I doubt it, the manhwa has been making the duke "nicer" here, example the duke didnt even tell anyone MC was missing for half a yr coz of his pride, here he did it within a month
You're correct. In the novel Francis doesn't have much involvement. Mielle went to the countryside herself without Francis. Once she left the capital, the two completely lose contact with each other. Millie doesn't send a letter to Oz either. Oz found out that Millie is alive through her own deduction. Also, Francis doesn't harbor romantic feelings for Millie. He just sympathized with her situation.
Millie also doesn't find out she was being poisoned or forcibly fed contraceptives either until she returns to the dukedom. This all comes out later when she confronts her MIL.
Hopefully all this change makes the ending better cuz as it is in the novel, it's so lackluster. Millie was so passive and weak in the novel.
I've heard spoilers about the novel and it said that Francis doesn't have much involvement with her. Did they change it? If so, I hope they change the ending where she ends up with the duke