The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 21

In the end, the Marchioness of Ivern took Elina into the busy shopping district, hoping a change of scenery would help lift her spirits. The streets were lively, and the weather was bright and pleasant.

But even then, the Marchioness couldn’t shake the memories of Sasha. The thought of her lingered, refusing to fade.

Even after learning that the Duke had chosen Sasha, Elina kept denying it. No one could understand the source of her confidence, but she clearly believed things would turn out in her favor.

“Mother, the designer here recently came from the capital. Let’s check this boutique.”

Just the idea of buying a new dress had already improved Elina’s mood. When the Marchioness smiled and nodded, Elina quickly pulled Charlotte with her and rushed inside.

Once Elina disappeared from sight, the Marchioness found herself returning to thoughts of Sasha.

The Ivern family had not been formally invited to the wedding. They had gone anyway, hoping to conceal that fact. So when an invitation from the Duke’s estate arrived, she hadn’t believed it was genuine. She was convinced it was some kind of trap Sasha had prepared.

If Sasha truly wanted peace, she would have lived her life quietly. Why reach out and invite them to the estate?

On the map, the Ivern and Ignote territories appeared close, but a mountain range divided them, making the actual journey much longer and more difficult.

“Why not? Why can’t I go? I will go. I’ll go there, crush that girl, and see the Duke while I’m at it.”

The moment Elina saw the invitation, she reacted without hesitation. Even if it was a trap, the idea of backing down was unacceptable to her.

In the end, her determination led them to accept the invitation. The Marchioness had no intention of letting the Duke become directly involved, but she could not stop Elina either.

On the morning of their visit, the carriage sent by the Duke’s estate was grand and luxurious. Just seeing it made them feel slightly intimidated before they even left.

“Welcome. It must have been a long journey.”

When they arrived, Sasha was not the same girl they remembered.

Her cheeks were rounder, glowing with health. Her once dry and uneven hair now had a golden shine.

But the most surprising change was in her manner. She smiled and greeted them warmly in a gentle voice, occasionally glancing at them with cautious eyes.

The Marchioness could only give a short reply and fell into silence. Her suspicions grew even stronger. She had doubted Sasha from the beginning, and now that doubt only deepened.

“This color is very popular right now, My Lady. And with your golden hair, it suits you perfectly.”

The boutique’s designer laughed softly and flattered Elina, guiding her through the shop with practiced ease. The Marchioness found a seat on the sofa and sat down to rest.

Elina usually took at least half a day when shopping for clothes. She liked to try on multiple outfits and pick accessories to match. Knowing this, the Marchioness simply watched without getting involved.

Back at the estate, Sasha had seemed a bit unsure, as if waiting for them to say something. It felt like she was hoping for a conversation, or at least a civil exchange.

“Was the journey difficult for you?”

“It’s a shame Father couldn’t come. I think he would have liked to visit.”

During the meal, Sasha tried once more to speak. She asked how they were doing and even referred to the Duke as “Father,” which was something she had never done before.

The Marchioness pressed her lips together, trying to stay alert. Elina frowned and asked with a sharp tone, “Did she really say that?”

From that point on, Sasha’s expression lost its warmth. She looked more guarded.

What was she planning by inviting them here? She didn’t seem ready to argue, but they couldn’t relax either. The meal ended quietly. Afterwards, they moved to the garden for tea.

“Mother, look at these. Which one suits me better, the yellow dress or the green one?”

Both colors reflected the freshness of the season. After a short pause, the Marchioness answered.

“I think the green one.”

“Okay, got it.”

Elina smiled, picked up both dresses, and walked off cheerfully. Watching her enjoy herself for once brought the Marchioness a bit of relief.

But the real problem happened in the garden. While Sasha tried to help Elina with something, their hands bumped, and the teapot tipped over.

The water inside had just been replaced, so it was still hot. The Marchioness immediately reached toward Elina in concern.

Fortunately, Elina was not seriously hurt. Most of the tea had spilled on her dress, not her skin. But Sasha seemed to have gotten the worst of it. Her hand had been splashed, and she left quickly to treat the burn.

