Estella was a teacher by profession. That means she was used to speaking in front of large groups. She recalled a time when she had to demonstrate a lesson in front of a pot-bellied man in his 50s, treating him like an elementary school child. It was a little heartbreaking to carry that painful memory into her later life, but with the added experience, she was no longer afraid.

Estella looked around in a more relaxed manner.

“Of course, what I just told you is the worst-case scenario.”

“…….”

“I have no intention of meddling in the affairs between noble families just because I am the Duke’s fiancee. There should be a clear distinction between official duties and personal matters, and it wouldn’t be enjoyable if someone interfered. However, it seems that the reason the young ladies are clinging to me is because of that man.”

Ellen slammed her fist down on the table. The teapot shook, sending overflowing black tea spilling onto the tablecloth. Ellen spoke again, her voice like chewing gum.

“Do you really think you can go as far as marrying that person?”

“If you’re confident, go ahead and laugh at me then, but not now.”

As she spoke, Estella had a sneering demeanor. For Ellen, this was the icing on the cake. A woman who wouldn’t have been able to look her in the face if it weren’t for Diego, dared to act as if she were her equal. Ellen shuddered with uncontrollable rage. She finally threw down the last of her dignity.

“You’re a former tutor, you have no right to be so arrogant!”

Estella’s eyes narrowed at Ellen’s shout. Up until this point, she had been able to recognize it as the antics of a girl in love with Diego and found it cute, but now that her profession was being insulted, she was seriously offended. Estella spoke up, her voice cold.

“Do you have a problem with my old job?”

“I do. You used to work for a paycheck, and now you’re running around like you know your stuff and will soon be a real duchess! I can’t believe you’re a tutor! Why would Diego, be so lowly as to marry a woman like this……!”

“Calling me low-class? You’re implying that you grew up under the guidance of such people?”

Estella interrupted Ellen’s words and retorted sharply. Ellen fell silent, taken aback by Estella’s resolute expression. Estella spoke condescendingly to Ellen.

“It’s truly unfortunate. Ellen, it seems I haven’t found the right card to shake you yet. You’re quite lucky.”

“Of course! Do you think I can be easily manipulated by a newcomer in society like you?”

Ellen shouted, her voice rising in pitch, not wanting to admit that she was being outmaneuvered by Estella. Estella glanced at her friends, who sat on either side of Ellen. When Estella made eye contact with them, they all quickly averted their gaze. Estella pointed her index finger at them, one by one.

“But if your friends start shunning you one by one, it’s going to be a little harder for you to hold on to a weakling like you did today, isn’t it?”

Ellen’s eyes widened. Ellen glanced back at her friends, but they were still keeping their heads down, avoiding eye contact. Ellen’s mouth dropped open in embarrassment at her trusted friends’ avoidance.

Estella clasped her hands together and leaned her elbows on the table. Estella leaned over and rested her chin on her fingers.

“Personally, I don’t find the former Duchess Bertha all that pleasant. As those of you who have done some research on me know, she and I have a not-so-pleasant history.”

There was no way that a sensationalized story like the former Duchess’s feud with the upcoming mistress hadn’t leaked out. Anna had even broken into Estella’s room just yesterday. Estella remembered Anna’s piercing eyes.

“I’m sure you’re not the only one here who finds the former Duchess Bertha distasteful. She’s not exactly a figure that’s received positively in a group that values bloodlines, but the way she’s managed to dominate social circles, and the way she’s managed to maintain that power, is something I’d like to emulate.”

The smirk and gentle voice that had greeted the tea party at the beginning of the conversation had already faded. The room had fallen silent. She wasn’t exactly looking to set the tone at her first social gathering, but it was better to be the center of attention than to be treated like a wrecking ball.

Estella rose to her feet. There was a quiet clatter as the chair was dragged back.

“I’m going to stand up now, then, and I’ll see you when you’ve learned enough manners to carry on a conversation.”

With that, Estella turned away, and until then, everyone around her could only stare at her breathlessly, unable to approach her easily.

Then it happened. An idea struck her, and she froze in place, then spoke in a voice that was blatantly addressing a young student.

“Ah, Miss Ellen, if you ever need a lesson in manners, I’m here for you. As you know, until a few days ago, my job was to correct the likes of you.”

“Farewell, then,” Estella said and turned breezily away. Her steps were unusually light as she retraced her steps.

When she came to her senses, Lady Maria hurriedly approached Estella and apologized. She apologized for the unpleasantness that had occurred. She even assured her that she would be more careful about having guests in the future.

From now on, Estella would never see Ellen’s face again when she attended Maria’s tea party. If Maria were a person who had consideration, she wouldn’t have sent invitations to two people with a bad relationship.

