6: An Unwelcome Mistress

Today was the day Kael would be officially granted the title of Duke by the Emperor of the Empire. Standing in front of the mirror, he dismissed the maids helping him into his ceremonial attire.

“It suits you perfectly.”

Turning around, Kael looked at Natasha, his former nanny and now the head maid of the ducal household, and smiled faintly.

“Does it?”

“Of course. I suppose I should now address you as ‘Your Grace.’”

“Duke, huh…”

Kael had never planned to become the Duke so soon. He had wanted to remain the young lord under his father’s guidance, learning more from him. Though his father’s trust in people was a flaw that often caused concern, as the head of the empire’s only ducal house, he was a man with much to teach.

But whenever Kael thought about how his father had been so cruelly and senselessly taken from the world by Hans Blueanz—the man he trusted the most—his anger surged anew.

“Your Grace.”

“What is it?”

“Are you really planning to take Lady Aella as your duchess?”

Kael met Natasha’s worried gaze. Having treated Kael like her own son since he was a child, it was natural for her to be concerned. After all, the moment Aella Blueanz set foot in the ducal estate, a living hell would unfold.

If Aella entered willingly, Kael intended to leave her be. Whatever the servants employed by his father, who revered him as a god-like figure, did to her, he would not intervene. Even if she was mistreated right before his eyes, he wouldn’t care.

To him, she would simply be a statue—a duchess in name only. Or, more accurately, she would be a tool for revenge. Kael planned to wring every ounce of life and dignity out of Aella Blueanz, the beloved daughter of Hans Blueanz.

This, he believed, was the ultimate revenge.

He sometimes questioned himself—was this really something he could do to a woman he had once cherished so deeply? But each time, he hardened his resolve by recalling his father’s unjust and tragic death.

To Kael, Aella Blueanz was now nothing more than a target for vengeance.

“Natasha.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Whatever happens to Aella Blueanz once she enters this estate as the duchess, do not help her.”

“W-What do you mean by that?”

“That’s an order. Inform Matteo as well. If either of you helps her and I find out, not only will you and your husband be dismissed, but I will also strip your son Ian of his position as the head knight.”

“…I understand, Your Grace.”

“Leave.”

After Natasha bowed and left the room, Kael stood in front of a large portrait.

In the painting, ten-year-old Kael stood with his mother, who had passed away in a carriage accident shortly after, and his father, who lovingly rested a hand on her shoulder. They were all smiling.

Kael hadn’t known at the time that this portrait, commissioned by his father as a birthday gift, would capture his mother’s final moments.

Whenever he missed her, Kael would look at the portrait and swallow his grief and longing. Now twenty years old, he was about to officially become the Duke of the Hormons family.

Gazing at his smiling parents in the painting, Kael made another vow.

“I will make sure the injustice of your death is avenged, Father. Even if it means resorting to despicable measures. If it can ease your resentment even slightly, I will gladly become a wretched man.”

Once again, Kael reaffirmed his hatred, buried deep within his heart.

***

As Matteo prepared Kael’s horse and returned to the estate, he approached his wife, who was sighing heavily. Concerned, he asked if something was wrong.

“Matteo…”

“What’s the matter, Natasha? You look like you’re about to cry. Are you feeling unwell?”

When Natasha shook her head, her expression darkened even further. Frustrated, Matteo placed his hands on her shoulders and asked again.

“Then why are you like this?”

“His Grace gave me an order.”

“What kind of order?”

“He told me not to help Lady Aella, no matter what happens to her once she enters as the duchess. He said the same applies to you. And if we disobey… it won’t just be us. Ian will…”

Hearing his wife’s words, Matteo pressed a hand to his forehead.

“He’s truly made up his mind. An unwelcome mistress… What on earth…”

Having served the late Duke since childhood, Matteo had always thought Kael and Aella, who grew up together, were a perfect match. Now that they were adults, he had believed they would make an ideal couple.

Hans Blueanz was outwardly a kind and loving man, devoted to his late wife and doting on his daughter. That was the image everyone had of him. But Matteo had always felt uneasy around him, though he couldn’t pinpoint why.

And then, the master he had served for so long had met a senseless and untimely death. The once cheerful and bright young lord had lost his smile and was now consumed by a desire for revenge. Matteo’s heart ached at the sight.

“Especially since… the two of them…”

Knowing that Kael and Aella had feelings for each other since childhood made the current situation all the more heartbreaking. If none of this had happened, today would have been a joyous occasion.

What pained Matteo the most was knowing the grim future awaiting Aella. She would live in this estate as nothing more than a figurehead duchess, unable to escape her hollow title. And knowing this, he couldn’t help her.

“Matteo, are you ready to leave for the palace?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I’ve prepared a sturdy white horse for you.”

“Well done. After receiving my title, I will head straight to the Blueanz estate.”

“…”

The name “Blueanz” sounded icy coming from Kael’s lips. Matteo and Natasha clasped their hands together and bowed their heads.

“I will propose to Aella Blueanz and inform His Majesty that the wedding will take place at the Albazar Grand Cathedral.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Kael called Matteo, who was comforting his trembling wife, and locked eyes with him.

