Royce looked at Dominic with a frozen face, momentarily forgetting how to breathe.

‘How on earth did the duke find out about that?’

The duke’s words didn’t end there.

“I hear you even keep a tavern woman as your mistress behind your wife’s back. I hope that’s not true. How would you handle the consequences if it became known?”

This time, the color drained completely from Royce’s face.

While seeming concerned for him, the corners of the duke’s mouth curled up slightly.

Only Royce in his predicament could see that wicked smile.

“If you want to inherit the family business, you should take care of yourself first. Rather than worrying about my wife, who is now officially the duchess.”

The duke’s gaze had coldly shifted from concern to warning.

It was a dignified and quiet threat telling him to stay away from Ellin from now on.

Dominic stood up while Royce sat with wide eyes, unable to say anything, looking like he’d been struck.

“The person I’m meeting has arrived, so I’ll be going now.”

The duke rose and lightly patted Royce’s shoulder once.

It was a gesture that could be either encouragement or warning.

Royce turned his head with a pale face, like someone who had been doused with cold water.

The duke was moving to another table with Crown Prince Jonathan, who had just entered.

Upon meeting Dominic, Jonathan looked at the man who had just been with him and said,

“Isn’t that the second son of the Creighton family? Right, he’s become family to you now.”

Dominic changed the subject, showing disinterest.

“How are things going with Silvia?”

Jonathan leaned his upper body closer to Dominic at his question, seemingly in a good mood.

“I think there’s progress. Actually, I proposed again yesterday.”

Dominic’s eyebrows rose slightly at Jonathan’s words.

His face showed curiosity about the outcome.

“Last time she flatly refused, but this time she asked for time to think. A good sign, don’t you think?”

Only then did Dominic smile faintly.

It seemed that Silvia Muas, who had insisted she would rather die than be anything but a duchess, now had no choice but to accept reality.

In fact, she was a woman who was more practical than anyone.

With the position of the duke’s wife removed from her options, she couldn’t afford to dither and lose the position of crown princess too.

Now the one more likely to be anxious was Silvia, not the Crown Prince.

“I’ve already started investigating the Hayen Mine. So that we can begin operations as soon as we take over the mining rights……”

Jonathan smiled wryly, watching Dominic immediately switch to a businesslike attitude.

“Don’t worry, I know. First, I need to ascend to the throne.”

Though they were old friends, there were moments like this when Jonathan felt emotionally distant from him.

“By the way, have you heard that news?”

Jonathan’s eyes sparkled, and he spoke without waiting for Dominic’s response.

“About Casey Milton.”

Dominic’s hand, which had been casually fiddling with his pocket watch, suddenly stopped.

Jonathan continued speaking secretively, delighted to have landed a decisive blow on Dominic.

“So you haven’t heard yet. According to my sources, Casey Milton will return soon. It’s been so long.”

Jonathan didn’t miss how Dominic’s eyes greatly wavered the moment he mentioned her.

Dominic couldn’t give any answer or reaction to Jonathan’s words.

No, he was unable to.

How had he been when that woman suddenly left?

He had struggled hard to heal his bitter wounds, and that’s why he immersed himself in business like a madman.

Now that the pain had finally begun to fade and he was living peacefully again.

‘What? Damn it. She’s going to appear before me again?’

Almost hearing Dominic’s inner thoughts, Jonathan twisted the knife deeper.

“I really didn’t understand back then. I thought she had feelings for you too, but who would have guessed she’d leave so irresponsibly after accepting your proposal? Still, fortunately, I was the only one who knew about it. You could have lost a lot of face otherwise.”

Dominic felt his cravat increasingly tightening around his neck as Jonathan kept reminding him of that time.

Casey Milton was a lady from a distinguished noble family.

When she returned as a woman after following her parents abroad in childhood, everyone took notice of her.

People of all ages gathered around her like bees, and men lined up with flowers outside her house to court her.

She possessed both mysterious and beautiful qualities, with an excellent talent for attracting people’s attention.

“Wow. The social scene really stirred up back then. She became the most notable flower immediately upon her appearance.”

Jonathan shook his head, recalling that time.

“If she hadn’t left then, all the attention Silvia enjoys in society now would probably belong to Casey Milton.”

Jonathan muttered before suddenly lifting his head and speaking solemnly.

“Of course, both then and now, only Silvia exists in my heart.”

Unfortunately, the person who suffered the most mental and physical damage because of her was Duke Dominic Linderto.

In truth, Dominic hadn’t shown interest in Casey Milton from the beginning.

He had watched her from a distance with observant eyes, curious about how she was always surrounded by people, and it was Casey Milton who approached him first, seductively.

While everyone succumbed to her charm, Duke Dominic Linderto’s resistance must have hurt her pride.

Casey Milton aggressively pursued him, playing a game of seducing the duke and making him fall deeply for her.

After finally conquering him and leaving him in ruins, she suddenly left the capital, seemingly satisfied with her revenge.

