The Survival Strategy of the Contract Duchess - Chapter 29

“Let’s see how long you can stay shameless after stealing someone else’s place like that.”

“Are you still talking about that?”

Sasha never imagined Elina could be this persistent. It was surprising how obsessed she seemed with the same accusation.

Even now, despite Sasha’s calm reaction, Elina just smiled, as if nothing could bother her.

Sasha wasn’t sure what Elina was up to, but she had a strong feeling she should prepare for something. Whatever it was, it didn’t seem harmless.

“I didn’t steal anything. So yes, from your perspective, I will continue to be shameless. Don’t act so carelessly. I’m warning you not to do anything that would put the Duke in a difficult position. Because I won’t stay quiet if you do.”

Sasha didn’t know what Elina was planning, but the moment she tried to interfere in her relationship with Kyler, it would become something Kyler had to deal with. That would only cause trouble for everyone.

It was best to talk things out now and try to settle them.

“You won’t stay quiet? I came to tell you this because I think someone like you, who’s just living in the Duke’s mansion, is getting far too arrogant.”

If Kyler wasn’t on her side, then just as Elina said, Sasha would have been completely alone. She had never even approached high society, and she had no connections to the nobility.

But more than anything, the strongest support she had was Kyler. And Elina clearly didn’t want to accept that.

“I’m not just someone who eats and sleeps in the Duke’s estate. I am the Duchess of Ignote. Everyone in the family has recognized me.”

Sasha wondered if this conversation was a waste of time. Still, she felt it was worth trying. If Elina could believe her and stop causing trouble, things would be easier.

“You’re just fooling yourself. How is that even possible? You were never raised as a noble. Our family never acknowledged you as a daughter. Why would anyone accept someone like you?”

A long sigh escaped Sasha’s lips before she could stop it. She realized she shouldn’t depend only on Kyler. She needed to find her own strength. She wanted to handle someone like Elina on her own.

“I have never lied to you, Elina. In the end, it was the Duke who chose me. Not as some vague daughter of the Ivern family, but specifically as Sasha Ivern. He never once mentioned anyone else. Not you. Not another woman. Only me.”

Elina, who had been full of confidence, lost her spirit under Sasha’s steady gaze.

Her jaw trembled slightly from how tightly she was clenching her teeth. Elina was strong, but Sasha realized she was stronger. That gave her some comfort.

“I should get going now. The Duke assigned a knight to escort me, and he is too important to be wasting time guarding me any longer.”

Sasha walked past Elina without hesitation. If Elina showed up again like this, what should she do? Maybe she kept pushing because Sasha hadn’t shown her anything clear yet. Maybe she simply refused to accept it.

“She really is exhausting.”

“Who is it? I’ll take care of them immediately.”

“Oh, my goodness!”

Apparently, Sasha had been walking faster than she realized. She had already passed through the Empress’s Garden and was now at the entrance path. Dylan, having heard her mutter, was already kneeling in front of her, ready to receive orders. Startled, Sasha quickly waved her hand to stop him.

Dylan, towering over her, lowered himself respectfully, studying her with quiet focus. Perhaps he was still observing this new mistress of the house.

“I’m fine, Dylan. You’ve already spent too much time escorting me. Please go back now.”

Sasha picked up her pace, knowing Dylan would follow as long as she kept walking.

As the sun began to set, Sasha sat in the carriage leaving the imperial palace, her mind full of questions and doubts. At this point, she had a place to live and support behind her. Maybe it would be easier to just stay in the Duke’s mansion, quietly live behind Kyler’s shadow, and simply fulfill her role as the Duchess.

If she thought about the kind of person she used to be, maybe that was exactly the role Kyler had expected from her when he brought her here.

The carriage jolted slightly, likely from hitting a stone, and Sasha let out a deep sigh. In her past life, all she had wanted was rest, time to relax and enjoy life. So why now, when she finally had the chance to live peacefully, was she struggling to do so?

Just earlier, when she spoke with Radana Rosehill, she had felt full of energy and determination. But now, that spark was fading, and her thoughts began to turn inward again.

Inside the large and stable carriage, where even rough paths didn’t cause much shaking unless they hit just right, Sasha allowed herself to get lost in deeper thoughts.

