Kalian stopped the carriage by knocking on the carriage wall.

“Your Grace?”

Surprised, Wilter opened his eyes wide. His wrinkled eye corners opened roundly.

“You have documents to check when you return. Documents sent by none other than that person.”

“A moment’s leisure is fine.”

Kalian, who had straightened his clothes, opened the carriage door.

“And that guy is even more fine being a little late.”

If he had been watching this situation, he would have been the type to push Kalian’s back asking what was important about their work.

“Go back and rest.”

Kalian stepped down from the carriage. Wilter only watched his retreating figure in confusion.

Until Kalian, who had gotten off the carriage, approached closely, Stella didn’t notice him.

The maid standing behind her noticed Kalian first.

‘Shh.’

When he stopped the maid who was about to call Stella, she quickly stepped back with quick wit.

“What are you doing here, wife?”

“……!!”

Thanks to this, Kalian could see the reaction he wanted.

Surprise, and the wariness that filled her pupils not knowing who it was.

“Duke Rochester?”

The moment she recognized it was him, it melted away smoothly.

And Kalian could watch up close as that empty space filled completely with affection toward him.

No matter how he thought about it, his wife was an excellent actress.

If she had stood on stage, couldn’t she have gained tremendous popularity thanks to that beautiful appearance and excellent acting skills?

“Why are you here?”

At Kalian’s question, Stella, who had hesitated for a moment, opened her mouth.

“I was thinking of buying clothes.”

Finally?

Kalian was about to speak but stopped. Stella’s next words silenced him.

“A few outfits for Mary and Sanderson. I was thinking of purchasing something nice for my parents too if there’s anything good.”

Whether she knew Kalian’s feelings or not, Stella smiled softly.

“Both Sanderson and Mary are at an age where they’re growing well, so they’re quite short on clothes.”

“I see.”

Kalian nodded. Since she was buying clothes for her siblings, he could recommend buying a few more outfits.

“Do you have a store in mind? Let’s go together.”

“Aren’t you busy?”

Stella glanced around cautiously. Yes, he was busy. Wasn’t he busy enough to have to check documents even in the carriage?

But those eyes. At those pupils that seemed like they would smile very happily if he went with her, Kalian extended his arm.

“I can’t leave my wife alone at a store. Shall we go?”

As expected, it was exactly as Kalian had predicted.

Stella smiled happily.

“Yes.”

Stella, who took Kalian’s arm, moved to the tailor shop she had looked at in advance. It was a place famous by word of mouth on the street.

At a few words from Stella, not only the staff but even the tailor shop owner came out and moved busily.

It took no more than twenty minutes for dozens of outfits to be prepared in front of the two.

“How about this dress? It has rich lace and is popular with little ladies these days. The color is rare but truly beautiful.”

“It’s so pretty……”

Kalian, who was leaning back on the tailor shop sofa, frowned while watching Stella’s eyes light up at the small dress made for children.

Look at those sparkling eyes.

The woman who had shown no reaction when listing items for herself was full of vitality when choosing things for her family.

Anyone watching would think that palm-sized dress was the only diamond in the world.

“For little gentlemen, we recommend this vest. This vest with this hat really suits well.”

“This is cute too, but do you have products without patterns? He doesn’t like to wear patterned things these days.”

“Of course we do! We have some made as samples inside, so please wait a moment and I’ll bring them quickly.”

Perhaps recognizing that Stella and Kalian were customers who would greatly boost today’s sales, the staff smiled brightly while quickly running into the back of the store.

Thanks to this, Stella could sit down for the first time since entering the store.

“You look tired, how about calling someone to the mansion instead? It would be much more comfortable.”

While taking a sip of tea the staff had served, Stella shook her head.

“I like walking around and looking like this. I couldn’t do it before even when I wanted to.”

“You must have been very busy.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Stella nodded and answered Kalian’s question.

“The general store where I worked was particularly early to open and late to close.”

Whether it was because the lady couldn’t sleep, or because she was greedy for work.

She opened the door from early dawn and closed it only after night fell, so Stella also had to work accordingly.

Thanks to this, by the time she finished work and came out, all the other stores had already closed.

Then one day, she came home early—either Mary was sick or Sanderson was.

It was a day when she had nursed them through several nights without sleep and finally couldn’t endure it and returned early.

