The Dragon Duke's Wife - Chapter 26
5. Eleanor
It was two days later when Ancia called for Niro.
“I know asking this might seem a bit excessive.”
She spoke in a calm voice.
Over the past two days, she had managed to calm her chaotic thoughts. During this time, she had also been avoiding Khalid.
He still tried to kiss her and push his hand under her skirt whenever they were in the same space, but Ancia made excuses, claiming she was too tired. Once he started touching her, she would lose control, and both her body and mind would melt into Khalid. She wouldn’t be able to stay calm.
She really was exhausted. The constant lovemaking since their marriage had left her so drained that she had started losing weight. There were many mornings when she couldn’t even get out of bed. Khalid, aware of this, would simply hold her and let her sleep quietly in his arms.
“But I think it’s better to ask than to keep these empty thoughts to myself.”
“I don’t know what you want to ask, but I will answer as much as I can.”
“…So, you’re saying there are things you can’t talk about? I’m not the type of person who doesn’t know the difference between what’s okay to ask and what’s not.”
“I apologize.”
Niro apologized politely, but his attitude only made Ancia feel more sorrowful. It was as if his confirmation that there were things he couldn’t say was as painful as hearing the words directly.
Ancia let out a small sigh.
“Who is Eleanor?”
“Pardon?”
“The maids were talking… They said that even if I combined all the dresses I’ve ordered, they still wouldn’t be worth even one of Lady Eleanor’s veils.”
She couldn’t bring herself to mention that she had seen the envelope on Khalid’s desk, so she only repeated what she had overheard.
Niro hesitated. Which foolish maid had said such a thing? He frowned slightly before relaxing his expression as he became aware of Ancia’s gaze.
“Well, it’s not exactly a secret, but….I didn’t think it was something I should bring up since you wouldn’t like hearing it. Lady Eleanor is the Master’s cousin, and she was once his fiance.”
“His former fiancée…”
Ancia clenched her hand tightly beneath the fabric of her dress. The ring on her finger pressed into her skin, causing a sharp pain.
“Currently, the only direct family member of the Velados family, aside from the Duke, is Lady Eleanor. She lost her mother when she was young, so she was raised in this mansion, growing up like a sibling alongside the Duke.”
Niro spoke calmly.
“As you may know, the Velados family has a dragon bloodline so they cannot marry just anyone. If the dragon blood is light, it’s not a problem, but if it’s dark, the union itself can harm the partner’s body, making procreation impossible.”
“Right. I’ve heard that before.”
“So, the Velados family has historically practiced consanguinity. When the bloodline is faint, it is necessary to maintain the nobility of the family’s blood, and even when the bloodline is strong, only a woman with the same bloodline can fully accept the body. That’s also why the Master didn’t tell you about the family history and lineage until now. It’s not generally something that can be openly accepted.”
“I see…”
She sighed without realizing it. Until now, she had believed the reason for this was simply because she wasn’t a full Duchess yet.
“So, the Master was once engaged to Lady Eleanor when they were young. As one of the few direct relatives, and because Lady Eleanor has a strong bloodline, they were seen as a good match.”
“I… I see. Then why did the engagement end, and why did he post the marriage advertisement…?”
“That, I can’t tell you. But the opposition was very strong. The heir issue is crucial, and for nearly 20 years, the family members had believed that she would be the one to take on the role of the Duchess.”
“I see…”
Ancia trailed off.
“Then, if I can’t conceive, does that mean she…?”
“That’s also something I can’t speak about. However, since the Master got angry previously, no one dares to bring up the subject anymore.”
In the end, Ancia still didn’t know why Khalid had broken off the engagement and posted the marriage advertisement. But she could understand that there was someone far more suited to be the Duchess of Velados than herself.
Logically, she understood that this was all part of the past. Why the engagement was broken off wasn’t something Ancia needed to concern herself with, and why the marriage advertisement had been posted might not have been important for her to know either.
The engagement was a thing of the past, and whether the marriage advertisement was posted for a reason that could be seen as a flaw, it didn’t apply to her. She had seen the advertisement, weighed the rewards and risks, agreed to the terms, and married him.
Nothing had changed. Yet still, her heart felt unsettled. When she sat alone, tears welled up in her eyes.
There was a woman who could easily accept him, bear his children, and be the perfect match for him. But what about her? She still hadn’t fully accepted Khalid.
If they had broken off the engagement because they didn’t get along, that would be one thing. But they still exchanged letters with the word ‘dear’ written on them.
