Chapter 17: 17

Did he just kiss the back of my hand now?

 

I was perplexed. Of course, they may have considered it an act of courtesy to his fiancée, but Charter and I weren’t engaged by love. Even if our relationship was contractual, we had already decided to pretend to be on good terms… but I was confused about how to accept his sudden behavior.

 

Seeing Arianne’s surprised widened eyes, Charter was stunned for a moment. It was a polite act considering her position in the unfamiliar place, but it seemed to embarrass her.

 

“Have you looked around the mansion?”

 

Charter, who stood up, started to change the subject.

 

“I haven’t looked around yet. But I think it’s a really nice place.”

 

I also understood his intentions and answered quickly.

 

They may have thought it was natural, but from the onlookers, the two of them were clearly embarrassed. Seeing the two of them like that, a fresh atmosphere seemed to vibrate in the mansion. The laughter of the maids who couldn’t hold back their joy began to leak out.

 

“I think that’s enough of a greeting, so please guide her to her room. I will see you at dinner.”

 

The experienced madam arranged the situation to save the bewildered young couple. Charter sent a grateful look at his mother and took Arianne to her room.

 

“Kyaa! Did you see that? You see that, right? Oh my gosh! Master kissed the back of her hand!”

 

“I know, right? I can’t believe such a day has come.”

 

“He’s already 20 years old at the most, and that’s a big deal.”

 

“That’s what I’m saying. Did you expect something like this after master declared that he won’t get married to anyone?”

 

“I know, right? No matter how cold master was, he also collapsed in front of true love.”

 

Since Charter’s declaration not to get married, the mansion had been in a grim situation. The fact that the master in his 20s did not want to get married meant they wouldn’t see any heirs. Then, if their current master died, the closest blood tie men from the family would inherit the title. It wasn’t not known whether the new master would continue to use the mansion’s servants. Changing master was not a good situation for the servants.

 

It was the same for madam. Her own well-being was also at stake, but to see her son get married and have children, isn’t it the wish of all parents?

 

Therefore, it was natural for the whole family to be delighted at the news of the Duke’s marriage.

 

“You guys! Is it time to play around like that? We have to prepare for dinner. Why are you standing there blankly like that? Late-night snacks will be banned for a month if there’s anything lacking in today’s dinner.”

 

The maids began to rush for work after they were chatting with excitement.

 

With the appearance of the lovely Arianne, the servants and chef agreed to make this evening’s dinner more grandiose than ever, and the preparations began with enthusiasm.

 

The butler, who had been watching what they were doing, quietly came up with one of the most precious drinks from the mansion’s basement wine cellar.

 

“Good wine cannot be missed on such a happy day.”

 

Madam looked at them happily and left, and only Layla remained in the hall. Layla returned to her room, fell on the bed, slammed her fists, and shouted. 

 

“Argh! So annoying! How dare she ignore me! And why did the duke kiss her on the back of her hand!”

 

After slamming her fists in anger for a while, Layla turned and laid down, staring at the ceiling.

 

“He has never done it to me…”

 

Layla stared at the ceiling and looked all the way through the walls, windows, and furniture. All of them were decorated with luxurious items, but this room was just one of the guest rooms in the mansion.

 

The duchess’s room has been empty since the current Duke Kaien inherited the tile. Layla had no doubt that she would one day occupy that room, so she couldn’t accept the fact Arianne would stay in that room today.

 

“That fox must have done something! How dare you take my place! I can’t forgive you!”

 

Layla screamed as she succumbed to the devil.

 

* * *

 

The Madam’s room.

 

Madam Kaien was sitting on the sofa next to the window, contemplating.

 

‘I’m worried about Layla. I hope she stays calm.’

 

She recalled her best friend. Her personality was warm, like the sun shining through the window. She was the only friend who understood and accepted madam’s personality. They met almost every day until madam’s marriage, which had been arranged, brought madam to the capital.

 

At the request of her childhood best friend, she allowed Layla to stay while Layla was being educated in the capital. At first, she was full of expectations at the thought of seeing a daughter who resembled her best friend. Her best friend married an arrogant man, so meeting her best friend was like picking stars in the sky, which made her even more excited to see her daughter instead.

 

‘However…’

 

Layla was a completely different person from her mother. Although her beautiful appearance may resemble her mother, her arrogant and greedy personality closely resembles her father. No one had ever recognized her as a duke’s companion. Still, Layla acted as if she had been appointed as a duchess.

 

‘I thought she would admit it over time…’

 

Madam thought Layla would know her situation and acknowledge it over time. But her arrogant personality hadn’t changed her mind as she saw herself as the center of the world.

 

Even if madam wanted to scold her, she eventually swallowed her words when she saw Layla’s face. The result of letting her at the thought of ‘she’ll give up someday’ was what created today’s situation.

 

Madam closed her eyes, pressing on her temples as her head ached.

