“Mind your words, Madam!”

“Oh, why? It’s not like I’m saying anything bad. Listen, just listen. Anyway, what I wanted to say is that this party was exceptionally splendid.”

The lady had no intention of stopping. Now with her eyes gleaming, she rapidly poured out her words.

“Not a single decoration, not one flower arrangement, not a morsel of food—there was nothing to find fault with. You all know Sir Renchester, don’t you?”

Of course they did.

He was an old gentleman whose only pleasure was finding fault with others. Didn’t he pour out harsh criticisms at every party he attended?

To what extent? He would even criticize at imperial parties.

“They say he couldn’t say a word at this party!”

“Oh my.”

Everyone’s eyes widened at the news that even the harshest critic couldn’t find anything to criticize.

They had heard it was perfect, but to that extent?

“And the speech was so splendid and moving. I heard they raised more than twice the donation goal. The amount was…!”

The lady lowered her voice. But those who heard the amount let out small exclamations of surprise.

“That much? I can’t believe it.”

“Other charity parties wouldn’t even collect half that amount.”

“Thanks to that, I heard they’ve already purchased the land.”

The lady continued, fluttering her fan.

“From what I’ve heard, they’ll be going down to inspect the site next week. This isn’t the end.”

The fascinating conversation continued endlessly.

Oh, right. The man.

When the group turned around to check on the only other customer in the tea house, what she saw was an empty seat and a few coins placed on the table.

When did he leave? She hadn’t heard a sound. She didn’t know.

Though she wondered about it, it was only for a moment. She focused on the gossip again.

⁕⁕⁕

“Hoo.”

Inside the carriage heading to the village, Stella took a deep breath, fidgeted with her hands, and repeatedly adjusted her clothes for no reason.

Even after barely calming down, she would check the approaching scenery outside the window and then start all over again.

“You seem very nervous.”

After finally laying the sleeping Ivy in the cradle inside the carriage, Kalian stared at Stella.

“I don’t think returning to the village should be a problem. Do you have other concerns, Stella?”

“Hmm.”

Stella tightly clasped her hands together and chose her words.

“I’m not sure. It doesn’t feel like just nervousness; it’s a bit complicated.”

“Tell me.”

Kalian reached out and placed his hand on top of Stella’s.

“If there’s anything I can help with, I’d like to.”

Stella smiled brightly at Kalian’s words. Her expression showed that just those words had made her feel much better.

“It’s just that. I’m excited to see the villagers and children after so long, but I’m also worried if they’ll welcome me like before, and I’m concerned about the school matters too. It’s complicated.”

“They will welcome you.”

Kalian answered with full confidence.

“Because they are very good people, and so are you.”

Stella briefly caught her breath at Kalian’s words, then smiled and nodded.

Her face showed that much of her anxiety had subsided.

“But, Kalian. Is it really alright for you to come with me like this?”

Stella carefully added.

“This is such a busy time for you.”

Kalian Rochester never had days of leisure. He only had busy days.

But recently, hadn’t his days been so busy with tax issues that he even had to reduce his sleep?

To what extent? Even until this morning when Stella was departing for the village, it was hard to know whether he could go with her or not.

In the end, Kalian compromised by boarding the carriage with two bundles of documents.

“It’s fine. This is also what a husband should do.”

“Hehe.”

When Kalian looked at Stella in response to her laughter, she waved her hands dismissively.

“No, I just find it fascinating that you would say such things. You weren’t one to say them often before.”

Ah.

A piece of the resentment that had been piling up in a corner of Stella’s heart popped out and struck Kalian.

It was something he would have to carry with him for the rest of his life.

“From now on, I’ll say them until you’re sick of hearing them.”

Kalian hid his anxiety and smiled.

“And I’ll back them up with actions too.”

His response deepened Stella’s smile. It felt like a piece of that resentment had been chipped away.

Like how a large wave erodes a rock.

Kalian maintained his smile while tightly clenching his fist.

“Still, don’t overdo it.”

Stella answered while brushing back her hair.

