Chapter 43

Chapter 43

“You should stop your idle ways and find a decent lady to marry. Give this old man a grandchild already!”

“Tch…”

***

“Wife.”

In the carriage returning to the duchy, Chloe stared absentmindedly out the window, not hearing Alphonse calling her.

“Wife.”

Only after the second call did she realize her husband was speaking to her. She turned toward him with puzzled eyes.

Alphonse had a serious expression.

“About last time… I’m sorry.”

Chloe smiled lightly.

“Ah, it’s fine.”

But Alphonse, perceptive as ever, knew that her words held no sincerity. That brought him no relief—but he stayed silent.

Soon, the coachman announced their arrival at the ducal estate.

The carriage stopped. Alphonse stepped down first and reached out his hand to help Chloe descend. She took his hand, as she always did.

“…!”

But this time, Chloe felt something different. The firm strength of his arm wrapped around her as if to embrace her.

Unlike before, his escorting touch felt… unusual. Unlike when the prince had held her hand, this did not feel unpleasant. In fact… it was closer to fluttering.

‘No… don’t get excited.’

Chloe shut her eyes tightly, trying to block the sudden stirring in her chest.

They walked together, Alphonse still supporting her.

“Welcome home. We’ve been expecting you,” said Kiel, the butler, with his usual courtesy. 

Chloe offered him a polite smile, doing her best to appear calm.

But that calm shattered the moment she stepped across the threshold.

“…!”

For an instant, Chloe didn’t know what had happened, or why she suddenly couldn’t move.

The first thing she noticed was warmth. A cool warmth that wrapped completely around her. Then breath brushing the top of her head. And arms holding her tight, as if not to let go.

Alphonse had embraced her from behind.

Chloe gasped.

When she realized what had happened, her mind went blank. Her heart pounded wildly.

Alphonse’s body temperature was lower than average. To Chloe, who ran warmer, it felt a bit cool. And yet, the places where they touched burned hot. Every point of contact seemed to heat her skin.

Only after regaining her senses did she realize: *They were in the central hall of the mansion.

Dozens of servants surrounded them. Every one of them had stopped in their tracks, eyes wide in astonishment.

Chloe’s face flushed crimson. She was not used to being watched like this.

She tried to gently push him away, but Alphonse didn’t move. On the contrary, he held her tighter, almost to the point of breathlessness. His breath grazed her ear, making her flinch once again.

“I’m not used to this yet.”

His voice whispered against her ear, deep and calm.

“I don’t know how to express human emotions. I’m sorry.”

Only then did Chloe understand what he was trying to say.

Alphonse had been burdened by the necklace incident all this time. He’d noticed that Chloe had since closed her heart to him. He’d been watching her carefully ever since.

“But I’ll try. I’ll learn. If that’s what you want.”

His arms tensed slightly. She could feel the fine tremble of his muscles beneath the thin summer fabric.

“Will you wait for me?”

Chloe realized that in his voice, in those words, there was sincerity.

This was what she had longed for. One heartfelt sentence from him.

Her heart still thundered—but it wasn’t unpleasant. It felt… good.

‘Even if there’s no love… he’s still my husband. My partner for life, whether I like it or not.’

Pressed against his chest, Chloe could hear Alphonse’s heartbeat too. Faster and louder than usual. Below that strong, pounding heart was the hot blood coursing through him.

He wasn’t cold-blooded.

He had warmth. Sincerity. Humanity.

He was… human.

‘Maybe… it’s okay if I wait just a little longer?’

A faint smile appeared on Chloe’s lips. And finally, she gave the answer she could now say from the heart.

“…Yes.”

Only after hearing her response did his arms, once seemingly impossible to escape, release her.

Alphonse escorted Chloe to her bedroom. And then, in a voice so gentle it would’ve been unimaginable before, he told her to rest well.

Not as a polite formality—but sincerely.

***

Of course, this event became the hottest gossip among the mansion’s staff.

It was huge. The Duke had embraced the Duchess in broad daylight, in front of everyone, in the main hall!

The same Duke who had ignored her for thirteen whole months!

In truth, it had become common knowledge among the staff that the relationship between the Duke and Duchess had improved.

