Dear Duke - Chapter 4

“Where is my daughter?”

Upon asking about the child’s well-being, Isilia responded. Louian nodded his head and sorted through some documents. He was still busy. His heart was pounding as if it didn’t belong to him. His eyes reflected an illusion as if showing a younger version of himself from the past. The hazy figure of young Louian and young Isilia were standing there silently, no words exchanged. Even though she was standing at the doorway, unlike usual, Louian didn’t say anything. He was no different from usual. The only thing that had changed was herself.

As soon as Isilia entered the room, she glanced around. It almost seemed ridiculous how she quickly checked if the other woman was not there, if the perfume she used was still on the dressing table, and if there were two cups. She found it amusing that she felt relieved that he and the woman used separate rooms.

“I will hold a wedding ceremony with her.”

At the casually thrown words, Isilia froze. She didn’t understand what she had just heard. Her head refused to comprehend the meaning. Isilia stared at Louian blankly. Was this the reason he called her? To tell her this… to prepare Endrians heirlooms and… to say that?

“In 7 days, probably.”

“…I love you.”

Her throat felt as if it was blocked. Louian looked at her. Isilia was taken aback by her impulsive confession. She had just revealed her true feelings that she had occasionally let out only in bed as an adult. Like when she was 16 years old, Isilia had exposed her hidden feelings again. Louian must have heard it; that’s why he was looking at her like this. His eyes, containing a silver shine within the light blue, stared at her. As Louian’s silence grew longer, she felt her mouth becoming dry.

“I love you.”

This was her sincere confession. But her husband… He only cared for that woman. The woman who had finally been able to obtain the sincerity that she had longed for. The love that she had cherished for so long was being exposed so easily.

And so, she impulsively confessed her love. To avoid being attacked by others, she confessed the heart she had held dear. Her heart was thumping, and her ears were buzzing. Her heartbeat was racing. If Louian was doing all this for that woman… Isilia closed her eyes.

“I love you.”

“We will send separate invitations to those people.”

“…”

Isilia closed her mouth. Delicate hands sorted through the documents. Isilia turned her body away. Among the slowly closing doors, she caught a glimpse of him rummaging through the papers. The heavy sound of the door was heard in the quiet corridor. When Louian was no longer in sight, Isilia raised her trembling hand and clenched her fist. Fortunately, tears didn’t flow. She could taste a bitter flavour on her tightly closed lips.

“…”

She lowered her hand and looked at the door blocking her and Louian. It felt like a wall had been erected between them. Isilia turned away with an expressionless face and walked thoughtfully down the dark corridor. Despite having a wife, meeting with other women and having secret conversations was a common pastime for this Empire’s nobles. Jordan had been looking for an opportunity to punish those incapable ones who openly fooled around, but it had been difficult to impose sanctions for a long time. Who knew what would happen if the law were to be tampered with. However, what Louian demanded of her was different. Even though he had a wife, marrying another woman was uncommon. Although it was a well-known pastime, revealing it was undignified. Nobles who valued their honour acted secretly. Concubines would either quietly enter the mansion to receive his love and be cast aside, or they would take the place of his deceased wife after she died.

The fact that he said he would hold a wedding ceremony with another woman while she was still alive… Did he want to clearly declare that his feelings for her had faded away? He might not know about this side of things. Louian just wanted to confirm to others that Marillian belonged to him. At the same time, he was acknowledging the fact that Isilia had been discarded.

“…”

He might not know.

* * *

Back in her room, Isilia sat in front of the dressing table. The woman with luxurious blonde hair in the mirror stared back at her with eyes of the same colour. Even at a time like this, she couldn’t help but let out a wry smile at her expressionless face. Her chest felt tight as if she had been punched. She wanted to vomit, but she couldn’t.

Isilia turned away from her reflection in the mirror. To survive in the battlefield called society, she had forgotten how to express herself in order not to become someone’s prey. Her hard-earned honour in the society had changed it all, leaving only one thing. Isilia von Endrians had become a beautiful woman who received envy from other women and admiration from men. And thus, she became the flower of society.

“…”

Isilia reached out and shook the bell. It didn’t take long before the butler opened the door and entered.

“Where is the steward?”

“He’s in the hall, milady.”

