“Ashton, you must go ahead with this engagement. We have agreed, and Madam Rowena and her daughter are aware of this; it is absolutely impossible to cancel it.” Doweger Duchess Rosella tried to give understanding to her son because even though they had agreed when Rowena came to the Duke's mansion this afternoon, to cancel it even in just a few hours felt very embarrassing for someone; Rosella couldn't have done that.

“Mother, Lady Darrellyn is much more deserving of me, even if we have to look to benefit our family. Lady Katherine has no influence whatsoever over us; she no longer has her father by her side, whereas Lady Darrellyn has Sir. James Orva, who is renowned in his line of business. wouldn't that be beneficial to us?”

“Lady Darrellyn's image is bad; it's not impossible that she will also have a bad impact on your image. As for Rowena's family, even though she and Viscountess Eleana Russell often get gossip letters, Lady Katherine is very clean of gossip, isn't she? Mother is so confused that there is a man who refuses such a beautiful and skilled Lady Katherine.”

“Is beauty a mother's standard to make her your daughter-in-law? Is Lady Darrellyn not the least bit beautiful in your eyes? She was recognized as a diamond in her early debut by the queen of this country before bad news spread. Lady Darrellyn is the target of many noble men—I know, even though I wasn't here at the time.”

"It's not like that, Ashton. Please obey what mother says; no mother misleads her son. Everyone has love in their heart, which is hidden without anyone knowing, even when we have a sacred relationship in the eyes of God and the country.” Rosella's words didn't necessarily make Ashton afraid; he still insisted on canceling the engagement between himself and Lady Katherine in order to protect Lady Darrellyn's feelings that he didn't even know when she would come to him and accept his love.

"Did mom also marry dad when mom didn't love him?" Rosella froze; she slowly nodded her head, acknowledging her feelings for Ashton's father.

"You know I was educated to be a queen? My first love is a king, even when I don't know what kind of king is in this country. Disappointment came to me; I failed to become queen and was proposed to by the Duke of Edinburgh, who is none other than your father. I don't love him, but feelings grow slowly by slowly, until his departure now makes my soul seem to be taken by him. I am alive but as dead, lonely, and no longer have a reason to live after you bear your title; you have successfully become a leader. My goal now is to witness your wedding and hold my grandchild. Everything starts with a bland taste, nurtured with patience, and allowed to grow until you feel it's a shame to let go." Ashton rubbed his face in exasperation; he didn't want the love story of his mother and father to be used as an example when he himself didn't know whether following that path would be the same result as his father and mother's marriage.

Ashton has never fallen in love easily, even though he admits that Lady Katherine is beautiful, but his feelings only move for Darrellyn. Darrellyn is an honorable noblewoman, with her beauty, intelligence, and wisdom, which is enough to bind Ashton so that he never looks away. "I'm not going to try the mother's path; it's not certain that my love story will be as lucky and end up loving each other as what mother and father experienced."

"This is the first time my first son has disobeyed me," said Rosella; her words were gentle but implied hurt and disappointment because she didn't seem to recognize her own son.

"Mother, let me find my own life partner." "Until when? Lady Darrelyn doesn't even seem interested in you, and you need a successor in Edinburgh. If Lady Darrellyn gave her decision, you'd be wasting your time—and you have an equally beautiful and intellectual candidate."

“At least please give me some time.” Ashton sounded so resigned; sometimes he was also afraid that Darrellyn would never be able to accept him. And his mother's words made him a little scared; maybe Ashton had to prepare himself for the rejection that would be raised by Darrellyn one day. It feels like Ashton also has no right to refuse the arrival of another woman in his life; he should be able to live with women other than Darrellyn because Ashton lives not only for himself but for the people of Edinburgh who need an heir from him so that Edinburgh will remain safe.

"No more time, my son; we have agreed with Rowena." Rosella tries to give understanding to her son again; she can't stop the engagement so quickly, and this is one way for her relationship with Rowena to be good again, as before, after Rowena often misunderstood because she was always under Rosella a long time ago.

Rosella doesn't want to have a single enemy in her life, even though her power is capable of bringing down anyone and Rowena is no match for her, but Rosella wants to maintain a good relationship with Rowena. Ashton squeezed his hair in frustration; again, he couldn't be firm with his mother. Yesterday night Ashton also had the same debate as this but ended up again with Ashton, who relented even though Ashton was tormented by the decision he made himself in front of his mother

"I really regret why I never won against mom," muttered Ashton. He then thought again for a moment before he would regret his decision again this time.

“I shall proceed with the engagement to Lady Katherine, but on one condition. The engagement will be hidden from the public for the time being. If Darrelyn decides to accept me, then my engagement to Lady Katherine will be annulled. But if Darrelyn refuses me, then I will marry Lady Katherine.”

“Oh my God, Ashton! What demons are in your heart and mind? You seem selfish and like a scumbag who used one woman for your benefit only, took her as a backup, and broke both hearts. I never taught my son to behave like that.”

"Mother has never given bad teaching to your sons, but your current behavior seems to have allowed me to learn to manage the destiny of other people without knowing. Like you force a man who is in love to marry another woman.” Rosella's tears fell without permission; she didn't hate Lady Darrellyn, and it didn't matter if her son wanted her. But she was bound by a promise with Rowena; moreover, they had agreed and set an engagement date.

Rosella had never broken her promise since she was little, and seeing her son urging her to break her promise made her angry, then she insisted on fulfilling it subconsciously. “Very well, the engagement will be hidden from the public. Norman! Write a letter to Madam Rowena and insert some expensive jewelry so that she will agree to this until the time is right to make it public.”