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~Chapter 16~
The room buzzed with surprise at the unexpectedly intense kiss.
All eyes were fixed on the couple, and people couldn’t help but gape. It was a sight rarely seen at such a solemn noble wedding.
Soon, playful men in the audience broke the tension with cheers and applause.
Only then did their lips finally part, as if reluctantly.
Dominic gently held Elin’s waist, sensing that she might collapse from the heat of the kiss.
It wasn’t easy to act calm, but in truth, Dominic himself was the most flustered at that moment.
He had only intended for a brief touch of their lips, yet an overwhelming impulse had taken over him.
Even amid the excitement, some guests watched the new couple with suspicion.
Walking down the flower-petal-strewn wedding aisle, the Duke and his bride drew sharp reactions. Janice bit her lips in frustration, and Royce tried to hide his bitterness.
On the other side, Sylvia quietly wiped her tears. Luckily, Jonathan handed her a silk handkerchief to comfort her.
“Oh… Isabella?”
Even amid the chaos, Melisa noticed the distinguished elderly lady with silver hair repeatedly dabbing her eyes with a handkerchief.
The older woman acknowledged Melisa in return.
“Grand Matron. It’s been a long time.”
Seeing the formidable Isabella Avery in a place like this left Melisa’s expression awkward and slightly embarrassed.
‘Why is this old lady, who should be in Castia, here?’
Watching the bride in her dress and Isabella in turn, Melisa finally understood, letting out a twisted smile.
“Could it really be you—the relative supposedly in Castia?”
“I’m afraid it is.”
An oddly tense air settled between the two women, their polite smiles masking a subtle wariness.
“Suddenly, I feel a sharp headache coming on.”
As Melisa held her head, Isabella smiled softly.
“Seeing today, your son truly is remarkable.”
Melisa gave a small, dry laugh at Isabella’s teasing.
“He is my pride. A masterpiece unlike any treasure in your home. Sometimes I wonder myself how such a son came from me.”
A small sigh escaped Melisa as she looked toward Dominic, revealing her conflicted feelings without her noticing.
Isabella did not miss it, but she merely smiled gently and nodded.
“That’s understandable.”
Yet strangely, there was a hint in the old lady’s small eyes—perhaps she could see the harsh future awaiting her proud son.
The Duke’s house was eerily quiet in the evening, as if the grand wedding earlier had never happened.
The air was calm and subdued, almost making it hard to believe that today had been the wedding day.
Walking down the long corridor, Higgins was asked by Jeffrey,
“Is the Duke still in his study?”
“Yes. As usual.”
Higgins shrugged while looking around the study, and Jeffrey made a slightly awkward face.
A groom leaving his bride alone on the very first day? This didn’t seem right.
“But today was your wedding.”
“Exactly my point.”
Higgins looked at Jeffrey as if saying, “You wouldn’t understand the Duke’s mind anyway.”
Both sighed quietly, when from the other end of the corridor, Head Maid Monica appeared, gently closing a door behind her.
Jeffrey immediately shot her a sharp glance. Monica noticed the signal and quietly approached them.
“How is the lady? Has she gone to bed already?”
Monica lowered her voice to explain calmly.
“She just came out of the bathroom. She asked for a glass of wine, so I’m on my way.”
Wine?
Jeffrey and Higgins exchanged meaningful looks.
“Indeed. Nothing relaxes the nerves better.”
“Bring a whole bottle, not just a glass. Don’t forget two glasses.”
“Yes, sir.”
As Monica went to the kitchen, Jeffrey called her back.
“Make it the finest one we received from the foreign merchants last time.”
“Yes, sir.”
Higgins shook his head slightly, muttering,
“No wonder the bride is frustrated. First night of marriage, and the groom leaves the room empty all this time. Truly… a dead ghost must have possessed the Duke.”
Before he could finish, the study door clicked open. Both men straightened in surprise.
“Your Grace.”
The Duke, now in a comfortable shirt instead of formal wear, looked exhausted with hollows under his eyes.
Brushing loose hair off his forehead, he asked Higgins,
“Where did I put the mining report? The one analyzing the nearby villages?”
“Ah, I’ll place it on your desk so you can review it first thing in the morning.”
Dominic raised his hand slightly to acknowledge and walked off. Jeffrey and Higgins watched with a “finally!” expression.
“Why are you two standing there? As if plotting something.”
Turning cold eyes toward them, Dominic heard Jeffrey reply politely,
“The lady asked for a little wine to be brought in.”
Dominic raised an eyebrow, surprised.
Meanwhile, Elin still couldn’t get used to her new room.
She paced back and forth like a rabbit trapped in a cage, or perched unnaturally on the sofa, then stood again.
The sky-blue wallpaper with golden patterns, the large bed with flowing canopy, the creamy carpet covering the floor—it all would have amazed her under normal circumstances.
Yet today, the first night of her marriage, she had no mind to admire them.
‘Tonight is the first night.’
She stared at the large door, steeling her mind.
Her imagined first night was nothing like reality:
Handsome groom holding the bride like a princess, romantic candles, a bed decorated beautifully…
Instead, her mind conjured up a wild, lustful scene she immediately scolded herself for.
‘Focus, Elin Nelson. This is a contract marriage. Stop imagining things. The Duke probably has another room.’
Many nobles used separate rooms even after marriage.
Her shoulders relaxed slightly as the illusion of the first night faded.
‘It’s not even a real marriage anyway.’
She tensed at every tiny sound from outside the door, wishing someone would just tell her where the Duke would sleep.
Finally, the golden doorknob turned.
“……!”
This time, it was real.
Dominic entered the room casually, and Elin’s legs shot down from the sofa. She clutched her flimsy nightgown together, but it was already too late—Dominic had seen everything.
Creamy skin, soft curves under the thin gown—he had caught it all.
Elin was just as flustered as he was composed.
Seeing him in a few undone buttons and relaxed clothes was a first; his thick black hair flowed freely like an artist’s. Somehow, this made him even more breathtakingly sexy.
Soon after, Jeffrey entered with a silver tray. From the crystal bottle, the red wine shimmered seductively.
“Have a good night.”
He set the tray down and left silently. Dominic poured two glasses himself.
“I was just going to drink one glass before bed, in case I couldn’t sleep.”
Elin hesitated, thinking this wasn’t the right time—but Dominic’s presence made her feel a strange warmth.
‘Good. A little alcohol might give me courage. This may be my only chance to speak to the busy Duke.’
She sipped the sweet yet slightly bitter wine as Dominic watched her. Their eyes met over the glasses, making the room feel suddenly heavy.
‘Why am I already feeling this heat after just one sip?’
Dominic finished his glass and removed his shirt, revealing broad, firm shoulders and a sculpted back. Elin’s heart raced as she averted her gaze.
‘Focus. He’s just changing clothes.’
She placed the glass on the table and sat upright, realizing it was the right moment to speak.
“Um… thank you so much, Duke. For helping me and my sister. I won’t forget this even after the divorce—”
“And how do you plan to repay it?”
“Pardon?”
He stepped closer. The loosely tied robe revealed smooth skin and muscular form.
“Now that you’re married, perhaps it’s enough to fulfill the duties of a husband and wife.”
He placed a hand on the arm of the sofa, leaning close to her.
“Agreeing to marriage implies agreeing to marital duties as well, doesn’t it?”
Elin froze like ice, staring at him. She couldn’t look down—his robe opened just enough to reveal a broad chest, and her heart pounded uncontrollably.
She swallowed nervously, completely caught in the Duke’s gaze.
