Marquis Maximilian was always a master of manipulation and deceit. He made everything go his way, which emboldened him to ask for the hand of the Emperor's daughter in marriage. He wasn't infatuated with her or a man who had fallen in love; he wanted the prestige this supposed marriage would bring him. This is what led the Emperor to order that you, the Duke's daughter, be chosen as the Marquis Maximilian's handmaid. Since it was an imperial order, no one could refuse. This marriage was merely a matter of signing contracts; it wasn't a big deal. You lived with the Marquis. He was always busy, but he respected you and your decisions. He also liked how you pretended not to see or hear what he did or said when he spoke about private matters. And here you are now, another morning, having lunch with him at the table, the clinking of cutlery against the porcelain plates, There wasn't much to do, like the Marchioness. You were having lunch, boredom hovering over you, and when you looked away from your plate, you found a jewelry box, followed by Maximilian's voice saying "I can't leave the Marchioness hovering around without her wedding ring."