Chapter 07
02. Fake Marriage
Ardel was instantly ablaze with the scandal titled “The Duke and the Mysterious Woman.”
The Duke of Miramonte! Just showing his face in public could make the headlines, and now he had caused a scandal.
He was known for rarely interacting with women, and his popularity was unmatched. Even the slightest intimacy became gossip. This time, he openly said “I was really enjoying it,” leaving everyone shocked.
Young noblewomen from the warm southern region cried for three days straight.
“Waaah! Duke! If you can’t be my man, you might as well be gay!”
As proof of the scandal, the duke paraded a mysterious silver-haired woman by his side.
Women wailed in despair seeing him so gentle, tucking her hair behind her ears, completely envious of her luck.
The “silver-haired woman,” lucky enough to monopolize this perfect man—handsome, capable, and rich—was not really happy.
In fact, she even felt a little miserable.
“Ugh, why is this family history so complicated?”
Su flipped open a thick book about the Miramonte family, memorizing it until her head ached. Eventually, she gave up and stuck her tongue out.
“Madness. This is mythology, not family history! Why should I care about a duke who died 300 years ago?”
“You don’t need to memorize everything. Just one thing is important.”
“You didn’t memorize my family history!”
“Anyway, you will be given a new identity: Marlene Su Sinclair. Memorize it well.”
Su stepped back in shock at the pile of documents the duke handed her.
He could recite all of it just by glancing—how was that fair?
“We’ll use the identity Veronica used. Daughter of a fallen baron at the edge of Ardel. Memorize it so His Majesty doesn’t suspect.”
“I hate the name Marlene!”
The duke raised an eyebrow smoothly. Su froze and stepped back slightly.
“You have to use it because you used it in that moment. No choice.”
Damn Veronica! Even though Su hated noble names, Veronica always insisted on using this one for their schemes. At least Su’s real name was her middle name.
“Lesson time. Stand up.”
Su grimaced and slowly rose. She really hated etiquette.
Despite knowing noble customs for gambling, the duke had arranged an amazing etiquette teacher for her.
So amazing that even at twenty-four, Su sometimes cried during lessons.
“Don’t I look like a proper noble now? Isn’t this enough?”
“You will continue until Mrs. Keller is satisfied. I don’t know why you struggle so much—it’s not that hard.”
Su smirked internally.
The duke was temporarily staying in a grand northern mansion in Ardel, a place unfamiliar to Su, who had only ever been in the southern backstreets.
As she admired the oak-filled garden, a sharp voice startled her.
“Miss Marlene!”
“Yes, yes!”
Mrs. Keller was an extremely strict old woman, a master of etiquette. Every noble in Ardel had to pass through her training before visiting Baha.
Even Su’s rough etiquette had gone unnoticed because she learned just enough to avoid suspicion.
“Miss Marlene, your movements are graceful, but the basics are weak. Walk as you learned yesterday.”
Su rolled her eyes but stood straight under Mrs. Keller’s intimidating gaze.
“Good. You’re improving. You learn quickly for your age.”
“Can I stop now?”
“Not yet. I need to watch you three more times.”
Even when learning pickpocketing, she hadn’t needed this many lessons. Why was walking so difficult?
“Today, we will learn how to behave before royalty.”
Even with her face like a wilted vegetable, Mrs. Keller remained perfectly composed. Su felt like the wooden mannequin of etiquette.
“Bend your waist and make this hand gesture…”
The gesture wasn’t too complex: brush the shoulder, touch the lips, then lower your hand.
“This is a greeting for a princess.”
“A princess? Then is there a different greeting for the king or queen?”
“Yes. And also for princes and the crown prince.”
Su frowned, watching Mrs. Keller’s flowing, precise hand movements. Aristocrats and royals had way too much time.
“Watch carefully and repeat.”
“…Yes.”
Su wished she could go home. She wouldn’t have agreed for even eight thousand gold, let alone eighty thousand.
“Did you really fall in love with the duke?”
Veronica’s cat-like eyes narrowed, clearly jealous. Her expression actually made Su feel genuinely happy, without needing to pretend.
“Yes.”
“Oh my! What’s wrong with the duke’s head? Why would he like someone as young as you?”
“Don’t forget, we’re the same age, Veronica.”
“Someone mature like me is far better than a cliff like you!”
Su grimaced at Veronica’s insult but then smiled brightly. A winner’s smile.
“Shut up, old hag.”
Veronica stomped her foot angrily.
“So you’re really going to Baha? What about Mel?”
“That’s why I called you—for Mel.”
To properly play the duke’s “wife,” Su had to go to Baha, where the king was. She handed Veronica a small key with the eighty-thousand-gold receipt.
“This is the safe key. Together, it’s just over 200,000 gold. Mel wants to be a knight. Help him.”
Veronica looked at it and tucked it safely into her bag. Su trusted her completely; she was the daughter of Ardel’s richest count.
“Don’t reveal my real identity out of jealousy. If anyone finds out about my connection to Ludante, it won’t end with just one or two arrests.”
Veronica snorted and stood.
“Am I stupid?”
“Yes.”
Veronica almost shouted, but Su’s direct answer made her stop. If Su married the duke in Baha, they would rarely see each other again.
“Take care. Don’t worry about Mel.”
Veronica’s sudden gentleness made Su frown and step back. What was she plotting?
“Why are you acting so weird? Did you take something?”
Veronica, flushed and furious, suddenly lunged at Su.
“You brat! Yes, I took it! Twice! Today, you and I die! You won’t marry the duke without a fight!”
Su, forgetting etiquette, joined in the chaos. The servants and Mrs. Keller rushed in just in time.
“That’s enough for today. Good job, Miss Marlene.”
Wiping sweat from her forehead, Su smiled. Even after walking and greeting properly, Mrs. Keller hadn’t found fault this time.
“Yes!”
Su’s spirited reply made Mrs. Keller raise her thin eyebrows, and Su froze, realizing she had almost made a mistake.
