TBKU 02

Chapter : 02

‘Let’s get married.’

Lennan’s voice continued to echo in Sheila’s head.

An aide, standing in for the busy duke, explained their plans for the future, but she couldn’t hear a word of it.

Her mind was filled with nothing but his voice.

Then Sheila felt a sense of déjà vu and searched through her memories.

Where had I heard this voice before?

‘The masquerade ball?’

The masquerade ball that had been the biggest topic of interest during last year’s social season came to mind.

She remembered the ball she had attended only because of her father’s insistence.

Her viscount father had handed her a dress he claimed to have borrowed from an acquaintance and told her to somehow attract the attention of the men.

The black mask and blood-red dress were so extravagant that they were more than enough to draw everyone’s attention without her having to make any effort.

This is too much…

The overly puffed sleeves of the dress felt awkward, and Sheila repeatedly touched her shoulders.

The neckline was also so deeply cut that it looked as though her breasts might spill out at any moment, making her terribly uncomfortable.

She apologized to the men who approached her and chose to become one with the flowers decorating the wall.

Father will make a huge fuss if he finds out.

Even knowing that, Sheila couldn’t bring herself to gather the courage.

Even though she was hiding behind a mask, she couldn’t stop thinking that this was not a place where she belonged.

As she was killing time, a man wearing a blue feathered mask extended his hand toward her.

A black shawl was draped over his hand.

‘You seem uncomfortable.’

‘…Th-thank you.’

Sheila stared blankly at the shawl, then hurriedly took it before his hand could become awkward.

Why did the soft texture make her heart feel so gentle?

A small smile bloomed on Sheila’s lips, which had remained stiff the entire evening.

Even while she wrapped the shawl around herself, the man did not leave.

When she looked up at him curiously, he extended his hand once again.

‘Would you dance with me?’

Drawn in by his quiet voice, Sheila took his hand.

The final song of the ball was being played at that moment.

Before she knew it, she was standing on the dance floor, moving her stiff body according to his familiar lead.

She concentrated with all her might so she wouldn’t make a mistake.

Because of that, she completely forgot to exchange even a single word with him during the dance.

His voice sounds so similar. Could he really have been the duke?

Imagining the face that had been hidden behind the blue mask made Sheila’s heart flutter.

I should have talked to him more.

If he really was the duke…

Then perhaps it was fate.

What color were his eyes?

“셰일라? …셰일라!”

“…Yes?”

“What are you thinking about so deeply…! I’ve asked you several times if you’re all right!”

“Ah, I’m sorry. I’m fine.”

“Pull yourself together!”

At her father’s scolding, Sheila instinctively hunched her shoulders.

Displeased by the sight, the viscount clicked his tongue and frowned.

Donovan, who had been watching the father and daughter, also showed a look of disapproval.

A small sigh escaped his lips.

“If Lady 셰일라 is all right, then we can omit the wedding ceremony and…”

“T-the wedding ceremony?”

Startled, Sheila turned toward Donovan and asked again.

When her wide-open eyes were directed at him, he too spoke in a puzzled voice.

“You said you were all right, didn’t you?”

“Ah, that…”

She had thought he was asking whether she was all right because she had been lost in thought.

But to omit the wedding ceremony?

It was something she had never heard of in her life—no, something she had never even imagined.

Would anyone actually be able to happily say they were fine when asked such a question?

I may be an inadequate match compared to the ducal family, but even so…

Unlike what she felt inside, the words she wanted to say merely circled around in her mouth.

Unable to speak easily, she only moved her lips, but she could feel her father’s sharp gaze.

Even without turning to look at him, she could imagine the expression on his face.

It probably wasn’t much different from the gaze of Donovan sitting across from her.

She was too embarrassed to admit that she had been lost in thought during a meeting to discuss such an important matter, so she simply kept her mouth shut.

“It seems she’s lost her mind at the thought of becoming the duchess. In any case, we’re perfectly fine with everything, so decide whatever else is convenient for His Grace and let us know. We’ll follow your decision.”

“If that is what you wish, then we shall do so. I’ll contact you again.”

Donovan watched silently as the two of them left the drawing room under the guidance of the butler.

He kept sighing.

This doesn’t seem right.

A marriage like this would be good for neither the Higgins ducal family nor the young lady of House Rivebrook.

Rubbing the stiff muscles at the back of his neck, Donovan headed toward the study where Lennan was.

“Your Grace, are you really going through with this marriage?”

“Do you have a problem with it?”

“N-no, rather than a problem, I simply wish you could find a family that would be a little more suitable for Your Grace and the Higgins ducal family…”

Despite flinching at Lennan’s intimidating presence, Donovan said what he had to say.

Lennan put down the pen he had been holding and rested his chin on his hand.

“Tell me what you don’t like.”

“I-it has nothing to do with my personal feelings…”

“Tell me.”

Under the gaze of a predator watching its prey, Donovan swallowed nervously.

Is it really all right to be honest?

For a moment, he imagined Sheila as the duchess.

Her looking completely intimidated, with not even the slightest trace of dignity.

Her standing beside the duke as though she were his personal maid rather than his duchess.

Ah, this really isn’t right.

After hesitating, he squeezed his eyes shut and blurted out everything that had been on his mind.

“Lady Sheila, the daughter of Viscount Rivebrook, is… far too timid. I have doubts about whether she will be able to properly manage the ducal household alongside Your Grace as its mistress. I would need to look further into Viscount Rivebrook as well, but judging from the character he has shown so far, I fear it may be difficult to maintain a relationship we can trust, and also…”

I really shouldn’t have said anything.

