The Ugly Wife of the Shady Duke

that the tree was not supporting the sun, but devouring it through.’

The reason for this was the Felton Duchy, which had been ruled by the Felton family for generations.
The empire had a mild climate, but there was only one territory that was barren.
Naturally, it was in the north.

‘Don’t most northern dukes have black hair?’

Grace decided to stop thinking about Benjamin’s appearance.
It seemed like a prejudice.

Putting aside the fantasy-like history of the empire, the first Duke of Felton was someone who took up a sword to prevent monsters from crossing over to protect the empire, as the north was boiling with monsters.

The emperor bestowed upon him the title of Duke and named his vast northern territory the Felton Duchy.

After two generations, as the empire grew and became powerful, it granted two more territories with a mild climate to the Felton Duchy to rule over.

‘Of course.
The northern land is the hardest place to live.’

There were few inhabitants, and in reality, only monsters kept coming out.

The title of Duke was more of an honorary position.
Even in books, it was emphasized that the Felton Dukes of that time had no greed, and their wives were all the same.

However, something happened that suddenly changed the status of Duke Felton.

With the rediscovery of magic, a new profession called “mage” emerged, and with it came the concept of “magic stones.”

And although the magic stones were found in various minerals across different regions, the purest ones were made from the hearts and bones of monsters.

‘There are so many monsters in the north.’

The empire couldn’t demand the land or donation of magic stones, citing them as their property.
For generations, the Felton Dukes had covered military expenses with their own savings.

Grace was amazed that he had made it this far.

No matter how much he became blackened and turned into a corrupt man in the latter part of the story, he still was her favorite until then.

‘After reading the paper book I shouldn’t have looked for the next volume on my phone because I was too curious about the next part… I should have just stopped reading at the previous volume.’

Anyway, with the start of selling the highest-grade magic stones, the power of the Felton Duchy grew stronger, and the imperial family felt the need to suppress their ambition.

“And that choice was me.”

Tl note:

[1] (( the phrase is used to criticize an approach or process that is likely to produce a negative outcome.))