Unlike usual, the always solemn and quiet duke’s mansion was bustling with activity.

For quite a long time, the position of duchess had been vacant.

The only women in the castle were the maids. So Adeline, who suddenly entered, was an unfamiliar and strange presence to everyone.

The woman the duke suddenly introduced one day as his woman.

The duke, who didn’t even have a fiancée, bringing in a mistress. And a commoner at that, shocking all the members of the duke’s household.

Moreover, the duke had a lot of high-end clothes made for the woman. Like pouring oil on a burning house.

The head maid’s gaze turned to the inner fitting room of the toilette room.

From the morning, the clothes sent by Madame Violeta were hanging on the toilette room hangers, bending their legs.

They were samples made after taking measurements last time.

The colors were so vibrant. The head maid sighed as she looked at the fabrics decorated with various jewels.

“If the lady’s dress fitting is over, open the curtains quickly.”

With those words, the closed curtains opened on both sides, revealing the woman standing inside.

Standing on the small platform in the dress fitting room, she shone more beautifully than anyone else.

The coral-colored dress that accentuated Adeline’s brown hair was embroidered with translucent lace.

The floral patterned lace, woven one by one with high-quality lamé yarn, sparkled like jewels in the light.

The fabric alone was the epitome of splendor.

The head maid’s gaze fell on Adeline’s chest.

Her already voluminous, full breasts seemed even more emphasized, perhaps thanks to the dress that clung tightly at the waist.

If she were a young lady from a noble family, she would not have displayed such a prominent volume so overtly.

She would have worn a dress that subtly emphasized the silhouette.

The commoner-born mistress seemed to be completely unaware of such noble etiquette and propriety.

‘Wearing such a dress.’

The head maid had to swallow a sigh at the bold design that openly revealed deep cleavage.

All the sample dresses made by Violeta had bold designs. They were all sexual dresses that emphasized the chest.

“These are all designs approved by His Grace the Duke. Well, I suppose the mistress wants to show off her sensual figure.”

Though she didn’t add any words since the master she served had approved,

Not only the head maid, but all the maids who helped with Lady Del’s fitting looked displeased.

Rumors about Adeline were already rampant among the duke’s household.

That the newly arrived mistress was excessively extravagant. That as soon as she arrived, she had dresses custom-made to the point her closet might burst.

Not just dresses, but she was also recklessly buying jewelry.

That because the mistress liked flowers, the duke picked an armful of flowers every day and placed them in the bedroom, and so on.

It was only natural that water leaking from inside the barrel would also leak outside.

It was probably only a matter of time before the story of the duke’s mistress reached the capital.

But no one could easily speak to Adeline.

Wasn’t she the woman the duke cherished enough to provide these expensive dresses without reserve?

“My lady, you are truly beautiful. The flashy and bold dress suits you perfectly, as if it has found its rightful owner.”

“……”

“In this empire, Lady Del is probably the only lady who could pull off such a dress.”

Though the head maid also disapproved of Adeline’s attire, she offered the usual pleasantries.

With just a hint of sarcasm.

“Is that so.”

Adeline replied in an utterly dry voice. Though her voice was devoid of any emotion, no one found it strange.

They just thought the commoner mistress had a gruff personality.

However, the head maid took Adeline’s hand without showing her dislike.

“Dinner is prepared in the dining room. His Grace the Duke is already waiting, so let’s hurry.”

But they were so blinded by Adeline’s splendor that they failed to notice.

From the moment she left the fitting room until she reached the dining room with the head maid’s help, Adeline never smiled once.

Meanwhile, Adeline, walking towards the dining room at that time, felt conflicted.

Perhaps because the corset was tightened so crazily around her waist, she felt like she might throw up just from walking a little.

Although she had worn countless dresses growing up as a marquis’s daughter, she couldn’t get used to the sample dresses sent by Violeta.

‘…Well, I’ve never even seen dresses like these before, let alone worn them.’

It was a design that would make noble young ladies recoil and run away.

If she had experienced this without her past life’s memories, Adeline wouldn’t have been able to endure it.

‘How could someone who knows I’m a marquis’s daughter…’

As Adeline headed to the dining room, she pictured the man who would be waiting there.

The man who had ordered and forced her to wear this ridiculous dress, Duke Torpeo.

“I have no intention of keeping you as a mistress in name only, Del. If you’re to be my mistress, you should act accordingly.”

