Chapter 1 – Windberg (Part 9)

Evelyn didn’t respond quickly. She just lifted her dazed eyes, looking at the two men alternately. Taking that as a sign of acceptance, Jared gestured to the lawyer. The lawyer opened the binder with a courteous motion, placing it on the tea table. The printed paper lay exposed, white as flesh.

“It’s not a difficult matter, Miss Dale. It’s simply a written agreement pledging mutual obligations and rights as a couple before marriage.”

The lawyer spoke clearly, as if he had prepared his words in advance. His expression, demeanor, and tone were all natural, without any sense of incongruity. He had likely worked for the Ducal family for a long time. He would have handled and prevented matters they didn’t want known to outsiders, discreet and awkward matters. Therefore,

No one could better prove that Evelyn Dale was a ‘trouble’ for the Ducal family.

“To put it simply, this is,”

The elderly lawyer gave a polite smile.

“A prenuptial agreement.”

Evelyn did not follow suit with a smile.

“I should mention that such things are quite common in noble families. When there are differing views on dowries, when they want to clarify issues of succession, or when specific conflicts are anticipated after marriage. The Duke of Windberg wishes to specify all these matters in the contract.”

“……”

“I believe once you hear the contents, Miss Dale, you’ll fully understand.”

The lawyer paused briefly with a confident expression. Then he leaned slightly forward to continue speaking.

“As you know, the direct male line of the Glenn family now consists of only the Duke himself. Currently, the first in line to inherit the dukedom is the Duke’s uncle, Mr. Kyleius Glenn. If the Duke does not have an heir, the direct bloodline of the Duke’s family will be severed. A family line that has continued for nearly a thousand years. I believe you agree that this would be a very tragic event, Miss Dale.”

The introduction is long. So what exactly are they asking for?

Evelyn felt her nerves becoming sharp.

“If you fail to bear a son within ten years of marriage, you must divorce for the sake of the Duke’s succession. This is the first condition of this marriage.”

Evelyn listened silently. Though it was an unexpected revelation, her expression remained unchanged. The mention of a “first condition” implied there would be a second, and her intuition told her it would be worse.

The lawyer paused briefly, as if giving her time to process, before continuing.

“Furthermore, regardless of the duration of the marriage, you must not engage in any activities that could damage the dignity of the Duchess. All activities generating personal income are strictly prohibited, and you cannot have a separate occupation even after a divorce. To be more specific, to aid your understanding,”

Evelyn Dale’s intuition almost always proved accurate.

“You cannot engage in writing activities except for letters, diaries, and speeches. This includes using a pen name or anonymity. This condition applies for life, regardless of whether the marriage is maintained.”

Indeed, there could be no worse news than this.

“These are the main points unfavorable to you, Miss Dale. However, should a divorce occur, financial compensation will be provided regardless of fault. The scale of compensation will not vary based on the dowry amount. The specifics are outlined in the contract, so please review it.”

The lawyer, having completed his explanation, elegantly moved the binder towards her. Evelyn looked at the front page of the contract laid out before her knees. The printed words squirmed erratically, failing to register in her mind.

“If you have any questions, I will answer them.”

She had no questions. Sons and heirs were merely excuses to fit the narrative. No nobleman would tolerate a wife who failed to produce an heir for ten years. Nobles would even create illegitimate children to ensure the continuation of the line. Therefore, Evelyn fully understood the contract’s purpose.

But.

A Duchess cannot be a writer.

She cannot write after marriage.

She can never write novels again.

Until she dies.

The drawing room fell silent. Silence pooled over the low table between the three seated individuals. Having fulfilled his role, the lawyer waited quietly for the woman’s reaction.

Jared remained silent, maintaining his posture like a statue in the leather chair. Even his long fingers resting on the armrest didn’t twitch.

Both men awaited the woman’s response. Evelyn felt as if her throat was swollen, and after rehearsing her words silently a few times, she finally managed to speak.

“Could you give me some time… to think?”

She didn’t look at either of them. Her gaze remained fixed on the contract on the table. The writhing words slowly began to come into focus. Marriage. Prohibition. Compensation.

The lawyer nodded willingly.

“Of course, Miss Dale. Take all the time you need.”

And then the man who had been silent finally spoke.

“Milton.”

Inevitably, Evelyn’s attention shifted to him.

“Please give us a moment.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

The lawyer hesitated briefly but then rose and retreated towards the entrance. The sound of the door opening and closing echoed minimally. From then on, silence began to flow through the room again. Now, there were only two people in the space. The couple promised to marry did not even glance at each other. They sat in silence, each averting their gaze. A difficult tension. A heavy silence. A vacuum-like stillness.

