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Chapter 02
It rained during the funeral of her second husband. Every time the raindrops soaked through her black mourning clothes and seeped into her wounds, a sharp pain followed.
‘Is it really all over now?’
Staring blankly at the falling rain, Eliana murmured softly.
“Eliana.”
A deep, heavy voice called from beside her, and Eliana turned her head. Seeing the viscount who had taken the role of chief mourner in his black mourning attire and solemn expression, Eliana straightened her legs, forcing strength into them.
“If you want to live, pull yourself together.”
That was the first harsh scolding from the Viscount when Eliana returned to the marquisate at dawn, carried on Rodin’s back.
By the time she came back, the mansion was already in an uproar over the marquis’s death. Seeing the marquis, who couldn’t even lie straight in his coffin because of his hunched back, Eliana had completely lost consciousness.
Now, on the third day, she was only able to attend the funeral thanks to the Viscount Hoffman forcibly waking her.
“Thank you for coming, Baron.”
“Think nothing of it. I hope you recover your strength soon, Madam.”
The baron, who had been speaking with the viscount, turned his eyes to Eliana. His gaze, filled with vague sympathy, blurred as if this wasn’t reality.
“…Thank you.”
Raindrops fell between her lowered brows.
Even without meeting their eyes, Eliana could easily sense the true intentions of the funeral attendees.
It wasn’t because she had gone through this twice. It was the sheer weight of malice and curiosity in their stares that chilled her to the bone.
“To think the marquis closed his eyes, leaving behind such a woman.”
Eliana clenched her fists as a man’s gaze swept over her body. His snake-like stare made her shiver instinctively.
“I heard his last moments were in the bedroom. What a pity.”
Eliana glared at the man’s mocking tone. The baron, startled by her eyes, quickly excused himself. Eliana let out a hollow laugh as she watched the back of the man who had dared mock a grieving widow.
“What an inappropriate reaction.”
Once the baron was gone, the viscount scolded Eliana with stern eyes.
Eliana lowered her gaze in response to the reproach.
“……”
She chose silence instead of words, simply watching the long line of mourners. She held back the bitter laughter rising in her throat at their obvious intentions.
When she had first looked into the marquis’s coffin, the emotion that surged within her was freedom. The thought that she no longer had to endure abuse for no reason gave her a sudden sense of relief.
And so, she had to endure the curious and judgmental gazes. For the sake of survival.
They smiled for the sake of currying favor with Viscount Hoffman, a rising noble. And they craned their necks to get a glimpse of Eliana, the Empire’s most beautiful woman, now widowed at the age of twenty-two.
To these mourners, both the viscount and Eliana were spectacles they couldn’t afford to miss. So the rain meant nothing to them.
“This is her second time, isn’t it?”
“How pitiful. To lose two husbands by twenty-two…”
Those who had gathered to leave a favorable impression on the young widow whispered among themselves, occasionally lowering their heads as if in mourning.
The women comforted themselves by pitying Eliana’s misfortune, while the men licked their lips as their eyes roamed over her.
“I heard both of her husbands died in the bedroom?”
Filthy rumors unfit for noble lips had already spread like wildfire.
The only silver lining was that no one questioned the marquis’s death.
No one doubted he had died from sexual overexertion.
“Looking at her, I can see why.”
Men couldn’t take their eyes off Eliana, standing there in black mourning clothes, soaked by the rain. Even though the high collar and full skirts concealed her slender frame, the sorrowful aura she gave off was utterly unique.
“Who will be the third?”
“Hey, now! The funeral’s not even over and you’re already talking about a third marriage?”
“You clearly don’t understand. Do you not know what Hoffman Viscount achieved by selling off his daughter? After her first husband died, who do you think inherited all that wealth?”
“Was it just the wealth? The marquis died without an heir, so who do you think will inherit his title?”
Hearing the gossip behind her, Eliana let out a breath of laughter.
The marquis’s coffin hadn’t even been covered with dirt yet, and already people were discussing her third marriage. Her gaze naturally shifted to Viscount Hoffman.