For over a month, they’d had tea together daily and worked on a business together. No one could’ve missed it.

But now, whispers arose that things had gone beyond mere improvement. Maybe—just maybe—what had bloomed between them was not just friendship or affection, but something more romantic.

“What? After 13 months of coldness, they suddenly fall for each other in one month?”

“It makes sense, though.”

To the staff, Alphonse and Chloe’s relationship was the juiciest, most exciting drama in the household. But there was one person who could not take it as simple gossip.

Lady Coleen

Her life lately had felt like one long nightmare. She dreamed of being pushed off a cliff by Chloe, only to awaken into a waking nightmare.

At first, she’d scolded every servant who spoke kindly of Chloe. But there were too many now, even the head maid and head steward had turned against her.

She couldn’t believe it. How could everything change in just a month?

She felt cornered. Desperate.

And she was willing to do anything to drag down Chloe’s reputation. She had one last chance. Not just within the estate, but in society as well.

Chloe’s birthday banquet was approaching. It would be Coleen’s last opportunity.

***

On the day of Chloe’s birthday…

She awoke, had breakfast in her room, and waited for the styling experts to arrive. Normally, her personal maid would handle her appearance, but today was special.

A celebration would be held in her honor. A special day required a special look.

The professionals arrived right on time.

“Good day, Duchess. We are the Cheryl Sisters, here to make you the most beautiful woman today.”

Chloe had reserved them well in advance—they had a stellar reputation. They brought with them seven bags of cosmetic tools and had needed three carriages to transport even the dress.

“Welcome. I’ll be in your hands. Please make me look fitting for the occasion.”

“Of course. We’ll make you the star of the night.”

The Cheryl Sisters got to work with military precision.

As they applied makeup, styled her hair, and helped her dress, Chloe was struck by how skilled they were. Coleen and Nina were both talented, but they were no match for true professionals.

Chloe felt like she was being transformed into someone entirely new. But what she didn’t know… was the hidden problem.

Coleen had used her authority as a direct maid of Chloe, and the ducal seal, to alter the reservation order.

What she requested was simple: To make Chloe look exactly like Dalia, one of Alphonse’s former lovers.

Dalia had been the most beautiful of them all, an icon among socialites. For Chloe, his wife, to imitate Dalia would be utterly humiliating. People would assume she had an inferiority complex.

The Cheryl Sisters were surprised by the request but complied. After all, the Duchess was the client, a VIP client at that.

So, for hours, they worked to make her over.

Finally, the tiring transformation was done. When Chloe looked in the mirror, she was shocked.

She was gorgeous.

Her hair was elegantly swept up, and she wore a crimson Belline-style dress with a high collar, very mature and regal. The color matched Alphonse’s eyes perfectly.

And yet… something felt off.

Yes, it was beautiful—but somehow, it didn’t suit her. Her hair, her makeup, her accessories, everything felt like borrowed pieces from someone else’s life.

‘It’s just my imagination. I don’t know fashion well… I’m sure the experts know what’s best.’

Thinking that way, Chloe thanked the Cheryl sisters and saw them off.

It was still fairly early, three hours remained until the ball began. She was exhausted from the long styling session and wanted nothing more than to sit and rest, but she couldn’t afford that luxury. She was the lady of House Battenberg, and the final preparations for the ball still had to be made.

More importantly, Lady Fortnum was due to arrive soon. She had promised to come early to help Chloe with the last-minute arrangements.

‘Lady Fortnum said she’d be here three hours early. She should be arriving any minute now.’

Chloe descended toward the main hall to greet her.

But something felt off. Every servant she passed on the way down stared at her with wide, startled eyes.

‘Is it because I look so beautiful today?’

Chloe tilted her head. Of course, she was always beautiful—and after a full makeover, she was certainly stunning.

But… what she saw in the servants’ expressions wasn’t mere admiration. Their looks seemed more like shock. Or… confusion?

Normally, Chloe would have grabbed one of them and asked directly, but there was no time. Lady Fortnum would arrive any moment.

She hurried down the stairs and reached the hall just as a carriage bearing the Fortnum family crest pulled up at the entrance.

She prepared herself to welcome her friend.