Chapter 1. Prologue
Year 562 of the Ristea Empire Calendar
Rosena Osborn gazed around the banquet hall of the Hayes Ducal Estate, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
The sparkling lights of the grand chandeliers felt as though they were blessing her future.
Today was the day her husband, Evan, would be formally acknowledged as a member of the House of Hayes.
Only a few days ago, it had been revealed that Evan—who had lived his entire life as an orphan, never even knowing his parents’ faces—was the hidden son of the late Duke of Hayes.
Rainer Hayes, the current duke and younger brother of the former duke, had found Evan and taken him in as his adopted son, completely overturning Evan’s life.
He was no longer the commoner businessman Evan March.
He was now Evan Hayes, heir to the ducal house.
It feels like a dream.
Rosena savored the blissful moment as she watched Evan mingling naturally with high-ranking nobles.
Just a few months ago, these very people had been pointing fingers at her and Evan.
A filthy man who betrayed his fiancée with her friend.
A wicked woman who lusted after her friend’s fiancé.
That was how people had whispered about them.
If only Cecilia, that damn woman, hadn’t caused such a scene…
As memories of the humiliation resurfaced, Rosena bit down hard on her lip.
When Cecilia publicly exposed Rosena and Evan’s affair, the relationship between the two women—who had grown up like sisters—had become irreparably shattered.
To make matters worse, Rosena had been carrying Evan’s child at the time, leaving her powerless to respond.
Throughout her pregnancy, she had hidden indoors, avoiding people’s gazes, and had been forced to replace a proper wedding with a simple vow at a church.
Even the son she bore, Jeremy, had once felt less like a blessing and more like a seed of misfortune.
But now, everything is different.
Rosena lifted her chin proudly.
Evan had become the heir to the Duke of Hayes, a house of imperial collateral blood, and she herself had risen to the center of Ristea’s social circles.
Jeremy, too, would now be treated as a true child of the ducal line.
No one would dare look down on them again.
“Madam.”
As Rosena smiled smugly, noblewomen gathered around her.
“You’ll soon be the Duchess of Hayes, won’t you? Congratulations.”
“Oh my, Duchess? That’s far too early. His Grace is still so young.”
“I heard you gave birth recently. Congratulations! And yet you’re still so beautiful—I’m truly envious. Ho ho ho.”
“You flatter me. I’m grateful you see me that way.”
At the women’s sycophantic chatter, Rosena covered her mouth with a fan and laughed shyly.
These were the same people who had pointed fingers at her scandal just days ago, but Rosena chose not to dwell on it.
Her mind was already busy with other thoughts.
The current Duke of Hayes promised to pass the title on to Evan.
Strictly speaking, Evan was the true legitimate heir of the Hayes family.
His father, the former duke, had been the eldest son of the house.
If the former duke hadn’t passed away before finding Evan, Rainer would never have inherited the title in the first place—he had only been a temporary successor.
In the end, the seat was always meant to belong to Evan.
Duchess of Hayes… No one suits that title better than me.
Rosena firmly believed it was only a matter of time before she reached that dreamlike position.
In fact, Cecilia abandoning Evan and leaving had turned out to be an opportunity.
Maybe I should thank her the next time we meet?
Cecilia had vanished without a trace and hadn’t been heard from for months.
She was probably hiding somewhere, ashamed after losing her fiancé.
Once I’m in the ducal household, I should have them track her down. They have plenty of capable servants.
Thinking about the disgrace Cecilia had caused her, Rosena even found herself wishing the woman were dead.
How satisfying it would be to confirm that with her own eyes.
“Rosie.”
At that moment, Evan approached her.
When he leaned down and kissed her cheek, admiring sighs rose from the crowd.
Rosena smiled coyly and looked up at her man.
“Congratulations on becoming the young duke, Evan Hayes.”
“Well, this is just the beginning. Rosena Hayes—together with you.”
Rosena Hayes.
What a magnificent name!
Smiling in satisfaction, Rosena clinked glasses with Evan.
It felt as though only glory and happiness lay ahead for them.
“The Duke of Hayes is entering.”
At the servant’s booming announcement, the banquet hall fell silent.
As if on cue, everyone turned their gaze toward the entrance.
A man with a tall frame, solid build, and impeccable formal attire stepped into the hall.
