was slightly afraid that if someone were to see Lady Coventry linking arms with him while meeting Lord Anderton, foul rumors about her would circulate.

They walked inside and arrived at one of the gazebos inside, where Lord Anderton was leaning against one of the stone pillars, obviously brooding as he tried to admire the flowers alone. Though, his face contorted into surprise and hatred when Fiona walked into his line of sight.

"You…!" Oscar clamored at her. Fiona halted her steps and was taken aback to hear how hostile his tone was against her. "How dare you come to this place?! After you killed her?! Are you trying to sully the place where she and I—"

His words were cut off when Duke Grahams shifted his steps and shielded Fiona from his accusing words. The Duke's eyes were glaring sternly at him, and since his figure was slightly taller than Oscar, it was easy for him to intimidate the latter.

"Mind your attitude, Lord Anderton," the Duke said. "Lady Coventry is still your fiance. You should be more courtful to her, or did your parents not teach you manners?"

"But Lady Coventry was the one who killed Victorique!"

"For your information, Duke Grahams had helped me clear my innocence, Oscar," Fiona finally gathered the courage to speak up. Her eyebrows were knitted together. Years ago he would call her given name with endearment. Yet now, his love for Lady Davenport had made him abandon even the most basic of manners. "I am here to accompany His Grace to ask you a few questions regarding what happened that night."

Oscar clicked his tongue before folding his hands together in front of his chest and looking away from her. Fiona wondered if he truly hated her that much.

"Let's get this wrapped up quickly, and then both of us won't bother you anymore," Duke Grahams said as he cleared his throat, obviously not wanting to let the situation escalate further. "Lady Coventry was objected into a situation where she had lost a part of her memories as the murder occurred. We were hoping that your testimonies would straighten our understanding of what happened."

"Testimonies about what, Your Grace?" He scoffed. But judging by how Oscar still called the Duke by his title, it seemed that he was slightly intimidated by Duke Grahams.

"The last thing I remembered was following you and Lady Davenport as you were making your way to the salon," Fiona continued. "What exactly happened after that moment, Oscar?"

"What happened was that I escorted Victorique to the salon because she was feeling faint," he explained. "We had a little chat on the way, but I left her there since she said she wanted some time alone. So I did, I only dropped her by the door and left to join my dear friend, Lord Matthew du Armstrong. However, I never knew that Lady Coventry was with her inside the salon until… Victorique's body was discovered."

After he had finished his sentence, Oscar glared at Fiona again.

"What were you doing following us anyways?" Oscar asked her in an offended tone.

"What…?" She stuttered out, surprised that he even asked such a question. "I am your fiance, Oscar. Of course, I would be concerned to see you waltzing around with Lady Davenport into a private room such as an empty salon. What kind of lady would appreciate her fiance courting another woman?"

"Oh, right. Fiance. Yet, you did not ever even make the effort to create our relationship into something special like how Lady Davenport touched my heart!"

As if an arrow was stabbed into her chest. All these times, even as Oscar blatantly committed an affair in front of her eyes, at the very least he never omitted it in words. And now, Fiona was hearing directly how much Oscar loved Lady Davenport compared to her.

"Lord Anderton, that was very uncouth of you—" Duke Grahams tried to interfere since he was shocked to hear that as well, but his words were cut off by Fiona's meltdown.

"Then why did you even propose to me if you are going to have an affair with another woman anyway?!" She demanded towards Oscar with a raised voice.

"I did it only to honor the promise my father made to your late father before Count Coventry died," Oscar answered bitterly. "I did it because back then I didn't know what love truly is inside of my heart. But it was then obvious how inferior you are compared to Lady Davenport that you cannot even make me feel like a true man."

"Lord Anderton!" Duke Grahams chastised Oscar for saying such things in front of his own fiance.

Fiona was stunned and exasperated. Her mouth was slightly agape and her eyes were teary hearing that. She knew that their engagement was political, their relationship in the past was merely that of childhood friends. Yet, she cannot believe that he would betray her and shatter her heart into pieces, after everything that Fiona de la Coventry had done to preserve their engagement and dignity.

"... It was not my responsibility to make you feel like a 'true man', Lord Anderton," Fiona said with a firm voice despite the tear that ran down her left cheek. She even refused to call him Oscar anymore. Unable to contain her emotion any longer, Fiona turned around and walked ahead towards the garden's gates.

As she walked away, Duke Grahams stared at her sorrowful back with woe in his gaze. No one should be subjected to such humiliating words. When he turned around towards Oscar, his eyes had become cold as a winter's frost. It intimidated the other male.

"At first, I tried not to interfere because this was Lady Coventry's matters," the Duke started with a hissed voice. "But as this conversation continued, I am now able to see how pathetic you are as a man, Lord Anderton. You did not even have the guts to officially end the engagement, yet you committed an affair in front of your betrothed. To top it off, you had the audacity to blame your infidelity on Lady Coventry."

Oscar didn't reply and merely averted his gaze, unable to bear the Duke's cold eyes.

Duke Grahams continued between gritted teeth, "I shall solve the mystery behind Lady Davenport's murder. But for the sake of justice, not for the sake of your heart, Lord Anderton. After this, I hope you will have enough courage to officially end the engagement between you and Lady Coventry. A man like you doesn't deserve a brilliant woman like her."

After he had said that, Duke Grahams finally turned away and chased after Fiona.

The black-haired woman, on the other hand, couldn't hold back her tears and sobs anymore. She was desperately trying to wipe off her flowing tears with the back of her hands as she walked slowly towards the exit. Fiona stopped when a hand was extended towards her, handing her a familiar handkerchief with a familiar scent of roses.

She looked up to see Duke Grahams handing her his handkerchief while gazing at her with gentle forlorn.

"Your tears are too precious to waste on that deplorable man, Lady Coventry," he said in a soft whisper.

Fiona sniffed as she accepted the handkerchief, just like that night when she bawled at him about how she didn't want to die. At first, she was able to compose herself and wiped her tears with the handkerchief. After a couple of seconds, she couldn't take it anymore and abruptly hugged the Duke.

She didn't care if it was improper, she needed comfort right now.

Duke Grahams stiffened upon receiving the hug. Yet, he awkwardly raised his hands and softly embraced her back. He didn't know what to do, so he merely stayed like that, hoping that it was enough to calm Fiona down.

'The scent of rose perfumes from the Duke's clothes… It's very soothing…'