(Part 2) – A Perfect Cage
Decarno’s words were as close to truth as they were effortlessly smooth.
If one were to judge based on the past two years—her conduct in noble society, her reputation within the household—then yes, there would be nothing left to discuss. Evangeline had done everything right. She wasn’t just a competent woman; she had once been the only one personally acknowledged by the former Duchess of Nyx, a family known for their unshakable pride and impossible standards.
Still, despite all that, there was something about the current situation that felt just… off. Too awkward to ignore.
“No matter what, Your Grace… marriage is a once-in-a-lifetime matter. Shouldn’t you take just a little more time to—”
“She is the only woman who has never disappointed me… save for this one incident.”
“Your Grace…”
“It’s tiresome. Let’s not drag this out.”
Even Count Lian couldn’t push back anymore. At Decarno’s sharp frown, he swallowed the rest of his protest.
The Duke, now resting his chin against his elegantly folded fingers, swept his cold gaze over each of them, one by one.
“If any of you bring this up again, I’ll take not only the jewels on your bodies, but every inch of land and every business deed bearing the name of Teje.”
“…!”
“I take it there are no objections.”
It wasn’t just a threat—it was a sentence, handed down in his usual, graceful tone. Everyone in that room, no matter how proudly they dressed or spoke, owed their fortunes to the House of Teje. If the head of the household decided to sever those ties, their legacies would shatter like glass.
And none of them were fools. Pride could not outweigh survival.
One by one, they bowed their heads and quietly slipped out, leaving behind nothing but the lingering scent of expensive perfume and wounded pride. Only Count Lian dared to glare at the Duke until the very end, but he too left with a frustrated breath, the heavy doors creaking closed behind him.
The silence that followed was absolute.
“Ha…”
Love, was it? That was laughable.
When one held a title like his, absurd rumors were par for the course. Still, he hadn’t expected that word to be used. As if the whole thing weren’t ridiculous enough.
Yes, completely ridiculous.
There was no better way to describe it.
Evangeline Ohara… she was easy. Not in a derogatory sense, but in the way she made things simple. Her presence didn’t complicate his life or tarnish the image of the duchess.
Given his age and position, he was expected to marry eventually. And if that was the case, there was no one better suited than Evangeline. Even his mother had given her rare approval.
Evangeline was composed. Intelligent. Graceful. She concealed her emotions with precision and could disarm or maneuver through even the most treacherous conversations. She had the ability to read people—predict them, even. And she always delivered what was expected.
That was all.
“…Yes.”
Decarno opened his eyes slowly, his head still resting against the high back of his chair.
Of course, that didn’t mean he liked everything about her. The scar that had recently appeared on her cheek bothered him more than he cared to admit. But even that, in time, would fade—smoothed out by treatment or simply forgotten.
So there could be nothing more than that.
There must not be.
Because that was how this world worked.
It wasn’t a comforting conclusion, but Decarno had never been the type of man to second-guess his decisions. He had no intention of complicating his thoughts any further.
With swift, practiced strokes, he signed the sales contracts laid out before him.
Land and vineyards in the fertile southern region of Rhodes.
Even within the sprawling Belize Empire, the territory was prime. Not a modest offering by any means. But it was a reasonable price to pay—to restore Evangeline Ohara to her place as the perfect Duchess.
