If Stella hadn’t pointed it out so directly, she would have kept giving hints until the end.

So that Stella would be intimidated without even knowing what she had done wrong.

“I’m sorry, Madam. I didn’t know you might not be aware.”

But this wasn’t where she backed down. Mrs. Karen, who politely bowed while acting respectfully, smiled.

“It’s content from etiquette books that even young children learn, so I suppose I took it too much for granted. I apologize again, Madam.”

You’re the one at fault for not knowing common sense that even children know.

Wasn’t she saying exactly that openly?

She hadn’t thought she could adapt to House Rochester without any problems.

Servants who serve noble masters tend to have pride no less than their masters, as if they were members of that family.

But she hadn’t expected them to cross the line so directly from the first day.

She had to say something. If she backed down like this, she would continue to have days like today.

Before Stella, who had made up her mind, could open her mouth, a voice came from behind.

“How prettily you speak, Mrs. Karen.”

“……Your Grace!”

Both their heads turned simultaneously. Kalian, dressed in outdoor clothes, stood by the door, having arrived at some point.

“You seem to have forgotten, but she’s my wife.”

Kalian approached the two while taking off his jacket and hat to hang them on the sofa.

“Which means she’s the Duchess of Rochester and your superior whom you must serve.”

Then he sat across from Stella and tilted his head.

“Didn’t etiquette toward superiors appear in children’s etiquette books?”

“I’m sorry.”

Mrs. Karen hurriedly bowed her head.

“I was rude to Madam, Your Grace.”

Kalian said nothing to the sincere apology.

He just shrugged once, then reached out and picked up the bread Stella had been nibbling at the corner.

That’s what I was eating!

Before Stella could stop him, Kalian bit into the bread and casually remarked.

“I don’t think you’ve taken a single vacation while I was away.”

“What? Ah, yes. That’s correct, Your Grace.”

Mrs. Karen’s answer came a beat late because she hadn’t known he was speaking to her.

Regardless.

This time what Kalian took was the richly brewed tea placed in front of Stella.

Stella just blinked and watched blankly as Kalian took her breakfast.

“Taking a brief rest wouldn’t be bad either. Your head would clear and forgotten things would come back to mind.”

Though it was phrased as a suggestion, it was no different from force. Right now Kalian was gently telling Mrs. Karen to leave this mansion.

“……Thank you.”

Even if she immediately understood the hidden meaning, there was nothing she could do.

She could only bow her head as she had been doing to Stella.

“Coordinate the schedule with Wilter.”

That was the end.

Kalian now only drank tea as if his business was finished.

Only the back of Mrs. Karen leaving the room at the clear dismissal looked pitiful.

“Thank you.”

Stella carefully expressed her gratitude. Though she didn’t know why he had suddenly taken her side, hadn’t Kalian just extended a helping hand to her?

“But she’s worked here for a long time — is it okay to drive her out like this?”

“Your mouth seems sufficient just for expressing thanks.”

Kalian looked Stella over while drinking tea.

“By the way, you should take off that robe. Mother doesn’t like anyone touching her things.”

“……!!”

Stella’s eyes widened. To think it was the Grand Madam’s robe of all things.

As soon as she realized she was wearing the robe of the highest person in House Rochester and a member of the royal family, Stella panicked.

Her hands hurriedly began untying the tightly bound sash at her waist.

“I didn’t know it was the Grand Madam’s robe!”

“Of course. I believe you.”

Though Kalian’s tone was leisurely as if telling her to take her time, Stella was not.

To think it was the Grand Madam’s dressing robe of all things.

Regardless of the Grand Madam’s temperament, wearing the clothes of someone she should still show courtesy to without permission was itself uncomfortable for Stella.

‘There.’

Perhaps because she had tied it too tightly earlier, it took quite a while just to untie the sash. Delighted at having untied it, Stella immediately took off the robe without delay.

“……”

Kalian’s eyes, which had been watching Stella, narrowed.

As the dressing robe was removed, the nightgown that revealed her body’s outline was exposed under the bright sunlight. Because several ribbons had disappeared, her white skin was also fully exposed.

Was she seducing him now?

It was enough to make him think that.

Just until last night she had been pale and trembling, but had her confidence returned with the sunlight?

Did she think she was some kind of flower?

“There doesn’t seem to be anything stained on it.”

Whether she knew what state she was in or not. Or whether she knew but pretended not to.

