ILTDAMH |CHAPTER 13

  Chapter 13

Being the Duchess is all thanks to me.

She was a younger sister who seemed almost invisible most of the time.

Unlike other noble ladies, she seemed a bit slow and only cared about food.

I worried she might never marry and become a burden, but then I heard the Canoluf Duke’s house was looking for a six-month temporary bride.

I thought maybe for a six-month bride, they wouldn’t care much about looks or manners, so Luciane persuaded Penelope.

“Lucy, sending Mer to a place like that… It’s a bit much.”

Unlike the perfect Luciane, Mercian was lacking in many ways, but Penelope hesitated because Mercian was still her daughter.

Marrying a man who only had six months left to live…

Though the empire was quite tolerant about remarriage for noble ladies, Luciane was sure Mercian wouldn’t remarry again.

“Mother, think about it. If Mer marries the Duke and has a child within six months, half of the Duke’s property would belong to Mer. Wouldn’t that help Mer if she remarries later? Plus, the child’s care is entrusted to the Duke’s family, so it’s a very good condition for Mer.”

If she has a child, will she get half the Duke’s property?

After the palace, the Canoluf Duke’s family was reportedly among the wealthiest.

They owned at least three gem mines, I think.

Even just one of those would be enough…

Penelope agreed without hesitation and sent the marriage proposal to the Duke’s house.

Luciane sent the proposal to provoke Penelope, not expecting the Duke to choose Mercian.

But surprisingly, the Duke did choose Mercian and came with many jewels and dresses as wedding gifts.

Marrying a terminally ill Duke with a huge dowry and gifts—

Luciane thought all those gifts should be hers.

If she hadn’t suggested this, Mercian would never have gotten the Duchess title in her lifetime.

She believed Mercian should naturally give those gifts to her.

That day, when receiving the gifts, Mercian looked useful for the first time in her life, and even though she often annoyed her, Luciane found her almost pretty.

Even when Mercian insulted her, telling her to marry the Duke instead, Luciane felt good.

She was sure she would be the most beautiful at the ball two months later and that the Crown Prince would surely like her.

But on the day she went to see Mercian’s wedding dress—

Luciane entered a famous dress shop in the empire and chose dresses freely, but she felt upset seeing how the madam treated her and Mercian differently.

A six-month duchess, yet they treated her like a real duchess?

And the dresses the Duke’s house gave to Mercian were on a whole other level than the ones Luciane picked out herself.

Even on such a fat and ugly Mercian, the dresses looked elegant and pretty—if Luciane wore them, the Crown Prince wouldn’t even think to look elsewhere.

Luciane was happily choosing dresses, but the moment she saw the three dresses Mercian received, the ones she had picked no longer caught her eye.

A six-month temporary duchess being treated that well, wearing dresses ordinary nobles wouldn’t even touch—

If I become the Crown Princess…

That day at the dress shop, Luciane decided no matter what, she would become the Crown Princess.

And, as if by magic, her wish came true.

On the wedding day, she thought no matter what she did, Mercian wouldn’t outshine her. 

But contrary to her thoughts, Mercian looked so beautiful that Luciane felt jealous.

In a fit of anger, she tried to ruin Mercian’s wedding dress but failed. 

Then she tried to embarrass her servants but was almost kicked out, mistaken for a spy.

Luciane felt her pride crushed when Clea, who had escorted her to the banquet hall, left without a word of apology.

No matter that I’m the daughter of a viscount, I’m still the sister of the lady who will become their mistress.

How could they treat me like this?

And Mercian looks down on me as if she were the real duchess…

“Miss, is something wrong?”

At the banquet hall, Luciane, unable to calm her anger, was approached by a man. 

She forgot her anger and stared at him.

His golden hair shone brighter and smoother than most noble ladies’, and his face, with a soft smile, looked perfectly sculpted.

So this is the Crown Prince Damon I’ve only heard about.

Seeing the golden hair, the symbol of the royal family, Luciane realised the man talking to her was the Crown Prince Damon. 

She stared at him blankly.

“Miss?”

“Ah, I’m very sorry. I was just lost in thought.”

“Hahaha, it’s alright.”

Knowing he was the Crown Prince, Luciane shyly looked away, and Damon extended his hand.

“Miss, may I have the honour of escorting you to the banquet hall?”

“Your Highness, you were here?”

Just as Luciane reached to take his hand, an older man hurried over to Damon.

“Your Highness? Oh my, I’m Luciane of the Viscount Beanoman’s family.”

Damon smiled, holding Luciane’s hands and helping her up.

“Oh, no, I should have introduced myself first. But if you’re from the Viscount Beanomann’s family… Oh my, you’re the sister of the lady becoming the duchess today.”

“Your Highness, do you know me?”

“Of course. I’ve heard many rumours about you. They say you’re the most beautiful lady in the empire. But seeing you now, I realise those rumours were nonsense.”

“Huh?”

