“So it’s finally tomorrow.”

The ducal wedding was just around the corner.

Gregory, who had just finished checking the final preparations for the chapel where the ceremony would be held and the Great Hall for the reception, let out a satisfied sigh of relief.

“The wedding cake and banquet food have also been prepared without any issues.”

Marlin had also returned after completing the inspection for the large-scale banquet. The giant wedding cake made by the empire’s master patissier and the finest ingredients for various appetizers, main dishes, and desserts had been prepared in advance.

“Everyone has worked hard until the very end.”

“I think it would be good for Lady Aidel to rest early today as well.”

Gregory advised Aidel to rest, seeing her still working in the office even on the eve of her wedding.

Thanks to the workaholic bride-to-be, administrative tasks had become much easier, but if the Grand Duke found out she had worked until the day before the wedding, he would have to face his wrath again like last time.

“That’s right. I also have something to say to Lady Aidel separately today.”

Marlin, who looked somewhat tense, chimed in from the side. She swallowed hard as she recalled in her mind the final points she needed to educate the bride-to-be on the night before the wedding.

“Alright. Shall we talk right now?”

“The maids have prepared an oil massage after dinner. I’ll speak to you after you receive the massage and before you retire for the night.”

Aidel was a bit puzzled seeing Marlin’s awkward expression with a blush on her cheeks, but she soon nodded.

“His Grace the Grand Duke also plans to finish his external schedule quickly and return home today.”

At Gregory’s news about the Grand Duke, Aidel’s eyes deepened as she fell into thought for a moment. It had been about a week since she had seen his face.

Following the tradition that the bride and groom should not face each other for 7 days until the wedding day, she had intentionally been unable to meet him.

“Has His Grace been well?”

She had thought she would feel more comfortable with the discomfort she felt towards him disappearing if she couldn’t see his face, but… She carefully inquired about the Grand Duke’s news, which had been on her mind all this time.

“How could he be fine…! No, he’s doing fine. He’s been well.”

Gregory, who had momentarily become furious at Aidel’s question, took a deep breath and quickly concluded his words.

‘They say men’s hysteria is worse…’

Gregory had been having a hellish time dealing with the Grand Duke’s extremely sensitive temper over the past week. It was because of the Grand Duke who had been particularly sharp in his reactions when even small things irritated him these days.

No, he seemed like someone deliberately trying to vent some frustration. Gregory stroked his gaunt face, which had become so from enduring that prickly temperament that wouldn’t tolerate even small mistakes, and let out a deep sigh.

He could bet his entire fortune that the cause of the Grand Duke’s hysteria was this cursed tradition of not being able to see the bride-to-be before the wedding.

How fortunate that the wedding was finally tomorrow! Gregory was eagerly looking forward to the Grand Duke and the bride-to-be leaving for their honeymoon as soon as possible.

Although he would be swamped with the administrative work of the ducal house as before when he remained at the mansion, it seemed like heaven compared to what he had endured by the Grand Duke’s side for the past week.

‘If he finds out I said unnecessary things, he probably won’t leave me alone again.’

The wise aide did not bother to convey the Grand Duke’s discomfort to the bride-to-be. It was something that would be resolved tomorrow anyway…

Today would also be the last day he would go to the Grand Duke’s office every night to explain in detail the bride-to-be’s daily routine.

‘The life of a capable aide is tough…’

Gregory shook his head and hoped that tomorrow would come quickly.

“I’m glad to hear he’s doing well.”

So I was the only one who was worried…. Aidel, who seemed a bit gloomy, tapped the documents she had been organizing on the desk as if shaking off idle thoughts and put them down.

“Shall we wrap up now?”

Aidel smiled brightly towards the two as she spoke in a slightly louder voice than usual.

“Lady Aidel, your skin is so beautiful.”

“It’s flawless and transparent.”

“The texture of your skin is like precious silk from the East.”

The maids were busy admiring Aidel’s body as they applied oil to it. They were in the midst of carefully massaging her arms and legs.

Aidel closed her eyes slightly, her earlobes reddening amidst the maids. It seemed she still needed more time to get used to the grooming done by the maids.

‘His Grace the Grand Duke will surely be amazed on the wedding night.’

‘Did you see the negligee sent from Charlotte’s dress shop?’

‘Of course! I wonder if His Grace will confuse that soft silk with Lady Aidel’s body?’

The young maids whispered and giggled with their own imaginations. While they were looking forward to the grand wedding of the ducal family, what they anticipated most was the wedding night. The maids’ cheeks turned pink as they recalled scenes from romance novels.

“Ahem! If the massage is over, tidy up.”

Marlin dismissed the excited maids and sat across from Aidel, who was dressed in a chemise, at the table.

On the table in the Duchess’s room was a night tea prepared by Marlin. It was a tea made with herbs good for skin beauty and sound sleep.

“Please drink, Lady Aidel.”

“You drink too, Marlin.”

Marlin quietly watched Aidel as she picked up the teacup and drank the tea silently.

With her hair let down long, she looked even younger than usual. Seeing those clear eyes that knew nothing, Marlin bit her lip in embarrassment.

“Marlin, is something wrong? You don’t look very well.”

