Chapter 1.3

“Because of her, all the servants near Isabel’s room was removed. It’s all her fault!”

Count Myra turned his anger toward the maid as if he had been waiting for this moment.  

To blame a mere servant for this? Clearly, Count Myra misunderstood the definition of the word ‘solution.’  

Valentine frowned at the despicable attitude.  

However, the young maid stood firm and explained the situation to Myra.

“I apologize. Miss Isabel ordered that no one but Knight Kay be allowed to enter, so I followed her instructions.”

“Yes, and that blasted Kay…! Ugh…”

Count Myra couldn’t finish his sentence and clutched the back of his neck.

“Lord! Breathe! Are you alright?”

Liz supported Count Myra, who was about to collapse, and helped him sit on a chair by the wall.

‘Even after being treated like that.’

Valentine furrowed his brows.  

But Liz seemed completely unfazed by the Count’s mistreatment of her and handed him a handkerchief.

“Huff, huff… Enough. Take your hands off me!”

Count Myra wiped his sweat with the handkerchief and spoke.

“For now, let’s say Isabel collapsed. Then we’ll postpone the wedding.”

It wasn’t uncommon for brides to faint at weddings.  

Excessive dieting and tight corsets were often the cause.  

But Valentine smirked.

“I thought you were better than Isabel, Count.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

“I meant I thought you understood the significance of this wedding, Count.”

This wedding wasn’t just any wedding.  

Count Myra broke out in a cold sweat.  

The Myra family had emigrated from the neighboring Florang Kingdom several generations ago.  

They had foreseen the winds of revolution in Florang and sought safety in Holt Kingdom.  

Thus, this event was also meant to formally declare Myra as a full-fledged member of Holt Kingdom.

“Yes, yes, I understand. But wouldn’t it be better to delay the ceremony rather than cancel it?”

“Well, is that really so?”

Count Myra flinched in surprise.

“What do you mean, Duke? Surely, you’re not thinking of canceling the engagement?”

Valentine shrugged indifferently.  

Count Myra, panicking, clung to Valentine’s sleeve.

“D-Duke, imagine how shocked our clients would be! They’re all here hoping for cooperation between Myra and Winchester…”

Count Myra wasn’t entirely wrong.  

Today’s event was meant to announce Myra Bank’s investment in Winchester’s coal mines.  

Most of the guests were businessmen involved in the coal industry and clients who had deposited funds in Myra Bank.  

But for the bride to run away—this was an unforeseen variable.  

And Valentine had no intention of letting this variable slide.

“Yes. Viscount Nelson would likely feel the same.”

Count Myra turned pale.  

Nelson was another family that had been involved in marriage talks with Winchester.

“Let’s say we postpone the event as you suggested, Count. If the bride doesn’t show up by then, will we postpone it again? And again after that?”

Valentine’s smile grew colder. His expression was chilling, like a blade slicing through the air.  

Cornered, Count Myra stood up abruptly and shouted.

“T-Then we’ll find a stand-in!”

“…A stand-in?”

Valentine narrowed his eyes.  

Sensing the change, Count Myra quickly pushed Liz forward.

“You! Go fetch my niece Manon!”

“Oh… Yes, Count!”

Liz hurriedly ran off, bewildered.  

Count Myra ingratiatingly said,

“Duke, let’s find a stand-in and get through the ceremony first. We can search for Isabel afterward, can’t we?”

“A stand-in… A stand-in.”

Valentine stroked his chin, intrigued by the proposal.  

After a while, Liz returned with Manon.

“I’ve brought Miss Manon, Lord.”

Liz bowed politely.  

Having rushed back, her brown hair was damp with sweat, clinging to the nape of her neck.

Valentine unconsciously stared at the scene before turning his gaze to check Manon.  

Manon’s red hair was identical to Isabel’s, but their faces were entirely different.  

Unlike Isabel’s sharp and sensitive features, Manon’s appearance reflected her free-spirited personality.  

“Oh my goodness, Isabel is missing? What should we do!”  

It was hard to tell if she was already drunk or if the situation had simply excited her.  

Manon, with her flushed face, made a fuss.  

“Shh! Quiet down!”  

Noticing Valentine’s subtle expression, Myra gave Manon a warning glance. Then, Myra whispered softly to Valentine.  

“Duke, her hair is quite similar. The venue will be dark anyway, and if she wears a veil, no one will notice.”  

Valentine didn’t respond. Manon laughed frivolously.  

“Anyway, it’s an honor to be the Winchester Madam for even just one day.”  

Manon slyly linked her arm with Valentine’s and looked up at him.  

The moment their eyes met, Manon let out a sigh mixed with a nasal tone.  

“Hm… Uncle, what will you do if Isabel doesn’t come back?”  

Manon leaned closer to Valentine, her voice tinged with a whiny tone.  

As Valentine’s expression grew colder, Myra quickly bowed to Valentine.  

“Duke, please. Just get through the ceremony….”  

