It was so sad, so pitiful and so unfair.

He could do everything for her, but the only thing he could not do was the health of his daughter. He couldn't give it to her, so he wanted to take someone else's health and hold her place.

Kiellini turned back to the maid looking at him without a word. When the Duke's gaze returned to her, Julietta opened her mouth, "I understand. Are you saying that your daughter has all the authority as a de facto successor, but she's weak, so I have to do external activities as a subst.i.tute?"

"That's right. You understand fast. No one knows that my daughter, Iris, is in poor health. Naturally, they would think the next successor will come out of the other collateral line. Therefore, it is necessary to warn them that Iris is not seriously ill and that they should not even think about succession, while you complete my daughter's social debut at the coming-of-age ceremony as a subst.i.tute. That way, they won't make any unnecessary noise, even if my daughter confines herself in the Territory after that."

"How long do I have to work as a subst.i.tute? No matter how much money you give me, I can't continue to be a scarecrow."

It was a great opportunity. From Julietta's point of view, taking off her disguise was more of a cover-up, so the offer to wash her ident.i.ty and receiving some money was a real good chance. However, since she didn't want to live her entire life as a part of someone else's character, she had to figure out exactly when that period was.

"Only during this summer`s social season. If you finish your debut party safely and get everyone's recognition as the successor to the family of Kiellini, your role will end."

'Iris is weak, and unable to marry or have children. We will look for a young man who can form a political alliance or share this secret. It would be nice if he has a child outside, and if he doesn't, she could adopt a suitable one. In any case, she will show that there is no problem as a successor, go to the Territory for a change of air and spend her entire life there. Then the rest of Iris' life will be kept safe.'

"But I think I missed one thing. Do your daughter and I resemble each other a lot?"

Julietta tilted her head, thinking, "I don't think the daughter of the gentleman like that would have had brick hair and dark skin. I heard from Maribel that you were the illegitimate child of the Marquis. He is Iris' uncle."

Kiellini nodded as Julietta was apparently embarra.s.sed by the relations.h.i.+p of the family registry he mentioned all of a sudden.

"She has blond hair and green eyes. Of course, she is a lighter blonde than the Marquis, and her eyes are a green closer to blue, but since she was young, she's gone down to the land and confined herself there, so you don't have to worry about it because only a few people would remember Iris except for an image of when she was young."

At the mention of the Duke, Julietta recalled Marquis Anais, who she had seen in the theater. He had vivid green eyes reminiscent of a budding sprout, with bright blond hair that had a lighter pink color than herself. Perhaps no one would doubt that she was his niece.

The Duke gazed out of the window, watching Julietta, who seemed to be thinking carefully. They would soon arrive at the gate. When negotiating, however, it was a loss to those who would express their feelings first. He told her the amount to be paid after the work was done and looked outside in a leisurely manner.

Unlike him, Julietta could not help but be astonished. Ten thousand terns! The amount was enough to repay Maribel's debts and open a store!

'Good luck comes to those who want to grab it. I'm not going to be frightened beforehand and run away.'

Many things were on her mind, but Julietta didn't mean to miss the opportunity that came to her.

"Please fill out a contract stating the exact length of time and the amount to be paid to me and the provision that you will not do any harm to me after the work is done."

Julietta smiled broadly at the silver-haired gentleman in front of her, taking off her wig and gla.s.ses she had been wearing.

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