CHAPTER 54………………………………………………
Even among Cyruses, the Duke of Northdian, who was on the larger side, immediately drew attention.
Beneath the chandelier light, his white suit and deep crimson coat subtly emphasized his solid build, while his beautiful blonde hair and ruby-colored eyes shone like precious gems.
The young Duke of Northdian was escorting his wife with a light smile.
“Madam, please walk carefully.”
He seemed almost overly cautious, as if worried about even the tips of her shoes wearing out. There was a gentle warmth in his low voice.
It was hard to believe this was the same duke—feared and scorned among mages to the point of being called a “grim reaper.”
From the moment they entered, those who had rushed over intending to mock them as “the Notch couple” were silenced instantly.
‘So that’s the wife the duke is supposedly madly in love with.’
‘She’s smaller than most women, isn’t she?’
Everyone was busy scrutinizing the new face of high society—the Duke’s wife, who until now had been nothing more than a rumor.
The woman standing next to the Duke of Northdian resembled a tiny songbird.
With soft golden-brown hair, sparkling elegant golden eyes, delicate features, and a slender frame that seemed small enough to fit in one hand, she looked to be somewhere between a girl and a woman.
The intense crimson dress reflected the masterful touch of a skilled artisan in every lace detail, and her every step radiated grace. Her lightly lowered eyes revealed both charm and confidence.
Though the Duke’s wife appeared diminutive next to him, she did not seem at all intimidated.
Though the Duke was ostensibly escorting her, somehow it seemed the wife was leading him instead.
A bewitching woman commanding the Duke who punishes mages in the body of a Notch…
Everyone watched the couple with blazing eyes, determined not to miss a single detail.
Then, the Duke’s wife suddenly stopped as she entered the ballroom.
“Madam?”
Her slow yet graceful touch reached his ear.
“Leon.”
At that moment, everyone doubted their ears, stunned. Especially those who had met him personally were utterly dumbfounded.
“L-Leon?”
“Did she just call the Duke that as a pet name?”
“Not Lex, but Leon? That’s way too cute!”
The Duke’s wife smiled with her eyes at the man standing close to her and parted her red lips.
“The earrings are uncomfortable… could you help me for a moment?”
She seemed absolutely cherished.
At her request, he stopped immediately as if it were the most natural thing.
“That would be troublesome. Show me.”
The Duke of Northdian approached Eloah’s ear with a smile that could melt anyone. The motion seemed almost like a kiss, and everyone’s gazes grew intense.
“Oh my! My goodness.”
“I never thought they’d make such a perfect couple.”
Quiet cheers of admiration echoed around the room. Contrary to expectations, the nobles were reacting favorably to the couple.
Even though they must know the Notches were considered lowly in noble society.
‘That couple… the Duke and his wife…’
Heron felt a bit entranced as he watched the Duke and his wife, who seemed to dominate the ballroom simply by appearing.
Beyond their dazzling appearance, the two had a certain magnetic quality, as if they knew exactly how to capture attention.
“They’re doing it on purpose…”
At that moment, someone beside him ground their teeth.
“Cosette?”
Heron turned, wondering if it was his fiancée, but Cosette smiled brightly at him.
“What’s wrong, Lord Heron?”
“Oh, I must have misheard.”
It must have been a mistake.
He recalled the Duke and his wife. Unlike the worries of the Uveris Count’s household, the two seemed genuinely happy.
‘The Duke clearly cherishes his wife.’
Despite both being non-mages in a hall full of mages, they showed not a hint of intimidation. Instead, they seemed to command the space around them.
‘Especially the woman… she’s completely different from how she appeared at the Count’s estate.’
Heron could not forget the image of Eloah, who had blossomed from a withered, frail figure into a vibrant, summer-like calendula—an image that lingered in his mind.
By then, he had completely forgotten his ambitious plan to achieve feats before marriage.
I feel like I’m going to die.
If I were to sum up my feelings right now, that’s exactly it.
