“Thank you.”

“Well then, rest well. It won’t take long to prepare your quarters.”

“Where will I be going?”

Celia looked at Eugen anxiously.

“Don’t worry. I’ll arrange a place where you can rest comfortably away from people’s eyes. Surely you don’t think there isn’t enough space in this vast mansion?”

“Of course not…”

“Then, rest.”

Eugen turned around after finishing his words neatly.

Thud.

Only after the door closed did Celia slowly lean back against the cushion behind her.

“What on earth have I done?”

She couldn’t forget the words she had boldly shouted. What on earth had she done to the Duke…

Celia recalled the memory of the day that started all this.

“You’re going to have a child?”

Celia placed her hand on her stomach. The Hilbert bloodline that might have been conceived from just one night’s relationship.

There was no such thing from the beginning.

3. The Contract

“She’s quite a looker. You’ll probably get a pretty baby. This child’s mother was quite a beauty too. Although the father is in that state…”

The old woman who acted as a matchmaker in the village kept talking non-stop. In the direction the old woman pointed with her chin was her father, sitting near the stove, gulping down a bottle of alcohol. His eyes were cloudy, and the hand holding the bottle was constantly trembling.

“The child is very smart. She’s also very capable. She’s been supporting her younger sibling alone. Before her mother died, she even took care of her all by herself…”

“Ahem.”

As if further explanation was bothersome, Duke Hilbert cleared his throat.

“Oh my, look at me. That’s not important. First, look. This beautiful blonde hair, and emerald eyes that shine like jewels… Isn’t it perfect? Her skin is also white and soft. Although her hands are rough from working a lot, that will recover quickly with proper care.”

Celia was being appraised in detail by the two people as if she were a piece of raw meat in a butcher shop. Her clueless younger sister was just looking at the visitors with curious eyes.

“Appearance is quite an important factor too. Of course, if they inherit Your Grace’s blood, they’ll all be precious, but…”

The corners of the old woman’s mouth were trembling slightly as she continued speaking. Her eyes quickly scanned the Duke’s sagging cheeks and snake-like narrow, wicked-looking eyes.

“Raise your head.”

Despite the Duke’s order, Celia’s face wouldn’t lift.

“Celia, what are you doing? Hurry…”

Before the old woman could finish urging, the Duke lifted Celia’s chin with the tip of his cane.

“……”

With her face forcibly lifted, Celia had to meet the Duke’s eyes.

“Yes, quite usable.”

The Duke’s oily voice now had pleasure in it. With her face humiliatingly lifted by the tip of the cane, Celia was fully evaluated under the Duke’s creepy gaze.

“Isn’t she? I told you I have an eye for these things.”

“I’ll take this girl.”

Celia’s eyes widened in shock at those words.

“I’ve finished talking with your father, Celia.”

As the old woman shook her head, Celia opened her mouth.

“Of course, it’s not for free. This person isn’t like that. He’ll naturally pay a fair price. Here, this is the advance payment.”

The old woman placed a large bundle of money on the table before Celia could object.

“You just need to sign here.”

The document the old woman handed over was filled with all sorts of difficult legal terms. But it wasn’t too hard to understand the content.

It detailed the advance payment to be received before marrying Andro, the costs to be paid during the marriage, and the amount of money to be received if she bore an heir.

“……”

Celia stared at the document for a long time. Although the words were difficult, it wasn’t completely incomprehensible, and so she knew well how inhumane and unethical this contract was.

“I…”

Faced with the actual document, Celia hesitated greatly.

“Think about Sophie. How long are you going to let her grow up under a drunkard father?”

In the direction the old woman pointed with her chin was Sophie, who was constantly coughing. She had been sickly since birth and was smaller than other girls her age.

“He’ll give you a lot of money. And he’ll take care of your family throughout. This is an incredible opportunity.”

At the devilishly sweet whispered words, she began to waver again.

“You’re going to produce an heir for the Duke.”

“An heir…?”

Celia’s face turned pale.

“Yes. An heir. You’ll bear the Duke’s child. What could be more glorious than this? From this house that’s worse than a pigsty, you…”

“Bu-but.”

As Celia looked with bewildered eyes, the old woman quickly grabbed Celia’s arm and pulled her up.

“We need to talk separately for a moment.”

The old woman, who had dragged her to the kitchen, whispered in a lowered voice.

“If you don’t go, I’ll have to get back the debt your father incurred in advance and the unpaid bar tab.”

“What?”

Celia looked at the old woman in shock.

“Oh my, didn’t you know? The kind-hearted Duke paid off all the debts your father incurred and the unpaid bar tab.”

“All… of it?”

“Yes, all of it. And that’s not all. He said he’d take full responsibility for your sister’s medical expenses too.”

“Sophie’s medical expenses?”

“Of course. And all the other money too. You know you have quite a bit of debt in your name, right?”

“……”

Celia’s mouth clamped shut at the old woman’s words. Her father, Gilmore, had not only incurred debts in his own name but had also racked up a lot of debt by selling his daughter’s name.

Celia was in a position where she had to pay off both her father’s debts and her own. The old woman’s words were a reminder of this. Even more frightening words followed.

“You might have to work in a bar until you die. Do you think opportunities like this are common? Moreover, he’s willing to take you in as the Duchess. What could you be more grateful for than this?”

A sound of clicking tongue was heard, seemingly telling her to be grateful. Celia barely suppressed the feeling of nausea that was somehow rising.

“You’re going to become the Duchess of Hilbert now. All you have to think about is bearing his child and living happily. You’ll spend your days thinking about where to spend money all day long.”

The old woman kept talking non-stop, smiling as if she herself was becoming the Duchess.

“Why would such a high-ranking person want to buy a woman for marriage? Surely from noble families…”

“Well, even high-ranking people have their circumstances.”

The old woman said with an ambiguous smile.

“Doesn’t he have an heir? A son to inherit the title…”

“He does. He has a grown-up son. But… the more children, the better. This is a good opportunity. Think about it. How much would he dote on a late child at that age? His favor towards you, who bore that child, would be indescribably great. He’d probably grant you anything you want.”

The old woman’s eyes were shining ominously.

“Of course, only if you agree. In that case, the money your father borrowed and the bar tab…”

It meant there were no other options.

“I understand.”

Celia spoke without thinking any further.

“I’ll do it. I’ll do it.”

“You’ve thought well. This is an opportunity that’s hard to come by in life. It’s best to grab it without missing it.”

“……”

“Well then, shall we go?”

The old woman took Celia’s hand and entered the living room again.

“Have I kept you ben waiting? It seems she was shy because she’s a pure child who’s never met a man before, and suddenly there’s talk of marriage.”

“…Is she certainly pure?”

“Of course. I’ve been watching her since she was young. She probably hasn’t even shown her wrist to anyone. She has a body perfectly clean for conceiving the seed of the Duke’s family.”

Celia’s face turned red with shame at the old woman’s blatant words.

“Now then, sign here.”

The old woman didn’t miss the opportunity and held out the contract to Celia. Before she knew it, Celia was holding a quill pen dipped in ink, and a moment later, when she came to her senses, everything was already over.

“He says he’ll send a carriage in three days. Make all preparations by then.”

***

The carriage carrying Celia ran non-stop from the countryside to the Duke’s mansion.