While her mind was in chaos, she heard whispering behind her.

“Goodness. I thought she was rejected by Royce Creighton, but now she’s with the duke. What a windfall!”

“I know. How can you compare a family that makes alcohol with an ancient ducal family? I’m so jealous!”

“Did I ever do anything wrong to Ellin? I don’t want to be disliked by the future duchess.”

They didn’t hide their envy even though they knew Janice was standing right there.

Normally, Janice would have glared at them with narrowed eyes, but she was still dazed, unable to accept this situation.

* * *

Back in the carriage from the clothing shop, Ellin looked perplexed at the boxes piled high on the opposite sofa.

She couldn’t help but laugh hollowly.

‘His Grace was already certain I would accept his proposal.’

She found her own image ridiculous—unable to sleep properly for days while agonizing over the decision.

He knew her better than she knew herself.

She opened a small box and touched the lace gloves inside.

They were so smooth without a single snag that her own hands felt rough like scrubbing pads in comparison.

“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.”

Recalling the duke’s words from earlier, she closed the box again with resignation.

Today at the clothing shop, she had felt firsthand what it meant to become the wife of Duke Linderto.

She had acted composed in front of Janice because she felt provoked, but would she have to continue like this from now on?

“We’ve arrived.”

Lost in thought, she hadn’t noticed the carriage had already reached her home.

‘How will I carry all of this?’

While worrying about this, she fortunately spotted Marie through the window.

Marie was looking around the unfamiliar carriage with a puzzled face as it stopped in front of the gate.

“Marie.”

“Miss Ellin?”

Recognizing Ellin getting out of the carriage, she rushed over in surprise.

“My, what is all this?”

“There’s a lot of luggage. Could you help me?”

Her eyes widened when she saw inside the carriage.

“I’ll run and call more people right away.”

Not long after Marie ran into the house, several people came out together.

“What’s all this commotion about?”

Rosana followed, walking out with an irritated face.

Her eyes widened when she saw Ellin standing in front of the luxurious carriage.

“Ellin? What’s going on? Why are you getting out of that carriage……”

Before finishing her sentence, she started shouting toward the house.

“Honey! Come out quickly! Honey!”

Already tired from Rosana’s excited voice, Ellin walked inside with an exhausted face.

“Ellin.”

Meeting her father who was coming out of his study, she said with a composed face.

“I have something to tell you.”

Shortly after, a solemn atmosphere hung over the living room where the three of them sat.

Baron Nilson and Rosana stared at Ellin’s mouth with curious and anxious faces.

Ellin blurted out her words briefly, like finishing overdue homework.

“Duke Linderto has proposed to me.”

Right after her words, Rosana placed her hand on her chest with a face that looked like she might stop breathing, while the baron’s lips twitched, seemingly trying to contain his excitement.

Duke Linderto?

Wasn’t that the prestigious family that had intermarried with the royal family for generations?

The young duke’s business acumen was so remarkable that it would be exhausting to describe how much money he drew from both the Kingdom and foreign countries.

To become in-laws with such a ducal family?

It felt like a dream. It was almost embarrassing to even mention it.

Rosana swallowed hard and asked slowly and deliberately.

“So you accepted the proposal, of course? Dear.”

Ellin answered with an expressionless face.

“Yes.”

The couple looked at each other’s faces, their eyes dancing.

They looked like they had discovered a gold mine.

Seeing their expressions, Ellin felt more ashamed of herself.

“I’ll go upstairs now.”

When Ellin stood up, Rosana’s hips fidgeted.

“Dear! Ellin!”

She called out to Ellin with a desperate face, wanting to hear more, but Ellin went straight up to her room.

Still unable to calm her excitement, Rosana paced around the sofa like a dog needing to relieve itself, even after the baron had gone to his office.

‘This isn’t a dream, is it? Becoming in-laws with the Linderto ducal family.’

Rosana wondered how Ellin had captured the duke’s heart.

From childhood, she resembled her mother so much that Rosana’s affection for her diminished every time she saw her.

She had been nice to Ellin at first, but at some point began treating her coldly, so Rosana only thought about getting rid of her from the house quickly.

Still, since her appearance was quite presentable, she had planned to send her off as a second wife to some old nouveau riche.

‘Who knew she had such talent.’

She never imagined Ellin would catch a duke.

‘There’s no way such a family would take Ellin as a daughter-in-law……’

Suspicion sprouted again.

No matter how she thought about it, the Linderto family wouldn’t accept just anyone as their duchess.

‘I don’t know what possessed the duke, but she’ll probably be kicked out soon anyway.’

Rosana only thought about the social standing and economic benefits this marriage would bring her.

Not just Ellin, but the entire family would rise in status instantly. She could faint from joy and it wouldn’t be enough.

‘Ah……’

Rosana gently rubbed her stomach, which had been feeling bloated and pricked by needles since earlier.

‘Why does my stomach hurt so much?’

On one hand, her insides twisted at the thought of Ellin walking around with her head held high as a duchess.

Of all people, why was Ellin becoming the duchess and not her daughter Janice?

