Chapter 33. The Power of Love

After finishing breakfast, during a peaceful time of drinking tea, Francis Castle was thrown into chaos by Camilla’s sudden announcement.

“I’ve decided to marry Aster Blanche.”

“Sis!”

“Sis!”

Catherine and Edith jumped up from their seats, shouting. Just a few days ago, she had sworn she wouldn’t marry, but now she had changed her mind as quickly as flipping a hand.

In contrast, the Duke of Francis sighed deeply like he had expected this, and rubbed his forehead. Although he had somewhat prepared himself after inviting Aster last time, hearing it directly from his daughter felt different. He asked quietly,

“So, you’ve decided to go through with it.”

You’re really going to marry into the Blanche family?

The Duke murmured, suppressing his complex emotions, and Camilla answered plainly.

“Yes.”

Her confident smile made the Duke laugh helplessly. She looked exactly like his late wife when she smiled like that.

No one could stop her when she smiled like that.

The Duke murmured, feeling a nostalgic longing.

“You’re just like your mother at times like this.”

“Where do you think that stubbornness comes from?”

“That boy must have seduced you with his handsome face.”

“Just like you did, Father?”

Camilla giggled as she retorted, and the Duke’s lips twitched before he burst out laughing. He reminisced about his past romantic days as he spoke lazily.

“Yes. That’s right. Your mother did like my face.”

“Seems you can’t deny your blood.”

“Yes. And that’s why I’m even more worried. I fear that boy might be all show and no substance.”

“Hey. Didn’t Mother choose well with you?”

Camilla smiled slyly, hiding the fact that it was a contract marriage. Mentioning her mother surprisingly softened the Duke’s expression.

The softened atmosphere was short-lived as Catherine, who had been listening to the conversation, couldn’t hold back and slammed the table.

“I object to this marriage!”

“I object!”

“You said you wouldn’t marry! You said you’d stay with us forever, Sis!”

“A lifelong single woman!”

As Edith chimed in, the room grew noisy. Camilla looked at the twins and said,

“Getting married doesn’t mean we’ll be separated forever. The Blanche estate and Francis estate are on the same planet, after all.”

“What if you get mistreated there? If you’re going, take us with you!”

“Right! We can’t let you go alone to that den of evil, Sister!”

They seemed ready to secretly follow her, hiding in her luggage. Camilla spoke to Catherine and Edith as if she had expected this.

“Cathy, Eddie. Do I look so weak that I’d be mistreated by the Blanches? If you think that, I’m disappointed.”

Catherine and Edith’s eyes wavered greatly, their eyebrows dropping. Catherine rolled her eyes and said,

“Huh? That’s not it, but…”

“Of course, Sis will win! Who dares challenge you in Blanche?”

“Yes! Yes! Our Sis is the best, super strong! Everyone will die!”

Their desperate attempts to recover the situation were quite cute. Camilla patted the twins’ heads and said,

“Right. I will swallow Blanche whole, so our Cathy and Eddie must get along well.”

“…Okay.”

Catherine realized too late that she hadn’t even recovered her initial position and answered reluctantly. Edith also had a regretful look on his face. At that moment, the Duke changed the topic.

“By the way, the dowry issue is concerning. I can already see how unreasonable their demands will be.”

“Oh, about that.”

Camilla smiled as if she had just remembered. She had been planning to discuss this issue with the Duke anyway.

It was a strategy she had come up with after hearing the unreasonable dowry demands from the Duke of Blanche last time.

“How about using what they want against them? A strategy of pretending to give an arm while striking the head.”

“The head?”

A sharp light flashed in the Duke’s blue eyes. Camilla grinned and explained her idea.

* * *

The Duchess of Blanche looked at Camilla with a sour expression. It was a meeting to discuss the dowry and other schedules before the wedding.

‘So this is how far they’ll go.’

Isabelle, who wanted to stop the marriage more than anyone, was very displeased with the current situation.

After the debutante, Aster declared his intention to marry, catching the Duke of Blanche off guard, making it impossible to delay.

