Next to the Duchess sat five-year-old twin sisters, Aria and Laila, eating their meal. Though they were at an age where they should love playing around, the twins were excessively quiet and well-behaved.

The children kept their heads down, chewing thoroughly on meat cut into small pieces with their forks.

Across from the twins, Ellienne was slowly eating her portion of food. Since it was a proper meal after so long, Ellienne ate even more slowly to savor the taste.

When Duke Nosent came down to the main estate, Ellienne’s clothing changed to luxurious and splendid garments, and her food became abundant as well.

Instead of transcription, she learned tea ceremony and social etiquette necessary for a noble lady’s refinement.

The Duke finished his meal, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and raised his gaze. His sharp blue eyes stared at Ellienne.

“Ellienne, are you receiving proper education as a noble lady?”

At the Duke’s question, Ellienne hurriedly set down her knife and fork. She felt the Duchess’s piercing gaze. Ellienne barely steadied her voice and spoke calmly.

“Thanks to Mother’s excellent guidance, I am learning the refinement and culture befitting a noble lady every day.”

Duke Nosent raised one eyebrow. He scrutinized every one of Ellienne’s actions and expressions to see if there were any flaws.

His gaze still didn’t contain even a trace of a father’s affection toward his daughter. It was the look of a businessman judging whether a product he made had any sales value.

“Fortunate. You won’t do anything shameful bearing the name of House Nosent.”

Duke Nosent rang the silver bell on the table. The butler who had been waiting by the wall approached with precise movements and bowed his head.

“Take the twins away and dismiss the surrounding servants.”

The butler immediately bowed and instructed a maid to escort the twin sisters. Without any whining, the children were carried out of the dining hall in the maid’s arms.

The maids who had been serving during the meal and the knights guarding the dining hall entrance also left.

Only three people remained in the dining hall: the Duke, Madam Madrian, and Ellienne.

Madam Madrian remained calm without moving, seemingly having expected this. But Ellienne couldn’t bear the anxiety of the sudden situation.

‘What does Father want to say that he sent everyone away? Surely he’s not going to cast me out.’

Her vision went dark for a moment. She had known since childhood that she was a bastard born to a maid.

The Duchess had always said like a habit that she would send her to a convent or sell her as a concubine to an old nobleman.

Duke Nosent glared at Ellienne with an expressionless, cold gaze.

“Ellienne. Your marriage has been decided.”

Her heart seemed to plummet to her feet. Ellienne turned her head to look at her father.

“You will go as a concubine to Grand Duke Karadion Helios.”

Ellienne was so shocked by her unexpected fate that she couldn’t say anything.

‘Karadion—the war-mad Grand Duke who controls the northern region?’

She had heard he had a cruel and cold personality and would k*ll anyone who crossed him without hesitation.

His military power with his formidable knight order was so recognized that the northern region was acknowledged as his domain.

The Duke’s expression gradually began to twist. Suppressing complex emotions of anger, humiliation, and fear, he urgently gulped down his wine.

The Duchess watched her husband’s changing mood with a calm attitude.

“As the Grand Duke took control of the northern region, our territory also came under his rule. Our House Nosent’s iron ore mine is on the verge of being seized by him. Before that ruthless Grand Duke takes our house, you will enter as his concubine. Even so, if we offer a ducal lady as a concubine, the Grand Duke won’t immediately show greed to seize our house.”

The Duke’s words were fast and urgent. His attitude seemed to fear that the war-mad Grand Duke would come running to conquer House Nosent at any moment.

Ellienne didn’t fully understand her father’s words. But she instinctively realized.

Her becoming a concubine wasn’t about union or harmony between houses.

“I don’t expect you to receive the Grand Duke’s favor. Buy time until our house can prepare countermeasures by forming an alliance with other nobles.”

The hem of Ellienne’s splendid dress crumpled mercilessly beneath her hands. Her slender, white hands trembled pitifully.

“That, that means…”

“Prove that you are a useful existence who can help the house.”

Ellienne’s pale face turned not just white but haggard. Her whole body trembled and she couldn’t continue speaking.

She was a shield to buy time for the house’s perpetuation. A being that could be thoroughly used and broken without concern.

‘I’m like a plaything. Sold for the house’s political purposes. Father never once considered me his daughter.’

The Duke turned his gaze to look at Duchess Madrian.

“How far has Ellienne’s noble lady education progressed? Even if she goes as the Grand Duke’s concubine, prepare thoroughly without mistakes.”

“Don’t worry. She’s receiving the finest education befitting a lady of the noble House Nosent.”