All the stores were open.

Every stall was full of all kinds of items, and luxurious-looking goods lined the glass windows.

Among them was the bonnet that Stella had wanted to look at, even if just to browse, since before.

A white bonnet decorated with pale pink-dyed ribbon.

It was a bonnet she had unconsciously asked where it was sold after seeing a customer wearing it.

“……”

But surprisingly, even with the bonnet she had so wanted to see right before her eyes, Stella felt no emotion at all.

The only thoughts that came to mind were.

‘I’ll have to take care of them again when I go back. What should I make for dinner? How much cabbage is left?’

‘……I’m tired, I want to rest even for a moment. I want to sleep for just one hour.’

Only such thoughts.

Whether the bonnet that had entered her sight was decorated with pink or blue ribbon wasn’t important.

What was important was just one hour of leisure to close her eyes.

Hadn’t Stella realized for the first time then that even the small act of browsing required leisure?

But now it’s different.

All kinds of items were sparkling, showing off their colors. Moreover, thinking that she could buy those items if she wanted made satisfaction bloom just from looking at them.

“I’m enjoying browsing so much right now.”

When Stella smiled, Kalian, who had been looking at his wife as if she were strange for a moment, soon nodded.

“Then browse as you want, as much as you want, wife.”

Kalian tapped Stella’s cheek with his finger as if telling her to look at him. The green eyes touched him as he had wanted.

“And buy whatever you want to your heart’s content.”

“Yes, I will.”

Stella smiled broadly. Her eyes looking at Kalian curved softly with laughter.

“Sister Stella?”

Someone suddenly intruded between the two without permission.

“It is you! It’s been so long, Sister.”

A woman with the same sparkling green eyes as Stella but with golden hair hanging down.

“I really missed you so much.”

“Julia?”

Stella’s eyes widened as she recognized the other person. Soon a bright smile spread across her face. Stella reached out and took the hand of the woman called Julia.

“It really has been so long. Are you feeling alright?”

“Mm-hmm, thank you for worrying about me, Sister. I was a bit surprised, but actually I wasn’t the one who got hurt!”

As if responding to that smile, the woman called Julia also smiled brightly.

“But what brings you here?”

“I was trying to get new clothes tailored to visit you, Sister. All my clothes are too worn and embarrassing. By the way, I’m really sorry, Sister.”

Julia lowered her gaze.

“You personally sent me an invitation…… Oh my, who is the person next to you? A companion……?”

Julia asked as if she had belatedly discovered Kalian next to her, hidden by the welcome sight of Stella.

Even though she had been looking at him since entering.

Kalian let out a quiet laugh at her pretense of not knowing anything, brushing her hair behind her ear while acting coquettish.

“Oh my. This is Duke Kalian Rochester. Your Grace, this is Julia Ambrose, Uncle Baizel’s daughter and my cousin.”

“Nice to meet you. I am Kalian Rochester.”

It was a brief introduction, but it was enough.

There was no one in this country who didn’t know Kalian, so just revealing his name was sufficient.

“Oh my!”

Julia’s eyes widened.

Not knowing what to do, she moved her gaze here and there, then covered her mouth and lowered her head.

“I, I’m sorry. I was rude. I am Julia Ambrose.”

Julia, who lightly bent her knees, continued speaking hesitantly.

“I am Count Ambrose’s niece and Sister Stella’s cousin.”

Not knowing what to do, Julia’s pupils shook here and there, then she clasped her hands together tightly.

“Pl, please forgive me if I was rude, Duke Rochester. I am still lacking and often make mistakes……”

She had only greeted him a little late.

Looking at Julia’s attitude now, it seemed as if she had committed a great sin.

It was an action whose intentions were transparently readable.

“Julia.”

The one who was flustered in the middle was Stella. She held Julia’s hand tightly.

“Duke Rochester is a generous person.”

“Sister Stella……”

When Stella held her hand, Julia dropped a single tear.

“It’s just, I’m, it’s okay if I get scolded, but I was worried that Sister might get in trouble too, just, I was worried about that……”

“I know. Don’t worry too much, okay?”

Stella, who had been comforting her cousin, turned her head toward Kalian.

“His Grace is a kind person.”

Kind.

Though a word distant from himself had come up, he planned to play along with this farce for now.