Bala: The Duke's Contract Wife

Trouble on the First Day

The fire began to engulf Rose. The immeasurable pain snaked through her entire body. Smoke began to enter her lungs. Her chest was tight. She needed to breathe. She needed fresh air. She needed–

Rose jerked up from her slumber. She breathed in the air, using her mouth, as much as she could. Her heart was still running fast because of her recurrent nightmare. It kept haunting her. Cold sweat poured from her temples and back.

Just a dream.

Wiping the sweat on her face, she tried to regulate her breathing.

Just a dream.

She looked at the room's window, covered in velvet curtains on the right side of the room. There was a slit in the curtains where sunlight entered her room.

Before long, the sound of the room door being knocked on was heard.

"Your Grace?" called the person behind the door. She recognized it as Lisa's voice. "Are you awake?"

"Yes," she replied, "Just wait outside. I'm going to take a shower and get dressed."

"Al– all right...," said Lisa hesitantly, "Bu– but allow me to set up your new clothes."

"New clothes?"

"Yes, Your Grace. Yesterday the Duke ordered dozens of outdoor and indoor dresses from various boutiques in Maraina. The dresses just came in this morning. Let me arrange it in your closet."

Dresses? Did Victor buy me dresses?

"All right."

Lisa opened the room door slowly after Rose finished wearing her mask. She was accompanied by another maid Rose didn't know and Kit, carrying two crates containing dresses, accessories, perfumes, and shoes. In quiet, they began to put the items in the cabinets in Rose's room, filling the void in the large wooden furniture.

"There will be three more crates coming this afternoon–"

"Three more crates??" Rose's question cut through Lisa's words.

"Y– Yes... One crate for one season. But special for the winter season, the Duke bought two crates for you."

Rose was too surprised to hear that. How could she not?

Is this the same man standing in front of the altar yesterday?

This was the first time she had trouble reading someone. She couldn't understand why the man who seemed unsatisfied with her last night would buy her more clothes... Why did the man buy five crates of clothes and accessories for her?

Is this a bribe like Rendre used to give me? Or is he trying to make a new fashion statement? What is the message he wants to convey by doing this?

After finishing the arrangement, the three maids excused themselves from the room, leaving two empty crates. Rose was in no hurry to wash her body and wear one of the dresses the Duke bought her. She must admit that the material of the dresses in Maraina feels thicker. It felt much warmer on the body than the dresses from Ellyseria in this cold weather. And when Rose observed the dresses carefully, she saw a variety, both in terms of color and style of the cut. But everything was actually... comfortable to wear. In fact, there were also three hunting and riding outfits complete with matching leather boots.

Rose decided to wear a dark blue dress and shoes in matching colors. No accessories.

Then she waltzed out of her room, ready to storm the day as the Duchess of Maraina.

***

As Rose predicted, Adrian was already waiting in front of her room. "Your Grace," greeted the old man.

After Rose nodded, Adrian continued, "Young Master Paul wants to know if you'll join him for breakfast?"

That made Rose raise one eyebrow. Yet she continued to wait for the butler to continue his reports. But Adrian kept quiet.

"That's it?" she asked finally.

The old butler looked confused by her reaction.

"Give me the financial statements of this residence in the past year," she said flatly.

"Wh– what?"

"Financial statements. I'm the Duchess of Maraina now. My job includes monitoring the finances that come in and out of this residence, doesn't it?"

"Y– you're right," continued Adrian, "But usually the Duchess hands over the task to me and Madam Gina."

Rose frowned at the statement. "Who?"

"Madam Gina. She is the head maid and is appointed as Young Master Paul's educator, and she handles the finances on the east wing. I myself take care of the administration and finances of the west wing and the central building."

The west wing was a collection of buildings that include Rose's quarter. The east wing was where Paul Maraina, or Victor's son, lived. Finally, the central building was where Rose signed the wedding contract in Damian's office as well as where the wedding took place.

"This Gina... Why haven't I received her greeting?"

"Ah... Uhm...." Seeing Adrian stuttered, one corner of her mouth slightly quirked upwards. She just found something interesting. It hadn't been a day since she became a Duchess, and she had found a problem.

"How long has Gina been working here to the point that she is entrusted to educate Young Master Paul?"

"Madam Gina was the late Duchess's longtime educator. She's been like a real mother to Lady Elise. So Lady Elise set her up as Young Master Paul's educator as well."

"Hmm." she saw that Adrian was starting to behave more rigidly. "And as the head butler, you didn't reprimand her for not greeting me? The new Duchess?"

"Madam Gina said, you've met her during the wedding dress adjustment..."

Ah...

Rose was reminded of the middle-aged servant who Paul hid behind on the day she tried her wedding dress. At that time, she did not pay much attention to the servant. But upon recalling, she remembered that the servant looked at Rose with a gloomy facial expression.

"Bring me the financial statements from all Maraina residences; from the east wing to the west wing," Rose said firmly.

The butler jumped a little when he heard the command. But the old man ended up bowing, "At your service, Your Grace."

Before Adrian actually came out of Rose's living room, the old man again asked, "Does this mean you won't have breakfast with Young Master Paull?"

"Does Gina know Paul asked me to have breakfast with him?" she asked curiously.

"Uh... I don't think so...," continued Adrian, "Young Master Paul just whispered it to me when I passed by."

Rose didn't nod or shake her head. Instead, she let the silence stretch in the room. She could also feel that Lisa who was still in the same room as them starting to shift her body restlessly. The weight of Rose's gaze must have made the room's atmosphere heavier. Finally, Adrian excused himself to get out of the room.

As Adrian left the room to pick up the financial book, Rose began to think.

