Rejecting The Perfect Marriage - Chapter 4

“So… was the security at my own estate always this lax?”

“…Pardon, Your Grace? I’m not sure what you mean—”

“How is it that she heard news I hadn’t, and came all the way to the palace to deliver it herself?”

The Duke’s fingers interlocked tightly, his voice low but cutting. His eyes gleamed with the sharpness of a beast, and Mikael instinctively drew back his shoulders under that chilling gaze. The security at House Teze rivaled even that of the Imperial Palace. Ever since the suspicious death of the former Duke, an iron rule had been enforced: no visitor entered without prior notice or a formal invitation.

Even family members were turned away unless pre-arranged.
With one exception.

“Forgive me, but… the western annex is under Lady Ohara’s authority. Today’s banquet was held there, and the carriage was from the Ohara merchant fleet. We weren’t in a position to stop it.”

Mikael had already pieced together the situation. Of the entire sprawling Teze estate, only the western annex traditionally belonged to the Duchess. Even the head of the family did not interfere there. It was a long-standing custom of the house.

“If Your Grace would like further details on what happened today…”

“Send someone trustworthy—or no, go yourself. Go to the Ohara Trading Company. I want a clear timeline and account of what happened.”

The Duke changed his mind mid-sentence and pointed directly at Mikael. The choice of sending his personal aide signaled the gravity of the matter. Even Phylon, who’d been quietly observing, sobered at the decision.

“So something really has happened.”

“If you can keep your mouth shut, it’ll be as if it never did.”

“…Tch.”

Decarno’s calm yet loaded words carried both warning and resolve. Phylon sighed. He didn’t know the full story, but his instincts screamed at him to stay out of it. That didn’t make it any easier to slip away.

“Who holds jurisdiction over the Lieman Sea right now? It’s Calais, not Addis anymore, right?”

“Huh? Yeah, it’s Calais, but why bring that up—”

“Because you’ll be going there.”

“…What?”

Phylon’s jaw dropped. Decarno had said it so casually, as if inviting him to hunt on a sunny afternoon—or asking to spar after work. But this wasn’t some fishing trip. This was a Velichean naval officer venturing into foreign waters—into a nation they’d once been at war with.

“What, is it too difficult?”

“Are you serious right now? You were in the military—you know exactly what that means. Addis might be one thing, but Calais? That’s practically enemy territory!”

“We signed a new truce, didn’t we?”

“…Hah.”

Phylon laughed—weakly. Of course Decarno was serious. He always was. As absurd as it sounded, the Duke was never one to joke about things like this. Phylon opened his mouth to protest again, but froze when he saw what Decarno was already doing: pulling out a document from the stacks of paperwork nearby.

“You’re not—”

“This should be enough to cover expenses.”

With a sweep of his pen, Decarno signed what amounted to a blank check. The same military budget proposal he had rejected just hours countier was now little more than a personal travel voucher.

Phylon stared, speechless. He didn’t even know what face to make anymore.

“Bill them separately for any compensation or logistical costs.”

“…Seriously. What even is this?”

“No need to understand.”

Find out everything, then forget it. That was the message. And with that, the Duke had done all he could for now.

He rose from the table and moved to leave, only to be stopped by Mikael at the chamber doors.

“Shouldn’t you be gone by now?”

“Forgive me, Your Grace. I just had one last question.”

Mikael looked troubled. As the Duke’s aide, he prioritized his master’s orders above all—but when there were two conflicting directives, he had to choose.

“…Should I cancel the Lady’s birthday gift, then?”

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

The scent of roses, carried by the night breeze, was fresh and vivid.

The glass greenhouse—tucked into the western annex of the duchal estate—was the most secretive and exotic place in the entire residence. It was filled with rare flowers and trees clearly impossible to find in the Veliche Empire, reminding Evangeline of the tropical island she had once visited by ship.

“Well? Do you like it here?”

The late Dowager Duchess had adored this place. Though she had been a noble lady from the frigid Duchy of Nyx and had surely seen every treasure imaginable, she could never hide her pride whenever she entered this greenhouse. The annex and its secret garden were the dream and final destination of every lady in society.

“This will be your kingdom alone, Evangeline.”

She must never have imagined… That I would end up like this.

