Chapter 02
The Terminally Ill Duke (2)
“Meri, what do you mean by that?”
“I’m going to be the Duke’s wife for six months, just as Mom wants. But during those six months, if I don’t have a child and leave the duke’s family, I’ll become independent then. Once I’m an adult, the empire’s law says a noble daughter can be independent, right? So please don’t interfere wherever I go.”
“Y-You mean you want to cut ties with me now?”
“Mom, you already have my older sister. And if the widowed daughter stays in the marquis’ family, wouldn’t that cause problems for Lucienne’s marriage?”
Mercian looked at Penelope, who seemed surprised by her words and felt a small hope.
Even if it was just empty words, she hoped Penelope would say, “You are my daughter, so come back to the Marquis’ family.”
Penelope thought for a moment after hearing Mercian.
She hadn’t told Mercian, but the duke’s family had made a contract to find a six-month temporary duchess.
The dowry was 250 gold coins, and they would pay 100 gold coins every month for six months to the wife.
If no child were born until the duke’s death, they would pay 250 gold coins as compensation.
Penelope had asked to change the contract so that the 500 gold coins dowry and the monthly 100 gold coins would be sent to the Marquis’ family, not Mercian.
Penelope didn’t expect the duke’s family to accept her request, but if there was no more money to give Mercian, then, as Mercian said, her being a widow could block Lucienne’s future, so there was no reason to keep her there.
After thinking it over, Penelope slowly nodded and answered,
“Okay, now that I think about it, you’re right. It could cause trouble in a noble family, so since you’re an adult, living as you want isn’t bad. It’s up to you.”
That’s what I expected.
What did I ever expect from Mom?
I am not her child, after all…
Mercian felt hurt again but forced a smile and said,
“Then you promise?”
“Yes, I promise. Now we can proceed with the marriage.”
“…What? Proceed with the marriage? Didn’t you say you just wanted to send the marriage proposal?”
“Oh? Didn’t I tell you? The proposal was already sent. And thankfully, the duke’s family accepted it. The duke’s assistant will probably come tomorrow, so please behave yourself. It’d be bad if he saw you and rejected the marriage, wouldn’t it?”
Mercian smiled brightly but felt, for the first time, like she was losing her appetite as she watched Penelope leave the garden.
The next day.
“Nice to meet you, Miss. I’m Cassel, the assistant of Duke Ruan Canolup. The duke was supposed to come personally today, but he is unwell, so I apologise for coming instead.”
“Oh, it can’t be helped. Haha. Everyone in the empire knows the duke isn’t feeling well. You came to discuss the marriage, so why send someone else?”
Penelope smiled widely, unable to hide her excitement while looking at the dresses and jewels Cassel brought.
Ah, I am being sold for money.
Mercian felt mixed emotions as she watched Penelope happily inspect the gifts.
If only her father were alive, he would never have forced such a ridiculous marriage…
Even if, as Penelope said, she was to live alone forever.
“Miss, are you upset that I’m here instead of the duke?”
Cassel asked Mercian, who had looked unhappy the moment she introduced herself as the assistant.
Mercian shook her head and answered,
“No, it’s just… the gifts are too much.”
“I’ve heard young ladies have to prepare a lot for marriage. If you need more, I can send it.”
“No, this is more than enough.”
It didn’t matter since these things weren’t hers anyway.
Cassel quietly watched Mercian, who showed little interest in the many gifts he brought.
Rumours spread that Ruan, given only six months to live, was looking for a six-month temporary bride to continue his family line, and many noble daughters sent marriage proposals.
Unlike Cassel, who wanted to choose a noble daughter from a family that matched the duke’s prestige, Ruan chose only the Beano Marquis family, which had low power.
Since Charles Beano, the marquis, died in an accident several years ago, the family had declined and now existed only in name as nobles, not much different from commoners.
Cassel asked Ruan with a confused look,
“Are you going to accept a proposal from that family? What about the eldest daughter?”
“Isn’t the proposal for the second daughter?”
“Of course, the proposal names the second daughter, but from what I’ve found, the eldest daughter is far superior in every way.”
Ruan smiled quietly, holding the proposal, and said,
“Cassel, think about this. There are two daughters from a fallen family. If it were you, which one would you choose? The lovely and pretty daughter you’d love dearly, or the less capable one?”
“Of course, the less capable one. But still!”
“Enough. We’re only married for six months anyway. Why bother? Just go with this daughter.”
Cassel looked at Ruan with a frustrated expression.
This was the same man who had rejected so many families for the smallest reasons!
Ruan, looking annoyed, said,
“Send the proposal to the marquis’ family tomorrow and arrange the wedding as soon as possible. It’s a marriage anyway, no need to delay. And start preparing my funeral six months from now.”
“Yes, understood.”
Cassel said, and Ruan, looking tired, got up from his seat.
***
“Oh my, Mother, what is all this?”
