07. The Duke's Proposal
As soon as she returned to Verdier Castle, Chloe washed her entire body. She still felt hot in her chest. She asked Gray to boil the wine with cinnamon and orange. Fortunately, there were still some ingredients left that the Duke had brought back while hunting. Chloe finished a cup of hot medicinal liquor that was still steaming and lay down on the bed. Gray looked at her with concern, but Chloe kept her mouth shut, so he left without asking a word.
Don't fall, Chloe. You have to come to your senses.
Perhaps because she had tried her best to recall the memory of her illness from years ago, Chloe felt surprisingly light the next day after sweating profusely. She finished a whole plate of breakfast for the first time in a long time, and in the afternoon, she began to clean the castle herself.
The royal family sent another gift in addition to the wedding congratulations. Chloe thought that her prediction was not wrong. The current heir to the kingdom was Crown Prince Johannes, but the Duke of Tisse was more widely known to the public. The royal family was delighted at the news that the Duke, who had already greatly expanded his power, was marrying a noble young lady with a distinguished background, not a lowly family. The Duke would also know this fact best.
After hearing that horses, cows, and poultry were arriving, she contacted a carpenter to fix the stables. It was better to do what needed to be done now, even if it meant returning them later.
She also did not forget to look after the Viscount Verdier, who was still lying in bed. He was still weak, but he seemed to have finally come to terms with the fact that his second daughter had run away with a child for the sake of forbidden love. He was more worried about the future than he was resigned and depressed.
“Chloe. What did you hear from the Duke?”
Chloe honestly didn't know what to say to her father who asked her cautiously. It was the gamble of her life, but an unexpected and unpleasant incident occurred at the end, so she ran away without hearing the Duke's definitive answer. In the end, nothing was resolved, and a week had passed since that incident, and there was no word from the Duke.
“It’s obvious he's upset that his proposal was rejected. Of course he is.”
“Just wait a little longer, Father.”
Chloe swallowed dryly as she put down her teacup. Her last memories of him came back to her. The dazzling sun made her head pound. Her hat flew away. The Duke’s face smiling in the wind. Even the hot body temperature hidden in his lips suddenly approached her and took control of her like an animal.
“I am ready to get down on my knees.”
Chloe shook her head, holding her father's hand as he whispered complicated words.
“Don’t say that.”
She too was feeling increasingly frustrated day by day. But as the days passed, one thing became clearer: if the Duke really wanted to erase everything, he would have told the royal family first.
“A guest has arrived.”
Chloe turned her face and looked out the window. Finally, the person she had been waiting for had arrived. Her heart was pounding rapidly.
“Tell them to wait in the reception room. I’ll be getting ready and coming down soon.”
Gray hesitated for a moment at Chloe's words, not even asking who she was talking to, and then quickly lowered his head. For the past few days, Chloe had gotten up in the morning and put on a perfect dress, and her hair was neat and tidy as if she was going out somewhere.
While she was handling the affairs inside and outside the castle with a look that seemed like she would collapse at any moment, she occasionally looked out the window and let out a long sigh. Gray was worried that she might collapse while moving around busily with a half-spirited look on her face.
“Should I tell him to come back next time?”
“Guest? Who are he?”
When the Viscount of Verdi asked, Gray cleared his throat a little.
“This is Duke Tisse.”
“It’s come.”
The Viscount closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them again and struggled to get up from the bed. Chloe held onto her father’s hand tightly, as if she was about to run barefoot and kneel down at any moment.
“My father is ill, so I will meet the Duke.”
“No, Chloe. But I, I’ll ask for forgiveness myself...”
“It was the Duke who wanted the marriage. There is no need for us to ask for forgiveness, Father.”
Chloe cut off her father's words with a trembling voice. At this moment, her legs were shaking with nervousness as well, but she decided that she could not let her anxious father meet the Duke.
“Because unmarried women have the right to reject marriage proposals.”
Of course, her words were not wrong. However, it was clear that it was an easy task for the highest nobles to bring down a family they did not like, even with their eyes closed.
“Hey, but...”
“It’ll be okay, Father. Just wait a little longer.”
Chloe hurried to her bedroom, leaving her father behind, who was still anxious. She didn't need to prepare anything to welcome a guest. She just had something to give him.
“They’re coming now.”
The moment she saw the Duke greeting her in the bedroom, Chloe froze in place.
"Miss..."
Gray, who appeared late after realizing that the man who had he clearly guided to the reception room had disappeared, mumbled his words. Chloe closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them again before opening her mouth.
“It is not polite to enter a woman’s empty bedroom, Your Excellency.”
“I can’t stand to miss you, Lady Chloe.”
Chloe opened her mouth, wishing the old velvet sofa he was sitting on would swallow him up.