Valentine let out a long sigh.  

The words he uttered seemed offhand, yet they were oddly amusing.  

Besides, Valentine had no intention of canceling this marriage. He had to proceed with the wedding today.  

There was one person who eagerly awaited this hypocritical union.  

‘…Mother.’  

The image of her radiant smile, the first in her lifeless face, flashed through his mind, and Valentine nodded.  

“Alright. Let’s proceed with the wedding using a substitute.”  

Count Myra’s face brightened at his words. Manon’s expression mirrored hers.  

Valentine stared at the back of Liz’s bowed head and spoke.  

“But I will choose the substitute.”  

At his words, Manon and Myra jumped in surprise.  

“What? What do you mean?”  

“Someone outside the family would be inappropriate!”  

“Don’t worry about that.”  

Valentine gently removed Manon’s arm from his. Then, with the same hand, he pointed at Liz.  

“Put the veil on that maid.”  

“This… this girl, you mean?”  

Count Myra turned to look at Liz.  

“Huh?”  

It was only then that Liz hesitantly raised her head.  

However, her expression still showed she didn’t understand the situation.  

“Liz Garrett.”  

At the sound of her name, Liz flinched and trembled.  

“How do you remember my name… No, more importantly, why… why would you put a veil on me… What do you mean by that?”  

Liz stuttered nervously, her voice faltering, and then quickly lowered her head.  

“I’m sorry, Lord. Duke, what are you saying?”  

Liz calmly asked Count Myra again.  

Only then did Valentine realize why Liz acted that way.  

Liz couldn’t speak casually to Valentine, who wasn’t her master.  

‘How simple.’  

If he became her master, those eyes would look only at him.  

The thought sent a flush of heat through him.  

His lips moved.  

“Give me that maid. She will be the substitute for the wedding.”  

And the ownership of a maid could change so easily.  

Count Myra cried out in disbelief.  

“That’s absurd!”  

“That’s impossible….”  

Liz’s jaw dropped in shock. But no one was more indignant than Manon.  

“That lowly girl! Just because she has a decent face doesn’t mean she can imitate a noblewoman!”  

“Exactly, Duke. Her posture and mannerisms will give her away….”  

Even Count Myra tried to dissuade Valentine.  

But Valentine coldly cut off everyone’s protests.  

“I asked for a solution, not permission for your decisions.”  

His sharp tone silenced not only Myra but also Manon and Liz.  

As Valentine said, proposing a substitute was within Myra’s role.  

But deciding who the substitute would be was presumptuous.  

“Suggestions are Myra’s domain. But decisions.”  

Especially when the negotiating party was Winchester,  

“Winchester makes them.”  

Decision-making always belonged to Winchester.  

“That… that’s….”  

Count Myra closed his mouth. Valentine straightened himself and addressed everyone.  

“It’s only a substitute. Don’t worry too much.”  

Valentine’s expression was soft, but his demeanor was resolute, leaving no room for argument.  

Count Myra sighed deeply and whispered to Manon.  

Manon’s face turned red and blue, but she didn’t raise her voice anymore.  

“Then go now, Manon.”  

Count Myra gently pushed Manon’s shoulder.  

Manon bit her lip and glared at Liz.  

“You… Liz Garrett? I’ll be watching you closely!”  

Manon shouted at Liz before storming off.  

Liz glanced nervously at Valentine.  

But Valentine indifferently told Count Myra,  

“Dress Liz—no, Miss Isabel—in her attire. Right now.”  

***

“Are you ready? I’m coming in!”  

“N-no! Please wait a moment!”  

Liz let out a startled scream at the Count’s voice coming from outside the room.  

She was in the middle of having her measurements taken, wearing only a thin nightgown that barely concealed her skin.  

This was being done in haste to alter the dress to fit her body.  

“Count! Liz hasn’t finished dressing yet!”  

The maids who were measuring Liz’s body shouted.  

But the Count slammed the door open and entered.  

“Kyaa! Just a moment, please!”  

The other maids scrambled to cover Liz’s body with fabric and drape a robe over her, flustered by the situation.  

The Count roared at the sight.  

“Does that lowly girl’s body matter right now? Everyone, out!”  

“Y-yes, Sir!”  

The maids, panicked, rushed out of the room.  

Now, only Liz, dressed in a robe, and Count Myra remained.  

For Liz, the situation was so humiliating she wanted to bite her tongue.  

But she wasn’t even given time to feel embarrassed.  

“Don’t forget the grace your parents received from Myra.”  

Count Myra spoke in a menacing tone.  

“You’ll just go through the ceremony quietly. Don’t even think about having any foolish ambitions. Understood?”  

“Ambitions? What do you mean by that…?”  

“What do I mean?”  

Count Myra sneered and took a step closer to Liz.  

Liz clutched her robe tightly and looked up at him.  

“It means don’t delude yourself into thinking you’re something special, Liz Garrett.”