The Duchess spouted lies calmly without batting an eye. Ellienne felt wronged but couldn’t say a word.

Ellienne bit her lip in indescribable sadness and misery. She barely held back the tears that threatened to come by clutching her skirt.

A radiant smile bloomed on the Duchess’s lips as she watched her.

“What truly joyful and glorious news. For Ellienne to finally become Grand Duke Helios’s concubine for House Nosent—it’s truly an honorable matter.”

The Duchess raised her glass high and urged the Duke and Ellienne while looking at them.

The unchanging, elegant beauty of Madrian, once called the most beautiful rose in high society, bloomed fully. Her red lips curving up silently and quietly were like a venomous snake.

“Come, on such a happy day, we must raise a toast. Blessings on Ellienne’s future.”

* * *

Following Duke Nosent’s orders, Ellienne’s fate was decided. The Duke went back down to the capital to resolve the house’s crisis.

Immediately after, Ellienne was confined to the deepest quarters of the ducal estate. The Duchess had imprisoned her inside the estate, worried she might escape.

The third floor of the northern annex was dark even at midday with no light entering. Though decorated with luxurious furniture, curtains, and wallpaper, this place was merely a perfect prison for Ellienne.

All the windows in the rooms on the third floor were firmly locked to prevent her escape.

Servants guarded day and night in front of the lockable entrance door. Even Cassien, who had been Ellienne’s escort knight, rejoined the ducal knight order.

Ellienne had to remain confined alone all day in the splendid quarters.

‘…I’m truly thoroughly alone now. No, I always have been from the start.’

She smiled bitterly and turned her gaze to the culture books and etiquette education books piled high on the tea table.

When her heart felt empty, she would do transcription to steady her confused mind, but the Duchess had completely forbidden transcription.

Only two maids who came to clean the room visited her quarters. They were loose-lipped young maids who rudely chattered even though they clearly knew Ellienne was in the room.

But Ellienne pretended to read books and left them alone.

Ellienne’s position in the ducal house was already miserable. Unlike the servants who had seen her since childhood, among the young maids there was open envy and jealousy toward Ellienne.

They gossiped that though she was a bastard born to a lowly maid, she acted like a noble lady through the Duke and Duchess’s charity.

Ellienne turned her gaze back to her book. In two weeks she would leave this place anyway.

“Anyway, the young lady has no luck. Did you hear that rumor? My cousin serves a noble lady in the capital, and she heard at a tea party. Grand Duke Helios is notorious for treating women roughly and violently.”

“Treating them roughly—you mean… in bed?”

“Right. Even skilled courtesans beg him to stop because it’s so painful after spending one night with the Grand Duke.”

“Ugh. How horrible. He’s like a starving beast. I heard his appearance is terrifying too. Really scary. To be that cruel man’s concubine—the young lady is so pitiful.”

The maids whispered to each other, pretending to genuinely worry about Ellienne, but mockery lingered in their expressions.

Ellienne calmly reasoned with herself, who kept wavering.

‘It’s just a rumor. As his concubine… I can only do my best.’

Ellienne put down her book and called the negligent maids in the corner who were more absorbed in chatting than cleaning.

“Stop cleaning and leave. I’m tired and want to rest.”

The maids finally seemed to realize their mistake and hurriedly bowed their heads.

“Ah, yes, my lady. Please rest comfortably.”

After the maids left, the bedroom sank into quiet silence again. Ellienne sighed lightly and was about to read her book again when the door opened.

Ellienne thought a maid had returned and didn’t raise her gaze. But she looked up in surprise at the sound of a voluminous dress hem dragging on the floor.

Duchess Madrian stood there, chin raised, glaring at Ellienne.

The moment she faced the Duchess, Ellienne instinctively froze. Ever since childhood, whenever she stood before the Duchess, her whole body stiffened and even her tongue became difficult to move.

“Still lacking manners. Won’t you even greet me, you thing?”

“I’m sorry. I greet the Duchess. Thank you for visiting.”

Madrian had ordered her to use the title “Duchess” when they were alone together privately. She found it horrifyingly repulsive when Ellienne called her mother.

The Duchess coldly ignored Ellienne’s greeting and approached her. With each intimidating step forward, Ellienne unconsciously stepped back.

“What’s the matter?”

Ellienne had noticed since childhood that the Duchess hated her.

Madam Madrian regarded Ellienne, the child of the maid who had stolen the Duke’s favor, like a thorn in her eye. To the Duchess, Ellienne was evidence of the Duke’s betrayal.