‘So stylish.’

‘I’ve never seen that style before.’

Did that style become popular in the capital without them knowing about it?

They forgot about all their ego and stared at Rubica in a daze. Some of them who were much older recalled the former duchess, Edgar’s grandmother, who had resided in that mansion so long ago. It made them feel strange.

“Then, Ms. Berner, you must be tired after riding the carriage all night. Let me take you to your room. You can rest there.”

Now Ann had nothing to be worried about. Therefore, she took Rubica’s arm and started to walk away. When they reached the front door, the doorman opened it and the servants all returned to their posts.

“Your hairstyle is so lovely. How did you think of braiding it like that? You must tell me how to do it later.”

Ann kept twittering like a bird, so Rubica let her talk while looking at the interior of the Claymore Mansion. The overwhelming wealth dumbfounded her. Overall calm colors had been used to shun the luxury, but money had been spent without hesitation in the details that only those with discerning eyes could recognize.

Rubica was so impressed at seeing that each door had unique doorknobs that matched together well, and the reliefs on the walls in the shape of baby nymphs were all in different poses.

Who had decorated the house like this?

Whoever it had been, that person must have had a great sense of beauty. Duke Claymore? Carl the butler? Or Ann the housekeeper? However, judging from the clothes they wore, it was hard to think they had such a taste.

‘And the curtains seem to be silk… they must be hard to take care of, but they have no wrinkles.’

On their way, Ann told her about each part of the mansion.

“That room is the working place of the seamstresses. They will make and embroider your clothes. They have all been working as seamstresses for at least 20 years.”

“20 years? How many of them are there?”

Rubica wanted to run into the room immediately, but she restrained herself and asked a simple question.

“Currently, there are five. I am planning to hire about 4 more as you are here now.”

Seamstresses good at sewing were hard to find. Those with a long career sometimes get paid even more than the housekeeper. Ann already had 5 of them, but she was saying she would get 4 more, but Rubica wasn’t delighted at this. She started to worry.

‘… will I be able to make this family go bankrupt even if I spend all the money?’

Rubica had always led a simple life, so her confidence started to fade.

‘No! Nevertheless, the Claymore Family must have followed the virtue of the Seritos Kingdom. Look, although this carpet on the floor is expensive, its pattern and colors are modest. There must be some things to spend money on if I try hard to find them.’

Ann didn’t know what Rubica was thinking. Instead, she was just delighted to see Rubica look around with wide eyes like a country girl.

‘Eddie needs someone so warm and innocent.’

Edgar was the smartest and the coldest Duke Claymore ever. That’s what the world knew. However, Ann remembered how he had been when his parents had been alive. He had been excessively smart and a little cold, but he had been a bright young man. After his parents’ death, he lost laughter and became a cold, cold man.

***

Everyone in the mansion had been shocked when Edgar suddenly announced he was going to propose to a baronetess a week ago.

Rubica Berner.

They had never heard of that name before.

A woman who didn’t have enough to belong to the society in the capital. In addition to that, she was too old. After a series of objections and discussions, the Claymore Family had to hold a meeting with relatives. Ann had also been present at the meeting as her late husband had been a Taylor and therefore a member of Claymore Family.

It was an important matter. The mansions’ hall was already full of people around noon. However, Edgar, the topic of this meeting, didn’t show up.

“Where is His Grace?”

“He is on his way from the king’s castle.”

“How long does he think he can have us waiting?”

They started to get angry, and the servants and Ann had to do their best to calm them down. Edgar only came when the sun went down and darkness started to fall. He sat on the Claymore’s Chair, closed his eyes, and savored his relatives’ rough protests and objections.

After that fuss, he just spoke one sentence in a low voice.

“I will not get married to any other woman.”

At that moment, Ann could see a few people who couldn’t hold back their joy. Foolish men who believed they would be able to succeed Edgar if he died without leaving an heir.

Ann pitied Edgar. A lot. Edgar had a huge burden, his title, and duties, on his shoulder at such a young age. Moreover, he didn’t even have parents to help him and guide him. His adult relatives only spoke for their own good, they were never going to help him.

“If you object this marriage to the end, I will remain unmarried for the rest of my life. I will also choose Joseph as my heir.”

Silence fell in the hall. Even Ann was so shocked that she almost dropped her handkerchief.

“Your Grace! He does not have the blood of the Claymore family.”

“Have you gotten senile at such a young age?”

Edgar listened to his relatives’ protests without blinking an eye.

“Has any of you-”

Edgar started to slowly speak. The tone of his voice was low, but it was heard rather well in the uproarious room. The people from the Claymore Family started to listen when he started to talk. Edgar was a young duke at the age of 25, but he had already conquered the family.

“… graduated from the academy summa cum laude?”

In an instant, everyone became silent. Edgar was the only person in the Claymore Family who had graduated from the academy early as the top student and had been called ‘the genius of our times’ by the professors.

“The Claymore Family didn’t get its honor because its bloodline was great!”

Edgar stared at his relatives one by one with his cold blue eyes.

His eyes had an overwhelming power that made others look away. They felt like that gaze could even look into their cells.

“We invented great weapons that work with mana stones. We brought abundance to the Seritos Kingdom. We saved its people. The people’s food depends on what the Claymores invent in that year. This family is enjoying great privileges not because of its bloodline. Not at all. If I don’t get any heir, it would be right for Joseph, the best scientist and inventor next to me, to succeed me as the duke.”

That was a shocking decision that made no sense. However, the people of the Claymore Family knew the king was going to be more than happy to grant it if the duke made that request. It wasn’t entirely impossible, either. Joseph could become Edgar’s adoptive son and get a nymph’s blessing.

“Okay, Rubica Berner. Um, she is most certainly not good enough for this family. She grew up in a merchant’s home. She is way too old and doesn’t even have a dowry.” Zilehan, who had been listening quietly, suddenly spoke. You could see his beard moving while he continued to say, “But Edgar, why would it matter if you love her? Is Duke Claymore going to be stingy and bother about his wife’s dowry?”

With a heavy heart, Edgar realized Zilehan had finished thinking before speaking. It would be better for Edgar’s child to succeed him than to have Joseph become the heir.

It was much more likely for them to get what they wanted.

“Now now, let’s not be so narrow-minded.”

“But…”

“And, according to this report, Rubica Berner’s late mother was the second daughter of Count Lamina. You must know how distinguished the Lamina Family is. I’m sure she didn’t neglect her daughter’s education.”

Edgar didn’t like what Zilehan was doing but, as it was helpful to him, he let him. Those who had objected at first decided it would be better to care more about what they would get than worry about the family’s reputation.

Plus, it would be better for them to have a woman from a tenuous family to become the duchess. They thought it would let them have more control over the family’s many businesses.

“I do worry about the gap of the rank, but as Ms. Berner is the daughter of a baronet, she is clearly a lady.

“If His Grace loves her so much…

“What kind of tragedy would it be if he cannot marry the woman he loves just because he is Duke Claymore?

“Let us all support His Grace’s love.”

Now, Edgar had been turned into a romantic guy who had given his heart to Rubica Berner. In their perspective, there couldn’t be another reason for the duke to marry such a lowly woman. Edgar looked at them coldly.

‘What a nice excuse.’

When the word ‘love’ was added to such an irrational business, it all became so probable. Edgar decided to use that misunderstanding when he went to the king to get the special permission.

“I love her.”

That short sentence was enough to fool everyone except for one person, Rubica herself.