The young ladies, who had been sitting at the same table before Ellen approached, also offered Estella their sympathies. They all agreed that they were sorry for the short conversation and that they would definitely talk to her again. Estella casually dismissed the gathered young ladies and sent them off to the tea party venue. Even with the host’s apology, she had no intention of returning to the table. It would be up to Ellen to stay and endure the stares.

Estella left the clearing where the tables were spread out and entered the path that led to the front door. As she swept her hair back from her shoulders, she caught sight of a familiar figure in the distance. Estella’s eyes widened, realizing that this person shouldn’t be here.

“Little Duke?”

‘Ah, he said he received the title, so he’s a Duke now?’

It was an afterthought, but Diego didn’t seem to mind. Estella quickened her pace and approached him. Diego lazily shoved his hands in his pockets and waited for her to reach him. When she stopped in front of him, she asked in a hushed voice,

“Why are you here?”

“I was worried that my accomplice might be treated badly.”

His tone was playful, but there was concern in his voice. It was a stark contrast to his neglect of Adriana. Of course, Estella had already eliminated all the enemies before he arrived.

Estella looked at him with a measuring glance.

“You’re wrong, Duke, you’re wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

“You said everyone would be dying to hang out with me, but Lady Rueda didn’t think so at all.”

“Oh, red wavy hair?”

Estella’s eyes narrowed even more as Diego made a face. Diego smirked.

“I came after hearing the news.”

“Has the fight already become the talk of the town?”

“No, I overheard Count Rueda discussing his daughter’s whereabouts during my visit to the palace. But was there really a fight?”

Diego asked with a puzzled expression. Gradually, his voice became more serious. As he tried to take a step forward, Estella reached out her hand to stop him. Then, she leaned back and scrutinized Diego carefully. With a tone of suspicion, Estella asked,

“Did you really meet her secretly? Why is she so agitated? As if I had just snatched away the man she was dating.”

“Do you now realize how difficult it is to obtain a man like me?”

Diego snapped back, grabbing Estella’s wrist with a smirk. She looked up at him, unblinking as if to express her displeasure, but instead of letting her go, Diego reached out and wrapped his other hand around her waist, pulling her to him.

Estella tried to push him away. The sound of a bush shaking came from not far away. It was accompanied by a small moan that sounded like a sigh. Diego whispered, barely moving his lips.

“There’s someone back there.”

“……I heard.”

It seemed that Ellen couldn’t contain her anger and had come running in the end. It was unclear what she intended to do, even going to a place where others couldn’t see.

No, come to think of it, it was obvious. Ellen had a strong desire to catch up with Estella and slap her. It was a clichéd action, but ?Contract Marriage to a Dangerous Duke? was a clichéd novel to begin with.

“You have to show your affectionate gestures to make it more convincing.”

Diego hummed as he said it and raised Estella’s arm, placing it on his shoulder. When lovers are deeply in love, they often engage in physical contact. Estella also naturally wrapped her arms around Diego’s neck. However, they didn’t hear the sound of the intruder getting further away. Estella frowned and asked.

“It doesn’t seem like they’re leaving?”

“People these days are suspicious, so they don’t easily believe anything.”

“Well, should we at least pretend?”

Diego blushed at Estella’s question. It was rather unexpected for Estella to make such a casual suggestion. Estella knew the fastest way to send the woman hiding behind them. It was more of a proposal made as an outlet for frustration rather than a genuine desire to send Ellen.

Until Ellen started criticizing her profession, Estella was relatively calm. In a way, Ellen was simply acting according to the input values assigned to her, and Estella had no particular regrets about it. In a play, roles are played by multiple people, but the actions of the characters always remain the same. It is certainly not appropriate to associate the misdeeds of a character with the actor portraying them.

But to have her career dismissed was more insulting than she could have imagined, especially since it wasn’t in the script. No matter how good you are at acting, it’s always bad when your co-star slaps you in the face with an ad-lib.

Diego was also taken aback by Estella’s unexpected flirtation. He replied with a wry smile.

“You say you don’t marry unless you like someone, but you would kiss?”

“What the hell do marriage and kissing have to do with anything?”

“Oh, I don’t know if you’re being naïve or out of your mind…….”

Diego cocked his head to the right and smirked. He looked back at Estella with an incredulous expression. He glared at her, then slowly lowered his head. She watched as he moved closer to her. Her eyes were open, as was Diego’s. A shadow fell across her face as he stood blocking the sunlight. Finally, their noses touched.

Just before their lips touched, Diego suddenly stopped moving. He asked.

“……Can I kiss you?”

He leaned in so close she could see his eyelashes. Estella’s face flushed red from his sharp breath. Unable to contain her embarrassment, she stammered,

“W-why do you ask me that now?”

“See, it’s breaking the mood.”

Diego smiled quietly and even tilted his head to Estella. The two lips touched gently.

A moment later, there was a cry from behind them, followed by the trampling of grass. Still, Estella and Diego did not part their lips, which had long been intertwined. As if they had heard nothing.