Before her marriage to the marquis, he had made her a promise.
Both marriages had been for the sake of her father and family’s revival. But the viscount had promised that there would be no third marriage.
With her resolve hardening, Eliana clasped her trembling hands together. The memory of the marquis’s eyes wide open and bleeding returned to her, and she clenched her eyes shut. Her hands trembled.
“Thank you for coming.”
Eliana bowed her head.
Though it was her second marriage, Eliana had never even been intimate with either husband. The first was a homosexual, the second impotent. And yet, what those marriages left her with was only a disgraceful reputation as a seductress.
Thick raindrops ran down her pale cheeks like tears.
As she mechanically bowed her head to each mourner, her fingertips turned ice cold.
“What are you doing, Eliana! Pay your respects properly!”
Viscount Hoffman’s stiff voice prodded Eliana, who stood frozen by his side.
Eliana, who had been murmuring meaningless thanks with downcast eyes, looked up at the sound of his shout.
“Ah…”
She let out a dumb sound and froze.
The man standing in front of her was examining her with snake-like eyes.
“She looks exactly like the rumors say. Looks like she’ll bear children well.”
“The funeral isn’t even over yet, Your Grace.”
The viscount lowered his voice, as if reluctant to discuss selling his daughter before the funeral ended.
“A duke? Could it be… Duke Lloyd, the Emperor’s tutor?”
Before Eliana could even sort out her thoughts, the duke looked at the viscount with contempt and spoke.
“Viscount Hoffman. Have you forgotten who you’re speaking to?”
“I beg your pardon. I was out of line. Please forgive me.”
“That person”? There was only one man the duke would address with such reverence.
Her gaze shifted to the viscount standing beside her.
“Father…”
Despite her plea for an explanation, Viscount Hoffman avoided her eyes. Eliana squeezed her eyes shut.
She shouldn’t have believed him when he said this would be the last time.
The Duke of Lloyd, claiming to be the emperor’s tutor, had come to find a suitable plaything.
A beautiful toy to entertain the whimsical Emperor Mateo.
And for that, the duke had chosen Eliana.
She thought marriage was off the table after two disastrous unions, but apparently, the position of royal concubine was still available.
Perhaps that early morning, when she fled the marquis’s deathbed, was the only chance she had to escape this nightmare of a life. Her barely-held will to live began to crumble.
Eliana let out a soft breath.
It had only been three days since the marquis died. And already, her father—Viscount Hoffman—was selling her off to another man.
“To think black mourning clothes could rouse a man like this. You should wear black when you meet him.”
Duke Lloyd ran his fingers lazily along his chin, unable to take his eyes off Eliana.
Under his gaze, Eliana swallowed hard and forced her body not to step back.
“I’ll prepare accordingly.”
As the two men negotiated her worth right beside her without shame, Eliana felt like she would faint.
“We mustn’t keep him waiting.”
With a final look of disdain toward the viscount, Duke Lloyd walked away.
Once the crowd’s gaze had shifted elsewhere, Eliana turned to him in a daze.
“No… it can’t be? You said… marrying the marquis would be the last time!”
Eliana’s voice trembled with fury, her mourning forgotten. The viscount, who couldn’t even raise his head before the duke, was gone.
He rubbed his wrinkled brow and whispered in her ear.
“…If you hadn’t killed the marquis, none of this would be happening, Eliana.”
Eliana gasped. Her trembling body defied her will.
As she collapsed, Viscount Hoffman caught her and gently patted her shoulder.
“Oh dear, Eliana!”
Feigning concern, he comforted her like a loving father. But Eliana recoiled from his touch each time.
Using the marquis’s death as an excuse, Viscount Hoffman was selling her off again.
“…Consider it your good fortune. He’s willing to take a twice-married woman as his concubine.”
“Father!”
Eliana screamed at him. Hot tears streamed down her face before she could stop them.
“There’s no place in my home for a useless burden. When you have value, you must fulfill your duty to lift the family.”
There was no reasoning with him.
