Previously, in The First Night With the Duke, Ripley embraced her affection for Duke Zeronis and tried to fix all the misunderstandings. She even tried to help Etoile by matchmaking her with Mr. Wright. She also planned to fake a relationship to get rid of an obsessed admirer. However, her plans soon go awry. Now in The First Night With the Duke Chapter 28-36, things become dark. Ripley’s false lover scheme turns on her, and the duke becomes suspicious. Her dream of a peaceful love crumbles. Jealousy grows over as Rose goes too far and kidnaps Ripley and accuses Sylvia of the crime. With Ripley now stuck in a distant warehouse, her only aim is to survive and save Sylvia.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 28: Fake Lovers
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 28 begins with Ripley pitching the ultimate fake lover plan to Etoile. The goal? Chase away Feran, the love-sick suitor. Ripley is sure: Mr. Wright is the right man for the situation. It is her usual two-birds-one-stone scheme to assist Etoile and to get rid of her guilt over the love triangle. But surprise–Mr. Wright is busy and unable to attend. Instead, Duke Zeronis appears, and he fills in as Wright is out inspecting territory. The girls uneasily agree to tell about the fake-dating plan.
Zeronis, as usual, goes one step beyond that. He proposes an even better plan. To work poor Feran until he is bone weary. So that he has no more energy to pine after Etoile. He casually lists torturous chores, clearly enjoying the fantasy of scaring the man off. The girls are appalled–the schemes are going a bit too extreme. Ripley says that that is why they wanted Mr. Wright–he would be affectionate, not scary. Zeronis responds coolly with a smirk, “I’ll be the Fake Lover you want”. Later, Feran arrives and is unsure of the state of their relationship. Zeronis dismisses him, asking him to get lost and not to harass the lady.
Ripley’s Insecurity
Heartbroken, Feran goes away. Ripley quietly observes the duo of the Duke and Etoile standing together and feels sad. Ripley later hears hushed whispers and gossip about the Duke getting a new lover. Sylvia notices her worried expression and motivates her to continue fighting. To improve Ripley’s self-esteem, she takes her back to her former hobby. Ripley now finds herself in a dark, eerie room, facing Witch Isla and her glowing crystal ball. The First Night With the Duke Chapter 28 ends with Ripley wondering what on earth Past-Ripley was into… and if her future is about to be spelled out in glowing magic.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 29: Dreamcatchers
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 29 begins with Ripley stepping into a shadowy, candle-lit room, where a mysterious veiled witch named Isla awaits. Before Ripley can speak, Isla hushes her, holding a finger to her glowing globe. The atmosphere is heavy, spooky, and a little too accurate.
Isla abruptly declares Ripley’s “boyfriend” is cheating on her with someone close who is close to her. Ripley groans inside. Isla must have listened to castle gossip. Just as she’s about to leave, Isla says that her boyfriend will soon come back since they are destined to be together. She instructs Ripley to hang a dreamcatcher in her lover’s chamber so that destiny can work. Ripley dismisses and leaves without knowing whether Isla is a fake or a real witch. Nonetheless, curiosity prevails- she purchases the dreamcatcher and gives it to Zeronis.
Surprisingly, he is thrilled. He says, with a grin, “I like it very much”. He then jokes that he was thinking that keeping it in his bedroom would make him dream of the night they first spent together. Ripley blushes. He then playfully says that now that he is the fake lover of Etoile. Ripley is only a guest, and guests are not supposed to enter his bedroom. He gives her a nudge, and she is at a loss for words. Ripley walks off, sadly. All this scheme was intended to prevent a stalker, not romantic room banter and dreamcatcher gift-giving!
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 29 ends with Ripley realizing her schemes always spiral into something deeper—and way more personal than she expects.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 30: Public Confessions
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 30 begins with an elegant ballroom buzzing with whispers. Everyone’s talking about how perfect Duke Zeronis and Etoile look together. Ripley stands on the sidelines with a heavy heart and tight lips. She attempts to shake it off and concentrate on the real issue, Feran. She knows that as soon as she and the Duke reconcile, Feran will fall back to obsessing over Etoile. Why, she wonders. Mentally cursing that belated logic, had she not thought of this before?
But before she can think further, Etoile cries out. Ripley bursts in to find Feran with Etoile in his arms, begging that he cannot leave her. Zeronis comes to the rescue, like a knight in shining armor, before Ripley can do anything. Feran reacts violently, wondering how Etoile can be dating such a notorious playboy. Duke smirks and pulls Etoile toward him. He half-jokingly asks him whether he has to prove his love- his eyes going over to Ripley, obviously teasing. He puts himself in–far too close–to Etoile.
