25. Despair

The ducal house, which had always been solemn and quiet, was unusually busy, unlike its normal state.

The position of duchess had been vacant for quite a long time.

The only women in the castle were all maids. Therefore, Adeline, who had suddenly entered, was an unfamiliar presence to everyone.

A woman the duke had introduced as his woman one day out of the blue.

The duke, who didn’t even have the common courtesy of a fiancée, had brought in a woman as his mistress. The fact that she was a commoner shocked all the household members of the ducal family.

Moreover, the duke had numerous high-quality clothes made for the woman. Like pouring oil on a burning house.

The head maid’s gaze turned toward the fitting room inside the toilette room.

Since morning, clothes sent by Madame Violetta had been hanging on the toilette room hangers, so many that the legs of the hangers were bending.

These were the samples made after taking measurements last time.

The colors were so vibrant. The head maid sighed as she looked at the fabrics decorated with various jewels.

“If the lady’s dress fitting is finished, please open the curtains now.”

With those words, the closed curtains opened to both sides, revealing the woman standing inside.

Standing on a small platform in the dress fitting room, she shone more beautifully than anyone.

The coral-colored dress that highlighted Adeline’s brown hair was embroidered with translucent lace.

The flower-patterned lace, woven one by one with luxurious lamé thread, sparkled like jewels in the light.

The fabric alone was the epitome of splendor.

The head maid’s gaze fell on Adeline’s chest.

Her already voluminous, full bosom seemed even more emphasized, perhaps due to the dress that fit tightly at the waist.

If she were a lady from a noble family, she would never display such a prominent volume so openly.

She would have worn a dress that subtly emphasized her silhouette.

The commoner mistress seemed completely unaware of such noble family etiquette and standards.

‘To wear such a dress.’

The head maid had to swallow a sigh at the bold design that revealed a deep cleavage.

All the sample dresses made by Violetta had bold designs. They were all sexual dresses that emphasized the chest.

“These are all designs approved by His Grace the Duke. Well, I suppose since the mistress has such a sensual figure, he wants to show it off.”

Since the master they served had approved it, no additional comments were made.

Not only the head maid but all the maids who helped with Lady Del’s fitting gave disapproving looks.

Rumors about Adeline were already rampant among the ducal household members.

That the newly arrived mistress was excessively extravagant. That as soon as she arrived, she had dresses custom-made until her closet was about to burst.

Not only dresses, but she was also buying jewelry indiscriminately.

The duke brought armfuls of flowers to the bedroom every day because the mistress liked flowers, and so on.

It was only natural that a leaking basket inside would also leak outside.

It was probably only a matter of time before stories about the duke’s mistress reached the capital.

But no one could easily approach Adeline.

Wasn’t she the woman the duke cherished enough to provide these expensive dresses without hesitation?

“Lady, you are truly beautiful. The flashy and bold dress seems to have found its owner, fitting you perfectly.”

“……”

“In this empire, Lady Del is the only lady who could suit such a dress.”

The head maid also disapproved of Adeline’s attire but offered customary pleasantries.

With a tiny hint of sarcasm.

“Is that so.”

Adeline replied in an utterly dry voice. It was a voice devoid of any emotion, but no one found it strange.

They simply thought the commoner mistress had a brusque personality.

However, the head maid took Adeline’s hand without showing any dislike.

“Dinner is prepared in the dining room. His Grace the Duke is already waiting, so let’s hurry.”

But they were all too blinded by Adeline’s splendor to notice.

From the moment she left the fitting room, throughout the journey to the dining room with the head maid’s assistance, Adeline never smiled once.

⁕⁕⁕

Meanwhile, at that time, Adeline walking toward the dining room felt conflicted.

Perhaps due to the corset tightly cinching her waist, she felt like she would vomit after walking just a little.

Despite having grown up as a Marquis’s daughter and having worn countless dresses, she couldn’t adapt to the sample dresses sent by Violetta.

‘……Well, I’ve never even seen such dresses before, let alone worn them.’

These were designs that would make noble ladies recoil and flee.

If she had experienced this without her past life’s memories, Adeline wouldn’t have been able to endure.

‘How could someone who knows I’m a Marquis’s daughter……’

As Adeline headed toward the dining room, she pictured the man waiting there.

The man who had ordered and forced these absurd dresses on her—Duke Torpeo.

