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~Chapter 12~
“So… what are you planning?”
As soon as they were alone, Melissa dropped all formalities and asked her son directly.
Dominic poured two glasses of wine calmly and didn’t avoid her sharp gaze.
“It’s about time I got married. It’s your wish too, Mother.”
“I didn’t mean you should marry just anyone.”
She looked straight into his eyes, as if she could see through his thoughts.
Dominic sat casually on the armrest across from her and gave a small smile.
“You haven’t even met her yet. That’s not like you, Mother.”
“I don’t need to meet her. I’ve already heard enough about her family.”
She had heard more than enough about the Nilson family from others.
People had worried so much about this marriage that it almost made her ears hurt.
“You might like her once you meet her. Don’t judge too quickly. Honestly, you weren’t exactly the perfect Duchess yourself, were you?”
Melissa shot him a look, then calmly took a sip of her wine.
“Sylvia seemed sincere about you. But it looks like you weren’t.”
There was no disappointment in her voice—just mild surprise.
“Yes. I know you had expectations.”
“What I expected was for you to marry properly. That doesn’t mean it had to be Sylvia.”
Melissa sighed and shook her head, as if she couldn’t understand her son at all.
“So when will you introduce her to me? I’d like to meet her before the wedding. It would be awkward if I don’t recognize my daughter-in-law at the ceremony.”
Dominic let out a quiet laugh.
For some reason, he could clearly imagine his mother struggling to recognize her daughter-in-law at the wedding.
His mother—someone who valued her own life so much that she didn’t care much about her son’s marriage—was still, in the end, the former Duchess of Linderto.
He even imagined what she might say after a year.
“I knew you would get divorced.”
After a light morning rain, the garden smelled fresh with the scent of grass.
Elin and Isabella walked together quietly.
From afar, they looked like they were having a serious, secret conversation.
At one point, Isabella suddenly stopped and looked at Elin.
The conversation reached its peak.
“My goodness… is that really true?”
For once, Isabella couldn’t hide her shock.
She was always calm no matter what happened—
but now, her expression clearly showed how stunned she was.
“Yes.”
Elin nodded, as if confessing a sin.
“You really spent the night with the Duke?”
Isabella’s voice rose, then quickly dropped as she looked around.
“How could something like that happen? Elin… I didn’t know you were so bold.”
Elin looked straight into her eyes and answered calmly:
“I don’t know. Maybe I lost my mind back then. I’m only telling you this, Grandmother. No one else knows.”
After a moment of silence, Isabella slowly nodded.
“I see… No wonder I found it strange that you were marrying the Duke. If something like that happened, then it makes sense.”
Elin felt slightly relieved that her great-aunt seemed to understand.
She had told the truth about that night—
but she couldn’t bring herself to tell her about the contract marriage.
If Isabella found out, she would definitely storm off to confront the Duke immediately.
She would say things like—
“Are you trying to ruin someone’s life?”
“Just because you’re a Duke, does that give you the right?”
Telling her about that night had only been a way to make this sudden marriage believable.
“Even so, I’m more worried about you. If you’re forcing yourself into a marriage just because of one night… tsk.”
Isabella clicked her tongue in disapproval.
Her face clearly showed what she was thinking—
Can you really be happy in a loveless marriage?
“Miss!”
Just as Elin hesitated to respond, Marie came running toward them.
“Miss, a letter has arrived! From the Duke of Linderto’s house!”
Elin and Isabella looked at each other at the same time as they saw the elegant, flower-patterned letter.
Elin opened it immediately.
After reading it, she spoke with a firm expression:
“The Grand Duchess has returned. She wants to meet me… alone.”
She tried to stay calm—
but her face had already turned pale.
“Can I really deceive the Duchess?”
Fear began to creep into her heart.
She had thought this contract marriage was something simple—
but in reality, it meant deceiving the entire kingdom.
And now—
the Duke’s mother.
The person who knew him best in the world.
She would surely notice that this marriage was fake.
“What have I gotten myself into…?”
Only now did she feel dizzy from the weight of her reckless decision.
“Melissa Linderto… I know her a little.”
Elin’s eyes widened as she looked at Isabella.
“You do?”
“I used to see her often at art auctions.”
“Auction… houses?”
“Yes. When she was young, she neglected her home to spend time with artists. And even now, she still prefers being outside. She always had an eye for the finest pieces… especially the ones I wanted.”
Isabella snorted slightly, as if mocking her.
Elin felt even more confused.
What kind of person was the Grand Duchess?
One thing was certain—
Isabella and Melissa didn’t seem to get along well.
And honestly… Elin wished she hadn’t asked.
Unaware of her worry, Isabella continued bluntly:
“She’s like a snake. Once she sets her eyes on something, she will get it no matter what.”
She recalled something from many years ago.
“Once, she wanted a piece I had. She even swallowed her pride as a Duchess and came to me personally—with a carriage full of gifts.”
