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STLECM 27

STLECM 27

CHAPTER 27


The misunderstanding—though not really a misunderstanding—among the maids grew bigger with time, snowballing as the days passed.

That’s how much Etisha’s presence stood out in the usually desolate Wintel Castle.

“They say the Duke tore her dress at night…”

“And that he gifted her all sorts of jewels, including an Angel’s Heart!”

“I even heard that Her Grace invited Lady Etisha for tea…”

“A tea time after just a day? Most noble ladies wait a year or more and still never get invited by Her Grace!”

“So then… what on earth is happening in our Duke’s castle?”

At this point, Etisha was seen by the servants of Wintel Castle as a noble lady who had descended like a comet.

After all, who was Duke Cayenne?

A war hero. The Sword of the North.

He lived up to those titles, being cold and rational—a master who never once showed a sliver of emotion in front of others.

Cayenne’s rewards and punishments were clear. He strictly managed and educated everyone who came and went from the castle, disciplining them according to firm rules.

Especially toward those guilty of clear crimes, he showed no mercy. He was a cold-blooded man who didn’t hesitate to deliver swift executions.

And it was precisely because of such rule that the people of the North could live peacefully and prosper, even on such harsh land.

“To think someone who never even glanced at women would behave like this…”

The servants were both bewildered and fascinated by their master’s change. And it wasn’t only Cayenne who had changed.

Cirilleze Wintel, the former Duchess.

Her fame rivaled that of Duke Cayenne.

How many grand banquets and tea parties had been held at Wintel Castle? Every time, Lady Cirilleze upheld the dignity of the house with an iron grace, acting more nobly than anyone else.

If Cayenne’s sword had cut down enemies on the battlefield, then Lady Cirilleze’s was used to eliminate hidden enemies lurking in high society.

“Most ladies can’t even lift their gaze in front of Her Grace.”

“Exactly. So many debutantes ran off crying after trying to act arrogant before her…”

And yet, Etisha had won Lady Cirilleze’s favor in an instant. It was no ordinary feat.

To make matters worse (or better), Etisha’s maid Marin—who had come with her from the capital—added her own testimony, and the rumors only intensified.

“What’s everyone so surprised about? Lady Etisha was already amazing in the capital. The Duke gifted her an estate and a mansion, and even before their wedding, His Majesty gave her a wedding present!”

A mansion…?

An estate…?

The Emperor…?!

Thus, the maids and servants of Wintel Castle couldn’t help but revere Etisha.

Outwardly, she seemed as delicate as a flower petal, with a gentle and faint presence—so what was so special about her that turned this entire castle upside down?

They had no idea.

Still—

The rumors about Etisha kept growing and spreading, and everyone coming and going from the castle caught wind of them one way or another.

Most received her favorably.

But not everyone.

And, of course, the person who came to feel the strongest hostility toward Etisha was none other than Ditte, residing in the Tower of Stars.

“Did you hear? Those rumors…”

In the Tower of Stars, Ditte nervously paced near the laurel-patterned tapestry.

Gone was her usual bright, cheerful demeanor—she looked anxious and frightened.

“Rumors?”

A seductive male voice drifted from behind the tapestry.

Marquis Hexion nonchalantly pulled it aside and stepped out.

“Oh, you haven’t heard? The rumors about Baroness Etisha. About the jewels, the mansion…”

“Hmm.”

“And Her Grace’s tea time, too. That used to be my daily routine! But now that’s been taken from me.”

Ditte finally let her pent-up emotions spill out. The Marquis chuckled while watching her closely.

“Heh. So naive. Did you really think I hadn’t heard? Always remember—nobles are the kind of people who lie even when they know the truth.”

“…What?”

“Don’t reveal your true feelings so easily.”

“Oh…”

Ditte blinked her golden eyes, then clamped her mouth shut once she understood what he meant.

The Marquis truly was a man full of traps. Whenever Ditte met him, she couldn’t help but get pulled into his words.

“Nobles are strange people.”

“And what about you, who’s dying to be part of those strange people?”

“I just… want to stay by Cayenne’s side. That’s all. I don’t have any other intentions.”

“Oh, really?”

Marquis Hexion smiled and leaned against the window ledge. Behind him, a sea of stars looked as if it would spill into the room.

“Saying with your own mouth that you want to be both the Duke’s daughter and his mistress, and now pretending to be innocent—it’s actually pretty cute. I should compliment you. Judging by how well you lie, I’d say you’ve already earned your noble badge.”

He mocked her. Ditte’s face twisted in displeasure.

“…Enough. Stop saying weird things and tell me what to do. You said we need to win over Countess Monmadre.”

“Oh, that.”

Hexion beckoned her with a finger, gesturing for her to come closer as if he were going to whisper.

Ditte leaned toward him, and the Marquis whispered leisurely.

“You know I invited you to the tea party, right?”

“Yes. I know.”

“Good. I also invited Countess Monmadre. You’ll meet her there. When you do, find a moment to spill tea on her.”

“…What? How could I do something like that?!”

Ditte trembled. Her cheek still ached from the slap the Countess had once given her.

