Returning after reprimanding Louisa, the very cause of all this, wasn’t exactly pleasant, but it wasn’t all that bad either.

What was more important was going over the catalogue about the western territories than dwelling on something like that.

‘Wow, even by train, it takes a whole week—and it’s within the same country.’

She had to be careful not to appear too intrigued, but for now, she absorbed as much information as she could. She took note of the fastest trains, their costs and the cities where settlement was progressing steadily.

‘So Quercus, in the west, has the highest proportion of women in its workforce.’

If it’s that far, could she truly separate herself from Lucas?

Even if she could physically distance herself, would her wounded heart truly be left behind?

“……”

Just as her eyes began to dim from a question she couldn’t yet answer herself, a long shadow approached from beside her.

“Good afternoon. You seem quite interested in this policy.”

Cordelia gathered her thoughts a beat late and looked up at the man who had spoken to her.

He had a pale face and sharp grey eyes. His chestnut hair was combed neatly back. Silver-rimmed glasses framed his slender face and gleamed gently in the light. He was like a tranquil lake: calm and composed.

Although he wasn’t someone with whom Lucas regularly interacted, hadn’t she memorised the faces of every notable figure when she first arrived on this land?

“Mr. Joshua Reginald. It’s been a while.”

“…! You know who I am?”

Cordelia smiled warmly, relieved to have guessed correctly.

“Of course. You’re the great-grandson of the university’s founder.”

The Reginald family established the university that bears their name and were pioneers in the realm of academia. However, they tended to be somewhat old-fashioned and thus fell behind the boisterously wealthy families of Millionaire Row.

‘Come to think of it, wasn’t he said to be constantly busy with research and department expansion?’

It wasn’t surprising that it had taken over a year since her marriage to finally have a proper conversation with him.

“I heard you’ve been very busy with your research. If I remember correctly, your field is education, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Joshua blushed faintly, touched by the fact that she recognized him.

Back in university, Lucas had been so dazzlingly famous that those around him often felt overshadowed. He was the kind of man who made people forget the flaws of his origins through sheer brilliance, yet at the same time, his nature made it nearly impossible for anyone of a different disposition to get along with him.

And yet, for a man like that to have a wife who treated him—someone like him—with such respectful recognition… even remembering his commitment to a department most mocked as boring…

“I’m currently working on new proposals for the government regarding educational policy and human development. That’s why I haven’t been able to attend other events much, but today I…”

“Oh my, is that so?”

Cordelia had initially intended to respond politely and smile out of courtesy, but the words he used sparked more interest than she’d expected. He was proposing something new to the government?

‘If Lucas is involved in anything illegal, having someone like him as a connection could be a powerful card when I run.’

A terrifying thought, perhaps—but if he had that kind of access to make proposals to the government…

However, Joshua suddenly panicked and looked down at the champagne glass in his hand.

“My apologies, madam. I must’ve held you up with such dull talk…”

“No, Mr. Reginald. It may be an unfamiliar field to me, but I find it very interesting. And it’s a truly necessary endeavor for the world.”

Still, it wasn’t proper etiquette to monopolize someone’s time for too long. Cordelia offered him a slight nod and turned to leave.

“Then I’ll greet you again next time. I hope you enjoy the rest of your evening.”

“Yes… thank you…”

Joshua watched her walk away, his eyes full of admiration and quiet awe.

Everyone else in Millionaire Row dressed to such flashy extremes that it felt like their loudness could crack eardrums. It was their norm—boisterous, garish, and excessive.

But ever since Cordelia Duquesne had arrived, that tone had shifted.

Joshua didn’t know much about women’s fashion, but he’d seen proud East Coast ladies quietly copying her black ribbon neatly tied at the neck, her simple accessories, and the gracefully vertical pleats that shimmered from her collar downward.

Yet none could ever quite match her aura.

Still, Joshua soon reminded himself whose wife she was, and let out a long sigh tinged with regret.

***

“Hey, look over there, Lucas.”

William nudged Lucas with his elbow and chuckled. Not that Lucas needed the gesture—he had already been watching Cordelia over the rim of his glass.

“Your wife and that bookworm were getting along very well earlier, weren’t they?”

“…Ha.”

Lucas clicked his tongue as he looked toward where William was pointing. Joshua Reginald was standing there with the most ridiculously foolish expression, like a fourteen-year-old boy, staring longingly at the spot where Cordelia had just been.

