Dear Duke - Chapter 1

End of Romance – 1

She– the one who fell in love at first sight and won love through constant courtship, was known to everyone in the empire. Their story was the romance of the century, a hot scandal. Seeing the count’s daughter chasing the infamous duke’s second son, some said it was vulgar, laughing at the young girl’s guts and infatuation while sympathizing with her. It didn’t matter what they said. The girl, who had just finished her social debut, was invited to a party hosted by the duke one day, only to fall in love head over heels with him. Could there possibly be something more interesting than this? Moreover, if the man was the best bachelor of the empire, her longing would seem hilarious.

But, she was never intimidated. She smiled at the face of the man who pushed her away with a stoic look, confessing her deep love for him. She was hurt constantly by him, who said he was sick and tired of looking at her, forcing a smile on her face. To everyone’s shock, she threw herself in front of her love. Despite her constant courtship, thanks to her father, who was trusted by the emperor, and her capable brother, who rose to a high position at a young age, she was not dragged down by the gossip.

Over time, her constant courtship was now taken as a norm, like sunset and sunrise. Some people thought it was cute. He started seeing her a year after she conveyed her love. With his gentlemanly behavior and superior appearance, he, the most popular man in the empire, finally accepted the girl. He smiled and treated her sincerely.

‘After a year of passionate courtship, I fell to her.’

* * *

The girl became a woman. The cheerful, cute, and infinitely energetic girl became a calm, quiet, and rational woman. The woman became the wife of her loved one and gave birth to children who resembled them. Now she wasn’t a girl who only had him in her eyes.

Time had made the girl turn into an adult, and now, as his wife, she was obligated to take care of her family.

Nevertheless, in front of him, she was always a girl who fell in love. An adorable girl who gave everything to love. However, having become an adult, she could not act rashly. She had pride, and acted cool. She counted the profit and loss, acted like she didn’t care, talked to him with the same smile. Until the day she could say that she became the proud and noble “duchess”, she never stopped making efforts.

Everything had changed, but only one thing was the same, she still loved him like hell.

“…”

Isilia raised her trembling eyelashes, eyes threatening to pool up with tears, staring at her husband. Her lips thinned automatically, even though she tried hard to smile, it was barely visible. Thanks to the title she had been ‘gifted’ by him, she was able to keep her mind.

She was now the ‘Duchess’ who had fallen in the eyes of the servants…

Seeing him introduce ‘her’ confidently, having known about it all this while, she didn’t think it would be that painful.

“…”

But she couldn’t utter a single word. Her body felt incredibly numb.

She heard that people become absent-minded when in shock. Maybe it was actually true.

Looking at his wife, who didn’t budge, Ruiyan sighed. He grabbed the delicate hand of the woman standing beside him, and pulled her slightly close to him. He held back his laughter as he saw the nervous woman melting onto him. Isilia, aghast, just looked at the woman with dead eyes, almost letting go of the reason she was barely holding onto.

Are you serious?

Her legs wobbled, no more strength left in them, when Ruiyan opened his mouth.

“Let me introduce her officially. This is Lady Marillian van Enderrick, who will be my concubine in the future. Mari, this is my wife, Isilia von Endrians.”

“Nice to meet you, Madame. I’m Marilyn van Enderrick. Please call me Mari.”

Sweeping her soft red hair behind her ears, the woman spoke in a quiet tone. Isilia replied silently to the greeting she gave, her body stiff as a block of wood.

‘If it’s Enderrick, didn’t she belong to the same bloodline as him?’

They were well-known for producing outstanding knights and contributors to the founding of the country.

Red hair and amber eyes; markings of the Enderrick family.

…Are you serious?

Isilia bit her lip to not let these words tumble out of her mouth. Her heart was beating hard, almost painfully against her chest, having heard his words of taking another woman as his concubine. But no matter how absurd it felt, she had to ‘understand’ and ‘bear’. She knew some nobles had secret mistresses other than their wives. So she could ‘understand’. Within their five years of marriage, Isilia and Ruiyan did not even have any common marital fights. If he had some anger towards her that he couldn’t let go, she could accept him having a mistress by his side to resolve it.

But her tender lovestruck heart was undoubtedly broken into tiny pieces. The love-filled gaze he directed at the woman in front of him made her eyes burn, stabbing her in a million ways. The soft way he spoke to her made her ears ring. His confidence in introducing her to a new woman in front of all the servants. Isilia was convinced. She had no right to say anything even if her own husband brought a new woman into the house.

Nevertheless, her heart ached. She could understand the reason, but her heart couldn’t. So Isilia greeted the woman and stared blankly at the two who disappeared.

Do you know why I was busy?

Do you know why the servants were gathered in the quiet hall?

