Reasons for Contract Marriage - Chapter 110

Brianna lowered her burning face. This was just like practically begging him to kiss her.

“It’s done.”

At that moment, the maid’s voice rang out. Veronica gave Brianna a final once-over, then nodded in approval.

“Hmm, good. You look absolutely lovely. Luce should have seen you like this. On a day like today, he should have put work aside and attended with you. That man is so inflexible. For someone his size, he can be surprisingly rigid.”

Brianna burst into laughter. She recalled how he had suggested canceling today’s engagement and going together another time. It was also amusing how Veronica never stopped talking about her beloved son behind his back.

“I’ve already spoken with Marchioness Schroeder, so don’t worry. She’ll be looking out for you. And if anyone tries to pick a fight with you, come back and tell me. I’ll make sure they regret it.”

Her words filled Brianna with warmth. Whenever her father left on monster subjugations, Brianna had been no different from an orphan. When neighborhood children got into fights, they would threaten to tell their mothers, but Brianna could only keep her mouth shut.

That was why Veronica’s presence, offering such support, felt so precious to her.

“Just hearing you say that means so much to me.”

Brianna pulled Veronica into a tight hug. Veronica stiffened briefly, then hugged her back, letting out a bright laugh.

“My goodness, they say daughters cling to their mothers more than sons do, and it’s true! Luce only ever hugged me reluctantly when he knew I was mad at him!”

“Well, he probably only ever wants to see you smile. Maybe that’s why he can’t bear to see you upset?”

“Hmph, that’s quite the flattering interpretation. But fine, let’s go with that.”

Brianna had never been the affectionate type, but she thought she might be different with Veronica. Given enough time, she might even start to act spoiled around her.

“Well then, I’ll be off now.”

After saying her goodbyes, Brianna climbed into the carriage. The navy-colored carriage, adorned with twin eagle emblems, quickly set off toward the Schroeder estate.

***

A spacious garden filled with flowers and trees had been set up with white canopies. The sun was hot, but the shaded areas remained cool and comfortable.

As the day wore on, a pleasant breeze began to blow, creating the perfect atmosphere for tea and conversation outdoors.

One by one, noblewomen arrived, guided by maids to circular tables arranged in the shade. Once a sufficient number of guests had gathered, a woman’s voice broke the murmuring chatter.

“Come to think of it, isn’t today the first time the Duchess of Carlisle and the Young Lady of Kirchner are attending an event together?”

At those words, the other ladies fluttered their fans and eagerly joined the conversation. They had all been waiting for someone to bring up the topic first.

“That’s right. I expected one of them to avoid the event, but I was surprised to hear that both were attending.”

“If one had stayed away, it would have meant admitting defeat. There was no way that would happen.”

“Indeed. Pride wouldn’t allow it.”

Soft laughter rippled through the group before someone added:

“This should be an entertaining spectacle. I wonder which of the two will win the battle of wills? The Duchess is at a disadvantage, isn’t she? Especially with the Dowager Duchess absent.”

“I heard the young ladies over there are already preparing to cause trouble.”

One noblewoman pointed with her closed fan toward a group gathered at one end of the garden. They were longtime friends of Count Kirchner’s daughter.

Young ladies who were still new to high society often engaged in fierce rivalries. Sometimes, these competitions took childish forms—spilling drinks on dresses or deliberately stepping on skirts to make someone trip.

The noblewomen observed the scene with knowing smiles, reminiscing about their younger years. However, they frowned at pranks that crossed the line, such as slipping sharp pins into shoes. Ultimately, for noble ladies who had endured countless trials and successfully married, the brutal rivalries of the young debutantes were nothing more than an entertaining spectacle to watch from a distance.

At that moment, those young ladies were grinding their teeth in shared hostility toward the Duchess of Carlisle. After all, she had stolen the most eligible groom, Lucius Carlisle, right from under them.

Had Lucius Carlisle married the Count of Kirchner’s daughter, they would have reluctantly accepted it. The two of them were well-matched in terms of both status and appearance.

However, the woman who had actually claimed him was not even a low-ranking noble, but an insignificant commoner—an orphan, at that. Though the Duchess had been rather pretty when seen at the wedding, she was hardly a match for the breathtakingly beautiful Adelheid. Her hair was an utterly ordinary shade of brown, and perhaps due to nerves, her expression had been somewhat stiff. The only striking features she had were her clear, luminous skin and those remarkable teal eyes. In every other aspect, she was unworthy of standing beside Lucius Carlisle.

“If those young ladies join forces, the Duchess may find herself in quite a predicament.”

“It’s likely. Young ladies tend to act recklessly without thinking things through… It won’t be easy for her. Tsk, tsk.”

The clucking of tongues and murmured words sounded vaguely like concern for the Duchess of Carlisle, but everyone knew better.

The noblewomen did not harbor the same hostility toward the Duchess as the young debutantes, but they were far from welcoming. After all, the Duchess of Carlisle had been born a commoner—an unwelcome intruder who had suddenly forced her way into noble society. The impression she left today would largely determine how these noblewomen evaluated her in the future.

“Lady Kirchner is rather late. Everyone else has arrived except for the Duchess.”

As the guest of honor, the Duchess of Carlisle was naturally expected to arrive last, taking the most prestigious seat among the attendees. However, by custom, the Count’s daughter should have already arrived by now. Her arriving later than the Duchess would be considered a serious breach of etiquette—a deliberate slight against the Duchess.

Especially given the current circumstances, where emotions were running high against her.

“The Duchess of Carlisle has arrived.”

At the voice announcing her arrival, all eyes turned toward the entrance at once. The long-awaited Duchess of Carlisle was seen entering the garden, engaged in pleasant conversation with the Marchioness of Schroeder.

“Ah…”

Soft murmurs of admiration rippled through the gathering, one after another.

Unlike at the wedding, today, the Duchess of Carlisle looked absolutely radiant—like a flower in full bloom, glistening with the morning dew.

Her crescent-shaped teal eyes shone with remarkable vibrancy. Her fair skin, smoother than porcelain, had a healthy glow, and her chestnut-brown hair shimmered in the sunlight. The gentle curve of her lips held a relaxed, confident smile—one that only a truly happy person could wear.

The noblewomen soon shifted their attention to her attire. The modestly designed dress, covering her chest, perfectly accentuated her graceful and refined demeanor. The delicate floral adornments in her hair added an extra touch of charm.

As trend-sensitive as they were, the noblewomen immediately realized that the Duchess’s dress and accessories would soon become the next big fashion trend in Bastogne. It was only natural—her striking presence had effortlessly captured everyone’s attention.

“Was the Duchess of Carlisle always this beautiful?”

She had certainly not shone this brightly at the wedding. One of the ladies murmured absentmindedly, prompting another to whisper in response.

“It seems her newlywed life is quite satisfying. You can tell just by looking at her—she’s clearly cherished.”

“Indeed. There were all sorts of rumors about her attending alone today.”

The fact that she was attending her first social gathering without her husband or the Dowager Duchess had sparked countless speculations. Some had even suggested that she might have been cast aside by her husband’s family.

However, seeing her today dispelled all those baseless rumors.

After all, only a woman who was truly loved could radiate such an aura.