Didn't Victor insist on Rose carrying out her duties as a Duchess? But if the old Duchess handed over her obligations to someone else... Why did Victor demand Rose to take over?

Why now?

Is this a test?

No. Victor didn't seem to be the type to play people like such.

Or is there something going on in this residence that Victor doesn't know about?

More precisely, Damian most likely had guessed that something was going on under his nose but could never prove anything. So, he secretly wanted to test if Rose could help him?

Or... Is this all a trap?

"Lisa," called Rose. "Can I trust you?" Her red eyes stared at Lisa like a predator cornering a little mouse. Even though Rose was sitting behind her desk and Lisa was standing, it was clear during their staring contest that Rose was the winner. The natural color of her eyes did have a gripping effect on anyone who looks at her.

A line of sweat appeared on Lisa's temple. "Of– of course, Your Grace. I am assigned to serve you."

"You don't have to lie, Lisa," Rose said casually, "Your loyalty lies with the Duke of Maraina. Not me."

Lisa began to shudder to hear her words. Her legs stepped back slowly. The girl broke their gaze.

"Don't be afraid, Lisa." Rose placed her chin on the palms of her hands on her study table. "I don't have a problem with that. Instead, I will ask you to prove that loyalty."

"Tell me about Gina and Adrian. How do you honestly see them?"

***

The light from the window was getting hotter, indicating that the day had turned to afternoon. Rose had just finished reviewing all the financial data and staff of the mansion. At first, she was only determined to read the financial records of the past year. But then she decided to review all records for the last three years.

Sixteen books were piled up on her desk. While twenty-two books were stacked on the floor. Actually, while she focused on reading the financial reports as well as reports on staff hiring and dismissal, she was actually waiting for someone to show herself.

Yes, she was waiting for Gina to come and greet her. She didn't know what to expect from meeting this Madam Gina. But as the mansion's head maid, Gina was supposed to greet Rose as a form of respect.

However, until late evening, the woman had not yet shown her face.

After asking Lisa, Rose knew that Adrian and Gina were very effective in their work. But Gina, especially, was much more assertive in punishing the servants. There were rumors circulating that Gina had fired maids for no reason at all, the incidence was more than one. Because of the rumors, the maids became afraid of Gina. They tried hard not to upset her.

"What do you think of Gina as Young Master Paul's educator?" she asked Lisa after she finished checking the last financial book.

No anomalies are clearly visible in the numbers...

"Uhm... She's also... very strict," Lisa replied. "Madam Gina said that the education of the nobles should be firm and solid. There is a reason why nobility is more...."

Rose gave Lisa an encouraging stare to continue.

"... more successful than ordinary people. Madam Gina said it was because from childhood they were much more disciplined. Does the Duchess want to see for herself?"

"Is that possible?"

"Young Master Paul has a sword training scheduled this afternoon. Madam Gina always watches over the Young Master whenever he exercises. The Duchess may be able to visit."

Rose took in that suggestion. Nothing's wrong with just seeing, right?

She nodded at Lisa, who then proceeded to guide Rose to the east wing. Rose must pass through the central building first to enter the east wing.

Just a few steps from the first hallway on the east wing, Rose suddenly pulled Lisa behind a pillar under the stairs. To a quiet, dark corner.

"Hurry," she whispered to her maid, "Swap your clothes with me."

"Your Gra–" Rose shut Lisa's mouth with her hand before the maid cried out loud when she heard the sound of feet climbing the stairs above them. After the sound subsided, Rose again whispered, "Do what I say and I'll reward you."

Seeing Lisa's eyes still emitting doubts, Rose pulled Lisa's left hand and touched Lisa's fingers. There was a lighter line of skin than the rest of her skin. A mark of a ring removed. "Living with a child without a husband must be difficult, right? If you don't obey me, I have to fire you."

Rose's question hit Lisa hard. The maid widened her eyes. But in just a few seconds, Lisa nodded to Rose. The two girls exchanged their clothes quickly.

When Rose took off her mask and gave it to Lisa, the maid was surprised to see her real face. The maids in the residence had been speculating about Rose's ugly appearance, and Lisa heard those rumors too. So Lisa's jaw fell open when she saw the entirety of Rose's face.

Because Rose's face was very beautiful, even though they were in the dark and Lisa had to squint a little to see the Duchess's whole face. Lisa's eyes then quickly focused on the wounds embedded in Rose's two cheeks.

"Just wait here," Rose said, "I'll be back after ten minutes."

"Wa–"

Without waiting for Lisa's reply, Rose stepped out from behind the pillars and into the light. She walked without looking back, her back straight, confident even when wearing a maids outfit.

Along the way, she noticed that the east wing building was slightly different from the west and central wing buildings. The marble floors had various cracks in some places and the pillars had moss.

She again avoided catching the gaze of one maid who was walking in the opposite direction from her. Not because her face would be recognized, but because her eyes were so striking due to their red color. People with red irises were very rare.

Rose bowed her head as she passed several other maids and butlers, avoiding eye contact all the time. At a rapid pace, she entered the east wing hallway. After making sure there was no one near the premises, Rose then climbed the stairs to the second floor.

The second floor in the east wing was actually very quiet. She searched for the room Lisa had described as being Jina's office. Once she found the room, she removed two hairpins from her hair and inserted them into the door locks. Skillfully, her fingers play the two pins to unlock the key gears from the inside.

CLICK

The door opened instantly. She gave a final glance into the hallway.

Satisfied that no one would see her, she slipped into the darkness of the room.

Rose laughed amusedly in her heart right then.

It hasn't been a day since I became a Duchess, and I've sneaked into my own mansion like this.