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~Chapter 25~
“They say you even have a barmaid as a mistress behind your wife’s back. I hope that isn’t true. If it gets out, how do you plan to deal with the aftermath?”
This time, all color drained from Royce’s face.
Dominic’s lips curled slightly as if showing concern, yet the faint, wicked smile was visible only to Royce, who found himself in trouble.
“If you want to inherit the family, you’d better manage yourself first. Stop worrying about my wife, who is now officially the Duchess.”
The duke’s eyes, once full of concern, had turned cold with warning.
It was a dignified, silent threat: stay away from Elin from now on.
Royce sat frozen, eyes wide, as if struck. Dominic rose from his seat.
“The person you were waiting for has arrived, so I’ll be going.”
Dominic lightly tapped Royce’s shoulder—a gesture that was part encouragement, part warning.
Feeling like he’d been doused with cold water, Royce turned his head.
Dominic was already moving with the newly arrived Crown Prince Jonathan to another table.
Meeting Dominic, Jonathan glanced at the man who had just been with him and said,
“That’s the second son of the Crayton family, isn’t it? Ah, so you’re family now.”
Dominic, uninterested, shifted the topic.
“How is Sylvia?”
Jonathan leaned in, looking pleased.
“There seems to be progress. In fact, I proposed again yesterday.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow, curious about how it would end.
“She flatly rejected last time, but now she wants time to think. A good sign, don’t you think?”
Dominic finally allowed a faint smile.
Sylvia Muas, who had insisted she would never marry unless the position of Duchess was guaranteed, now had no choice but to accept reality.
She was a woman who always respected reality. With the option of being the Duchess gone, she couldn’t afford to miss the chance to become Crown Princess.
Now, it was more likely that she—the woman—was the one anxious, not the Crown Prince.
“I’ve already started investigating the Hayden Mine. As soon as we receive the mining rights, we can begin operations…”
Seeing Dominic switch instantly to a businesslike demeanor, Jonathan forced a reluctant smile.
“Don’t worry, I’m aware. First, I need to secure the throne.”
Longtime friends though they were, there were moments when Jonathan felt a sudden chill toward Dominic.
“By the way, have you heard the news?”
Jonathan’s eyes sparkled as he spoke before Dominic could answer.
“Casey Milton.”
Dominic’s hand, idly fiddling with his pocket watch, froze instantly.
Seeing how delighted Jonathan was at landing a strategic blow, he whispered quietly, leaning closer.
“You haven’t heard yet? According to my sources, Casey Milton will be returning soon. How long has it been?”
Dominic’s eyes flickered violently at the mention of her, which Jonathan noticed immediately.
Dominic couldn’t respond—he couldn’t.
When she had left so suddenly, he had struggled to heal the painful wound, throwing himself into work like a madman.
Only now, after time had dulled the pain, was he living a relatively peaceful life again.
“What? Damn it. She’s coming back?”
As if hearing his inner words, Jonathan pressed the wound further.
“At the time, it made no sense. I thought she cared for you too, even accepted your proposal, yet she left so irresponsibly. But it was just between us, luckily. Otherwise, your reputation would have suffered greatly.”
The words dredged up memories, making Dominic feel the cravat tightening around his neck.
Casey Milton, a young lady from a prestigious noble family, had gone abroad with her parents and returned as a grown woman, captivating everyone’s attention.
Men and women alike flocked around her, and suitors lined up with flowers at her door.
She combined mysterious charm with beauty, a presence impossible to ignore.
“Back then, the social circle went wild. She became the center of attention the moment she appeared.”
Jonathan shook his head, reminiscing.
“Had she not left, Sylvia wouldn’t be enjoying all the attention she does now. Casey Milton would have had it all.”
Jonathan then straightened and said firmly,
“Of course, then as now, Sylvia is the only one in my heart.”
But the one who had suffered the most, both mentally and physically, was Duke Dominic Linderto.
Dominic hadn’t originally shown interest in Casey. He merely observed her from a distance, fascinated by how she was always surrounded.
Then Casey, as if daring him, approached him first.
She pursued him like a game, aiming to make him utterly captivated.
After succeeding, she vanished from the capital as if her revenge were complete.