“I will take you to the reception room. This is my personal space and does not seem like a suitable place to talk to the Duke.”
“We’ll soon reach a point where we won’t need any personal space, so if you should keep some distance from me, then so be it.”
The shadow of the Duke, who had risen from his seat and was walking slowly, covered her. It took only a few seconds for the Duke to cross her small bedroom and whisper softly into her ear, while her heart pounded against her ribs.
“I’m sorry for the delay in preparing your proposal gift.”
Chloe's eyes opened wide. The Duke asked, watching with amusement the fluttering of her long eyelashes.
“Surprised?”
“Your Excellency...”
“Close the door.”
The bedroom door slammed shut with a loud bang in front of Gray, who was still.
Chloe followed the Duke back to his seat, folding her hands across from her as he slammed the door shut.
“Shall I have some tea brought out?”
The Duke nodded, ignoring her words.
“Open.”
The red box on the table had an antique design decorated with gold leaf. Chloe opened the box with trembling hands.
In an instant, a beautiful piece of jewelry caught her eye, enough to make the small room feel brighter. It was a necklace with large diamonds hanging down and earrings with diamonds that were also gorgeously designed and dripped down like droplets. She had never seen such gorgeous and beautiful jewelry in her life. It was the same when her mother was alive.
“It’s a jewel that has been passed down through generations in the Tisse family. It was traditional for my mother to pass it down, but the previous Duchess wasn’t too keen on this marriage.”
The Duke spoke simply, referring to his mother as if she were someone else.
“...I guess so. I understand.”
“Are you pretending to be calm, or are you really uninspired?”
Chloe decided to answer the Duke's seemingly provocative question honestly.
“I’m afraid to react easily because I don’t know what the Duke will say.”
The Duke looked straight into her eyes and spoke sharply.
“I am proposing to you now, Chloe Verdier.”
A dry proposal was thrown after a savage kiss. Hearing the driest proposal she had ever heard or read, Chloe suddenly thought of Alice. She wondered how hot the eyes of the man who had told her to run away together must have been.
“I sincerely thank you for accepting my offer.”
Leaving her thoughts behind, Chloe bowed her head in respect. Whatever the reason the Duke wanted to marry into her family, the fact that she was chosen as his bride in Alice's absence was not such a bad thing. No, it was also the only lifeline that came to her in crisis, with the marriage proposal with Count Cromwell completely gone.
“You really appreciate it?”
"Yes."
Chloe nodded at the Duke, who didn't look too pleased.
“How are you going to prove that?”
The situation had once again turned in the Duke's favor. It was not unexpected. The Duke clearly had something he wanted from this marriage. Chloe calmed down her complicated feelings and opened her mouth calmly.
“I will do my best to help you with whatever your Excellency wishes to do.”
“What do I want to do?”
“Whatever it is.”
“Don’t avoid it, get to the point. What do you think I want?”
He was a persistent man. He was a master at pushing people to the point where they could barely breathe. Chloe's mind was in a tangle.
“Should I lick your dry lips one more time before you open your mouth?”
Chloe's lips, which had been quivering, parted in a hurry as heat rose to the nape of her neck. Her slightly raised voice trembled and strained her vocal cords.
“I think Your Excellency wants power.”
It was a statement that could be interpreted in many ways. Chloe continued, hoping that the Duke would not pursue her further.
“I am a short-sighted person, so I cannot know exactly what Your Excellency is thinking.”
“From this moment on, you are forbidden from using that kind of language in front of me. You are not a shallow thinker.”
The Duke added, glaring at her as if he were going to devour her.
“I won’t warn you twice.”
Chloe opened her mouth again, trying to resist the urge to flinch back in surprise.
“I will do whatever I can. And...”
"And?"
“I will divorce you whenever you wish, Your Excellency.”
The Duke, who had been staring at her intently for a moment, finally smiled faintly. Chloe had the illusion that the air in the bedroom where she had felt the most secure for twenty-two years was slowly breaking apart around the intruder.
“You’re cheeky, Chloe.”
Chloe's hazel eyes fluttered.
“You’re so cocky, it makes me mad.”
No matter how hard she tried to keep her composure, the arrogant person in front of her kept making her break down. The Duke of Tisse was the one who lit a fire in her heart. That must have been why her whole body was getting hot again.
“I apologize if it sounded that way, Your Excellency. But please do not misunderstand my sincerity.”
Chloe's heart was filled with a mixture of resentment and anger at her situation, and she couldn't shout to get out of the room right away. Tears welled up in Chloe's eyes. The Duke, who was watching Chloe struggle to hold back her tears, asked her a question as if he was questioning her.
“What are your true feelings?”
“...”
“What do you want?”
The plan was to run away to the monastery and live there forever without ever seeing his face.
The Duke looked straight at her and asked sharply.
