Chapter 16

Seth’s house was truly enormous.

Even from a distance, its silhouette was impressive, but up close, it was overwhelming.

‘Is this really a house?’

A dazzlingly white palace. The triangular roof decorations and rows of marble columns made it look like a Greek temple.

The front of the palace faced a massive lake, while the back stretched into an endless lawn. Staring at the grass that extended to the horizon made her head spin.

‘Wow, you could fit an entire apartment complex here easily.’

Instead of farming or building on this vast land, they were growing grass—what an extravagant waste.

As she thought of all the things that could be done instead of growing grass, she realized that planting grass on perfectly good land was also a display of wealth.

‘When you’re a Duke, even your extravagance is on another level.’

Thinking of everything as an extravagant display of wealth brought her a sense of peace.

The enormous maze that seemed perfect for getting lost and starving to death, the plaza-sized fountain featuring dozens of golden statues showing off their figures, and the massive greenhouse shaped like a birdcage with nothing growing inside—all of it. She looked at them with a detached gaze and nodded.

Extravagance was just extravagance; it didn’t need any reason or practicality.

‘Now I understand why they call this place a palace even though it’s where a Duke lives.’

In terms of scale and splendor, it didn’t lose out to the royal palace at all. In fact, it was so grand she wondered if it was appropriate for a servant of the King to live in such a place.

And everything that made up the house was enormous. A single marble column was as tall as a three-story apartment building, and the entrance door was about the height of a two-story building.

‘It looks like a house for giants.’

As she marveled and passed through the wide-open doors, a massive hall appeared. The ceiling was a domed shape, and the floor was structured like an opera hall, with tiered steps.

Each tier was filled with decorations sparkling with gold and jewels. The walls were painted with divine figures against a backdrop of blue skies. Mythology, relics, and light combined to create a grand masterpiece.

“Wow, this is truly amazing.”

She exaggerated her admiration slightly. Since she was barging into someone else’s house empty-handed, she felt she should at least show this level of reaction. But the response didn’t come from Seth; it came from elsewhere.

“Haha, I’m so glad you like it.”

An elderly chamberlain smiled proudly.

“If you wish, we can decorate your quarters in a similar style.”

The head maid, who seemed as if not even a drop of blood would come out if pricked, spoke seriously.

“Which item do you like the most?”

The chamberlain, adjusting his monocle, asked with a sharp glint in his eyes, as if ready to uproot a column if she merely pointed at it.

Behind them, dozens of servants were smiling kindly. It felt like they would shout, ‘We love you, dear guest!’ the moment she moved her hand.

What was this? It was terrifying.

As she hesitated in confusion, Seth spoke up.

“Everyone, leave.”

The moment he finished speaking, the bowing crowd exited the hall. There were no questions or hesitation. It didn’t even take ten seconds for the hall to empty.

She blinked dumbly, then looked up at Seth. He was looking at her with a strangely serious expression.

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No.”

Seth gave a wry smile.

“I thought everyone would like you, but seeing it happen makes me feel irritated.”

Huh? What was that supposed to mean? Did he dislike people welcoming me?

“Were you hoping I’d be met with disdainful glares, told I had no right to set foot in the Duke’s estate, and handed money to break up with you?”

“……Of course not.”

Seeing Seth’s bewildered expression reassured her. At least he wasn’t a complete sociopath.

“Then why are you upset?”

After a brief silence, Seth spoke.

“Because I was the one who found you first.”

“What?”

“I found you first, but seeing others like you makes me angry.”

Huh?

She stared at Seth with wide eyes. His gaze wavered slightly, and the tips of his ears turned a little red. She couldn’t help but tease him.

“But you weren’t the one who found me first. It was your subordinate who discovered me, and you just confirmed it.”

For a moment, Seth’s brow twitched.

“He’s my subordinate, so it’s the same as me finding you.”

“Oh?”

What kind of strange logic was that?

Her amusement made Seth’s ears turn even redder. He gave up on his stubborn argument and said:

“I know I’m being unreasonable.”

“It’s not unreasonable.”

Possessiveness was common, after all. Since Seth thought of her as his ‘dog,’ it wasn’t surprising that his sense of ownership might suddenly flare up.

While she accepted this easily, Seth looked startled.

“Not unreasonable?”

