For the Cursed Duke - Chapter 1

“We’ve arrived, my lady. This is the mansion of the cursed—no, the Duke of Gunner.”

“Thank you.”

With a polite response, Hailey stepped down from the carriage and looked up at the massive iron gates. Under the ashen sky, the black gates loomed so tall she had to crane her neck just to see their top.

The wrought-iron bars formed intricate geometric patterns, and the towering walls seemed impenetrable, like an unyielding fortress designed to repel any uninvited guest.

Whether from tension or the intimidating atmosphere, Hailey tightened her grip on the bag in her hand. Behind her, the carriage rolled away quickly, as if fleeing the scene.

As her gaze settled on the golden crest embossed on the gate, her eyes narrowed slightly. Something about the gleaming emblem felt off as she thought of the mansion’s owner.

“Could it actually be real gold?” she murmured, letting out a small sigh as her shoulders sagged momentarily. Then, as if brushing off her unease, she straightened her posture and raised her chin with newfound determination.

She wasn’t sure how things had come to this, but there was no turning back now. The water had already spilled. Resolute, she gripped the pull cord next to the gate and gave it a firm tug.

…

Nothing happened.

“Is it broken?”

As she reached for the cord again, she spotted a shadow approaching quickly from beyond the iron bars. Instantly, she adjusted her appearance and forced a smile to her lips.

Her face softened into a gentle smile. Though her navy dress was slightly worn, it was well-maintained and added a touch of elegance to her demeanor.

Clank.

The enormous gate creaked open, and a cheerful-looking servant with curly hair and suspenders appeared. Hailey greeted him with a bright smile and a warm voice.

“Hello, I’m Hailey Salmon.”

Although the young man appeared to be a mere gatekeeper, Hailey maintained her composure and minimum decorum. After all, this was the Duke’s mansion, where she would soon be working, and first impressions mattered everywhere.

“Ah, well…”

The servant hesitated as though he had been briefed about her arrival but stopped short of finishing his sentence. Curious about the words he swallowed, Hailey chose to feign ignorance and maintained her pleasant expression.

Quickly recovering his composure, the servant offered a polite gesture and spoke formally.

“Welcome to the Duke’s residence, Miss Hailey. Please follow me, and let me carry your bag.”

“Thank you.”

Hailey handed over her bag with a gracious smile. Once again, first impressions were everything, and a smiling face was less likely to invite hostility.

As he avoided her gaze slightly, the servant added, “You can call me Peter.”

“Thank you, Peter.”

There was a faint trace of inexplicable pity in Peter’s eyes as he looked at her, but Hailey dismissed it as her imagination. She straightened her back deliberately and followed him through the gates.

The first thing that caught her attention was the vast garden stretching endlessly before her. Perfectly trimmed hedges and identical rows of trees lined the perimeter like soldiers, their uniformity almost unsettling, as if hinting at the gardener’s obsessive tendencies.

‘Don’t let your thoughts wander. You’re walking into the lion’s den right now. Focus.’

She lifted her chin confidently, forcing herself to appear poised as her gaze fixed straight ahead. At the center of the lush garden stood a rectangular mansion radiating an imposing presence.

The cream-colored walls exuded a warm ambiance, while the vibrant teal gabled roof added a refreshing contrast even against the gray skies. A fountain in the middle of the garden spouted clear streams of water, and the statues within seemed so lifelike they could move at any moment.

Peter, walking slightly ahead, chuckled awkwardly.

“Haha. The mansion is a bit small, isn’t it? This is only used when the Duke stays in the capital to handle parliamentary affairs. The main estate in Whitfield is far grander and more extravagant. You might have heard of it—it’s called the ‘Golden Castle.’”

“I’ve heard of it.”

“Haha, of course. In this kingdom, who hasn’t heard of the Gunner Dukedom? A family hailed as war heroes and protectors of the realm.”

Peter’s words seemed slightly at odds with the rumors Hailey had heard, but she wisely kept her thoughts to herself.

The Duke Gunner she had heard about was less known for his immense wealth and power and more infamous for the man himself.

The cursed duke, Teyton Gunner.

“The Duke dislikes too much commotion, so we don’t have many servants here. As a result, each of us has to take on multiple roles.”

Peter kept up his friendly chatter as they crossed the garden, easing the stiffness in Hailey’s shoulders somewhat.

“That must be tough.”

“Well, the pay is better here than at most places. And since the Duke spends over half the year in his estate, this is actually one of the more comfortable jobs.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes. I think you will like it here, Miss Hailey. Please, go ahead and enter.”

