“To be my daughter, you have to be on my side; to be my daughter, you have to be like me. Get all the happiness you want even if you have to sacrifice your life; grab all the opportunities to get what you want even if you have to sacrifice your body; believe that you can hold the world only if you have power and money. You have to be good at finding opportunities, good at talking, and win everyone's heart to be able to get glory. We must not give up, whatever we want to prove to the world that we can get it. Again, being my daughter means having ambition and being willing to work hard.” Rowena said in her heart while combing Katherine's hair and polishing Katherine's face as beautifully as possible.

Katherine looked at her reflection in the mirror. So far she had no maids, so for important occasions it was only Rowena who did her makeup and chose dresses for Katherine, but so far her stepmother's makeup was very good and Katherine liked it. Rowena really does have a lot of experience and knows the beauty trends of that year, so it wasn't difficult for her to make Katherine's make-up according to the times and to the interest of many people.

"You are very beautiful, dear." Rowena saw the final result of her work. A simple make-up that matches Katherine's characteristics, which is simple but always has an elegant side even with its simplicity.

"Thank you; I like your makeup." Rowena smiled and took Katherine's hand to hold it tightly.

"You had to come down when I called you; during that time, please play your favorite toy," said Rowena, glancing at Katherine's favorite piano that was glistening in the sunlight from outside the window.

“I want you to make something that is so beautiful that it evokes the feelings of others and creates love in their hearts. I know you're good at this." Katherine was silent for a while; she didn't quite understand what her mother was trying to plan, even though it seemed unsustainable. Katherine felt that so far Rowena's request wasn't too excessive; as long as it didn't harm her, then Katherene would do it.

"Okay," Rowena smiled as she patted Katherine on the shoulder. She then went outside to wait for the arrival of the guests she was waiting for. Katherine walked slowly towards her bedroom window, where from there she could see everyone going in and out of their house. Katherine was pensive while waiting for the arrival of their guests; she felt embarrassed because now she had no choice but to comply with the arranged marriage, even though she really hated whatever Rowena and Eleana's choices about marriage were because they tend to look for handsome and wealthy candidates so as not to be embarrassed to show off.

Then Katherine repeatedly convinced herself that this match was not wrong; she really needed a man who could accept her regardless of her circumstances and heal a trauma that occurred yesterday. Slowly, from a distance, Katherine saw a carriage with the Edinburgh symbol entering her home area. From the train alone, it has been proven that what is inside is definitely not just anyone, with beautiful carvings, and the color gold mixed with black makes it so classy.

A woman came down from there, a beautiful woman that even Katherine was sure was Rowena's age, followed by a tall man in neat clothes holding his hat. Katherine glanced deeper to see what kind of man Rowena had so convinced herself to be betrothed to. The closer Katherine became aware of the charm of the Duke of Edinburgh; her face was perfect even seen from the second floor. When the man was talking with his mother, there was a smile that was so beautiful and sincere.

Katherine could catch it from his smile, then created a thump in her heart, asking herself to hurry up, ran to her favorite piano, and did Rowena's orders. Katherine's hands danced on the keys, playing a beautiful song her mother's favorite before. Mrs. Sophie used to say that the song was the song that made her fall in love with her father, who liked to play the piano, and Katherine agreed with that because the song entered her ears beautifully, even if we were in a bad mood, and for no reason that song would make anyone suddenly feel so good about themselves.

Katherine played it with the pounding in her heart that still wouldn't stop, until she repeated it the third time she could only see a maid running into her room to tell Katherine that Rowena had called her downstairs. Katherine subconsciously smiled at that, and with embarrassment, she tried hard to hide her pleasure to return to being the usual Katherine.

Katherine cleared her throat. She fixed the peach-colored dress she was wearing, a dress with a low collar and slightly exposing her chest, this was too much. Katherine was suddenly embarrassed to meet the Duke of Edinburgh dressed like that, but she only realized it just now, so there was no time to run over to change her dress.

Katherine exhaled; she needed to be calm and confident so that it wouldn't raise the suspicion that she was uncomfortable in her own clothes. Katherine slowly made her way downstairs. As she descended the steps, Katherine could already see a mother and son from Edinburgh from there.

The Duke gave a surprised look, but Katherine could sense that she might make the Duke of Edinburgh like this arrangement too. The more you see, the Duke of Edinburgh does look handsome; from a close distance, even his aura of authority is so strong that anyone will be shy of him; no doubt the king entrusted many royal tasks to him as well; and one more thing that made Katherine understand that in fact, the words spoken by many people and so loved as the man of the year that this man held the title of the best husband candidate—Katherine had no doubts about it.