Do you know… what day tomorrow is?

Do you…?

“…”

Isilia turned around to see where her husband disappeared. She could feel the gazes of the servants looking at her.

Icilia, Duchess Endrians, pulled her lips into a smile.

This was the ending of the girl and man who were the talk of the century. Isilia clapped her hands, a mocking smile on her face.

What day was it tomorrow?

There were so many things to do.

Straightening her trembling body, and proudly raising her head, the ‘Duchess’ gave orders to the servants.

The day before their daughter’s birthday…

‘I was introduced to my husband’s mistress.’

* * *

As always, she woke up to see the children, had breakfast with them, and looked around the house. Her husband, who was very busy these days, would return late in the evening. Originally, the season when ice melts and spring arrives had a lot of work. She hoped he could come back soon…

Isilia raised her hand and touched her cheeks. Unlike her hot, palpitating heart, her cheeks were warm.

The girl who laughed at the little things and blushed intensely, the older she got, the more she learned to hide her feelings. Her heartbeat rang in her ears, but her face was expressionless. In order to survive in the social world, to fit into the position of the duchess, this was one of the results of her hard work and sweat.

A noble and elegant duchess.

How many hardships did she go through before she was called that?

Isilia smiled and she entered the hall. The servants recognized her and bowed their heads. She looked around. Her lovely daughter’s birthday was right before her eyes. The child born on the first day of spring resembled both of them. She spread such positivity and smiled like her mother.

Happiness filled her as the little girl came into her mind. A few servants were mesmerized by her genuine laughter. As she looked around the place decorated for her daughter, her eyes met him. With a smile on her lips, she stiffened. The servants’ eyes turned to where her gaze was. The Duke was walking around with someone.

* * *

“…”

Isilia lifted her cold eyes and looked forward. Her daughter was greeting children of her age. To be exact, Johan, the younger brother who held El’s hand, was introducing her instead. Watching her small mouth munch, Isilia smiled. El, who couldn’t speak, held her brother’s hand and stood with him. Seeing her cute face, Isilia folded her fan to cover her mouth.

The women approaching her flinched at her dark eyes. Noticing them, Isilia clicked her tongue and softened her looks. As soon as they saw golden eyes filled with warm light, the ladies approached. Isilia unfolded her fan after responding to the ladies who gave their greetings.

Not showing facial expressions was the basis of conversation.

There was no longer the same young girl who showed her emotions as they were. The girl who was willing to abandon everything for him. The girl who smiled even when her body was constricted with an uncomfortable corset, jewelry biting into her skin.

How much effort did she put into reaching the top from that unmentionable reputation?

As her bright gold eyes narrowed, the chattering wives shut their mouths. A subtle signal was exchanged among them. Even after noticing it, Isilia did not say a word. Perhaps encouraged by her soft atmosphere, Lady Han cautiously began.

“Where did the Duke…”

Don’t mess around, just spit it out.

Isilia raised her eyes and looked at her straight. A dress adorned with jewels bothered her. Dressing more flashy than the main character, isn’t this woman rude? Glancing at her daughter in her light blue dress, Isilia opened her mouth.

(E/N: main character of the party, aka her daughter– it’s a phrase commonly used in Korean novels.)

“He is now in the palace. He was caught off guard by an important letter that arrived suddenly this morning.”

“Is that so? You must have felt saddened, but it can’t be helped, he must be busy.”

She received a lot of similar words. Isilia looked at them and folded the fan she was holding.

“I hope your daughter won’t be disappointed.”

“I’m worried that she won’t show it because she’s very considerate. I’m relieved that she looks happy thanks to you all.”

“Oh my, we are just grateful for your invitation. My daughter has been so excited since a week ago that she bragged about it…”

She responded appropriately to the wives who flocked around her and gave words of consolation, and Isilia was lost in thought. She remembered him hugging his daughter who couldn’t hide her disappointed eyes.

His morning was with the woman. The woman, who had been standing since she saw him off, had stepped back from Isilia. As she turned around, her eyes glowed. After sending back her children who were curious about her appearance, Isilia stared at the woman. Seeing her stand silently, the woman bowed her head.

‘What did I think when I saw her being polite?’

Isilia turned towards her children. Looking back, the woman was bowing her head until she couldn’t see her.

Mari.

Marilyn van Enderrick.

The one and only woman in the Enderrick family. She is currently 23 years old, and her ex-fiance was a baron from a rural area. Even though she was from the Enderrick family with excellent swordsmanship and martial arts, she was well versed in her studies. Isilia looked up all the information she could find out about her. What interested Isilia was about the woman’s fiance.

If it was a small engagement with a rural noble, shouldn’t there be a story behind its annulment?