Chapter 2
Where am I? This place looks so familiar…
She took a slow step forward. Gradually, her vision brightened.
“Ah—it’s a study!”
She was just about to step inside when Adelaïde stopped short. Someone was already there.
Could it be… the original owner of this body?
The real Adelaïde was seated at the desk.
“Excuse me!”
She called out with everything she had, but no sound came out.
What is happening?
The girl was reading by lamplight, the flame positioned beneath a crystal that was slowly growing warm. Her eyes were wide with concentration as she turned the pages of an old book, one careful leaf at a time.
Wait—is that the crystal?!
Just then, a sound from elsewhere in the room made her freeze. She shoved the book deep into a drawer.
Hm? That scent…
A fragrance drifted from the heated crystal was sweet, but with a strange, sharp undertone. Adelaïde instinctively held her breath. It was already too late.
Thud.
Her body slumped to the floor.
“Ah!”
Adelaïde bolted upright in bed, gasping.
“What was that? What a strange dream.”
She pressed the back of her hand to her damp forehead. The scene lingered so vividly even after waking that a shiver ran down her spine.
Don’t tell me… is that why I collapsed?
Through the window, the faint grey light of early dawn was spreading across the sky.
Knock, knock.
“My lady, it’s time to—oh! You’re already awake.”
“Mabel?”
“Today is an important day. I’ll start the preparations right away.”
Adelaïde nodded.
“The Duke of Karsiten will be arriving around teatime this afternoon.”
A pause.
“…Who is that?”
Mabel stared at her.
“He’s the one who proposed the contract I mentioned yesterday.”
“Ah—right. I must still be half-asleep.”
“It’s all right, my lady. They say your memories will all come back soon.”
That particular memory is never coming back.
Mabel did her best to sound reassuring.
Sighing quietly, Adelaïde followed Mabel to the bathroom. As she soaked in the tub, Mabel carefully worked through her hair.
“Mabel—this Karsiten person. Is his rank higher than ours?”
“Of course. They are the only ducal family in Lumengria. Their standing is second only to the royal family itself.”
“Practically royalty, then.”
Adelaïde couldn’t quite keep the surprise from her voice, and Mabel glanced at her with a worried look.
“It is such a relief that the Duke offered this contract. Thanks to him, we won’t be turned out—we can go on living in the Count’s estate.”
“Turned out?”
“The ducal estate has agreed to settle our family’s debt. It is… quite substantial.”
…!
Splash.
Adelaïde lurched upright in surprise and immediately slipped, landing back in the tub.
“Are you all right, my lady?”
“I’m fine, Mabel.”
“I should have told you straight away, when you said you had no memory… I’m sorry.”
Mabel steadied her and continued.
“Fifteen years ago, the Count—I still don’t know what possessed him—decided to start a crystal processing business.”
“A business?”
“That is where the debt began. It never found its footing.”
“He ran up enough debt from a single business to put the entire estate at risk?”
“Well, there was that. But he also became consumed with collecting rare crystals, and…”
“Same story everywhere, isn’t it. Collections are always the downfall.”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Never mind. Please, go on.”
“The business failed and left nothing but debt behind. We managed—just barely—by setting aside every penny from the estate’s taxes. But when the Count and his wife died in an accident, we reached a point where we simply could no longer hold on.”
Adelaïde lowered her head in silence. In her other life, Eun-jae had also been without parents—she still remembered what it was to fend for herself, having grown up in an orphanage.
I’m alone here, too.
She let out a quiet breath, then lifted her head again.
“In that case, this Duke must be a generous man.”
“He is, isn’t he?”
Mabel’s expression lifted.
“All you need to do today is sign the contract. Please try not to worry too much.”
Adelaïde nodded slowly. The weight of it was already pressing in; her palms were damp with nerves.
“Shall we get you ready?”
Mabel helped her out of the tub, dried her off, and guided her into her dress, then sat her at the vanity. With practised hands, she began to brush Adelaïde’s hair. Adelaïde stared at the unfamiliar face in the mirror.
“There—all done.”
Under Mabel’s care, Adelaïde looked like she had come into bloom.
“Oh, my lady—you do have the Duke’s gift, don’t you?”
“A gift…?”
“Oh dear, I nearly forgot the most important thing!”
Mabel opened a vanity drawer, drew out a small box, and held it out carefully.
“They say the Duke chose it himself. As a betrothal gift.”
Adelaïde opened the box. Inside sat a brooch set with a red ruby.
“The light—it’s lovely!”
She lifted the brooch to examine it more closely. A faint, uneven seam ran along the ruby’s grain.
That’s odd.
She narrowed her eyes.