“You probably became this heartless and cold person from that time. I can understand, friend, how great your sense of betrayal must have been.”

Though Jonathan meant it as consolation, Dominic’s expression turned cold, drained of color.

The nightmarish days when he had drowned himself in alcohol resurfaced in his mind.

“But what difference does it make if she returns now? You’re already married.”

“Let’s stop this.”

Dominic turned his face away, not wanting to hear more.

However, Jonathan wasn’t one to back down.

He knew well that though Dominic maintained outward composure, he was inwardly confused.

He wanted to see his always rational and meticulous friend in a state of agitation.

He wanted to show him that despite his tough exterior, he too was a weak human.

This was his opportunity.

“I heard rumors she was going to marry a powerful politician over there, but she broke off the engagement shortly before the wedding. Maybe that’s why she’s coming back. Who knows? She might still not have forgotten you.”

Only Jonathan heard what sounded like Dominic’s face cracking—crack!

“But if she has even a shred of conscience, she couldn’t possibly……”

Before Jonathan could finish, Dominic rose from his seat.

“It seems we’ve said all there is to say, so I’ll be going now. I have a prior engagement this afternoon. Goodbye.”

Though Dominic left first, Jonathan remained alone, deep in thought.

He tapped his fingers rhythmically on the table, feeling somewhat expectant.

‘Has Dominic’s heart truly moved on from Casey Milton? Or will another fierce storm blow? This will be interesting to watch from the sidelines.’

He felt he could bet his entire fortune that his friend would be shaken by Casey Milton again.

Because he had burned so passionately in the past.

Then he gazed into empty space with slightly worried eyes.

“But the new duchess will be in a pitiful position. Becoming a neglected wife right after marriage.”

He shook his head sympathetically.

* * *

“My goodness. Our mistress is absolutely fantastic.”

“Wow~!”

The maids coached by the old duchess let out exclamations of admiration after placing the final jeweled pin in Ellin’s hair.

Ellin, who had surrendered her body to them almost like it wasn’t her own, raised her gaze to look in the mirror.

‘Ah……’

She felt like a different woman was standing there, not the face she had seen in mirrors all her life.

“It seems my eye for these things hasn’t dulled yet.”

The old duchess appeared in the room and spoke while narrowing her eyes, looking Ellin up and down.

Melissa had chosen the dress and accessories Ellin was wearing.

“Yes. I knew they would suit you well.”

Ellin smiled once at the old duchess who was looking at her in the mirror, then gazed again at her own appearance with wonder.

‘The dress is beautiful but might be a bit embarrassing.’

Having never worn such a daring dress in her life, she felt exposed with the deeply cut back.

Of course, it was covered with mesh, but that created a rather suggestive optical illusion that was worse than having nothing.

The necklace embracing her brightly exposed neck was borrowed from Melissa, and its diamond brilliance was dazzling.

Ellin curiously stroked the hundreds of small jewels densely set in it.

“This is your first party together since the marriage. The duke’s eyes won’t leave you, my lady.”

Monica clapped her hands together, delighted as if it were her own affair.

“What if the duke gets jealous because other men keep staring at our lady?”

The maid beside her added, causing even the old duchess to burst into laughter.

In that cheerful atmosphere, only Ellin wore a smile that was faintly bitter.

Because none of what the maids imagined would happen.

No matter how beautiful her clothes or how adorned with brilliant jewels, she would have no effect on the duke.

She was merely a partner recruited for his well-planned marriage.

“We’re not a real couple, just pretending to be husband and wife.”

“Ah, of course, we might have to pretend to be affectionate in front of others.”

The duke’s words came to mind, making Ellin’s heart ache dully.

Knock, knock.

With the knocking sound, Jeffrey appeared with an anxious face.

“When will the preparations be finished? The duke is waiting downstairs.”

Jeffrey seemed to have come up worried because the duke, who had been waiting for a long time, was becoming impatient.

The maids’ hands became busy again, and Ellin also felt rushed.

Meanwhile, Dominic, sitting on the sofa in the downstairs entrance hall, kept staring at his pocket watch with a hardened face.

The meaningless waiting time felt endlessly long to him while he crossed and uncrossed his legs and tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest.

‘Maybe I should go up to the office briefly and continue reviewing the ledgers I didn’t finish.’

That desire nearly made him stand up.

His irritation wasn’t solely directed at people wasting time with party preparations.

The story he had heard from Jonathan recently kept sticking in his mind whenever he had a moment.

“I heard Casey Milton is returning.”

The woman who had appeared in his life—once peaceful like a deep, quiet lake—caused intense ripples and then left.

Why was she trying to reappear after leaving like she would never return?

He sometimes felt like he was choking from the shame of his past, feeling like he had been toyed with by her.

He thought marrying Ellin Nilson was a good decision, even though it was a contract marriage.

When Casey Milton appeared, she would clearly see with her own eyes that another woman stood by his side.

He hoped she would painfully realize that even if she returned, there was no place for her anymore.