Chapter 03
When Chloe asked the royal family about the truth behind the arranged marriage, she received a simple, concise answer: they didn’t know.
Only then did she realize that Calis’s supposed proposal had been a complete lie.
The royal family, belatedly confessing the truth, asked her to understand their situation. When she asked about his lover, they once again insisted they didn’t know. Since there had been no ill intent on their part, Chloe had no grounds to protest.
Time would eventually quiet the backlash against the royal family—but not for Chloe. She had already become the unwanted outcast of everyone living in the duchy.
It was a suffocating and miserable situation, yet there was no help she could receive from the royal family. Even if they tried to sway public opinion with articles, they couldn’t change the hearts of Calis and the others.
If only the royal family had revealed the contract with Calis, things might not have gotten this bad. But disclosing the contract was forbidden. Violating it would result in massive penalties, so the royal family chose silence.
If only they had hinted at it to Chloe alone, she wouldn’t have had to carry such guilt.
Unaware of any of this, Chloe silently endured everything—her husband’s harsh words, the way he only sought her out when it suited him.
As a result, even the servants in the estate began to look down on her. At first, Chloe resisted their rude treatment, but Calis dismissed her complaints.
After that, no matter what injustice she faced within the estate, she had no choice but to remain silent.
If ignorance was a sin, then perhaps that was hers.
In the end, Chloe was completely excluded from the life she had built.
Fortunately, her standing in high society remained unchanged. In the ruthless world of nobility, the royal family’s petty schemes were nothing unusual.
Of course, even that worked in Calis’s favor.
The duke, who had lived his entire life as a fallen noble, had no standing in high society. Even after becoming a hero, he only occasionally appeared there. The title of “hero” might have seemed grand to commoners, but to nobles, it meant little.
Unless, of course, it was tied to Chloe’s royal status.
After their marriage, Calis quickly began using her to establish his position in society.
Even after “that incident.”
It was pure exploitation—but Chloe didn’t mind. The fact that she could be of help to Calis eased her guilt, even if only slightly.
And perhaps, if she kept trying like this, the hatred he held toward her might one day melt away.
A foolish love.
Unable to abandon such a trivial emotion, Chloe chose foolishness instead.
“…Hah!”
It felt as though a heavy stone had dropped onto her chest.
Startled, Chloe shot upright from her seat.
Tears streamed from her wide-open eyes. Her back was damp—she must have been sweating coldly all night.
Perhaps from the nightmare, her body shivered and her fingers trembled.
“…It was awful.”
The past she most wanted to erase.
The duke confessing before everyone how miserable her life had been.
The servants whispering as they looked at her.
The duke shouting at her, pointing fingers—it all felt vivid.
“I should stop thinking about it.”
Let’s not dwell on the past.
She calmed herself with effort and rang the bell to summon attendants to help her prepare for the morning.
Ding, ding.
But no one answered.
The bell was meant to echo throughout the entire estate. There was no way all the servants had “accidentally” failed to hear it.
The already fragile position Chloe held finally collapsed completely.
Like a sandcastle crumbling in the wind.
With no energy left even for disappointment, Chloe quietly slipped back under the covers.
Just as she was about to close her eyes again—
The door opened without a knock.
A maid stepped inside, glancing around before carefully shutting the door. When she met Chloe’s gaze, she gave an awkward smile and spoke.
“…My lady. We can no longer attend to you.”
…No longer?
The maid spoke as if they had no choice in the matter.
“The duke has given orders. From now on, we are to serve Miss Helena instead… and even if you ask for help, we are to ignore you.”
“……”
“But I’ll help you, my lady. Everyone else has gone to Miss Helena, and I said I was going to the kitchen to prepare for lunch, so I came here…”
Her voice grew quieter and quieter.
The shocking news struck Chloe again and again.
The servants’ earlier silence hadn’t been harassment—it had been obedience.
And the one behind such childish cruelty was none other than Calis… and his lover.
“…So this is it.”
Once again, Chloe realized what her husband truly thought of her.
Was it not basic human decency to feel at least a shred of guilt for bringing another woman into the home while having a wife?
“So you intend to kill me quietly.”
At some point, Chloe had become someone who didn’t even deserve that much consideration.
Guilt. Love.
And this was what she received in return.
Thanks to the maid Jane, who had told her the truth, Chloe managed to prepare herself.
Jane fled as soon as the noise outside quieted.
Left alone, Chloe sat at her vanity, killing time. There was nothing else for her to do.
Originally, she had planned to host a grand banquet for Calis that day. Some high-ranking nobles had returned from abroad, and she wanted to strengthen connections.
But now, it was all meaningless.
As she sat there blankly, a knock came at her door.
It was surprising how even something as simple as knocking could carry malice.
At her permission, the door opened.
The visitor was a maid with neatly tied black hair—one who openly disliked Chloe.
After spotting Chloe, the maid’s smiling eyes immediately turned cold.
“…Ahem. There will be a tea party shortly. Please come with me. Miss Helena wishes to have a conversation with you.”
Ignoring her calls for help earlier, yet now inviting her?
In noble society, it was common knowledge: unless there was prior closeness, a person of lower status could not invite someone of higher status.
And Helena was merely a guest in the estate.
Yet no one had objected.
“I’ll go.”
She knew she would likely be ridiculed.
Still, Chloe wanted to speak with Helena. There were things she wanted to hear.
“But first, one condition.”
“…Pardon?”
“I would like to speak with Miss Helena alone. His Grace should not join the conversation.”
This meeting would determine Chloe’s decision.
Whether Helena was someone reasonable… or just another beast like Calis.
“…Understood.”
Fortunately, the maid relayed her request.
She returned soon with good news: Chloe would meet Helena alone.
“Princess! I’m honored you came!”
…A beast.
At the very first greeting, Chloe reached her conclusion.
She had never particularly disliked Helena—but neither had she wanted to please her.
But now, hearing that cheerful greeting—
They were a perfect pair.
Calling her “Princess” instead of “Duchess” was deliberate. It denied her status as the lady of the house.
Even someone unfamiliar with noble society would know basic etiquette.
This was intentional.
“Nice to meet you.”
With that, Chloe’s last shred of patience fell away. So did the lingering guilt she had carried.
‘Why should I care about her at all?’
Now, only her instinct for self-preservation remained.
“Miss Helena.”
Chloe deliberately used a lesser title in return.
If Helena reduced Chloe to her birth status, then Helena herself would not be afforded any elevated title either.
Helena’s face flushed red.
She called for a maid.
Until the tea was served, neither spoke.
Helena bit into the snacks irritably, only relaxing once the tea arrived.
Chloe took the first sip.
Watching from the corner of her eye, Helena imitated her.
When the second cup was poured—
“I wanted to greet you personally, Princess!”
A perfect situation to insult her.
This was no mistake born of ignorance.
“I see. Nice to meet you.”
Chloe remained unfazed.
Having lived in both the royal court and high society, she knew exactly how to deal with people like this.
Seeing no reaction, Helena quickly grew sulky.
“I heard you wanted to see me alone.”
“Well, we’ll be living together now! I thought it would be nice if we became close!”
Her innocent smile and pink eyes made her look like a tragic heroine from a fairy tale.
And with that same innocent face, she tried to tear Chloe down.
“How unfortunate. We cannot become close.”
There was no need to continue this conversation.
“…What?”
“Under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t even dare speak to me.”
The neutrality drained from Chloe’s face, leaving only coldness behind.