“This will be the first and last time I give you a chance.”
Chloe suppressed the fire in her heart. Thinking only of her father and Alice, she finally opened her mouth to whisper.
“I want to be a Duchess.”
Her lips trembled silently. The tears that had been hanging heavily finally failed to bear their weight and flowed down her delicate cheeks. The Duke looked at Chloe, who was shedding tears silently, for a moment before finally nodding to the jewelry box.
“Try it.”
The sparkling, gorgeous jewels shone in Chloe’s hazy eyes. Chloe bit the flesh inside her mouth and held the necklace with trembling hands. The necklace, which was studded with diamonds thicker than her two thumbnails, felt heavy just by holding it. After several fumblings, she finally put the necklace on, and her hands were covered in sweat.
“And the rest.”
Chloe held the earring that remained in her hand at the Duke's command. The hand that tightened the screw kept shaking, and it was not something she could stop by will.
"Ah..."
Chloe bit her lip as she watched the gorgeous jewels slide down the hem of her dress. She got up to pick up her earrings that were reflecting the sunlight on the carpet. The Duke just watched as she bent over, lost her balance on one foot, and fell to the floor.
"Sorry."
“Put the rest on too.”
Chloe held onto the earring as she watched his polished shoes clank. She didn’t have the strength to stand up. She just put the diamond earring on her right ear with her trembling hands. The Duke, who had been sitting sideways with his legs folded and staring blankly at Chloe, who had the look he wanted, finally got up from his seat.
“How does it feel to wear Tisse’s jewels on your body?”
Damien knelt down on one knee and met her gaze. Chloe, unable to bear to look at his face, lowered her head, and a gloved hand lifted her chin toward him.
“Answer me, Chloe Verdier.”
Chloe managed to spit out the bitter medicine from her mouth to the most persistent man in the world.
“...It’s heavy.”
The Duke looked at her and slowly lifted his lips. It was a strange expression that was neither smiling nor angry. Chloe now knew that it was the expression that came when he was satisfied with her answer.
“It will be nothing compared to the burden you will have to bear as a Duchess. Do you still want to be my wife?”
Chloe had no choice. The man who knew that best wanted to hear the same answer from her mouth again and again.
“Yes, I wish, Your Excellency.”
“I see.”
Chloe shivered as she felt his hand slowly touch her lips and finally take control of her mouth. The soft leather that wrapped his fingers like wax perfectly made her skin tingle as he ran it through her delicate flesh. She couldn't help but think back to the kiss they had had a few days ago. The soaking-wet glove finally slipped out of her mouth.
“Have you thought carefully about the basics of negotiation?”
Damien spat out in a very low voice. Chloe's neat eyebrows gathered between her eyebrows. He pressed his forehead against hers as she gasped for breath and whispered.
“What do I want right now, Lady Chloe?”
Chloe slowly kissed him, glaring at the Duke who was smiling meaningfully at her. She was the one who started it, but the Duke was the one who could finish it. In the bedroom where Chloe had felt the most comfortable in her life, the Duke greedily took her lips and then slowly let go.
Chloe was panting as if she had been running. Her usually pale cheeks were flushed with blood. Her breathing was ragged, her hair ornament was on the ground, and her lips were a mess.
“Is it too much for you?”
As soon as she returned to Verdier Castle, Chloe washed her entire body. She still felt hot in her chest. She asked Gray to boil the wine with cinnamon and orange. Fortunately, there were still some ingredients left that the Duke had brought back while hunting. Chloe finished a cup of hot medicinal liquor that was still steaming and lay down on the bed. Gray looked at her with concern, but Chloe kept her mouth shut, so he left without asking a word.
Don't fall, Chloe. You have to come to your senses.
Perhaps because she had tried her best to recall the memory of her illness from years ago, Chloe felt surprisingly light the next day after sweating profusely. She finished a whole plate of breakfast for the first time in a long time, and in the afternoon, she began to clean the castle herself.
The royal family sent another gift in addition to the wedding congratulations. Chloe thought that her prediction was not wrong. The current heir to the kingdom was Crown Prince Johannes, but the Duke of Tisse was more widely known to the public. The royal family was delighted at the news that the Duke, who had already greatly expanded his power, was marrying a noble young lady with a distinguished background, not a lowly family. The Duke would also know this fact best.
After hearing that horses, cows, and poultry were arriving, she contacted a carpenter to fix the stables. It was better to do what needed to be done now, even if it meant returning them later.
She also did not forget to look after the Viscount Verdier, who was still lying in bed. He was still weak, but he seemed to have finally come to terms with the fact that his second daughter had run away with a child for the sake of forbidden love. He was more worried about the future than he was resigned and depressed.
“Chloe. What did you hear from the Duke?”
