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Kenneth Emmeline, the only son of the distinguished Emmeline family, became Duke at a young age after the previous Duke passed away from an illness. His uncle took care of the duchy until Kenneth was old enough to take over.

When he came of age, Kenneth stepped into his role with confidence, having been well-prepared since childhood for the duties he would inherit. His early success as a young Duke quickly made him a well-known figure in the social circles of the Magnolia Empire, where he was admired by many.

With his noble status, handsome looks, and vast wealth, Kenneth quickly became the most sought-after bachelor in the Empire. Noble ladies eagerly vied for his attention, showering him with love letters, dance invitations, and various romantic gestures.

However, Kenneth graciously turned them all down, without exception. Surprisingly, his popularity only grew, as he remained one of just two unmarried Dukes in the Empire, celebrated for his impeccable reputation and scandal-free lifestyle.

Kenneth was well-known for his discipline and dedication, fully committing himself to his duties as Duke. Unlike many other nobles, he refrained from indulging in excess or questionable activities, which earned him the respect and admiration of his peers.

Yet, just a year after taking on the title, Kenneth surprised the aristocracy by bringing a newborn baby to the Emmeline estate. He declared the infant to be his daughter and announced her official inclusion in the Emmeline family registry, causing quite a stir among the noble circles.

This announcement broke the hearts of many noblewomen, as Kenneth, known for his virtuous character, revealed that he had fathered a child outside of marriage. Rumors spread quickly, especially since the identity of the mother was a mystery.

To put an end to the speculation, Kenneth organized a lavish banquet to formally introduce his daughter, Cecillia Emmeline, who was already a year old. He explained that he had secretly married a noblewoman from a rural village during one of his inspections, but sadly, his wife had passed away shortly after giving birth due to her frail health.

The upper echelons of society were thrown into turmoil. Many noblewomen and their families harshly criticized Kenneth's decision, claiming that his late wife's humble origins had tarnished the prestigious reputation of the Emmeline family.

Despite the backlash, Kenneth remained steadfast in his resolve, choosing to ignore their disparaging comments. Instead, he devoted himself to raising Cecillia as a single father, embracing the challenges of parenthood at the tender age of 20.

To ensure that Cecillia received a proper upbringing, Kenneth made the difficult decision to send her to live with the Gwendolyn family when she turned five.

The Gwendolyns had a daughter, Eleanor, who was the same age as Cecillia. Despite their contrasting personalities—Eleanor being more reserved and introspective, while Cecillia was spirited and outgoing—the two girls quickly formed a close bond. Their unlikely but enduring friendship became well-known within social circles.

As time went by, Cecillia blossomed into a graceful and dignified young lady, earning the admiration and silencing the rumors that once surrounded her.

She became the most sought-after single woman in a noble society. With no Imperial Princess in the current royal family and only one other Duke, Duke Rihan, who had a son, Cecillia stood out as the sole daughter of a Duke in the Magnolia Empire.

Cecillia's beauty, status, and impeccable upbringing attracted many suitors from noble circles, but she turned them all down.

Rumors spread that Duke Kenneth had tried to arrange a marriage for her, only for Cecillia to firmly refuse, even threatening to throw a tantrum if he pressed the issue. Despite her coming-of-age ceremony, she remained single, a rarity for a noble lady of her age.

The turning point came when Cecillia overheard Kenneth discussing an upcoming Crown Princess Selection Tournament. Realizing that the Imperial family likely intended for her to participate due to her matched qualifications and single status, she panicked and devised a reckless plan.

On the night of a banquet at the Imperial Hall to announce the tournament, Cecillia appeared arm-in-arm with John Burbom, the fiancé of Eleanor Gwendolyn.

The unexpected sight of them together overshadowed the tournament announcement, shocking the attendees. Eleanor, who had arrived alone and unaware of Cecillia's scheme, was devastated to see her childhood friend with her betrothed.

The situation escalated when Marquis Gwendolyn, Eleanor's father, confronted John furiously in the middle of the banquet, nearly striking him before Duke Kenneth intervened.

