SBMF 11

Chapter 11

A Marriage Alliance for Revenge (2)

“Pardon?”

At Rainer’s added remark, Cecilia’s eyes widened into perfect circles.

Then she let out a small chuckle.

“I don’t think that will happen.”

“Is that so.”

Rainer gave a light shrug.

At the same time, he recalled what Harry had told him yesterday—to try getting along well with Cecilia.

‘As expected, nonsense.’

The reason he had felt oddly irritated by the suggestion not to let emotions get involved was probably because of that comment.

Just then, Cecilia held the document out to him again.

“Anyway, it will help you steady your resolve. If you have no objections, please sign here.”

Her slender finger pointed to the bottom of the document.

Without a word, Rainer picked up the quill and signed.

As he wrote his name in elegant strokes, he asked casually,

“Very well. Then when do you plan to move into the estate?”

“I’ll go now.”

“…Excuse me?”

Rainer nearly dropped the quill as he finished signing.

When he looked up, Cecilia tilted her head slightly.

“Is there a problem?”

“We’re not yet prepared to receive a wife.”

“You aren’t? Do you need more mental preparation?”

“That’s not what I mean. I’m talking about the estate. There are preparations to be made when welcoming a new member of the household.”

At the sudden question, Rainer let out a short, incredulous laugh and shook his head.

In truth, he had only brought the paperwork necessary for the marriage; he wasn’t prepared to receive Cecilia immediately.

After all, she was a noble lady—she would surely require many things.

But Cecilia looked unconcerned.

“Oh, if that’s what you mean, I don’t mind. Actually… I’m almost out of money to stay at the hotel.”

Her excessive honesty finally made Rainer burst into laughter.

“You need not worry about money. If the hotel is comfortable, you may move to a better one in central Brisen.”

“Thank you, but I’m fine.”

Cecilia shook her head.

There was another reason she wanted to enter the ducal residence quickly.

‘I need someone who will move for me. Inside the ducal house.’

As the Duchess, there would clearly be limits to what she could personally do.

If so, she needed someone who would act swiftly on her behalf.

To do that, she had to become familiar with the ducal household as soon as possible.

This life would be very different from her previous one.

“What are you doing? Let’s go.”

As Cecilia stood up, Rainer noticed she had already packed her belongings.

He smiled unconsciously and shook his head.

Truly, she was always an unexpected woman.

Proposing a contract marriage from the start had been far from ordinary.

“Very well.”

Rainer rose as well and extended his hand to escort her.

His black hair fell softly across his forehead.

With a gentlemanly yet captivating smile, he looked at Cecilia.

“I look forward to our future together, my lady.”

* * *

A few days later, a ceremony was held in the Imperial Palace banquet hall to confer Rainer’s title.

Most of those gathered welcomed the new duke—except for one person.

“Please try to smile, Madam.”

During the celebration banquet, Rainer looked down at Elise’s stiff expression and gave a sardonic smile.

“……”

Elise bit her lip, trembling.

Though she had hidden Gilbert’s affair and the matter had been resolved within the Hayes family, she had been unable to exert any influence in the process.

And now Rainer had inherited the ducal title.

It was her first experience of complete defeat.

There had also been no progress in finding her grandson, making Elise feel utterly cornered.

After savoring the sight of her, Rainer slowly bent down and whispered in her ear.

“I told you to smile. Anyone watching might think you’re looking at the son of a mistress you burned to death.”

“W-What are you saying…?”

Elise’s expression twisted.

But mindful of the surrounding eyes, she could not raise her voice.

At that moment, Crown Prince Nicholas approached them.

“Well, Duke Hayes. Congratulations. Ah, Madam is here as well.”

“Yes, Your Highness. Please continue your conversation with the Duke.”

After giving a formal greeting, Elise left with a hardened expression.

Nicholas watched her retreating figure briefly before lightly patting Rainer’s shoulder.

“Are you being scolded by your mother even on the day you receive your title?”

“Yes, she is quite strict.”

Rainer simply smiled shortly at the Crown Prince’s joking remark, unaware of the real circumstances.

Nicholas clicked his tongue and wagged a finger.

“This is all because you haven’t married yet. Now that you’re a duke, you should quickly take a duchess—”

“I was married recently.”

“…What?”

Nicholas’ eyes widened.

Meanwhile, Rainer calmly took a sip of champagne.

With unhurried movements, he set the glass back on a passing servant’s tray and looked at Nicholas again.

“I already have one. The Duchess of Hayes.”

At his declaration, the banquet hall fell silent for a moment.

The Crown Prince and the Duke of Hayes—two of the most watched men in the Empire.

Everyone had been secretly listening to their conversation.

And now Rainer Hayes was married?

The young noble ladies who had been hoping for a chance to dance with him showed visible shock.

Clack!

“Oh my!”

One lady dropped her fan as her hand lost strength.

As the sound echoed across the hall, it was as if it served as a signal—people immediately rushed toward Rainer.

“Your Grace! Is that true?”

“You’re truly married? When did it happen?”

“What kind of person is the Duchess? Is she not here today?”

Despite the flood of questions, Rainer remained completely composed, wearing only a relaxed smile.

Instead of giving clear answers, he merely nodded slightly, which only made people more anxious.

Watching the scene, Crown Prince Nicholas shook his head.

“You really are peculiar…”

* * *

The news that Rainer Hayes had quietly married soon spread throughout Brisen and became the talk of the town.

Until now, there had been countless unmarried noble ladies who practically swooned at the mere mention of his name.

The news that he had married without even holding a wedding was shocking.

Naturally, public attention turned to the new Duchess.

“I hear she’s a desert princess. Apparently she hasn’t mastered the imperial language yet and is studying at the estate.”

“Oh my, I heard she’s a niece from His Majesty’s maternal side. Since she wasn’t born of the main wife, her name isn’t listed in the family registry.”

“Whatever the truth, won’t we see her at a banquet soon? What kind of woman captured the cold Duke Hayes’ heart?”

Since Rainer kept silent about his wife, speculation only grew.

Whether at banquets or salons, wherever nobles gathered, the Duchess of Hayes was always the topic of discussion.

And there was one more person especially heated about the matter.

“Honey! Honey!”

At his wife’s shrill voice early in the morning, Viscount Cloud Osborne frowned and snapped his newspaper shut.

At the same time, Viscountess Trisha Osborne entered the drawing room.

In her hand was that day’s news bulletin.

“Do you know who the new Duchess is?”

Her eyes gleamed as she pointed to an article.

“Look at this. They say with the wealth of the Hayes family, they could buy half of Listea! Just imagine how lucky she must be to have it all!”

“Tch, what an exaggeration.”

Cloud clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction while shaking his head.

Yet thoughts of the Hayes family’s wealth lingered in his mind.

‘I should have built ties with the ducal house earlier and pushed Rosena forward.’

He had never been fully satisfied with Evan, a commoner to begin with, and now he smacked his lips in regret.

It wasn’t as though Rosena ever truly had a chance to become a duchess.

Still, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had lost out on money.

Trisha felt the same regret.

“Sigh, someone lands a good man and becomes a grand Duchess. Meanwhile that Evan fellow doesn’t even visit the viscount’s house, always using work as an excuse…”

“Mother! What’s wrong with our Evan?”

Rosena, who had been listening quietly beside them, suddenly snapped back.