Do you mean I’m ugly?

Luciane looked confused at Damon’s words.

“You’re not just the most beautiful in the empire but in the whole world. Even the goddess would be less beautiful than you. From the moment you entered this Duke’s house, I couldn’t take my eyes off you, Miss.”

Damon looked at her intently and kissed the back of her hand, and Luciane realised her dream might soon be realised.

She was more outstanding and brilliant than Mercian.

Curious about the Duke who would marry Mercian, Luciane felt all her remaining discomfort disappear and grew happier when she saw the Duke entering, holding Mercian’s hand.

Yes, if you marry a duke like that, your kind older sister might forgive you just this once.

You may stand as the Duchess before all these nobles now, but that’s only for six months.

But don’t forget—being the duchess even for six months is all thanks to me.

Throughout the wedding, Luciane felt Damon’s gaze never leave her, but she ignored it.

She clapped with all her strength, tears in her eyes, sincerely congratulating Mercian.

After the wedding, as Luciane was about to leave, Damon stopped her.

He began to speak as if asking for some help…

After returning home, Penelope looked around the empty house and asked Luciane, who was telling an unbelievable story,

 “What exactly happened?”

On the way back to the viscount’s house after the wedding party, Penelope kept asking questions, but Luciane just smiled quietly, holding a fan tightly.

Meeting the Crown Prince was lucky enough, but learning such a huge secret too!

Surely, the gods were guiding her to become the Crown Princess.

And the Duke, who was supposed to die soon, was plotting something.

If Mercian could handle him well, Luciane believed she would become the Crown Princess.

“My goodness, is it true? The Duke is planning a rebellion?”

“Shh! Mother, this is a secret just between us.”

“But if what you say is true, shouldn’t Mercian get a divorce? What if this trouble spreads to us later?”

“Mother, yes, Mercian should get a divorce, but not now. If Mercian stays at the Duke’s house, she will know better than anyone what the Duke is planning. We can’t miss that chance, right?”

“I’m not sure. I’m not saying I don’t believe the Crown Prince, but everyone knows the Duke’s family has always been loyal to the royal family. A rebellion sounds hard to believe.”

“You know the Duke is supporting Prince Harmon, right? So he probably wants to get rid of the Crown Prince.”

Hearing Mercian’s words, Penelope nodded and said,
“That makes sense. But Luciane, there’s another problem.”

 “What problem?”

“Well, actually, I met Mercian a moment earlier…”

“Mother! We need to soothe Mercian carefully. If we hurt her feelings, she’ll never cooperate. If she refuses the Crown Prince’s request, our family could be ruined!”

Luciane angrily raised her fan and went into her room.

Sigh, she thought, I was in a good mood just now…

Back in her room, she muttered in frustration, then looked at the fan in her hand and smiled.

The fan was a gift from Damon as an apology for leaving the wedding hall quickly. 

She hugged it to her chest.

No, now is not the time to waste it in this manner.

Before my stupid sister Mercian causes trouble by helping the dying Duke, I have to find out what the Duke is planning.

But no matter how dumb she is or how much she dislikes me, there’s no way she would tell me such secrets.

Luciane tapped the fan lightly and couldn’t sleep all night, lost in thought.

***

The next day.

“Mother, I’m going out for a bit.”

Without responding when Penelope asked where she was going, Luciane left the viscount’s home and made her way directly to the Canoluf Duke’s mansion.

“Sorry, you can’t enter.”

Luciane thought she could meet Mercian immediately if she went to the Duke’s mansion, but she frowned when guards stopped her at the entrance.

“What do you mean I can’t go in? I’m the duchess’s sister!”

“Sorry, Miss, you must make an appointment to enter the Duke’s mansion. The Duke is unwell, so we are preventing strangers from coming in…”

“Strangers? Last time and now! Don’t you know who I am? How dare you block the Duchess’s sister? You won’t get away with this!”

Getting treated like a stranger twice already, Luciane lost her temper and shouted.

“What’s all this noise?”

In the noisy situation, Edward came outside the duke’s mansion.

The guards pointed at Luciane and said,
“She is the lady’s sister.”

“Oh…”

Edward walked up to Luciane, who looked very angry.

“Miss, I saw you briefly yesterday. Are you here to see the lady today?”

“That’s right.”

Edward had heard from Clea about what happened before the wedding the day before and didn’t want Luciane to meet Mercian.

But since she was the lady’s sister, it was difficult to send her away without permission.

He motioned to the guards and then politely bowed to Luciane.

“I’m very sorry, Miss. Since the Duke has been unwell, we don’t allow visitors without an appointment. It seems we were rude to you. Please, follow me.”

Seeing Edward recognise her and greet her politely, Luciane calmed down and nodded proudly. 

She followed Edward inside the mansion.

“Miss, please wait here for a moment. I will bring the lady to you.”

After Edward excused himself and left for the sitting room, Luciane looked around and sat down.