The wind is about to change

"You are right; I have been a hypocrite for many years. I turned a blind eye when I saw you maltreating Anastasia. I pretended to believe one silly excuse after another to keep her in the house whenever we were supposed to go out as a family. To fulfill my promise to your father, I did not step into her courtyard until her death. I pretended not to know that you treated my daughter as a maid, but this is beyond your control now. Anastasia is qualified to be a crown princess. In the King's words, 'Although her mother later became a mistress, her virtue is a testament for all to see. She willingly gave up her seat to become a Duchess when she realized she could not bear her husband an heir. A virtuous wife must think of her husband and his family. Lady Maureen did all this; surely, her daughter would be a virtuous wife.'"

Duke Thomason repeated the King's words to his wife.

The decision to marry Anastasia was made by the King. He did not get the chance to choose which daughter. Judging from the king's attitude, it was clear the King cared about Anastasia, not her family.

Duchess Anita felt like someone had slapped her in the face. She never thought, even in her wildest imagination, that the very thing she used to look down on Lady Maureen would become the reason her daughter would find favor with the King.

Duchess Anita had always thought Lady Maureen was foolish to give up her status as a Duchess just because she suffered complications during childbirth and could no longer bear children.

Who would have thought that years later, she, Anita would become the joke? In the past few years, she had found countless excuses to keep Anastasia from going out. She had also done her best to make Anastasia forgotten. After all, if she didn't appear in public, many would believe she was unpresentable. Anita knew Anastasia would be a great beauty if she were properly cared for, so she encouraged the teachers to neglect her. This way, Anastasia would never outshine her own daughter. Yet, despite all her efforts to ruin Anastasia, such a good marriage still fell into her lap.

"I will speak to my father. I'm sure he will find a way," Duchess Anita said, unwilling to give up.

"You will do no such thing. If you dare, you can take the divorce letter and return home," Duke Thomason threatened. For seventeen years, she had relied on threats. No man could stand his wife flaunting her family's power over him. Moreover, if his wife went to her father, everyone would know the decision to marry Anastasia was the King's choice, not his.

"You dare to divorce me?" Duchess Anita felt a chill in her heart. She had always known her husband was selfish, only thinking of himself, but she never thought the day would come when he would bring up divorce. In her mind, she believed she had been an excellent wife. She couldn't understand why he wasn't worried about Anastasia marrying the Crown Prince. After all, Anastasia was also his daughter. If she became Queen, it could mend their relationship. But as a biased stepmother, Anita expected revenge.

"The choice is yours," Duke Thomason said lazily. The Duchess felt that he was looking down on her.

"You think you can divorce me just because you want to? Let me tell you, it will never happen," the Duchess shot back.

"If you don't want it, then you'd better act accordingly. After all, how you've treated Anastasia in the past five years is enough grounds for divorce without tarnishing my reputation," the Duke reminded her, still unconcerned.

Once more, the Duchess was speechless. She had thought her husband was ignorant of how she ran the household all these years. It's turns out he had allowed her waiting for the perfect opportunity to use it against her.

"I expect you to do the right thing. Now, I have work to do," the Duke said, dismissing her.

The Duchess felt her whole body tremble. It was a slap to her face. Since marrying into the Duke's family, she had been the envy of many noblewomen. After all, she was a wife favored by her husband—a rarity, as most noblemen married for status and favored their mistresses instead.

Duchess Anita had always considered herself fortunate. She never expected the day her husband would make her a laughingstock.

How could she, a legal wife, have an unmarried daughter, yet the daughter of a mistress would become the Crown Princess?

Although she was dissatisfied with the discussion, she knew it was best to stop. If she couldn't convince her husband, she would find another way to steal the marriage.

The only lady from Duke Thomason's family who could marry the Crown Prince was her daughter.

"With your permission," she said, rising and swiftly walking toward the door.

"From this moment on, Anastasia must be treated as the daughter of a Duke. No more preparing spices for Elisabeth in the morning. Her meals will be sent three times a day. She is not allowed to fall sick; otherwise, I will sue you for food poisoning," Duke Thomason said as the Duchess approached the door.

He knew she wouldn't give up easily, so he decided to warn her.

When Duchess Anita heard this, her entire body shook. She didn't expect her husband to say those words. In his eyes, did he see her as a murderer? Although she mistreated Anastasia, she wasn't foolish enough to kill her, after all, she will be the prime suspect. It took all her willpower not to turn back and lash out at him. She knew her situation was already dire, and any mistake would only hand her head over for slaughter.

If the Duke found an excuse to lock her in the residence, it would bring her no benefit. The envy she had enjoyed for years would vanish. So she kept walking without saying a word.

Outside the door, Leah and Steward Muman remained silent. Although they couldn't hear the discussion, they caught the occasional raised voices from the study.

"What's going on?" Leah asked worriedly. She began to suspect the rumors might not be true.

"I don't know, but as someone from the same hometown, I advise you to return everything you've taken from Lady Anastasia. The wind is about to change in the Duke's residence," Steward Muman said. While he wasn't one to meddle in his master's affairs, he felt compelled to warn her. After all, they were both servants. Despite disagreeing with her actions, he extended her this kindness for old time's sake.

Leah opened her mouth to ask more questions, but the study door opened. Duchess Anita walked out with a composed face. She looked calm, giving no hint of the argument that had just taken place.

Leah trembled. Knowing her master well, she could tell the Duchess was in a foul mood. Silently, Leah followed her, praying the Duchess would forget her existence. After all, the Duchess had a habit of throwing things and hitting anyone who annoyed her when she was upset.