Forcing a smile for so long had caused twitches in my cheeks. Simultaneously, I was straining to display all the etiquette and rhetoric I’d learned, trying to act as elegantly as possible, feeling like my hair might fall out.
‘Isn’t this effect too strong?’
In the carriage, I had suggested acting like an over-the-top, hopelessly-in-love newlywed couple. It was the pretext of our marriage, but we’d deliberately exaggerated it.
The rumors circulating were like this:
I, the frail eldest daughter of the Uveris family, often visited the Duke of Northdian for business and had always rejected his ardent courtship.
But when marriage talks with the princess began, I realized my feelings and accepted his proposal.
However, my father, worried about my frailty, opposed it, and we secretly fled to the Northdian estate.
A story juicy enough to fuel everyone’s imagination. In a world rich with magic but behind in literature, people were always thirsty for intriguing stories.
‘The rumor about the princess’s unofficial imperial engagement spreading everywhere proves it.’
So we played along, acting as desperately-in-love newlyweds, just as the rumors suggested.
From today, I would transform my image from the powerless Notch into the Duke’s wife, famous for a legendary romance.
Fortunately, since the Duke was notorious as a Notch, my own frailty was not particularly emphasized.
On the contrary, the fact that I, with some magic, accepted a completely powerless Duke, made young ladies cheer my bravery. Ridiculous, but true.
The Duke of Northdian, for rejecting the imperial princess’s proposal, would also avoid heavy criticism.
By publicly displaying our affection, people would understand why he could not accept the imperial marriage.
Was it really that easy?
People tend to be more excited by sensational gossip than by boring, proper endings. As long as it’s fun, truth doesn’t matter.
Thanks to this, it was easy to transform our image from “the Cinderella Notch bride and the defiant Duke” into “a young newlywed couple who sacrificed everything for love.”
Already the center of attention, we only needed to add playful affection and pet names at the right times and places to subtly shift perception.
‘I almost thought we really kissed earlier.’
I had only asked him to pretend to adjust the earrings, but bringing our faces close made me desperately act nonchalant.
Still, the effect was immense.
Curious young ladies began approaching nonstop, asking questions with admiration. Meanwhile, I was navigating the treacherous initiation into high society alone, separated from the Duke.
Unlike elderly ladies who had endured the Mage Era and disdained our presence, young ladies enjoying the changing times of Notch rights eagerly approached with envy and admiration.
“How did you meet the Duke?”
“One night, under a full moon, we happened to meet on a walk. We recognized each other at first sight.”
The only difference from the truth was that the walk had been through a nest of mage criminals.
“A meeting between east and west, how romantic!”
“Oh, for someone as insignificant as me to be recognized as the representative of the west… I hope you will look kindly on me, Lord of the Teros family.”
Some young ladies, unaware of political implications, spoke adorably.
“I heard the Count of Uveris opposed your marriage. Are you alright? He must have cherished you greatly.”
This innocent question was difficult to answer gracefully.
‘Cherished me, the Count did…’
If no one else were around, I would have held that innocent young lady’s hands and recited every torment I had suffered for hours.
Our purpose in performing today’s act was not only to gain the nobles’ favor and reshape the Northdian image but also had a more important goal.
I pushed people aside and focused on those approaching.
“Finally, we meet, my daughter.”
The moment I had been waiting for: the Count of Uveris appeared, accompanied by his stepmother and Cosette.
‘He seems worn out. Approached earlier than expected.’
He seemed anxious, worried I might flee. Though he tried to mask it with a smile, I, having lived under his watch all my life, saw it clearly.
I placed my hand quietly on my chest. My heart was calm.
‘Not as bad as I thought.’
Perhaps emboldened by the Duke, I wasn’t as afraid facing the Count. On the contrary, thinking about what lay ahead made me slightly excited.
I immediately began to execute my plan.
“F-Father.”
I called out the title I had long avoided, feigning shock and fear in my voice.