“Lady Sasha, we’ve arrived.”

Dylan informed her as the carriage reached the Duke’s estate.

“Welcome home, my lady. You must be tired.”

Roja greeted her as she stepped down from the carriage. The timing was perfect, which meant she must have been waiting. It was clear she had been worried about Sasha’s first social event.

“I’m not tired at all. Thanks to your help, I remembered all the names and used them correctly.”

“You did a wonderful job. Honestly, I didn’t expect you to remember everything.”

As Sasha stepped inside, she was greeted with a warm, gentle smile. In that moment, Rose felt almost like a mother. Maybe this is what it would have felt like if she had ever known her real mother.

A sudden tight feeling rose in her chest, and she forced a smile to keep her emotions from spilling out. Then she quickly walked farther into the building.

“The Duke is…”

Just as she passed the first floor and stepped onto the stairs, she remembered him. She thought she should let him know she had returned, but she needed to find out where he was first before going to greet him.

“The Duke is currently on the second floor…”

“Sasha.”

Before Rose could finish her sentence, his voice came from the top of the stairs. She looked up and saw him standing there, wearing his usual light clothing for when he stayed at the mansion, looking down at her.

She suddenly felt happy to see him and hurried up the stairs.

He stayed where he was, quietly waiting for her to reach the top.

“How was the gathering? Did anything happen?”

Was it possible he had been waiting for her to come back? The thought alone made her face feel warm.

Just like Rose had waited and come out to greet her, had Kyler been listening for sounds outside, hoping to see her return?

She knew that was probably not the case, but the hope still stayed in her heart.

She did not fully understand what this strange, fluttering feeling inside her was.

“Nothing really happened. I just went in, said hello to a few people, had some nice food, and came back.”

His eyes scanned her carefully. He leaned forward and looked closely at her face. Their eyes met, and she flinched from surprise.

His expression showed concern. It wasn’t just her imagination. If what Elina said were true, if Sasha had been nothing more than a placeholder meant to be kept hidden away, Kyler would not have looked at her with such genuine care.

“I met with the Empress and Elina, but they didn’t say anything important. I really mean it.”

Thinking about how he might have been worried the entire time she was gone, she suddenly wanted to reassure him. She reached for his hand and gently led him into his room.

After he sat down on the bed, she realized she was still wearing her formal dress. Should she change first? Maybe she should at least wash up? A rush of small worries filled her mind, and she began pacing instead of sitting down.

“Sit down.”

“But I’m still in my formal dress…”

She hesitated, standing awkwardly. His face remained calm, but it was clear he was listening closely to everything she said and did. She had a strong feeling that he wanted to understand everything about her, even if he never said so.

“You can sit. If you’re worried about the bed, then maybe here?”

He seemed to notice her hesitation and offered another option. But instead of pointing to a chair or another part of the room, he pointed to his lap.

For a moment, the warmth in his voice caught her off guard. She nearly sat on his leg without thinking, but then quickly stopped herself.

Instead, she sat beside him on the bed. She paused for a moment, wondering how to begin. During that short silence, he did not rush her or break the stillness. He simply waited for her.

“Her Majesty tried to provoke me a little, and my younger sister came after the event ended… that part was a bit of a problem. But aside from that, everything went smoothly.”

“The Empress and your younger sister.”

The way he repeated it made her worry he might actually go confront them. She quickly grabbed his hand and held it tightly. She just wanted to calm him down, although she had no idea if it would actually work.

“Kyler.”

Instead of answering, he looked at her. His gaze was calm but deep, as if he was not just seeing her face but looking into something deeper inside her.

What should she even ask him? Should she ask if he had feelings for her?

That morning, her heart had been full of emotion. Even later, when she thought it might be easier to walk away from it all, the one thing she could not let go of was this feeling inside her.

“Did something happen? Is there something important you’re hiding from me?”

When she was with him, she found herself talking more than usual. That only made her more curious about what was really in his heart.

No matter how much she thought about it, she could not figure out what to do to understand him. The frustration remained.

“No. It’s just… I really like you.”

She finally said the words out loud.

Support