Peter, standing at the porch, opened the front door with one hand and stepped back. Hailey, lost in thought, gave a slight nod and stepped inside the mansion.

After walking a few steps, she suddenly stopped, her eyes widening in surprise. The interior of the mansion was completely different from the exterior. While the outside had a neat, minimalist appearance, the inside was lavish and elegant.

The walls were covered in dark red silk wallpaper, adorned with paintings by renowned artists. Antique furniture was placed strategically throughout the rooms.

If any more were added, it would look cluttered; if any less, it would seem sparse. But the mansion struck the perfect balance.

Hailey knew that such meticulous details reflected the high status of the family.

“Please wait here for a moment… Ah, Lady Mastis is coming down now. Madam, Miss Hailey Salmon has arrived. Miss, Lady Mastis is the one who manages this estate.”

A middle-aged woman with a stout figure, descending from the central staircase, shot Hailey a stern look. Hailey instinctively smiled at her.

“Hello, Madam. I’m Hailey Salmon.”

“Pleased to meet you, Miss Hailey.”

Lady Mastis, standing a few steps above her, looked down at Hailey with a greeting that lacked warmth. The gray hair and the gray robe, reminiscent of a nun’s, gave her an even more severe impression.

Peter, observing the two women, glanced back at Hailey with a friendly expression.

“I will take your bag to your room, Miss Hailey.”

“Thank you, Peter.”

Hailey thanked Peter as he confidently ascended the stairs with her bag, then turned back to Lady Mastis. The lady turned away, her gaze still assessing Hailey.

“Follow me.”

Instead of leading Hailey to a reception room, Lady Mastis took her to the living room. Several armchairs with armrests, a fireplace, and beige curtains created a cozy and warm atmosphere.

“Please sit, Miss Salmon.”

“Please call me Hailey, Madam.”

“Alright, Miss Hailey. I’ve been expecting you.”

Lady Mastis took a seat and removed her hat, then flashed a small, friendly smile.

Lines are not only for trains or theaters. To survive long, one must know when and where to stand in line.

Fortunately, Hailey was not without perception, and she judged that Lady Mastis was certainly the one in power here.

“Ah.”

As if suddenly remembering, Hailey pulled out an envelope from the inside pocket of her coat.

“This is a letter of recommendation from Count Landers.”

Lady Mastis wordlessly took the envelope. Her hands opened it with an air of indifference. Hailey, sensing that this was like a job interview, bit her lip in slight nervousness.

A brief silence hung in the room. During that time, the question that had crossed Hailey’s mind earlier resurfaced, poking at her.

‘How did things end up like this?’

To find the answer, she had to start with how Hailey Salmon came to be. It had only been three months since it all began.

Yes, just three months ago.

That day, something unbelievable happened.

Hyein, an ordinary office worker in South Korea, was enjoying a rare long-awaited holiday, sleeping in for the first time in ages. It was, without exaggeration, a long-awaited break.

However, her peaceful rest was shattered by a violent argument between her upstairs neighbors. It was more than just a lover’s quarrel—it was dangerously threatening.

Driven by a misplaced sense of justice, Hyein tried to intervene and help the woman, only to be stabbed by the man’s knife. She met an unexpected death.

It was a senseless death, one that didn’t even allow her time to feel resentment.

The moment Hyein opened her eyes again was exactly three months ago.

“Of course. I couldn’t have just died so easily…”

But what awaited her was an unbelievable, shocking reality—strange surroundings and unfamiliar faces.

Thus, she became not Hyein, but Hailey Salmon, the daughter of the Baron Salmon family.

Perhaps the gods, feeling pity for her, had granted her a miracle. After all, she had died trying to save someone else, and maybe they saw her as a noble soul.

Thinking this way, everything seemed to make sense. She didn’t want to let go of this opportunity.

If life gave her lemons, she would make lemonade.

“Long and steady.”

Hyein, or rather Hailey, clenched her fists with determination.

“This life is my second chance. I won’t meddle in other people’s business, and I’ll live quietly, without standing out. No promotions, no fuss—just grow old gracefully.”

As she murmured to herself, Hailey suddenly furrowed her brow. The voice that had whispered in her ear just before she woke up came to mind.

The faint, dream-like voice had called her name repeatedly.

—Please, Hyein.

What was it asking for? Or rather, who was the owner of that voice? Was it the one who sent me here? No, should I say it was a god, not a person? But the voice was so soft… Why did they send me here?

If I think about it a little longer, I feel like I’ll remember their face. Hailey, furrowing her brows, tried to sift through the blurry memories.

—Please, Hyein. Hyein. Hyei…