Chapter 3

In the three days leading up to the ceremony, Opal did not even see the Duke’s face.

This arranged marriage caused a great stir in society, and various speculations arose: Opal had supposedly seduced the young Duke and was already pregnant, or the Duke, struggling to maintain his vast estate, needed her wealth, and so on.

Although the Duke was young, he was actually seven years older than Opal.

Even though Opal was about to turn nineteen, how could she have seduced a twenty-six-year-old man? Opal chuckled at the rumors she heard from her maid.

However, the need to maintain the vast estate was not entirely unfounded.

It seemed the Duke had skillfully hidden his debts.

Regardless of the reasons, Opal was trembling with nervousness as she approached the ceremony.

What must Hubert be feeling about this marriage?

It seemed that all of Opal’s dowry would pay off the debts, and her father had also given a large sum of money as a wedding gift, so he might be grateful that she—his family—had been saved.

However, it seemed he was not enthusiastic due to Opal’s reputation.

Indeed, there were no flowers or any pre-wedding gifts, so it was probably true.

Still, one of her maids had said that once the first night was over, Opal’s reputation would be cleared, so it might be all right.

He must be a kind person, surely.

What troubled her was the words her father had told her yesterday.

“MacLaud apparently keeps mistresses, but as a wife, you should be lenient about one or two mistresses.”

At first, Opal was shocked, but over the past three years, she had heard various unsavory things from unscrupulous men, so she managed to think calmly.

It was probably inevitable for an unmarried man.

But would he keep mistresses even after marriage?

Perhaps it would be when he judged her as a wife to be inadequate.

The more she thought about it, the more Opal became afraid of this marriage, but the music in the church began, signaling the bride’s entrance, and she realized she could not run away. Her father, walking beside her, looked cheerful.

Opal shifted her gaze from her father to the front.

The groom, standing before the altar, did not turn around.

His posture made her uneasy about the marriage life to come, but Opal mustered her courage and moved forward.

By the time she finally stood next to the groom, she was slightly out of breath, and her fingertips were cold.

The groom did not even look at her.

The audience murmured at this unusual scene.

The ceremony was quite simple, as per Hubert’s request, and only a few relatives were in attendance.

Neither Opal nor Hubert had invited any friends.

The ceremony ended after they exchanged vows and signed the declaration.

There was no reception, and the guests left with complaints.

Even among relatives, this strange wedding would surely become a topic of gossip.

“Um—”

“There’s no need for a reception if there’s nothing to celebrate.”

Opal wanted to ask what they would do next, but her words were cut off by his cold voice.

Moreover, this was the first time—more accurately, the first time in three years—that she had heard Hubert’s voice.

Disappointed, Opal said nothing and stepped back.

She was then led to the Duke’s carriage.

The belongings that were supposed to be moved to the house her grandmother had left her had already been transported to the Duke’s residence in the capital.

It seemed the Duke had not returned to his estate for years, even outside the social season, and had been living in the capital.

In the carriage, Opal gently touched the velvet seat, which seemed to have been recently replaced.

Hubert, sitting opposite her, snorted derisively.

“Are you satisfied knowing how your money was spent?”

“My money?”

“The seat was reupholstered with your dowry. Some of the house has been repaired, and your room has been prepared to your satisfaction.”

“…Thank you.”

Though brusque, Opal thanked him for preparing the room and carriage for her.

However, it seemed her gratitude did not reach him.

Hubert only frowned.

“There’s no need for thanks. I was bought by you and your father, so it’s only natural that I do what I can for you. But there are things I cannot do. I want you to understand that from now on.”

“—Yes.”

She wanted to say it was different, but Opal remained silent, knowing it would not reach him.

It seemed Hubert harbored considerable resentment about his situation.

Her father had said they had waited three years, during which Hubert must have tried to do something.

His frustration at the failure and the forced marriage was being directed at Opal.

She decided to believe that once he calmed down and realized she was not the woman in the rumors, his attitude would change.

“Even though you and your father paid for the house, it is mine. I will not allow you to interfere.”

“But as the mistress—”

“There is already a mistress.”

“Eh?”

“Lady Northam, my father’s cousin. She and her husband took care of me after my parents died when I was young. Her husband passed away seven years ago, but until then, he had been like a father to me. I cannot kick her and her daughter, Stella, out of the house just because I got married.”

“Of course not.”

She had heard that Hubert had lost his parents when he was young, but she had never thought of kicking out the people who had raised him.

She did not even know such people existed.

However, it was normal for a wife to manage the household, but she decided to address this later.

Perhaps Lady Northam would bring it up herself.

“Regarding Stella, she is very frail and has hardly ever left the house, so she is naive. Ideally, I wouldn’t want her to meet someone like you, but it can’t be helped. Please try to stay away from Stella as much as possible.”

“…How old is Stella?”

“She is twenty this year.”

Opal was taken aback and could not respond.

To be told not to approach a woman older than herself, as it might have a bad influence, was nothing but an insult.

She realized she had underestimated this marriage.

She had thought that even though it started with a financial transaction, with time, he might see the real her.

But perhaps it would change after the first night.

She thought she might be able to get an apology from Hubert the next morning and suppressed her anger.

If he apologized, she would forgive him without making a fuss.

If they could have a proper conversation about the future, this marriage could work out.

Perhaps she could even have the warm family she had dreamed of.

Just as she was holding onto this hope, the carriage stopped, and she realized they had arrived at the Duke’s residence.

Hubert quickly got out, and Opal, with the help of a servant, stepped out and looked up at the large mansion, gasping.

Indeed, if the house in the capital was this grand, the maintenance costs must be enormous.

Thinking this, Opal slowly climbed the steps to the front door.