Chloe honestly didn't know what to say to her father who asked her cautiously. It was the gamble of her life, but an unexpected and unpleasant incident occurred at the end, so she ran away without hearing the Duke's definitive answer. In the end, nothing was resolved, and a week had passed since that incident, and there was no word from the Duke.
“It’s obvious he's upset that his proposal was rejected. Of course he is.”
“Just wait a little longer, Father.”
Chloe swallowed dryly as she put down her teacup. Her last memories of him came back to her. The dazzling sun made her head pound. Her hat flew away. The Duke’s face smiling in the wind. Even the hot body temperature hidden in his lips suddenly approached her and took control of her like an animal.
“I am ready to get down on my knees.”
Chloe shook her head, holding her father's hand as he whispered complicated words.
“Don’t say that.”
She too was feeling increasingly frustrated day by day. But as the days passed, one thing became clearer: if the Duke really wanted to erase everything, he would have told the royal family first.
“A guest has arrived.”
Chloe turned her face and looked out the window. Finally, the person she had been waiting for had arrived. Her heart was pounding rapidly.
“Tell them to wait in the reception room. I’ll be getting ready and coming down soon.”
Gray hesitated for a moment at Chloe's words, not even asking who she was talking to, and then quickly lowered his head. For the past few days, Chloe had gotten up in the morning and put on a perfect dress, and her hair was neat and tidy as if she was going out somewhere.
While she was handling the affairs inside and outside the castle with a look that seemed like she would collapse at any moment, she occasionally looked out the window and let out a long sigh. Gray was worried that she might collapse while moving around busily with a half-spirited look on her face.
“Should I tell him to come back next time?”
“Guest? Who are he?”
When the Viscount of Verdi asked, Gray cleared his throat a little.
“This is Duke Tisse.”
“It’s come.”
The Viscount closed his eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them again and struggled to get up from the bed. Chloe held onto her father’s hand tightly, as if she was about to run barefoot and kneel down at any moment.
“My father is ill, so I will meet the Duke.”
“No, Chloe. But I, I’ll ask for forgiveness myself...”
“It was the Duke who wanted the marriage. There is no need for us to ask for forgiveness, Father.”
Chloe cut off her father's words with a trembling voice. At this moment, her legs were shaking with nervousness as well, but she decided that she could not let her anxious father meet the Duke.
“Because unmarried women have the right to reject marriage proposals.”
Of course, her words were not wrong. However, it was clear that it was an easy task for the highest nobles to bring down a family they did not like, even with their eyes closed.
“Hey, but...”
“It’ll be okay, Father. Just wait a little longer.”
Chloe hurried to her bedroom, leaving her father behind, who was still anxious. She didn't need to prepare anything to welcome a guest. She just had something to give him.
“They’re coming now.”
The moment she saw the Duke greeting her in the bedroom, Chloe froze in place.
"Miss..."
Gray, who appeared late after realizing that the man who had he clearly guided to the reception room had disappeared, mumbled his words. Chloe closed her eyes tightly for a moment, then opened them again before opening her mouth.
“It is not polite to enter a woman’s empty bedroom, Your Excellency.”
“I can’t stand to miss you, Lady Chloe.”
Chloe opened her mouth, wishing the old velvet sofa he was sitting on would swallow him up.
“I will take you to the reception room. This is my personal space and does not seem like a suitable place to talk to the Duke.”
“We’ll soon reach a point where we won’t need any personal space, so if you should keep some distance from me, then so be it.”
The shadow of the Duke, who had risen from his seat and was walking slowly, covered her. It took only a few seconds for the Duke to cross her small bedroom and whisper softly into her ear, while her heart pounded against her ribs.
“I’m sorry for the delay in preparing your proposal gift.”
Chloe's eyes opened wide. The Duke asked, watching with amusement the fluttering of her long eyelashes.
“Surprised?”
“Your Excellency...”
“Close the door.”
The bedroom door slammed shut with a loud bang in front of Gray, who was still.
***
Chloe followed the Duke back to his seat, folding her hands across from her as he slammed the door shut.
“Shall I have some tea brought out?”
The Duke nodded, ignoring her words.
“Open.”
The red box on the table had an antique design decorated with gold leaf. Chloe opened the box with trembling hands.
In an instant, a beautiful piece of jewelry caught her eye, enough to make the small room feel brighter. It was a necklace with large diamonds hanging down and earrings with diamonds that were also gorgeously designed and dripped down like droplets. She had never seen such gorgeous and beautiful jewelry in her life. It was the same when her mother was alive.
“It’s a jewel that has been passed down through generations in the Tisse family. It was traditional for my mother to pass it down, but the previous Duchess wasn’t too keen on this marriage.”
The Duke spoke simply, referring to his mother as if she were someone else.
