Chapter 95 Backup Plan in the Shadows
The Varannes house was dead quiet. For Ilse or Anna, really this silence wasn't peaceful. It was weird. Back in her old life, if the office was this quiet, it meant the bosses were burying a massive scandal. In this nonsensical fantasy world, the silence felt like a threat.
It had been a while since she could play Cupid. Julian and Gisella hadn't spoken. Everything was stuck. Ilse felt like an employee waiting to get fired. No messages, no movement, and the worst part, Claus d'Alen?on. The guy was everywhere, always showing up at the absolute worst times.
Then, morning came. Mom and Dad announced they were heading south for business. Trade contracts, they said.
Ilse could've cheered.
Once the gates closed, Ilse scrambled. She grabbed Greta, the only maid she trusted. She scribbled a quick note to Julian. Short, direct, technical. Just location and time.
"Don't let anyone see this. Just put it there," she ordered.
Her hands were shaking. This was risky. If she got caught, she wouldn't just lose her reputation; she'd lose her head.
But if she did nothing, Gisella would get crushed by Didier and her family.
And she couldn't stand that. Ilse hated seeing her assets in this case, her friend's happiness, get trashed by other people.
The Mercer estate. Ilse hated this place. Too many pointless luxury items. Gisella's room was packed with jewelry boxes from the palace. Didier really had no imagination. He thought all women's problems could be fixed with diamonds.
Ilse rolled up in a regular carriage. She wore a plain dress, but still looked like a bored Viscount's daughter. Her PR strategy for the day: "The Annoying Noble Friend." She didn't need empathy; she needed entry.
"No visitors," the guard grunted, looking tired.
Ilse looked at him. She smoothed her gloves. "Tell the Viscount that Ilse de Varannes needs a tea buddy. If he says no, tell him I'll report to my father that the Viscount threw me out, and our trade cooperation might have to stop."
Classic threat, but it worked. Gisella's father appeared ten minutes later, looking annoyed. Ilse didn't care. She gave him the fakest, most polite smile she could muster.
"Before sunset," he said coldly.
Ilse nodded. She was in.
When Gisella walked out, Ilse almost cursed. The girl looked like a zombie. Pale, puffy eyes, messy dress. Ilse grabbed her arm. Her grip was tight. She pulled Gisella along.
"Come on. I've got something to cheer you up," Ilse whispered.
Once the carriage door shut, Gisella just hugged her.
She didn't talk. Ilse let her be. She was too busy watching the street through the window.
She had a story ready in her head. If anyone asked, they were just shopping.
If anyone saw them entering the Varannes house, they were just measuring fabric.
"Ilse," Gisella's voice was barely a whisper. "I thought... I thought something happened to you... Julian came and my father kicked him out."
Ilse turned. "He came to your place? Oh my god... Things aren't safe, Gisella. You can't receive letters while everyone is watching you. That's suicide."
Ilse hated acting like she knew it all, but she had no choice. Gisella needed a manager, and Ilse was the only person with a logical brain here. She had to manage their lives now.
"Where are we going?" Gisella asked.
"My house. My parents are away. We're safe," Ilse replied.
Gisella looked at her. A little spark in her eyes. Hope.
The ride felt slow. Ilse kept checking every passing carriage. Every hoofbeat made her hold her breath. She felt like she was carrying explosives. One mistake and it was all over.
When they got home, Ilse hurried Gisella inside. She didn't want the servants seeing them. She led Gisella to the library. It had a small secret door, though she hoped she wouldn't need it today.
"Ilse?" Gisella hesitated at the door.
Ilse didn't answer. She opened the door.
Inside, Julian was standing by the window. His uniform wasn't as neat as usual. When the door opened, he turned. And there, everything stopped.
They stared at each other, then Gisella ran to Julian. She crashed into him. Julian caught her. They held each other like people who had lost everything and just found the only reason to live.
Ilse stood in the doorway. She felt... relieved. She'd managed to keep these assets intact. She'd reconnected two broken variables.
"I'll give you guys a moment. There's food and reading chairs in the corner, just talk, you don't have much time," Ilse muttered. She closed the door.
She leaned against the hallway wall. She closed her eyes. Her hands were cold. She'd done her part. Now, she just had to make sure they didn't make enough noise for the servants to hear. She had to keep control.
But then, the peace was shattered.
Ilse heard loud hoofbeats outside. She looked out the hallway window. Her guards were talking to someone on horseback. She knew that person. Everyone in the city knew him.
Claus.
WHY IS HE HERE NOW?