“This is my second daughter, Dowager Duchess Rossella. This was Katherine Aldora, twenty-five years old and good at playing the piano. Katherine said hi to the Duke of Edinburgh and his mother, Dowager Duchess Rossella; she heard your piano playing from above and loved it," said Rowena.

Katherine glanced at the Dowager Duchess Rossella, who smiled kindly at her; they seemed to be nice and friendly people. There is no wrong saying that a good son must be born from a good mother. Dowager Duchess Rossella was very friendly even to Katherine, whose royal status was questioned after Mr. Aldora left their home.

Katherine smiled and greeted, "Nice to meet you, Your Grace."

"Oh, Katherine is a beautiful girl, isn't my son?" asked the Dowager Duchess Rossella to her son. Katherine lowered her head in embarrassment, but when the Duke of Edinburgh answered her mother's words, Katherine immediately worked up the courage to meet the Duke of Edinburgh's eyes.

"She is a very beautiful girl." It's just that suddenly Katherine couldn't catch the meaning of the man's expression. After a long conversation, Dowager Duchess Rossella asked her son, the Duke of Edinburgh, to take Katherine for a walk in Rowena's garden to spend some time alone and talk.

Katherine gladly accepted the duke's hand for her to go outside. While in the hands of the Duke of Edinburgh, Katherine never stopped feeling nervous; she suddenly realized explicitly that she was in love with this man. The wind in the garden seemed so calm with favorable weather even though the sun was still unable to beat the still cold air.

Katherine, who had not forgotten her coat, immediately tightened the coat to reduce the cold, but it seemed that it had attracted the attention of the Duke of Edinburgh. "Are you cold?" Katherine didn't even expect him to speak, because one word from him sent a flutter she couldn't control in her chest.

“A little, but the weather is so bright. It's not as cold as yesterday," Katherine said.

"Okay, then we'll shorten our conversation since it's so cold." Katherine really wanted to reject the Duke's words, but she didn't have the courage like her sister, who always kept Viscount Thomas from returning to his mansion when they were still dating.

"I don't know why, when I see your face, I feel familiar with you?" asked Ashton, Duke of Edinburgh.

“Have you perhaps met my sister?” Katherine asked first; the only woman who looked like her was Eleana.

"Your sister?"

“Viscountess Russell.”

“Eleana Russell?” Ashton looked surprised, but he seemed to have just realized the resemblance turned out to be Viscount Russell. Katherine nodded her head. From Ashton's expression, suddenly Katherine was afraid that if Eleana made a bad impression on Ashton and made Ashton dislike Eleana, it would reduce Katherine's value in the eyes of this man.

"No wonder you're no stranger. I know now." Ashton smiled a smile; it calmed Katherine down a bit.

"But you have a different aura; you seem like a nice girl."

"Do you know my sister?" asked Katherine, who was terrified again.

"I've only seen her and read some gossip in the newspapers." That statement made Katherine smile awkwardly every time Eleana's name in the papers was sure to be about her bad scandal.

“Ah, My Lady. Sorry, because I'm busy today. I have to go soon. I hope you don't feel disappointed in me."

"Does it have to be this fast? You just came an hour ago.” In the end, Katherine tried to hold back Ashton's departure; for some reason she wanted to fix her name, which might be bad in Ashton's eyes now because she is the younger sister of Eleana Russell.

"Too bad I'm really busy; I have to go to Sir James Orva's residence." Katherine's expression was full of questions, but she couldn't ask that. Ashton, who realized that, finally smiled and exhaled to give understanding; maybe his words would calm Katherine a little.

"I hope you do not expect me so much, My Lady. I have a lover; Lady Darrellyn Orva is my current lover.” Boom, rejection at the beginning of the encounter even when Katherine realized that she had fallen in love. From Ashton's body gestures and the way he spoke, he changed shortly after knowing that Katherine was Eleana Russell's younger sister.

Maybe he knew that Eleana Russell had repeatedly hurt his girlfriend and created rumors in society, and Ashton hated him. It was so embarrassing when Katherine watched Ashton and his mother leave their house. One more thing: Rowena should have known this, but why didn't she tell Katherine? If she had known this, Katherine would not have hoped for this match.