Eloise was leisurely looking at her reflection through the vanity table as Charles dress and adore her for hours now while the other servants assisted him.

Charles Bertin is a famous seamster in the empire and a sought-after designer especially for noble women. It is real luxury to have a dress made by him as you need to make a reservation for at least one year before you can wear clothes he designs from a queue of waiting customers.

Even up to this point, she doesn’t know how Nathaniel managed to hire him. Just how much money did he spent on him?

“I’ll make you the prettiest woman in the banquet tonight. A beauty that will never fail to catch every single eye.”

She chose to stay silent and awkwardly smiled at him. She doesn’t even want to attend the banquet and stay close to the Duke. But of course, she cannot say it out loud.

“Every dress I make really suits you well. Because of your beauty, I am able to explore and expand my creations.”

Once she finished putting on her dress, the maids enthusiastically assisted him on selecting the most fitting jewelry that will complement the rest of her outfit.

The gown was made from the finest silk, its Turkish blue bodice has hand-embroidered patterns and lace trimmings with elbow-length sleeves that perfectly hugged her curves. A beige bouffant style petticoat was paired which extended just below her ankles.

What shall I do? Will I be able to act normally in front of him? Just a sight of him makes me tremble in fear. Looking at his eyes fills me with pain and resentment.

“The lilac necklace suits you really well, Your Grace. It matches your hair color.”

The maid’s compliment caught her out of her reverie.

Her clear blue eyes sparkled like the apparent ocean that glints under the sunlight. Her unusual wavy lilac-colored hair that flows softly down her waist flutters even with the lightest touch. She has an attractive face with a small body frame and a pale complexion that makes her look like a living doll.

She doesn’t mean to brag but she is known as the most beautiful woman in the empire. In fact, it was the reason why she was wedded to him.

"Your Grace, the young Lady has arrived."

"Let her in."

The maids opened the door, inside was a busy man sitting in front of a desk filled with messy piles of paper. She slowly walked inside stopping two steps away from him.

"Leave us alone."

The man ordered as the maids exited the room one by one, leaving only the two of them inside. The ear deafening silence made Eloise nervous, cold sweat dripping in her palms.

She cannot stop herself from fidgeting beneath his father's measuring gaze. She never called her unless it is to reprimand her faults and punish her.

"I heard you called for me father?"

Her father, the Count of Credieu was a very strict man. He never shows mercy, even to his family. He was a cruel man who favors fortune over blood ties.

The Count fixed his posture before turning his attention to Eloise, his cunning eyes settled in hers who is standing in front of him. Although he has the same blue eyes as hers, his gaze was never of a father looking at his daughter with affection.

Stolen novel; please report.

"I called to discuss about your marriage."

Her eyes grew wide from shock as her heartbeat increased. She stood frozen from her spot, as if cold water was splashed on her.

"M-marriage?"

"Yes, you are set to marry the Duke of Fleiss a month from now. The emperor already gave his order to give your hand to his most favored man as a prize for leading the war triumphantly.”

The Duke of Fleiss, a man renowned for his beauty as well as his victories. She met him several times through social gatherings but they never had any single conversation before. His features never fail to stand out in every social event but the most noticeable among them is his pair of golden eyes which makes him popular among noble woman.

"B-but f-father.... I can't. Why must I-----"

**Bang

The loud sound of table slamming echoed across the room, making her flinch. The papers on her father's desk scattered on the floor creating a mess. She tried to stay composed to mask her fear.

"You dare talk back, you wench! You think you have the right to reject?! I'm not asking for your opinion nor your approval."

The Count yelled as he slowly rose from his seat, closing the distance between them. Without hesitation, he aggressively grabbed her by the neck with one hand as she struggled to breathe.

Eloise trembled, as she held onto the count's wrist that was choking her.

"You impudent brat! Is this how you repay my kindness? I was generous enough to accept your low-birth and let you live as a noble’s daughter.” His father spat through gritted teeth as she trembled in fear thinking how she would escape her father’s clutches that begins to suffocate her. “You owe me your life so act obediently like you used to before I lose my temper and lock you again at the basement where you will spend your days with the rats.”

After saying those words, he finally let go of her as she stumbled on the floor, strength left her body as she struggled to catch her breathe. But his father only looked down at her with cold eyes.

“Stop acting foolishly and prepare for your wedding.”

Like an idea struck his mind, a corner of his lips tugged into a smirk, “You’re even lucky a worthless woman like you could marry a man of his caliber. The Credieu household is just a peck of dust compared to his fortune. If you marry him, we will have our fair share of it.”

As she expected, it was all for his own greed. His father is willing to give her daughter away to marry a stranger. He never thought about her own sake. She was just a mere tool for him.

It was how his father sold her out in marriage.

When the maids are finally satisfied with their work, they smiled sweetly at her through the mirror.

“Her Grace is really pretty. You should know how to use your charm and make acquaintances.”

“Thank you for all your help.” Eloise smiled sincerely in return and tried not to appear awkward. She was always an introverted person. A wallflower.

Growing up spending most of her years locked on a basement hearing only the demeaning words of her father, she never knew how to socialize with the others. Despite being a beauty, her awkwardness cause people to drift away. In result, she always remains on the sidelines at social events.

Just in time, Knox Besnik, the butler knocked on the door.

“Your Grace, the Duke is waiting for you downstairs.” The butler who opened the door bowed his head gracefully when he saw her. “You look beautiful, madame. His Grace would be very pleased.”

“Thank you, Knox.”

Walking after him, they descended the stairs and her eyes settled at the handsome man waiting at the end of the staircase. He was fixing his cufflinks when his gaze shifted to her direction and their eyes met. His golden chromatic eyes fixated to her that took her breathe away. Their depths bare her soul, scanning every inch of her. She felt the loud thumping of her heart as the gap between them slowly decreases.

He was just intently staring at her, not muttering a single word. It was until she reached the foot of the staircase that he cleared his throat and casually turned around.

“Let’s go. We’re already running late.”

The way to the royal hall where the banquet will be held was rather peaceful. No one dared to talk inside the carriage and Eloise was rather thankful for it. She doesn’t know how she would face him when everything that happened to their past life was clearly engraved to her memory.

Nathaniel had his eyes fixed at the window from the moment they entered the carriage. He never met his eye even for a second. Eloise stealthily stared at him, thinking how this same composed man ended up killing his own wife.

They never had a proper conversation before. They would casually greet each other and ask a few questions but it always ends after a little exchange of words. They may had lived under the same roof for years but they are so distant to one another. And when he met the woman in which he gave his heart, the distance only widened. The Duchess who was a hindrance to their affair had to vanish.

Do you.. hate me that much?