Cassel, lost in thought, looked up to see a beautiful young lady slowly descending from the second floor, like a goddess.
That must be the rumoured young lady.
They say she’s the most beautiful noble daughter in the empire, and it seems the rumour is true.
If the older sister looks like that, the second daughter must have been overshadowed quite a bit.
Cassel glanced at Lucianne and Mercian.
Both had brown hair but looked very different.
Mercian had a slightly plump body and a cute, girlish style, while Lucianne had a slender figure, was very beautiful, and had the mature image of a woman that easily caught people’s attention.
Her elegance when walking made Cassel feel an urge to escort her up and down the stairs.
“Lucy, come quickly. Today, the duke’s family sent many gifts to Mer. Look at these. This necklace suits you perfectly, and this dress too…”
Cassel looked in disbelief as Penelope and Lucianne rummaged through the gifts meant for Mercian as if they were their own, while Mercian ignored the gifts as if they didn’t matter.
What’s going on? These are clearly for the second daughter, so why are they acting like they own them?
I heard a rumour before coming that the marquise favours the eldest daughter, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.
Anyone would think the second daughter is an illegitimate child.
“This is a six-month temporary marriage, right?”
Mercian asked while looking at the contract. Cassel smiled and replied,
“Yes, Miss. Of course, if a child is born during this time, you will raise the child in the duke’s family as the duchess until the child reaches adulthood and inherits the title. The child’s gender does not matter. But if no child is born, you leave the duke’s family after six months, as per the contract.”
So as long as no child is born, I’ll be free after six months?
Mercian felt a strange excitement looking at the contract.
“Alright, let’s do it that way. When is the wedding?”
Cassel looked a little sorry and answered,
“The duke wants it as soon as possible. As you know, he doesn’t have much time left. But if you want, we can take it a bit slower.”
Why bother? Whether it’s tomorrow or a month later, everything ends after six months anyway.
“No, I’ll follow the duke’s wishes and get married as soon as possible. And…”
“And?”
Mercian looked at Penelope and Lucianne, who were too busy looking at the gifts to care about their conversation, and said,
“If no child is born within six months and the duke passes away, I will leave the duke’s family then.”
“Yes?”
Did I hear that right?
Cassel was worried Mercian might insist on staying as duchess even if no child was born, since this is a legitimate marriage.
He expected Mercian to want to keep the dowry and compensation, live as duchess to improve her family’s wealth, and then return to the marquis’ family later…
But she just said she would leave the duke’s family?
Though Cassel thought so, both Penelope and Lucianne seemed not particularly interested in Mercian.
“Miss, since the contract is for a six-month temporary duchess, I don’t think it needs to be explicitly stated.”
“No, please make sure it’s clearly stated. I might say something different later; you never know.”
Say something different…
Cassel looked at Mercian’s expressionless face and was certain she wouldn’t change her mind.
He thought maybe only Penelope, who was completely focused on the gifts Cassel had brought and didn’t care about Mercian, might do otherwise.
“If you wish, Miss, I will make sure it’s written in the contract.”
“Thank you. So, is everything settled now?”
“Oh, yes. But, Miss, why don’t you ask about the dowry or the compensation?”
“Oh, I heard about the dowry from my mother. And I don’t think I’m really the one to receive compensation. The dowry is enough.”
Does she not know that the compensation and dowry are combined?
Just as Cassel was about to ask with a puzzled look, Penelope approached with a smile and said,
“I already explained everything about the dowry, so there’s no need to explain again. Please be sure to thank the duke for the gifts.”
“Oh, yes, Madame Marquis. Then I will proceed with the wedding between the duke and the second daughter. I will contact you later about dress fittings and other details.”
After Cassel left, Penelope smiled and said to Mercian,
“Mer, look at this. He gave so many gifts for the wedding. Don’t you think marrying the duke was a good choice?”
“Mother, don’t forget if there’s no child in six months…”
“Don’t worry. I won’t hold you back. Honestly, someone might think the whole family will collapse without you here.”
“Mother, please stop. Is this the first or second time you’ve acted like this? At least you know your place well. And don’t be too upset that I’m taking all this. These things don’t suit you anyway, and if I marry into a good family with these, I’ll make sure you get some travel money when you leave for the countryside later.”
Lucianne spoke as if all the jewels and dresses were hers, trying to be generous while putting them on.
Mercian felt anger rising, but held it back and said,
“Lucy, thanks for the words, but I’ll pass. I don’t want anything, so don’t worry about that.”
“Mer? I’m saying this because I care about you. How do you plan to live going to the countryside with nothing?”
Nothing?
I got all these things, but when I go to the countryside in six months, I won’t have any money at all.
“What are you waiting for? Hurry up and move these to Lucy’s room!”
Despite Penelope’s urging, Mercian felt like tears would come if she stayed any longer.
Without replying, she quickly went to her room.
