Chapter 7

The Marquis of Amber, Kazak Amber, was renowned for his impeccable manners, good looks, and business acumen. Naturally, my engagement to such a man had made me the envy of everyone.

But now…

“I can’t seem to understand, Lady Winsley,” he said.

“What don’t you understand?” I replied.

“Why did you reject our engagement to marry the Grand Duke of Zan? I’d like to hear your reasons.”

It was understandable for him to be perplexed since I had abruptly broken off the engagement. He knew how delighted I had been about our betrothal.

But that was when I knew nothing of Kazak’s true nature.

In our previous life, he only managed to hide his true self until I was pregnant with our first child. After that, he treated me as if he owned me wholly, behaving as though I should not waste any time grieving over my family. He confined me as he pleased and verbally abused me.

Seeing him now, a wave of suppressed anger surged through me. But this was not the time to let it show.

I covered my mouth with a fan and then smiled slightly sideways. Kazak’s eyebrow twitched.

“It’s because you look so… stupid,” I said.

“What?”

“I found you too ugly to look at every day.”

Kazak prided himself on his appearance, and he was indeed handsome. But looking at Shuan beside me, with his neatly combed dark brown hair, Kazak didn’t seem all that impressive.

And certainly not compared to my fiancé, even with half his face hidden. Despite the frightening mask, Julian’s exposed features were strong and masculine.

Maybe people here couldn’t recognize true beauty because the really handsome ones didn’t attend these parties, leaving the likes of Kazak to prance around.

I suddenly felt sorry for most of the young ladies here.

“Compared to the Marquis of Amber, young master Eriant here is far more handsome,” I said.

“Ha! What nonsense is this? And you…,” Kazak began.

“Me?” I interjected.

Of course, I was beautiful. Even when he treated me coldly, Kazak started his tirades with “a woman with a pretty face.” The following criticisms—lacking grace, poor homemaking skills, not knowing how to please her husband—always began with that acknowledgment.

“A woman with only a pretty face.”

Criticizing my looks now, after choosing me as his fiancée and after I rejected him, would be like spitting in his own face for having poor taste.

“What, me?” I prompted again.

Kazak’s face flushed red with anger. His expression was so amusing that I couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

He must have wanted to lash out at me, but with so many eyes watching, he couldn’t risk damaging his precious honor by losing his temper with a woman, especially a former fiancée. It would look like a petty lover’s quarrel. Would anyone want to marry a man with such a reputation? I was soon to be married off anyway.

“There’s so much talk for someone who is going to marry a monster,” Kazak finally said, his voice laced with venom. He then glanced around, flashing a confident smile at his friends and winking.

“Does anyone know if the monster Duke of the North really eats people?” he asked loudly enough for everyone to hear.

A few people burst into exaggerated laughter at his ridiculous question.

“Of course he does!”

“He even chews the bones!”

“He keeps the hair as trophies!”

Someone, perhaps planted by Kazak, eagerly joined in. Many of those loudly agreeing were familiar faces, all known associates of Kazak.

As they played their foolish part, I folded my arms and smirked. Kazak, seeing my reaction, bared his teeth in a mock grin.

Kazak arrogantly strode closer with each step, his overpowering cologne growing more nauseating.

“Aren’t you curious if the lovely Lady Winsley will climb into the monster duke’s bed or onto the table?” he taunted, leaning in as if sharing a secret.

“Where do you think, my lady?” he sneered.

I slapped his face hard, my hand connecting with a sharp crack.

Kazak staggered, wide-eyed and stunned, clearly not expecting to be struck, especially not so forcefully. As he swayed, I slowly removed my glove and threw it at his face.

The glove smacked against his cheek and floated down gently, almost mockingly.

“What is this…?” he sputtered.

Silence fell over the room. No one dared to speak.

This was the climax of the party. Even if the Grand Duke of Zan seldom left his domain, his fiancée could make waves.

No one could mock the Grand Duke of Zan. I was here to make that known.

“In the name of my fiancé’s honor, I challenge you to a duel, Kazak Amber,” I declared, smiling at his bewildered face.

“Right now.”

“Are you out of your mind?”

“I am the eldest daughter of the Count of Winsley. Did you not consider the possibility of a duel while insulting me? You truly are as dull as you look.”

I picked up the fallen glove and placed it back on Kazak’s shoulder. It almost seemed to console him, which I found amusing. The crowd began to chuckle and laugh.

