“Well. What’s your ulterior motive?”

When Melissa was left alone with Dominic, she asked her son directly without flowery words.

Dominic, who had leisurely brought two glasses of alcohol, didn’t avoid his mother’s intense gaze.

“It’s about time I got married. It’s your wish too.”

“I didn’t mean for you to marry just anyone.”

She looked straight into her son’s eyes as if piercing his mind.

Sitting slightly on the armrest of the sofa opposite his mother, he chuckled.

“You haven’t even seen her yet. This isn’t like you.”

“Even without seeing her, I’ve heard enough about what a great family it is.”

She had already heard plenty about the Nilson family from various sources.

People were so concerned about others’ marriages that her ears were nearly worn out.

“You might like her when you meet her. Don’t be prejudiced first. Honestly, you weren’t exactly an exemplary duchess either.”

Melissa glanced slightly at her son who had hit the mark, then brought the wine glass to her lips.

“Silvia seemed sincere about you, but I guess you weren’t.”

Her plain words conveyed disappointment that her son’s marriage partner wasn’t Silvia, but also surprise.

“Yes. You must have expected it.”

“What I expected was for you to meet a proper partner and get married. That doesn’t necessarily mean Silvia.”

Melissa shook her head and sighed, unable to understand her son’s mind.

“So when do you plan to show her to me? I’d like to meet her before your wedding. It would be awkward not to recognize my daughter-in-law at the wedding ceremony.”

Dominic’s lips curled into a small smile at her words.

Why could he imagine his mother sweating as she tried to find her daughter-in-law whom she had never seen before?

His mother, the former duchess, was someone who could be understood even if she said she was too focused on her own life to care about the woman her son would marry.

He even predicted that his mother would say something like this a year later:

“I knew you would divorce.”

* * *

The garden after a morning drizzle was fresh with the scent of grass.

Ellin and Isabella strolled through the garden together.

From a distance, the two appeared to be discussing something secret and serious.

The conversation reached its climax when Isabella stopped walking and looked at Ellin.

“Goodness. Is that true?”

Isabella didn’t hide her surprise.

She normally maintained composure no matter what happened, but her astonished expression now was evident.

“Yes.”

Ellin nodded once, like someone making a confession.

“You really spent the night with the duke?”

Isabella’s voice rose then became as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz when she became aware of their surroundings.

“How could such a thing happen? Ellin, I didn’t know you were so bold.”

Looking into Isabella’s eyes, which still couldn’t believe it, Ellin answered calmly.

“I don’t know. I must have been a bit crazy then. I’m only telling this to you, Grandmother. Nobody else knows.”

After a while of silence, her great-aunt slowly nodded.

“I see. I thought it was strange when I heard you were marrying the duke. If that’s what happened, it makes sense.”

Ellin felt relieved that her great-aunt seemed to understand the situation somewhat.

She had told the truth about that night, but couldn’t bring herself to be honest about the contract marriage.

If her great-aunt learned the reality of this marriage, she would surely jump up and go confront the duke.

Saying things like “Why block someone’s future?” and “Are you the only duke in the world?”

She had only told Isabella about spending the night with the duke because she had no choice but to make this sudden marriage understandable.

“Even though that happened, I’m more worried about you. If you’re having a forced marriage just because of one night. Tsk tsk.”

Isabella clicked her tongue in disapproval.

Her face clearly revealed her inner thoughts: ‘How can you be happy in a marriage without love?’

“Miss!”

Just as Ellin hesitated to answer, Marie ran toward the two.

“Miss. A letter has arrived. From Duke Linderto’s family!”

Ellin and Isabella looked at each other simultaneously upon seeing the white flowery letter that seemed to emit fragrance.

Ellin opened the letter and began reading it on the spot.

Shortly after, she told Isabella with a resolute expression.

“The old duchess has returned, it seems. She wants to meet me separately.”

Though she tried not to appear shaken, Ellin’s face turned pale.

‘Can I fool the duchess too?’

Fear overwhelmed Ellin.

She had thought the contract marriage with the duke was no big deal.

In reality, it was an enormous task of deceiving the entire kingdom.

The duke’s mother.

She must be the person who knows her son best in the world and will surely detect that the marriage is fake.

What kind of absurd thing had she gotten herself into?

Only now did she feel dizzy at her own reckless action.

“Melissa Linderto…… I know her a little.”

Ellin looked at her great-aunt with round eyes at these words.

“She was a woman I always met at art auctions.”

“Auc……tions?”

“Yes. I heard when the duchess was young, she neglected her family to mingle with artists. Even in her old age, she seems to spend most of her time outside the home. She had such an eye for the things I had my heart set on. She knew quality.”

Isabella laughed with a “Hmph!” as if mocking the duchess who shared her taste.

Ellin became more confused after hearing Isabella’s words.

What kind of person was the old duchess?

What was clear was that the relationship between her great-aunt and the old duchess didn’t seem particularly good.

It was information she might have been better off not knowing.

Unaware of Ellin’s troubled mind, Isabella continued bluntly.

“She’s like a viper. Once she sets her eyes on something, she absolutely must have it. Once she was so fixated on a piece I had acquired that she even swallowed her pride as a duchess and came to find me. With a carriage full of gifts.”

Isabella’s eyes grew distant as she recalled an incident from over a decade ago.