Aidel looked worriedly at Marlin, who seemed unusually restless.

“Actually…”

Marlin, who had been hesitating, moved her lips and brought up the topic she had prepared.

“Only the final stage of the Duchess education remains today.”

“The final stage…?”

Aidel tilted her head curiously. She had already memorized all the contents of the manual Marlin had given her.

Thanks to Marlin’s meticulous guidance by her side, she was managing to handle not only the administration of the ducal house but also the role of taking care of the household without any problems.

She went over the contents of the manual she had already memorized from the beginning, but there was nothing Marlin hadn’t mentioned.

‘Was there more content?’

Looking at Aidel’s curious eyes, Marlin nodded as if she had made up her mind.

“That’s right. It’s a special education on the eve of the wedding. It’s carried out on the last night before the wedding.”

“What is it?”

“It’s… education about heir production.”

Marlin said with emphasis, her face now quite solemn.

‘Heir production?’

Aidel recalled that phrase she had heard somewhere before.

− Do you also agree to the heir production?

− Of course. I’m confident I can do my best.

‘Ah…!’

It was a phrase mentioned when she was drafting the marriage contract with the Grand Duke last time. It was one of the duties that was formalized as something the Duchess should rightfully be responsible for.

“I know about the duty of heir production.”

Marlin was momentarily stunned seeing Aidel nodding readily as if she knew well.

‘She already knows… I thought Lady Aidel was only vaguely related to Countess Fluor…’

From what Marlin had heard through her social acquaintances, Countess Fluor was not the biological mother of the bride-to-be, but her stepmother.

Until now, it wasn’t well known because Aidel hadn’t made her debut in society… but as the existence of the bride-to-be came to the surface, it was a fact that any noble with some information power knew.

Moreover, recalling the first day the bride-to-be came to the ducal house, it seemed like she had only packed her luggage as if being chased out in a hurry. A family that cherished their daughter wouldn’t have sent her off empty-handed like that.

Marlin could intuitively tell that Countess Fluor did not look favorably upon the existence of her stepdaughter Aidel.

‘It doesn’t seem like such a woman would have educated Lady Aidel separately before she came here…’

The education she was going to conduct today was traditionally given directly by the mother to her daughter on the eve of her wedding night. However, considering the bride-to-be who likely hadn’t received that education, Marlin had stepped up personally.

“Do you… really know?”

Marlin, who was looking closely at Aidel, had a half-believing, half-doubting expression. Aidel nodded emphatically as if to give assurance to such a Marlin.

“Of course. I’ve already discussed that part with His Grace the Grand Duke.”

“You discussed it with His Grace in advance?”

Marlin’s mouth fell open. She stared blankly at Aidel with a look of utter disbelief.

‘Even so… His Grace too…’

She wasn’t unaware of the Grand Duke’s gaze that sometimes looked at the bride-to-be as if he would devour her. Even if he was in a hurry, to think he would discuss it in advance before the wedding…

‘He’s thorough even in these aspects.’

Marveling anew at the Grand Duke’s perfectionist nature, Marlin calmed her surprise.

It seemed that even for the Grand Duke, holding back like this before the wedding was quite an exercise in patience.

‘So that’s why Sir Gregory said he suffered so much.’

She recalled Gregory’s face, who had complained to her about how difficult it was due to the Grand Duke’s excessive sharpness lately.

‘Well… it could be hard to hold back. Our Grand Duke has truly become a real man!’

The Grand Duke was already physically perfect in his masculinity. However, since he hadn’t been close to any woman until now, she had even had the irreverent worry that the Grand Duke might be frigid.

A proud smile unconsciously spread across Marlin’s face at the thought that the Grand Duke, whom she had watched since he was a young boy, had grown into a true man after meeting the Duchess.

Aidel felt relieved seeing Marlin’s brightened expression.

“Were you worried that I might not know about heir production?”

“It’s a delicate matter after all. I was concerned that it might be troublesome if you didn’t know, Lady Aidel…”

“Don’t worry. I’m also determined to do well.”

Heirs were important in any noble family. All the more so for the ducal family that would continue the royal bloodline.

She had not forgotten to keep detailed records even recently while working, so that her knowledge could be helpful for the education of the heir to such a ducal family.

‘An heir…’

Aidel briefly imagined the Grand Duke marrying a real Duchess and having an heir after his contract marriage with her ended.

Suddenly, a sharp, deep pain was felt in her chest. Why did her chest feel so tight and painful imagining the Grand Duke with another woman…

Her clear eyes clouded over in an instant as if covered by fog. Marlin worriedly asked, seeing Aidel rubbing her chest with a dark expression.

“Lady Aidel, are you alright? Perhaps… are you feeling nervous thinking about it?”

“Ah… Yes. I’m a bit nervous.”

Yes. Aidel reassured herself that this feeling was just coming from nervousness.

Marlin gently wrapped her hand around Aidel’s, offering comfort as if to say not to worry. Aidel also held her hand back with a faint smile.

And so, the special education for the bride-to-be on the eve of the wedding couldn’t be properly conducted…

The day of the ducal wedding that everyone had been looking forward to dawned.