[The Eccentricities of Lady Eileen Edgar!
Eileen Edgar, the daughter of Marquis Edgar, who suddenly burst onto the social scene with a dramatic presence.
She shocked everyone, even captivating the Northern Duke with her magnetic charm.
And now, she continues her strange behavior.
Has she grown tired of high society?
According to my sources, she rejected the Northern Duke’s marriage proposal and instead sent a proposal to none other than the infamous Southern Duke—first!
She didn’t accept a proposal; she sent one first! Could this be the most scandalous love triangle of the century?
Has the Northern Duke lost out to the Southern Duke?
Who will she end up marrying?]
“…Will this do?”
A woman adjusted her glasses nervously as she subtly gauged Eileen’s reaction.
Eileen, wearing a very prim and haughty expression, took the draft and read through it carefully, then nodded.
“It’s good. As long as it clearly shows that I have a blatant interest in the Southern Duke, it works. Now, will this amount suffice?”
“Um, but… how did you find out about my identity? No one should know that I’m the author behind the gossip column. You’ll keep it a secret, right?”
Indeed, the woman in front of Eileen, who was now completely cowed, was none other than the anonymous writer behind the empire’s most scandalous gossip magazine, known as “Lady Antoine.”
Ever since her first article, she had meticulously kept her identity hidden. How in the world had Eileen Edgar figured it out?
Eileen smiled sweetly and replied, “Oh, I have a good eye for people.”
“…A good eye for people?”
“At balls, everyone tries to stand out, but you were the only one quietly observing everyone else. You attend every gathering, yet you never seem interested in the gossip about me.”
Though Eileen’s smile remained soft, her gaze was sharp.
‘You think I haven’t dealt with people like you before?’
Over the years, Eileen had become a master at spotting those who feigned disinterest while secretly eavesdropping and spreading gossip.
‘I’ve encountered plenty of people who attend every event, quietly lurking and fishing for information, hoping for some scraps to fall their way!’
It was no different from the hordes of online leechers and clickbait YouTubers who use other people’s pictures for thumbnails and stir up drama for views.
Eileen was all too familiar with such people and frankly, she was sick of it.
Detecting someone who was itching to reveal other people’s secrets was as easy as eating cold soup for Eileen.
“Eileen? Lady Edgar?”
Oops. She almost blurted out her inner thoughts.
Eileen chuckled lightly and continued.
“Well, I just had a feeling. ‘Ah, that cute little lady must be none other than Lady Antoine.’”
“…I-I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing to be sorry for! Thanks to you, I’m getting all this valuable information.”
“Valuable information…?”
“Oh-hohoho! Information about the Southern Duke, of course!”
‘Information about the Southern Duke? Why…?’
Lady Antoine tilted her head, puzzled as to why Eileen considered the Southern Duke’s details to be valuable.
Eileen swiftly changed the topic.
“Besides, I like these things. What’s life without gossip and rumors? How else can we survive in this dull world? Let’s continue to get along well, okay? After all, having a sponsor like me can’t be bad for you, right, Lady Antonie?”
“Really? You’re willing to be my sponsor?”
“Of course. I still need to become very, very famous.”
‘The more famous I get, the more I’ll be able to do.’
Behind her pretty face, Eileen hid her darker intentions.
While Eileen was internally cackling over her future plans, Lady Antoine, now looking rather downcast, hesitantly spoke up.
“But… why are you so interested in the Southern Territory? I’ve actually been a fan of yours for a long time, Lady Eileen Edgar. I’ve admired and looked up to you. But someone as perfect as you… going to the Southern Territory? Honestly, I don’t want to write an article like this.”
Hearing this, Eileen smiled like an angel and firmly gripped the shoulders of this innocent gossip writer.
Then, with sparkling eyes, she said:
“Don’t say that. You admire and look up to me? Well, I admire you, Lady Ortega, for being such a brilliant woman who can freely write as you wish.”
“R-Really?”
“And as for why I’m heading to the Southern Territory… I’ll tell you later. It’ll be our little secret. Deal?”
“Yes…! Yes!”