“So…… what happened?”

“What do you think happened? I kicked her in the behind and threw her out. I told her not to show her face again because I wouldn’t give up what’s mine even for half the Kingdom.”

Ellin regretted asking as she imagined her grandmother Isabella kicking the noble behind of the former duchess.

“Oh. You’re such a joker. You really had me fooled.”

Isabella giggled like a child at Ellin’s words.

“I really was one step away from kicking her behind.”

Ellin let out a small sigh.

No matter how outspoken Isabella was, she wouldn’t actually do such a thing to a duchess.

“Don’t tell her I’m your great-aunt. You’ll needlessly make her dislike you.”

That was the most useful advice she had heard today.

* * *

Melissa wiped an antique in her room with a soft cloth.

The black, bumpy exotic antique might look like a mere stone to others, but to her, it was a treasure.

She let servants clean other things, but she always handled a few precious items with special care herself.

“Do you know how hard I worked to acquire you, even crossing the sea? I couldn’t sleep for days thinking about meeting you.”

She seemed to be having a conversation with the object she held carefully in both hands.

The stone had a strange shape that looked blackened, but when Melissa first saw it, she felt it emitted a holy radiance from behind.

It resembled a mother embracing a baby in her arms and dying in a black storm during a volcanic eruption.

The strange stone had different interpretations for each person who saw it.

Some said it looked like an eagle-owl stalking its prey, others said it resembled a coiled snake.

‘How can people see it that way?’

While she was tilting her head, unable to understand despite staring intently, there was a knock from outside.

“Madam Duchess. The count’s daughter has arrived.”

Melissa carefully put down what she was holding and made a puzzled expression.

“Who has come?”

Simultaneously with her question, a familiar voice was heard from outside.

“The atmosphere of the house has indeed changed now that the mistress has returned.”

Melissa let out a small sigh.

Even with close acquaintances, unannounced visits were unwelcome.

‘Jeffrey said he would be out briefly.’

The maid who entered instead of the capable butler also looked uncomfortable with the situation.

“Tell her to come in.”

As soon as the maid left, Silvia appeared before her with an excited face.

“Madam. It’s been so long since you’ve come. If you had let me know in advance, I would have gone to meet you on the day you arrived.”

Speaking in a familiar voice like a daughter, almost complaining, Silvia seemed to have become more mature and beautiful than the last time she saw her.

“Silvia. It’s been a while.”

Looking at Silvia, Melissa felt slightly regretful.

Her thought that there could be no better young lady than Silvia to be the mistress of this ducal residence remained unchanged even now.

‘But there’s nothing I can do about it. Who could break Dominic’s stubbornness?’

Melissa stood up and smiled gently at Silvia, her eyes forming crescents.

“I hardly recognize you. You’ve become a true lady now.”

Silvia approached Melissa lightly like a butterfly.

She affectionately took Melissa’s arm and seated her on the sofa, then sat down beside her.

When the maid brought tea and placed it on the table, Silvia’s gaze naturally turned to something on the table.

Her delicate brow furrowed slightly.

‘What is this strange stone?’

This look was evident on her face.

Melissa didn’t miss the expression but dismissed it.

People who didn’t understand the value of this masterpiece usually had such reactions.

“So, Silvia, what brings you to see me?”

When Melissa asked while picking up her teacup, Silvia looked hurt.

“Do I need a specific reason to visit? You’re like a mother to me, so that question makes me sad.”

Melissa’s eyebrow rose subtly as she took a sip of tea at Silvia’s words.

She responded with only a casual smile instead of answering.

“I’m grateful you think of me that way. Are your parents well?”

“Yes. They asked me to send their regards to you.”

Silvia’s answer somehow lacked energy.

“Your Ladyship must have been quite shocked.”

When Melissa looked at her with puzzled eyes, Silvia heaved a deep sigh.

“Who could have predicted the duke would make such an unexpected marriage?”

Her eyes, which looked ready to shed a tear, seemed to contain all the world’s sorrow.

“You must have heard already? How unsuitable that family is for the duke. What possible reason could there be……”

Realizing her spontaneous words might sound frivolous, Silvia closed her mouth.

Melissa answered with a gentle smile.

“My disappointment is greater than anyone’s, Silvia. But who can stop the duke once he’s made his decision? You know Dominic’s temperament well, don’t you?”

Melissa’s resigned words were utterly disappointing to Silvia.

She had expected the duke’s mother to be more outraged and furious about this marriage.

Contrary to her expectations, she was accepting it too calmly.

“But……”

Just as Silvia was about to raise her voice, unable to let go of her lingering attachment, Melissa turned her gaze toward the window.

“What should I do? I have a guest coming this afternoon, so I can’t talk at length today.”

Silvia swallowed her indignation at this dignified request to leave.

Strictly speaking, she was being rude by visiting without prior notice.

Her pride was also hurt by the unexpectedly cold response when she had thought the old duchess would naturally welcome her.

“I-I’m sorry. I’ll take my leave now.”

Silvia stood up with a gloomy face, but Melissa showed her warmest smile yet.

“Come visit again and tell me the rest of what you wanted to say. Take care on your way back.”

Because the old duchess had been someone she trusted, Silvia’s shock and disappointment were even greater.

She fled to her carriage and left the massive mansion.