That stillness slowly, deeply pierced Evelyn.

“Procedurally, a third party must witness the contract.”

After a long pause, Jared spoke. His voice carried a faint sigh. Evelyn continued to stare at the first page of the contract in front of her knees. After waiting for a response for a moment, the man spoke again.

“Please understand.”

Evelyn silently, painfully, let out a bitter laugh.

Please understand. It was such an insincere request. Jared couldn’t possibly be unaware of what this contract meant, how much it demanded from her, how tyrannical it was. Surely he couldn’t be unaware. He himself was a lawyer. Or rather, he had been a lawyer.

So Evelyn wanted to know.

“Is this your decision?”

Only after asking did she slowly turn her head. She met the eyes of the man who had been looking her way. The distance between them wasn’t far. If she stood and took two steps, she could reach him. Yet Evelyn felt the distance between them was immeasurably vast.

“What do you mean?”

Jared asked back. His face, watching the woman, seemed slightly stiff. 

Was he tense? Or was he displeased? 

Evelyn couldn’t be sure, so she kept silent. She was the one who needed an answer.

“Of course, it’s my decision.”

As he spoke, Jared let out a short sigh. He didn’t hide his exhaustion and fatigue, which struck something within Evelyn. 

Why are you tired? I’m the one who faced strangers in a strange place. I’m the one who struggled to overcome humiliation and anger.

I’m the one enduring betrayal and sadness.

“This is the best option.”

“……”

“Anyway, continuing to write after marriage would be difficult.”

“……”

“A Duchess isn’t an ordinary married woman. There are many roles to fulfill. There will be many new things to learn. You’ll be much busier than you think.”

“……”

“So Evelyn, please understand.”

Please understand. To Evelyn’s ears, it sounded as though he was saying she should naturally understand. That she should understand being ignored by her fiancé and his family, treated like a mere scarecrow, pushed into a life predetermined by someone else. That she should understand all the similar things she would face in the future.

“What if I can’t?”

Evelyn didn’t know why she was asking that now. Honestly, she had been relieved. Because the lawyer’s business was a prenuptial agreement and not a settlement for breaking off the engagement. Because even though she didn’t want the conditions, she knew she had no choice but to agree.

So why did she ask such a thing at this dead-end crossroads? Perhaps it was just the last bit of stubbornness left in her.

“What happens if I can’t understand your decision, if I can’t accept this proposal?”

Maybe she wanted to hear him say something like this. 

I know too. How unfair and unjust this is. But I need you. I don’t think I can endure a single day without you. So Eve, please look at me.

I love you.

“Evelyn. You already…”

Jared didn’t finish his sentence. He seemed to realize too late that it was a mistake. But he didn’t retract his words or apologize. Perhaps he didn’t need to apologize. Because he hadn’t said anything wrong.

Because you are already not a maiden.

Therefore, you have no right to refuse.

No matter what conditions are demanded, you must accept them.

Evelyn’s vision flashed. A blurry bloodstain. A sharp pain. Those things flashed like lightning, sending chills down her spine. The blood that had been flowing hotly inside her suddenly froze. Her cold, clammy hands seemed to tremble slightly.

“Eve, I…”

“Give me some time to think.”

She couldn’t feel anything. The hot and cold inside her chest were indistinguishable. Everything that could be called an emotion seemed to have been severed all at once. She, too, was now completely exhausted.

“Could you leave me alone?”

“……”

“Please. I just… want to rest now.”

A long sigh trembled faintly at the end of her words. Not wanting to face him any longer, Evelyn closed her eyes. An intense sense of exhaustion enveloped her entire body. It felt as though she were submerged in water, unable to hear anything.

Jared didn’t leave his seat. He remained sitting a couple of steps away, unmoving. 

Is he looking at me? What kind of expression does he have? 

Evelyn wondered but didn’t open her eyes.

For over a year, they had never clashed. They had believed it was because they knew each other well, because their personalities fit together like a bolt and nut. But that belief now only deepened Evelyn’s despair. It felt as though she could see everything about him, sitting beside her, what expression he had, what he was thinking.

“Let’s have breakfast together tomorrow.”

After a long pause, Jared spoke. Evelyn slowly opened her closed eyelids. The man spoke again.

“Without anyone else.”

With that, he rose from his seat.

“Rest.”

And without hesitation, he turned and left the room.