Thinking back on the former duchess—who had been as lofty and cold as her son—Evangeline let out a bitter smile. The woman had been elegant and beautiful, yet undeniably sharp. Even after accepting Evangeline as her future daughter-in-law, she didn’t say a proper word to her for months.

If she were alive to see me now…

Evangeline let her fingers trace the pale blue rose petals. This rare flower only grew in the greenhouse, and even its scent made her chest tighten with emotion.
Would she ever get to touch it again?

She knew it was too soon for such thoughts—but today, everything felt heavier.

But it wasn’t the rare flowers she truly found herself attached to.

“Woof! Woof woof!”

“Rex!”

Evangeline turned abruptly and spread her arms as the silver-furred dog bounded toward her.
Rex wasn’t just any dog.

He was descended from a noble line of ancient lionhounds, a breed once cherished by the North, and originally brought to the estate by the Dowager Duchess herself. She had lovingly raised this line of hounds for generations. Sadly, she passed away while Rex’s mother was pregnant, never seeing him born—but she’d often stroked the mother’s belly and spoken of him.

“This pup—raise him yourself, Evangeline. Not as a duty of the Duchess, but as a personal request.”

“Have you been well, Rex?”

“Woof!”

For the first time that day, real warmth returned to her smile.
Rex had lost his siblings and mother at birth and had clung to her from the moment he opened his eyes. If she was gone, he wouldn’t eat—whining until she returned.

“To think a northern noble hound would be such a picky eater. What would the others say?”

“Woof!”

“You’re hopeless.”

She gently spread her fingers through Rex’s thick, silvery coat. Somehow, it hurt more than when she had been staring silently at the roses.

Evangeline reached toward a basket for some treats but paused, glancing toward the greenhouse entrance. Rex’s fur bristled—but he didn’t bark. There was only one person that ever stopped him in his tracks.

“So this is where you were. You weren’t in your room, so I came without asking permission.”

“It’s fine.”

Even in a moment like this, he was clinging to formality. Disgusted, she pressed her lips into a thin line. There were dozens of things she wanted to ask him, right now—but first, there was something she had to report.

“All the guests have gone home. No one seemed suspicious. I did everything, down to the final farewell.”

“…I see.”

Even though she answered before he could ask, he still sounded displeased. Evangeline couldn’t stand it anymore—she stood and marched toward him.

“So? Did you find out anything from the company?”

“We’re still investigating.”

“…Ah.”

Of course. It hadn’t been long since she told him. Even a man like him had human limits. Still, she couldn’t hide the disappointment clouding her face.

“Even if I can’t go all the way to Lieman, I want to head toward the surrounding waters. If I leave by dawn—”

“And what would that accomplish?”

“Your Grace.”

“You wouldn’t be able to do anything there. You’d only attract attention.”

Her arms chilled, though his words weren’t especially cold. As she instinctively rubbed her skin, the Duke took off his coat. He stepped forward to place it around her shoulders, but she pulled away and shook her head. A coat like his wasn’t going to warm her.

“The ship sank. I need to know what really happened.”

“There’s no reason for you to find out personally.”

“That was my father!”

“…

“He’s my responsibility. I’m his only child.”

Her voice rose for the first time, and the Duke arched a brow—but said nothing. With his coat draped over one arm, Decarno stared at her directly.

“So you’re going to swim there yourself and rescue him?”

“How dare you—!”

“He hasn’t been confirmed dead.”

“…”

“Nothing’s been confirmed.”

His words doused the fire swirling in her rose-pink eyes. Her steps faltered, and his voice remained stubbornly rational.

“If you make the wrong move, it’ll complicate things. If the Count is alive somewhere, silence is safer for him.”

“But… if he’s really gone—”

“Then what about the company?”

His tone sharpened. A merchant company didn’t survive on money alone—it lived on reputation. One wrong public perception, and even the biggest house could fall. The Ohara Company had operated mostly abroad, and its domestic footing in Veliche was relatively weak despite its size.

“If it were just the head or the money, we could recover. But both are gone. If you draw attention now, even if the Count returns alive, things might become irreparable.”

“…”

“As soon as I get word, I’ll tell you. For now, stay here.”

