Chapter 30

“Yes. I will inform the Dowager Duchess as well.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Astrid picked out a few more dresses that looked plain and finished up.

The materials were high quality, so even after returning to the merchant guild, with a little alteration, they could be worn for daily life.

She had to think about next year.

Spring was already deep. Time passed by helplessly.

Declan said the western region, which had been devastated by the landslide, was stabilizing. He also told her not to worry, as he had prepared a place for her.

Knowing she had a place to return to, Astrid felt relieved. So she could endure the remaining few months as much as needed.

With a cheerful heart, Astrid put on a dark-colored dress.

She loosely put up her hair in a style unmarried young ladies rarely wore, which made her look less fresh.

Finally, she felt satisfied with how she looked.

* * *

Kaiden had urgent business in the territory, and the Dowager Duchess was attending a gathering that day.

Declan suddenly visited the duchy without any prior notice.

The box he brought was full of jewels radiating a clear light.

A startled Astrid opened her eyes wide.

“The Dowager Duchess ordered these from you personally?”

“The items were chosen by a lady-in-waiting. I was told I must visit the mansion today.”

Declan, too, seemed to think something suspicious was going on, as his expression was dark.

Seeing him looking at her with concern, Astrid gave him a faint smile.

“What on earth is the Duke plotting? It’s just the two of us again.”

Declan looked around in disbelief.

Not a single maid was left to serve tea; it was as if all the servants had left their posts by agreement.

The butler led Declan to a drawing room close to Astrid’s room. No one came and went, so if anything happened, the two of them could slip into Astrid’s room and have a secret meeting.

Was that what they wanted?

Astrid sighed quietly as she glanced at the slightly open door. It seemed she really needed to explain her situation to Declan.

“Her Majesty the Queen and the Dowager Duchess are looking for a marriage match for me. I guess you’re a candidate too.”

“A marriage match?”

“They probably want to send me out of the mansion before Duke Raselles gets married.”

When Astrid gave a bitter smile, Declan froze.

He stared blankly at Astrid, unable to believe it.

As time passed, Declan’s breathing grew heavier.

After a long while, he finally seemed to calm down and lowered his head deeply.

“I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

“Just… everything. If the mountain in the west hadn’t collapsed, if I hadn’t pushed the construction so hard… You wouldn’t be going through this.”

Was he angry at himself?

Astrid, unfamiliar with Declan showing his emotions so openly, was briefly at a loss for words.

After becoming guild master, Declan rarely showed weakness to her. Even his neat attire had toned down his boyish looks.

He never showed it in public, but in private, Astrid always treated Declan as an Academy junior and younger brother.

Now, finding him unfamiliar, Astrid bit her red lips.

“You saved my life. Think of this as me repaying you. I’m living luxuriously in the duchy, so don’t worry.”

“As, if you want, you can come with me…”

“Declan, I made a one-year contract with Kaiden. I’ll keep my promise.”

Worried someone might overhear, Astrid lowered her voice as much as possible.

Declan, cut off mid-sentence, looked dejected, but she had no intention of giving him an opening.

Declan roughly ran both hands over his face.

It was the first time since the accident that he seemed so tormented, and Astrid felt sorry for him.

She considered comforting Declan for a moment, but gave up.

She didn’t want to give him false hope when she couldn’t take responsibility.

“Please come back after a year.”

“Yes, I will. You need to review my business plan, don’t you?”

“Right. And don’t dress up too much for this party.”

After adding that, Declan forced a smile.

Astrid couldn’t bring herself to ignore his attempt to ease her heart and gave a small nod.

* * *

The dinner party was held at the McKay Earldom. Since it would be inappropriate for Brielle Selinger to be presented at the Raselles Duchy, Countess McKay, a distant relative, stepped in instead.

Ellie, Earl McKay’s daughter, was close to Princess Sophia, so the Earl and Countess were even more eager to host the dinner.

Especially Ellie, who helped the Countess by changing the curtains in the hall where the dinner would be held and managing the guest list with enthusiasm.

With Ellie’s touch, the dinner was formal, but secret spaces were arranged throughout for the young people to observe each other.

Mary Raselles, the Dowager Duchess, entered the hall with Astrid and looked around the interior. She soon spotted several places behind fluttering thin curtains where there were wide sofas.

“How vulgar.”

The Dowager Duchess clicked her tongue, muttering to herself, when Countess McKay approached with a bright smile.

“Dowager Duchess, thank you for coming.”

“Hmph, this doesn’t seem very serious.”

“Well, don’t bees have to move for the flowers to find them?”

Seeking agreement, Countess McKay glanced sideways at Astrid.

Astrid stood with her eyes downcast, wearing a dark-colored dress that accentuated her sensual bust and slim waist.

Instead of the purple dress, she had to wear a corset that squeezed her body tightly, as per the Dowager Duchess’s orders.

On top of that, her maid had done her makeup heavier than usual, so Astrid was not comfortable with her appearance at all.

On the other hand, the two noble ladies were satisfied and hurried their steps.

“The gentlemen are inside.”

A seductive voice came from behind, and Astrid turned her head.

There stood Lady Vivian Douglas, giggling, together with Princess Sophia.

Sophia opened her fan and covered her mouth, looking Astrid up and down.

Receiving that gaze directly, Astrid clenched her joined hands.

She felt as if she were on display at an exhibition, n*ked, but she couldn’t show her discomfort.

“Miss Brielle Selinger, it’s been a while.”

“Princess Sophia, it is an honor to see you.”

“This dinner is for you, so please enjoy it at your leisure.”

No matter how hard she tried not to stand out, it was useless.

Sophia never missed a chance and, as always, insulted Astrid. Only after enjoying Astrid’s inability to respond did she step aside.

Astrid bowed politely and followed the Dowager Duchess.

Her stomach was unsettled the whole way, but for now, she had to be satisfied that she wasn’t asked to sing or play the piano for the pre-dinner entertainment.

She had learned etiquette well, but she had no talent for the kind of refinement other young ladies had cultivated.

She wanted desperately to stay as far from Sophia and the gentlemen as possible, but the Dowager Duchess’s intentions were clear.

Following the Dowager Duchess’s instructions, Astrid moved through the hall with Countess McKay.

Countess McKay introduced Astrid to the noble ladies, and the gentlemen standing nearby tried to gauge her worth and struck up conversations.

Most were nobles who had been married before or had some flaw, or they were merchants.

After wandering the enormous matchmaking market with Countess McKay for over an hour, Astrid felt dizzy. The corset that squeezed her waist, combined with the dizziness, made it even worse.

Could I endure until the dinner was over?

Just then, as Astrid let out a thin sigh, Vivian and Ellie approached her.

“Miss Selinger, would you like to go to the lounge with us?”

Vivian smiled with an arrogant look.

That strange face hurt Astrid’s feelings.

She was about to refuse, but Countess McKay chimed in.

“Lady Vivian Douglas, you are so kind. Taking care of the lonely Miss Selinger. Go on, have a good time.”

“Come along.”

Vivian confidently took the lead. Ellie also walked with a smooth smile.

Astrid doubted they were really going to the lounge, but she had no choice but to follow.

What were these women up to?