My Lady Chef
Chapter 109: Her Reputation is My Reputation- Part 1

Margaret's POV:

There were two rules that every lover of Duke Aisenburg knows.

One. Do not ever fall in love with him.

Two. Never do anything to taint his reputation.

Before I tried to pursue him, I looked into his long list of assignations and found out that several women have suffered at his hands when they tried to shackle the duke to them by means of deceit and lies.

As a result, their families were either bankrupt or the said families were forced to exile their daughters to another country or convent to save face to prevent the duke's wrath from wiping their family off the face of the world.

I have tried to appeal to him through gentler means like showing him I was helpful when I visited him in Guthrie. I had hoped that the generous gesture would coax him back into my arms and I could slowly seduce him...

And taste his delicious body again...

Yes. I am drunk on Ezran's way of making love. No past lover of mine had been able to make me come like the way he does. He may be stoic and serious but in the bedroom, he was masterful and knows just how to touch a woman and bring her pleasure.

Before I knew it. I wanted more of him. Oh, I love the power and prestige that would have come with being the Duchess of Aisenburg but having a handsome and virile husband who can pleasure me every night was so much better. So much more that I genuinely tried to please him in many ways and hope he would consider me as a bride.

And I thought he would waver but then he met "her".

Alaina Beaucamp. the little witch who managed to attain everything I wanted.

So I hatched a plan to discredit the stupid girl the moment my plan to seduce Ezran in Guthrie failed.

I sought the First Princess who was also displeased that the Duke cast her aside as a marriage candidate when he took a wife. She was a proud woman and I am sure she was more offended out of pride than love for Ezran.

Thus we had a common goal. Mine was to taint the Duchess' name so much that the Duke would be disgusted with her and demand a divorce while making her suffer socially and mentally which would be more than enough to assuage the princess' wounded self-esteem from being rejected.

And it had been working out so well.

I had provided a few lies mixed with facts for the Princess to gossip over to her ladies in waiting, who in turn told the sordid tales to their peers. And of course, the gossip soon found its way to the hired help and the rumors soon spread like wildfire.

Gossip often take a mind of its own and with every retelling, The Duchess of Aisenburg will soon become a social pariah and I am sure once the Princess opens her royal mouth to spit out the poisonous lies. It will be all over for her.

Maybe I could be the one to nurse the duke's wounded reputation when he packs her off to whatever border territory she hails from.

Oh just imagining it made me feel good as I sipped my champagne flute.

Hmmm...the vintage was pretty good.

The parties that were organized in the Princess Palace were always good and the food and sweets were especially exquisite and delicious as well. I am sure one of Princess Miranda's ladies did the party planning for this as everything from the wine, food, and desserts were rather flawless.

Just then a servant announced a few more ladies and even Lady Baristani, whose status as the daughter of a lowly baron made me frown.

This is a royal function! No lady belonging to a baron house is supposed to be in attendance.

"Who invited you to this important party? Guards! Take this one away." Princess Miranda already took action as soon as she saw Lady Baristani as her voice made two palace guards surround her. The girl did not even look nervous.

"Dear Sister. Do forgive me but she is my guest." Princess Anneal suddenly intervened and placed a hand on the lady's shoulder.

Princess Miranda's piercing glare was enough to send any weak-minded lady running but the younger princess looked strangely composed.

"Sister." she all but spat out the endearment like venom. "It is disappointing enough that you don't know your place as the last born princess but to lower your standards and befriend a....baron's daughter. What would the others say?"

I saw the younger princess grow pale and her hands trembled. I laughed at her feeble attempts to be strong.

No one can go against the Mistress of the Princess Palace after all.

"Dear sweet Anneal. If you know what I mean then please send your "friend" on her way. This is a royal party. My royal party. Not just some common festival any lower nobility or peasant can enter. Please show her out of the garden party immediately since you invited her here." the princess smirked, confident that her sheep of a sister will follow her.

I chuckled, thinking that the youngest would run away or drag Lady Baristani out.

But just then....

"The Duke and Duchess Aisenburg!" the servant announced the ducal couple that everyone into a frenzy of murmurs and whispers.

Miranda and I on the other hand smiled at each other. The new lies of the duchess is currently spreading around the ladies at this party.

{The duchess, who did not want her reputation to be stained, blackmailed her generous and kind husband, the duke to host the most lavish festival and parade to save her honor as a noble lady.}

Since everyone lady in Illios is aware of how the duke detested frivolous wastage of money, the gossip should be credible enough....

As the couple entered the garden, My greedy eyes found Ezran who was looking so handsome and sexy in his black tuxedo and red cravat until...

something suddenly felt wrong...

That bitch Mrs. Yates reported to me that the duchess and duke left wearing red and black ensembles to match each but why are they both wearing formal clothes. Most specifically why is the duchess hearing a white gown and carrying a bouquet?

When a woman wears a formal white gown and has a flower bouquet. It meant only one thing....

I stood up so fast that my champagne glass tipped over and drenched the fine table cloth but I was frantic as I looked at the First Princess, who was equally shocked.

Just what is going on here?☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐☐