Chapter 1
Prologue
Late at night, quiet moonlight streamed through the large window, filling the room. It spread softly across the elegant marble table and the velvet sofa like a beautiful painting.
Only the bed was far from peaceful.
“No more…”
“I know.”
Before Evangeline could even finish speaking, he stopped on his own. As if he had already read her reaction, the man slowly raised his head. His handsome face looked so calm that it was impossible to guess what they had been doing only moments ago.
“Are you all right?”
“…Yes.”
Only after she nodded did he step back. She wondered if he might stay for a little while, but of course he didn’t. The moment he checked the time, he got out of bed and calmly put on the military uniform he had taken off earlier.
Evangeline watched him in silence.
Decarno von Teze.
Even in the dark hours before dawn, nothing could hide the man’s appearance. His deep ash-gray eyes, the symbol of House Teze, were frighteningly calm. He stood a head taller than most men, with broad shoulders that seemed to overwhelm anyone who looked at him.
He truly had a commanding presence.
“What is it?”
“…”
As he casually brushed back his black hair, his smooth, marble-like forehead and sharp eyes came into view. His silver gaze settled completely on her, and Evangeline quickly shook her head.
“No. It’s nothing.”
“What’s your schedule today?”
“I’ll go through the paperwork I’ve fallen behind on during the day, and this afternoon I’ll have to welcome guests at the banquet.”
At least conversations about ordinary daily life didn’t make her nervous.
Decarno, who was leaning against the table while adjusting the cuffs of his sleeves, frowned.
“Isn’t something like that troublesome?”
“…”
Something like that.
Just those few words were enough to reveal exactly how he felt about banquets. Considering how busy he always was with affairs outside the estate, it wasn’t surprising.
After hesitating for a moment, Evangeline smiled faintly.
“I’m fine with it.”
“That’s good, then.”
“…”
“Is there something else you wanted to tell me?”
Normally, he should have already left the mansion by now. Yet, for some reason, he stood before her. Even as he looked at the bed left in complete disarray by the traces of their night together, Decarno remained perfectly calm.
Except for their first night together—when they had both been half drunk—he had never once lost his composure.
“Evangeline?”
“No.”
“…”
“What could I possibly have to say? There’s nothing. Have a safe day.”
At her graceful smile, his eyes narrowed slightly.
But that was all.
Turning on his heel, Decarno instantly became the perfect Duke of Teze once again. Countless duties awaited him today as the Chairman of the Imperial Senate, one of the most powerful men in the Empire.
What expression would he make if I told him today is my birthday?
After thinking about it for a moment, Evangeline smiled bitterly and shook her head.
No matter how she thought about it, asking a man like him, “If you have time, would you come to my birthday banquet?” felt too trivial—almost laughable.
Focusing on their own responsibilities had become an unspoken promise between them as they prepared for marriage.
“…Right. This is enough.”
With a small chuckle, Evangeline relaxed her shoulders.
He had returned to being the flawless Duke of Teze.
Now it was time for her to become the proud future mistress of the Teze household once again.
She rang the bell beside the bed. When a maid entered, she gave her orders elegantly.
“Bring breakfast and some tea. Oh—and my contraceptive medicine as well.”
◇ ◆ ◇
The union of the century.
Everyone in high society praised the engagement between the young head of House Teze and the only daughter of House O’Hara.
The Teze Ducal House possessed the greatest political power, while the O’Hara Count’s family held unimaginable wealth.
No match could have been more perfect.
In Roark’s society, where marriage was treated as business and negotiation, the two were considered a match made in heaven—each bringing enormous benefits to the other.
The only thing they lacked…
…was love.
“Happy birthday, Lady O’Hara.”
“Thank you for coming, Countess.”
“Oh, don’t say that. Of course I had to come.”
Every guest visiting the Duke’s annex proudly showed off how close they were to Evangeline, the woman soon to become the Duchess of Teze.
As the future lady of the house, Evangeline welcomed each guest with practiced elegance.
“In a few days, it will be the anniversary of the late Duchess of Teze’s passing, so today’s gathering is rather modest. We haven’t prepared much, but I hope you’ll enjoy yourselves.”
“…”
She called it modest, but anyone would have stared in amazement.
Brilliant velvet drapes, the same shimmering silver as Evangeline’s flowing hair, stretched across the ceiling. Ice sculptures decorated with a winter theme stood throughout the hall, while hundreds of silver candlesticks replaced chandeliers.
Once every candle was lit, the hall looked less like a ballroom and more like a magical castle.
Even so…
This birthday party really was modest.
At least by the standards of House O’Hara, the richest family in the Bellice Empire.
“As expected of the only daughter of Count O’Hara. Just how much money must all of this have cost…?”
“So what? The Duke of Teze isn’t even here.”
The brighter the light, the darker the shadows.
Once the ladies recovered from being overwhelmed by the luxurious banquet, they quietly began gossiping behind her back.
“I know it was a marriage arranged for wealth, but shouldn’t a fiancé at least show his face on a day like this? Especially with the wedding so close.”
“And yet she’s already acting as though she’s the Duchess.”
In Roark’s open-minded society, it wasn’t unusual for engaged couples to stay at each other’s homes before marriage.
But people determined to criticize didn’t care about facts.
Nor did they care that the Duke of Teze was the busiest man in the Empire.
If they don’t say things like this, they’ll die of jealousy instead.
Evangeline O’Hara was the undisputed queen of high society.
Leaving aside her wealth and family, even if someone gathered every decoration in the room together, none of them would surpass her beauty.
Her long silver hair reached her waist, framing elegant yet proud features. Her skin was as white and delicate as fresh snow, while her pink eyes carried a noble dignity.
In the Bellice Empire, where dark hair and eyes were common, her silver hair and pink eyes were so rare that people joked Count O’Hara must have mined those gemstones himself from one of his own mines.
“Thinking about it now, if Count O’Hara hadn’t discovered the Cairn Mine, this marriage probably wouldn’t have happened. Before that, could House O’Hara really have compared to House Teze?”
“Exactly. Lady Evangeline was born with a diamond spoon in her mouth. Everything has gone perfectly for her since birth, and now she’s about to become the Duchess of Teze.”
“So what? The Duke himself doesn’t seem interested in her at all— Ah.”
The ladies, whose voices had grown louder with each glass of wine, suddenly froze when they felt someone watching them.
It was Evangeline.
One of them, breaking into a cold sweat, forced an awkward smile.
“W-We didn’t mean anything by it. We were only saying it would have been even nicer if His Grace had come today.”
“No.”
“…Lady?”
“I prefer today to stay quiet.”
“…”
“As though you weren’t even here.”
“…”
“And if you can’t manage that…”
Her beautiful pink eyes curved into a smile that was both gentle and unmistakably a warning.
“…then at least get yourselves completely drunk.”
The ladies instantly fell silent.
Only the sound of wine being swallowed echoed through the room.
Satisfied, Evangeline finally looked away.
“The wine is excellent today. On such a wonderful occasion, perhaps I should drink a little myself.”
“H-Haha! Of course!”
Those who eagerly followed her lead immediately raised their glasses.
Evangeline took a graceful sip herself, but today her head throbbed.
She wanted nothing more than to return to her room and lie down.
But if she didn’t even host a banquet of this size on her birthday, people would begin questioning her family’s wealth like hungry wolves.
Compared to that sort of chaos…
A little gossip was almost adorable.
“Oh my, Lady Evangeline! Look over there! Someone’s arrived!”
“…”
As everyone excitedly looked toward the entrance, Evangeline also lifted her gaze.
For a brief moment, she wondered if he had come.
But that was impossible.
He was always busy.
She had known that before accepting their engagement, so she had no right to complain.
Fortunately—or perhaps unfortunately—the carriage that had stopped outside belonged to the O’Hara Trading Company.
“My goodness! Count O’Hara must have sent Lady Evangeline a surprise birthday gift!”
“…Father?”
Blinking in surprise, Evangeline accepted a telegram from an employee of the trading company who had rushed inside.
Unlike her calm expression, everyone around her was practically vibrating with excitement.
“I wonder what it is! Could it be a diamond from Arabel, said to be the finest in the world?”
“It’s her birthday, so it must be something even more special! Since he sent a letter instead of the gift itself, maybe it’s the deed to an island or a vacation estate! Count O’Hara has always been incredibly generous!”
“…”
“Please tell us!”
“What is it, my lady?”
Everyone eventually turned to Evangeline.
Expressionless, she finished reading the telegram.
Then she carefully folded it and placed it back into the envelope.
It certainly was…
…the most unforgettable birthday gift she had ever received.
All O’Hara Trading Company ships that departed Addis last month have sunk in a violent storm.
If that wasn’t enough…
It also meant that her family had gone completely bankrupt.