Ripley is unable to endure any longer. She dashes in, tossing all the pride to the wind and shouts, “I was not dumped!” She leaks the real thing about the bogus lover scheme, declares that she and the Duke are still very much in love. And to top it all, she screams to the entire room, publicly proposing a marriage proposal.
The entire room gasps. Duke Zeronis? He smiles as though he has been waiting to do this. Kissing her hand, he answers softly, “Of course, I surely accept your marriage proposal.” The First Night With the Duke Chapter 30 ends with gasps, applause, and Ripley turning a fake plot into a very real happily-ever-after beginning.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 31: Secret Formulas
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 31 begins with Ripley feeling completely drained. Her theatrical love declaration ended up as an engagement, and now she is finding out. Marriage is a long process. Dresses, announcements, expectations… ugh. Sylvia attempts to cheer her, but Ripley is obviously overwhelmed.
She goes to visit Etoile, but to no avail since the latter is also tired. Etoile reveals that her family business is still not fixed, and it is a burden to her. Ripley, who desires to assist, rushes out with her suggestion. Only to understand that she does not have a clue about the trade or business. Her shoulders fall in shame. Nevertheless, Etoile smiles and thanks her just because she cares.
Later, back at home, Ripley sees her father behaving suspiciously. She connects the dots and understands that he is also stressed about money. This caused her a greater blow than she had expected. On the same night, Ripley, who is quite serious, queries Sylvia about how much she could get by selling her jewelry. Sylvia is once again thoroughly shocked.
You May Also Like: Osora (Leading Queer Webtoon)
Sparkling Plans
The following day, Ripley announces how she is going to use that money. She is going to invest in something she believes in. The ointment is prepared using the family secret recipe of Baron Hailey. It has done miracles on her so-called injury. It is not only a magic cream, but it is also a business opportunity.
Etoile, curious and hopeful, agrees to ask for Baron Hailey’s permission to use it. She comes back with positive news later: the Baron himself will meet Ripley and talk about the venture. Later, she excitedly goes to inform Sylvia about the baron accepting her investment. Sylvia worriedly asks her if she is forgetting something important. (MARRIAGE?) The First Night With the Duke Chapter 31 ends with Ripley standing on the edge of a new chapter, not just as a fiancée, but as a budding entrepreneur.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 32: Dresses and Deals
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 32 begins with Sylvia asking Ripley about her wedding preparations. She also informed Ripley about the Duke coming to visit her, but Ripley was busy. Ripley, distracted, answers that she is far too busy, not with romance, but with designing the logo of her ointment enterprise.
Four days later, Sylvia storms in with shocking news that the wedding dress designer has come. Ripley is frozen. What wedding dress? She has not even chosen a style! And to top it all, Duke Zeronis arrives in the morning. No less, claiming that he has been attempting to see her, but she has never been around. He mildly challenges her: Is she too busy to prepare for her marriage?
Ripley explains everything to him. Her business aspirations, how she intends to help Baron Hailey with the ointment business, and above all, how she wants to be financially independent. She does not need to live on his money or simply call herself the Duchess. Zeronis is appalled that she is even thinking about money. He says to her that all that belongs to him will be hers once they get married. But Ripley does not give in- a marriage cannot be founded on total dependence.
A Determined Bride
When he questions her why she did not go to him to invest in her plan, she stammers to give an excuse. He is suspicious and teases her, saying that she is trying to postpone the wedding. She strongly rejects it.
He smiles, apparently contented. He says, before leaving, that she will be gorgeous in whatever she wears, causing Ripley to turn red. However, later Ripley meets the designer, but even as they discuss lace and sleeves, her thoughts immediately turn to ointment packaging.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 32 ends with Ripley horrified days later when she finally sees the finished wedding dress—and realizes she may have been a bit too distracted.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 33: Miscommunications
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 33 begins with Ripley staring in horror at her wedding dress—it’s way too flashy, over-the-top. Not something she has ever worn before. She soon finds that her feedback has not been taken in the right way in the design process. Likely due to her head being too full of ointment labels rather than lace and sleeves.
Sylvia attempts to console her by telling her the veil will make it down. Even she is shocked to see Ripley work like a maniac and clearly is overworking herself. Later, Ripley meets Wright and Etoile. The two of them instantly see how pale she is. Ripley, however, cannot help but notice that the two are very close. Her mind starts to overthink- are they falling in love? Then, boom—nosebleed. Classic.
Wright insists she rest while they are in the carriage. Then, with a blush, he confesses… he’s waited for a moment alone with her. Ripley panics, thinking he is going to confess. Just as he says, “I’m in love—”, Ripley throws up her hands and stops him, terrified this triangle is about to explode. However, the plot twist comes. He ends: “–with Miss Etoile.”
