Divorce documents

Atthy looked at Helena who bravely held her hand when she was about to sign the divorce papers. Helena immediately withdrew her hand because she herself was surprised by her actions.

''Helena!'' shouted Atthy reflexively reprimanded Helena's actions.

“Duchess, pardon my impudence. But, Duchess... Please think again. This, maybe a misunderstanding'' said Helena immediately, while trying to subdue herself for having made a mistake earlier.

''No... I promised your master this morning'' replied Atthy firmly.

“Duchess! Please Duchess, hold on!... I will ask His Majesty the reason why the Duke...'' said Helena with a worried expression on her face. Helena can no longer be professional, she shows her emotions very clearly.

''Helena...'' Called Atthy while holding Helena's hand, which was already wrinkled due to old age.

“Thank you… At least, you accepted me sincerely. But, Helena, that's enough. Your Master and I have discussed it, and I have agreed. I'll go after I sign this divorce document, that's my promise to him...'' Atthy said with a calm expression. But, unfortunately, Helena felt very clearly that Atthy's body was shaking with her emotions.

“Duchess! Please, Duchess... Don't make a rash decision! The Grand Duke doesn't know anything about this either...'' Helena said in a panic.

''Helena!'' cried Atthy, calling Helena with sharp eyes. She looked at Helena very seriously. "Don't make me repeat my words... I'm sure you know that I'm not in a good condition," said Atthy, continuing her words.

“Duchess…” Helena replied with a giddy expression.

"Helena... That's enough. I'm very grateful for your help during these three months. I probably wouldn't have survived to this day without your presence...'' Atthy said, sincerely expressing her feelings.

“Duchess!” Helena exclaimed with a face like she wanted to cry, but a moment later, suddenly Helena's expression changed. “I'm sorry… I can't take it. I'll find out what the Duke was thinking about sending you the divorce papers'' Helena said firmly.

Helena didn't care about ethics or anything, she didn't want to hear Atthy's explanation anymore. The woman in her forties was indeed not from a respectable family. She was just a war orphan who was brought up by the Grand Duke when she was ten years old. It has been thirty-five years since she has served the Drustan family as a servant, from just a lowly servant to now Helena has served as a high-class servant. However, her basic nature of being just an ordinary person couldn't just disappear.

Helena immediately went out of Atthy's room after saying goodbye to her, although Helena sometimes seemed indifferent and didn't seem to care, it was all because of the professionalism taught by her seniors. She quickly went into the dining room hoping Hugh would be there enjoying his lunch, because she thought Hugh wasn't going anywhere today.

"What's wrong, Mrs. Whitmore?" asked a waitress who was clearing the table.

"Didn't my lord Duke eat today?" asked Helena in answer to the waiter's question.

"I don't think so, ma'am, because earlier one of the waiters said that he canceled lunch because of business."

“What?!… Then, where's Alwyn? Is he coming with the Duke?'' Helena asked, then immediately changed her question.

“No ma'am, Mr. Alwyn might be in the office, because the Duke suddenly had some business and he went with Mr. Randy. Mr. Alwyn will tidy up the documents that will be submitted next, it seems like that''

''Well. Thank you... Continue your work!'' exclaimed Helena, ending it by giving directions.

"Yes, madam..." replied the maid, "Ah! Mrs. Whitmore..." cried the maid, suddenly remembering something.

"What's wrong?" Helena asked. She couldn't wait to approach Alwyn.

“What about the Duchess? Should we prepare lunch for her?'' asked the waiter with a worried face.

''Yes. Do it!... Call the Duchess' personal maid to immediately approach the Duchess in her room'' shouted Helena, giving orders to answer the maid.

"Yes ma'am," replied the maid respectfully.

Helena did not want to linger in dealing with the servants, she wanted to quickly resolve this divorce matter. For him now, Atthy is more important than the affairs of the management of the castle. He feels bad, he feels the problem must be resolved immediately. For some reason, his heart had not calmed down since he found out about the divorce documents.

**

Helena rushed into Alwyn's study until she forgot to knock on the door. She just rushed in without thinking, because there was only Atthy's face that wanted to cry all the time pictured in Helena's mind.

“Mrs. Helena! What are you doing?!'' Alwyn asked loudly.

He didn't like Helena's presumptuous attitude. Bloodline, Helena was just a commoner when compared to Alwyn, who was descended from a respectable family. Even if he doesn't belong to the ranks of the nobility. But, in terms of seniority, of course, Alwyn is far below Helena, who has devoted herself to the Drustan family for thirty-five years, even though in her position, Helena is still under Alwyn's position.

"What is the meaning of the document you gave me this morning?" Helena asked Alwyn firmly.

Alwyn was silent for a moment digesting Helena's words, then he finally understood.

“You mean the divorce documents for the Duchess from my majesty Duke Hugh?!” exclaimed Alwyn, confirming it.

"So you know?" Helena asked with an angry face.

''Of course, I take care of everything'' replied Alwyn calmly.

''What does all that mean?'' exclaimed Helena asked aloud.

“Mrs. Helena, I assure you. We are only servants, it is not appropriate for us to interfere in all matters concerning our master. We just need to do as we are told'' Alwyn replied calmly.

''That's the principle of a buffalo to me'' replied Helena curtly.

"Mrs. Helena!" cried Alwyn, warning her.

“Mr. Alwyn Gusev. I know how your relationship with His Majesty the Duke is. I know you understand very well the meaning of the divorce document''

''Of course. It's a divorce document, obviously, it's meant to end the marriage relationship between My Lord Duke Hugh Ethan Drustan and Duchess Atthaleyah Romanov Drustan."

''Don't mention that title and last name again. When the letter is approved by both parties, the title and last name will no longer be in the name of Lady Atthaleyah Romanov. Only Lady Romanov…”

''Sorry. Well... I corrected that... Then, why is that problem bothering you, madam?... It's all their business, husband and wife."

''I understand. But, what is the reason? That's what I wanted to find out...''

"Should a servant like us find out about it?!... That's absolutely none of our business"

“That's for you, Mr. Alwyn, but not for me… What's more, the Grand Duke himself entrusted the Duchess to me”

Alwyn looked at Helena's face, who saw it with sharp eyes. Alwyn understood what Helena was worried about. Because he himself had been surprised this morning when Hugh ordered Alwyn to make divorce papers and hand them over to Atthy.

Alwyn took a deep breath to calm himself so as not to be provoked by the emotions that were clearly visible from Helena. Helena also started to lower her tension when she saw Alwyn, who finally gave up and wanted to explain everything in more detail to Helena. Just as Alwyn was about to open his mouth, the two of them in the room were startled by a knock on the door.

"Mr. Gusev. Excuse us, sir, is Mrs. Whitmore in there?'' asked several people from outside the room.

“Come in!” shouted Alwyn, the owner of the room, who gave permission.

"What's wrong?!" Helena exclaimed, asking Atthy's three personal maids who had come in a hurry.

"That madam... Eumh... That..."

''Don't beat around the bush!.. Hurry up, say it!'' Helena shouted, rebuking those who stuttered.

“We can't find the Duchess anywhere…” said Stella, the senior maid who served Atthy.

“When we were going around looking for her, one of the guards said she saw the Duchess coming out of the castle through the back gate,” Bela and Rossa said almost simultaneously, continuing Stella's words.

The three of them looked breathless, making Helena tired and anxious when she saw it.

''WHAT?!''

exclaimed Helena and Alwyn asked in unison in a surprised tone.