While everyone’s attention was focused on one man, Celia tried to straighten her shoulders.

“By the way… doesn’t he seem even more handsome than before?”

An excited voice was heard, followed by the ladies in conversation sighing softly in agreement.

“Wearing mourning clothes, his melancholic beauty stands out even more.”

“That’s right. He’s the spitting image of the late duchess.”

“Thank goodness he doesn’t resemble the duke.”

“Indeed. That perfect bloodline went entirely to him……”

“Now that he’ll inherit the title, all the matchmakers in the capital will be eyeing him.”

“I wonder who will become the new duchess……”

“Oh my, she’s right in front of us.”

At those words, a low, tittering laugh was heard.

“Wait, what does this mean? Isn’t that widow Lord Eugen’s new mother?”

“Oh my……”

While everyone lowered their voices, seemingly scandalized, the young duke had approached right next to where Celia was.

Celia instinctively turned her head towards the man standing right beside her.

Although it was hard to see clearly through the black veil, she could tell he was a beautiful man handsome enough to steal everyone’s gaze.

She could feel glances being cast here and there at him, who had arrived late to the funeral. The subject of those gazes calmly sat down in the seat prepared for him, right next to Celia.

The momentarily interrupted memorial service for the deceased resumed. The sound of the bishop praying and the heavy, mournful notes of the requiem once again filled the chapel.

Only one thing had changed. But with that, everything changed. The light illuminating the chapel, the music, and even the subtle flow of air.

With his appearance, the boring and tedious funeral began to take on a strange vitality. Everyone, without exception, glanced at where the young duke was seated, some even craning their necks to peek.

Especially the noble young ladies of marriageable age, starting from their parents, and even other married noble ladies, all watched him intently.

Because of this, Celia couldn’t help but be conscious of the man sitting right next to her.

Eugen von Hilbert.

He was the sole heir of the long-established Hilbert ducal family. His noble bloodline, as the noble ladies had gossiped, if one were to be precise, was inherited not from his father lying in the coffin there, but from his mother.

The previous Duke Hilbert, worried that his sickly only daughter would be left alone after his death, had brought in a son-in-law from a humble noble family to continue the family line. That was Andro, and he had only one child, Eugen, with Violetta, the duke’s daughter.

He was also the husband who had died right after consummating with Celia on their wedding night. So Eugen, who was sitting next to her, was nominally her stepson.

A woman who became a widow on her wedding night and her stepson.

Just the sight of the two sitting together was enough to arouse people’s curiosity. She’s already the subject of malicious interest from people, and with Eugen’s presence added, Celia felt like she was going to die. If it weren’t for the veil covering her face in layers, it would have been impossible to bear all those gazes.

Was the young duke, sitting there without such protection, alright? He must be unbearably uncomfortable.

Celia quietly turned her gaze towards where Eugen was sitting from behind her veil. Throughout the funeral, Eugen’s gaze was fixed on the coffin where his father lay.

His form, visible through the black veil, had been fixed since earlier. Because the veil obscured her vision, it was difficult to know exactly what expression he was making.

How absurd must it have been for him to return home upon hearing of his father’s death, only to find his father’s wife, who’s younger than himself, sitting at the funeral? Even if he looked at her with eyes full of contempt, there was nothing she could do.

“……”

Celia suddenly felt a chill down her spine. It seemed that his gaze, which had been fixed on the coffin where his father lay, was now directed at her.

‘Did he look at me?’

Even through the darkened view, she could clearly feel it. That Eugen had looked at her.

Celia quickly turned her head away from him to look forward. Her heart suddenly started pounding so hard it felt like it might burst out. Was this what it felt like to be bound by invisible chains?

Even after turning her head, she strangely kept feeling his gaze. But she didn’t have the courage to check if he was still looking at her.

‘Please end soon.’

Celia prayed. Perhaps due to nervousness, sweat began to soak through her lace gloves.

It was just eye contact through the veil. Such things can happen anytime. Don’t get unnecessarily nervous.

As she was repeating these words like a mantra and swallowing dry saliva, it happened.

“We will now give you time for a final farewell.”

Before closing the lid of the coffin, time was given for the immediate family to say their last goodbyes.

Celia hesitantly approached the coffin. Naturally thinking that Eugen, as the eldest son, would take his time to mourn first, she waited a step back, but Eugen remained in his place.

“Please go first.”

The bishop, seeming to understand Eugen’s intention, spoke to Celia. She approached the coffin with tense movements.

Andro’s face, surrounded by white roses, looked both peaceful and not. The eyes that had been wide open immediately after death were now comfortably closed.

“……”

Celia closed her eyes quietly with her hands clasped. It felt strange to be praying for a husband who had died right after their wedding night, but she had to appear sufficiently reverent in others’ eyes.

After a brief moment of mourning, it was Eugen’s turn. He, like Celia had done, clasped his hands and took a moment of deep mourning. It was amazing to her that he could maintain such dignity in the face of his father’s death.

As the lid of the large coffin was closed, Celia and Eugen returned to their seats. The bishop then resumed the final prayer for eternal rest.

“…With the call of God, we conclude the eternal rest prayer for Duke Andro von Hilbert.”

As the long prayer ended, so did the funeral mass.

Celia let out a repressed sigh as soon as the bishop’s words concluded. Finally, the suffocating time was over.

It was a sigh of relief from the whispers behind her back, the uncomfortable seat next to her intimidating stepson, and the fear of meeting someone’s gaze. However, it wasn’t entirely over yet.

Celia quickly rose from her seat. Worried that her actions might have been too hasty, she glanced around but fortunately, no one seemed to be paying her any attention amidst the chaotic atmosphere.

With the official proceedings over, the only task left was to transport the body to the family cemetery where only direct descendants of the Hilbert family could be laid to rest. According to the young duke’s wishes, the official funeral ended here.

Celia looked around once more as the guests who had filled the chapel began to leave one by one. The chapel, once packed, emptied quickly.

In the now silent and serene chapel, Celia watched Eugen, who had not yet left. Through her black veil, she saw the young duke—now the actual duke—standing solemnly before his father’s coffin.

Despite the layers of veils, Eugen’s presence was undeniable. The aura of dignity and pressure he exuded was unlike any other man. It was something she had never felt from his late father, the previous duke. If this was how he felt through a veil, meeting his gaze directly without any barrier would be…

Celia clenched her gloved hands tighter. She was thankful once more for the veil that concealed her face. Facing the young duke without any protection would have been daunting.

“You will be transported to the family cemetery by carriage.”

Willem, the head butler of the Hilbert family, said to Celia. She managed a small nod.

“Shall we go, Duchess?”

Celia focused solely on following the old butler. She could feel the piercing gaze from behind, but she chose to ignore it.