Chapter 2
Her hair was a blend of brown and gold, and her light brown eyes paired with features that resembled the Marquis, making her stunningly beautiful.
Serena also looked much younger than Elia remembered.
“The Duke is here!”
“…The Duke?”
Elia searched her memory at Serena’s words.
“Yes! Come on, Elia! The Duke is waiting for you.”
Serena waved a dress in front of her eyes.
Elia instinctively covered her mouth with both hands in shock. She couldn’t believe it.
She had lived through this moment once before. It was the day she had turned twenty-one. The day her engagement to the Duke had been announced—it was exactly the same.
‘How… how could this be happening…?’
“Elia, come on, change into this dress and let’s go.”
Serena tilted her head at the dazed Elia, then let out a laugh and handed her the dress.
A dull black dress that was clearly worn and poorly kept.
‘I met him for the first time in this dress…’
Back then, Elia had been so ashamed of the frayed parts that she’d kept fidgeting with the hem. It was a memory she’d rather erase—her first meeting with her husband.
“Serena.”
“Yeah?”
“Do you think this dress suits me?”
For a moment, Elia’s face stiffened with emotion. Serena, trying to suppress a smirk, gave a mischievous answer after rolling her eyes to the side.
“Pfft, of course it does.”
Serena was mocking her with an angelic smile.
Elia looked at her with a cold stare for a moment, then walked past her and out the door.
“Huh? Elia, you didn’t even change…”
Surprised by Elia’s unusual look, Serena grabbed the dress and hurried after her with quick steps.
“Uh, Elia! Why are you going to my room…?”
Elia didn’t head down the stairs toward the reception room. She went straight for Serena’s room on the second floor.
“Elia!”
Serena entered the room to find Elia standing with the wardrobe doors wide open, sifting through her clothes.
“I heard the Duke likes blue. Serena, do you mind if I borrow this?”
In Elia’s hands was a deep blue dress covered in ornate beadwork.
It was Serena’s favorite dress—the one she had worn at her debutante ball.
“E-Elia, your dress is right here though?”
Serena held up the black dress awkwardly, trying to smile.
“Well, it just doesn’t seem to suit me. I like this one better.”
“Huh? B-But that one…”
Serena was flustered and stammering.
“You think so too, huh? You really are a wonderful sister. Thank you.”
Elia cut her off before she could say another word.
Smiling faintly, she pulled the bell cord.
“Anna!”
Elia didn’t have a personal maid, but the maid named Anna came rushing in, assuming it was Serena who called.
“You called for me, miss…?”
Anna entered hesitantly, sensing the tension in the room as Elia and Serena stood facing each other with dresses in hand.
“Anna, could you help me put this dress on?”
“Pardon?”
Anna shrank back and looked nervously toward Serena.
“Don’t worry. My angelic little sister gave me her blessing.”
Elia stared directly into Serena’s eyes, not Anna’s, as she continued.
“Isn’t that right, dear sister?”
“Wh-what…? Oh… sure.”
Serena’s expression clearly showed she wanted to snatch the dress right out of Elia’s hands, but the ridiculousness of the situation left her no room to argue.
“Y-yes!”
Anna, reading the room, quickly approached Elia and helped her change into the dress.
As Elia got dressed, Serena’s expression twisted more and more. Finally, she threw the black dress to the floor and stormed out of the room.
“…Heh.”
As Serena’s footsteps faded, a bitter smile tugged at Elia’s lips.
Before she had possessed her body, Serena had lent her this dress for the debutante ball with a sweet smile. Elia had believed it was a genuine act of kindness.
But that same night, she had been severely beaten by the Marchioness for daring to wear Serena’s dress.
‘Never again will I be fooled by such false kindness.’
As Anna finished adjusting the hem, Elia confidently walked out of Serena’s room.
At the far end of the first-floor hallway stood the reception room.
As she reached it, Elia’s heart began pounding wildly.
Behind this door was him—the one and only Duke of the North, Felix Lloyd.
When she opened the door, multiple pairs of eyes turned to her all at once.
“I greet Your Grace. I am Elia Arness.”
Elia kept her trembling heart in check and offered her greeting.
Then she looked up at the man she once loved.
Jet-black hair like the midnight sky. Ash-gray eyes that resembled a predator’s stare. A long scar that ran from his cheek down to his neck.
He was undeniably Felix Lloyd.
“So, you are Elia Arness.”
At first, his broad shoulders and chiseled features had terrified her. Standing before him used to make her feel like a trembling herbivore.
But now, it was different. She knew who he really was.
‘He’s actually gentler than anyone… and warmer than anyone…’
Her emotions surged at the sight of him, and she nearly cried—but held it back.
Instead, she looked at him and beamed brightly.
“Ahem.”
Felix, seemingly taken aback by her radiant smile, cleared his throat awkwardly.
“Elia, come take a seat.”
The Marquis, seated opposite Felix, called to her with forced warmth.
Next to him, the Marchioness’s face contorted at the sight of Elia’s dress.
‘Hah, that glare doesn’t scare me anymore.’
Eyes full of murderous intent bore into her, but Elia ignored them.
She only looked at the Duke. He was still as striking as ever.
Unbothered by the people around her, Elia gazed at him like she was engraving him into her memory.
“Ahem.”
Felix gave her a puzzled look, but despite the awkward air, the discussion of marriage proceeded swiftly.
The wedding date, dowry, and other details were quickly decided.
It was all possible because the Marquis and Marchioness bowed and scraped to Felix’s every word.
In the middle of the conversation, Felix turned to Elia.
“And you? Are you pleased with this marriage?”
He gave her a sweeping look from head to toe.
“…Who would refuse the position of the Duke’s wife?”
Because the Duke was hated by the Emperor, many noble daughters would hesitate to marry him. So her words sounded sarcastic to everyone but herself.
“Ahem. That’s enough, Elia. Mind your manners.”
The Marquis forced a laugh and bowed to Felix.
“My apologies, Your Grace. Please ignore what she said…”
“No need. Didn’t she just say she’s happy with it? We’ll begin preparing the ceremony right away, then.”
Their meeting ended even faster than expected.
Elia stared at the large doors he had exited for a long time. Then, someone grabbed her arm.
“You little thief! How dare you wear Serena’s dress?!”
The Marchioness of Arness glared with her light brown eyes blazing.
“Serena lent it to me. That’s all.”
“Hah! Lent it to you? You think I don’t know you used your kind sister to take it for yourself?”
Elia calmly met the Marchioness’s wrathful gaze, then firmly pried her hand off.
“Wha—! You insolent brat! How dare you…!”
The thought of being pushed aside by someone she considered beneath a worm made the Marchioness tremble with rage.
The Marquis, who had been watching silently, clicked his tongue and turned to head up to his study.
“Mother, please calm down. Elia didn’t mean any harm.”
Serena, who had remained quiet until then, gently tried to placate the Marchioness with her angelic smile.
“You spoil her too much. That’s why she doesn’t know her place.”
“But Mother, today is a special day, isn’t it?”
“Tsk tsk, you’re too kind for your own good. Still, she needs to be punished for her insolence. Elia, come with me.”
Serena didn’t stop the Marchioness this time.
“Elia, don’t worry too much. I’m sure she won’t be too harsh.”
Serena whispered reassuringly with a gentle smile.
“…”
Elia brushed past her without even sparing her a glance.
