Chapter 13
I had shared with the servants the story of how my mother appeared in my dream, but their words were unlikely to give Rita much confidence. Additionally, there was no guarantee that they would pass the story on to Rita anytime soon. Thus, I decided to confide in someone who might provoke Rita’s nerves. The Marchioness, who had been clapping steadfastly despite Rita’s frown at the wedding, seemed like an appropriate person.
“My mother wished for my happiness and even asked me to cut my long hair,” I said.
“Why the hair, of all things?” the Marchioness asked.
“I think it was her way of telling me to show my resolve now that I’m going to manage the Edmond Duke’s household,” I replied.
“One could think so,” the Marchioness nodded lightly, agreeing with my opinion. She then took my hand as if to offer comfort.
“You must miss your late mother dearly, but I hope you don’t see her too often in your dreams,” she said.
I didn’t fully understand the Marchioness’s words, so I looked at her silently. She gave a faint smile.
“Duchess, please let go of your mother. It’s said that people are forgotten as people, so it would be ideal if you had a son resembling the Duke and a daughter resembling your mother,” she added.
I nearly cried. Her concern for me was sincere. For a brief moment, she seemed like a goddess blessing me with healthy twins.
I felt very sorry for using the Marchioness like this. But since I couldn’t reverse my choice, I bit my tongue to hold back the tears and forced a calm expression.
“Thank you for your kind words, Marchioness.”
“Go on now. Your new husband must be waiting anxiously…”
“I look forward to seeing you again soon.”
“Indeed, ho ho ho.”
As soon as I left the Marchioness’s side, I noticed Rita stealthily approaching her. Rita must have been very curious about what we discussed.
‘Marchioness, please make sure to tell Rita about our mother. If you do, I will repay your kindness in any way I can.’
***
Stefan squinted his eyes and gazed out the window.
His steps toward the Duke’s residence were surprisingly leisurely. A smile seemed to be on his small face.
However, the pink bobbed hair on top of the pink dress resembled a three-tiered ice cream cone.
Unable to help himself, Stefan chuckled but was soon engulfed by confusion.
‘What could be so enjoyable about looking so ridiculous?’
When entering the banquet hall holding his hand, Rachel’s face had been filled with displeasure.
Not only was she indifferent to the stories of the continent’s women, but she was also clearly enraged by the fact that she knew nothing about the Baroness and the Burke company.
So, he stayed close to her during the banquet—neither too close nor too far—observing her reactions to potential disturbances.
As expected, Susan, who popped up out of nowhere, stirred up Rachel, and soon it was Rachel’s turn to look miserable.
However, an unexpected event occurred.
“Thank you, Miss.”
“Now you finally accept me as your new sister-in-law.”
“Considering the public image of the Blanché lady… It’s better to call me the Duchess of Edmond when others are around,” Rachel retorted with a clean counter.
It was a sharp comeback. Whether Susan had accepted the fact that she had been the one looking foolish was doubtful.
‘Wasn’t Rachel supposed to be a princess raised only with love?’
Princesses raised only with love don’t even think that others might dislike them, just like Princess Isabel of the Merwin Empire.
That’s probably why Rita had allowed the introduction of a strange fiancée to separate Rachel.
If Rachel had been a naïve princess, she would not have been flustered by Susan’s words and would not have reacted in such a manner.
“It seems more investigation into the Burke family is necessary.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
Bell, who had been in the Duke’s study, bowed his head in response.
He was certainly a guest congratulating the Duke on his wedding, but he was also a loyal aide who never forgot his duties whenever the Duke needed him.
“Any progress on the investigation into the sinking of the Burke ship?”
“It’s a very intricate case, so it will take time.”
“In that case, focus solely on the Burke ship. As for the Burke family, let Finn continue with the investigation as originally planned.”
“Yes, Your Excellency. I will convey that.”
Just as Bell was about to turn and leave, Stefan stopped him again.
“Oh, and have Finn look into Hazel’s whereabouts.”
“You mean Hazel Lewin?”
“Yes, the Hazel who was once engaged to me.”
Bell, who normally followed Stefan’s orders without question, was puzzled. There seemed to be no reason for a newlywed to be interested in the status of a former fiancée.
“Wasn’t Hazel Lewin pushed by the former Duchess?”
“Now the Duchess is Rachel Edmond. Let’s refer to my mother as the Dowager Duchess.”
“Understood, I will make the correction.”
“And what’s the difference between Rachel and Hazel?”
“Pardon?”
“They are both women my mother brought into my life.”
“…”
“To find a difference, one married me, and the other broke off the engagement with me.”
As Stefan continued, Bell lowered his head further. He was unsure how to react to his master, who spoke about marriage with neither expectation nor excitement.
“Find out who the mother’s real pawn is. Investigate thoroughly, whether it’s Rachel Burke or Hazel Lewin.”
“Yes, Your Excellency.”
As Bell, with a grim expression, departed, Stefan’s gaze returned to the window. This time, his crimson eyes were fixed on Rita.
Rita’s expression, as she listened to the Marchioness, was growing increasingly pale and fearful.
‘Has she just learned about the pink diamond donation?’
Stefan had subtly hinted to the Marchioness about Rachel’s donation of all the pink diamonds she had received as a wedding gift. He expected the Marchioness, who enjoyed causing trouble, to quickly spread the news and mock Rita.
‘But could the news really be so terrifying?’
Stefan knew that Rita had been obsessed with collecting pink diamonds since two years ago. He anticipated that she would reclaim the gifts immediately after the wedding and that she would be furious upon learning they were donated to a temple without her permission.
But Rita was not the type to be scared over the loss of a few gems.
‘There must be another story.’
If there was another story he was unaware of, it was likely something Rachel had said. This would increase the likelihood that Rachel was not Rita’s pawn.
‘But that doesn’t change anything. I’m determined to end this curse in my generation…’
As Stefan’s crimson eyes gleamed coldly, someone knocked on the study door.
“Duke, the Duchess has finished all her preparations.”
“…Understood.”
Stefan bit his lip and smirked, looking oddly pleased and slightly annoyed as he anticipated the wedding night.
***
Rachel gently rubbed her flat stomach. The emptiness in her stomach only exacerbated her sense of emptiness.
The emptiness wasn’t from the hunger she’d endured since the previous night, nor was it from the pre-wedding nerves.
“This wedding night has to be different. No, it must be different.”
Rachel muttered to herself, biting her lips as her gaze turned to the large mirror reflecting her full body.
The bride in the mirror looked solemn, almost rigid, and her eyes were filled with a fierce determination. The only difference was that the armor she wore was a smooth, delicate slip rather than battle gear.
The tight slip accentuated Rachel’s curvaceous figure. Made of silk, it was designed to flow naturally under Stefan’s touch.
Yet, she was unsatisfied.
“This obvious tactic will only earn ridicule.”
Rachel thought of the discreet space next to the bedroom, where Stefan’s wine cellar and bar were. She rushed there, poured half a glass of wine, and boldly drank it in one gulp.
The bitter liquid warmed her throat and spread a pleasant warmth throughout her body.
Rachel wiped the wine from her lips with her long, white fingers, leaving behind the scent of her favorite wine.
“Not forgetting even the smallest detail.”
The warmth spread, giving her a faint blush. With it came a surge of confidence.
“It’s better to be openly seductive.”
She decided to stand by the window where the bright moonlight streamed in, welcoming him with an alluring silhouette.
Rachel refilled her glass and, holding it in her left hand, took a step toward the door before hesitating.
Someone was standing there, exactly where she had planned.
