Following the downfall of the Gracie family, the artisans’ guild became increasingly reluctant to use lily motifs for fear of offending the Queen.

What had once been a common decorative design featured on jewelry, handcrafted goods, furniture, and wallpaper had become a symbol of misfortune.

The lily now reminded people of the ducal house that had been singled out by the Queen’s purge and brought to a tragic end.

Even after all these years, many artisans continued to avoid incorporating lilies into their work.

What had begun as caution had, over time, become an unspoken rule — a custom so deeply ingrained that it was rarely questioned.

Given this history, it was only natural that the Marquis had taken notice of the Grand Duke’s gloves.

But could he truly dismiss it as mere coincidence?

How was he supposed to interpret the fact that a woman bearing such a striking resemblance to the late Lady Gracie had chosen the Gracie family emblem for her gift?

If it was nothing more than an innocent mistake born of ignorance, that would be a relief.

Yet, for some reason, the Marquis found it difficult to accept such a simple explanation.

But what if someone from the House of Gracie had survived? That would explain the resemblance.

Just as with his daughter Viola, Calix could not help but feel suspicious.

There must be a reasonable explanation as to why Calix broke off the marriage negotiations with the House of Schuppenheim and chose a woman of low birth instead.

The Marquis quietly lifted his teacup to his lips and said…

“You seem quite fond of the gift Her Grace gave you.”

Calix raised the corners of his mouth in a smooth smile.

Setting down his teacup with a soft clink, he replied,

“It is a gift from my wife. I intend to show it off to as many people as possible.”

“You must love Her Grace very much.”

Love.

If the Marquis knew the full truth about his marriage contract with that woman, he would never be able to utter the word ‘love’, not even as a courtesy.

Calix let out an involuntary scoff.

However, upon hearing the Marquis’s sudden remark, the smile slowly faded from his face.

“Is that why you chose the current Grand Duchess instead of Viola?”

Calix raised one dark eyebrow slightly.

He hadn’t expected the Marquis to bring up the subject so directly.

He had assumed they would spend more time exchanging formal pleasantries and gauging each other’s intentions.

However, prolonging a meaningless conversation would only waste their time.

On that point, he suspected the Marquis shared his view.

Neither of them was particularly fond of empty courtesies when there were more important matters to discuss.

A faint hint of amusement flickered across Calix’s face, but disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Perhaps this conversation would reveal its true purpose sooner than he had anticipated.

“That woman saved my life. In return, I gave her the position of Grand Duchess.”

“Was that Her Grace’s demand? Did she ask for the position of Grand Duchess in exchange for saving your life?”

Calix recalled a memory he had almost forgotten.

When he had given her the ring engraved with the royal crest and proposed marriage, how had that woman reacted?

“I was the one who offered her the position of Grand Duchess. If anything, she was the one who refused it.”

The answer was clearly not what the Marquis had expected.

For a moment, a faint crack appeared in his usually impenetrable demeanor.

Had he never imagined that Calix would accept a woman who had once rejected him?

Or had he truly believed that Lianna had maneuvered her way boldly into the position of Grand Duchess?

If so, perhaps the Marquis’s judgement was not as sharp as it once was.

After all, it took only a glance to see that Lianna was extremely kind-hearted.

She was the sort of person who worried about everyone except herself.

This thought brought a faint trace of amusement to Calix’s mind.

As he quietly reflected on this, the Marquis finally spoke.

“Did you keep the Grand Duchess by your side because she resembles Lady Gracie?”

The resemblance between Lianna and Leticia continued to linger in Calix’s mind, and it was true.

He would not deny that.

However, the main reason he had kept her close was the curse.

“As I said, it concerned my life.”

Although he was uncertain of the Marquiss’s intentions, he could not reveal the truth about the curse.

The consequences would affect more than just him.

Others could be put in danger, too.

The Marquis of Schuppenheim undoubtedly knew that Calix had not been entirely honest about the circumstances of his marriage.

A man as perceptive as the Marquis could not fail to realize that part of the truth was being concealed.

If the Marquis remained loyal to him, such secrecy would understandably be painful.

However, if the opposite were true, it was a secret that the Marquis should never learn under any circumstances.

Calix lightly drummed his fingers against the armrest of the sofa.

The soft tapping echoed briefly through the room before fading into silence.

Before the Marquis could press the matter any further, Calix spoke.

“This time, I have a question for you.”

“Please ask.”

“I heard Duke Lasellus paid you a visit.”

Duke Lacellus—the Queen’s father and her closest ally—had personally traveled to Regenburg.

Although Calix had not discovered the exact reason for the visit, he had a fairly good idea.

“Yes. That is true.”

The Marquis answered calmly, making no attempt to deny it despite clearly understanding the intent behind the question.

The fact that Calix had learned of Lacellus’s visit from someone other than the Marquis himself was a serious matter.

Resting his chin against one hand, Calix regarded the Marquis from an angle.

“I doubt the Duke traveled all the way here merely for conversation.”

