For Melly, dealing with Countess Fraise and her entourage required a considerable amount of energy.

Their manner of speech that subtly reminded her of their different backgrounds in a sophisticated tone, their attitudes that implicitly disregarded her level of refinement—she was almost exhausted every time she had to confront them.

She had come prepared for the same today. However…

“……”

The ladies’ gazes and attitudes were far from dismissive.

As soon as they sat in the drawing room of the Fraise estate, the Countess asked with sparkling eyes.

“I heard that the Renysis villa is becoming the lady’s property, is that right?”

Until she heard it from the Countess’s mouth, Melly had not even remembered that fact.

The memory of that moment had completely vanished along with the letter she had burned.

But now she remembered.

‘Instead of not being able to watch the sunset, I’ll give you the Renysis villa as originally planned.’

That was what he had said that day.

Jeina had assured her that owning that villa would make the noble ladies’ attitudes toward her do a complete 180. Melly had thought there was no way they would act so transparently, but Jeina was right.

“Lady Pelton, how is your skin so beautiful? Please share your secret with us.”

“Don’t just visit Marchioness Andert’s residence, come to our house as well.”

“The upcoming trend is said to be simple, practical, yet elegant attire. Just like Lady Pelton.”

They were all flattery in different forms, wanting to borrow the right to use the villa.

To think that kindness could be obtained in such a way.

Melly barely suppressed a bitter laugh that threatened to burst out.

However, that didn’t mean the feeling of being treated well was bad in itself. Even if it was goodwill built on a flimsy foundation, it was better than being treated as invisible.

Melly decided to enjoy the moment.

The ladies who no longer showed hostility were quite lovely beings. They were as red-cheeked and kind as young girls, and their witty responses were pleasant.

Realizing that the tea party, which she had always found difficult, could be this enjoyable felt like a novel feeling.

However, Melly had developed a habit of keenly observing people after being cruelly betrayed by her old friends.

She took a step back from the feeling of becoming complacent and studied the ladies.

And she discovered that even when the noble ladies spoke as if they were giving valuable information, they actually kept the truly important things hidden and never revealed them.

Although they seemed honest, they never brought up anything that would be detrimental to them, and no matter how much they uttered words of praise for the other person, it was based on the premise of ‘I’m still far better than you.’

She could also see that there were actually several factions among the ladies who appeared to be one group.

So when one person started to boast, she could see someone else exchanging glances with a look that seemed to say, ‘Here we go again.’

‘So this is what high society is like.’

Elegant and beautiful, yet a high-end brooch that would pierce your heart the moment you let your guard down.

The important thing was not to fully reveal yourself.

When hurtful words came, one should not be hurt but smile and return the words with thorns.

Melly now knew that fact. And she gradually began to gain confidence.

Eida’s expression was full of anger when she returned from the luncheon with the elderly ladies.

‘I heard that your son has decided to give the Renysis villa to your daughter-in-law? How can that be? Shouldn’t it have become Eida’s before the daughter-in-law?’

‘Of course. This is unacceptable. Eida has devoted so much care to managing that place.’

‘I heard that the entire social circle is abuzz with that story. It seems the daughter-in-law is openly talking about it. The noble ladies are flattering her so much to get the right to vacation at that villa.’

“That wench.”

Eida threw her handbag down in irritation.

‘Even if Edric gives it to her, she said she wouldn’t accept it, that the villa belongs to you, putting on all sorts of good acts. But behind your back, she’s talking to the noble ladies like that?’

She felt her insides twisting to an unbearable degree.

From the wallpaper and furniture to every tree stump in the garden, there was no place in the Renysis villa that Eida’s touch had not reached. She had managed and supervised the place with meticulous care, incomparable to her other properties.

But now…

‘He’s giving the villa I’ve cherished so much to that thing? To that lowly beggar?’

Eida’s face, panting with anger, was far from the image of the benevolent mother she had built up.

But suddenly, her deeply furrowed brow relaxed, and fear began to take its place on her face.

‘The villa isn’t the problem.’

The bigger issue was the Duke’s entire estate falling into that girl’s hands.

Edric would undoubtedly give that fox the immense authority that even she herself had never dared to grasp.

The villa was just the beginning.

‘I can’t let that happen.’

Eida narrowed her eyes and bit her lower lip hard.

