The woman sitting on the bed hesitated at the mention of Duke Axid’s name. It was only for a moment.
“Don’t change the subject and get out of my bedroom quickly.”
“He brought another woman right after his wife died. And he calls this woman by his late wife’s name.”
“When I told you to get out, stop talking nonsense… What?”
The woman standing approached her sister by one more step.
“Unfortunately, he lost his mind from the shock of his wife’s death, and he’s projecting his dead wife onto another woman. But do you know what that other woman and his ex-wife have in common? Green eyes. That’s it.”
“…….”
“You have pink hair. As you know, Duke Axid’s late wife also had pink hair.”
“…….”
“Green eyes are common, but pink hair is not. How many people with pink hair have you met at parties so far?”
“…… What are you trying to say?”
“Why are you acting like this? You understand everything already.”
“…….”
“If you don’t have a man you want to marry, how about becoming the Duchess of Axid in the meantime?”
The woman sitting on the bed sneered.
“Are you saying I should spend my life as a stand-in for someone else?”
“As time goes by, Duke Axid will gradually come to love you as you are. Oh, how romantic.”
“Romantic my foot. To be a substitute for someone who isn’t even alive but dead, that must be horror.”
“Don’t take my words as a joke; think it over carefully, sister. You were sick for a week just from looking at the Duke of Axid’s portrait. To think my sister could get lovesick just from a portrait… I was so worried at that time.”
“Hey!”
“Anyway, really think about it.”
“…….”
“If it’s Duke Axid you’re marrying, even if it’s a remarriage, Father will be overjoyed.”
“…….”
“He might even collapse from joy. Since you’re getting old, it’s about time you show some filial piety.”
“I’m not that old yet…”
“I mean, Father is old. Anyway, I’ve delivered the message, so I’ll leave now. Just so you know, I came to you first after hearing the news.”
“…….”
“The method is not important. What’s important is the result.”
The woman, who hoped her sister would become a hero’s wife, left the bedroom after her final words.
In the spacious bedroom filled with antique furniture, silence lingered for a while.
ੈ✩‧₊˚༺☆༻*ੈ✩‧₊˚
Olivia sat up straight.
“You wish to tour the Duchy?”
Olivia presented the answer she had prepared while looking into the other person’s green eyes.
“Since it’s a castle ruled by a hero, I thought I could learn and experience a lot.”
“Ah, I see. Lady Olivia Roel of the Count Roel family…”
The woman held the identification card that Olivia had brought with her.
Olivia glanced at the white hand holding the stiff paper and then looked down at her own hand.
Hmm, my hand is whiter.
My fingers also seem longer…
As Olivia was filled with a subtle sense of triumph, the woman placed the paper on the table.
“Did you bring your luggage?”
“Ah, yes. It’s in the carriage.”
“And the people to handle the luggage?”
“I brought my maids.”
“Very well. I’ll guide you to the bedroom right away.”
The woman then led Olivia to a rather spacious bedroom.
As Olivia looked around the room, the woman spoke.
“How many maids did you bring?”
“…Five.”
“It’s a bit crowded for all of them to stay in the rooms attached to your bedroom. I’ll arrange for them to stay in a separate room. Please ask the butler to show them to their quarters after they’ve finished moving your luggage.”
“Yes, I will.”
Olivia hesitated for a moment before adding,
“Thank you for your kindness.”
The woman responded with a smile and then left Olivia alone in the bedroom.
Olivia let out a sigh and sat down on the bed.
She thought about the person who had just left, the Duchess of Axid.
“She’s kinder than I expected.”
To think I have to steal her husband away…
Lost in thought, Olivia slapped her own cheeks.
“No! Snap out of it! That woman is just a stand-in anyway.”
Olivia knew the face of the late Duchess Axid, Laila, because she had seen Laila and her fiancé, Kidon Reisic, at a party when Laila was still Laila Hildegarde.
For the record, Olivia had been jealous of Laila at that time. To have a handsome man like Kidon!
Later, when Olivia coincidentally came across a portrait of Duke Axid and heard that Laila had become the Duchess of Axid, her jealousy grew even stronger.
To have a man even more handsome than Kidon…!
She had always thought of Laila as a woman born with good fortune.
To die young from an incurable disease—human life is truly unpredictable.
Anyway, Laila and the current Duchess of Axid looked nothing alike.
Her rude younger sister’s comment when she barged in into her bedroom was right.
The only similarity between the deceased Duchess and the woman currently recognized as the Duchess of Axid was their ‘green eyes.’
The eyes were startlingly identical, as if they had been transferred from the real one to the stand-in.
But beyond that, there were many differences between the stand-in and the real person.
Height, voice, appearance…
Olivia got up from the bed and approached the full-length mirror on one side of the room.
She examined her reflection in the long mirror.
Luxurious pink hair.
Sparkling sky-blue eyes.
A slender body and delicate features praised by many men.
And, additionally, fair skin.
‘The conditions are similar. But in terms of appearance, anyone can see that I am more beautiful.’
The Duke of Axid is a man, after all.
If he has to choose a stand-in anyway…
He would naturally choose the more beautiful one.
After giving her reflection one last look, Olivia left the bedroom.
☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓 ☪︎ ִ ࣪𖤐 𐦍 ☾𖤓
After moving all her belongings into the bedroom, Olivia inquired about Duke Axid’s location and went to find him.
When Olivia faced Duke Axid in the study, she was astonished.
‘How is this possible?’
She could feel her heart racing wildly.
‘The real person is even more impressive than the portrait!’
It felt as though an incarnation of beauty stood before her. Olivia was at a loss for words.
“What can I do for you?”
“Ah…”
Only after Duke Axid spoke did Olivia regain her composure.
Goodness. Even his voice is incredible.
Olivia finally managed to speak, her heart pounding.
“I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but I’ve come to stay at the estate from today and to tour the castle…”
Don’t tremble. Stay calm. Maintain a pretty expression. Pretty expression.
“As it’s the first day of the tour, I was wondering if I could ask you to guide me personally, Your Grace.”
“…”
“If you’re not too busy…”
“Very well.”
Duke Axid stood up. Olivia nearly let out a cry of joy.
Duke Axid was very tall. Olivia gazed up at him, her heart racing, as he approached her with his long strides.
Even looking up like this… he’s so handsome.
Really… handsome…
Olivia, somewhat dazed, listened to the deep, smooth voice that flowed into her ears,
“Let’s go.”
It wasn’t a hallucination.
Throughout the tour, Olivia felt Duke Axid’s gaze upon her.
Each time Olivia became aware that Duke Axid was intently watching her, her face flushed.
Her heart felt like it might burst.
Olivia frequently lifted her hand to brush her hair back, hoping that her spring-flower-like pink hair would leave a stronger and clearer impression on him.
“The castle is quite large. I’ll show you the rest tomorrow.”
“Ah, yes…”
Olivia parted ways with Duke Axid in the corridor before sunset.
Although she felt a bit disappointed that Duke Axid hadn’t escorted her to her bedroom, Olivia quickly shook off the disappointment.
‘It’s fine. He said he’d show me around again tomorrow.’
Returning to her bedroom alone, Olivia jumped onto the bed and flopped down, kicking the soft mattress with her heels.
It felt wonderful.
It seemed like she could get what she wanted.
The position of the late Duchess Axid’s stand-in.
Why would you give a tour of your mansion to another woman?Is the duchy a museum ??