 

* * *

 

“Oh my gosh… this is my room?”

 

As soon as I entered the room where Charted had guided me, I shouted in surprise. It was because this room was the duchess’s room.

 

“Do you like it?”

 

When Charter asked with a smiling face, I widened my eyes and said, “I like it. To be honest, I feel like I’m not good enough to get this room.”

 

“You will be the duchess next month, so of course, it would be right for you to use the duchess’s room.”

 

“Yes, but… It’s only for a year.”

 

At Arianne’s thoughtless words, Charter’s face hardened.

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‘A year… I completely forgot about that.’

 

His mind was focused on the thought of hurrying to marry Arianne, and now he realized that he had completely forgotten that their marriage was only a contract. And when he felt that Arianne didn’t seem to care that much about marrying him, he felt deeply unpleasant inside, no, deeply sad.

 

Startled. Charter was surprised that he felt sad about it, and his body stiffened.

 

“…then I will pick you up when it’s time for dinner.”

 

“Yes, thank you for your concern.”

 

At the low-sinking voice of Charter, I wondered what was going on, but I thought it was no big deal. After Charter left, I looked at every corner of my room. My room in the County was also large and splendid, but it was nothing compared to this room.

 

“I’m going to be a real duchess.”

 

From now on, I thought of this room as my room, and it was only then that I realized my marriage.

 

Knock knock. Someone knocked on the door.

 

“Come in.”

 

It was Madrenne who opened the door and appeared.

 

Ah, I forgot about her.

 

“Lady, you haven’t forgotten me, have you?”

 

Madrenne’s words made me shiver for a moment, but even if I forgot about her, what’s the big deal?

 

“You came at the perfect time. Go ahead and pack my things.”

 

“I already organized everything while Lady was having tea earlier. I will prepare something for Lady to wear for dinner.”

 

Anyway, Madrenne was a person who I didn’t like, but I couldn’t throw her away as she did great work.

 

“Wait. I will take a rest first.”

 

Maybe because I had been nervous all day, I felt tired. While Madrenne rummaged through the closet, I fell asleep on a big, fluffy bed.

 

A few hours later, it was dinner time, and Charter came to my room to escort me. Unexpectedly, he was wearing a simple shirt. When I stared at him in surprise, he asked, wondering, “Why… Is there something strange?”

 

“No, it’s just… for some reason, I thought you would wear a uniform at home too.”

 

What Arianne said made Charter speechless. He almost sighed at how hard she was looking at him.  

 

“I also wear comfortable clothes at home too.”

 

“Yes, it’s nice to see.”

 

As he looked at Arianne smiling brightly, Charter’s mood was lifted up. He burst into laughter inside.

 

How could she put himself down and lift him up with just one sentence, but why didn’t he feel bad about it?

 

“Then shall we go now?”

 

Charter held out his arm to Arianne.

 

“Yes. Let’s go.”

 

Arianne smiled softly as she put her hand on his arm and headed to the first floor, where the dining room was located. Blood rose on Layla’s forehead as she looked at them from a distance.

 

‘You could tell her that you like her now. In the end, that position will be mine.’

 

Layla looked at herself in the mirror hanging in the hallway. With a frown on her face as if she didn’t like something, she nervously polished herself, but her distorted face showed no sign of getting relaxed.

 

“Come in.”

 

The madam who had come first raised her right hand and pointed to our seats. With madam seated at the center of the table, Charter and I sat face to face.

 

“Thank you for inviting me to dinner.”

 

“Inviting? Now that we’re a family, that word doesn’t fit.”

 

I felt tickled when she said that I was also a family member. Fortunately, madam seemed to like me, but frankly, I didn’t understand. My father was a famous villain in the Empire, so why does she like me?

 

In fact, I didn’t know whether madam’s father wasn’t a bad person too or not, so I had a question about it, which I would find out later.

 

“I’m sorry for being late.”

 

Belatedly, Layla appeared with a bright smile.

 

What kind of dinner for her to dress up like that?

 

She appeared dressed up for a banquet, and she seemed to be late from polishing herself from head to toe.

 

“You’re here now. Go ahead and sit down.”

 

Madam raised her right hand and pointed to the seat next to me, which Layla ignored, and she quickly went to the seat next to Charter and sat down. At that moment, madam’s forehead was wrinkled, but Layla didn’t seem to care. Whatever the madam said, she clearly showed her intention to sit next to Charter. Charter only sat still with an indifferent expression.

 

Ha, so it was like that?

 

It was the moment I found out why Layla was hostile to me. She liked Charter.

 

Judging from Charter’s calm demeanor, maybe it wasn’t just Layla’s feeling alone. Perhaps they had a crush on each other. But it wasn’t good to see her flirting with someone already engaged for whatever reason. Even in front of his fiancée, she flirted openly.

 

Anyway, if Layla kept doing something like this.

 

I have to step in for sure.

 

I raised my eyebrows. 

 

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