~Chapter 30~
Knock, knock.
“Baron Nelson and his wife are here to visit.”
At Jeffrey’s words, Dominic, about to step out, looked toward Higgins.
“Did I have an appointment I forgot?”
Higgins looked at Jeffrey as if he had no idea either.
Jeffrey answered, looking troubled.
“They happened to be passing by the estate. They said they wanted to see you, Madam. But you were out.”
It must have been awkward for them to simply turn away at the door, especially since they were the Duchess’s parents.
“Coming without an appointment… Duke, you should be going out soon. Maybe politely send them off—”
Before Higgins could finish, Dominic raised a hand lightly to stop him.
“There’s still a little time.”
Higgins glanced at his pocket watch.
“There’s a bit of time, but….”
“Bring them up here.”
As Jeffrey left, Higgins shook his head slightly, puzzled.
Visiting the Duke’s house without prior notice—even if it was their daughter’s residence—was plainly rude.
Yet even more surprising was that the Duke, known for punctuality, was making an exception for such unannounced visitors.
Well… they’re newly married, after all.
Even if her family was insignificant, he would at least maintain proper courtesy.
Unlike Higgins’ expectation, Dominic already suspected the sudden purpose of the baron and his wife’s visit.
“They came under the pretense of their daughter… just to see me.”
They must have thought the Duke was otherwise inaccessible through their daughter and tried this trick.
“Baron Nelson and his wife are here.”
When Jeffrey returned with them, Dominic stood to greet the couple.
Despite the obvious difference in social status, he maintained maximum dignity, showing no hint of condescension.
The couple tried to act natural, but anyone could see their obsequiousness leaking through.
“Please forgive our rudeness. We simply wanted to see our daughter.”
Rosana squinted her eyes slightly and smiled.
“We were about to leave when we found you out, Duke. Had we known we would disturb you, we wouldn’t have come.”
A brief, almost unnoticed smirk appeared on Dominic’s lips before disappearing instantly.
Glancing at his watch, he said:
“I have prior commitments, but if it’s just a moment, I can spare some time.”
The glance at his watch and his businesslike smile clearly said: Make it quick.
Rosana, quick to sense the mood, nudged her husband’s side.
The baron flinched slightly and chuckled.
“Since we have the Duke here, I would like to seek your advice regarding a business matter.”
He began rummaging through a document envelope he had brought.
Higgins, standing behind, immediately realized: Their purpose wasn’t the Duchess.
Dominic leaned back, crossing his legs lazily, observing them with an almost playful, interested look.
A little while later, the baron and his wife left the Duke’s study, smiling broadly.
Jeffrey, escorting them to the door, was curious.
What could they have discussed that transformed them so completely from the moment they entered to the moment they left?
“He’s really kind… and commanding too.”
“Of course. Beyond his character, today I noticed his keen business sense. Showing him the business plan was the right move.”
“See? I told you.”
Jeffrey’s ears twitched at their whispering.
“The master?”
He recalled countless similar scenes.
Visitors leaving the Duke’s study usually collapsed against a pillar or sank to the floor, as if the world had ended. Some stormed out cursing in frustration.
Seeing people leave smiling after meeting this ruthless man was rare indeed.
Jeffrey raised his eyebrows in quiet astonishment.
“Ah, you’re back, young Madam.”
Elin, returning home, was helped down from her carriage by Jeffrey, who had been waiting.
“The Duke is out.”
She smiled, thankful, about to go upstairs—when another report reached her ears.
“Earlier, Baron Nelson and his wife visited.”
Elin blinked in disbelief.
“Who came?”
“While you were out, Baron Nelson and his wife came. They said they wanted to see you, but since the Duke was home, they spoke briefly with him and then left.”
Elin slumped against a nearby cabinet, utterly drained.
“Hah… they really…”
After ignoring her constant letters, they had now barged in without restraint.
“Are you alright, Madam?”
