Chapter 1:

Prologue

Year 562 of the Ristea Empire.

Rosena Osburn gazed around the banquet hall of the Duke of Hays’s estate, her eyes glistening with emotion.

The glittering lights of the magnificent chandeliers seemed to shine down upon her, blessing the bright future that awaited her.

Today was the day her husband, Evan, would officially be recognized as a member of the House of Hays.

It had only been a few days since the truth came to light: Evan, who had lived his entire life as an orphan without ever knowing his parents’ faces, was the secret son of the late Duke of Hays.

Rainer Hays, the late duke’s younger brother and the current head of the family, had found Evan and taken him in as his adopted son. In doing so, he had completely changed Evan’s life.

He was no longer Evan March, a commoner businessman.

He was now Evan Hays, the heir to a ducal house.

‘It feels like a dream.’

Rosena savored the intoxicating moment as she watched Evan mingle effortlessly with the high-ranking nobles.

Just a few months ago, the very same people gathered here had pointed their fingers at her and Evan.

‘A filthy man who cheated with his fiancée’s friend.’

‘A wicked woman who coveted her friend’s fiancé.’

Those were the words people had whispered about them.

‘That wretched Cecelia… If only she hadn’t made such a scene…’

Remembering the humiliation of the past, Rosena unconsciously pressed her lips together.

When Cecelia had publicly exposed the affair between Rosena and Evan, the relationship between the two women, who had practically grown up as sisters, had been irreparably destroyed.

To make matters worse, Rosena had been pregnant with Evan’s child at the time. There had been nothing she could do to remedy the situation.

As a result, she had spent her entire pregnancy shut away at home, avoiding people’s judgmental stares. She hadn’t even been able to hold a proper wedding ceremony, having to settle for a simple exchange of vows at a church instead.

Even her son, Jeremy, whom she had given birth to under such circumstances, had once felt less like a blessing and more like the source of her misfortune.

‘But things are different now.’

Rosena lifted her chin with a triumphant expression.

Evan had become the heir to the House of Hays, a ducal family with collateral blood ties to the imperial family. And she, too, had risen to become one of the central figures in Ristea’s high society.

Jeremy would now be treated as a legitimate member of the ducal bloodline.

No one would dare look down on them anymore.

“Madam.”

Several noblewomen gathered around Rosena, who was wearing a self-satisfied smile.

“You’re going to become the Duchess of Hays before long. Congratulations!”

“Oh, a duchess? Surely that’s getting ahead of ourselves. His Grace is still so young, after all.”

“I heard you gave birth not long ago. Congratulations! And yet, you still look so beautiful. I’m positively envious. Hohoho.”

“Oh, you’re too kind. I’m grateful that you think so highly of me.”

At the noblewomen’s flattering remarks, Rosena giggled coyly behind her fan.

These were the very same women who had pointed fingers at her over the scandal just days ago, but Rosena decided not to hold it against them.

After all, her mind was already occupied with other thoughts.

‘The current Duke of Hays also promised to pass the title on to Evan.’

Strictly speaking, Evan was the rightful heir to the House of Hays.

His father, the late duke, had been the eldest son of the family.

It was only because the late duke had passed away before Evan could be found that his younger brother, Rainer, had temporarily inherited the ducal title.

In the end, it was only natural that Evan would eventually take his place.

‘The Duchess of Hays… I can’t imagine anyone more suited to that title than me.’

Rosena firmly believed that reaching that dreamlike position was merely a matter of time.

Thinking about it that way, Cecelia’s decision to abandon Evan and leave had actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

‘Perhaps I should thank her when we meet again?’

Cecelia had vanished without a trace several months ago, and there had been no word from her since.

She was probably hiding somewhere, unable to bear the humiliation of having her fiancé stolen from her.

‘Once I enter the ducal household, I should have someone look into Cecelia’s whereabouts. There must be plenty of capable servants there.’

Considering all the humiliation Cecelia had caused her, Rosena sometimes even wished the woman were dead.

How satisfying it would be to confirm that with her own eyes.

“Rosie.”

At that moment, Evan approached her.

He leaned down and kissed Rosena on the cheek, drawing a chorus of envious sighs from those around them.

Rosena smiled demurely and looked up at her man.

“Congratulations on becoming the young duke, Evan Hays.”

“Well, this is only the beginning. From now on, we’ll build our future together, Rosena Hays.”

Rosena Hays.

What a wonderful name!

With a satisfied smile, Rosena raised her glass and clinked it against Evan’s.

It seemed that nothing but glory and happiness awaited them.

“His Grace, the Duke of Hays, is entering!”

At the servant’s booming announcement, the banquet hall fell silent.

As if on cue, everyone’s eyes turned toward the entrance.

A tall, broad-shouldered man entered the hall, dressed in an impeccable formal suit.

He was Rainer Hays, the only duke in the Ristea Empire.

Beneath hair darker than ebony, his handsome features carried an air of cold refinement.