“I know you’re a busy person, so I hope you won’t push yourself too hard. I can also do quite a lot more than before.”

You don’t have to.

You could just come to me and ask me to do it.

“I see.”

But it was he who had taught Stella to be able to do everything on her own, to stand on her own.

So he couldn’t give any other answer.

“Still, I’ll always be by your side, so please call me if you need anything.”

Adding just this much hope was all Kalian Rochester could do.

“Your Grace.”

The coachman’s voice came through the carriage wall.

“We’ll be arriving at our destination soon.”

Not long after the coachman’s announcement, the carriage gradually slowed down and stopped near the village square.

The small village square was packed with people who had come out to greet Stella upon hearing the news of her arrival.

“Children, aunties, everyone…!”

Stella’s face brightened as she recognized familiar faces. As soon as the carriage stopped, she practically jumped out and embraced the children running toward her.

“Big sister Stella!”

“We missed you, big sister.”

“Me too.”

Stella tightened her arms around the children.

“I really missed you all too.”

“Me too!”

After looking at the children with loving eyes, Stella gestured, and the coachman placed several boxes beside her.

“These are sweets I bought from the capital. Share them among yourselves.”

“Wow!!”

The children’s eyes all began to sparkle at once.

“Are these candies?”

“So pretty…! Can I take one more? I want to give it to my little sibling.”

“Of course.”

Among the happy children, there was one child who was just pouting.

“Melcom, aren’t you going to eat?”

One child offered candy to that child.

“You eat a lot.”

The child called Melcom put on airs.

“I ate some yesterday too.”

“Big sister, big sister Stella!”

Just then, one child tugged at the hem of Stella’s dress.

“Look at this, I made it myself. For you, big sister. Isn’t it pretty?”

The child stood on tiptoes to place a flower crown on Stella.

“Child!”

The child’s father rushed over urgently to stop the child.

“Didn’t Dad tell you not to call her that? What did I tell you to call her? And what if you accidentally stain the lady’s dress with grass…!”

“But she’s my big sister……”

“Ahem!”

When he scolded firmly, the child lowered her head with a dejected face.

“Thank you for visiting our village, Duchess of Rochester….”

When one child did this, the other children also offered similar greetings. It seemed they had been strictly warned not to address her familiarly anymore.

“It’s alright.”

Stella burst into laughter.

“Call me comfortably like before. Aunties and uncles too. Right now, I’m here to see the school site we purchased, so it’s fine.”

“Still, you’ve become such a high-ranking person….”

The father who had scolded his child hesitated. Stella shook her head.

“Really. It’s truly fine. I wanted to see you, uncle.”

“…Welcome back.”

The hesitant uncle finally spoke.

“Welcome back, Stella.”

“Welcome back, big sister!”

“Welcome, welcome. My, how skinny you’ve become!”

Only then did the pent-up welcoming greetings burst forth. People flocked from everywhere as if a real family member had returned.

They are truly good people.

Kalian watched the scene from a step back.

Stella is a good person too. That’s why she deserves such a welcome.

But I…

“Kalian.”

From a distance, Stella reached out her hand toward him. As Kalian approached, Stella naturally linked arms with him and introduced him.

“This is Kalian. My husband.”

Her voice introducing Kalian to the people was full of affection.

“The person I truly love.”

The person I truly love.

How comforting those words were.

He felt as if the anxiety that had been gradually rising since they were in the carriage disappeared in an instant.

Kalian gave a light greeting.

“I’m Kalian.”

Following Stella, who didn’t introduce him as Rochester, he introduced himself without his surname.

“Ah.”

The people’s expressions were not good. They must know he was a Rochester.

And they must know he was the person who had cornered Stella.

“Pleased to meet you….”

After Kalian’s brief greeting ended, an older woman approached Stella.

“Where will you sleep?”

“At your inn, of course, auntie. How is the inn doing?”

“As always, on the verge of bankruptcy!”

The woman burst into hearty laughter.

“Honestly, who would come to a place like this to stay? No one except for one guest a few days ago, no one.”