It was Rainer Hayes, the only duke of the Ristea Empire.
Beneath hair as dark as ebony, his face carried a cool, dignified air.
“My goodness, the rumors that he’s the most handsome man in Ristea weren’t exaggerated.”
People held their breath as they watched him.
Unfazed by the attention, Rainer walked gracefully toward Evan and Rosena.
“Congratulations, Evan.”
“Yes, Duke—no, Father.”
Evan eagerly grasped Rainer’s hand and nodded.
At that, the corner of Rainer’s lips lifted subtly.
It was a smile closer to mockery than celebration.
But Evan, too busy bowing and scraping, failed to notice.
“With only a four-year age difference, calling me ‘Father’ is a bit much.”
Rainer raised a hand and adjusted Evan’s collar.
True to his words, they looked more like brothers than father and son.
“Out of many options, adoption was simply the easiest procedure. No need to overthink it.”
Rainer gave Evan’s shoulder a light pat.
His gaze slowly swept over Evan and Rosena.
A father and son separated by only four years—and the son’s wife.
An inexplicable tension flowed through the peculiar relationship.
“Your Grace, will we finally meet the Duchess today?” Rosena asked, stepping in to break the awkwardness.
The news that the Duke of Hayes had secretly married had stirred the social circles for quite some time.
Yet no information about the duchess had surfaced, fueling even more curiosity and speculation.
“A secret marriage—don’t you think we share a strange sense of kinship? Perhaps father and son really are destined to be alike.”
Rosena smiled sweetly, laying on the charm in hopes of winning Rainer’s favor.
“Well, Miss Rosena.”
Rainer’s response was cold.
Rosena stiffened.
She hadn’t expected filial treatment from a father-in-law only four years her senior, but—
Miss Rosena?
She had formally pledged marriage to Evan!
“I think my situation and yours are completely different. At the very least, I received people’s congratulations.”
Rainer’s barbed remark made Rosena’s face burn.
It was an unmistakable jab at their past scandal.
She had thought those insults would end once Evan became the young duke.
“Ahaha… y-yes, of course. We were rather immature back then.”
Sensing the chill in the air, Evan hurriedly stepped between them.
He didn’t like Rainer’s words either, but Rainer was the one who had brought him into the ducal house.
With his war merits and close ties to the crown prince, antagonizing him now would only hurt Evan.
“Still, we’re very curious about the Duchess. By all accounts, she’ll be my mother, won’t she?”
“Your mother….”
Rainer repeated the phrase with interest.
“An impressive way to put it. Be sure to show your ‘mother’ proper respect.”
“Of course.”
Evan nodded eagerly, fawning.
Rainer patted his shoulder again, apparently satisfied.
“As Rosena said, you’ll meet her today.”
“Today?”
“Of course. My wife has been looking forward to this day as well.”
“I see.”
Evan nodded, then glanced sideways at Rosena.
An unspoken signal to make a good impression at their first meeting.
“……”
But Rosena’s face remained stiff at Rainer’s continued use of that belittling address.
The sense of humiliation wouldn’t fade easily.
“Rosie!”
“Ah—okay, okay!”
Only after Evan poked her waist did Rosena reluctantly nod.
At that moment, the duke’s servant’s voice rang out once more.
“The Duchess of Hayes is entering.”
The murmurs died down, and all eyes turned toward the doors.
Everyone held their breath, waiting to see the duchess.
Creak.
The heavy doors opened, and a woman appeared beyond them.
The instant they saw her walking in gracefully, clad in a pure white dress—
Evan and Rosena felt as though they’d been struck over the head.
“Wh—what…?”
“Th-that’s impossible… how could she…?”
They muttered in shock, eyes wide.
Dazed, they watched as Rainer naturally took the woman’s hand.
“You’re late. Every second of waiting felt like a year.”
“I’m sorry. I was too nervous.”
Then, the woman’s gaze turned toward them.
“Hello. We’ve met before, haven’t we?”
Cecilia stood before the two, whose faces had gone pale.
With an utterly calm expression, she turned toward her former fiancé.
“Please take good care of me from now on, my son. And…”
Her gaze slowly shifted to Rosena.
A gentle curve formed on her lips.
“My daughter-in-law, Miss Rosena.”
