Chapter 21

Efredieu, who had been tilting her head for a while, approached Asella. She skillfully untied the straps of her dress.

After a short moment, the Madam realized what secret this noble lady was trying to hide.

The thin undergarment was slightly transparent.

Her upper body was almost completely wrapped in bandages. The dried bloodstains on the outsides of the bandages were closer to black than red.

‘No way… how could this be real…’ 

There were rumors that Philip, the acting Marquis, was not too pleased with his two stepdaughters, but she didn’t expect it to be like this.

Who would believe the fact that the daughter of a distinguished and high-profile noble family was actually being cruelly abused?

Efredieu was speechless.

At that moment, the warning that was given to her when she entered flashed through her mind.

‘Anything you see or hear in here must not leave the premises of this room. Please keep that in mind.’

One of the servants who greeted Efredieu’s team at the main gate gave them that threat. With the threatening words they heard, they had no idea what would happen when they entered the premises.

Most aristocratic estates placed a high value on security, and Madame Efredieu was the right person for the job.

If she was not careful with her words, running a salon or a dressmaking boutique for the nobility would be out of the question. She was good at keeping her mouth shut, pretending not to see and hear.

However, she was surprised to hear that threat in such a place. She wondered what it might be that they were keeping so secretive.

‘Don’t tell me it’s because of this….’

Efredieu’s movements came to a complete halt at the shocking sight before her eyes. The dress was still draped over Asella’s shoulder.

She was still overcome with shock, making her unable to move. A low voice echoed in the quiet space.

“I trust you’ll keep my secret.”

“Absolutely, of course.”

After coming to her senses, Efredieu gulped and quickly continued to take Asella’s measurements.

She could see how embarrassed the young lady, who had just reached adulthood, was feeling, and the amount of shame she was enduring.

Once Efredieu finished the procedure faster than ever, she pulled up Asella’s dress again and fastened it tightly.

Sensing Efredieu’s consideration, Asella expressed her gratitude in a faint voice.

“Thank you for your efforts.”

Madame Efredieu was basically a businesswoman, so she didn’t say or do anything unnecessary. However, today was not the only day she couldn’t let it slide.

She chose her words carefully and spoke as far as she could, without overstepping her boundaries.

“I will make you the most exquisite dress. You will be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

But Asella, who would be the most unhappiest bride in the world, just smiled faintly.

* * * *

The marriage had been officially announced.

The news of the Grand Duke’s engagement shook the Imperial social circles.

The two families that had been in conflict with each other until now reconciled through marriage, and the world was buzzing with the announcement of their new beginning.

From the top-class daily newspapers to the low-class newspapers, there was no shortage of articles on the front page, so much so that there was not a single person in the Empire who did not know about it.

They were the talk of every gathering everywhere.

[Calix Benvito sent a letter of proposal to Asella Chartus].

Asella saw how many false stories could be made up from that one fact alone.

[Two years ago, the war on territorial expansion and conquest to enhance the glory of the Harmenian Empire ended.

The Grand Duke Benvito, who had led an undefeatable march to the forefront of the war, successfully won the last battle and gloriously returned to his homeland.

The Grand Duke fell in love at first sight when he met Asella Chartus at the victory celebration banquet held at the Imperial Palace and waited patiently for her to come of age before finally proposing to her…] 

* * *

Asella read the article slowly. Earlier, Philip told her to see it for herself.

She had been prepared since the moment she took the article, but at the last moment, she couldn’t help but put more pressure in her hand. The edges of the paper crumpled slightly under her slender fingertips.

‘…’

Asella’s head sank to the ground.

The article was really romantic, but it was a story made up of mostly lies and only a few facts.

It was a false story that was disguised as truth.

But since the story was so perfectly put together and spread widely, people accepted it as the only truth.

It was a sweet and romantic story that they were fascinated by. It was the story of a cruel war hero, known for his lack of blood and tears, who fell in love at first sight with the lovely young lady.

No one wanted to know the bitter truth behind the story.

She was the only one who suffered from holding the truth alone, which had sunk deep into the sea.

* * *

Meanwhile, in the main building of the mansion, another person was screaming in anger.

It was Rebecca Vallouse, Philip’s girlfriend.

“Oh my God! My clothes!”

Rebecca screamed as soon as she entered the room. Her cherished clothes had been completely torn apart by sewing marks and needle holes.

“What’s going on here? How did my clothes get like this!!!”

Rebecca grabbed the nearest maid by the collar.