“Good. So, you’ll publish this draft for me?”
“Yes! Just leave it to me! I’ll make sure the whole empire knows that Lady Eileen has chosen the Southern Duke. I’ll print thousands of copies!”
Eileen nodded in satisfaction.
She was an expert at manipulating people.
Using Lady Ortega’s desire to gain attention while hiding behind her anonymous persona was a piece of cake.
People like her pretended to be indifferent, but deep down, they were ruled by primal desires.
The fact that she was so easy to read only made Eileen feel more grateful.
* * *
Meanwhile, in the Southern Territory, at the Southern Duke’s castle.
The room was dimly lit, with starlight flooding in from the window.
A man sat quietly, gazing outside when his aide quietly approached.
“Your Grace, this is the gossip paper currently circulating in the capital.”
The man’s hands, large and thick, received the paper.
He read it calmly, bathed in the soft starlight, until his lips curled slightly at one particular part.
“Eileen Edgar, the Lady is stirring up something rather amusing.”
The aide, somewhat troubled, glanced cautiously at the Duke.
“Your Grace… are you seriously considering accepting Lady Edgar’s marriage proposal?”
The aide recalled the harsh conditions the Duke had set to avoid marriage and the public eye.
Conditions that any sensible lady would be horrified by.
Yet, Lady Edgar was boldly declaring her intention to marry him, leaving everyone stunned.
“If a lady has the courage to endure all those harsh conditions and throws down a challenge, as a man, I can’t simply ignore her, now can I?”
With that, he slowly rose to his feet.
His towering stature and long frame stood out, and even from afar, it was clear he did not have the silhouette of an unattractive man.
“Send a reply to the Lady. Tell her to come meet me in the Southern Territory in person.”
“Yes, Your Grace.”
Half-hidden in the starlight, the Duke’s golden eyes glinted slyly.
* * *
Back at the Northern Duchy,
‘What do you mean you’re coming? Couldn’t you at least give me a warning? What kind of manners is this?’
From the early morning, someone had come to visit Eileen. Naturally, it was none other than the Northern Duke.
Eileen narrowed her eyes, clearly showing her irritation and displeasure without holding back.
He arrived so early that her maids had been pale with shock, waking her up and rushing to get her dressed, causing her to miss her usual morning yoga routine.
Now, in an incredibly cheerful mood, she headed to the parlor.
‘Alright, let’s see what happens.’
Just before entering the parlor, she overheard her parents pleading with the Northern Duke.
“Please, Your Grace, do what you can to make sure our daughter changes her mind…”
Oh, for goodness’ sake, do what? You’re pushing your daughter straight into the lion’s den!
“Ugh… my poor fate.”
With a sigh, Eileen flung the door open. The Northern Duke turned toward her, a lazy smile on his lips.
“Don’t worry, Marquis Edgar. Your daughter is simply a bit confused right now, but I’ll persuade her properly.”
Worry? Confused? Persuade? What nonsense.
Eileen scoffed and crossed her arms, speaking as arrogantly as possible.
“Do you really think this is something that can be solved with persuasion? As I said last time, I have a ‘preference’ for ‘unattractive’ men! I like men who look plump and kind, the exact opposite of you!”
Her parents’ faces turned pale at her words.
What on earth had gone wrong with their daughter for her to develop such bizarre tastes?
“It must be that our daughter was struck by Cupid’s arrow wrongly, under the jealous curse of the goddess of beauty… We’ll need to go to the temple and pray.”
“Let’s pray together, dear.”
The Marquis and his wife cast one more desperate look at the Northern Duke before reluctantly leaving the room, their steps slow and heavy.
Once the door closed, leaving just the two of them, Eileen kept her arms crossed, standing far from the Duke.
That obsessive, crazy man—the Northern Duke—was completely unrestrained in his behavior.
‘You never know when or how he might try to pin me against a wall! Better stay on guard.’
Just as she was thinking that, he moved.
The Northern Duke chuckled softly and said, with a smirk on his face…
“You’re driving me crazy.”
It was the kind of line only the Northern Duke could deliver.
~~~
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