Chapter 01: One Year Later in Blenheim
Wow.
The visitors entering the exhibition hall were stunned.
They were nobles from the capital visiting the Northern region to attend the Imperial Exhibition held in Blenheim.
The sunlight streaming through the glass dome gently illuminated the massive columns and delicate sculptures inside the exhibition hall. Luxurious exhibits from merchants and workshops across the Empire filled the space.
The visitors looked around, constantly gasping in awe.
“What is that massive balloon floating in the sky? What? A flying advertisement?”
“I heard that famous opera singer Antonel is the model! Did you see the full-body poster? It’s the same size as the real thing!”
“I heard that author Cecilia will be holding a signing event! Limited edition souvenirs? I have to go there first!”
Ladies fanned themselves and, forgetting their usual composure, excitedly chattered as they moved through the hall.
“Did you hear? The owner of the Blue Trading Company, who launched that travel package, is none other than the Grand Duchess herself!”
“The famous Snow Wine and the hot spring village are also her creations.”
“Wait, wasn’t she only known for her success with the opera?”
The conversation soon shifted to me, Annette Blenheim, the hostess of the north.
“Imagine that, a lowly illegitimate child climbing so high!”
“She was called the disgrace of the Marquis family just a year ago.”
“What on earth happened to that insignificant girl?”
“Shh! Watch your mouth!”
One of the women lowered her voice.
“She’s not someone you can just talk about anymore.”
“They say in the north, the Grand Duchess’s word is law.”
“Still, it’s all because she married the Duke, isn’t it? If I’d known, I’d have sent my daughter instead.”
Ha! They used to call him the monster duke.
‘This is getting ridiculous.’
I stepped forward, poking my head into their conversation.
“Wow, I didn’t know I was such a hot topic. I’m flattered.”
“Ah!”
The ladies jumped in surprise and immediately curtsied.
“G-Grand Duchess, greetings!”
“I recognize some familiar faces. Are you enjoying the exhibition?”
“Y-Yes, of course.”
“I may be an insignificant Grand Duchess, but I prepared this event with care. Make sure to have a good time.”
Some of the women turned pale and trembled at my words. Just then, someone gently wrapped their arm around my waist from behind.
“Annette, I’ve been looking for you.”
A tall, broad-shouldered man with the face of a godly sculpture smiled lovingly down at me.
“G-Grand Duke, greetings!”
Ignoring the women who hastily bowed, the Duke leaned down and rested his head lightly on my shoulder.
“Do you know how worried I was when I couldn’t see you?”
“Loic, people are watching.”
I tried to push his face away, but he only tightened his hold on my waist.
“What does that matter?”
The Grand Duke whispered in my ear in a low voice.
“You still haven’t given me today’s kiss.”
“I’ll give it to you tonight.”
“If you keep delaying, I’ll make it worse for you later.”
With a mischievous smile, the Duke gently grabbed my hair and kissed it.
“Oh my!”
“The Duke really is head over heels for her.”
“His eyes are dripping with honey!”
As people whispered in awe and envy, I glanced around. How did things end up like this?
Originally, I planned to stay in the north quietly for a year, then divorce and disappear.
‘That meddlesome nature of mine…’
I thought I’d just help a little, using my experience from working at an advertising agency.
But everything I touched turned into a huge success—something I never expected.
I even tried to avoid the guillotine by being kind to people, but now they called me the “Sunshine Grand Duchess” and followed me everywhere.
But to think I’d even melt the heart of the Northern Duke!
‘Maybe I’m just meant to be a Grand Duchess?’
To succeed in both work and love like this—it’s almost a burden to be this capable!
“Annette Frais! Where is your head at?”
Lost in thought, I lifted my gaze.
A middle-aged man with a stern face, veins bulging on his neck, stood before me. He was none other than Landen Frais, head of the Frais family and my father, the Marquis.
“Now you’re even pretending you can’t hear me!”
‘Ugh… not this again.’
I bowed my head, taking on the role of a sinner. He always nags me, with no clear purpose, and that nagging has been going on for nearly thirty minutes.
‘How many times has he shouted now… I’ve lost count…’
I started counting the grid patterns carved into the edge of the desk.
“How long do you think you can just sit around while I’ve been feeding and sheltering you? You should be doing your part!”
