The writings on the amendments to the old laws within Fleur’s territory, and the improvements to the lives of the citizens through the establishment of administrative procedures, were so admirable that he marveled.
‘Someday…… I wanted to have a conversation with her…….’
It was not easy to close the gap between mother and daughter that had persisted for over a decade. The count, who had no son to succeed him, even considered having the unique Idel succeed the countship.
So he did not push for a marriage quickly, and wished for her to grow while studying as much as she wanted. Even if he couldn’t express properly…… Idel was a daughter of Fleur he acknowledged.
He regretted that he had put off talking with Idel day by day, not paying attention to household affairs under the excuse of being busy.
He wondered why she had secretly taken the Imperial University exam. It would have been an escape chosen by a child who was being tormented by marriage.
‘But why did she have to meet the Duke…….’
The wrinkles on the count’s forehead deepened.
While he would have allowed her to attend the Imperial University, the suddenly decided marriage to the Duke was the biggest worry.
His daughter, born without scent, and the noble Duke of Royal Blood.
If perhaps, the passage he had seen in the family’s ancient book was true…….
His daughter and the Duke…… should never have met.
[This is the time separator]At the time when the midday sun tilted, a guest visited the Duke’s residence. A little early afternoon tea was prepared in the reception room.
“Welcome. Count.”
“Your Grace Duke.”
“I heard you returned yesterday. You must have been quite surprised to visit immediately after returning to the capital.”
“Is there a parent who would not be surprised at their child’s suddenly decided marriage?”
“Perhaps. But you seemed quite indifferent.”
“……It’s my fault.”
Count Fleur dropped his head slightly and exhaled heavily through his nose. As the Duke said, it was something that happened because he had not paid attention.
Even if he couldn’t undo what had already happened…… he had to prevent his daughter’s unhappiness that could arise from her marriage to the Duke.
“First…… I intend to return the Imperial Bank account you sent by personal letter.”
“That’s just a small token of appreciation for the part where the Count’s house ‘well’ looked after the future Duchess.”
The Duke declined as if unnecessary when he saw the document that the count took out from his pocket.
A small token of appreciation……. The count once again realized that to him, the one year’s budget of Fleur’s territory was really nothing more than the cost of a dress.
The actual size of the Duke’s wealth was already enormous, even with only what was known. It was a fact known to any aristocrat investing in real estate development that the Duke was the owner of major buildings and lands in the capital.
Not only that. The Duke’s domain, which had a large amount of land inherited from the days of the Roman Duke, reached to the end of the sea. The scale of the trade business conducted through the ports in the territory was also increasing day by day.
“Then I’ll invest in bonds in the name of Idel. It’s the dowry I was going to give when they get married.”
“Do as the count wishes. But there’s no need to pass anything else to the Duke’s house in the name of dowry.”
“……I understand.”
Count Fleur looked at the young Duke sitting across from him. The Duke with a cold and arrogant expression seemed to have the blood of the Jupiter royal family flowing thicker than anyone else. He was a man more imperial than the Emperor.
That’s why he was more anxious. He needed to confirm.
“May I ask… the reason Your Excellency has decided to marry my daughter, however impudent it may be?”
“A reason…?”
He could not dare to speak directly of what he had heard through Roselin. If the Duke truly fell for Idel at first sight and is still smitten… And if that reason was because of the ‘scent’…
Caeron, who had been looking at the anxious face of Count Fleur for a while, opened his mouth. Because it was a face of a father worrying about his daughter, he decided to be honest.
“You must know because you received the letter. She wanted to avoid a marriage she did not want. Moreover, she wanted to be completely independent from the count’s family, so she took the imperial university exam.”
Even though she didn’t want the marriage, the countess wanted to be independent from the count’s house… Count Fleur looked down with a regretful gaze.
“She planned to earn a livelihood on her own after graduating from university. She also wanted to discard the ‘dignity’ of the nobility. But, a noble woman who has not legally divorced yet can’t be socially active.”
Count Fleur’s eyes were shaking finely. Did she want to get out of it to the point of giving up even the dignity of the nobility? It was heartbreaking to think about the desperate feelings she must have had.