“Through Duke Lacellus, Her Majesty offered me a proposal.”

One of Calix’s brows rose.

Lacellus’s visit had taken place after Calix’s marriage to Lianna.

“That proposal wouldn’t happen to involve changing the object of your loyalty in exchange for making Viola the Crown Princess, would it?”

“Just as Your Highness suspected.”

The answer was exactly what he had expected.

Calix tapped the armrest again.

He had considered the possibility that the Queen might reach out to the Marquis to counterbalance him.

Nevertheless, he had to concede that, for an enemy, her speed of execution was impressive.

“And what was your answer?”

“What do you think I said?”

The Marquis answered a question with a question.

An unpleasant crease formed between Calix’s brows.

‘So now you’re testing me?’

He suppressed a scoff.

It was indeed his responsibility to call off the marriage.

He would readily admit as much.

But the Marquis’s attitude was almost laughable.

If he wanted to present himself as so righteous and wronged, perhaps he should not have created circumstances that cast doubt on his loyalty in the first place.

A low, humorless chuckle escaped Calix’s lips.

Then he rose smoothly to his feet.

The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.

His hand moved to the sword at his waist.

The next moment, the silence was shattered by the sharp metallic ring of the polished blade sliding free from its sheath.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye.

Before anyone could react, the cold edge of the sword was pressed against the Marquis’s throat.

The steel gleamed in the light — the blade was so sharp that it could draw blood with the slightest movement.

“…!”

The two of them were the only people left in the reception room.

The servant who had brought the refreshments had left a while ago.

Calix had also arrived without his escort knights.

The sword in his hand was sharp enough to cut through flesh at the slightest touch.

Yet he held it casually, almost lazily, as though the blade resting against the marquis’s throat were of no consequence at all.

It would take only the slightest movement.

A single burst of strength.

And the marquis’s head would be severed where he sat.

The knights stationed outside would undoubtedly rush in the moment they heard their lord cry out.

But by then, it would already be too late.

His head would probably hit the floor before they even reached the room.

The Marquis did not move.

He remained seated, slowly lifting his gaze to meet Calix’s.

As he swallowed, the movement of his throat was clearly visible against the cold edge of the blade.

The tension in the room was almost tangible, pressing against the skin like a physical weight.

For several long moments, neither man spoke.

Then the Marquis broke the silence.

“Is it Your Highness’s intention to kill me?”

“Who knows? What do you think?”

Calix looked down at him, his eyes gleaming like molten gold.

If the Marquis had indeed chosen to betray him and side with the Queen, he would certainly be a formidable opponent in the days to come.

If that were the case, there was only one course of action.

End it here.

End it now.

Calix’s grip tightened around the hilt of his sword.

The subtle movement did not go unnoticed.

The Marquis’s eyes widened instantly, revealing a flicker of alarm for the first time.

***

Lianna’s gaze drifted unconsciously towards the window.

Frost clung to the glass, forming intricate patterns resembling layered snowflakes.

Staring at the designs, she suddenly thought of the man who was no longer by her side.

Had he reached Regenburg yet?

The roads must be dangerous after days of heavy snowfall and ice.

Without realizing it, she found herself worrying about him.

Had he arrived safely?

Had he made the journey without injury?

These thoughts lingered in her mind as she continued to gaze out of the window, unable to shake off the quiet concern that had taken root in her heart.

‘It won’t take long, so don’t worry.’

Even though he had told her that, the wait felt unusually long.

Perhaps it was because she wasn’t accustomed to waiting for someone.

For most of her life, there had never been anyone whose return she had anticipated.

The realization that there was a man who would always come back to her for as long as their marriage lasted felt strange and unfamiliar.

It was an odd feeling — one that she still didn’t quite know how to name.

Lost in these thoughts, Lianna didn’t realize how much time had passed.

A polite knock at the door finally brought her back to the present.

When she opened the door, she found one of the Queen’s maids standing outside.

It seemed that the Queen’s promise to make amends for what had happened at the birthday banquet was genuine.

Once again, she had invited Lianna for tea.

As Lianna listened to the message, she suddenly remembered a remark the maid had made during a previous visit.

“Her Majesty requests that you wear the necklace she gifted you when you attend.”

Lianna opened her jewelry box and carefully took out the necklace.

Since Calix disliked her wearing anything that had come from the Queen, she had only worn it a handful of times.

Perhaps the Queen was aware of this and had requested it on purpose.

This thought briefly crossed her mind as she fastened the necklace around her neck.

Once she had finished getting ready, Lianna rose from her seat.

The maid then escorted her to the Queen’s palace.

When she entered the Queen’s chambers, Valietta was already seated at a table beside a sunlit window.

Golden light streamed through the glass, illuminating her elegant figure.

Sensing Lianna’s arrival, the Queen turned her head.

The moment her eyes fell upon Lianna, a radiant smile blossomed across her lips.

She looked so warm and gracious that it was almost impossible to believe there had ever been any tension between them.

“Welcome, Crown Princess. I’ve been waiting for you.”