“...I guess so. I understand.”
“Are you pretending to be calm, or are you really uninspired?”
Chloe decided to answer the Duke's seemingly provocative question honestly.
“I’m afraid to react easily because I don’t know what the Duke will say.”
The Duke looked straight into her eyes and spoke sharply.
“I am proposing to you now, Chloe Verdier.”
A dry proposal was thrown after a savage kiss. Hearing the driest proposal she had ever heard or read, Chloe suddenly thought of Alice. She wondered how hot the eyes of the man who had told her to run away together must have been.
“I sincerely thank you for accepting my offer.”
Leaving her thoughts behind, Chloe bowed her head in respect. Whatever the reason the Duke wanted to marry into her family, the fact that she was chosen as his bride in Alice's absence was not such a bad thing. No, it was also the only lifeline that came to her in crisis, with the marriage proposal with Count Cromwell completely gone.
“You really appreciate it?”
"Yes."
Chloe nodded at the Duke, who didn't look too pleased.
“How are you going to prove that?”
The situation had once again turned in the Duke's favor. It was not unexpected. The Duke clearly had something he wanted from this marriage. Chloe calmed down her complicated feelings and opened her mouth calmly.
“I will do my best to help you with whatever your Excellency wishes to do.”
“What do I want to do?”
“Whatever it is.”
“Don’t avoid it, get to the point. What do you think I want?”
He was a persistent man. He was a master at pushing people to the point where they could barely breathe. Chloe's mind was in a tangle.
“Should I lick your dry lips one more time before you open your mouth?”
Chloe's lips, which had been quivering, parted in a hurry as heat rose to the nape of her neck. Her slightly raised voice trembled and strained her vocal cords.
“I think Your Excellency wants power.”
It was a statement that could be interpreted in many ways. Chloe continued, hoping that the Duke would not pursue her further.
“I am a short-sighted person, so I cannot know exactly what Your Excellency is thinking.”
“From this moment on, you are forbidden from using that kind of language in front of me. You are not a shallow thinker.”
The Duke added, glaring at her as if he were going to devour her.
“I won’t warn you twice.”
Chloe opened her mouth again, trying to resist the urge to flinch back in surprise.
“I will do whatever I can. And...”
"And?"
“I will divorce you whenever you wish, Your Excellency.”
The Duke, who had been staring at her intently for a moment, finally smiled faintly. Chloe had the illusion that the air in the bedroom where she had felt the most secure for twenty-two years was slowly breaking apart around the intruder.
“You’re cheeky, Chloe.”
Chloe's hazel eyes fluttered.
“You’re so cocky, it makes me mad.”
No matter how hard she tried to keep her composure, the arrogant person in front of her kept making her break down. The Duke of Tisse was the one who lit a fire in her heart. That must have been why her whole body was getting hot again.
“I apologize if it sounded that way, Your Excellency. But please do not misunderstand my sincerity.”
Chloe's heart was filled with a mixture of resentment and anger at her situation, and she couldn't shout to get out of the room right away. Tears welled up in Chloe's eyes. The Duke, who was watching Chloe struggle to hold back her tears, asked her a question as if he was questioning her.
“What are your true feelings?”
“...”
“What do you want?”
The plan was to run away to the monastery and live there forever without ever seeing his face.
The Duke looked straight at her and asked sharply.
“This will be the first and last time I give you a chance.”
Chloe suppressed the fire in her heart. Thinking only of her father and Alice, she finally opened her mouth to whisper.
“I want to be a Duchess.”
Her lips trembled silently. The tears that had been hanging heavily finally failed to bear their weight and flowed down her delicate cheeks. The Duke looked at Chloe, who was shedding tears silently, for a moment before finally nodding to the jewelry box.
“Try it.”
The sparkling, gorgeous jewels shone in Chloe’s hazy eyes. Chloe bit the flesh inside her mouth and held the necklace with trembling hands. The necklace, which was studded with diamonds thicker than her two thumbnails, felt heavy just by holding it. After several fumblings, she finally put the necklace on, and her hands were covered in sweat.
“And the rest.”
Chloe held the earring that remained in her hand at the Duke's command. The hand that tightened the screw kept shaking, and it was not something she could stop by will.
"Ah..."
Chloe bit her lip as she watched the gorgeous jewels slide down the hem of her dress. She got up to pick up her earrings that were reflecting the sunlight on the carpet. The Duke just watched as she bent over, lost her balance on one foot, and fell to the floor.
"Sorry."
“Put the rest on too.”
Chloe held onto the earring as she watched his polished shoes clank. She didn’t have the strength to stand up. She just put the diamond earring on her right ear with her trembling hands. The Duke, who had been sitting sideways with his legs folded and staring blankly at Chloe, who had the look he wanted, finally got up from his seat.