After dismissing the butler, Isilia stood up from her seat and went downstairs to the first floor. She saw the steward giving orders to the maids. Isilia approached him with a calm face. He seemed a bit taken aback by her expressionless face as if asking when she had last shown a surprised expression. She smiled at the butler, who was processing tasks with an expressionless face.

Regardless of her husband losing interest in her, the guests of the Endrians mansion trusted her. After all, they had been with her for several years, unlike the suddenly appearing woman. The steward, who had an awkward expression towards her, approached her as she was lost in thought.

“I’m sorry, but the 7th seems too rushed. We’re short of staff as it hasn’t been long since Miss El’s birthday party.”

“Why don’t you discuss it with the housekeeper and hire some people with money? We need someone to work for a short period, and the budget doesn’t matter. I apologize for making such a difficult request. But I hope you can finish it on time.”

“Understood. I’ll do my best to finish it.”

After bowing and exchanging greetings, Isilia briefly replied to him and turned away. Now she would be busier than ever. For the wedding of the one she loved and the woman he loved… But why hadn’t she seen Marillian yet?

Suddenly, a doubt crossed her mind, and she stopped in her tracks. She hadn’t seen her since she bid farewell to Louian two days back.

“…”

…Is she avoiding me?

“Come to think of it, where is she?”

The butler, who had been bowing his head, answered.

“She’s in the guest room, milady.”

Isilia nodded. There was one guest room on each of the first and second floors, and she was of a high status, so it was unlikely that she was using the first floor used by the maids.

Isilia went upstairs. There, Elle, standing in the corridor, noticed her and ran into her arms. She laughed, saying that she had become quite a prankster lately. The lump in her chest eased, and the distinct sound of a child’s breath lingered in her ears.

“El.”

At the call, Elle looked up at her. Isilia spoke with a tender voice more affectionate than anyone else’s.

“We’re going to have tea with someone now. The pretty sister with red hair and pumpkin-coloured eyes. Do you remember?”

“…”

Elle nodded. When she put her down, Elle grabbed her hand.

[Even if she acts mature, she’s only 4 years old.]

Her friend’s words came to mind. Even so, her daughter was truly unlike other children. She was a thoughtful child. It was rare to see antics like this, and it made Isilia feel happy. They passed through the corridor and stopped in front of a door. After hesitating for a moment, she raised her hand.

Knock, knock. 

The doorknob turned, and Isilia smiled as she met the woman’s widened pumpkin eyes. The woman quickly composed her expression and stepped aside. It seemed she noticed the child a little late, and her surprise was evident.

“Lady Enderick.”

“Yes, Mrs. Endrians.”

“I would call you by name, but you’re not yet part of the Endrians family, so please understand.”

“You can address me as you wish, milady.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, let’s start with an apology then. I’m sorry for coming so early and surprising you, Miss. Enderick.”

Startled, the woman swayed as if she had seen a ghost. It showed in her eyes. In this vicious society, she would be the first to be devoured. Isilia looked at her with a smiling face. When their gazes met, the woman lowered her head. Isilia spoke, breaking the silence.

“El and I decided to have tea, and I wanted to invite you to join us.”

“…”

“My husband is still sleeping, so unfortunately, he can’t join us, but Elle was curious about you.”

And so was she.

Isilia glanced at Marillian, holding back the words she couldn’t say. She called a maid to prepare the tea set and sat at the table. Elle, who took her seat, looked at Marillian with a curious gaze. Her father’s first guest in the mansion, she must be wondering about her identity. She probably wouldn’t even dream that this woman was soon going to become her stepmother. Isilia lifted her head. When her eyes met with Marillian’s hesitating yet unwavering gaze, Marillian smiled.

“When did you two meet?”

She was startled by the direct question. Elle looked at her with a puzzled expression. Being still a young child, she didn’t understand the art of twisting words. Unless Isilia specifically said whom “you two” referred to, Elle wouldn’t comprehend. Isilia handed Elle a cookie, waiting for Marillian to open up. After hesitating, Marillian answered the question in a soft voice.

“A year ago… we met when it was early spring.”

“I see.”

Her mouth tasted like dirt. At that time, Louian was going through a busy period. It was also when he started using separate rooms with her. …But it hadn’t been that long since they met. Her heart still thumped loudly, like thunder, but she herself remained strangely calm.

“How did you two meet?”

“Well… we happened to run into each other at the palace.”

* * *