Relieved, she listens as Wright explains his feelings. He asks her for help: What kind of man does Etoile like? Ripley promises to answer the next time, and she is secretly thrilled to be a matchmaker once again.
Wright drops her off. Just as Duke Zeronis shows up at the last moment to witness their exchange of words, and gives her a killer side-eye. The First Night With the Duke Chapter 33 ends with two blushing smiles and one brooding fiancé.
Chapter 34: Wedding Bells & Bloody Noses
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 34 begins with Duke Zeronis confronting Ripley. He is tired of seeing her act as a matchmaker and a businesswoman, and disregarding their wedding. He looks at her with squinting eyes and blatantly questions why she is volunteering with Wright and not getting her big day organized.
Ripley naively says that Etoile will also be there. However, Zeronis is not going to buy this easy-going tone. He refers to a sketch she had made previously. A child with brown hair and large eyes, which suspiciously look like young Wright. She laughs it off, nervously saying that she was simply drawing a cute kid. He glares at her and asks if a child with blond hair and blue eyes would look adorable, too. Ripley swallows–message received clearly. He passes his judgment: She is grounded. No more time wasting. There are no more outings. She has to be ready to get married as a good bride. She makes attempts to protest. And he pulls a bomb in her face–“I will never allow you to be a free lady.”
Sylvia shockingly takes his side. Mentally thinking about how the Duke had even threatened her life if she helped Ripley escape again. The betrayal obviously hurts. Ripley is now trapped in her room, and the only thing she can do is work. She draws and plans until very late at night. Later, her wedding shoes come and she is enthusiastic to put them on. But then, another nosebleed strikes. She stumbles and falls flat on her face in desperation, not to damage the fragile footwear.
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 34 ends with Ripley bleeding, grounded, and realizing—maybe true love is a battlefield… in heels.
ALSO READ: Love Bites Characters
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 35: Bandages and Boundaries
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 35 begins with Ripley sporting a fresh bandage on her forehead. Sylvia fusses around her, saying whether she feels like a trapped princess. However, Ripley, as ever the optimist, smiles and says that it is not too bad-after all.
Sylvia, being more realistic, cautions her: What will happen to her if the Duke continues to confine her in his castle even after they get married? She pushes Ripley into action, not to lose herself in love. Ripley starts thinking… perhaps Sylvia is right. She later meets Duke Zeronis. He inquires delicately about the bandage and seems to be very much concerned, but soon becomes harsh. Zeronis orders: No work, no excuses, rest. He simply refuses to allow her to go out. They are only a week away from their wedding.
Zeronis kisses her and tells her that she can walk freely in the Count’s place. That is still a leash, and Ripley is aware of it. Alone in bed that night, she is tossing and turning. She thinks about the upcoming marriage, her freedom, and her future.
Suddenly, a maid bursts in who whispers that the Duke desires to see her–at the back gate. Strange! Ripley goes outside into the dark night and feels the air is really tense. She goes up to a carriage standing close to the gate… yet it does not seem right. The carriage is not familiar. Alarmed, she turns around. Only to come face to face with… someone or something very unexpected. The First Night With the Duke Chapter 35 ends with confusion, suspicion, and danger lurking just beyond the gates.
Chapter 36: Rose’s Thorns and Ripley’s Nightmare
The First Night With the Duke Chapter 36 begins with Ripley waking up dazed, her head spinning, and her surroundings completely unfamiliar. Weird man leans towards her. One says sneeringly, “This place will be your grave.” Panic sets in. She has been kidnapped.
Before she can process it fully, her nightmare, Rose, enters. Ripley gasps. Rose smiles sweetly—but with eyes full of venom—she reveals she’s behind it all.
Ripley tells her that she is digging her own grave. Rose does not refute it. Rather, she narrates calmly how once Ripley fell into the water, she knew that the Duke might suspect her. So she was careful–employed strangers, so that nothing could be connected with her. They are lost in a warehouse that has been abandoned in the middle of nowhere.
Rose declares: “I bet I won’t get caught.” She is ready to live in hell as long as she is the bride of the Duke. With a chilling smile, she coos.“I want you to die in the most agonizing way.”
The next day, Ripley’s body is cold and aching. Her mind flickers with thoughts of Duke Zeronis and dear Sylvia. She’s starving, in pain, and weak. However, Rose comes back once more, this time, with tragic news:
The Duke knows that Ripley has been kidnapped. However, people are blaming Sylvia rather than Rose. The person who was always on her side is now in pain, all because of her. The First Night With the Duke Chapter 36 ends with Ripley chained, Rose unhinged, and Sylvia in peril.
What do you think of The First Night With the Duke Chapter 28-36? Subscribe to AnimeMangaToon to know what happens next!
