Chapter 1 – Part 3

Raphael had probably come all this way to find out the reason why she had rejected his proposal, but she had no intention of telling him the details.

Instead, she had a meaningful proposal for him.

Raphael had grown up feeling inferior to the Marquis of Winston.

Perhaps, that was to be expected.

It might sound absurd for a higher-ranked Duke to feel inferior to a Marquis, but Kristin learned that fact after marrying Raphael.

-“I don’t like Winston at all. He has always cleverly blocked my path since I was a child, and seeing that bastard go around smiling kindly infuriates me even more.”

And, in addition to that, he told her.

-“When I heard that he had been infatuated with you since you were childhood playmates, I was convinced. I swore to take away your existence from that bastard. He must experience firsthand what it’s like to lose someone you love.”

If nothing else, he didn’t marry Kristin because he loved her, he used her.

Kristin couldn’t even respond.

She clenched her hands into fists to keep them from trembling, but it took all her strength.

After clenching her hands into fists, she said it to him again.

-So, you’re telling me you didn’t marry me because you love me?

-Why should I love you, Kristin?

Kristin was devastated by his words. She hadn’t been so shocked at the time, but not now.

“Kristin.”

“….”

Raphael gently took Kristin’s shoulder as she stared blankly into the mirror, lost in thought, and called her name once more.

“Kristin.”

“Oh, yes, Your Grace.”

“What are you thinking about so deeply? I’d like you to tell me the reason why you rejected my proposal. I need to understand. If you don’t tell me, then in this room…”

“I’ll tell you. There wasn’t much reason for tearing up the proposal letter, Your Grace.”

“What?”

“I had doubts. I simply doubted whether I, myself, was suitable to marry the most outstanding Duke in the Union Empire. I thought you and I were not a good match.”

“So that was the reason.”

Kristin lied to Raphael, but it was partly true.

She and Raphael were not compatible at all.

If she had known how much he enjoyed slandering others, being obsessive, and taking things, she would have never married him in the first place.

If she had known how low he was, she would not have loved him.

The Duke spoke without knowing Kristin’s hatred for him.

“Look at yourself in the mirror.”

Raphael, holding Kristin’s shoulder, pointed to the mirror with one hand.

“Look closely at the woman in there. Her flowing red hair and beautiful eyes, not to mention the etiquette and grace befitting a noble lady, and she even has such wonderful needlework skills.”

“Needlework skills?”

Kristin caressed her fingers.

If there was one thing she had forgotten all this time, it was her embroidery skills.

She engraved the family crest on Raphael’s uniform and carved a blue rose, symbolizing unwavering love and miracles, on the handkerchief she gave him, which she had always carried as her mother’s heirloom.

To Kristin, Raphael had been a miraculous presence in her life, but now all that meaning has changed.

“I’m sorry, but I had my aide do some research on you, Kristin, and I’ve been told that you’ve had exceptional needlework skills since you were young.”

“Embroidery was something my mother taught me during her lifetime. I started when I was seven years old.”

Kristin, looking away from the mirror, spoke to Raphael.

“Anyway, that’s not important now. Instead, if you can give me your assurance, I will marry you, Your Grace.”

The Duke was surprised by Kristin’s changed attitude but didn’t pay much attention to it.

“Could it be that Kristin has also returned from death?”

After observing Kristin, the Duke pulled out a small box from his jacket and shook it.

“I’m not sure if this item would give you the assurance you need.”

“Your Grace?”

Kristin looked surprised as the Duke revealed the box.

Inside the box was a ring with a sapphire set in it, the same ring the Duke had given Kristin as a wedding day gift in their past lives.

“It’s a little early, but it’s for you anyway, so it doesn’t matter when I give this to you. If you knew how much I had to search all over to find this ring, you’d be surprised.”

However, Kristin didn’t feel much emotion looking at the ring.

She knew that ring would eventually be taken from her and placed on the finger of the neighboring princess, Rebella.

But Kristin didn’t want to be disappointed the second time around.

After receiving the ring from Raphael, she told him how beautiful it was and asked him to put it on her finger.

“I would like you to put this ring on me on our wedding day, Your Grace!”

“Then does that mean you’re accepting my proposal?”

“Of course. If I’m the kind of woman worthy of wearing this ring, perhaps I could be a good match for you, Your Grace. I rejected your proposal before because I thought myself unworthy, but now that you’ve assured me, I would like to marry you.”

“Alright then. Let’s set the date for a week from now.”

“But.”

“What? Is there something else you want to say?”

“I have a favor to ask. I would like you to invite the Marquis of Winston Zenon to the wedding, and I would be most grateful if you could send the invitation on my behalf.”

At the sound of Marquis Winston Zenon’s name on Kristin’s lips, Raphael frowned for a moment, then smiled again at the request for an invitation.

“Wasn’t it the Marquis of Winston who asked you to dance at your debut? I’ve also heard that he doted on you. Sending a wedding invitation to the Marquis seems a bit cruel, don’t you think?”

“But even so, I want to show the Marquis that Kristin, who used to be his playmate, is now getting married. I’d like to receive his congratulations as well.”

“Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. I’ll send invitations in my name to all the nobles, not a single one will be left out in the Empire.”

In truth, Kristin didn’t want to hurt Marquis Winston Zenon’s feelings.

Rather, she wanted to invite him so that she could humiliate Raphael in front of the nobility with just a word.

She wanted to heal the sorrow she had experienced in her previous life, even if it was just a little.

“Thank you so much, Your Grace.”

“You are more than welcome. Then, Kristin, I will leave you with the assurance that I have heard your answer. I will meet you again in a week at Grace Hall.

“I will send you a generous dowry in a letter in two days, and you may spend it as you please; and if you need anything else, you may go down the street to the shops and put my name to it, and you will not have to pay.”

“Thank you for your consideration.”

“You have my gratitude.”

Raphael the Duke felt joy at the prospect of being able to frustrate the Marquis of Winston, whom he had always felt was above him.

He thought to himself.

‘Kristin has always been so obedient, both before and now. As long as she continues to listen to me so well, I’ll make sure no harm comes to her. If I can figure out the culprit, I’ll graciously let her go.’

As Raphael looked at Kristin, she thought to herself, ‘Just one more week. Just one more week, and I can escape from the Duke. And I’ll never be involved with him again.’

The two smiled at each other, each with their own thoughts.