“I have no intention of keeping you as a mistress in name only, Del. If you are to be my mistress, you should act accordingly.”

“……What did you say?”

“From today, an etiquette teacher will instruct you. And I’ve also called the madame from the boutique shop that the capital’s ladies are crazy about.”

The man raised the corner of his mouth toward the dumbfounded Adeline.

“Do you understand? I’m telling you to comply obediently. So as not to irritate me.”

He left with this threatening remark.

Until then, Adeline hadn’t imagined such a situation would be created.

It was already shameful that a Marquis’s daughter had become a mistress.

She hadn’t expected the duke would subtly disrespect her by assigning an etiquette teacher, or deliberately order dress designs that no noble family’s daughter would wear, and otherwise try to torment her.

‘Ah. I should have known.’

It had seemed strange from the moment he so readily agreed to save her.

The Iron Duke, who was no different from a cold-blooded man. There was no way he would have forgiven Adeline, who had essentially deceived him.

But the duke, perhaps knowing Adeline couldn’t counterattack, increased the intensity of his torment day by day.

Adeline had already stopped in front of the dining room. The head maid following behind went ahead and opened the door.

What kind of fault would he find today and how would he corner her?

Already feeling overwhelmed, she tightly closed her eyes as the door opened.

“You’re here.”

There was the sound of a chair being pulled back, and then a gentle voice reached her ears, causing Adeline to open her eyes.

The duke, who had approached without her noticing, embraced her waist.

“My beautiful Del, even today.”

He buried his face near Adeline’s neck.

Every time Casis’s lips parted, the hot breath that escaped tickled Adeline’s neck.

It was maddening.

Whenever he touched her like this, she was reminded of the nights spent at the villa.

Adeline frowned as she felt her body unconsciously growing hot.

Numerous maids and servants were positioned behind her.

“I’m very pleased with the dress. My Del, I’m quite satisfied as it seems to highlight your beauty.”

He caressed Adeline as if he didn’t care about people’s gazes at all.

While deliberately uttering words mixed with teasing.

Knowing it was all to torment her.

Despite feeling an almost maddening shame at his actions, Adeline hated herself for heating up at his touch.

She hated and despised the man before her, but at the same time, she was tormented by memories of Mel, with whom she had been together.

As her heart became confused, Adeline pushed him away.

“……Stop it.”

Adeline tried to escape from the duke’s embrace.

“Stop what? Ah, are you embarrassed by people’s gazes? My Del says she’s embarrassed, so everyone withdraw.”

At Casis’s dismissal, the servants who had been standing by left the dining room.

As the open door closed and they were left in their own world, the duke’s smile instantly vanished.

“What are you doing? I told you to fulfill your responsibilities as a mistress.”

He returned to being Casis, the Iron Duke, as if he had never been otherwise.

“Why…… are you doing this? How could you make me wear such clothes, Mel!”

Wasn’t the man before her Mel, who had spent a season with her, before being Duke Torpeo?

Adeline was distressed seeing the duke doing things without hesitation that Mel would never do.

Surely Mel’s feelings toward her had been sincere. Was this the price for betraying his sincerity?

Adeline’s emotions welled up.

It would have been easier if he had just confronted her about why she had deceived and tricked him.

But the man didn’t do that. Even though his heart couldn’t be at ease doing this either.

“You’re not this kind of person…… right? Please stop now. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“It’s all fine. I’ll atone sufficiently by staying by your side. So can’t you stop this?”

The duke looked at Adeline and folded his arms.

Adeline grabbed the sleeve of the duke and pleaded. But the words she heard were not the answer she wanted.

“Atonement, good. Performing the role of my mistress without fail is the atonement I want from you.”

“……”

“I’d like you to wear the dress I gifted at the upcoming banquet with the local nobles. So follow Madame Violetta’s instructions.”

‘A banquet attended by nobles?’

Adeline froze, unable to believe what she had heard with her own ears.

“You’re going to present me at a banquet?”

Adeline’s voice trembled uncontrollably as she questioned him.

She trembled so much that she had to hide her shaking fingertips between the folds of her dress.

“As I’m introducing my mistress, of course you must attend.”

Casis reached out and caressed Adeline’s cheek.

Even though he knew Adeline was trembling.

“I want Del to be more beautiful than anyone that day. Because it’s the day I showcase my flower.”

When he showed a cruel smile, her world was covered in despair.