* * *

In the center of a garden blooming with exotic flowers stood a pagoda built like an ancient temple.

Middle-aged noblewomen sat together there, pleasantly drinking tea.

“Please tell us about your travels. Do people really ride elephants instead of horses there?”

“I brought some nice paintings this time. Let’s all go see them after we finish our tea.”

“My goodness. I can’t wait!”

Just then, a butler approached Melissa, the beautiful villa’s hostess, carrying a silver tray.

“Madam, His Grace has sent an urgent message.”

“Dominic?”

Hearing it was urgent, Melissa immediately stood up and opened the letter.

The noblewomen watched her with curious eyes.

“I hope it’s nothing concerning?”

“Has something happened in the capital? An urgent message…”

After reading the letter, Melissa looked a bit flustered, but then smiled elegantly and answered them.

“Dominic says he’s getting married.”

* * *

The news of Duke Linderto and Lady Nilson’s marriage stirred not just the capital, but the entire kingdom.

“This can’t be happening.”

“The Nilson family? I don’t even know who they are. Why is he marrying into such a family?”

“The Muas family must be in mourning now. They must have expected to become in-laws with the ducal family, but what a bolt from the blue.”

“Nah. They might actually be happy. Isn’t the Crown Prince courting their daughter?”

“The old duchess must be the most shocked. She could never have imagined taking a daughter-in-law from such a family. If she had been in the capital, this marriage would never have happened.”

“So that’s why the duke acted quickly. That makes sense. Yes, it makes sense.”

People constantly talked about the marriage whenever they gathered.

A few days after the duke formalized the marriage, two women arrived in the capital.

One from Castia, the other from Renon on the southern coast.

Complex emotions showed on the faces of the two noblewomen as they got out of their carriages.

* * *

“Welcome, Aunt.”

When Isabella Avery got out, leaning on her cane, Baron Nilson personally escorted her.

Everyone’s faces showed obvious tension as they looked at Isabella with her silver hair elegantly pinned up and heavy makeup.

She looked over the people who came to greet her and smiled subtly.

“Thank you for welcoming this old woman so warmly.”

Rosana approached Isabella with an elated face at her words.

“We’re delighted to have you visit us, Aunt.”

Janice, who had already married and left home, was there with her husband Royce.

This was understandable, as the wealth of this elderly woman living alone was immeasurable.

Baron Nilson and Rosana welcomed her lavishly, as though Her Majesty the queen herself had arrived.

“Grandmother Isabella!”

While everyone was intimidated by the elderly woman, only Ellin embraced her as if she was meeting her own grandmother.

“Ellin. It’s been a while. Let me look at your face.”

Isabella examined Ellin’s face with eyes mixed with various questions, concerns, and worries.

She didn’t miss the shadow somewhere in Ellin’s clear green eyes.

“You seem to have lost weight from not eating our home cooking. You’re about to be a bride, but looking so fragile—how will you be treated as the mistress of the ducal house?”

Tears welled up in Ellin’s eyes at Isabella’s worried words that sounded like scolding.

Rosana watched the affectionate pair with a sour face, then quickly smiled broadly and said.

“Please come in. You must be tired from traveling so far.”

“Yes. I am a bit tired. I’d like some tea. Brew me a strong cup. I want to hear about Ellin’s suspicious marriage.”

Isabella glanced at Ellin with slightly narrowed eyes.

Ellin’s smile wasn’t particularly bright, as her great-aunt’s joking words had hit the mark.

Meanwhile, the Linderto mansion bustled with preparations to welcome the old duchess who had returned after a long time.

When Melissa Linderto, the former duchess, arrived, all the servants of the mansion, led by Jeffrey, respectfully greeted her.

Dominic escorted his mother as she got out of the carriage.

“It’s been a while since you’ve returned.”

Looking at her son who seemed even more handsome after not seeing him for a while, Melissa let out a small sigh instead of smiling.

Her ears too had received countless concerns from gossips about her excellent son marrying into an unsuitable family.

Though she hadn’t met the young lady yet, seeing her son who acted like he would live alone forever made her feel upset.

That’s why a sigh naturally escaped her.

Melissa held her words for now and gently embraced her son’s neck.

The epitome of elegance with noble blood flowing from head to toe.

She was indeed worthy of being called the mistress of the Linderto family.

Jeffrey and Higgins also watched the scene contentedly from behind.

Higgins muttered in a voice only the two of them could hear.

“The next mistress of the Linderto family should be someone worthy of succeeding the old duchess.”

Having already completed the investigation into the Nilson family, his words expressed concern rather than expectation.

Hearing Higgins’ words, Jeffrey recalled the young lady who had visited the mansion previously.

A clear voice like dew and a bright face. Her simple attire but never frivolous appearance had been impressive.

If Madam Melissa and Lady Silvia represented the height of splendor, she possessed dignity and beauty of a slightly different texture.

“She’ll be an excellent person. However, I’m a bit worried about whether she’ll get along well with the current Madam.”

Higgins sent a look of agreement to Jeffrey’s concerns.

“What’s certain is that the mansion won’t be as quiet as it has been until now.”

The two nodded at the same time.

* * *