“How does it feel to wear Tisse’s jewels on your body?”
Damien knelt down on one knee and met her gaze. Chloe, unable to bear to look at his face, lowered her head, and a gloved hand lifted her chin toward him.
“Answer me, Chloe Verdier.”
Chloe managed to spit out the bitter medicine from her mouth to the most persistent man in the world.
“...It’s heavy.”
The Duke looked at her and slowly lifted his lips. It was a strange expression that was neither smiling nor angry. Chloe now knew that it was the expression that came when he was satisfied with her answer.
“It will be nothing compared to the burden you will have to bear as a Duchess. Do you still want to be my wife?”
Chloe had no choice. The man who knew that best wanted to hear the same answer from her mouth again and again.
“Yes, I wish, Your Excellency.”
“I see.”
Chloe shivered as she felt his hand slowly touch her lips and finally take control of her mouth. The soft leather that wrapped his fingers like wax perfectly made her skin tingle as he ran it through her delicate flesh. She couldn't help but think back to the kiss they had had a few days ago. The soaking-wet glove finally slipped out of her mouth.
“Have you thought carefully about the basics of negotiation?”
Damien spat out in a very low voice. Chloe's neat eyebrows gathered between her eyebrows. He pressed his forehead against hers as she gasped for breath and whispered.
“What do I want right now, Lady Chloe?”
Chloe slowly kissed him, glaring at the Duke who was smiling meaningfully at her. She was the one who started it, but the Duke was the one who could finish it. In the bedroom where Chloe had felt the most comfortable in her life, the Duke greedily took her lips and then slowly let go.
Chloe was panting as if she had been running. Her usually pale cheeks were flushed with blood. Her breathing was ragged, her hair ornament was on the ground, and her lips were a mess.
“Is it too much for you?”
“...I don’t want to lie.”
The Duke smiled in satisfaction as Chloe whispered.
“Practice well. It’ll get harder from now on.”
Feeling like a street prostitute rather than a Duchess, Chloe had to fight the urge to bite someone for the first time in her life.
***
The Duke immediately called Chloe's father. Coming into the drawing room looking as if he was about to collapse, Viscount Verdier held his breath several times as he listened to the Duke's dry but blunt speech declaring his intention to marry Chloe.
The Duke said that he fell in love with Alice the moment he first saw her at the ball he had invited her to, and although he hesitated because of the difference in status that would attract public attention, he eventually came to Verdier's estate because he could not hold back his love. He said that the hunting was an excuse, and after meeting her again and confirming his feelings, he thought that proposing marriage was the only answer.
“I found out too late that Lady Alice had circumstances that made it impossible for her to marry me, but I thought that breaking off the engagement, when the royal family had even congratulated me, would harm the Verdier family.”
Chloe, who had prepared tea herself for her father and the Duke, felt the urge to pour hot tea on the Duke who was spouting perfect lies, but her eyes widened when she saw his gloves. Only then did she notice the embroidery on the black sheepskin gloves that were swirling in her mouth?
Thief.
Chloe clenched her fists next to the Duke, who had not only barged into the lady's bedroom but had also tampered with her belongings.
“You are lucky to have another wonderful daughter.”
“Your Excellency, But our Chloe... as you know...”
The Viscount Verdier stuttered. The Duke smirked at the Viscount, who could not continue speaking while looking at his daughter's expression.
“I tell you that whatever concerns you have, Your Grace, cannot be an obstacle to me. I was just returning from Chloe’s bedroom.”
“Tch, in the bedroom...”
Click.
The sound of the surprised Viscount Verdier dropping his teacup echoed loudly throughout the study. Chloe’s face, which had barely calmed down, turned bright red. The Duke lifted the teacup with an elegant hand, completely ignoring her gaze that was protesting what he was talking about.
“I was belatedly moved by the beautiful heart of Lady Chloe, who even prepared a gift for me with all her heart. It is not only unbecoming of a gentleman to pretend not to know a lady’s heart and cry, but it also goes against the family traditions I have learned.”
The Duke was deliberately showing the pattern on his gloves and acting in a disgusting manner. The Viscount of Verdier recognized at a glance that it was Chloe's embroidery, for she had given the same gift to her father.
“Ahhh... Chloe. Oh my god. This father doesn’t even know that...”
When she realized that Viscount Verdier was looking at her with eyes filled with regret and mixed emotions, Chloe was at a loss. Father, no! It was clear that her father had been under the ridiculous misconception that she had been in love with the Duke from the beginning.
“I think she will make a wonderful Duchess.”
“I guarantee that!”
The Viscount of Verdier stood up from his seat and opened his mouth with a serious expression as if he were taking an oath.
“My daughter is a wise and virtuous child, and she will become a Duchess respected by all. I can say this with everything I have.”
