Chapter 1

Chapter 1

The wind in the north was always cold, especially today. However, Chloe didn’t close the window. With her eyes wide open, she leaned forward over the windowpane that was lined with snow.

From a distance, through the fluttering snow, she could see airships floating over the bridge. In some cases, they moved in formation, but right now, they were lined up to celebrate today’s opening ceremony.

From one airship, a banner was hanging down.

« Thank you for attending the opening ceremony of Eugen’s First Railway -Eric Aslan E.A – »

Marquis Eric Aslan.

He was the center of the rise of the bourgeoisie—the middle class—and the genius inventor who was the trailblazer of the country’s development.

And.

‘My husband.’

Chloe, as she struggled with this thought, slowly inhaled and lowered her eyes. Her hands were clasped together.

’You will marry Baron Aslan.’

That was what her father said five years ago after he secretly called her over.

At first, she thought her father was only joking. Chloe was already engaged to the third prince.

And Baron Aslan was part of the bourgeoisie. He was originally a commoner, but he earned that title after he graduated from the academy. Her father, who hated the ‘honor’ that the middle class upheld, would not have arranged her marriage with one. So Chloe thought her father didn’t mean what he said.

However…

’Your older brother racked up a lot of debt.’

‘What do you mean debt? Just how much…’

‘Three million pounds.’

‘Goodness!’

Chloe almost fainted. Three million pounds was equivalent to the estate’s budget for a year. What did her brother do to owe such a huge amount of money?

’The condition of the marriage is a noble title. I decided to take the money in exchange for the Marquisate. You know what this means, right?’

Chloe knew immediately that her father was selling her to pay off her older brother’s debts.

‘But Father, I’m already engaged to the prince. You must know that breaking off a promise with the royal family is tantamount to treason…’

‘You stupid girl! The royal family has already fallen!’

The Duke had shouted in a harsh voice, raising his hand as if to hit Chloe across the cheek.

’Listen well. The world is changing. New forces are emerging, and they’re ruling the world! Baron Aslan is at the heart of that new force! He’s a genius! The light of this country!’

Her father’s face was contorted as he yelled, like a sinner trying to justify his own sins.

’Do you think I’m doing this because of money? Isn’t this marriage for the betterment and prosperity of our country?’

It was obviously an excuse. No matter how much the middle class was taking over, the father she knew would not have stepped down to bestow upon one of them a title of aristocracy.

’So whether you lift your skirt up in front of the Baron, or stick your breasts out, just cling onto him. Understand?’

He was just doing this for money.

He was selling her for money.

‘He’s always been like that.’

Chloe chuckled, recalling her late father who died three years ago.

After he passed away, the Duchy immediately collapsed. Her older brother, who had gambled away three million pounds back when his father was still alive, had no one to hold him back when he officially became the household’s head.

The Duchy’s dignified honor had evaporated like smoke, and only debts piled up in its wake.

‘He took money from me again not too long ago.’

Chloe recited from memory as she gazed upon the sky.

The money he owed now roughly exceeded four million. No matter how successful her husband was with his business, it was clear that this much would be a burden, even to him. Why should her husband pay off her brother’s debt… Chloe couldn’t stop questioning it.

At that moment, the gate, which had been tightly shut, opened. It announced the return of her husband who attended the opening ceremony.

Chloe descended the stairs holding the skirt of her layered dress. With haste, but without frivolity. As if she were born with it, she hurried her steps, yet maintained the elegance of a Duke’s daughter.

As she reached the ground floor, she straightened her clothes and stood straight. Then, he greeted Eric, her husband.

After handing over his suitcase to the butler, he looked up to see Chloe, and with a clear, resounding voice, he called out to her.

“Darling.”

Today, he had his hair pulled back, styled neatly with his forehead visible. Over his white dress shirt and black vest that fit perfectly over his broad shoulders, the dark navy coat which he had also been wearing fell to the ground.

The hollow eyes trained on Chloe had always left her breathless. Even when there were shadows under them from fatigue, those eyes still radiated a dignified aura. And his angular nose and jawline gave off a sharp impression, enhancing his well-defined features.

Chloe had a small smile on her lips as she looked at his face.

Her husband, who was always handsome. She repeated this in her head like a mantra. He has always been handsome.

The first time she saw Eric was at the academy more than a decade ago.

On the first day of school, she saw him giving a speech as the top scholarship student.