Moreover, Marlin personally assisted her in getting ready before sleep.

“No, serving the duchess is my duty.”

Duchess.

Idel slowly blinked at the unfamiliar title. It made her truly feel she had become the duchess after marrying him.

‘Even if it’s just a contract…’

With that in mind, Idel resolved to do her best during the remaining contract period.

She was determined to fulfill her responsibilities and duties as a duchess.

She had no idea that this determination would soon bring an unexpected turmoil.

“What’s prepared on the table?”

The dimly lit room was illuminated only by candlelight. Something was laid out on the table near the window.

“Oh… It’s a premium wine from the Baresco region that Sir Shade brought. He said it might help relax the tension.”

Marlin momentarily remembered Shade, who had detailed the benefits of the wine. It was a sweet wine but strong, making one feel tipsy after only a little.

She refrained from adding how the wine might melt a woman’s tension, especially on her wedding night.

“He’s already generous enough with the book gift. I’ll have to thank him later.”

Gazing at the wine on the table, Idel smiled faintly.

After the grand event of the wedding, she felt Shade’s considerate nature, considering her lingering tension.

Seeing two wine glasses next to the wine bottle made her tilt her head in curiosity.

“There’s another gift for you.”

“Another gift?”

At Marlin’s gesture, a maid with an expectant expression brought something over.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a negligee that Lady Pomfumnyu prepared along with the wedding dress. She specially made it and hoped you’d wear it after the wedding.”

Idel already frequently used the negligee she bought from Charlotte’s shop. But having one specially made for the wedding felt like a significant gesture.

“I’ll wear that tonight.”

Accepting the gift readily, Idel removed her bathrobe. With the maids’ help, she donned the negligee.

“Um… is this all there is to the outfit?”

Negligees were not thick by nature, but this one felt exceptionally thin.

The soft silk negligee clung to her body, deeply cut at the chest and thin enough below the thighs to be slightly revealing.

The room wasn’t cold with a warm fireplace on, but the unfamiliar sensation of the negligee wrapping around her made Idel shiver slightly.
Idel glanced at herself in the mirror, dressed in negligee. The woman reflected looked less like a respectable duchess and more like a provocative courtesan, a sight that would stimulate the wildest imaginations of the onlooker.

“Yes. That’s the only dress prepared.”

Avoiding the gaze of the blushing duchess, filled with embarrassment, Marilyn looked away.

“Sigh… Okay.”

She recalled the face of Madame Pomfumnu who had hardly slept while making the wedding dress. It didn’t matter to her since the dress was just for sleeping and no one else would see it.

As Idel reluctantly nodded, Marilyn and the other maids bowed respectfully.

“Please have a peaceful night, Your Highness.”

“Everyone, rest well.”

The maids looked excitedly at each other until the door closed, which felt odd to Idel, but she assumed they were happy to finally rest.

Once the door was shut, Idel slowly approached the window. The sky was pitchdark, as if the moonlight was also obscured by clouds.

The wedding must be over now.

She felt a sudden loneliness, as if left alone on a dark stage after the curtains were drawn.

She sat down, rested her face on her knees, and became lost in thought.

Her mind always went back to the first time she met Caeron in the library.

When he suddenly grabbed her, proposed a contract marriage, and acknowledged her existence in front of others.

And today, the moment the duke’s door opened, after the marital vows, when their lips met…

She was constantly captivated by his deep blue gaze. Remembering it, Idel bit her lip.

For some reason, it felt like sleep wouldn’t come easily tonight.

She reached out and picked up a bottle of wine from the table. The sweet aroma rose from the winefilled glass.

She sipped the wine slowly. The tannins felt rich in her mouth, clinging sweetly yet with a hint of bitterness.

“This wine… it’s delicious.”

A dazed smile spread across Idel’s face. She didn’t particularly enjoy alcohol, but her hand kept reaching for it.

Whether it was due to relief or fatigue, her eyes softened, and she felt a sudden warmth.

“Mmm… I’m sleepy…”

Feeling dizzy and feverish, she whined like a fussy child.

She thought of heading to bed and tried to get up, leaning halfway on the table.

While her head told her to walk straight to the bed and lie down, her body wouldn’t obey.

She stumbled as she tried to step forward. Just as she was about to fall,

“I told you to rest, not to get drunk.”

From behind, a playful voice echoed as someone firmly grasped her waist. Due to her thin negligee, she could vividly feel the firm physique of the man.

“I still have a duty as a duke to perform. Idel.”

She turned her head with blurred vision.

“Oh…!”

She gasped slightly, discovering something.

As always, she was completely captivated by those deep blue eyes in the most unexpected moments.