“Yes, it’s actually a fairly common feeling.”

She found Seth’s surprised reaction intriguing. He was a man who seemed so mature and capable of everything, yet he was oddly clumsy when it came to emotions.

‘Is he a science guy?’

As she got lost in thought, Seth stared at her intently. It was the kind of gaze that made her feel like he wanted to grab a pet dog and take endless photos of it. Feeling a sense of danger, she quickly smiled and added:

“Of course, just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s right. No matter how pretty I am, you can’t obsess over me.”

“Can’t, huh…”

Seth narrowed his eyes and smiled.

Suddenly feeling a chill, she slapped her knees and muttered, 

“Oh, my legs hurt!” 

Seth reluctantly dropped his intense gaze.

“I’ll take you to your room.”

Relieved, she hurriedly followed him. As they crossed the hall, Seth turned to her and said:

“If you get tired, just let me know. I’ll carry you.”

“What?”

Soon, she understood what he meant. After passing through a lavishly decorated corridor, they entered a room filled with books. Crossing the long room, they reached a hallway adorned with porcelain.

‘This place would be perfect for a room-escape game.’

She thought she’d love to try it someday and continued walking. She could feel Seth glancing at her occasionally. Determined not to be carried in an embarrassing manner, she deliberately walked with energy.

“We’re almost there.”

Seth opened a door, claiming it was the last one. Beyond it was a colonnaded corridor. Instead of a room, it led to a small garden, and she felt a sense of foreboding.

‘There’s no way there’s a doghouse here, right?’

She looked around nervously, hoping she was wrong. Seth led her to the end of the corridor where a white carriage adorned with flowers awaited. The carriage, with a sunshade instead of a roof, was stunningly beautiful. Even the horses pulling it were white.

“Wow, it’s really beautiful. Am I supposed to sleep here?”

She asked cautiously. Seth laughed as if she had made a joke. He picked her up and placed her in the carriage, whispering:

“I’ll take you somewhere better, Madam.”

For a moment, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. His already deep voice dropped even lower, making it impossible to ignore.

By the time she regained her senses, the carriage was already moving. Startled, she looked to her side and saw Seth holding the reins.

Wow, he even knows how to drive a carriage… No, wait, he’s actually driving a carriage?!

‘Is this really okay?’

As she worried about whether it was appropriate to make the noble Duke act as a coachman, the wind suddenly blew. The towering trees that surrounded them like walls disappeared, revealing a massive lake.

And in the middle of the lake stood a small castle. It looked like something out of Disneyland, as if fireworks would burst and a medley of dreams and fantasies would start playing any moment.

She was momentarily captivated by its beauty, but as the carriage approached the bridge leading to the castle, she snapped back to reality.

“Wait. Could it be…?”

Her voice trembled with unease, and Seth confirmed her fears.

“Yes, this is where you’ll stay.”

“…What?”

He had talked about living together, but why did it feel like I was being exiled?

***

Before coming here, Evelyn had stayed at the White Rose Mansion.

The mansion, standing alone in a desolate plain, was a very beautiful yet lonely place.

She was forbidden from going out, and the servants avoided getting close to her. The only things she could do were study etiquette, take walks in the garden, and wait for Seth, who might visit at any moment.

It was a somewhat lonely life, but she endured it. She told herself it was because she wasn’t ready yet and believed that if she just waited a little longer, the time would come when she could prove herself.

However, anxiety kept building in a corner of her heart. 

What if all Seth needed was someone to simply fill the position of a wife? 

The thought that this waiting could drag on for years made her feel miserable.

So when she heard the words about living together, she truly leaned on them. She thought it was finally the end of her “internship” and the beginning of her “full-time position.”

‘Who would have thought he’d prepare such a betrayal!’

Evelyn looked at the castle with a cold, dry gaze.

Up close, it sparkled even more beautifully. It looked like Cinderella in glass slippers might walk out of it at any moment. But no matter how beautiful it was, it was still just an exile.

‘The exterior is gorgeous, the interior is convenient, and everything is perfectly equipped. It’s the perfect place where I can’t go out, can’t talk to anyone, and will be constantly neglected. And if I dare to complain, I’ll probably just get told I’m ungrateful!’

Was this a new form of harassment? A kind of bullying through extravagant spending?