ILTDAMH | CHAPTER 04

Chapter 04 

 The Duke and Time-Limited Wedding (1)

“Since you have fair skin, I thought this colour dress would suit you—and it looks like I was right. My lady, are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”

The shop owner approached Mercian with a satisfied smile as she helped her step out, adjusting the hem of the dress and asking gently. 

Mercian shook her head and replied,

“No, it fits perfectly, like it was made for me. I like it.”

“Hohoho, I thought so. We had a few dresses that matched your measurements, so I showed them to you. But just in case, let’s take your measurements again.”

“Ah… okay.”

“What do you think, Viscountess? Doesn’t she look wonderful?”

“Mercian?”

Is that her?

After Luciane had finished choosing her dresses, Penelope had been sitting there looking bored. She shocked Mercian by wearing the dress when she emerged.

In response to the shop owner’s question, she nodded without giving it any thought.

“Yes… She looks better than I expected. Madam, you’re very skilled. You made such an ordinary-looking girl look so beautiful. Don’t you think so, Luci?”

“That’s right. Expensive dresses do make a difference.”

What the—? When I tried on dresses, they just dressed me, but now Mercian is getting special treatment like a duchess-to-be?

Luciane felt annoyed as she watched Mercian change her hairstyle and makeup every time she changed dresses.

If I had worn that dress, it would have looked much better on me.

Luciane was unable to express her usual annoyance toward Mercian because they were in public. 

Instead, she put on a sweet smile and spoke to Penelope.

“Mother, she is suited to marrying into a duke’s family. We can’t even dream of buying such fancy dresses, but she’s getting several. Mercian, you should thank Mother. Without her, you’d never have worn such dresses in your life.”

“Luci, you understand me. Well then, we’ve picked out your dress and accessories, and Mercian’s wedding dress and other dresses too, so let’s head back. Madam, thank you for your hard work today. Please pack all the dresses and send them to the viscount’s estate.”

The shop owner smiled and replied politely,

“Yes, Viscountess. I will send the first daughter’s dresses to the Viscount’s estate, and the second daughter’s wedding dress and these other dresses directly to the Duke’s estate. Also, my lady, since I already have your measurements, I’ll prepare a few more dresses and send them to the Duke’s estate as well. If any dresses are uncomfortable or don’t fit later, please feel free to return them to the shop.”

What? She’s sending these dresses to the Duke’s estate?

Penelope, who had planned to keep the dresses for Lucianne once they arrived at the Viscount’s estate, looked flustered and said to the shop owner,

“Ah, no—please send the dress Mercian tried on to our estate as well. She’s only tried on one so far. We still need to see if the others fit.”

“I’m sorry, Madam, but that might be difficult. It seems you forgot the purpose of today’s visit because you selected so many dresses for the first daughter. Today’s visit was originally for the second daughter’s wedding dress fitting and to show the dresses the Duke personally prepared for her.”

The shop owner continued,
“It’s because of the purpose of today’s visit. The second daughter’s wedding gown and all other dresses she will wear should be sent straight to the Duke’s estate, per his request. She will fit well in the other dresses if the purple dress fits her first because they are all made to the same measurements.

Sending the dresses to his estate was a personal request of the Duke.

“I don’t intend to sell the dress. I simply wanted Mercian to put it on once more, but it’s a little tight.

“I apologize, Madam. The Duke’s orders were extremely severe. As you know, he is paying for the dresses for both the first and second daughters today.”

Seeing the shop owner’s troubled face, Penelope couldn’t hide her displeasure.

“Well… I guess there’s nothing to do. Let’s go then.”

Upset that she couldn’t take the dresses with her as she wanted, Penelope stood up, and Mercian and Luciane also got up and left the boutique.

***

At Viscount Beano’s Mansion

How absurd it is to act so arrogantly about a few dresses, including the wedding gown. And Mer—well, it makes sense about the wedding gown. However, Luci would look better in that other dress you wore earlier, which anyone could see. It would have been better if you had offered it to her before I even spoke. That dress would’ve been perfect for the ball in two months…”

As soon as Penelope returned to the viscount’s estate, she began scolding Mercian.

“So now you’re saying it’s my fault for not giving the dress to Luci?”

“Yes. You immediately thought that Lucy would look much better in it, didn’t you?

Mercian felt wronged by Penelope’s blame. 

Besides the wedding dress, she had only tried on three dresses that the Duke had pre-ordered. 

Luciane, meanwhile, had picked out more than twenty dresses on her own.

And now they were jealous over just three?

I’m the one getting married soon, yet they don’t care about that. 

They only worry about a ball that’s over two months away…

Even if they don’t like me, couldn’t they at least care a little? 

I’m leaving this house soon anyway.

“Mother, are you serious?”

