Negotiations had seemed to be going well. But then, unexpectedly, everything changed. Despite repeated attempts to contact the duke afterwards, there was never a response.

Frustrated and confused, the Count finally began to understand the situation when Jérôme returned home and mentioned Yuis.

“Why did Yuis marry Duke Descartes, Father?”

Unconcerned with the family’s prosperity or his father’s ambitions, Jérôme made it clear that he would not back down until he received an answer.

Suppressing his anger, Count Remy shot back.

“Then tell me—who else was I supposed to send as Descartes’ bride?”

“Even knowing she was a maid, did that man still accept Yuis Everett?”

‘Impossible.’

Despite his reputation as a warmonger and a cold-blooded man, Descartes’ empire was immensely powerful — far beyond Darec’s reach.

The idea of the duke of such a nation marrying a maid from a fallen noble house made no sense.

Tapping his fingers rhythmically against the desk, Jim Remy fell silent for a moment before finally speaking.

He knew that revealing the truth to Jerome might only fuel his obsession with Yuis Everett. But there was no other way to suppress it.

“She is Yuis Johannes.”

“…What?”

Jerome couldn’t believe his ears.

“She went not as a maid from the fallen Everett family, but under the distant branch of the House of Johannes.”

Although Lady Terian frequently appeared in public, she rarely invited men to her mansion. This was her way of ensuring that there would be no room for scandal. Consequently, the only people familiar with Yuis face were a few young noblewomen who were close to Terian.

Jerome let out a dry laugh and ran a hand through his hair.

Now it made sense — the way that man had treated Yuis as though she were a precious treasure.

The House of Johannes had secured ties to the Duke of Descartes, even over the Princess of Hétar. Jerome recalled the headlines he had briefly glanced at.

Of course, it was obvious. It was better to ally with the House of Johannes than to be bound to a foreign princess who would have to be served for the rest of his life.

Jerome began chuckling to himself. His father was now staring at him as if he were insane, but to Jerome, the real lunatics were Darec’s king and nobles.

“If things were going to turn out like this, you might as well have married Deina off to that barbarian.”

He spoke coldly, his eyes fixed on Count Remy. That ridiculous marriage had made Yuis Everett the Duchess of Descartes.

“If you had, Father, then the Duchess of Kalang would be your daughter, my sister. So why didn’t you send her?”

He found it laughable.

The nobles scorned the cold, desolate north, yet their mockery concealed fear; they clung desperately to whatever power they had left. However, when it came to their own daughters, they drew the line, refusing to sacrifice them for political gain, even as they scrambled to win the favour of Duke Descartes.

“You’ve let the best marriage prospect slip through your fingers, Father.”

“Jerome Remy. Watch your tongue.”

“Ah, but then again, it had to be the Johannes family anyway. So perhaps Deina never stood a chance.”

Count Remy let out a long sigh.

“If the truth about Yuis Everett not being a real Johannes were ever revealed, Father…”

Count Remy took a moment to respond, narrowing his eyes at his son.

“Is that truly what concerns you, Jerome? Or is it simply that you cannot stomach the fact that Yuis Everett is in that man’s hands?”

Pierced to the core, Jérôme shifted his gaze aside.

Again, the memory returned — of the man walking towards him that day.

Warmonger. Murderer. All the names he had mocked the man with before now seemed meaningless.

In truth, Duke Descartes was an imposing figure — far more so than Jérôme had expected.

If Jerome had had such looks, he would have flaunted them endlessly. But with Descartes, it was as if everything about him was deliberately hidden beneath layers of mystery.

Count Jim Remy lowered his gaze to the documents spread out on his desk.

Intervening directly would only escalate the situation unnecessarily.

Moreover, Jérôme’s firm tone made it clear that something had already happened.

Reaching towards the cigar box, Count Remy pulled out a fresh cigar and remained silent until it had burned halfway down.

“Jérôme, I’m granting you permission because I believe you will handle this well.”

Jérôme nodded in response, then left the study lightly.

The thought of seeing Yuis again filled him with lazy anticipation.

A pleased smile tugged at his lips as he walked back to his room at a leisurely pace, feeling a languid warmth spread through him with every step.

***

Pierced by the morning sunlight, Yuis slowly opened her eyes.

After returning to their suite following a day that had felt like a dream, she and Edric had enjoyed a lovely dinner together, accompanied by her favourite fruit wine.

The entire day had been sweet, filling her rosy cheeks with a healthy flush and leaving a constant smile on her lips.

But what began that night had continued until dawn.

From the moment she woke up, she was hit by an overwhelming sensation, as though her entire body had been struck at once. Every inch of her body ached and protested against the slightest movement.

Yuis let out a soft, pained moan as she carefully climbed out of bed.

With each step, a heavy, throbbing pain pulsed through her.

When she entered the bathroom and faced her reflection, she was shocked.

Her entire body was flushed red.

Handprints and bite marks trailed down her chest and between her thighs from her collarbone. The traces of him were everywhere.

Supporting herself against the wall, she closed her eyes briefly and the memory of the previous night flooded back.

The man who had driven her relentlessly beyond her limits — far more intensely than on their first night together — flashed through her mind.

The gleam in his eyes as he watched her tremble with pleasure, savouring the tears that slipped from her eyes, remained vivid in her memory.

Her own voice had risen to heights she could not believe had come from her, mingling with Edric’s heated, rough breathing.

She remembered the sight of his cold, burning blue eyes locking with hers and her body trembling under his gaze. She remembered the way his lips softly landed one by one on her forehead, nose, cheeks and finally her lips.

Whenever she fell asleep and woke up again, it was as if everything started all over again.

Unlike the hazy memories of their first night together, Yuis remembered everything from last night with perfect clarity.

During their many passionate encounters, Edric always pulled away before finishing inside her. He didn’t want to risk having a child.

Even without him saying so, Yuis knew exactly how important an heir would be to him, the sole Duke of Kalang.

Each time he pulled away at the very brink of climax, her understanding of this became clearer.

This must also have been part of what he meant when he once told her, “Simply protect your place as the Duchess.”

Last night, Yuis had fully realized the limits of what Edric would permit.

She knew she would never be allowed to cross that line.

Letting out a faint sigh, she lifted her head and stared into the mirror.

Although she could see her reflection, she felt strangely disconnected from it.

It felt like a dream, yet the marks on her body were undeniable proof that everything had been real.

After washing up, Yuis slowly made her way to the suite’s sitting room.

There, she found Edric.

He was calmly drinking his strong coffee and reading the newspaper.

The moment their eyes met, vivid memories of the previous night flashed through Yuis mind.

Her face flushed instantly and burned hot, while her gaze flitted around helplessly, unsure where to look.

But Edric remained as composed as ever.

He was perfectly dressed, looking as elegant as ever with a faint, cool smile on his face.

He gave her a slight nod.

In the spot he had gestured towards, her usual morning black tea had already been prepared.

Trying to hide her wince at the pain she felt with every step, Yuis carefully made her way over and sat down opposite Edric.

As she sipped her tea, Edric briefly outlined the day’s agenda.

They had received an invitation to the royal palace of Hetar, where they were due to have tea with the princess.

“If you don’t want to go, just say.”

“No, meeting the Princess of Hetar is part of the Duchess of Descartes’ duties, isn’t it?”

She didn’t want to disappoint him. She wanted to fulfil her role as Duchess of Descartes to the best of her ability.