The grain isn’t natural. Why is there a seam?
“Mabel, you said the Duke is wealthy?”
“Tremendously so. He is a remarkable businessman—his family had considerable wealth already, but the Duke built his own ventures on top of it and amassed an even greater fortune.”
While Mabel spoke, Adelaïde ran her fingertip along the inside of the ruby. A thin layer of vitreous coating lifted away.
Rich, is he. This is no natural ruby. It’s a synthetic—exquisitely made, but synthetic.
“Was this heat-diffusion treated? They even used a heat-resistant fusion technique. Is this level of synthesis actually possible here?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Nothing. Never mind.”
She set the brooch down carefully.
“He calls this a betrothal gift—so why would he send something like this?” She paused. “Mabel.”
“Yes?”
“This jewel. Did the Duke deliver it himself?”
“No. He sent it through a jeweler.”
“I see.”
A quiet, knowing smile settled on Adelaïde’s face.
Adelaïde stood at the drawing room window, watching the grounds below.
“My lady, the ducal carriage has just passed through the main gate.”
She nodded slowly. The butler, Edward, bowed and withdrew.
Let’s see what sort of man you are. A duke, presumably no longer young, who sends a counterfeit ruby as a betrothal gift—that is a clear slight against this family. I don’t know how the real Adelaïde would have handled this, but you’ve chosen the wrong woman to trifle with.
Her expression remained composed. Inwardly, she was furious.
The drawing room door opened.
Head up. Shoulders back. Don’t let him see a single crack, Yoo Eun-jae.
He’s tall…
She felt her clasped hands tighten of their own accord. A long shadow moved slowly toward her. Her gaze traveled upward from the tips of his shoes.
She tilted her head a little higher.
Her breath snagged.
Is he an actor? Why on earth is he so handsome?
“Aiden Lucien Karsiten.”
A cool, measured voice, low and unhurried. Adelaïde, who had been staring in spite of herself, snapped to attention.
“Adelaïde Saint-Clair.”
Her body reacted before her mind caught up. A surprisingly steady voice left her lips. She lifted the hem of her dress and dipped into a precise, elegant curtsy—a perfect forty-five degrees. She was quietly pleased at how naturally it came. When she raised her head, however, she was met with a gaze colder than midwinter ice.
Why is he looking at me like that?
The Duke wore a black suit, a brilliant blue cape draped over one shoulder. A silver chain gleamed along its edge. His features were sharp and precise—a blade-straight nose, and eyes of an unfathomable navy blue. His indigo hair, the colour of sky just before dawn, was swept neatly back.
This is the Duke of Karsiten?
He was far younger than Mabel and Edward’s descriptions had led her to expect. Considerably taller, too. And, above all else, unreasonably handsome.
“Are you quite finished staring?”
“I beg your pardon?”
His arrogant glance cut straight through her composure.
Charming. A man who came here to propose marriage and he’s looking at me like that.
“Please, sit.”
Adelaïde managed a polite smile. The Duke settled into the chair opposite, crossing one long leg over the other beside a table laid with refreshments.
“This is the contract. Review it and sign.”
His tone made something flare quietly behind Adelaïde’s ribs.
Patience. For now, the weaker position is mine.
She accepted the contract with both hands.
Marriage Contract
Contracting Parties Groom’s Side: Aiden Lucien Karsiten of the Karsiten Ducal Estate Bride’s Side: Adelaïde Saint-Clair of the Count Saint-Clair Family
Article 1—Establishment of Marriage Both families agree to the establishment of marriage under the following conditions, entered into by mutual consent.
Article 2—Obligations of the Bride’s Side
- To transfer the secret jewelry-making techniques of the Saint-Clair family to the Karsiten family.
- To hand over the royal jewelry-making techniques to the Karsiten family.
- To transfer the crystal collection held by the Saint-Clair family to the Karsiten family.
Article 3—Obligations of the Groom’s Side
- To absolve all debts of the Saint-Clair family in full.
- To provide an annual living allowance of 50,000 pounds.
- To guarantee the preservation of the Saint-Clair family’s noble title.
Article 4—Annulment Clause This contract cannot be annulled under any circumstances. In the event of a breach, the offending family shall forfeit all titles and property.
Signatures: Adelaïde of the Saint-Clair Family Aiden Lucien of the Karsiten Ducal Estate
Adelaïde read through every line, her lip caught between her teeth.
This is a marriage contract? Why in the world—why must I surrender everything to Duke Karsiten? This isn’t a contract. It’s a surrender.
The hand holding the paper began to tremble. Just as the edges threatened to crumple in her grip, she made herself set it down.
