What had she done? This isn’t right, this is a marriage where neither the duke nor I can be happy. I should back out even now.

Even while thinking that.

“Mmm.”

“Hehe, it’s delicious……”

When she saw Mary who had become healthy and Sanderson sleeping with a happy face, she kept turning her head away from the unhappy future.

Yes, let’s think positively.

That thought became even more solid after seeing the mansion newly given to House Ambrose by the king.

It was a two-story mansion built with red bricks.

Although it was much smaller and older than the mansion Stella had lived in as a child, it was still wonderful.

The ivy and flowers growing elegantly along the walls, the small flowers blooming fully in every corner of the small garden, the sunlight filling through the windows.

Most of all.

“……Is this really our house from today?”

“Wow!! We’re rich now!!”

She was so happy that everyone liked it.

Without time to stop them, Mary and Sanderson ran inside. The empty mansion filled with the children’s laughter.

“This is my room! I want to make this my room!!”

It was bright laughter that could never be heard in the house on the street that had been stained with dust and poverty.

Not only the mansion but also the street was to her liking.

The place where House Ambrose originally lived was a street where mainly poor people among commoners lived.

Thanks to that, there were too many dangerous things for not only Mary but also Sanderson to play.

But the place where the new mansion was located was mainly where nobles lived. It was clean, the people passing by were kind, and most of all, it was safe.

“My goodness.”

Even Countess Ambrose, who had barely entered with support, teared up looking at the mansion.

“It’s really a nice mansion. Isn’t that right, Stella?”

“Yes, that’s right, Mother.”

“The king is also such a kind person…… How did he know about our difficult situation and give us such a nice mansion?”

Stella, who was supporting her mother, just smiled bitterly.

Fearing that Mother, who was weak and had chronic illness, would collapse if she learned the truth, Father and Stella had agreed on what to say.

They said that the endlessly kind and merciful king had heard about House Ambrose’s tearful situation and bestowed mercy.

“We should always be grateful to His Majesty.”

Thanks to this, Countess Ambrose’s loyalty toward the king was soaring endlessly high.

“Let’s go inside first, Mother. Father is already waiting inside.”

“Yes. My goodness, he even sent servants! Not maids but servants. You know too, don’t you? Hiring servants makes taxes expensive.”

“Of course, I remember.”

Stella nodded while agreeing.

“All the furniture inside was also bestowed by His Majesty. He said he’ll send a cook later too. Someone very skilled who worked in a noble’s mansion for a long time.”

“Even a cook!”

Countess Ambrose was amazed.

“It’s something to be grateful for, truly grateful.”

After barely soothing Mother, who was now even tearing up, and laying her down on the bed, Stella finally looked around inside the mansion in the corridor.

It was a mansion that gave the same feeling as the outside.

Was it because every corner was well-maintained, or was it because the sounds she had been hearing and the sight of her family members all looked happy?

“I like it……”

Stella smiled faintly. It was her first smile since nodding that she would marry.

“This is my second room!!”

“Hey, how can that be! I’m the older brother!”

Upstairs, Mary and Sanderson were running around noisily while laughing brightly.

“Put this over there. What did you say your name was?”

“It’s Met, Count.”

In the distance, Father was talking with the servants. Inside the room, Mother was enjoying the sunlight with her eyes closed.

‘It looks good.’

Stella had sometimes thought of her house as like a small ferry.

A boat that was small but slowly, very slowly sinking to the bottom of the sea through holes that couldn’t be stopped.

So she always felt like she was half-submerged in water even inside the house.

Sunlight and wind didn’t come in well, and it was always damp, which made it worse.

‘This place isn’t like that.’

Sunlight was flowing in abundantly through numerous windows. Fresh wind filled the corridor.

Thanks to the sunlight and wind, there was no time to feel dampness, and the smell of mold no longer came from her nose.

‘Ah, it’s good.’

Stella unconsciously took a big breath in and out.

It felt like her breathing passages were opening up.

She was smiling faintly in the wind coming through the wide-open window when she heard footsteps. When she turned her head, one of the servants who had greeted her when entering the mansion bowed his head while looking at her.

“Excuse me, Miss. It’s nothing else, but House Rochester has sent gifts for you.”

“……For me?”

“Yes. We’ve brought everything to your room for now, but would you like to check them now?”