“…What did you say?”

“From today, an etiquette teacher will instruct you. And I’ve also called the madam of the boutique shop that the young ladies of the capital are crazy about.”

The man curled up the corners of his mouth towards the dumbfounded Adeline.

“Do you understand? I’m telling you to comply obediently. So as not to irritate me.”

With that threat.

Until then, Adeline couldn’t have imagined such a situation would be created.

It was shameful enough that a marquis’s daughter had become a mistress.

But she didn’t expect the duke to subtly disrespect Adeline by attaching an etiquette teacher, or deliberately order dresses in designs that noble young ladies would never wear.

That he would try to torment her.

‘Ah. No wonder.’

It had seemed strange from the start when he said he would rescue her so readily.

The Iron Duke, who was no different from a cold-blooded man. There was no way he would have forgiven Adeline, who had essentially deceived such a duke.

But perhaps knowing that Adeline couldn’t fight back, the duke’s torment intensified day by day.

Adeline had stopped in front of the dining room before she knew it. The head maid following behind went ahead and opened the dining room door.

What kind of fault would he find today and how would he corner her?

Already feeling hopeless, she tightly closed her eyes as the door opened.

“You’ve come.”

As the sound of a chair being pulled back was heard, followed by a gentle voice in her ear, Adeline opened her eyes.

The duke, who had approached without her noticing, embraced her waist.

“My beautiful Del, lovely as always.”

He buried his face in the crook of Adeline’s neck.

Every time Casius’s lips parted, the hot breath that escaped tickled Adeline’s neck.

It was maddening.

Whenever he touched her like this, she was reminded of the nights spent at the villa.

Adeline frowned as she felt her body begin to heat up without her realizing it.

There were numerous maids and servants positioned behind her.

“I’m quite pleased with the dress. My Del, it seems to highlight your beauty perfectly, I’m very satisfied.”

He fondled Adeline as if completely unconcerned about people’s gazes.

Deliberately uttering words tinged with harassment.

Knowing it was all to torment her.

While feeling unbearably ashamed by his actions, Adeline hated herself for getting aroused at his touch.

She despised and disliked the man before her, but at the same time, she was troubled by memories of Mel surfacing.

As her heart became confused, Adeline pushed him away.

“…Stop it.”

Adeline tried to escape from the duke’s embrace.

“Stop what? Ah, are you embarrassed by people’s gazes? My Del says she’s embarrassed, so everyone withdraw.”

At Casius’s order to leave, the servants who had been standing by left the dining room.

As the open door closed and it became just the two of them, the duke’s smile instantly vanished.

“What are you doing? I told you to fulfill your responsibilities as a mistress.”

He returned to being Casius, the Iron Duke, as if nothing had happened.

“What… why are you doing this? How could you make me wear clothes like this, Mel!”

The man before her was Mel, who had spent a season with her, before being Duke Torpeo.

Adeline was distressed seeing the duke doing things Mel would never do without hesitation.

Surely Mel’s feelings for her had been sincere. Was this the price for betraying his sincerity?

Adeline’s emotions welled up.

It would be easier if he just accused her of deceiving and betraying him.

But the man doesn’t do that. Even though his heart must not be at ease doing this either.

“You’re not this kind of person… Right? Please stop now. I’m sorry.”

“……”

“It’s all fine. I’ll atone sufficiently by staying by your side. So can’t you stop this?”

The duke looked at Adeline and crossed his arms.

Adeline grabbed the sleeve of the duke and pleaded. But the words she heard were not the answer she wanted.

“Atonement, good. Fulfilling your role as my mistress without fail is the atonement I want from you.”

“……”

“I’d like you to wear the dress I gifted at the upcoming banquet with the local nobles. So follow Madame Violeta’s instructions.”

‘A banquet attended by nobles?’

Adeline froze, unable to believe her ears even after hearing it.

“You’re… going to present me at the banquet?”

Adeline’s voice trembled uncontrollably as she questioned him.

She trembled so much that she had to hide her shaking fingertips between the folds of her dress.

“Of course you must attend, as it’s an occasion to introduce my mistress.”

Casius reached out and caressed Adeline’s cheek.

Even though he knew Adeline was trembling.

“I want Del to be more beautiful than anyone else that day. Since it’s the day I’ll be showcasing my flower.”

When he showed a cruel smile, her world was engulfed in despair.