The Duke of Blanche looked pleased with the news of the marriage to Francis. He seemed very satisfied that Aster had successfully secured the young duke of Francis.

On the other hand, Isabelle was uncomfortable. Holding both the engagement and wedding ceremonies simultaneously was suspiciously hasty.

She had planned to drive them away with unreasonable demands that they would find intolerable.

“What did you just say?”

“I said I would bring the Rain Mine as dowry, as you wish.”

Isabelle was stunned by the calm smile accompanying the words.

That issue had already caused a major conflict among the Dukes. In the long run, the Rain Mine was a goldmine, so Francis would never give it up.

She had planned to harass them by persistently bringing it up, but now it seemed futile without even trying. It was strange enough that Francis agreed to the marriage, but giving away the mine was even more baffling.

“Weren’t you furious before? And now?”

What’s your scheme?

She held back the urge to say this out loud. Camilla, enjoying Isabelle’s discomfiture, spoke elegantly.

“Since we are about to become in-laws, I thought we should show some sincerity from our side as well.”

Since when did Blanche and Francis show sincerity to each other?

Isabelle was exasperated by the calm response. She was sure they were planning something under the guise of giving away the Rain Mine. The relationship between the two families had always been too strained for such goodwill.

“This is unusual. So, what does Francis want in return for the mine?”

“First, please entrust the management of the Rain Mine to Aster Blanche. After all, I am giving it to my husband, so it’s only right.”

Of course.

Francis wasn’t going to give away the Rain Mine so easily. Isabelle’s expression hardened as she spoke.

“You plan to make Aster a puppet manager and pretend you’ve given a generous dowry?”

“What do you mean? Aster is also a Blanche and an heir. I don’t see how his management would be a disadvantage to Blanche.”

Isabelle was at a loss for words at Camilla’s counterargument. As she said, there was no real issue with that.

The Duke of Blanche wouldn’t care who owned it as long as it benefited the business.

“What’s your real intention?”

“What do you mean? It’s disappointing that you don’t understand my sincerity.”

Despite her words, Camilla’s face showed no sign of disappointment. She even added a playful smile, further mocking Isabelle.

Isabelle appeared visibly anxious. She probably hadn’t expected Francis to push for the marriage so aggressively.

Unlike the prolonged engagement, the wedding preparations were proceeding rapidly.

‘She would be shocked to know about the deal between the Duke of Blanche and Aster.’

Camilla recalled her conversation with Aster after they decided to marry. It was the first time they had worked together.

‘First, I will give you wings to freely move within Blanche.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘We give the Duke of Blanche what he wants. Of course, we won’t actually give it to him, but make him believe he has it.’

‘What the Duke wants…’

‘Ask to be recognized as the official heir in exchange for the Rain Mine. The most important thing is to make the Duke believe I am deeply in love with you.’

There was no better cover for tricking the Duke of Blanche, who believed that a woman in love would make foolish choices.

Camilla planned to use the Duke’s narrow-mindedness to blind him and infiltrate Blanche deeply.

‘But isn’t the Rain Mine quite crucial for Francis? It won’t be easy to take it back.’

‘Who said we would give it all? I will give it to you. I’ll make it seem like I’m so in love with you that I’d give up anything… Besides, what’s yours is now mine, isn’t it?’

What did Aster said to her bold question?

‘You know very well. Take it all. If possible, take me with you and don’t think about giving me back.’

His cheeky and sly answer had made her laugh.

And now, Aster had already received the Duke of Blanche’s approval. It was the same night he had announced their marriage.

Camilla, feeling sorry for the clueless Isabelle, spoke plainly.

“We have already discussed everything with Father. He has gladly given his permission.”

“You mean you met the Duke?”

“No. Aster did. He talked about the dowry when he said we would marry.”

Camilla’s sharp words made Isabelle’s face turn pale. She finally realized that Aster and the Duke of Blanche had made some sort of deal.

“…You’ve really made up your mind.”

Isabelle tried to remain calm as she answered. But Camilla’s next words made it hard to stay composed. Camilla blushed slightly and said,

“It’s all thanks to the power of love.”

She looked like a shy girl experiencing her first love.