“When did he return to the East?”

“About a month ago, I think? He’s in charge of establishing a branch campus out west. So he’s tied in with the government’s western expansion policy.”

“Tch.”

That man was, in fact, one of the types Lucas despised the most.

The kind who, with just enough wealth to live comfortably, acted as though they needed nothing else from the world—floating through life like some noble cloud in the sky.

The only exception to his hatred, of course, was nobles who were obsessed with money. They were at the top of his hate list.

Cordelia had said her polite goodbye—so that should’ve been the end of it. And yet there he was, staring after her like a dog that needed to pee.

“Ha, unbelievable.”

Lucas’s lips twisted.

He didn’t believe Cordelia’s taste had shifted toward that kind of prissy gentleman, but unnecessary distractions were still… unnecessary.

He had already suffered once at the hands of Clement Berkeley, the Duke who had once been Cordelia’s fiancé.

And come to think of it, Joshua seemed to resemble that man in a few ways—the neatly slicked-back hair soaked in pomade, the quiet demeanor that somehow drew attention to his presence.

Of course, the Duke had been far more arrogant and imposing…

‘All the more reason to go check on my wife—before she starts getting strange ideas.’

Now that she knew the truth, he had no intention of letting her go. Even if she withered away in misery, he would keep her by his side.

He certainly wouldn’t sit back and let another man come between them.

With this in mind, Lucas started walking towards the lounge where Cordelia was.

***

Perhaps it would have been better if she had left once she had finished looking around.

Not only was she stubbornly remaining inside the university building out of pride, but she also didn’t want to entertain the suspicion that her husband was always doing something behind her back.

She decided to spend a reasonable amount of time at the party before retreating to the ladies’ lounge to escape the cigar smoke.

However, she never imagined that she would encounter one of her husband’s acquaintances there.

“Hello, Cordelia!”

The moment she recognized him as someone from the Eisner Corporation, her mood instantly soured, though she didn’t show it on her face.

Langdon Wyatt was the son of a family that ran a transport business. It was a medium-sized company, and as the third son, he wasn’t in line to inherit much of anything.

She knew exactly what kind of man he was: the type who clung to Lucas, hoping to benefit from his success, showering him with flattery.

Even a man like this must surely know why she married Lucas.

Judging by the flush on his ridiculously cheerful, relaxed face, it was clear that he had drunk more than one whisky.

“…Good evening, Mr. Langdon. This lounge is reserved for ladies.”

“Oh dear, my apologies. I should be going, then.”

Langdon chuckled and got to his feet—but rather than heading for the door, he took a step toward Cordelia, grinning broadly.

“Ah, right. I almost forgot to say this—thank you!”

“…Pardon?”

Cordelia’s brow creased slightly at the centre.

The smell of smoky liquor and cigars made her nose twitch with every word he spoke. She quickly covered her mouth.

“Hahaha! Thanks to the Hastings family stepping in, I scored big! I was just about getting by since what my parents left me was practically worthless.”

“……”

“Lucas, seriously—his nerve is just unmatched! You just follow wherever Cordelia’s husband invests, and boom!”

With a crude, sharp exclamation—Kya!—the man burst into laughter. Cordelia’s body trembled with rage.

‘So he already found out from the office. That’s why he’s not even pretending to be polite anymore.’

How vulgar. He may not have had a noble title, but he enjoyed a level of wealth that 90 per cent of the New World population could never hope to earn in a lifetime.

Yet this man lacked not only gentlemanly conduct, but even the barest shred of human decency.

She wanted nothing more than to slap him.

“Phew… but madam, even knowing all this, you’re not divorcing him? If you did, men would line up for you, you know.”

His gaze slithered over her body like a serpent’s tongue.

Despite her gown being made of gleaming taffeta silk that cascaded down from her neck like a waterfall, he stared at her as though he could see right through it.

Cordelia clenched her fists without realising it, but they didn’t feel as strong as she had hoped.

“Or what about right now? If you wanted, I could protect you instead.”

“Leave. Now. Or I’ll call someone.”

“Aw, don’t be like that. We even made a little wager, you know? That Lucas would divorce you and remarry Louisa within three years.”

“……”

“But you know, madam…”

Langdon licked his lower lip.

Reaching a hand toward the wounded woman before him, he sneered with a sinister smile.

“I bet it’d end a little sooner than that…”