Rejecting The Perfect Marriage - Chapter 6

“…”

“Fine, then.”

Unexpectedly, Decarno opened the door.

Evangeline wasted no time slipping out. But just as she thought she’d escaped, his voice caught her again.

Except—he wasn’t talking to her.

“Mikael. As of this moment, restrict access to the western gate.”

“B-but, Your Grace, that’s traditionally considered the duchess’s private grounds…”

“No one enters without my permission. No one.”

She didn’t need to ask who the real target of that command was. Mikael stood helplessly between them as Evangeline turned, staring at Decarno.

How can he be like this?

She had so much to say, and yet, whenever she looked at him, it all became meaningless.

That was just who he was.

A man born to control, who bent the world to his will. What could she possibly change by standing up to him?

And she wasn’t even his wife yet. She owned nothing in this house.

“Changed your mind yet?”

“No.”

Evangeline shook her head firmly, meeting the strange, unreadable look in his eyes. If the master of the house wished to do as he pleased, there was nothing she could do.

To fight him meant one thing only—

She would have to walk out of this house on her own two feet.

“Evangeline.”

“…I’m leaving.”

With no other choice, she turned sharply away. Decarno, jaw tight, said nothing as he watched her back retreat.

Only Mikael, standing awkwardly in the doorway, had thought—just maybe—the Duke would stop her.

“U-Um, Your Grace. I’m sorry. None of us expected what happened today…”

“…”

“Still, it wasn’t something we could keep buried forever. It was such a massive incident, there’s no way we could’ve contained it until the date you requested.”

Mikael, who rarely questioned the Duke’s orders, had no choice this time. Since the disaster, he’d lived with a growing sense of dread. And the timeframe the Duke had demanded—three months—was simply impossible.

“We’ve warned the branch manager to keep quiet, but there’s no telling how long that’ll last…”

“Who was it?”

“…Pardon?”

“The one who scratched her face.”

Until now, the Duke had listened with barely a flicker of reaction. But suddenly, his gaze lifted, sharp as a drawn blade.

Mikael had once read about a volcano that boiled silently beneath the surface—no smoke, no warning—until it erupted without mercy.

The Duke’s expression reminded him of that. No visible anger. But the heat simmering underneath was impossible to measure.

Even though it hadn’t happened to him, Mikael’s hands began to tremble.

“I-I heard it was a sailor’s family member. She’s in custody now, but… she must’ve been out of her mind. If something like that happened to anyone’s child—”

“Does that justify leaving scratches on my woman’s face?”

“Your Grace.”

It wasn’t mere displeasure—it bordered on cruelty. Mikael faltered, stunned by the weight of those words.

It wasn’t about social class. It was that phrase—”my woman”—and everything it implied.

“Still, if you punish her directly, the public backlash will be severe. This time, perhaps it would be better to let it go…”

“Then at least find the one who spread the word.”

“Excuse me?”

“The news that the ship sank took over a month to reach here. Even Evangeline, the heir to the company, only heard a week ago. So how does some sailor’s family already know?”

It made no sense.

Decarno’s fingers tapped heavily on the desk. His twisted smile had grown sharper, more dangerous.

“Only two possibilities. Either a survivor spoke or someone in my circle ran their mouth.”

“I-it wasn’t me, Your Grace! I swear!”

“Then find out who it was.”

Decarno’s order came with chilling clarity.

Even Mikael, who had seen the Duke’s icy temperament many times, broke into a cold sweat.
If there truly was a survivor, their future would be anything but safe.

“Why? Can’t you find them?”

“No—we will. It’s just… the woman who attacked her had company today, and…”

What Mikael was worrying about now wasn’t justice or morality.

It was his own safety—and how long it would last.

“Of all people… that woman was the eldest daughter of the Roach Post’s publisher.”

◇ ◆ ◇

Exclusive Report – Shocking: The Ohara Trading Company Declares Bankruptcy

Lady Ohara in deep trouble as victims gather outside the company headquarters

Count Ohara Presumed Dead

“…They’re quick, aren’t they.”

It didn’t even surprise her.

After a sleepless night, Evangeline glanced indifferently over the morning newspaper headlines—each one matching her expectations exactly. She had guessed as much yesterday, the moment she saw the eldest daughter of Roach Post—the most influential newspaper in Roach—among Viscountess Lévane’s party.

It seemed this affair had now slipped out of even that proud duke’s hands.

“Lady Evangeline, where are you going?”

“I just want to get some air.”

She set the paper down and moved toward the door, prompting the maid who’d been nervously hovering nearby to rush over. Just seeing Evangeline descend the stairs made the girl go pale—clearly she’d been warned by someone to keep watch.

“You can stay here. I’m not going far.”

“But the butler said you absolutely must not leave the estate…”

“Don’t worry. There’s nowhere for me to go anymore, anyway.”

Only then did the maid finally step back, though her expression was somber. Anyone could see that Evangeline truly had nowhere else to go.

Well, it was the truth.

Stepping outside, Evangeline suddenly clutched at her chest. From the moment that man had looked at her so intensely, almost provoking her, she had felt it—deeply, in her bones.