Chapter 8
I learned something new today—When people are truly angry, they don’t scream. They just tremble silently, unable to speak.
But I didn’t care. I calmly unfolded the wedding invitation.
“We’ll be holding the ceremony at a cathedral in Vetra Territory. The reception will be outside. It’ll be April, so the weather should be lovely.”
Their stares were sharp enough to sting, but I was used to worse. After meeting Ezequiel a few times, even his murderous aura didn’t scare me anymore—this was nothing.
“Oh, and by the way, none of you are invited. You make me uncomfortable.”
I tucked the invitation back into my dress and continued talking. The Baron’s eyes turned bloodshot with rage.
“I figured you wouldn’t want to attend the wedding of a useless daughter anyway. Just like I was never worth much to you.”
“You—How dare you! After I raised you, this is how you betray me?!”
He quickly changed tactics, now shouting like a wronged father. It was almost funny.
When I didn’t flinch, my aunt jumped in.
“Viola, don’t you realize how hard your father has worked to build ties with those people?! You must invite us to the wedding—how else are we supposed to build a relationship?”
Even now, she was trying to use me, planning how to benefit from my marriage.
But her children weren’t as quick to shift gears.
Camilla started stomping her feet, overwhelmed by disbelief. Zenovio stood up and spun around like a dog that desperately needed to pee.
“This is insane! It doesn’t make sense! How is she marrying a Duke?! She must be lying—maybe she mistook being a mistress for being a wife!”
I didn’t bother arguing. I simply pulled the invitation out again and unfolded it in front of them.
The moment they saw my name printed inside, they screamed.
“Aaaagh! You’re marrying into a higher-ranked noble family than us? You?!”
“Excuse me—I’m still your older sister, you know.”
Camilla jumped at me like a wild animal, reaching for my hair.
But Anna blocked her.
“Stop right there, young lady! Have some shame!”
Anna bravely grabbed Camilla’s wrist and twisted it with a loud crack.
…Wow. She’s stronger than I thought.
While I stood there thinking that, Zenovio shoved himself between them and yanked Anna away roughly.
“How dare a servant lay hands on us?! You want to be thrown out without a reference?”
Anna glared at them, eyes blazing. She wasn’t scared at all.
“I’m leaving with Miss Viola anyway.”
It wasn’t just words—Anna’s clothes proved she was ready. She wasn’t wearing her usual maid uniform but a coat and straw hat, holding two packed bags in her hands.
Following my instructions, she had already prepared everything. Now, she pulled out a letter from her coat and threw it at the Baron’s face.
“I resign. I won’t be your maid anymore.”
“You little brats!”
My aunt clutched the back of her neck as if she was going to faint.
I sent Anna out first, then held my skirt slightly and gave a polite bow.
“Baron. Aunt. Dear cousins. I’ll be leaving this dreadful Starace family now.”
With a bright, spotless smile, I turned around.
I wanted them to know—I’m not afraid of you anymore.
You no longer have the right to look down on me.
“Let’s not meet again.”
“Viola Starace! I’ll erase you from the family register! You’re no daughter of mine!”
I paused for a moment. I could feel their burning mix of jealousy and regret stabbing at my back.
But I didn’t turn around. I simply answered,
“Do as you please. I’m going to live as a member of House Vetra now.”
Actually, I’d love to be erased.
With a wink, I stepped through the gates of the Starace estate.
That day, I cut ties with them without hesitation.
It was the moment I finally escaped the hellhole that had shackled me for over twenty years.
* * *
In the back of the rental carriage, Anna and I clinked glasses with cheap wine to celebrate. We leaned back and relaxed.
“Miss Viola… Where exactly are we going now?”
“To the Vetra Duchy.”
“I had a feeling, but wow… it’s really happening, huh.”
“Yeah. I told you—I’m marrying His Highness the Duke.”
Anna was a mix of overjoyed and stunned.
It was hard to believe everything had gone according to plan.
“A contract marriage, huh… I don’t think I’ll ever understand how high nobles live.”