“My goodness! I suppose the rumors that he’s the most handsome man in Ristea aren’t exaggerated after all.”

Everyone seemed to hold their breath as they watched Rainer.

Unperturbed by the countless gazes fixed upon him, Rainer approached Evan and Rosena with elegant, measured steps.

“Congratulations, Evan.”

“Yes, Your Grace… No, Father.”

Evan eagerly grasped Rainer’s hand and nodded.

At that sight, the corners of Rainer’s lips curled up ever so slightly.

It was a smile that looked more like mockery than congratulations.

But Evan, too busy fawning over him, failed to notice.

“There’s only a four-year age difference between us. Why are you calling me Father?”

Rainer reached out and straightened Evan’s collar.

As he had said, the two looked more like brothers than father and son.

“Adoption was simply the most convenient procedure out of all the available options. So there’s no need to feel uncomfortable about it.”

Rainer gave Evan’s shoulder a light pat.

His gaze slowly shifted between Evan and Rosena, studying them one after the other.

A father and son separated by a mere four years, along with the son’s wife.

An inexplicable tension hung between the three of them.

“Your Grace, will we finally have the pleasure of meeting the Duchess today?”

Rosena was the one who stepped forward to break the awkward silence.

News that the Duke of Hays had secretly married had set high society abuzz for quite some time.

However, not a single detail about the duchess had been revealed, leaving everyone increasingly curious and eager to speculate.

“A secret marriage, no less! We couldn’t help feeling a sense of kinship with you. It seems even fate has made father and son alike!”

Rosena flashed an especially ingratiating smile, hoping to win Rainer’s favor.

“Well, Lady Rosena.”

However, Rainer’s response was cold.

Rosena faltered.

She hadn’t expected her father-in-law, who was only four years older than her, to treat her like a proper daughter-in-law.

But still… Lady Rosena?

She had exchanged marriage vows with Evan, hadn’t she?

“I believe my circumstances and yours are entirely different. At the very least, I received people’s blessings.”

Rainer’s sarcastic remark sent heat rushing to Rosena’s face.

There was no mistaking it. He was openly mocking the scandal surrounding her and Evan.

She had thought that now that Evan had become the young duke, she would never have to endure such humiliation again.

“Ahaha… W-Well, that’s true. We were rather immature back then.”

Sensing the icy atmosphere, Evan hurriedly stepped between them.

He wasn’t particularly pleased with Rainer’s remarks either, but the man was still the one who had brought him into the ducal household.

Moreover, Rainer had distinguished himself in war and was on friendly terms with the Crown Prince. Picking a fight with him right from the beginning would only put Evan at a disadvantage.

“In any case, we’re also very curious about the Duchess. After all, technically speaking, she would be my mother.”

“Your mother…”

Rainer repeated Evan’s final words, seemingly intrigued.

“That’s quite an interesting way to put it. I trust you’ll show your ‘mother’ the proper respect.”

“Of course.”

Evan nodded repeatedly, almost as though he were trying to flatter him.

Apparently satisfied, Rainer patted Evan’s shoulder.

“As it happens, you’ll be able to meet her today, just as Lady Rosena suggested.”

“Today?”

“Naturally. My wife has been looking forward to this day as well.”

“Ah, I see.”

Evan nodded, sneaking a glance at Rosena beside him.

It was a silent signal telling her to make a good first impression when meeting the duchess.

“……”

However, Rosena’s expression remained stiff after being addressed so dismissively by Rainer.

The humiliation was not something she could easily swallow.

“Rosie!”

“F-Fine! I said I understand!”

Only after Evan discreetly poked her in the waist with his finger did Rosena reluctantly nod.

Just then, the booming voice of a ducal servant rang out once more.

“Her Grace, the Duchess of Hays, is entering!”

The murmuring crowd fell silent, and every eye turned toward the entrance.

Everyone held their breath, eager to catch a glimpse of the duchess.

Creeeak.

The heavy doors swung open, and a woman appeared on the other side.

The moment they saw her gracefully entering the hall in a pristine white dress, Evan and Rosena felt as though someone had struck them hard over the head.

“Huh…?”

The woman approaching them with a dazzling smile was…

“C-Cecelia? Cecelia Fanning?”

“N-No way. How could she…?”

Evan and Rosena stared wide-eyed, their faces blank with disbelief.

They could only stand there dumbfounded as Rainer naturally took Cecelia’s hand and led her forward.

“You’re late. Every second I spent waiting felt like a year.”

“I’m sorry. I was so nervous.”

Then Cecelia’s gaze shifted toward the two of them.

“Hello. We know each other, don’t we?”

Cecelia stopped in front of the two, whose faces had gone deathly pale.

With a perfectly composed expression, she turned toward her former fiancé.

“I look forward to getting along with you, my dear stepson. And…”

Her gaze slowly moved toward Rosena.

A gentle curve formed on her lips.

“My daughter-in-law, Lady Rosena.”