“You probably became the cold, merciless man you are now because of her. I can understand, given the betrayal you must have felt, my friend.”
Jonathan’s words, meant as comfort, only left Dominic’s face cold and drained of color.
Nightmarish days drowned in alcohol came flooding back.
“But now that she’s returning, what can you do? You’re already married.”
“Enough,” Dominic said, turning away, unwilling to hear more.
Jonathan was not one to give up.
He knew Dominic, usually rational and meticulous, was shaken inside despite his calm exterior.
He wanted to see his friend unsettled, to remind him that even the strongest can be vulnerable.
This was his chance.
“The rumors say she’s marrying an influential politician, but apparently broke it off just before the wedding. Maybe she’s returning. Who knows? Perhaps she still hasn’t forgotten you.”
Crack! It sounded as if Dominic’s face had split—a sound only Jonathan could hear.
“But if she has any conscience, she couldn’t…”
Before Jonathan could finish, Dominic rose.
“I believe all your points have been made. I have prior commitments this afternoon, so I’ll take my leave.”
Dominic departed first, leaving Jonathan to ponder alone.
Tapping the table rhythmically with his fingers, Jonathan felt a thrill of anticipation.
“Has Dominic really moved on from Casey Milton? Or will a storm erupt again? Just watching will be entertaining enough.”
He could bet everything that Dominic’s heart would waver again because of her—after all, the passion had been so intense in the past.
Then, his expression grew slightly concerned as he stared into space.
“The poor new Duchess will be the only unfortunate one. Just married, and already treated coldly.”
He shook his head, pitying her.
“Goodness, our lady looks absolutely stunning.”
“Wow~!”
The maids, trained by Melisa, gasped in admiration.
Elin, feeling almost detached from her body, lifted her gaze to the mirror.
‘Ah…’
It didn’t feel like her face she had always known—it was another woman standing there.
“My eye for detail hasn’t dulled, I see.”
Melisa, appearing in the room, squinted and inspected Elin from head to toe.
She had chosen Elin’s dress and accessories.
“Of course. I knew it would suit you.”
Elin smiled at Melisa in the mirror, then stared at herself in awe.
‘The dress is gorgeous, but it feels a bit embarrassing.’
Never having worn such a daring dress, the deep-cut back felt exposed, though the mesh overlay created a teasing illusion.
The necklace around her neck, lent by Melisa, sparkled brilliantly with diamonds.
Elin ran her fingers over the hundreds of tiny gemstones, fascinated.
“This is your first party together since the wedding. The Duke won’t take his eyes off you.”
Monica clapped her hands excitedly, as if it were her own joy.
“What if other men stare and the Duke gets jealous?”
Even the Duchess chuckled at the maid’s words.
Amid this joyful atmosphere, only Elin smiled faintly with a bittersweet tinge.
None of what the maids imagined would happen—no matter the dress or jewelry—would influence the Duke.
She was merely a partner in his well-planned marriage, nothing more.
“We’re not really a couple; we’re just pretending to be.”
“Of course, in front of others, we might have to act affectionate.”
Elin’s chest ached recalling the Duke’s words.
Knock.
Jeffrey appeared, anxious.
“When will you be ready? The Duke is waiting downstairs.”
The Duke’s impatience had grown, so Jeffrey came up, worried.
The maids’ hands moved busily again, and Elin’s heart raced.
Meanwhile, downstairs, Dominic sat on the entryway sofa, grimly checking his pocket watch.
He crossed and uncrossed his legs, tapped the sofa arm, and waited, feeling the minutes stretch endlessly.
‘Maybe I should go up to the study and finish reviewing the ledgers.’
His sharp nerves weren’t only from the time wasted preparing for the party.
Recently, Jonathan’s news kept replaying in his mind:
“Casey Milton is returning.”
The woman who had appeared suddenly, stirred waves in his calm life, and left.
She had vanished as if never to return, yet now she was coming back.
Recalling the past when he had been toyed with, he felt both frustration and a strange urge to tighten his grip.
He thought marrying Elin Nelson—even in a contract marriage—was the right choice.
Casey Milton would now see another woman by his side.
There would be no place left for her.
