01 | Chapter 1: Her Fiancée

Adrianne Silvania sipped her usual camomile tea as she reads the daily paper.

'Countess Ceria caught walking out of the Duke of Valiquette's mansion'.

Adrianne looked at the news, oddly. It was weird, to feel such squeezing pain in her chest just at the sight of her fiancee.

Yes, the Duke has a fiancée and it was Lady Adrianne Silvania. No noble title, since she went to the capital to live with her sponsor, the Count and Countess of Silvania.

Yet, even though they were practically betrothed, they don't know each other, especially, the Duke himself who doesn't even know his fiancée's face.

Adrianne's eyes swept over the paper and saw her fiancée's handsome face. Adrianne never really felt jealous about the constant mistresses he brings over his house but unusually, she felt a slight ting of it, after seeing Countess Ceria's face thrice in a month with her fiancée.

"Adi?" A feminine voice called out, following a knock on the door.

"Come in". Adrianne straighten her posture and smiled at the Countess Thalia, who just walked in the room.

"Aunty Thalia, what brings you here?" Adrianne said, signaling her to sit.

Countess Thalia Silvania smiled at her and sat in front of her. She looked at the paper on the table and clicked her tongue.

"ah! The three C's I don't want to see" Thalia said, disappointed. Adrianne emit a small laugh.

"Three C's?" Adrianne asked, laughing. Thalia pursed her lips before stating.

"Cheating Countess Ceria" Thalia muttered. "Your Uncle should be thankful I love him very much"

Adrianne smiled. Despite a Countess's affair, Countess Thalia had a reputation of a doting wife to Count Quinn. Adrianne spent her years in the Silvania household, adoring the Count and Countess love to each other.

"Putting that wrench aside, I have told to postpone the wedding to the next month. Again"

Adrianne's lips once thinned at that news before, but as it happens hundreds of times before, she got used to it. The Duke must love his bachelorhood that he postponed the wedding 5 years from now.

"Adrianne" Thalia started, her lips pursing. She held Adrianne's hand tightly. "I am truly sorry for putting up you with a womanizer"

"Aunt Thalia..., I'm thankful that you have been kind to us and this alliance is fine, as long as you benefit from it" Adrianne saw Countess Thalia's green orbs watered.

"I promise, to help you, my dear Adi..." Thalia wiped her tear with the back of her hand. "Even if we have to fight the Duke of war himself"

~•~

Adrianne went to her room after dinner. Her maids already were outside the room waiting for her to come in.

The maids quietly and swiftly prepared her night bath and her clothes. Adrianne sat on her bed, awaiting for the maids to finish up.

'I do wish time pass soon, so that I'll be seeing him again after his study' Adrianne pouts before shaking her head.

"Madam, your bath is ready" A maid said, looking at her expectantly. Lady Adrianne smiled at the young girl.

"Yes, thank you. You may all leave now" The maids bowed before walking out of the room.

Usually, a noble woman must let her maids tend her, help her with her bath and wearing clothes but, Adrianne is a special one.

Adrianne walked towards the bathroom and removed her clothing. She faced the mirror before removing her famous white gold mask, revealing her naked face.

'Old habits truly will die hard'