“But just in case, I should take it directly to the Grand Madam and apologize.”

After even turning the dressing robe inside out to check thoroughly and folding it neatly, Stella smiled with satisfaction.

Their gazes met.

“Ah……”

She finally seemed to realize her state. The green eyes widened and her face began to turn red.

First her cheeks, then around her eyes, then her ear tips slowly began to turn a delicious color.

He wanted to take a bite.

It would surely be sweet.

Like a summer peach, if he bit into it deeply, it might be soft yet overflow with juice that would soak his hands.

Kalian unconsciously imagined licking up peach juice flowing down his wrist with his tongue.

Thirst surged.

Kalian emerged from his imagination because of a voice that seemed to crawl along the floor.

“Um.”

Unable to properly meet his gaze due to embarrassment, Stella dropped her head.

“I, that……”

“You should at least put this on for now.”

She’ll end up like yesterday at this rate.

Kalian personally brought his own robe from the wardrobe and handed it to Stella.

Then he crossed one leg over the other and began drinking tea elegantly.

Thank you, thanks.

The woman who didn’t forget such greetings received the robe with hurried hands. It meant she was that embarrassed.

“If you need anything, it would be good to buy it today or tomorrow. If you need people, you can take anyone, as many as you want.”

Pretending to be nonchalant, Kalian continued speaking while continuing his meal.

“Your relatives seem to have their pants on fire wanting to see you.”

Just who had they imagined he would marry? As soon as his marriage to Stella was decided, each relative began making a fuss.

An unsuitable match, she came in targeting your wealth, a woman with messy and dirty rumors has thoroughly bewitched you.

And they all reached one conclusion.

They had to meet her directly.

‘Stupid fools.’

Tsk, Kalian clicked his tongue inwardly. His long fingers lightly tapped the table.

They were probably thinking of using Stella as an excuse to somehow drag their heavy bodies to the mansion and settle in, drooling to see if there was anything they could eat.

And what had they said?

I thought you would marry someone better? Just what kind of person was this ‘better person’?

‘Did they think I’d create a non-existent princess to marry?’

Of course, he could make something similar.

“Thank you, Duke Rochester.”

The finger that had been drawing a steady rhythm stopped abruptly. When he raised his gaze, was she thinking of the robe as armor?

Stella was smiling with a much more peaceful face than before.

“I’ll return this directly myself later.”

“Duke Rochester.”

A completely unrelated response came back to what she had said.

Stella stared at him with round eyes as if she didn’t understand.

Kalian stared at his wife like that and opened his lips.

“Stella.”

It was half impulsive.

But whatever the reason, Kalian unconsciously smiled because he liked how it resonated in his mouth.

“Stella Ambrose, Stella Rochester.”

And his wife’s eyes, which grew rounder and rounder as if she didn’t understand, were quite nice too.

“Duchess of Rochester.”

Kalian leaned toward Stella with a smile.

“Call me.”

Call me with your lips, with your voice.

Stella blinked a few times. Her plump lips moved several times before she called him in a small voice.

“Duke Rochester.”

“No.”

Kalian immediately shook his head.

“Like I did.”

It wasn’t an unreasonable request. The silence was a little longer than before.

But there was no need to be impatient.

Kalian waited for Stella while setting down the teacup he had been drinking from.

“Kalian.”

Finally the name he wanted to hear flowed out.

It was a small voice, but he definitely heard it clearly.

“Kalian Rochester.”

As if gaining courage from his reaction, the next was a little louder and more precise.

The strange behavior didn’t stop there.

As if she still had something left to say, Stella took a short breath.

It wasn’t Kalian Rochester. Something shorter and even shorter.

Could it be, does she remember?

Kalian’s body leaned forward more. He could almost hear his heartbeat pounding in his ears.

Crash!

The teacup rolled on the floor. At the same time, Stella’s courage ended there, and Kalian’s impulse also stopped.

“Did the tea splash on you?”

At Kalian’s question, Stella nodded slightly. He couldn’t understand why she had become timid again after doing what.

“We should have a new meal brought.”

It had been breakfast prepared only for Stella’s portion from the beginning anyway.

Kalian, who pulled the bell cord to call a maid, ordered breakfast to be prepared again.

Before long, breakfast for two was newly set on the round table.

After that was silence. Both Kalian and Stella just silently emptied the food placed in front of them.

“May I ask where you were yesterday?”