The Secret Affairs of the Fake Duke Couple (Completed Main Story) - Chapter 9
Somnium House was so enormous that the word “mansion” suited it far better than “house.”
Flanked by two auxiliary buildings standing guard on either side, the main building sat proudly at the center.
Beyond the vast garden spread out before the main building, there was also a rear garden and a greenhouse.
Despite its grand scale, it was still called a “house” to distinguish it from the Queen’s palace.
Jane gazed through the slightly opened window at the firmly shut iron gate.
‘I can’t believe I’m coming back here again…’
Jane looked at Somnium House with a heavy heart.
Seven years ago, the gate that had seemed like an impenetrable fortress to Jane swung open, revealing a straight path leading all the way to Somnium House.
Well-tended gardens lined both sides of the path. On the left garden stood a fountain centered around a statue of the goddess of abundance, while on the right, a winding trail invited leisurely strolls.
Over the sight of diligent gardeners tending to the flowers, Jane’s younger self overlapped with Cain’s.
〈It’s dangerous, young master! You mustn’t climb that tree!〉
She must have been about seven years old.
When Jane complained of boredom, Cain showed her around the garden and demonstrated all sorts of things she couldn’t do herself.
For instance, climbing trees.
Yet, only about two out of every ten of his attempts succeeded, thanks to the ever-vigilant Hastings staff.
They tirelessly chased after Jane and Cain, determined to prevent any situation that might put them in danger.
〈Jane, let’s run!〉
Cain grabbed Jane’s wrist, and they dashed through every corner of the garden—a game of hide-and-seek with their nannies.
〈Hide here. With the statue of Goddess Luke watching over you, you’ll never be found.〉
Cain hid Jane behind the goddess’s statue and crouched behind the lion statue directly across.
〈Where on earth have you gone?! Young master! Young miss! Ah! There you are, young master! Come out quickly. But where’s Miss Jane?〉
Thanks to the goddess’s blessing—or so it seemed—Jane remained hidden long after Cain had been caught.
She remembered Cain’s smile then, fingers pressed to his lips to stifle laughter as he dodged the nanny’s gaze.
Such a refreshing smile. Would she ever see it again?
“Are the lion statue and the statue of Goddess Luke still there?”
Perhaps stirred by memories of the past, Jane asked in a noticeably lighter tone.
Cain, who had been reading documents nonstop with Jane seated before him, finally looked up.
His icy gaze made Jane unconsciously hunch her shoulders.
Cain’s expression turned cold.
“You’re awfully curious. That’s an inappropriate attitude, Jane. I’ll explain just this once. Anything that didn’t suit the house was cleared away long ago—donated to the Veritas Museum. Augusr’s paintings, Beastart’s first editions—all of it.”
The smile that had spread across Jane’s face slowly faded.
Augusr’s paintings and Beastart’s first-edition novels had been among Jane’s favorite things to enjoy at Somnium House.
She and Cain used to mimic the people in Augusr’s paintings and sometimes even pretended to be Augusr himself, sketching each other.
They’d also whisper love confessions quoting lines from Beastart’s novels.
Now, all of that was gone from Somnium. He claimed those things didn’t belong there.
Jane wasn’t foolish enough not to understand what that truly meant.
‘It’s not the objects he dislikes—it’s me. He’s completely erased the past we shared.’
Jane tightened her grip on the hands clasped over her thighs.
“…Well done.”
She forced out the words, her voice trembling pathetically.
Cain gave her a brief, indifferent glance before yanking the curtains shut over the window.
It was as if even letting her gaze upon Somnium House and reminisce about the past was repulsive to him—a clear warning never to recall those days again.
Jane slowly drew in a breath.
The air inside the carriage grew heavy. Though suffocated, Jane stubbornly refused to pull back the curtains or open the window.
Just as she thought she might suffocate to death, the carriage halted, and the door opened.
“You’ve arrived, Your Grace.”
Norbert, the silver-haired butler, greeted them.
“The guest is…”
Norbert glanced past Cain’s back toward the carriage—Cain must have warned him beforehand.
His eyes met Jane’s just as she stepped down. Her smile spread across her face like ink blooming in water.
“Norbert!”
Jane called out cheerfully.
Now sixty years old, Norbert was the head butler of Somnium House and had long-standing ties with Jane.
“It’s been a while, miss.”
Norbert approached with a warm smile to greet her.
Cain watched the scene with clear displeasure before striding inside. With every step he took, it felt as though a chill wind blew.
Servants hurried after him in a flurry, leaving only Norbert and Jane standing before the entrance.
“You’ve grown so beautifully.”
Norbert took the small bag from Jane’s hand. His smile deepened the wrinkles by his eyes.
“You’re as splendid as ever, Norbert.”
“And you still speak as sweetly as ever.”
“I only speak the truth.”
When Jane beamed at him, Norbert’s eyes grew misty.
She’d seemed so subdued stepping down from the carriage—almost unrecognizable—but now, with that bright smile, she was unmistakably Jane.
“I’m sorry, miss. Seeing you in good health…”
“It’s wonderful, Norbert.”
Pretending not to notice Norbert’s tears, Jane asked,
“Where should I stay?”
For a moment, Norbert’s expression dimmed.
[This is the timeline separator]“Wow, you spent a lot today. You must’ve gone to the slums again.”
Nathan snapped his tongue after finishing the ledger. He set it aside and glanced out the window.
Seeing Jane and Norbert conversing, Nathan turned to Cain.
“Will you be all right?”
Cain, calmly reviewing documents as if he hadn’t just returned from outside, showed no sign of unrest.
