The Duke's face flushed with anger.

“I apologize, he insisted on meeting you directly…”

“Do you think my estate is as common as a street corner?”

“I would never dare think such a thing! But I felt that I align well with what you are seeking, sir… and the conditions I’ve offered as well!”

“Antonio, did I give you the right to judge what I think?”

“N-No! I was just trying to…”

There was no need to listen further. Just as the saucer flew towards Antonio’s face, who was backing away in fear, footsteps were heard.

“I was just…”

Antonio’s vision darkened as he trembled, opening his eyes wide in terror.

“I only came because I thought it was right to show sincerity, given how late I am.”

Clang—

The saucer, which had been aimed at Antonio’s face, was blocked by the large hand of a man and rolled on the floor.

“I also wanted to give you time to judge for yourself, Duke.”

The man, who had appeared without invitation, bowed respectfully.

The Duke clicked his tongue. He thought only flies would be drawn in, but something stranger had arrived. The Duke's family’s honor was in shambles.

His anger cooled as it passed its peak. While pondering how to punish Antonio for letting just anyone into the estate, the Duke spoke with a sneer.

“I don’t know which family you belong to, what you do, or even how you seal your letters. Would seeing you in person change anything? That’s a phrase that would only make sense if I at least knew your name.”

“My name…”

It was obvious that a man who came here without even a formal marriage proposal had nothing worth seeing. The man smiled.

“You may know it.”

Antonio handed over a business card.

The man’s words were half wrong. The Duke stared intently at the unfamiliar name printed on a luxurious card.

‘Jack Luck’

But at the same time, the man’s words were also half right.

Even the Duke, who seldom left his mansion, recognized the name of the company printed beneath it.

‘President of Operthus Trading Company’

Operthus.

A company gaining attention for its frighteningly rapid growth, based on trade. However, there was another reason why the Duke knew the company’s name.

‘The president is said to be a poor commoner… I knew he seemed uneducated.’

“Did you see the news? Operthus announced a public job opening.”

“I did. The salary is incredibly high, but so what? People like us who couldn’t even attend school properly can’t apply.”

“Idiot, look again! There are no qualifications! No age limits, no status requirements, no education needed. You just need to live in the Saviour territory. If you pass the interview, you can get the job!”

“They don’t check anything?”

“Nothing! …Rumor has it that the president was in a situation similar to ours, and he wants to give opportunities to more people.”

“When are people going to stop talking?”

“Sorry, Lady Estelle!”

The Duke had once overheard the chatter of maids who had since been dismissed.

Considering their position, where even their footsteps had to be careful, it was clear that the success story of the commoner president had left a deep impression.

But the Duke quickly forgot. It wasn’t that it wasn’t interesting.

‘In most cases, people would try to hide their humble origins out of pride, but not this one. He’s actually advertising it. That makes his intentions obvious.’

He must be aiming to become the lover or mistress of some noble.

As a commoner, he would have nothing to lose and no reason to feel guilty.

The Duke, thinking of the aging aristocrats on the advisory council who were notorious for their affairs, sneered at the thought of this unknown president.

It was too predictable. How could someone of low birth, with nothing, grow a company so quickly?

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

He must have a powerful backer. Given the way he's advertising now, he probably fell out with his previous patron and is looking for a new one.

He's got money and power, but he’s not exactly desirable. In other words, he wasn’t a suitable suitor for the Duke’s house of Saviour. And so, the Duke had forgotten about him.

“…”

But why?

Why was this man now proposing to the declining house of Saviour?

The Duke stared at him, as if trying to figure out his ulterior motives. The man, standing upright and composed, did not avoid the Duke's gaze.

‘Whatever his motive, he must want something from the Saviour family.’

The Duke decided to listen and judge. This was a good opportunity to point out the man's rudeness in barging into the estate and seize the upper hand in the conversation. Just as the Duke was about to mention this with the dignified tilt of his chin, the man spoke first.

“The cup is broken. It’s a shame, as it seems to be an antique.”

The man, who had slowly risen to his full height, glanced at the shattered cup and saucer by his feet.

It had been close enough that the man could have been hit. With smooth eloquence, the man had pointed out the Duke’s greater offense, all while maintaining a respectful tone.

“As I was not allowed through the fr

ont entrance, I suppose I should at least seek permission to enter your study. May I come in?”

The Duke nodded before he even realized, only to recognize that his reasons to chastise the man had completely vanished.

This was strange. They had barely exchanged a few words, but already the Duke felt as though he was being led by this young businessman.

“Why are you rushing me like this, Steward?”

“This is no time for delay. You need to get the Lady ready quickly and come with her to the drawing room. If it seems like she’s going to say anything foolish, you must stop her. Understood?”

“Yes, you don’t have to keep repeating that.”

The steward, who had been flustered, left, and Estelle, grumbling, picked up a comb.

It was the first time she had done anything fitting of a personal maid, but Estelle skillfully pinned up Anna’ hair.

“Let me know if it hurts, Lady.”

“Sure, I will. You’re really good at this. Did you learn it?”