At the servant’s words, Stella took her hand off the windowsill and nodded.

When she followed the servant into the room she was to use, at least a dozen boxes were piled up.

“All of this came for me?”

“Yes, that’s correct. The person from the duke’s house delivered them directly.”

This doesn’t make sense.

Even though she saw it with her own eyes and heard confirmation several times that it was correct, she couldn’t believe it.

As Stella just stared blankly at the pile of gifts, the servant spoke again.

“How about opening at least one?”

“Ah, I should.”

She should check the gifts first and then send a letter of gratitude.

Stella opened one of the largest boxes with trembling hands.

“My goodness.”

What was in the box was a gorgeous dress.

Could she dare touch something like this? It seemed like she shouldn’t even look at it.

It was such a gorgeous and beautiful dress that such thoughts came naturally.

“It’s so beautiful……”

When she gently touched the dress, she felt an unbelievably soft and light texture.

At the feeling she had never experienced before, Stella was startled and withdrew her hand.

It felt like touching a fairy’s wing.

‘What could be in the other boxes?’

Her heart was pounding. It seemed like she hadn’t been this excited even when unwrapping birthday presents as a child.

Stella reached out and opened one of the closest boxes.

“Pretty.”

What was inside was a gorgeous necklace and a pair of earrings. The necklace embedded with gold, rubies, and sapphires, and the earrings with large rubies had a charm that bewitched people at first sight.

What about the other boxes?

White shoes decorated with pearls and secured at the ankle with blue ribbon strings were inside.

In another box was a fan that seemed like its lace alone would cost several months’ living expenses, and in yet another box were white gloves.

Everything looked expensive, sparkled, and was gorgeous.

“They’re all so pretty.”

Stella, who had opened all the boxes in an instant, smiled brightly. To think he would give her so many pretty things.

Although they were things that didn’t suit her, the fact that someone had taken care of her, and that it was none other than Duke Rochester……

Made Stella’s heart flutter so much.

“Miss, and he told me to deliver this.”

What the servant finally presented was a huge bouquet.

It contained even more flowers than the lilies Stella had brought in baskets full to make a living.

Stella, who knew how expensive fresh flowers were, felt speechless.

The servant smiled and nodded as if understanding her feelings.

“He told me to give this last. There’s also a card.”

Stella carefully took out the card stuck between the flowers.

On the luxurious card with gold leaf, along with the Rochester ducal house’s crest, only one line was written.

[ I am looking forward to it. ]

Stella’s heart began beating fiercely again as she read the card.

‘Could this marriage not be a bad choice for the duke?’

The thought she had been having was gradually solidifying.

The duke might not think this marriage was so bad after all.

That’s why he might be taking care of someone he hadn’t even properly seen once before the marriage.

This marriage might be more beneficial than she had expected.

‘……If that’s the case.’

If that’s really the case, if he gains a lot from this marriage.

‘He might not hate me.’

Maybe he had just said that to match his friends’ words.

He wouldn’t like her.

But the fact that he didn’t hate her either, that he just saw her as an ordinary person, was such a joyful thing for Stella.

Stella smiled brightly while tightly hugging the bouquet.

She couldn’t help but smile from the overwhelming hope.

“Excuse me.”

Stella, who had buried her face in the bouquet, raised her head.

“Was it Met?”

Both her cheeks were flushed red, and her light green eyes were sparkling.

“Have the people from House Rochester who came earlier left?”

“Ah, um, no. They should still be here.”

In that short time, the servant’s voice wavered here and there, as if distracted by something.

But Stella could only hear the next words.

“They seemed to be having some conversation with the count. They should still be here, shouldn’t they?”

“I see.”

Then if she went to Father now, she could meet the people from the duke’s house.

‘I should convey my gratitude.’

She had to convey her gratitude for giving her such pretty things, such good things. She felt like she couldn’t bear it otherwise.

More precisely, being relieved that he didn’t hate her was closer to her true feelings.

“Where are they? I’d like to convey my gratitude for the gifts.”

“They seemed to be in the reception room, but ah—”

The servant made a surprised sound. Following his gaze, she turned her head and saw strangers standing in front of the main gate. She also saw Father seeing them off.

“Those are them. The people who said they came from House Rochester.”

“……!”