“You must have heard from Natasha. Do not help Aella Blueanz. That includes speaking to her. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

After Kael passed by, Matteo and Natasha disappeared, leaving the maids who had been secretly observing the scene to whisper among themselves.

“Did you hear what His Grace just said?”

“He said not to help Lady Aella, the woman he once loved!”

“Poor Lady Aella… All because of her criminal father…”

“Hah! What’s so pitiful about her?”

At the sharp voice of Rensi, the most influential maid, the others fell silent.

Though Rensi was just a maid, she was highly trusted by both the head maid and the new Duke. As such, the other maids couldn’t defy her.

Rensi, who had held this great privilege in both hands and commanded the maids with authority, dared to harbor feelings for Kael, who would officially become the head of the Hormons Ducal House as of today.

Although she was a commoner working as a maid in this mansion, she knew well that she was smarter and more beautiful than the other maids. Even if she could not become his legitimate wife, being the mistress of a duke was an extraordinary privilege for a commoner maid.

‘It’s truly unfortunate that the late duke passed away so suddenly, but this is a golden opportunity given to me by the heavens. Especially with Aella Blueanz…’

Rensi always cursed Aella Blueanz. She had always wished, again and again, that Aella, like her own frail mother, would die young. But Aella had grown up without any illnesses, becoming the empire’s sole healer and being treated almost like a saint. It was infuriating.

But the main reason Rensi could not tolerate that woman was singular: Aella had won the heart of Kael, the man Rensi secretly loved, a love she could not even dare to confess.

Rensi often fell into such thoughts. If only she had been born a noble, she could have stood on equal footing with Kael, received his love, and lived as the duchess of the Hormons Ducal House—a life filled only with love and happiness as the lifelong partner of the man she adored.

She knew better than anyone that this was a futile dream, but didn’t they say you never know what might happen in life? Just like now.

Rensi’s lips curled into a sly smirk.

“Think about it carefully. How heartbroken must the duke be right now? Our poor master, who lost the late duke so tragically at the hands of that Blueanz count. Who else could understand his grief as much as we do?”

“But Lady Aella was always kind to maids like us.”

“That’s right. Just a few days ago, she healed a wound for me that would have left a scar for life.”

As one by one, the maids started sharing good things about Aella Blueanz, Rensi, filled with irritation, shouted.

“If that’s the case, all of you will be thrown out!”

“W-what do you mean?”

“Didn’t you hear what the duke said? What he told the butler and the head maid applies to us as well! If you defend or help the duchess, you’ll be kicked out. Think carefully—do you want to be thrown out of this wonderful place for offending the duke, or will you obey his orders without complaint?”

Rensi stoked the fire in those who were swayed by her words.

“Why do you think collective punishment exists? Isn’t it to ensure we don’t forget the crime? Do you think the duke has any other reason for accepting the daughter of the man who killed the late duke as the duchess? This is an implicit order from the duke. We must all follow his commands.”

“Now that you mention it…”

“For the sake of the late master!”

“She’s a criminal’s daughter, after all.”

Satisfied with the reactions of those she had incited, Rensi looked toward the door with a triumphant smile.

‘Come quickly, Duchess. I’ll be sure to take good care of you.’

***

Standing idly in the garden filled with memories of her mother and Kael, Aella looked up at the clear sky, her eyes filled with sorrow.

‘By now, Kael must have been granted the ducal title.’

From a young age, Aella had dreamed of the day she would witness the moment Kael, whom she cherished in her heart, would be granted the title of duke in front of His Majesty the Emperor.

The fact that she could not witness that once-in-a-lifetime moment made Aella deeply sad.

‘I really… have no shame. After making Kael the most miserable person in the world, how can I still wish for so much?’

A bitter laugh escaped Aella’s lips.

“Mother…”

As she looked up at the sky, calling out to her mother, whom she missed more than ever today, tears welled up in her eyes.

“My Lady, the Count is calling for you. He is with the young master of the Hormons family—no, the duke.”

Smiling faintly at Kina’s words, Aella took one last look around the garden filled with happy memories.

The old memories that would never return again, and Kael, who had been so kind to her in those memories, came to mind. As tears she could no longer control began to fall, Aella left the garden.

***

When Aella arrived at the drawing room, she closed her eyes tightly as she heard the voice of a devil laughing from beyond the closed door.

Even though she wanted to run away, she had to face the reality she could not escape. Swallowing dryly, she opened the door and stepped inside.

“Oh, Ella. Come in. First, you should greet the Duke of Hormons, who has just become the duke.”

Facing Kael, who smiled at her as he always did in front of her father, Aella felt her heart sink.

It didn’t take long for her to realize that smile was a façade.

“Congratulations on becoming the duke, Your Grace Hormons.”

“Oh, Ella. You don’t have to be so stiff. You’re going to be my wife and the Duchess of Hormons soon.”

Aella’s entire body trembled at the subtly changed smile and tone as he looked at her.

D-5 to stepping into hell.