With no particular reaction from Lennan other than simply looking at him, Donovan’s voice naturally trailed off.

Unlike the worried Donovan, Lennan spoke as though it were nothing of importance.

“That’s precisely why she’s perfect.”

“Pardon?”

“I don’t need a mistress of the household. I need the fact that I’m married.”

Lennan cast a cold gaze at the piles of marriage proposals.

Donovan, realizing what he meant, scratched his head.

“It won’t make much difference. There will be plenty of women willing to throw themselves at you even if you only take them as mistresses.”

“Ah, finally, I’ll be able to publicly humiliate those disgusting people right to their faces.”

“Your Grace.”

“Donovan, I have no intention of changing my mind, so I’d appreciate it if you’d stop whining.”

Troubled, Donovan rubbed his face.

Who decides on a marriage like this?

Lennan had already turned his attention back to the documents and waved his hand dismissively.

“I have work to do, so get out of here already.”

There was probably no one capable of breaking that stubbornness of his, either.

Donovan bowed his head and left the study.

Through the gap of the closing door, he could see Lennan completely absorbed in his work.

That workaholic.

He shuddered and closed the door.

The only person troubled by the fact that he was about to become a newlywed was Donovan.

“Is it really happening this suddenly?”

“What do you mean, suddenly! She’s becoming the duchess. The sooner, the better!”

Beside her excited, grinning husband, Viscount Rivebrook’s wife looked at her daughter Sheila with sorrowful eyes.

She knew that her husband had been scattering marriage proposals all over the capital, but she had never expected that her daughter would actually end up getting married.

Her daughter was so lovely that she was precious enough to place in her eyes, but to be honest, their modest viscountcy was hardly an attractive marriage prospect.

Besides, Viscount Rivebrook’s wife was frail, and she wanted—no, she selfishly wished—to spend as much time with her daughter as possible.

But being told that her daughter was to enter the ducal household immediately without even having a wedding ceremony was bitter indeed, especially from the perspective of a mother.

“Still… we should at least have a small wedding ceremony…”

“What are you talking about! No matter how small we make it, there’s no way we could afford to hold one befitting a ducal family!”

The viscount shouted as he glanced out the window.

In front of the viscount’s residence, a ducal carriage sent by the Duke of Higgins was waiting for Sheila.

The enormous crest of the ducal family gleamed in the sunlight, proudly asserting its presence.

It moved him so much that it felt like a reward for all his desperate efforts.

At last, God is reaching out to this Rivebrook once again!

“Where could we find such good fortune in our circumstances? Thanks to this, we get to marry her off without spending a single penny!”

“But if we really send Sheila away empty-handed and she ends up being disliked…”

“Haha! That will never happen. I clearly saw sparks flying from the duke’s eyes the moment he saw Sheila! He must have fallen for her at first sight. There’s no way he’ll dislike her.”

Listening to her parents’ conversation, Sheila had no way of hiding the turmoil in her heart.

She merely bit her lip and lowered her head, pretending to busy herself with packing her belongings.

Perhaps because he felt apologetic about omitting the wedding ceremony, the duke had demanded nothing from the viscount’s family.

Part of her wondered if this was really all right, yet another part of her felt relieved.

What shameless, brazen relief.

The small bag containing nothing but a few dresses and pairs of shoes felt as heavy as a lump of stone.

“I’m all ready.”

She lifted her head with a bright smile, hoping to ease the burden weighing on her mother’s heart.

Please, don’t worry too much.

“Then let’s hurry downstairs!”

Following the viscount, who strode ahead, Sheila held her mother’s hand as they walked.

Her mother’s bony, thin hand kept trembling.

“Mother, I’m all right. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m sorry, Sheila.”

“Please don’t be. It’s not like I’m being dragged somewhere.”

Viscount Rivebrook’s wife gave a bitter smile.

There was no way she could fail to know that her delicate daughter was pretending to be brave in order to reassure her.

She gently patted the hand of the daughter she was holding tightly.

“All right. If things ever become difficult, come home anytime.”

“Yes, I will.”

After Sheila’s answer, a heavy silence fell.

Whether because they felt sorry or because they feared they might cry, neither of them could bring themselves to speak.

A marriage that should have been a source of joy was not joyful at all.

“Sheila, you must do well. You’re the Duchess of Higgins now. Don’t forget that.”

“Yes…”

The viscount, who had already reached the large four-wheeled carriage, patted her shoulder and gave her his warning.

Even after hearing Sheila’s answer, he somehow still looked dissatisfied.

“Tsk. She needs to know how to act affectionate and flatter him, too…”

“Dear! You shouldn’t say things like that…”

“Even if the duke has fallen for you, a man’s feelings can cool quickly. If you really can’t do that, at least try to have an heir as soon as possible. Even if you’re a wife he doesn’t like, he won’t cast you aside so easily if you’re carrying his child.”

Despite his wife’s attempts to stop him, the viscount continued speaking to the very end.

Sheila tightened her grip on her bag as though afraid she might drop it.

Even though she wanted to let her father’s words go in one ear and out the other, they became tangled messily in her heart.

“And one more thing.”

The viscount stepped closer and whispered quietly into Sheila’s ear.

“Don’t say a single word to the duke about the dreams you have. There isn’t a single person who would feel good after hearing such useless nonsense.”