I had to admit, the Marquis had a powerful voice.
Even as I tried to let his words go in one ear and out the other, his booming voice was impossible to ignore.
“You useless girl! How could you have acted this way and let the marriage prospect treat you like this? It’s a disgrace to the family!”
Spittle flew from his mouth and landed on the desk. I took a cautious step back.
Not a single one of his accusations made sense. What kind of behavior, he asked? I was genuinely baffled—I hadn’t done anything!
‘How could I have acted when I’d never even met the man? Should I have visited him in his dreams to flirt?’
Lord Freis was furious with the Grand Duke of Blenheim, Loic, the Emperor’s nephew. The issue was the humiliation I received during the marriage talks.
Blenheim and Freis families had a long history of enmity.
When the last Grand Duke of Blenheim requested aid from the Emperor during the Beast War, Lord Freis, obeying the Empress, blocked that request.
To protect the north, the former Duke had formed a blood pact with a dragon, and soon after the war ended, he passed away.
The current Duke, who became the head of his family at just ten years old, naturally harbored a deep hatred for the Marquis.
The problem started when it became known that the Grand Duke was considering a marriage proposal with a princess from the Rondoris Kingdom.
Lord Freis, fearing the power shift, offered his third daughter, me, as a marriage candidate.
Naturally, the Grand Duke rejected the proposal outright.
But Lord Freis didn’t give up easily. Soon, all supplies to the North were blocked, and Blenheim, struggling through the harsh winter, faced extreme difficulties.
When Lord Freis pushed again for the marriage, the Grand Duke agreed—only if he could marry Lord Freis’s eldest daughter, Ladriel.
It was well-known throughout the Empire that Lord Freis wanted to marry his daughter, Ladriel, to the third prince. The Grand Duke knew this, so instead of rejecting it outright for lack of a valid reason, he simply set an impossible condition.
‘Of course, being rejected so suddenly left me feeling slapped in the face, but…’
Ultimately, though, an imperial decree was issued, and the Grand Duke had no choice but to accept the marriage proposal with me. In his fury, he informed that he would send a proxy to the wedding and sent 500 danir as the wedding cost.
For most noble families, a wedding budget typically starts at 5,000 danir. A family like the Freis could easily spend 10,000 danir, so this amount was clearly intended as mockery.
‘So it’s clear the real insult isn’t towards me, but rather to your rashness.’
However, when I saw Lord Freis’s expression, I silently kept my thoughts to myself.
It was best to not respond. Responding could lead to another slap, like last time.
“How dare you marry into the Freis family and send that little proxy? You’re just a child!”
“Is that really Anette’s fault?”
My older sister, Ladriel, who had been nonchalantly watching the scene, spoke sweetly.
‘Why is she doing something so unexpected?’
Unlike my dull, almost gray blonde hair, Ladriel’s golden hair swayed gently at her waist.
“Well, she’s just an illegitimate child. What can we do?”
‘Ah… so that’s the reason.’
For a moment, I thought she was on my side, but it turned out she was just gearing up to deliver a bigger blow.
But I couldn’t fully deny her words.
I was the illegitimate child born from an affair the Marchioness had. In fact, the Marchioness died giving birth to me.
The Freis family kept the affair secret, but the fact that I wasn’t the Marchioness’s biological child had long been common knowledge in high society.
“So, Your Grace, you must have begged him to marry me for a long time, right?”
“How dare you speak like that? You’re a woman already promised to someone!”
Lord Freis, rubbing his temples as if the headache was unbearable, glared at me.
“We will delay the wedding until we receive the proper wedding expenses. Now, leave.”
Though I was dismissed, I didn’t leave immediately. Instead, I spoke the words I had rehearsed for a long time.
“Father, must we really delay the wedding?”
At the bold statement from his own daughter, Lord Freis immediately lost his temper.
“How dare you speak in family matters!”
‘It’s my matter too.’
Though I clicked my tongue inwardly, I forced a smile and spoke humbly.
“I know it’s my fault that things have come to this point.”
I pretended to be modest, bowing my head in what appeared to be a meek manner.
Though it seemed like this marriage was a sacrifice for the benefit of the Freis family, I had already decided to turn this marriage into an opportunity for myself.
