‘His Highness has finally found his true companion.’
The Duke’s life had been overly perfect and smooth. His face, indifferent to everything as if he was overly accustomed, sometimes appeared to be bored with life.
Marilyn’s eyes sparkled with anticipation as she looked at the fresh face of the prospective Duchess, still damp from washing. She was certain that this woman would bring a change to his life, devoid of any excitement.
[This is the time separator]The woman who captivated the Duke, the news about her did not just shake the Duke’s family.
The press release that Gregory wrote under the Duke’s instructions last night arrived at the newspaper offices throughout the empire, and all the newspapers published this morning prominently featured news about the prospective Duchess.
“Is this true?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Pascal, the current emperor and the Duke’s only younger brother, asked Isaac, the Master of Ceremonies, again as if he could not believe it. He looked again at the newspaper in his hand.
“Idel from the Earl of Fleur…”
He was so surprised at the sudden news of the Duke’s marriage announcement that Pascal could not close his gaping mouth. Furthermore, it was the first time he heard that there was a woman named Idel in the Fleur’s earldom.
‘That woman was called Roselyn.’
He recalled the woman who was as fresh and dazzling as a rose, who caught many eyes at the last New Year’s ball. He also knew that she, said to be the flower of Fleur, was gradually gaining a foothold in society.
There was no picture of the prospective Duchess in the newspaper, but it was definitely a different name than the daughter of Earl Fleur he knew. It was possible if she did not enter society, but that wasn’t the only surprising thing.
“She passed the Imperial University with the highest grades?”
“Yes. She is said to be attending the Faculty of Administration this year. The Duke also actively supports…”
The Lady from a noble family, moreover, the woman who is about to become the Duchess and rise to the top of the nobility, is entering the Imperial University.
“It may be rude, but if she can get into the Imperial University with the highest grades, she seems to have quite an academic background.”
Master of Ceremonies Isaac, who is an alumnus of the Imperial University, knew how high the entrance exam standard was. So, he guessed easily that the prospective Duchess has a very high academic background.
“What the hell is my brother thinking….”
Pascal frowned slightly. His brother has always been inscrutable. The sudden wedding announcement, let alone the shocking move of the prospective Duchess entering the Imperial University…
It was even more surprising knowing his thorough indifference towards women. Gregory, the Duke’s aide, personally wrote the press release, which clearly showed the intent to officially recognize and announce the existence of the Duchess.
“I must see my brother directly. Send an invitation to the Duke’s family. I want to invite my brother and the prospective Duchess to have a meal together.”
Wasn’t it the brother who found the throne troublesome and handed it over to him? It seemed that such a brother would have a special purpose to accept the Duchess so noisily.
“In addition, proceed with an investigation about the prospective Duchess. Investigate as much as possible about what kind of person she is and how she grew up in the Earl’s house.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The prospective Duchess is going to enter the Duke’s mansion in advance to prepare for education to become a Duchess and for the wedding ceremony, as written at the end of the article.
Coming to marry from a foreign country was not without precedent, but it was unusual for the prospective Duchess to move to the Duke’s house in advance without a special reason, despite having a count’s house within the capital.
‘Usually, a family cherishing their daughter would want to keep her a little longer…’
There seemed to be a reason why Idel, known as the eldest daughter of the Fleur count’s family, was not known in social circles unlike her second sister, Roselin.
The Emperor’s blue eyes shone with interest, curiosity, and a slight sense of caution towards the prospective Duchess wrapped in mystery. His personality was a spitting image of his older brother, who disliked variables.
“This is ridiculous!”
Cosmetics in expensive porcelain shattered with a crash. In the mirror of the vanity decorated with gold leaf, a woman was still irate even after throwing objects around.
Roselin, whose eyes turned as red as her hair with rage, glared at the woman kneeling on the floor. Bien, Idel’s maid, had been forcibly dragged here by Roselin’s maids.
“I told you to tell me everything you know! How my sister took the imperial university exam, when she met the Duke!”
“I don’t know. As I told you earlier, all I know is that Miss Idel went downtown to get some clothes tailored and visited the imperial library to borrow a book.”
The rose with sharp thorns was harsh. Bien, who had one cheek swollen from Roselin’s slap, kept repeating the same answer.
Roselin threw a newspaper on Bien’s face. As the sharp edge of the newspaper grazed her face, red blood dripped onto the floor.
“Does it make sense that you, her closest maid, don’t know? Not only fooling us and becoming the Duchess, but also enrolling in the Imperial University!”
Already, the Countess was bedridden with shock since yesterday when the Duke and Idel left the Count’s house together.
Roselin also wished all this was a nightmare, but this morning’s delivered newspaper contained not only the news of her sister being officially recognized as the prospective Duchess but also news of her unknown university admission.
She had been preparing for the Imperial University exam while reading books late every night… Her sister’s emotionless face came to mind, and her anger flared up with an even more detestable feeling.
Despite the fact that a noblewoman entering the Imperial University was frowned upon in high society, the Duke officially supported the prospective Duchess’s admission. No great noble dared to refute the position of the Duke, the highest aristocrat.
‘The one and only virtuous Duchess of the Empire…’
Roselin bit her lip until it bled, unable to accept her sister’s ascent to such a position.
‘A scentless flower indeed!’
She didn’t like her sister, who radiated beauty and a unique elegance despite her plain dress. She always looked at her sister with a sense of superiority while wearing expensive, flashy dresses and jewelry, but her indifferent eyes never showed a hint of envy.
The only time her expression crumbled was when she was denied existence at the Fleur Count’s house. She found joy in those moments when her steady green eyes shook every time she made her realize her illegitimate sister’s existence.
‘I am different from my sister.’
Roselin picked up the perfume left on the vanity and sprayed it on herself. As the strong rose scent entered her lungs, her upset mood improved significantly.
‘I am the flower of the Empire, destined for the highest place.’
She was most offended by the term ‘flower of the Empire,’ which the newspaper article used to describe the Fleur Count’s house, the family of the prospective Duchess. That phrase should only describe her.
‘Just as a flower should be.’
Living as if dead suited her best. Like Roselin, a rose showing her thorns, her eyes shone sharply.
Male lead reborn without memories — but he still falls for her.
The person he finds displeasing in this life turns out to be his cherished wife-master in previous life…
Xie Zhi and Fang Xianxing who had known each other for less than three days through a blind date sat in the same car in front of the civil affairs bureau. They had a disagreement and failed to get married.
Xie Zhi immediately took out his phone, slid through his contacts, and randomly selected the next marriage candidate.
The woman snatched his phone and hung up. Looking at his phone wallpaper, she awkwardly changed the subject: “An ancient painting, eh? It looks pretty good, it’s just that the person in the painting looks a bit like me.”
When he heard this, he sarcastically mocked her for being so delusional, completely unaware that, the person in front of him was the reincarnation of Wen Ru, the famous prime minister of Yuan Shun whom he most admired…
The female CEO who doesn’t want to get married with a divorce agreement in hand × The male archaeological researcher who will only get married if he’s sure he can get divorced
