Chapter 43
Stefan’s words made Susan’s heart sink. Elliot, who had been listening blankly, looked utterly stunned, while Ailen sniffled excessively, tears welling up.
“Your Grace, this is simply too much!”
“What do you mean?”
“Susan is my one and only precious friend. I’ve gone to great lengths to introduce her to a good match…”
Ailen, sniffling but determined to speak her mind, was cut off by Stefan’s raised hand.
“Hold on, did anyone ask you to make such introductions?”
“Well… no, but…”
“I had no idea Miss Ailen was so meddlesome.”
The word “meddlesome” wounded her pride, and she clenched her fists, trembling in anger. No matter how high his status, it was unacceptable for a duke to humiliate her friend like this.
But Stefan couldn’t have cared less about anyone’s feelings.
“Susan’s marriage is something I, as her brother, will handle. So kindly refrain from interfering.”
“In… interfering?!”
“I mean, stop introducing her to just anyone.”
“Your words are out of line, Your Grace,” came a sharp retort from Elliot, who had remained silent until now. Although he was merely a border noble, being treated like a nobody was more than he could tolerate.
“The House of Eden is a longstanding noble family and the lords of Herkeni. To call me ‘just anyone’ is highly insulting.”
“It seems there’s been a misunderstanding. I have no intention of marrying Susan off anytime soon.”
At this, Susan could no longer hold back and jumped into the conversation.
“What right do you have to block my path, Brother?”
“Susan, watch your tone.”
“How can I stay calm when you’re ruining my life?!”
“How dare you… such shamelessness…”
If Rachel hadn’t stepped in at that moment, the capital might have been buzzing for days with gossip about the “Edmond siblings’ war.”
Rachel, with her soft demeanor, gently took Stefan’s arm and spoke in a sweet tone.
“Your Grace, may I have a moment of your time?”
“Go ahead.”
“Not here—this is a private matter.”
Only then did Stefan’s sharp gaze, which had been fixed on Susan as if ready to devour her, shift. Rachel gently led him out of the room, leaving behind a reassuring smile for Susan and Ailen. The two instantly understood her unspoken promise to handle Stefan, allowing them to enjoy the rest of their time.
—
Outside the boutique, Stefan’s face betrayed his frustration. He clearly hadn’t achieved his goal of separating the “wolf” from Susan.
“What exactly is it that required us to step out here?”
“Your Grace, do you know what happens when you try to suppress something?”
He frowned at her cryptic remark.
“What are you talking about?”
“Firewood and love—they burn brighter the more you try to quash them.”
“Madam, what nonsense are you spouting now?”
“As I’ve told you before, Susan isn’t suited for an arranged marriage.”
“Are you suggesting I allow her to associate with someone I know nothing about?”
Stefan’s refined features tensed with displeasure, his furrowed brow revealing his irritation. Rachel lightly patted his arm in a soothing manner.
“I fully understand your desire to protect your sister, Your Grace. But you must also consider Susan’s loneliness.”
“Loneliness? That’s absurd…”
“She may not show it openly, but Susan envies us more than you think.”
“She envies us?”
“She mentioned how your complexion has visibly brightened since we began sharing a bed.”
“What nonsense…”
Stefan’s face flushed as he recalled how Rachel had teased him, leaving him no choice but to laugh it off for days. Unable to outright deny it, his embarrassment only grew.
Rachel, knowing full well the reason for his reaction, let a faint, amused smile cross her lips.
“Every woman dreams of a life where she’s loved by her husband.”
“I don’t like that man.”
“Even if it weren’t the Marquis of Eden, you’d still oppose anyone. No suitor will ever meet your standards.”
“What are you implying?”
“It’s just how brothers are.”
“How they are?”
“Leopold would’ve been even worse. If the House of Burke hadn’t been in financial straits, he would never have ‘sold off’ his sister.”
“……”
It seemed worthwhile to bring up the past again, as Stefan fell silent. Even though it wasn’t something he had caused, he still felt uneasy knowing that Rachel had married into the Edmond family because of a promissory note.