“Regardless of the amount of wealth, this is a statement that feels sincere.”
The Viscount hesitated for a moment as he watched the Duke nodding his head dryly. It was clear that the Duke thought his words were nothing more than a sugar coating. His wrinkled face became much more serious, and his voice became even more solemn.
“Indeed, I don’t have much, but if you can make my daughter happy, I’ll give you everything I have. I’ll even give my life.”
Caw, she thought she heard the ominous cry of a bird. Chloe could already feel the weight of the jewels on her body growing heavier.
"Father."
“The evil taste of taking human life is barely acceptable in war. I am a peace-loving person.”
The Duke looked at her over his teacup, his legs crossed, his head tilted. Chloe thought that if the devil were denying himself, that would be exactly what his face would look like.
“May I have the forest that is Verdier’s private property and the mountain that leads to it?”
The Viscount looked incomprehensible at the request for useless land.
“But the soil there is poor and the trees are useless...”
“Because it’s a place that Lady Chloe cherishes.”
The Duke looked at Chloe with the face of a romantic of the century.
“It’s also where it all began.”
He smiled, narrowing his eyes. Chloe swore that if she could turn back time, she would never go back to that forest, but it was too late and she would regret it.
***
“You’re beautiful, Chloe. You’re so beautiful that every man can’t take his eyes off you, my daughter.”
Viscount Verdier's eyes turned red as he watched Chloe finish her dress-up. As he grew older, he couldn't hold back the tears that would well up from time to time. But today, he was sure that no one would criticize him even if he cried so loudly.
“How happy would your mother be if she were alive?”
“...It was Alice’s part, but I feel awkward wearing it.”
“What are you talking about, Chloe?”
The Viscount approached her briskly and took her hand.
“This dress was prepared by Claire for you. She prepared something else for the wild and unruly Alice.”
“What is that?”
“It’s a piano. I almost fainted when I saw that kid trying to play the keys with her toes.”
As Chloe smiled faintly, the Viscount also smiled, shrugging his shoulders slightly. What had the mother been thinking as she prepared the wedding dress for her daughter who was not feeling well? It was finally the day when her earnest wish came true.
“No matter what the process is, from today onwards you are the Duchess of Tisse. You will do well, my daughter.”
Chloe took a deep breath and smiled brighter at her father.
“Chloe. You should be happy...”
Finally, Chloe held her father's arms, who was shedding tears like a child, and tried her best to hold back her tears. She could no longer cause worry to the Viscount, who was already heartbroken by Alice's incident.
“You must leave now.”
Only after Gray urged her in a low voice did Chloe manage to come to her senses.
“You look great today, Gray.”
As the days went by, the servants also dressed up in their best clothes. She smiled at Gray, who had his hair neatly arranged, but his expression was not very bright. Gray, who had a similar personality to Chloe and was meticulous, might have noticed her troubled mind.
“Please prepare two more handkerchiefs. I’m worried that my father might start crying.”
The father, who was trying to keep his dignity in front of the servants, coughed in vain and came to his senses. Chloe grabbed her father's arm and slowly started walking towards the backyard.
The wedding was held simply and modestly, considering the status of the Duke of Tisse. It seemed that only his father believed the Duke’s words that he wanted to get married as soon as possible. However, Chloe consoled herself that it was not a bad thing, since she did not want to invite all the nobles of the kingdom and hold a grand wedding.
In front of the old fountain, where young Chloe sat on a bench and looked at the stars, they promised to marry before God. When the priest asked if he would stay by her side forever, even through adversity and hardship, the Duke answered without hesitation that he would.
After Chloe finished answering with mixed feelings, the bride and groom looked at each other. It was a bright, sunny summer day. Even this spring, when she had accepted the Duke's invitation and was heading to the ball, Chloe had never imagined that this situation would come to her.
“Now the groom and bride pledge their promise to each other with a kiss before God.”
Chloe lost the chance to avoid eye contact as Damien slowly lowered his head and stared at her intently. Her heart beat faster as she felt like she was being sucked into his blue eyes.
The tension grew even higher as the last scene in the bedroom where she had kissed him came to mind. She thought that he would not act like an animal if he did not intend to embarrass her in front of others, but for a moment, she was afraid because she could not predict his actions.
Chloe's eyelashes, which had been fluttering in the momentary bird kiss that caressed her like a feather, slowly opened. The Duke's perfect lips drew a curve and mischievously lifted upwards. As if asking what she was expecting, someone started to scatter flowers while avoiding his gaze.
As the bride and groom were about to walk down the aisle together, Chloe's body suddenly lifted. Small cheers could be heard from around them.
"Congratulations."
“Congratulations, Your Excellency the Duke! Your Ladyship!”