Jeffrey asked, unaware of the storm brewing inside her.
“I’m fine… probably just tired.”
As she turned to go upstairs, the maids quickly supported her.
Jeffrey watched her staggering up the stairs, worry etched on his face.
The Dowager Duchess only recently collapsed… I hope nothing terrible happens to the young Madam too.
Once inside, Elin paced her room with a tense expression.
She could easily imagine how brazenly her father and stepmother had tried to pursue their aims in front of the Duke. Her face burned with shame.
He must have scolded them. That nonsense business of theirs would have been ridiculous to even hear.
Judging by all the failed ventures her father had undertaken, she didn’t need to see the details to know he had no business sense.
Anyone with real business acumen—like the Duke—would have scoffed.
Elin’s head throbbed as she sank onto the sofa.
Using their daughter by any means to pursue their own gain… I almost wish I could cut them out of my life entirely.
She knew her father and stepmother would keep approaching the Duke until the divorce—and perhaps even after.
I need to get far away… somewhere they can’t see me at all.
A knock sounded. The maid announced the Duke’s return.
Elin went downstairs eagerly.
Dominic, returning from outside, handed his hat to Jeffrey and made his way up the stairs.
“Duke.”
“Madam.”
He greeted her briefly, acting as usual.
Higgins followed behind him, suggesting more business remained—but Elin followed as well.
“Duke, I have something to tell you.”
At the doorway to the study, she hurriedly spoke.
“What is it?”
Curious, the Duke raised an eyebrow. Higgins opened the door, letting her inside.
“I heard earlier that my father came to visit.”
Hesitating briefly, Elin continued, knowing Higgins had seen everything.
Higgins was almost like Dominic’s shadow; there was no hiding anything.
“Did my father ask you for business investment or make unreasonable demands?”
Higgins’ startled expression confirmed her suspicions.
Just as I expected… shameless as ever.
Elin’s anger made her chest tighten, but the Duke remained calm, reclining comfortably as he loosened his cravat.
“Ah. Yes, he had an idea for a profitable venture. I didn’t have time to hear details, but it didn’t seem bad.”
Seeing her flustered face, he looked at her as if to say: So? What’s the problem?
When Elin couldn’t respond immediately, Dominic spoke first.
“Even if it weren’t your father, countless people come to me for business advice. He’s just one of many.”
“But you don’t need to accommodate him because he’s my father. I heard he came without notice. You never meet anyone without an appointment.”
Elin knew how much the Duke hated wasting time.
His time—each second of it—was practically worth more than money.
Her father’s ridiculous business plan had eaten into that precious time, and the Duke had tolerated it only because they were her family.
Given his history of ruining every venture and going into debt, how plausible could his plan have been?
“I never touch a failing investment. Don’t stress yourself over your father. I don’t make foolish exceptions just because someone is family.”
Elin had no rebuttal.
She realized she had been hasty.
The Duke was thorough and meticulous—he was right. Her father and stepmother were not his real family.
This is a fake marriage. Why did I assume he might be swayed by my father?
“I’m sorry for interfering. I was thinking too little of the situation.”
Elin immediately apologized and left.
Higgins rolled his eyes, trying to make sense of it.
“The Duke really is strange… why act differently when it comes to his wife?”
He had heard everything the baron said earlier.
The proposal was ridiculous and full of holes.
Just listening without reading the report in detail, he could only imagine how shocked and angry the Duke must have been.
Dominic’s usual style when facing business proposals:
[Convince me in five sentences. If I’m convinced, I invest.]
[You have one minute. Make your points clear.]
Yet now, apparently, the baron’s nonsense plan wasn’t completely bad.
Even for in-laws, this was almost unbelievable.
And the way he treated the Duchess earlier left Higgins puzzled.
“So different from how he was in front of the baron and his wife…”
Why was he brusque with her, yet so patient and deliberate with others?
Higgins saw the mismatch clearly, though the Duke himself seemed completely unaware.