“Your Grace, for now, just turn a blind eye. If it isn’t meant to be, they’ll drift apart naturally without your interference. But if it’s destiny, the relationship will bloom and bear fruit on its own.”
“……”
“Oh, by the way, isn’t this the Bayton Guild?”
Following Rachel’s lead absentmindedly, Stefan suddenly realized they had stopped in front of a jewelry store, leaving him flustered.
“Wait, why are we here…?”
“Your Grace, would you introduce me to the Bayton Guild?”
“…The guild? It’s likely not very interesting.”
“The famous Bayton Guild, not interesting? This is my first time in the capital, so I’m curious about everything.”
Gone was the mature duchess who had calmed him down just moments ago. What remained was a childlike Rachel, innocently looking around with sparkling eyes.
Finding her demeanor endearing, Stefan recalled a forgotten task. He had promised to gift Rachel a garnet ring, and Finn had instructed him to bring her ring size as well.
“Then shall we take a look around the jewelry store first?”
“Alright, Your Grace.”
Rachel clung more affectionately to Stefan’s arm as they entered the store. The sight of them walking together caught Ailen’s eye as she loitered by the tailor shop’s window.
“Just like Susan said,” she muttered.
She had been wandering the corridors of the tailor shop to give Susan and Elliot some time alone. With nothing else to do, she gazed out the window and happened to spot the duke and duchess.
The deep crease on the duke’s brow quickly smoothed out at the touch of his wife’s hand. His tense expression softened little by little with her soothing words.
Soon, the two entered the jewelry store, arm in arm, like a loving couple. If the duke were to gift his wife jewelry, it would only confirm Susan’s words as an undeniable truth.
“She wasn’t lying when she said only the duchess could calm the duke down.”
Ailen smirked bitterly. That countryside princess might be good at charming men, but that didn’t mean Ailen would sit idly by.
‘Once Susan is out of the way, I’ll stick to her. She’s less troublesome than Susan, and I can gain more from her.’
***
“Your Grace, where have you been in such a hurry…?”
Finn trailed off as Stefan casually entered the shop, followed by a faintly visible pink silhouette.
‘If it’s a short pink bob in the capital…’
Finn, quick to notice, darted to the front display and bowed deeply. With impeccable politeness, he greeted the duchess.
“Duchess, it is a pleasure to meet you. I am Finn Brighton, steward to the Duke of Edmond. It is an honor to make your acquaintance.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Steward Finn.”
Impressed by Rachel’s polite response, Finn’s smile grew even brighter.
“I had made a small request to His Grace, but I did not expect him to bring you personally.”
“A request?”
“I had asked His Grace to find out your ring size since he mentioned gifting you a ring.”
“Oh my, really?”
Unaware of the reason behind Stefan bringing her to the jewelry store, Rachel glanced at him in surprise and gratitude.
“Do you have a favorite gemstone, Duchess?”
“To be honest, I don’t know much about gemstones.”
“Then may I have the honor of explaining them to you?”
“I’d be grateful if you did.”
Watching Finn swiftly take Rachel’s attention, Stefan shook his head. With such deftness, it was no wonder Finn had all the noblewomen of the capital wrapped around his finger.
But as Rachel’s hand slipped from his arm and rested on Finn’s, Stefan felt a pang of irritation.
‘Explaining gemstones, really…?’
Stefan clearly remembered saying he wanted to gift Rachel a rhodolite garnet. But Finn, as if forgetting entirely, was now showcasing other stones, which annoyed him greatly.
“Pardon my boldness, Duchess, but I believe this sapphire would suit you perfectly.”
“Oh my, really?”
Coincidentally, Rachel was wearing a white muslin dress with blue stitching, and the sapphire ring complemented her outfit exceptionally well.
“The Duchess already possesses two large sapphires, but wearing a sapphire ring would enhance her beauty even further.”
“…Sapphire, you say?”
