The Hidden Empress Stripping Her Secrets After Divorce novel Chapter 511

Lydia nodded, took his arm, and followed him into the crowd.

At the main entrance, the Duke had just bid farewell to a VIP and turned to observe the group gathered behind him. His sons, along with his various mistresses. Pierre stood at the forefront in a sharp navy suit, wearing an impeccable, polite smile. Leon was absent. The other sons stood further back, some speaking in hushed tones, others adjusting their ties. The mistresses were relegated to the rear, dressed in flashy, ostentatious gowns and sporting vibrant red lips, striking what they believed to be seductive poses.

The Duke's gaze swept over their faces, his frown deepening. He spotted Genevieve Astor—Leon's mother—standing in the corner, dressed in a dark red gown. She kept her head bowed, too terrified to meet his eyes. His expression darkened ominously.

"Where is Leon?" His voice wasn't loud, but every syllable dripped with an icy fury.

Genevieve stiffened instantly. She looked up, her lips trembling. "He... he's on his way. He'll be here any minute."

"Any minute?" The Duke's voice rose a fraction. "On a night this important, he's still 'on his way'? What on earth can I rely on him for?"

Genevieve's face went completely pale. She dropped her head back down, not daring to utter another word. A few of the other mistresses exchanged covert glances, faint, mocking smirks playing on their lips.

The Duke was on the verge of unleashing a harsher reprimand when Catherine Astor stepped forward. Dressed in an elegant, deep purple gown, she moved gracefully to his side and gently patted his arm.

"Alright, that's enough. The guests are watching."

The Duke glanced at her, took a deep breath, and swallowed the rest of his tirade. He turned away, refusing to look at the group any longer.

Pierre stepped forward, positioning himself beside his father. "Father, Mr. de Talleyrand has just arrived from London. He requested a moment with you before the festivities truly begin."

The Duke's expression softened slightly. "Where is he?"

"In the VIP room. I had someone escort him there."

The Duke nodded. "Come with me."

Pierre followed close behind as they headed toward the VIP lounge. After taking a few steps, the Duke suddenly stopped and cast a backward glance toward the grand hall. His gaze pierced through the crowd, lingering on a specific corner for a fraction of a second before he looked away and continued walking.

Following his father's line of sight, Pierre spotted Tyler, and beside him, Lydia. The corner of his mouth twitched into a faint smile, though his features smoothed out instantly.

Lydia had made a full round of the hall with Tyler, being introduced to an array of elites—the vice president of an energy conglomerate, an investment fund partner, and an advisor to a former prime minister. She smiled warmly, shaking hands with everyone, offering polite greetings in both basic French and English. Her French wasn't entirely fluent yet, but she managed simple conversations perfectly fine.

Tyler was highly impressed with her performance. "You're a very quick learner."

Lydia offered a modest smile. "Thank you."