“Of course, I worked hard to learn just to take care of you.”

“I ended up unintentionally keeping your talent buried.”

Anna responded kindly, seemingly unaware of the commotion that had occurred outside her room today.

Estelle wondered why Anna wasn’t more curious about why she had to be so dolled up for the drawing room rather than where she had learned to do hair. But Estelle was in a rush. There were so many things to take care of, hair, makeup, and clothes.

“Well, you don’t go out much, so you haven’t had the chance to show off your talents.”

Only after saying it did Estelle realize how thoughtless her words had been.

Anna staying confined to the Duke’s estate wasn’t by her choice. It was almost as if she had been imprisoned to prevent her from damaging the Saviour family's reputation.

How could she have been so careless after working for such a generous mistress for so long? Estelle quickly glanced at Anna

, but fortunately, her expression remained unchanged.

“Well, even if I don’t go out, I’ll ask you to help sometimes. It’d be a shame to waste all that effort you put into learning for my sake.”

Could someone really be this oblivious? Anna’ unfazed demeanor stirred an odd sense of guilt within Estelle.

Estelle changed her mindset. It wasn’t about dressing her up.

Rather than simply telling this kind and somewhat naïve lady to stay quiet, Estelle thought it would be better to explain things to her properly, step by step.

As she dressed Anna in the prettiest of the outdated dresses, she spoke softly.

“My Lady, there’s a guest in the drawing room.”

“I know. I saw a black carriage at the front gate.”

“When did you see that? Anyway, the guest seems to want to meet you. That’s why everything is being rushed like this.”

“They must be someone important.”

Estelle shrugged her shoulders, wondering if it was appropriate for the Lady to refer to the head of Luck as an important person.

“Or maybe they’re just rich enough to summon the Lady as they please.”

“Well, uh…”

No matter how much she had been neglected, Anna wasn’t a fool.

The Duke and the steward might have thought her lacking, but Estelle knew better. Occasionally, Anna would choose her words with sharpness, like when she had previously remarked about being sold off to a buyer.

Back then, the person Anna had been about to marry was just some knight, but this time it was different. Trying to keep things light, Estelle said cheerfully:

“To be more precise, both are true. He’s important, and he’s the head of a company. You know Operthus, right? Even the royal family uses their products.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.”

Anna smiled awkwardly. Realizing that Anna probably had no experience with luxury goods, Estelle regretted her words for the second time that day. She wanted to bite her tongue.

But Anna’ life would surely change if she married that man. Old dresses like these wouldn’t even be good enough to use as rugs, and she would live surrounded by expensive jewels and fragrant flowers.

“Anyway, I hear he’s come to propose to you directly! And just so you know, there’s talk that he’s the most eligible bachelor in the empire. Not only is he rich, but he’s also said to be incredibly handsome. He’s the perfect man, someone everyone dreams of.”

It was the kind of life anyone would envy—a once-in-a-lifetime fortune, a true salvation.

Knock, knock.

It seemed her salvation was knocking on the door. Estelle, who had answered the knock sharply, turned back to continue speaking.

“The Duke is probably calling you now because he doesn’t want to show any sign of desperation. No matter how good the man’s offer is, the Duke wants to show that the marriage will be on the Saviour family's terms, so…”

“Basically, even though I’m the one being chosen, I should act like I’m the one making the choice. I understand.”

Why did Anna look so unmoved?

The door opened, and the steward nodded at Anna. Estelle had finally completed her task.

Ivory hair, half tied, flowed over her peach-tinted cheeks. The hair, pulled to one side to reveal her neck, lightly brushed her skin under the thin fabric of her dress. Powder smoothed over her small scars made her look like a “real noble lady.”

“Just remain quiet. No matter what the guest says, refrain from answering, and simply nod at the Duke’s words.”

“I will.”

The steward, who had fawned over the Duke, turned away sha

rply, his tone rude toward Anna.

Estelle, who had glared after him, whispered to Anna as she followed her.

“I didn’t get to tell you the most important thing, and I’m sorry for that. The Duke also instructed you to be careful with your behavior.”

“He’s worried I’ll mess things up and ruin the marriage, isn’t he?”

Anna smiled faintly. There was no sense of anxiety in her expression.

Seeing this, Estelle lowered her voice even further, her tone growing more urgent.

“Forgive me for saying this, but I’m really worried, my Lady. If this marriage doesn’t happen, you’ll end up marrying some knight or even the Grand Duke Beckrel, who’s around the Duke’s age. You’d even be a second wife.”

“I know who he is.”

“Wouldn’t a young, rich commoner be much better than someone like that? So, please…”

It was Anna ’ side that should have been desperate for this marriage. Yet her response was so indifferent.

Estelle, her frustration building, was about to emphasize the point again when Anna looked at her, causing her to fall silent.

“Estelle, you’re saying this because you’re genuinely concerned for me, right?”

Anna pushed the door open, leaving Estelle frozen in place.

What kind of person is this?

The Duke thought as he waited for Anna.

“Is he really offering 8.2 billion regions in exchange for marriage?”