Chapter 7 (Part 7)

At the same time, Frey received a report that Anthus had spent a night with Yuliana at the Drabianz Hotel.

“Yan, really…”

Philip, who was receiving the report alongside, spoke with a dissatisfied expression.

“Is this all he spent on a date?”

Ferrell broke into a sweat at Philip and Frey’s words. He wanted to tell Frey and Philip that Anthus spent a lot of money, but he knew well that the amount Anthus spent on Yuliana didn’t meet Frey and Philip’s expectations, so he kept his mouth shut.

“Ferrell, it seems Yan isn’t spending much money on Lia. What if our Yan gets abandoned?”

“Then how about spending more money on decorating the engagement ceremony?”

Currently, their engagement ceremony was being decorated more lavishly than even the Imperial Family’s.

“I wanted to spend more, but they refused.”

“When I got married to Rey, the merchants were good at overcharging… These days, merchants seem too honest in their dealings.”

Initially, many merchants cheered at the enormous transactions with the Rockbellion family. However, those cheers soon turned into groans due to Philip and Frey’s excessive demands.

Merchants pleaded with Philip and Frey, saying they couldn’t charge more. However, the couple’s excessive demands, who were so alike, did not stop.

All merchants could no longer impose various surcharges.

The reason they couldn’t impose more surcharges was simple. It was the famous Rockbellion family’s engagement ceremony. Many nobles attending the event would inquire about the various indoor decorations and items from the merchants. If they sold something worth 1 gold for 100 gold, no one would buy it, and rumors of overcharging would spread.

<Please, please don’t raise the prices any more.>

<Instead, just give us flour bread, and we’ll prepare hardworking workers. Just raise their wages instead.>

The merchants, with a heart full of regret, pleaded all day long to persuade Frey and Phillip.

In the end, they decided to increase the workers’ wages. Thanks to that, the workers’ morale skyrocketed.

All the workforce divided their time and worked tirelessly 24 hours a day, decorating and decorating again.

“We have nowhere else to spend money, Ferrell.”

Agreeing with Frey’s words, Ferrell nodded.

“Then why not wait for the two out there to have a cozy time together and return?”

Looking at the gently smiling Ferrell, Frey once again wore a worried expression.

“I’m worried Yan might be tormenting Lia too much… He’s not pushing her like a beast, is he?”

“He might have taken after me…”

Frey and Phillip sighed deeply.

* * *

The morning of the engagement ceremony dawned. All the servants in the Ducal residence were bustling around.

Yuliana also entered the bathtub with half-open eyes and received a massage, but she was still in a daze.

“It’s today, Young Lady. Pull yourself together.”

“Luda, am I really holding an engagement ceremony with the Duke?”

“Yes, that’s right! Why are you so listless, Young Lady?”

Yuliana yawned widely and stretched.

“I was so excited about the engagement ceremony that I couldn’t sleep.”

To wake Yuliana up, Luda brought her favorite lemon tea.

“You won’t be able to eat all day today, so endure with lemon tea.”

“I know. I know I have to fast today.”

After Yuliana finished her lemon tea, Luda, along with Head maid Sydney and five other maids, entered the room.

“We will make you the most beautiful today.”

Including Luda, the maids’ expressions were extremely serious.

“Thank you. I’m counting on you.”

“Hello, future Duchess. I’m Windy, in charge of hair.”

“Okay.”

“Let’s start with your hair.”

Yuliana’s golden hair was braided into two parts and then styled up. It was a style that made her white neck stand out prominently.

Pearl powder was sprinkled on her hair. It felt even more glamorous because of her golden hair.

“How is it? Do you like the hair?”

“Windy, you have excellent skills.”

Her reflection in the mirror looked unfamiliar. Perhaps because the maids were so skilled, Yuliana was satisfied with her beautifully transformed appearance. Windy was genuinely delighted by Yuliana’s compliment.

“Thank you. Please take care of me from now on.”

“The pleasure is mine.”

“Young Lady, since your hair is done, we’ll bring out the dress.”

The maids carefully brought out a white dress. It was mermaid-shaped, with soft lace from the waist adorned with tiny diamonds that spread like paint on water. It seemed to flaunt its splendor, emitting an opal glow with every movement.

“No matter how splendid the dress is, it can’t be more beautiful than the Young Lady’s beauty.”

“This is the first time I’ve worn something so splendid. How many jewels are on this dress? Was it always this quick to complete a dress?”

“In the Rockbellion family, nothing is impossible. Hoho.”

All Yuliana had done was have her measurements taken. Normally, she should have been writing the guest list with Frey and deciding on the dress and the jewels for the day, but since it was progressing quickly, she followed Frey’s advice to leave everything to them.

“It really suits you well.”