“Don’t worry. This time, even Countess Monmadre won’t be able to hit you. You’ll be accompanying Lady Cirilleze. It’ll make for an interesting scene.”

“I… I’m not sure. You think the Countess will back down just because of Her Grace? But she hates me! If I spill tea on her, she’ll never take my side!”

Marquis Hexion lightly tapped her blonde hair and straightened up.

“No, quite the opposite. The more you irritate her, the more likely she’ll end up on your side.”

The tea party was set for tomorrow.

The result would be revealed at the Marquis’s estate.

“Canary. Just do as I say.”


Late at night, Etisha lay in the duke’s master bedroom.

This time, she had properly changed into her nightwear.

She smoothed out the long hem of her chemise to cover her legs and gently pressed down the wrinkled fabric over her chest.

Sigh… This outfit is too embarrassing. It’s so thin…

Since the bed was enchanted with warming magic, she had no choice but to dress lightly. Etisha briefly considered draping a shawl but ultimately just curled up under the blanket.

When will the Duke arrive? Will he be sleeping here again tonight?

Knowing she’d be sharing a bed with Cayenne again, she couldn’t help but think about him.

But why… why did the Duke do that to my dress?

As she recalled the shredded dress, she shook her head vigorously. Just thinking about it made her mind go fuzzy and hot.

Then, a shameful thought struck her.

Could it be… the Duke has that kind of taste…?

She vaguely remembered her sister Larienne once mentioning that some men had peculiar… unspeakable… preferences.

But Cayenne? Of all people?

Etisha shook her head hard.

What a disrespectful thought. I’m sorry, Duke!

Get a grip, Etisha.

She pulled the blanket over her face and curled up like a shrimp.

The Duke would never…

Fortunately, Etisha trusted Cayenne more than Larienne.

It must’ve been another of Larienne’s lies. She just wanted to mess with me with those weird stories.

Larienne had kept Etisha locked away at home, preventing her from attending social gatherings. She never let Etisha go to parties and tormented her whenever she spoke to anyone—male or female.

Thanks to Larienne, Etisha had never dated. She hadn’t even made friends.

Right. Why would I believe anything she says? Forget the dress. Thinking about it only makes me feel weird.

Etisha closed her eyes and tried to clear her mind.

A wide snowy field. The white sky filled with falling snow.

She remembered the scenery when she first arrived in the Wintel territory via teleportation, and it calmed her a little.

Etisha’s thoughts grew deeper. The Wintel estate. The Wintel castle. And Wintel’s one and only Duke…

Cayenne Wintel…

Cayenne…

Ah.

His face.

Those distant eyes.

The way he touched her…

Ah…

Those large, firm hands. Broad shoulders. Sculpted muscles like a work of art. And that raw, unfiltered expression she glimpsed like a dream the night before…

Uwaaa…!

Etisha threw off the covers and sat up.

She couldn’t, absolutely couldn’t control herself anymore.

Stop. Please, just stop!

Covering her face with both hands, she let out a long sigh. How had her thoughts become so impure?

What’s wrong with me? It’s all this bed’s fault. Sleeping in the same bed… and that dress, too…

Etisha realized her emotions were unusually heightened.

Yes, the bed and dress and jewels were all part of it—but the biggest reason was something else entirely: the northern lands themselves.

Ever since I came to Wintel Castle… I’ve felt constantly excited…

Ditte, whom she’d thought was a mistress, turned out to be Cayenne’s adopted sister.

Lady Cirilleze, whom she had feared would reject her, turned out to be incredibly sweet.

And Cayenne—he had only ever been kind to Etisha, from beginning to end.

She truly loved this place—the North.

It felt so peaceful, so perfect, it almost felt like paradise.

I see… I’m just so happy that I get to live and die in a place like this…

Etisha gently brushed her cheek with her palm. Her soft, smooth skin squished under her touch.

 

Is this… what people call happiness?

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Since My Time is Limited, Im Entering A Contract Marriage

Since My Time is Limited, Im Entering A Contract Marriage

시한부니까 계약 결혼 합니다
Score 9.7
Status: Ongoing Type: Author: Released: 2023 Native Language: Korean
“Please be my husband for just a year!” I only had one year left to live, and the way I choose to escape from my vicious family was marriage. “You have a secret lover, right? I’m going to die anyway, so I’ll just be your air-like wife who fill that empty position.” To escape my house I had the good idea to propose to Kaiyen, the Grand Duke of the North and a war hero known for being cruel, but…. “Mana Overload is not an incurable disease. It can’t be.” The duke was so kind to me that my heart started to melt. Duke, I thought you had a lover…?

Comment

  1. ReadingRainbow9266 says:

    I feel bad for her…. Every day is a new experience which she should have had a long time ago… ontop of that who knows what’s goi g on with the male lead and what he really wants from her…. She’s so innocent and sweet. I usually HATE those types of female leads and find them annoying, but she actually has a real reason to be this naive and kind, so all I want to do is protect her…

  2. Ancillary Quibbler says:

    I genuinely feel a bit bad for Ditte, even given she’s being hateful and stupid. It sounds like she wasn’t ever given anything approaching education or training to prepare her for any kind of life. That left her bound to be a bit twisted and desperate not to lose her home.

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