Chapter 3.2

The moment the carriage began to move, a cold voice broke the silence.  

“What are you thinking?”  

Solnia lowered the window shade and replied, 

“You’re going to the ducal residence, aren’t you? It’s only right that I go with you.”  

“Why are you doing something so out of character?”  

Solnia turned to face the man seated across from her. Luette Trovill’s expression remained unchanged—an amalgamation of disbelief, mild irritation, and fatigue directed at her sudden decision to accompany him to the ducal residence.  

Looking into his eyes, Solnia spoke. 

“We’re a married couple, aren’t we?”  

“….”  

“A couple rumored to be on the verge of a breakup.”  

Luette’s brow furrowed at the unexpected response.  

“I’m simply fulfilling my role. In a capital teeming with people eager to scrutinize us, I’m being cautious.”  

That morning, Solnia had once again organized her thoughts.  

What she needed to protect in this wretched capital, and what she had to do to achieve that.  

“So, please fulfill your role as well.”  

“….”  

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”  

To conclude this cursed contract marriage smoothly and perfectly. That was all there was to it.  

He likely felt the same way.  

“Th—”  

Solnia began to say something but stopped when she saw the displeased olive-green eyes staring back at her. Shaking her head, she chose not to continue.  

The sight of his crooked expression made it impossible to speak. In the end, she turned her head away in silence.  

***

The Trovill Ducal Residence was not far from the townhouse.  

The carriage carrying the couple passed through a long forested path, crossed a quiet square, and headed toward Goldville Street.  

The affluent neighborhood, home to some of the wealthiest individuals in the kingdom, was dotted with large mansions surrounded by spacious gardens—reminiscent of rural estates.  

Of course, among them was the imposing ducal mansion, but Solnia didn’t spare it a glance.  

The carriage slowed and turned. The sound of the estate manager and coachman exchanging morning greetings reached their ears.  

That peaceful routine only heightened the tension.  

The ducal residence was a place that could be even more demanding than the grand mansion.  

Solnia straightened her already upright posture, double-checking the gloves on her hands.  

By then, the carriage had stopped under the porch of the residence.  

A footman rushed out to open the door, and the couple descended in turn. One small relief was that, unlike at the townhouse, the servants didn’t swarm out to make a fuss over their arrival.  

Instead, they were greeted by the kind-faced butler, Riven.  

“Welcome, Master and Madam.”  

“I’d prefer if you just called me ‘Young Master.’”  

“That won’t do. You’re now a proper head of the family.”  

Butler Riven placated Luette with a smile before nodding politely at Solnia, just as he had ten years ago when he welcomed the haughty young lady.  

“They’re waiting inside. Please come in.”  

Following Riven, they entered the familiar interior.  

The spacious, uncluttered rooms, the polished marble floors, the blue walls adorned with the Trovill family crest—all were exactly as they had been in the past.  

Back then, the residence had felt inexplicably comforting, even as she came and went while preparing for marriage. But not today.  

“The Duchess was overjoyed to hear of your arrival. She hasn’t slept since last night.”  

Riven said with a warm smile, leading them to the drawing room. Just before turning the corner, Solnia stopped him.

“Wait a moment.”

With a smile, she lightly grabbed Luette’s arm. Riven tactfully entered the drawing room ahead of them.

“What is it?”  

“….”  

She had something to say, but the words wouldn’t come out.

In truth, from the moment she saw his face, she had been looking for an opening, but standing face-to-face with his sharp expression, she couldn’t bring herself to speak.

And especially not those words.

“You have something in your eye.”  

“….”  

In the end, Solnia blurted out something completely unrelated, leaving Luette dumbfounded as she turned and headed toward the drawing room.  

The drawing room looked the same as it had back then.  

The large fireplace Solnia had once loitered around as a child, the grand family crest above it, the deep red wallpaper, and the gold-trimmed sofa.  

The Duke and Duchess of Trovill sat side by side on the sofa—or rather, the Duchess did. The Duke was in a wheelchair, listening attentively to his wife’s chatter.  