‘Who does Melissa Pelton think she is?’

That wench is Melly Enwood.

The offspring that the noble daughter Jasmine Bland conceived after being enticed by a man who was only half-decent in looks and useless in every way.

A failure that inherited only the worst of her mother and father.

Embodying her mother’s poor appearance and her father’s vulgarity, with immense potential for depravity.

She couldn’t let the ducal household be completely taken away by such a thing.

‘I must hurry.’

Eida’s eyes gleamed as sharp as an awl.

“It’s me, dear.”

Melly’s small voice could be heard from beyond the door.

Edric closed the book he was reading and took off his glasses.

“Come in,” he said, rubbing his eyebrow with his index finger.

The door opened cautiously, and Melly entered, neatly dressed.

From her hesitant approach, Edric guessed the reason for her visit.

“Um, about the Renysis villa…”

‘Just as I thought.’

His prediction was correct. She had come to reproach him for prematurely announcing the plan to transfer ownership of the villa to others.

‘You shouldn’t have done that. It’s not even decided yet, but you announced it to people.’

Then he would give her another firm answer. He would have to feel the unpleasant feeling of being a scoundrel again.

He didn’t want to spend his leisure time, having come home early for once, in such a disagreeable state.

He cut off Melly’s words.

“If you’re here to refuse the villa again, you can leave now.”

“……”

Melly swallowed what she was about to say and widened her eyes. That innocent expression further irritated Edric.

“What’s so unsatisfactory? Is transferring the villa’s ownership to my wife something that goes against propriety? To be honest, I think you’re the one benefiting the most from this matter.”

Edric knew that Melly’s status had risen among the people of high society because of the villa.

That was what he had hoped for. And he had also hoped that Melly would realize the value of this immense privilege.

But it seemed she still didn’t understand.

She would cite propriety and ask him to postpone the decision, and then ask for some trivial gift instead.

“There’s nothing I’m unhappy about.”

“……”

“I also know how much I’m benefiting. That’s why I came to express my gratitude to you.”

Edric looked at her with a surprised expression at the words that completely deviated from his expectations. Melly continued with a smile.

“Thanks to you, my relationships with people have also improved. I’m starting to find high society enjoyable now.”

“……I’m glad to hear that.”

Edric’s response came a beat late, unlike his usual self.

He felt strange.

What Melly was saying now was the answer he had hoped for until a moment ago. He had wanted her to stop being so righteous and fully enjoy the wealth and benefits given to her, to realize the joy of leading people.

But for some reason…

Now that it had actually happened, he felt that strange feeling again. Just like last time.

‘I will now faithfully fulfill my role as the Duchess.’

Just like that day, Melly seemed unfamiliar to him. No, she seemed like the pretentious and boring high society women he had grown tired of seeing.

Melly, whose true nature was unknown to him, spoke to Edric with an even brighter smile.

“Oh, I heard that the World Exposition has been moved up from the planned date, is that right?”

“……”

“Please let me know what I should do there. I’ll practice thoroughly so I don’t make any mistakes. I’m confident this time.”

She finished her words, elegantly lifting her chin.

That appearance was the very embodiment of the dignified Duchess he had long envisioned in his mind. When he decided to marry Melly, he had vowed to make her exactly like that.

Now that wish had been realized.

But like seeing a result with cracked surfaces after firing pottery with the wrong materials, the feeling Edric got from Melly was also strangely unfamiliar and alien.

With an odd sense of rejection, he impulsively crossed the line.

“There’s no need for that.”

“……”

“It helps for you to stay at home.”

At that moment, the smile disappeared from Melly’s face. And a sad and gloomy air began to spread from her eyes and mouth to her entire face. Edric despised himself for blurting out thoughtlessly, to the point of wanting to kill himself, but on the other hand, he felt relieved.

‘Now you look a bit more like a living person.’

But Melly’s fracture quickly mended. She said with a smile.

“I understand. I’ll do that.”

“……”

“As you wish, I will gather the ladies who are not attending and hold a small luncheon. The ladies will all love it.”

Edric’s relief vanished as quickly as Melly’s fracture.

Melly quietly withdrew with a smile on her face, and Edric lit a cigar, unable to bear the suffocating feeling.

The white smoke erased Melly’s afterimage.