#4.

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“What are you thinking about so deeply?”

She had been lost in her thoughts so deeply that she didn’t notice the duke looking at her with curious eyes.

“Oh, nothing. If we have that…… wedding ceremony, would it be alright to invite my great-aunt who lives in Castia?”

Ellin asked carefully, not knowing yet how this contract marriage would proceed.

She couldn’t even tell if they would hold a formal wedding ceremony in front of people.

Dominic answered with a bland smile, seemingly wondering why she was worrying needlessly.

“Of course. You can invite anyone you want. It’s your wedding after all.”

Ellin felt somewhat relieved by the duke’s words.

If her great-aunt saw her wearing a wedding dress and holding the ceremony with her own eyes, she might set aside some of her suspicions.

“Yes.”

Seeing her relieved expression, Dominic felt an inexplicable guilt.

Had his selfish scheme taken away what should have been the happiest moment in a bride’s life?

But he quickly pulled himself together.

Rationalizing that he could compensate with more benefits instead.

“I’ll arrange for your brother to be transferred to the Royal Hospital immediately after the wedding. And you’ll have whatever you want, be it jewels or dresses.”

Ellin’s neck flushed hot, feeling like the duke had glanced at her shabby attire while saying those words.

Noticing this, Dominic immediately continued.

“Don’t think of it as extravagance. Acting in a manner befitting the dignity of Lady Linderto is also part of our contract. That way we can avoid unnecessary suspicion.”

Ellin nodded.

“I understand what you mean. I’ll be careful not to bring shame to the Linderto family.”

Dominic smiled with satisfaction at her answer.

He looked into the distance again and spoke in a serious tone.

“And my mother will probably come to the capital soon……”

Without finishing his sentence, a faint sigh escaped from the corner of his mouth.

That alone revealed his concern about his mother.

“I’ll handle it, but I’ll need your help too. We can discuss the details later.”

He looked at Ellin with a face satisfied that their conversation had gone well so far.

“Even if we marry, I won’t spend much time with you. I’ll be busy with various business matters.”

“Yes……”

“So you don’t need to feel burdened because of me. I won’t make you uncomfortable at all.”

Each of the duke’s words was extremely polite, but that made them feel more like awls piercing Ellin’s heart.

“Then I’ll consider our conversation successfully concluded.”

He extended his hand to her like someone offering a handshake to a business partner.

When Ellin quietly took his hand, he shook it gently once.

“I’ll have a carriage take you home.”

“No, I can walk.”

When she refused, Dominic made a troubled expression.

“Why don’t you consider how it would look to people if you returned riding in a Linderto family carriage?”

Ellin felt embarrassed.

She had thought the duke wanted to give her a ride in the Linderto carriage purely out of concern for her.

But from beginning to end, he was only thinking about making this contract marriage succeed according to his wishes.

“You’re right. Actually, I was a bit worried that my family wouldn’t believe this.”

Ellin smiled awkwardly. His judgment was correct.

The mere sight of her getting out of a carriage bearing the Linderto family crest would show people a lot.

She wouldn’t have to explain the situation in detail to her stepmother and father.

That single scene would be more deeply imprinted in their minds than a hundred words.

“Then I’ll gratefully accept the ride.”

When Ellin acknowledged his intentions and agreed, Dominic smiled with satisfaction.

“You catch on quickly.”

* * *

Ellin couldn’t feel at ease riding in the Linderto family carriage.

The sofa made of navy velvet with gold studs was as soft as sitting on a cloud.

But to Ellin, it felt uncomfortable, like wearing someone else’s clothes.

She could feel the coachman in the front seat glancing back at her occasionally.

‘Do I look too strange?’

Ellin deliberately turned her gaze out the window to look at the scenery outside, trying not to be self-conscious.

But the path the carriage was taking seemed strange?

It should have turned in a different direction by now to reach her home, but the carriage was heading toward the central district where shops were located.

“Excuse me! I think we’re going the wrong way.”

When she spoke urgently, the coachman answered respectfully.

“I’m aware. His Grace instructed me to take you somewhere briefly before escorting you home, so we’re heading there now.”

Ellin wondered what that meant.

“What place are we going to?”

The coachman hadn’t been glancing at her because she looked awkward in the carriage.

He had been concerned she might be surprised about taking a different route.

The carriage entered the main road and began to slow down in the luxurious streets of the central shopping district.

‘Huh! The countess?’

Ellin, who had been enjoying the view outside until now, had to bury herself deeply in the sofa.

Because familiar faces started appearing outside the window instead of forests or hills.

The countess they just passed was famous for having a loose tongue even in the capital.

The main street filled with shops had noblewomen gathered in small groups chatting or enjoying afternoon tea time in tea houses.

“Where exactly are we going?”

While Ellin asked urgently, the carriage began to stop smoothly.

‘This is……!’

It was the most elegant and famous clothing shop in the central district.

Ellin looked at the coachman questioningly, but he had already gotten off the carriage and was opening the door.

“His Grace said you should stop by because he ordered something for you.”

“He ordered what for me?”

The coachman just shook his head as if he didn’t know.

Having no choice since it was the duke’s order, Ellin got out of the carriage and entered the shop with a disgruntled face.