John claimed that his engagement to Eleanor had been dissolved and that he was now legally betrothed to Cecillia. This revelation enraged Kenneth, who had no knowledge of such an arrangement. The chaos disrupted the banquet, forcing the Imperial family to postpone the tournament.

Determined to uncover the truth, Duke Kenneth and Marquis Gwendolyn launched a joint investigation, with the support of the Imperial family. Their efforts revealed John's deceitful schemes and incriminating evidence hidden in his safe house.

Meanwhile, Cecillia was disqualified from the tournament due to the scandal, while Eleanor, heartbroken and humiliated, chose to join the competition as a means of escape.

Eleanor withdrew from her family and Cecillia, was consumed by shame and fear of public judgment. She threw herself into the tournament, hoping that becoming Crown Princess would restore her dignity and silence the whispers of her past.

But Eleanor's miserable fate seemed never-ending. Just when she was one step away from becoming Crown Princess and reclaiming her reputation, the world once again proved to be unjust to her.

On the final day of the tournament, which also marked the announcement of the winner, the Crown Prince—recently returned from abroad and completely unaware of the competition his father, the Emperor, had organized in his name—unexpectedly fell for Cecillia.

Cecillia, who had attended the closing ceremony to congratulate Eleanor, was stunned by the Prince's sudden proposal in front of everyone and immediately rejected him.

The Crown Prince, however, was undeterred and continued to pursue Cecillia throughout the event. He even boldly stood on the podium and declared that the tournament was invalid as it had been conducted without his consent. He went on to blame the Emperor's authoritarian decision, leaving the guests in utter confusion. All eyes turned to Eleanor, whose face had gone pale before she collapsed in shock.

Marquis Gwendolyn, enraged by the Crown Prince's actions, made his fury known. The Emperor himself had to intervene, personally visiting the Gwendolyn estate to apologize to Eleanor and calm the Marquis and his two sons, who were threatening to withdraw their support for the Crown Prince. The Emperor pleaded to preserve the familial bond their ancestors had shared and prevent it from crumbling due to the Crown Prince's foolish infatuation.

Eventually, under pressure from numerous nobles, and with Cecillia's persistent persuasion, the Crown Prince publicly knelt and apologized during a grand banquet. He kissed Eleanor's hand in front of the noble attendees, a gesture meant to restore her dignity as a noblewoman.

Thus, the first arc—filled with chaos and turmoil—came to an end, transitioning into the second arc, which focused on the Crown Prince's pursuit of Cecillia and the emergence of other romantic rivals.

Eleanor, however, was no longer part of the story. It was mentioned that she chose to leave for a neighboring kingdom with the Marchioness Gwendolyn to find solace.

It was as if she was nothing more than a supporting character whose misfortune served as a dramatic prelude to the fiery love story of the main characters.

'And the person responsible for it all is sitting right in front of me now, blissfully unaware of what lies ahead,' I thought, suppressing the urge to smack Cecillia on the back, just as I used to do with my younger brother whenever he messed up.

I took a sip of tea, savoring its aroma while stealing a glance at the young woman sitting across from me.

The girl with long mint-colored hair that curled adorably at the ends sat with elegance, a sweet smile adorning her red lips.

"Thank you. It's been a while since I've had tea from Gwendolyn," Cecillia said cheerfully.

Marchioness Alisa returned her smile, radiating warmth. "You can take some tea leaves with you and brew them. I'm sure the tea master at the Emmeline estate is just as skilled as ours."

"Even so, I prefer tea brewed in Gwendolyn's style and enjoyed right here in this estate. It has a unique charm!" Cecillia replied, her words seeming genuine given the camaraderie between the two women.

While they exchanged pleasantries, I glanced down at my teacup, pondering.

'Does it really?' I thought, taking another sip, but failing to detect the uniqueness Cecillia mentioned.

As I observed Cecillia's animated conversation with Marchioness Alisa, I couldn't help but feel a pang of unease.

I wanted to shake her out of her naive bliss, to warn her of the storm brewing just beyond the horizon. Instead, I remained silent, trapped in my own thoughts as the delicate porcelain cup clinked softly against the saucer, echoing the unspoken words that lingered in the air.

'Ah, forget it,' I grumbled inwardly.