Chloe seemed to be going crazy as she walked down the path carrying children dressed up like angels and scattering flowers.
“Please come down.”
“You don’t seem to want to finish it quickly?”
Chloe's face flushed as he buried his face in hers and whispered softly. After a moment of hesitation, she wrapped her arms around the Duke's neck. The Duke finally looked satisfied and kissed her forehead again.
“Good job, Chloe.”
The applause and whistles of the guests, who could not tell the truth, grew louder and louder. Although it was a combination they had never imagined before, the couple before their eyes were quite a good match.
***
After the wedding, the small village was filled with joy for a short while. As soon as it was announced that the Duke had left for the capital, Swanton, alone, everyone they met had the same topic.
“I knew it. I don’t know what weakness the Duke had that made him marry her, but it’s obvious that he didn’t marry her because he liked her. Well, I heard he left without even spending a night with her.”
“A Duke who falls in love with a poor and physically disabled daughter of a noble family. The novels my wife reads are probably better than that.”
“Hey. If you’re at a bar, have a drink before you go.”
The young man sitting at the next table banged his fist on the table, causing the heavily intoxicated people to shut their mouths. This was because they realized belatedly that he was a servant working in the Viscount's house. Gray, who could not ignore the rumors he was hearing, felt increasingly uncomfortable.
“Get some rest, Miss. It’ll be dinner time soon.”
“Huh? Is it already like that? It definitely seems like there are more than one or two areas that need to be taken care of.”
Chloe, who had been burying her head in the desk, stretched as she watched Gray pour oil into the lamp. It was only natural for her eyes to become drowsy after looking at documents full of numbers all day.
“How’s the town? You went there today.”
“The bar and the inn are so crowded with people that there is no place to sit.”
Chloe smiled at Gray's words, which sounded like he was complaining.
“People have more free time because a good harvest is expected.”
The mercilessly hot summers had boosted the harvest of sugar cane, a specialty of the Verdier estate. It was only natural that the village would become more lively as people gathered there after hard work and chattered loudly. It was truly a blessing, considering that the village had become quiet over the past few years as people with no jobs left.
“But why do you look so upset?”
"No."
Chloe blinked at him as Gray shook his head hurriedly. No matter how she looked at it, it didn't seem to be wrong.
“If you have any concerns, please tell me, Gray.”
“Miss... are you okay?”
Chloe blinked innocently as she looked at Gray, who had difficulty speaking.
“Huh? What?”
“How about sending a telegram to Swanton?”
Chloe then guessed what Gray was worried about and smiled nonchalantly.
“I am still writing letters to the Duke.”
In fact, it was more of a report on what was happening in the castle than a letter, but Chloe sent a letter to the Duke once a week without fail.
"But..."
Chloe also knew why Gray was speaking vaguely. She had sent more than ten letters so far but had not received a single reply from the Duke.
“I understand what you’re worried about, but I can’t blame anyone for being busy.”
Chloe also thought at first that the Duke's behavior was a mess because he left his bride behind on the wedding day and never contacted her again. But later she changed her mind.
Since it was a marriage that was carried out without love anyway, it seemed like it would be better to keep her at her parents' house and treat her like she didn't exist. Time would eventually solve the gossip that people were talking about.
“Actually, I’ve been so busy since the wedding that I haven’t had time to worry about useless things.”
“Is this useless?”
It seemed that her words had come out sharply again, even though she hadn't intended to. Chloe realized that she had made a slip of the tongue and quickly waved her hand. No matter how comfortable Gray was with her, there was no need to worry her subordinates by telling them that married life was useless.
“I think the Duke has given me some time to take care of things. You know how busy I am with all the wedding gifts pouring in from all over the place since I suddenly became a Duchess.”
Chloe smiled brightly as she saw the worry finally disappear from Gray's expression.
“Besides... the letter I was really waiting for already come. Today.”
“What kind of letter is it?”
“Just wait. It’ll be no fun if you find out too quickly.”
Chloe stood up, limped to the bookshelf, and took out an envelope she had hidden away. Gray's face lit up as he recognized the sender just by looking at the handwriting.
“Could it be that Miss Alice sent you a letter?”
"Yes!"
“Can I see it too?”
“Yes. Here.”
The two stood side by side and read the letter. The letter was short, but it was clear that Alice was doing well. It seemed as if Alice's chattering voice could be heard.
“I’m the happiest person in the world right now, Gray.”
Chloe was sincere. Her sister's well-being was confirmed, and her father's health had improved noticeably recently, and his face was brighter. The faces of the people in the estate were brightening, and the renovation work to remove the old dust and hazards from every corner of Verdier Castle was also progressing steadily.
“I wish I could live like this forever.”
“I wish things were like this, Miss.”
Chloe smiled at Gray as before. It was only later that their little peace was shattered.
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