Elin asked carefully:
“So… what happened?”
“What do you think? I kicked her out.”
“Even if she offered me half the kingdom, I wouldn’t give up what’s mine.”
Elin instantly regretted asking.
She couldn’t help imagining Isabella kicking the elegant former Duchess.
“Ah… you’re joking, right? You scared me for a second.”
Isabella laughed playfully.
“I was this close to doing it.”
Elin let out a small sigh.
Even someone as bold as Isabella wouldn’t really do something like that… right?
Then Isabella added seriously:
“Don’t tell her I’m your great-aunt. She might take a dislike to you for it.”
That—
was the most useful advice Elin had heard all day.
Melissa gently wiped the antique in her room with a soft cloth.
The black, rugged, exotic artifact might have looked like an ordinary stone to others, but to her, it was a treasure.
While the servants cleaned most things, she always personally handled a few precious items with care.
“Do you know how far I went just to get you? I couldn’t sleep for days just thinking about meeting you.”
She seemed to be speaking to the object as if it could answer her.
The stone had a strange blackened shape, almost like it had been burned. When Melissa first saw it, she swore she saw a sacred glow from behind it.
It looked like a mother holding her baby as a volcano erupted around them, both about to perish.
The stone seemed different to everyone who looked at it.
Some said it looked like an owl hunting for prey, others said it looked like a coiled snake.
‘How on earth can it look like that?’
No matter how hard she stared, she couldn’t understand it. She tilted her head in confusion just as a knock came from outside.
“Grand Duchess, the Countess has arrived.”
Melissa carefully set down the antique and frowned in surprise.
“Who has arrived?”
At the same time, a familiar voice came from outside.
“The Mistress has returned. As expected, the whole house feels different.”
Melissa sighed lightly.
Even the closest visitors were unwelcome if they arrived unannounced.
‘Jeffrey said he would be out for a while…’
The maid filling in for the capable butler looked uneasy as well.
“Let her in.”
As soon as the maid left, Sylvia appeared in front of Melissa, her face full of excitement.
“Grand Duchess! How long has it been since you last came? If I had known, I would have welcomed you the day you arrived.”
Sylvia’s voice, warm and familiar like a daughter speaking to her mother, now seemed more mature and beautiful than before.
“Sylvia… it’s been a while.”
Melissa looked at her and felt a slight pang of regret.
She still believed Sylvia would have been the perfect lady to become the mistress of this Duke’s house.
‘But there’s nothing I can do. Who could bend Dominic’s stubborn will?’
Melissa rose and smiled gently at Sylvia, folding her eyes softly in amusement.
“You’ve changed so much… you’ve become a proper young lady.”
Sylvia floated over lightly, like a butterfly, and helped Melissa sit on the sofa. She took her place beside her.
When the maid brought tea and set it on the table, Sylvia’s gaze naturally fell on one of the objects there.
Her delicate brow furrowed slightly.
‘What is this strange stone?’
Melissa noticed the look but didn’t care much. People who didn’t know the true value of this masterpiece usually reacted that way.
“So, Sylvia, what brings you here?”
Melissa asked, lifting her teacup. Sylvia pouted slightly, offended.
“Do I need a reason to visit? You are like a mother to me, Grand Duchess. Saying that makes me feel hurt.”
Melissa’s eyebrows rose subtly at the remark. She responded with nothing but a gentle smile.
“I appreciate you thinking that way. How are your parents?”
“They asked me to send their regards to you, Grand Duchess.”
There was a faint weariness in Sylvia’s voice.
“They must have been very surprised.”
Melissa looked at her curiously. Sylvia let out a deep sigh.
“Who could have expected the Duke to enter such a random marriage?”
Her eyes seemed filled with all the sadness in the world, as if a single tear was about to fall.
“You already know, right? How incompatible his family is with yours. How could this even happen…”
She stopped herself mid-sentence, sensing her words were somewhat frivolous.
Melissa answered with a soft smile.
“No one feels more regret than I do, Sylvia. But if the Duke has decided, who can stop him? You know his temperament well, don’t you?”
Melissa’s calm, resigned words disappointed Sylvia.
She had expected the Duke’s mother to be furious about this marriage.
Yet, surprisingly, Melissa accepted it so calmly.
“But…!”
Sylvia tried to protest, her voice rising, but Melissa turned her gaze to the window.
“It seems we cannot talk long today—guests are expected this afternoon.”
Sylvia had no choice but to suppress her frustration. Strictly speaking, her unannounced visit had been a little rude.
She had expected Melissa to welcome her warmly. The unexpected calm reaction hurt her pride.
“I-I’m sorry. I’ll return another day.”
Sylvia rose, dejected, but Melissa gave her the softest smile she had shown all day.
“Come again, and tell me what we couldn’t discuss today. Travel safely.”
Trusting Melissa had made Sylvia’s shock and disappointment even greater.
She hurried into the carriage, leaving the grand mansion behind.