“Maybe it’s better not to understand.”
Honestly, I still felt dazed too.
After all, it was because of that mysterious voice I once heard that everything changed—
It opened my eyes to the truth of this world and turned my whole life upside down.
‘I still don’t know exactly how this all happened… but it must be a good thing, right?’
Before I knew it, the carriage had traveled far and entered the Vetra Duchy.
After a couple of hours’ ride from the capital, the air felt completely different.
I turned to look out the window and couldn’t help but be surprised.
A massive canal ran through the city like a bloodstream.
The streets alongside the water were full of life—lined with shops both big and small, bustling with people.
The air was much cleaner than in the capital, and there were green spaces everywhere.
“Miss—look over there!”
As the carriage rolled along, the scenery changed with each district.
Some areas were filled with fairy tale–like houses in vivid, century-old styles.
Others were neat and orderly, with a charming, vintage atmosphere.
This was a vibrant city with many faces—an enchanting city of water.
I fell in love at first sight.
And when we finally arrived at the Duke’s estate, the man at the center of it all—Duke Ezequiel Vetra—stood at the entrance to greet me.
“You’ve arrived.”
With the servants and butler lined up behind him, he walked over lazily and kissed the back of my hand.
“My lady.”
His deep blue eyes folded gently, like a clear sky.
He had the air of a dangerous man, yet acted so sweetly.
Seeing his face up close again, I tried to calm my pounding heart.
“Hello, my husband-to-be.”
We must have looked like a picture-perfect couple.
But, as they say, life is a comedy from a distance and a tragedy up close.
And just like in any story, you can’t really tell the genre until it gets going.
* * *
“Wow, this is amazing!”
The townhouse in the capital was lovely too—but the manor house here in the duchy was something else entirely.
Every hallway and room was grand, delicately decorated in soft tones. I couldn’t stop gasping in awe.
It was pure luxury—something I could’ve never imagined in the debt-ridden Starace family.
Having left that life behind and started anew, I felt like I was floating.
I didn’t even notice that the Duke had walked ahead without matching my pace.
Anna, following with our luggage, glanced at the Duke, then looked at me. She looked like she wanted to say something but held it in.
I figured if it were urgent, she’d say it right away.
So I tried starting some small talk with the Duke.
“I saw the city on the way here. It was so lively—it made me feel like the territory was really well-managed.”
I tossed out a few compliments to build a friendlier vibe.
“I imagine it’s all thanks to Your Highness’s leadership.”
Then I clutched my chest playfully and added,
“Now that I’m your fiancée and the future duchess, I’ll do my best to support and manage the estate too!”
“That won’t be necessary.”
His cold voice cut in sharply.
“…What?”
“There’s no need. It’s just a one-year contract marriage, remember? I’ll handle everything as usual.”
“But…”
“That’s enough. Let’s not talk about this any further.”
He cut me off, his face and tone chilly as ever. The sudden coldness stung more than I expected.
“Ah. Okay. Let’s… just put that topic on hold for now.”
I quickly spoke before he could say anything else.
“When will we sign the contract?”
“Right after you drop off your things. It’s the most important part, after all.”
We were shown to a large, cozy room.
Anna’s room was right next to mine.
“There’s a small door connecting the two rooms. No need to go out into the hall.”
These kinds of rooms were usually for married couples.
But it looked like I’d be sharing with Anna instead.
“Unpack and come to the drawing room.”
He said that as he walked off—still pressing his chest through his shirt, as if something was bothering him.
When the door closed, the tension finally broke. Anna and I both dropped onto the bed and chair.
“I did it. I really did it!”
“Congratulations, my lady! You’ve officially entered the Duke’s household!”
We were both giddy with excitement, still not quite believing any of it was real.
“Miss—wait, I guess I should call you ‘my lady’ now. What do you think of the Duke?”
“He’s kind of cold… and a little prickly?”
Judging by her face, Anna seemed to think the same.
I rolled my eyes a bit and recalled something odd about the Duke’s behavior. Then I asked her quietly…