When someone entered, everyone in the clothing shop turned to look at the visitor simultaneously.

“Ellin?”

The person Ellin least wanted to meet was there.

Janice, who spotted Ellin, tilted her head and approached her with an extremely bewildered look.

“My, look who it is. What brings you here?”

Ellin couldn’t remember the last time she had heard the word “sister,” but now Janice was openly looking down on her even in front of others.

The young ladies in the shop watched the sisters quietly, familiar with this behavior.

Janice stroked the feather on the pink hat in her hand and asked.

“Did you come into the wrong shop? The butcher’s is on the opposite side.”

Giggling laughter could be heard from behind at her words.

“That’s too much.”

Someone’s sympathetic voice made Ellin look even more ridiculous.

Ellin was flustered to meet Janice and her friends in such a place, but soon showed a faint smile.

“Janice. I didn’t expect to see you here. I came because I have some business.”

“Business? At this clothing shop?”

She looked Ellin up and down, examining her faded dress.

“You’re not looking for a job, are you? How much more shame do you want to bring to our family?”

When Janice sneered and folded her arms, Ellin didn’t just take it quietly.

She laughed silently once and then looked at the hat in Janice’s hand with pity.

“That’s a pretty pink. It could shine if it found the right owner. But I don’t think it will match your skin tone. It’s good to have strong preferences, but maybe you should listen to your mother’s advice once in a while?”

Speaking gently like a caring sister giving advice, the young ladies around couldn’t hold back their laughter and giggled.

Everyone knew that Janice usually adorned herself with flashy color combinations that didn’t suit her.

Janice felt like she had been hit on the back of her head and couldn’t close her mouth.

“W-what did you say?”

She couldn’t believe that Ellin, who had consistently ignored her provocations, had just humiliated her in front of people.

Unlike Janice, whose insides were boiling, Ellin still had a relaxed smile on her face.

Your face looks pale. Are you okay?

Seeing Ellin mouth those words, Janice wanted to grab her by the hair and drag her out right then.

“How may I help you? Customer.”

Fortunately, before Janice’s hand could rise, a clerk approached Ellin.

“Ah. Thank you.”

Ellin shifted her gaze from Janice to the clerk.

“Duke Linderto ordered something for me, I believe.”

When the word ‘Duke’ came out of Ellin’s mouth, a silence fell over the clothing shop as if time had stopped momentarily.

“Ah. So it was you! Please come this way.”

The clerk, who had widened her eyes, quickly composed herself and began to move nimbly.

“We’ve kept precious items separately for the young lady.”

The clerk addressed Ellin with gentle eyes, treating her like a noblewoman.

Not understanding the situation, Janice took a deep breath and turned to look at Ellin with a twisted expression.

“The duke ordered something for you?”

Ellin didn’t even need to answer that question.

The items the clerk efficiently brought out were among the finest in the clothing shop.

“This is a bag made by a rising star designer. The ruby craftsmanship on the teardrop-shaped buckle is as intricate as a work of art.”

That wasn’t all.

Hats made with high-purity jewels and fur, things too expensive to even display—one by one they were placed in Ellin’s hands.

Janice was speechless, just watching the scene.

The other young ladies there were equally surprised.

“I see. They’re really beautiful. I like them. Please wrap everything the duke ordered and load them into the carriage.”

Ellin requested the clerk in a composed tone.

“Of course.”

Soon all the clerks mobilized in unison and began carrying the packaged boxes one by one outside the clothing shop.

“Actually, His Grace requested something more.”

Ellin looked at the clerk with curious eyes at these words.

“He asked us to take your measurements and make as many dresses and outfits as you want, Miss Ellin. He has already paid for the top designer’s fee in full. The designer is very booked up, so it would be good to have a fitting soon.”

Ellin, lost in thought for a moment, smiled slightly and answered.

“I’m tired now, so I’ll come back in a few days for that. Is that alright?”

“Of course. Please visit whenever you have time. Or contact us, and we’ll come to your home with the tailor.”

When all the boxes wrapped in blue silk and white lace were loaded into the carriage, Ellin turned toward the door.

“I’ll be going now. Janice.”

Ellin gave Janice a slight nod and left the shop, escorted by the clerk.

Janice watched her leave, frozen like ice.

With a face that suggested this couldn’t possibly be reality.

“My goodness. That rumor must be true after all.”

“Look! The carriage outside is definitely the Linderto family carriage.”

“Really?”

The young ladies created a commotion as they crowded around the window.

Janice walked slowly and deliberately to look outside, and she could clearly see it too.

The Linderto family crest engraved on the black carriage’s body.

And the scene of Ellin being escorted into that carriage.

“This can’t be happening.”

She muttered like someone who had lost her mind.

People had been gossiping about Ellin and the duke, but she had always scoffed at it.

She thought only Lady Silvia of the count’s family could become the duchess of Linderto.

She could have accepted it without jealousy if the handsome young duke’s partner had been Lady Silvia.

He was the Kingdom’s most eligible bachelor, and she was the most eligible bride.

But the duke’s partner was really Ellin? That worthless Ellin? A duchess? Was that even possible?