It sounded like a suggestion, but it was a command. If she knew less, she might have argued. But she knew too well how the business worked.

Evangeline bit her inner cheek until it hurt and studied him closely.

As Decarno reached into his coat for a cigar, he seemed to feel her stare. He snapped it clean between his fingers.

“What? Am I wrong?”

“No. Of course not.”

She managed a faint smile. Even she was surprised she could still smile at a time like this.

“Everything you said is right. You always are.”

“Then?”

“…It scares me.”

“…

“You’re terrifying. In a way I didn’t realize until now.”

The light drained from her pink eyes. And he, as always, did not flinch—not even at those words.

Had he shown any shock or anger, perhaps she could’ve clung to that. Instead, he said nothing. After a long pause, his voice finally sliced the silence.

“Then follow my orders.”

 

◇ ◆ ◇

 

Unfortunately, Evangeline couldn’t follow the Duke’s orders.

Since that day, he hadn’t returned home, nor had he sent any message. The fact that she managed to endure several days alone was commendable in itself. But she couldn’t keep fretting like this forever.

Finally, after three days, she made her way directly to the Ohara Trading Company.
She had steeled herself. She had promised she’d endure whatever scene she might face.

“My lady, you’ve come.”

“…What is this.”

But standing before the office, seeing it with her own eyes, she was left speechless.
It wasn’t a chaotic mess, like the ruins of a company gone bankrupt. On the contrary—it looked exactly as it always had, almost too perfect, and that made it even harder to say anything.

Employees at their desks were busy flipping through paperwork; others bustled around with telegrams and receipts. Everyone was diligently at work. She was the only one standing there, stunned and motionless. It took her a moment to realize it.

“Philip.”

“Y-Young Mistress!”

The only one who seemed as shaken as she was, was Philip, the company manager. As soon as he saw her standing at the entrance, his face turned pale, and he quickly ushered her inside. Every employee they passed bowed deeply at a full ninety degrees—so unfamiliar, it made her let out a dry laugh.

“Ha.”

“W-what brings you here, my lady?”

“…Is that really all you have to say to me?”

Suppressing a scoff, Evangeline looked up at him. Though their eye colors were different, the dignity in her gaze was exactly like her father’s. Philip, nervously clasping his trembling hands, lowered his eyes.

“I-I understand how you must feel… but you shouldn’t be here.”

“Philip. Don’t make me any angrier than I already am.”

“That’s not it, it’s just… if something were to—”

“Why? Is someone going to come arrest me or something?”

His evasive, cagey behavior—his constant glancing around—was grating on her nerves. After all, there were only employees here. What could possibly have him so on edge?

She sharply turned her head—and her eyes widened.

“Oh my! Our future duchess is here!”

“…Viscountess Lévane.”

A customer who had just been escorted in by a staff member lit up at the sight of her. For noblewomen, visiting a trading company usually meant shopping. And the Ohara Trading Company, located in the heart of the capital, specialized exclusively in the most luxurious goods. It was the kind of place nobles visited as a matter of habit.

But Viscountess Lévane had never once bought anything here. At least, not with her own money.

“I was so worried during your birthday party, my lady! You didn’t look well at all. But seeing you healthy like this—what a relief!”

“Thank you, but I’m not a duchess yet.”

“Oh, don’t say such sad things! If only the Dowager Duchess hadn’t passed away so suddenly, the two of you would already be wed by now.”

“…”

“Honestly, and I say this sincerely—who else in the world could possibly be more suited to be Duchess of Teze than Lady Ohara?”

Though she was in her thirties, Viscountess Lévane showered flattery on the much younger Evangeline as if trying to win her favor. She clung tightly to Evangeline’s side, making a show for the companions she had brought with her, praising her without pause.

The woman believed the more she flaunted her connection to Evangeline—the queen of high society—the more her own status would rise.

“Come now, won’t you have tea with us? Hmm? I’d love to hear your thoughts on the latest trends.”

“Viscountess.”

Evangeline saw right through her. She wasn’t as cold as the Duke, but she was rational enough to find such women exhausting.

Still, there was one reason she couldn’t simply brush the viscountess off.

“When you think about it, we’re practically family now. Surely you can spare a little time for us?”

“…”