Frey and Selenia, who entered the bride’s dressing room, admired the beautifully adorned Yuliana.

“The dress is so beautiful.”

“I knew a mermaid dress would suit your beautiful figure, Yuliana.”

“This is the first time I’ve worn something that clings to my legs like this…”

Selenia praised Frey’s taste, and Yuliana realized the reality of her engagement ceremony.

“Do you want to reconsider getting engaged to my son? Lia, you’re too precious.”

Frey spoke earnestly.

“Please don’t say such things. He’s more than I deserve.”

Watching Yuliana speak with a flushed face, Frey smiled and continued.

“Yan has never spoken about what he wanted since he was born.”

Anthus was a child born with abilities far beyond those of his peers.

However, he was noticeably lacking in emotions. Of course, the Duke’s family was delighted to have a brilliant heir, but Anthus, being so outstanding, didn’t have desires.

He didn’t express likes or dislikes. He only distinguished things as ‘needed’ or ‘not needed.’ This ‘not needed’ included people, which was very unfortunate.

“He was talented but lacked emotions. But then he found someone he wanted.”

Frey held Yuliana’s hand and spoke.

“Yan, who learned about love, began to show a variety of expressions. So I’m truly grateful to you, Lia. Please continue to take care of our Anthus in the future.”

Watching the expressionless Anthus’s face transform into various expressions brought great joy as a mother.

“Please take care of me too.”

While Yuliana was being adorned, Anthus greeted and welcomed the people entering the mansion’s engagement hall.

And… people marveled at the luxurious engagement hall, looking around.

“They say they’re giving a set of teacups made of gold as a token of gratitude to those who came despite the sudden engagement invitation.”

“It’s a gift befitting the Rockbellion family, known for their dignity and wealth.”

While listening to people’s murmurs, Anthus turned his gaze to a familiar voice he hadn’t heard in a long time.

“Duke Rockbellion.”

“Grand Duke Florence, Your Grace.”

At the mention of Grand Duke Florence, everyone turned to look at him.

He was a man surrounded by rumors. Contrary to the rumors of being a gloomy and rugged ugly man, he was a handsome young man with black hair, black eyes, and gentle features, causing the noble ladies and young ladies present to glance at him repeatedly.

Grand Duke Florence approached Anthus and whispered softly.

“How have you been, Brother Yan?”

“I’ve been well. How about you, Theodore?”

Anthus looked at Theodore, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.

“You’ve grown taller since I last saw you. You seem taller than me now.”

Theodore, smiling prettily, nodded at Anthus’s words.

“You’re having your coming-of-age ceremony this year, right?”

“Yes.”

“Even though you don’t like crowded places… Thank you for coming to congratulate me.”

“Actually, I came for another reason as well.”

“Another reason?”

“I came to meet Emperor Cloud after a long time.”

Anthus tilted his head, showing a curious expression to Theodore.

“Despite writing in detail in my letter that I’ve found someone I like, he keeps sending engagement and marriage proposals for Princess Ophelia, so I came to formally tell him to stop.”

“If it weren’t for the Emperor… But you say you’ve found someone you like… What kind of person is she?”

Theodore scratched his slightly reddened cheek and smiled beautifully.

Anthus calmed his surprised heart. Theodore’s face was truly that of a man in love.

Anthus was momentarily worried.

How did he meet a woman while living as a recluse? Did he meet a proper woman? Was she not a gold digger trying to ensnare an unmarried wealthy and powerful man?

Anthus couldn’t entrust Theodore to just anyone.

“She’s beautiful, kind, intelligent, and righteous. I’ll tell you more later. First, greet the guests arriving at the engagement hall.”

“Alright…”

After greeting Anthus, Theodore crossed his arms and moved to a secluded wall. People glanced at Theodore, observing him.

“Grand Duke Florence is more handsome than I thought.”

“Indeed. I heard he’s still unmarried…”

“I know he’s having his coming-of-age ceremony soon, at eighteen.”

The appearance of a handsome, unmarried power figure was enough to throw a stone into the lake of the hearts of unmarried young ladies. Imagining a romantic novel, they continued to glance at Theodore.

After a while, at the sound of commotion, people all turned to look at the entrance of the engagement hall.

“It seems His Majesty the Emperor has arrived.”

With Cloud’s appearance, those present approached him, greeting him with courtesy.

“Duke Rockbellion, congratulations on your engagement.”

“Thank you for coming. Grand Duke Florence is here today, Your Majesty.”

“Theo is here?”

Cloud, looking around, spotted Theodore standing by a pillar in the engagement hall, exuding a chilly aura with his arms crossed.

“You must see me later regarding Grand Duke Florence, Your Majesty.”

Cloud, with an awkward smile, immediately approached Theodore.