The Dragon Duke's Wife - Chapter 15
“I’m not too familiar with them, but I’ve heard there’s been quite a bit of family conflict.”
“Didn’t the Baron’s youngest brother go bankrupt because of gambling debts?”
“He even has three illegitimate children. Apparently, he abandoned his wife.”
Ancia froze. That was a story about her father.
“I wonder what kind of person the bloodline of such a reckless man would be like. It’s a pity for the wife, but the children must have inherited that blood, after all.”
“The wife’s family must have fallen apart too. There was some kind of inheritance dispute, and guess what happened…”
The other side glanced over, pretending not to notice, but their eyes lingered on Ancia as they judged her.
“She looks healthy, but isn’t she a bit too old?”
“They say the best age to have a baby is around twenty, right? It’s already difficult enough to carry the blood of the Velados family, and now she’s twenty-seven.”
“Our Duke is hard to understand. If only he had married Lady Eleanor, how much better it would have been. They suited each other so well, and there wouldn’t have been any issues with heirs.”
“There’s hardly any man who could refuse a beauty like Lady Eleanor. I don’t know what our Duke was thinking.”
“Imagine what a remarkable heir could have been born then.”
“Well, I wonder if an ordinary woman with no drop of Velados blood could ever handle him.”
They whispered among themselves, fully aware that Ancia was right there, hearing every word.
Niro had told her not to take it to heart since they weren’t directly criticizing Ancia herself, but how could it not feel like a direct attack? The talk about her father was her weakness, and the comment about her being unsuitable for Khalid made her feel humiliated.
Ancia had expected some resistance. Normally, she wouldn’t even be able to greet the Duke directly, let alone become his wife. Even when she thought the Duke of Velados was ailing, she had prepared herself to be ignored by his family.
Let alone becoming Khalid’s wife. She had expected to face harsh tests and scrutinizing looks, not warm hospitality. She had even anticipated being tormented for the entire six-month contract period.
But what she experienced surpassed all expectations—it was as if she had become invisible.
If someone had confronted her directly with their criticism, at least she could have responded. But now, Ancia couldn’t turn around and escape, nor did she know where she could go. There were several empty seats, but none of them were for her.
“Madam.”
Laura called her softly. Ancia bit her lower lip. If she had made up her mind, she needed to summon the courage to face it. What would be the point of resolve without the courage to back it up?
‘Don’t worry about the old fools. I am the Duke. I’m the head of this household. I’m in charge, and you are my wife, so we stand on equal ground.’
Remembering those words, Ancia braced herself. She understood now why Khalid had said those words. If she wasn’t just hired as a lifelong nurse but was the wife he chose, she had to carry herself like a Duchess.
Though she had never been taught grace or dignity, she straightened her back and lifted her chin. Then, she walked directly toward the seat of honor.
There were two elegant chairs placed on a slightly elevated platform. Sitting in one of them, Ancia calmly spoke to the young maid.
“Bring the tea. And some sugar too.”
At that moment, an elderly woman with a cane rose angrily.
“How dare the new bride ask for sugar without even greeting the family elders! And what is that outfit? You immediately wear the late Madam’s clothes without any regard for manners! How long has it been since you became the Madam of the house, and already you’re so presumptuous! What would Lord Frederick, watching from the heavens, think of this!”
She pointed at Ancia with her cane before glancing up at the ceiling, lamenting. Ancia’s heart trembled, but she forced a calm expression as she responded.
“Are you the late Duchess of Velados? You don’t look like a ghost.”
“W-what?”
“Or perhaps you’re his mother? I heard she passed away a long time ago.”
The old woman shut her mouth, her forehead flushed with anger.
“H-how dare you!”
“If, as the Duchess, I must greet the elders of the family, there are only two women I would consider.”
At Ancia’s words, the old woman grabbed her neck. A man who seemed to be her son quickly stepped forward, raising his voice.
“How dare you insult such an elderly person!”
“How dare you, young one, speak so boldly to Madam Felber!”
Just as the voices were about to explode, the door slammed open.
A fiery energy surged into the room, and Khalid entered, his face a clear expression of anger. Niro followed behind him.
The distant relatives fell silent.
Everyone knew Khalid’s temper was like fire. He was someone who openly displayed his joy, but he rarely held back his anger either, and most of the people in this room had already earned his wrath over the marriage advertisement issue.
Khalid quickly approached Ancia. Her courage had already faded. Her back trembled slightly, though she tried her best to sit upright. He quietly stroked Ancia’s back.