“Your Grace, the Young Master and Madam have arrived.” 

Riven announced.  

The couple turned to look at them simultaneously. The stern-faced man offered Solnia a warm smile. It was the Duke of Trovill.  

That familiar smile eased her tension slightly.  

“We’ve arrived.”

Of course, the relief was short-lived, thanks to an abrupt interruption.  

Soon, tea and refreshments were served, and the two couples sat facing each other. The servants, unused to such a sight, beamed with satisfaction.  

“It’s been a while, Solnia.” 

The Duke hadn’t changed. Though he had been confined to a wheelchair two years earlier due to illness, his imposing presence remained intact, thanks to his broad frame and striking features.  

And so did the warm smile he reserved for Solnia.

“It’s been a while, Your Grace. Have you been well?”  

“We’re always the same. It’s a pleasure to see your face after so long.”  

As the Duke of Trovill spoke, his wife, the Duchess of Trovill, sat beside him with her lips firmly closed. She, too, had not changed. Her neatly braided black hair, pale skin, and piercing yet clear brown eyes made her presence as striking as ever.  

When her gaze met Sonia’s, the Duchess offered a faint smile with just her lips.  

“You’ve aged, Luette. You seem to grow uglier by the day.”  

“People say I look just like you, Father.”  

“You insolent brat.”  

As the father and son exchanged playful banter, Sonia felt a pair of eyes fixed on her.  

“….”  

When she subtly turned her head, she met the gaze of the Duchess, who had been scrutinizing her from head to toe.  

A sudden sense of foreboding washed over her.  

“So, how have you been in Melfir?” 

The Duke of Trovill asked.  

“Though we hurriedly passed on the title to you, as you know, Melfir is no different from the countryside. It’s hardly a place for a newlywed couple to live.”  

“Not at all. It’s a quiet and peaceful place, which allowed me to rest comfortably,” Sonia replied with a bright smile.  

“Thanks to that, my health has improved significantly.”  

The Duke of Trovill seemed pleased with her response, as if he had been waiting for it. He then cast a disapproving glance at his son, who had remained silent throughout the conversation.  

“My son is far from reliable, but at least it seems he hasn’t done anything to hurt you. That’s a relief.”  

“Not at all, Your Grace. The Earl has always been considerate of me.”  

Luette instinctively glanced at Sonia out of the corner of his eye at her surprisingly smooth lie.  

How could she lie so effortlessly without even a change in expression?  

While Luette himself could easily play the role of a lovestruck gentleman, he still found Sonia’s acting unsettling.  

“Such formal titles are unnecessary. You don’t need to use them in front of us.”  

“I’ve grown accustomed to observing proper etiquette. I’ll adjust gradually.”  

Sonia not only acted seamlessly but also skillfully shifted the topic.  

“By the way, how is Hazel doing?”  

Hazel, the youngest member of the Trovill family, had turned ten this year. Sonia had only met Hazel for the first time at her wedding, as the child had been born after her ties with the family had been severed.  

What shocked Sonia was how much Hazel resembled a younger Luette Trovill from ten years ago.  

However, Hazel’s resemblance to Luette seemed limited to appearance. The child was known to be frail and rarely ventured outside. Sonia’s only encounter with Hazel remained the wedding day.  

“She’s fine, though her introversion worries me.” 

The Duke said, shaking his head.  

“Perhaps because she’s aware of her frailty, she’s very different from her older brothers when they were young. She’s also quite sensitive.”  

Recalling the delicate and sensitive child, Sonia offered a gentle smile.  

“Maybe she sees her poor health as a flaw. Those who are unwell often become timid and sensitive.”  

“….”  

“If you wait patiently and trust her, she will improve.”  

Just as the Duke expressed his gratitude with a kind smile, the Duchess, who had remained silent until then, spoke.  

“Why don’t the two of you go out and get some fresh air?”  

Her gaze, which had been softly directed at the Duke, shifted to Sonia.  

“Women need time to talk among themselves, don’t they?”  

“….”  

Sonia instinctively realized that the Duchess must have heard something.