Chapter 60. Calen Castle, Part XXI

However, she was confident that he would not be on the list of her clientele. Therefore, after the death of his wife ten years ago, he had only raised one daughter and thoroughly confined himself at home without any rumors, so she was surprised by the words of the Duke when he suddenly visited.

"I'm sorry, but may I ask what you're looking for? As you know, blondes and green eyes are hard to find. What's more, in order to not miss someone, I should know what's going on, then I can find the right person."

At Maribel's careful question, Duke Kiellini frowned for a moment and then opened his mouth. "I know your words are sealed."

However, when he shut his mouth as if he had no intention of telling her why, Maribel asked again, "Your Excellency, I've been able to survive here for decades because I immediately forget what I hear."

He knew that. That was why he had visited her.

He had been looking for a suitable girl since last year to carry out what he had been thinking for years, but she wasn't easy to find. Most people in Austern had brown hair and eyes, although about one percent of the population had bright hair and eyes, as did the neighboring country of Vicern. When he found a suitable child, she was shallow or her figure was too ugly, and could not be said to be blonde or green-eyed.

Duke Kiellini, his hands clasped, settled his thoughts and opened his mouth as if he had made up his mind. "I need a daughter's substitute."

Maribel lost the calm face she used when dealing with aristocrats, and her eyes went wide.

"You must know that my daughter went down to Kiellini Territory and grew up there after my wife died."

"Yes, Your Excellency. I also know that this year is Princess Kiellini's debut year in society. I heard that everyone is looking forward to seeing your daughter's social debut this year, because she's been confined at the Territory without any interaction with other young people."

At the words of Maribel, the expression of Duke Kiellini became serious. "Iris is very weak. Most of the time, she is reading books or looking out the window in bed. She can't handle taking a walk for a while once a day.""And so?"

"This year Iris will have the coming-of-age celebration and she will have to make an official announcement as the successor to the family of Duke Kiellini."

The Ducal Families of Kiellini and Dudley, who had received their Titles from the first Emperor of Austern, passed on the title with the priority of direct descendant, regardless of gender. In particular, the family of Duke Kiellini who had produced the Empress had been a family with many female dukes, as their descendants had been scarce for generations. However, if there was no direct lineage, or if the person had a disability or were sick, a collateral line could inherit the title.

At present, the family of Kiellini had no direct line except Iris, so if she did not succeed at the title, and the Title would be handed over to a collateral line that had been split off several generations ago.

It did not matter while Duke Kiellini was alive, but after he died, Iris's life would be dominated by the new Duke, who had no acquaintance with her. He wouldn't worry if the heir to the title was a decent man, but since the man did not have a good character, it made the Duke worry.

Duke Kiellini was unable to entrust Iris to an uncertain future. The noble bloodline of the family of the Duke, which had been falling for generations, was of no importance before the future of his daughter. He just wanted her to live in a safe and cozy place where she had lived all her life until now.

"It's not enough to have blonde hair and green eyes to replace the Princess."

Maribel nodded as if she had grasped the situation.

"That's why I came to visit you."

Maribel thought of Julietta. She had never seen Princess Kielini, but she knew she was the same as the late Duchess. The Duchess was the younger sister of Marquis Anais. In other words, the Princess and Julietta were cousins.

'Is this the fate of Julietta?'

Maribel had had to promise when sending the dead Stella's body to Marquise Anais: the Marquis should never know about Julietta. The condition was forgiving Maribel, who had given Stella and Julietta a place to sleep.

From then on, Maribel had changed Julietta's appearance and sent her out of her living quarters, completely hiding her identity, so that she could stay like other members of the theater's apprentices.

When Julietta had become an adult, she had felt sorry for the child who had hidden in the corner of the theater in disguise for all of her life. So, she had decided that it would be better for her to live a luxurious life as a concubine of nobility, like other actresses, so she had tried to introduce her to Duke Miguel for the price she had proposed. Of course, Julietta's resistance had pushed the plan apart.

Maribel wanted to praise herself for listening to Julietta's cheeky demand that day. With a moment of sympathy and loss, she had a greater chance.

It wasn't a bad thing for Julietta, either. Rather than suffer as a maid for life, she would be considered a substitute, but she would be a princess of Kiellini. However, it was not possible to introduce Julietta to the Duke without thinking about what would happen later.

"I'll wipe out what I've faced with you right after this is over, and everyone involved in this matter is as well."

When asked if he would guarantee safety after work, the Duke immediately accepted. "Of course. What can I do with someone who has never faced me?"

Now that she'd heard this, it was hard for her to take her foot off. Julietta was the illegitimate child of Marquis Anais. It was thought that if the Duke knew the truth of the family of the Marquis, if he knew how much the Marquis cared about Julietta, he would not harm the child and turn himself against the Marquis.

Maribel finally made up her mind and opened her mouth. "There's a perfect girl now. I saw the Duchess in the distance, and I heard the Princess looked a lot like the Duchess."

"That's right. That's why I'm looking for a blonde, green-eyed girl. It's a hallmark of the family of Anais. I haven't seen him in a long time, but I also heard that Pierre, the son of the Marquis, is blond and has green eyes."

Maribel smiled brightly and agreed enthusiastically, "Yes. I've seen him before, when he came to the theater. It was not pinkish or light blond, but his eyes were really bright green, like an emerald with no impurities. The child I know has that kind of eyes. She's also a pinkish, light blond."

"It's a rare color. Where did you get to know such a child?"

Maribel smiled even louder when Duke Kiellini asked in wonder, "I'll tell you what I've been hiding for ten years now, since you've told me about some really important secrets."

As Maribel stopped talking for dramatic effect, Duke Kiellini looked at her as if to say something.

"You know that Marquis Anais had an illegitimate child, right?"

"I thought she died with her mother."

It had already been more than ten years. Duke Kiellini could not have paid attention to the case, since his wife had been dead and his sick daughter had been in a life-and-death situation. Later, he had heard that the lover and daughter who had been driven out by Marquise Anais had died, but that was just it.

"I was in charge of the daughter. At the order of Marquise Anais, I hid her identity completely."

At Maribel's words, Duke Kiellini straightened himself. as if he were about to rise from his seat.

"Where's the daughter?"

"The Marquise had hoped that an eye-annoying bastard would stay in the theater all her life, and that's what she knows now... but the girl left me a while ago. She's working as a maid at Bertino mansion on Harrods Street."

"A maid? If she works at Bertino mansion, she'll have too many people recognize her, even if she were to serve as a substitute."