“I-I’m not a knight, so…”

At that, a loud laugh burst from beside me. I turned to see Shuan holding onto a table, laughing heartily. It was a stark contrast to his usual gentle smiles.

“You always said a gentleman should protect a lady, yet now you’re fleeing from a duel with one because you’re not a knight?”

“Indeed! This duel is too unfair to Lady Winsley; it would be best not to proceed,” Kazak stammered, unaware that Shuan was mocking him.

“Perhaps you forget that all members of the Winsley family are trained in swordsmanship. It seems you haven’t done your research. This is a duel I proposed. Even if I lose, no one can blame you.”

With my words, Kazak found no escape.

I walked over to the Marchioness of Eriant, offering a polite apology for the turn of events and cautiously requesting permission for a new form of entertainment.

“Marchioness Eriant, may I prepare a spectacle for your party?”

Instead of apologizing, I sought her approval. The Marchioness, always eager for a successful party, smiled gracefully.

“By all means. We shall make arrangements.”

At her command, a few tables were cleared away, and I saw two attendants approaching with several swords. Kazak’s face turned pale. Seeing this, the Marchioness, perhaps sensing unease, smiled at me.

“The duel is fine, but it’s a bit frightening.”

She meant not to kill him.

“I will demonstrate the beauty of the Winsley family’s swordsmanship.”

I meant I wouldn’t kill him.

The Marchioness seemed pleased with me.

Kazak chose his sword first, and I deliberately picked one similar to his—one with the same strengths and weaknesses. It was slightly heavy but more efficient to wield with one hand.

When I swung it twice through the air, Kazak nervously took a defensive stance. I laughed and waved dismissively.

“Surely, we won’t start without a signal? I was just testing it.”

Kazak’s face turned red with humiliation and anger.

This was the extent of his character—a man easily provoked and shamed. It infuriated me more to think I had been under his control.

“If I lose, I will never attend another party hosted by the Marchioness. But if you lose, you may still attend.”

My bold proposal caused a stir. The Marchioness’s parties were unique, and just receiving an invitation was proof of one’s high status in noble society.

Not being able to attend, especially as a future Grand Duchess, would be significant.

“If I win, you will give me one of your maids—Marian, the red-haired girl.”

Kazak’s face filled with confusion.

“Ma-Marian?”

“Yes, the red-haired maid.”

“I don’t recall the names of every maid in my household. You must be mistaken.”

“Oh, but I’m sure there’s a Marian in the Amber household.”

With my words, whispers spread through the crowd.

“Is there really a maid named Marian?”

“And if so, how does Lady Winsley know?”

At that moment, Shuan’s voice cut through the murmur.

“Remember, they were once engaged. She might have discovered something then.”

Shuan quickly understood my implication and played along. I gave him a slight nod of acknowledgment. He seemed to enjoy himself as he continued.

“Something upsetting enough to break off an engagement.”

An incident involving a maid could break an engagement and cause such a rift—there was only one conclusion people could draw.

“Could it be… he had a mistress even before marriage?”

“That Marquis Kazak, who is called a gentleman?”

When the young ladies began to whisper disdainfully, I saw Kazak’s eyes flip.

Everyone knew he had a mistress, but it was a serious flaw for an unmarried noble with nothing good to come from it being known.

Kazak, who had no talent for the sword, charged at me, swinging it wildly like a beginner.

I quickly noticed and dodged. Kazak foolishly chased me, and I turned sharply to move behind him.

This time, I was the one swinging the sword. My sword drew a large arc in the air, deviating significantly from Kazak’s body to everyone’s surprise. But then Kazak screamed.

“Aaah! My, my, my finger…”

Something drenched in blood fell to the ground with a thud. I quickly took out a handkerchief and covered it. Of course, I didn’t give it back.

Kazak tightly clutched the spot where his pinky finger had been. Many people screamed at the ghastly sight of the dripping blood.

Kazak, too, was at a loss, shedding tears from the excruciating pain. He no longer had any spirit left to continue the duel.

“Just over one finger…”

It was so tiny compared to what I had lost to him. I wanted to carve out his heart, but I couldn’t let him die so quickly. Until the moment I die, I will surely carve out his flesh piece by piece.

I smiled and stepped on his severed finger, ensuring it could never be reattached.

“Make sure to send Marian to our house. Understood, Marquis Amber?”

The rumor that Lady Winsley bites when poked spreads in an instant.