How to Survive as the Wife of the Monster Duke - Chapter 239

The grand doors of the hall swung open wide. The hall, despite being part of a villa, was surprisingly spacious. You could almost say that the entire first floor was one vast hall.

Supported by massive columns, the grand hall exuded a majestic aura reminiscent of a temple, complete with extravagant decorations.

“Shall we take a tour around the hall?” Lady Elret proposed. In Southern social circles, it was customary for the host to introduce their guests when important figures arrived. Without hesitation, Ilyin took her hand.

“If it’s not too much trouble, I’d be delighted,” Ilyin replied.

“Of course,” Lady Elret said with a wide smile, concealing her mouth behind her fan. A soft laugh escaped her lips.

True to the nature of a men-prohibited event like the Forbidden Gentlemen’s Soiree, there was not a single man in sight, even in the open hall. It seemed as though men had been entirely banished from the entire mansion. The visible servants were all women as well.

However, compared to the Central Soirees, it felt like there would be more opportunities for gossip to circulate here. After scanning her surroundings, Ilyin came to this conclusion.

Not only had the Southern elite gathered, but also prominent families from neighboring regions, as befitting a gathering hosted by Lady Elret, the Duchess of Roen. As Ilyin and Lady Elret made their way through the crowd, the surprised looks of the other ladies caught their attention.

“We didn’t expect to see you here…”

Of course, Ilyin recognized some of the faces. Lady Dannet, the Countess, was the first to approach Ilyin with a warm smile.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Lady Dannet.”

Ilyin returned the greeting with equal warmth. Glancing around, she noticed other noblewomen who had attended Lady Dannet’s soirees in the past. It took quite some time to make a complete circuit of the hall, indicating the event’s grand scale.

During Lady Elret’s brief absence, Ilyin took a moment to sit and rest in a chair.

“Madam, if you find it exhausting, shall I show you to a room?” Etra asked cautiously. Ilyin turned her gaze towards a few closed doors she had noticed while circling the hall. These were typically used for guests to have private conversations.

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The hall’s grand doors swung open wide, revealing a vast and opulent space that belied its villa status. It seemed like the entire ground floor was one sprawling hall, supported by imposing columns that gave it the grandeur of a temple, adorned with extravagant decorations.

“Would you like to take a tour of the hall?” Lady Elret, the hostess, suggested. In Southern high society, it was customary for the host to introduce important guests when they arrived. Ilyin had no reason to decline, and she took Lady Elret’s hand.

“If it’s not too much trouble,” Ilyin replied, her voice soft and inviting.

“Of course,” Lady Elret replied, her fan concealing her mouth as she gave a wide smile, followed by a soft, melodic laugh.

As was the custom of the Forbidden Gentlemen’s Soiree, there was not a single man to be seen in the open hall, or indeed anywhere in the mansion. Even the servants visible were exclusively women. However, it seemed that there would be ample opportunity for rumors to circulate here, more so than at the Central Soirees. After surveying her surroundings, Ilyin came to this conclusion.

Not only had the cream of Southern society gathered, but also influential families from the neighboring regions. As Ilyin and Lady Elret made their way through the crowd, the ladies present couldn’t help but be surprised by their arrival.

“We didn’t expect to see you here…”

Ilyin recognized some of the faces, of course. The Countess Dannet was the first to approach Ilyin with a warm smile.

“It’s a pleasure to see you, Lady Dannet.”

Ilyin reciprocated the greeting warmly, and as she looked around, she noticed other noblewomen who had attended Lady Dannet’s own soirees in the past. The scale of the event became evident as they took a leisurely stroll around the hall.

During Lady Elret’s brief absence, Ilyin took a moment to sit and catch her breath in one of the chairs.

“Madam, if you find it taxing, would you like me to guide you to a private room?” Etra asked tentatively. Ilyin turned her gaze toward a set of closed doors she had noticed during their tour—a place where guests often had discreet conversations.

Of course, it was perfectly acceptable for someone like Ilyin to take a moment to rest. Ilyin saw no reason to decline, so she rose from her seat.

Ettra gracefully guided Ilyin through the crowd to ensure her easy movement.

“Oh?” As they made their way through the hall, Ilyin spotted a familiar face. She was dressed like the other maids in Lady Elret’s household, but her face was unmistakable. It was none other than Enny.

“Hello, Madam,” Eni said with a sly wink and a finger to her lips. “I’m currently on duty.”

It seemed she was in the midst of infiltrating. Ilyin nodded in understanding, thinking of Milo’s situation. But it did make her wonder: why would Lady Elret need someone to infiltrate Biflten?

Unlike the hall, which was filled with music and conversations that sounded like a symphony, the area near the rooms was quiet. Ettra, who was about to open a door, jumped slightly.

“Etra?” Ilyin gave her a puzzled look.

“Just a moment, Madam. Inside the room—”

She was about to say that someone was inside when the door suddenly creaked open.

“Oh my, I never expected to see you here,” Moena, the Viscountess, said as she seemed to be exiting the room.

“Moena, Viscountess,” Ilyin managed to produce. Moena stepped aside from the doorway.

“I regret not having the chance to meet you at the last soiree. Now that we’ve crossed paths, would you care for a chat?”

It would be awkward to decline, so Ilyin eventually stepped inside the room. And for just a moment, she paused at the familiar sight within.

It was a room she had seen before. Not a place she had visited, but… in her dreams. Ilyin’s gaze returned to the location where she had seen the mobile in her dream. But now, there was no mobile.

This was reality, not her dream. Her heart raced.

“Am I still causing trouble in every direction, unable to speak my mind, still waiting for others to do it for me?” Yes, it was that dream. Her heart thumped.