“I decided to give her freedom in three years.”
“That means…”
“Yes. This is a contractual marriage. A contract that proceeds because of each other’s needs.”
The shocked count widened his eyes and asked in a trembling voice.
“So it’s just a contract… A marriage proceeding without any emotions?”
“Emotions? What do you mean by ’emotions’?”
“Your Highness… I heard that you expressed your affection for Idel in front of others.”
“Ahh… I plan to solidify her position as a duchess externally. As you know, the power of the duchess comes from the firm support of the Duke.”
The Duke, speaking with a cold voice and an impassive expression, did not look like a man in love. His actions concerning Idel felt like he was merely treating a contractual partner.
Count Fleur tightly closed his lips with a complex look.
The sorrow of her daughter choosing a contractual marriage considering a divorce for complete independence… and the relief that the Duke didn’t fall in love with her daughter, rose up at the same time.
“I… entrust Idel to you.”
Now all he could do was silently support the path his daughter chose. Watching her do as she wanted was the only atonement he, who had neglected his daughter, could make.
[This is the time separator]Idel was saying goodbye to Count Fleur, who had visited the Duke’s mansion.
Her father, whom she had seen after a long time, had a noticeably haggard face. The bergamot scent that used to be around him whenever she was by his side was also fading.
“Idel…”
“Yes. Please speak.”
After a long time of looking at her face with a worried look, the count hesitantly opened his mouth.
“When you want… you can come back to the count’s house at any time.”
It was not something to say to a daughter about to get married. Idel realized that the Duke and her father, who she had a private conversation with, knew the reality of this marriage.
Before leaving lastly, the hesitating Count Fleur said to her,
“…You are my daughter.”
“…!”
At that faint word, her nose suddenly became sore and tears welled up. It was the word she had been wanting to hear all her life… and she only heard it now.
The count looked at his daughter, who didn’t know what to say with her moist face, with a melancholy look and turned around without a word.
Idel, standing in the entrance, blankly watched the back of her father returning to the count’s mansion.
‘Father…’
If only he had said that a little earlier… would she be in a different situation now?
‘No, even then…’
Idel shook her head. Even if that were the case, she knew she would not want a life where she lived only as someone’s wife after getting married.
Divorce was necessary to graduate from university and be socially active, and the terms of the contract proposed by the Duke were perfect. The only variable… was her heart wavering towards him.
After being lost in thought for a long time, someone quietly approached her side.
Cold Male Lead Became My Clingy Husband (Female-Dominant)
Feng Bai Su transmigrated into a matriarchal novel, becoming the sister of the female protagonist and the Seventh Princess of the Feng Ling Kingdom.
After working herself to death in her previous life, finally reincarnating as a princess, she only wanted to be a lazy fish who could eat, sleep, and play.
Until she met the male protagonist from the book, Wei Jing Mo, and he took a liking to her!
Wei Jing Mo is the top young man in Feng Ling City, talented in both appearance and ability, from a prestigious family, with a cold and otherworldly appearance, a figure like the bright moon in the hearts of noble ladies. It was thought that only the most powerful and talented noble lady in Feng Ling City would be worthy of such a brilliant young man. Who knew that this young gentleman would secretly admire the infamous Seventh Princess?
Short scene 1:
Feng Bai Su looked at the young man crying like a pear blossom in the rain before her, and couldn’t help but doubt her life.
Wasn’t the male lead described as a cold and otherworldly figure in the book?
Then who was this poor little thing crying with swollen red eyes and tear-stained face?
Short scene 2:
Wei Jing Mo stared intently at Feng Bai Su who was about to go out, wanting to say, “Be careful on the road.”
Before he could speak, Feng Bai Su suddenly bent down and bit his cheek.
Her peach blossom eyes were full of disdain: “Tsk! You’re so clingy!”
Wei Jing Mo: “…”
A talented fox spirit female lead with a flirtatious appearance but actually abstinent VS A cold-looking but actually naive and clingy little jealous male lead
