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Chapter 13
The drawing room doors swung open, and the Countess entered with a radiant smile, her makeup freshly touched up. Beside her was Cecil, who had also finished dressing herself up beautifully.
“Oh my, Your Grace!”
The Countess hurried toward him, greeting him with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“It is an honor to finally meet you, Your Grace. I am Merisilda Eton, mistress of the House of Eton. To think I would have the privilege of meeting the famous Duke in person—what an incredible…”
“It’s a pleasure.”
As if he’d already heard enough, the Duke cut her off without ceremony.
Even then, the Countess simply beamed, while Ray frowned at the sight.
“Ah, and this is my daughter, Cecil. Hoho. Cecil? What are you standing there for? Come greet His Grace.”
At the Countess’s words, the Duke naturally turned his gaze toward the young lady.
A deep crease formed between his brows.
Unaware of his reaction, Cecil was thrilled simply because the Duke had looked at her. Her cheeks flushed rosy pink as she smiled shyly.
Watching her daughter with satisfaction, the Countess laughed brightly again.
“Hohoho. I already heard that Your Grace had taken an interest in my daughter. The rumors have spread all throughout the capital’s social circles…”
“I haven’t.”
“…Huh?”
The Duke’s icy reply instantly stopped the Countess, who had been shamelessly trying to push her daughter toward him.
Cecil, who had been secretly trying to seduce him with what she thought was an alluring gaze, froze as well.
“Count.”
The Duke let out a quiet sigh before addressing the Count, who still looked delighted beyond measure.
“Y-Yes, Your Grace?”
“Your household is a complete mess.”
The Count was struck speechless by the blunt criticism.
It was only natural.
The man before him was a Duke—a powerful noble who ruled the North with immense influence.
And for some reason, the Duke’s retainers standing behind him had been glaring at the Count ever since they arrived.
The Count shrank even further.
“So this young lady is your daughter?”
“Y-Yes. That’s right. She is the only daughter my wife and I have. Our precious treasure.”
The Countess quickly answered, deliberately emphasizing the words “only daughter.”
“Hm…”
The Duke seemed to think for a moment before suddenly leaning in close and openly examining Cecil’s face.
Feeling his unwavering gaze, Cecil’s cheeks turned crimson.
The Duke was famous for being astonishingly handsome, and now she was seeing that face from only inches away.
Knowing it was improper, she cautiously lifted her head to look back at him.
He’s every bit as beautiful as the rumors said…
Before she realized it, Cecil had completely fallen for him.
Bella—that woman—might have gotten to him first, but perhaps she still had a chance.
Regaining her composure, she gazed at him with the innocent expression of a girl in love.
The moment their eyes met, those striking crimson eyes made her heart race.
She mistook the Duke’s intense stare for passionate interest.
See? He can’t take his eyes off me.
Deluded by her own fantasy, Cecil’s confidence returned.
Smiling sweetly, she stepped closer to the Duke.
Or rather…
She tried to.
That’s right. I’m far prettier than that Bella—
“Tsk.”
The click of the Duke’s tongue shattered her fantasy in an instant.
“Count.”
The Duke asked coldly,
“Is this woman truly your daughter?”
Everyone in the drawing room stiffened.
The Countess immediately shot her husband a sharp warning look, silently threatening him not to say anything foolish.
The Count let out a small sigh before nodding.
“Y-Yes. Of course. Cecil is my beloved daughter.”
“Is that so?”
The Duke pushed Cecil away as she tried to cling to him again and tilted his head.
“How strange.”
The Count swallowed nervously under the Duke’s chilling presence.
After a tense silence, the Duke spoke again.
“The woman I met yesterday didn’t look nearly this ridiculous.”
“R-Ridiculous…!”
The butler standing behind the Duke coughed awkwardly.
The Duke’s expression, however, never changed.
Cecil’s face flushed scarlet again.
This time, not from shyness—
But humiliation.
“I’ll ask again.”
The Duke’s voice grew even colder.
“Does this family truly have only one daughter?”
“W-Well…”
“Count.”
One of the Duke’s knights stepped forward.
“His Grace asked you a question.”
The warning was obvious.
Don’t even think about trying to lie.
The Count, now drenched in cold sweat, turned helplessly toward his wife.
She, too, looked completely flustered.
How did things end up like this…?
The Countess bit her lip.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
No matter what, she could never allow Bella to stand before the Duke.
What if that girl actually becomes the Duchess? No… absolutely not!
Having made up her mind, she stepped forward.
“Your Grace, I believe there has been some misunderstanding. My husband and I have only one daughter—”
“Bella Eton.”
The name that no one present wanted to hear echoed through the room.
“…Was that her name?”
The moment Bella’s name was spoken, the Countess and Cecil both turned pale.
The Duke smiled leisurely.
“Where is she now, Count?”