His extraordinary achievements stemmed from unwavering diligence and responsibility.
Even with a raging fever or the day after his parents’ death, he never neglected his duties.
It was the obligation of one who carried the Hastings name.
“I asked if you’ll be all right.”
“I’d appreciate it if you phrased your question more precisely.”
Nathan, Cain’s aide, closed the window. His face was etched with exhaustion.
“They say you and that Miss Jane had quite a deep connection.”
“A deep connection…”
Cain set his pen down on the paper. He stared into space and murmured,
“I suppose it might’ve been.”
He casually spun the pen once in his hand, brushing it off as insignificant.
“What kind of answer is that? You sound like it’s someone else’s business.”
“It is someone else’s business. I’m not the same person I was then. So what exactly are you worried about?”
Nathan stepped closer to Cain’s desk.
“You’ve told me over and over not to mix emotions into work.”
“Are you worried I might?”
Nathan nearly blurted out that he already did—but managed to hold back. Instead, he stared directly at Cain.
He hadn’t served him for very long, yet Nathan prided himself on understanding Cain better than anyone else.
He might not guess the distant future Cain envisioned, but he could usually predict Cain’s next move.
Except when it came to that woman, Jane.
He never expected Cain to seek her out—especially after advising him to wed as soon as possible for Joseph’s sake,
even though marriage proposals were piled high like mountains.
And to bring her back immediately?
He’d even used the Black Hawks to investigate her background and abruptly settled debts he’d planned to repay gradually. It was impulsive behavior.
“Well, if you say so…”
“Nathan, if you have something to say, say it quickly.”
Though visibly annoyed, Cain still engaged in the conversation with him.
‘Maybe you haven’t changed at all.’
Cain appeared brusque at first glance but was surprisingly kind to everyone—so much so that people often mistook his kindness for inconsistency.
But it was precisely that quality that allowed Nathan to stand by his side. Nathan briefly recalled how their paths had crossed.
Six years ago—his first meeting with Cain. At the time, Nathan made a living as a pickpocket and a con artist in gambling dens until he encountered Cain.
〈Keep using your hands like that, and you’ll lose them—your neck too. Come with me? I’ll protect your hands.〉
Recognizing Nathan’s dexterity and sharp mind, Cain had extended his hand.
For the following year, Nathan underwent training.
It was so intense he begged to be sent back to the back alleys—death would’ve been preferable.
And then he became Cain’s aide.
From that moment, Nathan’s life became a smooth, upward path, sailing forward with the wind at his back.
He believed Cain was divine—would do anything for him, short of dying.
‘Actually, there’s one more thing I can’t do—yield the woman I love.’
Nathan murmured inwardly, secretly romantic as ever.
In any case, he wanted Cain to achieve what he aimed for—only then would the shadows occasionally crossing Cain’s face finally vanish.
Cain deserved pure, unblemished light.
“Give me some explanation. Why suddenly decide to marry—and why her, of all people?”
“Already forgetting? At this rate, your memory’s going to flicker out. I’ll be too anxious to entrust you with work. How about taking some time off for now?”
It wasn’t a vacation he was suggesting—it was resignation.
Seeing Cain grow more irritated by the lengthy conversation, Nathan pressed on anyway, unable to suppress his curiosity.
“It’s true the young master needs a mother, but why her, of all people?”
Cain tapped the table lightly. After a moment’s hesitation, he crossed his legs and spoke.
“The old badger ordered me to marry—Princess Cleo.”
“What? When?”
Nathan frowned.
“A month ago.”
Nathan gasped, momentarily holding his breath, then shook his head firmly.
“You won’t do it, will you?”
“That’s precisely why I brought her here.”
Cain’s long fingers pointed out the window.
“Why would the old badger…”
“The old badger” was the nickname Cain and Nathan used for Helena Royal Strain, Queen of Amblune.
She had one daughter, Cleo—slightly lacking in wits compared to others but so abundantly blessed that she masked it with innocence.
Helena wished for Amblune to remain strong even after her death and thus sought a capable man to marry Cleo and support her.
“She could’ve picked any foreign prince. What an insatiable old badger.”
“Not for nothing is she called that.”
“But it didn’t have to be Miss Jane.”
Cain’s explanation was sorely lacking. If his goal was simply to avoid marrying the princess, countless alternatives existed.
He could’ve summoned any woman willing to stand by his side as a mere figurehead—and still have filled the square with extras to spare.
With his striking almond-shaped eyes, prominent nose, imposing cold aura, tall stature, and elegant build, he was undeniably handsome—even to other men.
Not to mention he was both a duke and wealthy!
A fresh wave of admiration for Cain swelled deep within Nathan’s chest.
So Jane wasn’t necessary at all—especially since her status posed a problem.
Seven years ago, thanks to Cain’s earnest plea to the Queen, she’d avoided punishment but retained her noble title—though it was non-hereditary, and she held no noble privileges.
It was nobility in name only.
‘Even as a noble, she’s not of the right caliber.’
If even Nathan, formerly a commoner, thought this, how much more would others?
“Truly, there’s no other reason?”
“I made a deal with the Queen.”
“What kind of deal?”
Turns Out He’s Been Secretly in Love with Me
One-line summary: He acts like he doesn’t like her but is actually playing hard to get.
Synopsis:
Xu Muzhou like her. He has liked her for a very long time, and through repeated schemes, he finally closed the distance with her.
But this is still far from enough.
He wants to be the one who stands out among her many suitors, to fight for her attention, and to make her take the initiative to pursue him.
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Sure later Cain wil regret everything he’s done to jane..he only looked the bad side from opposite but never looked inside