Ilse panicked. Her brain, usually cool during client crises, was now a mess. She had just brought Gisella out of her house. She had facilitated a forbidden meeting in her own home. And now, the most dangerous Duke in the empire was visiting uninvited?
This wasn't a coincidence. It couldn't be. Was Claus following her? Did he know about Julian?
Ilse stared at the library door behind her, then at the window in front of her. She was trapped. She couldn't let Claus know Gisella was inside. She couldn't let him know Julian was there.
"This is bad," she whispered.
She had to face him. She had to keep him away from the library.
Ilse took a deep breath. She smoothed her hair. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her face was pale, but she had to look bored, unbothered, like the usual Ilse.
She walked toward the door. Her legs felt heavy. Every step felt like walking to a sentencing. She could hear footsteps approaching the front door. Claus walked in without knocking, like the royal prince he was, the owner of this kingdom.
Ilse stood at the door. She saw Claus taking off his gloves. The man turned. His eyes looked at Ilse as if he already knew all the secrets she was trying to hide.
"OH MY GOD, THE COOLEST, MOST HANDSOME DUKE IN THE KINGDOM IS VISITING ME???"
Ilse's voice shrieked, breaking the quiet of the Varannes house. It wasn't just a shout, it was a scream that could wake the dead.
Claus, the general who faced arrows and enemy screams on the battlefield without blinking, actually stepped back. His eyes widened, his brows knit together. He never expected to be greeted with such aggressive fangirling.
"You... what?" Claus stammered. His cold, heavy voice disappeared.
Ilse didn't stop. She stood right in front of the hallway, blocking his path to the library.
Her heart was racing, not out of attraction, but out of absolute panic.
She could imagine Gisella and Julian in there, terrified.
She had to make sure they knew the Duke was here, and she had to make sure Claus didn't get near that library.
"I'm just so surprised!" Ilse clutched her chest dramatically, then impulsively grabbed Claus's arm. "The Duke d'Alen?on in my house? This is a dream! Your armor is so... uh, masculine!"
Claus was totally flustered. He pulled his hand back, but Ilse held it tight. The man looked like he'd been hit by a surprise attack. His face, usually cold, was blushing red a sign he had no control over the situation.
Inside the library, Julian Vance gripped his sword hilt. Cold sweat dripped down his temple.
"What is she doing?" Julian whispered, looking at Gisella, who was almost crying in fear.
"She... she's trying to save us in a really strange way," Gisella whispered, trembling.
Back in the parlor, Claus was still processing Ilse's behavior.
He was used to elegant women who spoke quietly, not women who yelled in his face about how handsome he was.
Claus's heart was drumming not from anger, but because he felt something wrong with his brain.
Why did he feel happy? Why did he want to return Ilse's enthusiastic gaze?
"Lady Varannes, calm down," Claus said stiffly. He tried to steady his breathing, which for some reason was coming out shallow.
"I can't, Duke! Who could stay calm when a man like you is standing right in front of me?" Ilse pushed, steering Claus away from the hallway toward the other side of the living room.
Ilse kept rambling. She talked about his armor, how heroic he was leading his troops, anything that popped into her head so Claus wouldn't ask about the other rooms.
"Let's talk over there," Ilse said, her voice raspy from shouting too much.
Claus looked at Ilse with an unreadable expression. He was confused, a bit annoyed, but deep down, his heart felt like it had been hit by a cannonball.
"Why are you like this?" Claus asked, his eyes locked on Ilse. "Sure. Let's talk."
Ilse walked ahead, her legs feeling like jelly. She had just done the most embarrassing thing in her life, over and over again. She had traded her dignity as a Lady just to distract this dangerous man.
When they reached the main seating area, Claus sat on the sofa, still looking bewildered. He stared at Ilse as if she were the most complex puzzle he'd ever met.
"I didn't expect you to be this enthusiastic to see me," Claus remarked, his voice returning to flat, but with a thick tone of curiosity.
Ilse sat across from him. "Of course, Duke. A rare moment, isn't it?"
Inside the library, Ilse knew Julian and Gisella were probably cursing at the noise. But it didn't matter. As long as Claus was here, she would keep acting like a lunatic. She would be the Duke's number one fan if it meant Julian and Gisella could escape without being suspected.
"So," Claus leaned in, his gaze making Ilse feel like she was being interrogated and adored at the same time. "What else do you think is 'cool' about me, Lady Ilse?"
Ilse swallowed. Oh boy... She'd been too enthusiastic. Now she had to keep this act up until Claus left. And she really hoped that after this, she'd never have to deal with this Duke again.