“You’ll get many more beautiful dresses once you marry into the Duke’s family. Can’t you just give your sister that one dress? Imagine how gorgeous Lucy would look if she wore it, assuming it fits you well.

As she gave Penelope her tea, Luciane said,

“Mother, just stop. She’s always been selfish. She just wants to brag about becoming a duchess, even if it’s only for six months. Don’t get upset about it.

“You’re the only one who understands me, Lucy. Don’t worry. I’ll get you a dress that’s even better than the one Mer wore today.

“Selfish? Me?”

“Lucy, if you’re jealous of me becoming a duchess, it’s not too late. You can marry him instead of me.”

Mercian couldn’t hold back her anger at Penelope and Luciane’s words any longer.

“What?”

“If you want this marriage so badly, then go ahead and take it. I don’t care. I’m not desperate for it. Why do you think I’m even marrying him? I’m only twenty. I still have my whole future ahead of me. It’s not like I’ll die just because I don’t get married. If you think about it, you’re the one who should be more worried about marriage—you’re two years older than I. So fine, I’ll step aside. Go ahead and marry the Duke. I won’t stop you.”

“You… Are you cursing me? How can you tell your sister to marry a man who’s dying? I knew you didn’t like me, but I never thought you’d say such a terrible thing!”

A curse? You call this a curse?

in contrast to her usual remarks, where she would act thoughtful and kind while dumping all of her stress on me at home.

Mercian was shocked by Luciane’s words.

Penelope and Luciane treated Mercian like a lazy, greedy burden, but in reality, Mercian was the hardest-working and most responsible person in the viscount’s household.

After Charles died and the family’s fortune declined, they had to let go of their last maid.

Since then, Mercian had taken care of all the household chores herself. 

But instead of being thankful, Penelope and Luciane often scolded her, saying she didn’t do the work properly.

Whenever Mercian could no longer hold back and tried to defend herself, Luciane would start crying and complain to Penelope, who never bothered to hear both sides and always scolded Mercian.

Mercian had kept quiet all this time because speaking up never changed anything—it only made things harder for her.

But now, hearing Luciane complain again, Mercian could no longer hold back her anger and shouted,

“Do you want me to curse you, Lucy?”

Her eyes filled with deadly anger, and Luciane flinched, stepping back.

Usually, Mercian didn’t react no matter what Luciane said, but when she got angry, everyone in the viscount’s household knew not to speak until she calmed down.

Luciane quickly hid behind Penelope and shouted,

“Me-Mer, you need to fix that temper. If you act like this in the duke’s house, you might get divorced before the duke even dies. Leaving after he dies is one thing, but getting kicked out before that would be even worse.”

Who’s telling me to fix my temper while cursing her sister like that?

Trying to control her anger, Mercian glared at Luciane, hiding behind Penelope and said,

“A husband who’s about to die? Luci, stop. There’s only so much I can endure.”

“Oh? Did you say endure? Mother, look at Mer. Just because that Madam from the boutique flattered her a little earlier, she’s acting like she’s already a real Duchess. Mer, get a grip. You’re still—”

“You’re not a real duchess. You’re just a temporary duchess for six months, and yet you’re acting so high and mighty. I didn’t want to say this, but do you think someone like you, who doesn’t even know proper noble manners, will be treated well in that proud duke’s house? It would be lucky if the servants didn’t ignore you. Mer, I’m honestly giving you advice—don’t regret it later when you come back to the viscount’s house empty-handed after six months. You should wake up now. Do you understand? I just wanted to enjoy picking out dresses today, but now I’m just in a bad mood because of you.”

Lucianne was scared of Mercian’s angry stare, so she didn’t even look back and went straight to her room.

“You’re impossible in every way. Your sister is already sensitive, and I’m worried you might make her sick. If anything happens to Lucy, I won’t let it go easy on you, understand?”

Penelope scolded Mercian and followed Luciane into her room, looking worried. 

Mercian suddenly collapsed into her chair without realising it.

Can’t they just try to see things from my side, even once?

I wanted Mom’s approval, so I’ve done all the hard work around the house without ever complaining.

I listened to everything she said. 

But all I get in return is blame, contempt, and neglect.

No matter how hard I try, I’m not Mom’s daughter—Lucy is.

Alright, it’s time to stop.

I won’t beg Mom for love or attention anymore.

Mercian wiped away her tears that came without her control and whispered to herself,

“I guess I should just think that everything I got—the upbringing, the dowry, and the rest of the money—was to repay her.

In six months, I’ll leave the duke’s house and go somewhere no one knows.

And there, I’ll live freely without anyone interfering.”

With that resolution, Mercian sat quietly, hiding her sobs so no one could hear.

One week later, the wedding of Viscountess Mercian Beano and Duke Luan Canoluf was held.