No one said anything. Since Sasha excused herself right away, there seemed to be no reason to follow her.

The Marchioness had hoped that would be the end of it. But Elina stood up, furious, and marched off in the direction Sasha had gone.

Not long after, Elina returned. She was breathing hard, still angry. In contrast, Sasha returned moments later with a perfectly calm expression.

The visit ended just like that. Sasha had the final word. Her calm but sharp words brought the meeting to a close as if she were pushing them out of her space.

Something about it still felt strange. If she had confronted them from the start, if she had been cold or accusatory, it would have made more sense. But the Sasha who greeted them had been completely different.

“Mother, I’ve decided on this dress.”

“Oh? I thought you were going to pick the green one.”

Elina appeared suddenly, now fully dressed in a deep navy gown. It wasn’t the yellow or green one she had shown earlier.

“Yes, but I think this one suits me better than the green. What do you think? Does it look good?”

Coming out today had been the right choice. Elina smiled brightly as she moved through the boutique in the dress she had chosen, now excited to find accessories to match.

On the way back in the carriage, the Marchioness finally heard what had happened during their visit.

“Mother, do you know what she said to me? She told me that no one can be taken away so easily, that I must not know anything about the Duke. She was completely dismissive of me.”

Elina, who had held it in during the visit, now burst out in frustration. Her voice trembled, and her eyes were filled with tears.

The way she mentioned being dismissed again reminded the Marchioness of what Elina had said before, about Sasha taking something that belonged to her. No matter how baseless it sounded, Elina was convinced.

“She told me to protect my lovely image, that I shouldn’t become some villain who ruins her marriage.”

The Marchioness, who had been focusing on the larger picture, paused at this part. Something felt off.

If Sasha had simply been full of pent-up anger after being mistreated, if she had exploded after years of silence, then such words might have made sense. But the Sasha they had known wasn’t that type. She was the kind of girl who, no matter how poorly treated, still thought of family.

Yet both her words and her attitude seemed to come from a completely different person. It was hard to believe this was the same girl.

The Marchioness suddenly felt the urge to ask Elina something. What made her believe that Sasha had stolen the Duke? Why was she so sure that she had lost something that was rightfully hers?

“Mother, I’ve picked everything I want. Aren’t you going to buy anything for yourself?”

Elina had returned to her usual cheerful self.

The Marchioness had done everything to protect that smile. She had tried so hard to give her daughter happiness, and yet things kept slipping out of her control.

“Elina, did you know that Duke Kyler likes deep navy? The new designer at the boutique told me. She once visited the Duke’s household and found that out there.”

As they left the boutique arm in arm, Elina whispered this with a bright smile. The Marchioness hadn’t expected such details to come up. Watching her daughter smiling as she spoke about Kyler only made her heart feel heavier.

“Elina, Duke Kyler is already married. I think it’s time to let go and look toward someone else. What about the prince from the Winaph Kingdom? I heard he’s very charming. What do you think?”

The Marchioness asked gently, concerned for her daughter. The prince had actually been one of their secondary options after the Duke. The Winaph Kingdom was not far from Ivern, and its atmosphere was more open and relaxed, making it a comfortable place to send her daughter.

They had seen the prince during the empire’s festival. He had made quite the impression with his handsome appearance. In many ways, he could be considered a better match than the Duke.

But Elina frowned slightly. The Marchioness studied her face closely. Something was clearly bothering her, though she said nothing right away.

It wasn’t until they were in the carriage again that Elina finally spoke.

“Mother.”

Her voice was quiet, the excitement from earlier already fading. As the carriage began to move, she looked up and met her mother’s eyes.

“After seeing Duke Kyler in person, I realized just how amazing he is. That’s why I want to wait for a chance.”

“A chance?”

Elina smiled in a way that was difficult to read. It was as if she was holding onto a secret she wouldn’t share, and she said nothing more.

“Just promise me you won’t do anything reckless. I only want you to be happy.”

Hearing her mother’s honest words, Elina’s eyes sparkled as she replied.

“I will, Mother. I’m going to be happy.”

There was something about her voice that felt like a quiet vow. The Marchioness could not shake the strange feeling it left behind.

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