Early summer sunshine poured through the office window.

The voices of people laughing and chatting continued, but it was someone else’s business.

The Duke of Devonshire had many lands and islands to which belonged to him. He couldn’t finish managing it even if he spent half of his day working to sort the details out. Unlike the predecessor Duke, who mostly used agents and regents, Killian Devonshire made everything go through his hands except for one island.

Gertrude reported, while he continued looking at the countless documents; he flipped through them with his neat fingertips.

“I delivered it to Miss Philone as you said.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

Killian, who didn’t even raise his head, briefly praised her.

“Get out.”

He was not the type of person who gave the same order twice. Gertrude knew it better than anyone else. But she couldn’t go out just yet.

 

“Now….”

 

Gertrude who clenched her fist, cautiously said.

 

“Isn’t it time for you to let her go?”

 

“What do you mean?”

He lifted the gaze that had been nailed to the papers. Gertrude, who shrugged her shoulders spoke with a low voice.  

“The Marchioness of Essex, your Aunt, spoke to me…….”

 

Killian put down the pen he was holding.

 

Marchioness Essex.

He was the only child of the Duke of Devonshire, but there were still few elders of the family.

“’A while ago, the queen invited a foreign-born lady of a marriageable age, she said that the Duke is wise enough to understand what that means.….”

Her mouth kept getting dry while she was talking. With a few hesitations, Gertrude lowered her eyes and continued.

“Because the lady’s father… .”

Killian, who tilted his head, smiled.

“You’re acting devious. What are you going to get in return for relaying this information to me?”

“Your grace!”

Gertrude shouted at the words she hadn’t expected to hear. However, the person who spoke such ruthless words was calm.

“Miss Philone seems to have reached the end of her value.”

The royal family had rare taste.

 

The Duke of Devonshire was no exception.

Three years ago, after his fiancée died of a fall, the next marriage candidate should have been decided, but the queen couldn’t choose someone. This was because Killian had brought another woman into his estate right after his fiancée’s funeral.

Rowena Philone.

On the day she made her official appearance in society, the queen was shocked.

 

Blonde hair shining like pure gold, shimmery green eyes, sharp nose and thick lips.

 

Because everything looked exactly like the dead fiancée.

He asked a single question to the astonished queen.

― “Will you kill my mistress too?”

― “I have no idea what you’re talking about”

― “Rats are everywhere.”

The queen, sitting on a high platform, clenched her fan with a calm answer.

He was expressionless all the time, but the intention he was trying to convey was clear.

 

A warning that he will not stand still if she didn’t control herself.

The tension in the air, like a tightly pulled thread, contained the pressure between the two people. It was only after a long silence that the queen, who had been staring at him fiercely, gave way.

 

― “If it’s any consolation to my noble nephew…….”

 

― “…….”

 

– “A girl or something…I’d be happy to overlook it.”

 

That day, Rowena Philone was recognized as the Duke of Devonshire’s woman.

 

“Because it is a problem that cannot be delayed any longer.”

Though it was short. A cautious voice crossed the heavy silence.

“In addition…”

Gertrude, whose dry lips were moistened with saliva, continued to talk.

“She also said… blonde hair and green eyes. The Marchioness, who saw the lady in person, said that Miss Philone had an appearance which closely resembled the deceased.….”

“Haha!”

A chilling sharp laugh cut her off. Killian, who crumpled the documents he was looking at, called her in a dreary voice.

“Gertrude.”

“….”

“I don’t even remember the face of a dead woman.”

Naturally he would forget a woman he saw once in his childhood. It was not even funny; he wouldn’t even know her if she showed up on third-rate magazine, but he was pleased with the misunderstanding.

He met Rowena Philone on the train back from the funeral.

― I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I got the wrong seat…

— It’s okay. It was a boring ride anyway.

— Thank you…

Cheeks dyed like peaches in the middle of summer.

― This is meant to be, so why don’t you be my friend on the way? Miss…

―… Philone, it’s Philone.

Long eyelashes spread out like a fan and the scent of valley lilies brushed past the tip of his nose lightly.

While recalling their first encounter and the last time he saw her shy smile, a disappointed voice penetrated his ears.

 

“Even if she was still useful… You have to kick her out.”

 

“She’s mine.”

It was a cute pet. There was no reason to throw it away.

“It was best for her to move to Rockford country house early.”

 

“…….”

 

“But if she’s around, the marriage…….”

“Gertrude.”

Killian cut off the annoying conversation.

“I thought my mother died long ago. Isn’t it right?”

It was a question asking ‘how dare you take the role of my mother’. She lowered her head and opened her trembling lips.

 

“As you wish, your grace”

 

A cold sweat ran down her back. Before Gertrude could give an excuse, he waved his hand as if chasing away an annoying bug.

 

A sense of humiliation poured over her, but she couldn’t back off here.

 

Then, just in case, it was better to try a different tactic on Miss Philone. Because no matter how hard Gertrude tried to implant suspicions on her, from the beginning, she just couldn’t seem to make it work. After all, she wasn’t the only one tied up here. Gertrude pulled up the corners of her mouth so hard that it twitched.

 

“Lastly… can I say something?”

“… … .”

“Miss Philone seems to have a man.”

The air froze at once.

Crack. The tip of the pen broke. The moment Gertrude saw the Duke’s face as he slowly raised his head, she could no longer keep her smile.