“Are you adjusting to life here?”

“Yes, thanks to all the care and attention you’ve given me.”

“Oh, nonsense. You’re the one who works hard,” the queen replied warmly.

Everything was really wonderful. Even the palace maids were kind, and both the King and Queen treated her with genuine warmth. Learning her duties as Crown Princess step by step had become something she really enjoyed. It felt as if she was beginning to make her own place in this new country.

As they began their breakfast in the cheerful atmosphere, the door suddenly burst open and a man entered.

“Oh my, Cajetan.”

“Did you sleep well?”

Cajetan greeted nonchalantly.

“What brings you to breakfast today?”

Without bothering to answer, he silently took a seat – unfortunately directly across from Grace.

The piercing look he gave her made the air around the table instantly uncomfortable.

“Um, I’m not feeling very well today, so I think I’ll excuse myself…” Grace began, hoping to escape.

She had no idea how to handle being around someone who so openly disliked her. No matter how warmly she smiled, it had no effect on him. Every time their eyes met, his piercing blue eyes bored into her with an intensity that made her uneasy.

‘And then there were his biting remarks’, she thought with a sigh.

Especially when Cajetan made remarks about her intimate relationship with Velenus, it was humiliating to the point of shame. Everyone else in the palace was kind and considerate – why was Cajetan the sole exception? Why did he seem to hate her so much?

No matter how much she thought about it, she couldn’t understand it. Nor did it seem that Cajetan had any intention of improving their relationship. It left her with only one desire: to avoid him completely.

Just as Grace was about to excuse herself and get up, Cajetan’s voice cut through the room.

“Why leave so sudden, sister-in-law? Are you perhaps pregnant?”

“Cajetan!”

The king called his name sternly, his tone laced with warning.

But Cajetan’s expression didn’t falter in the least. If anything, he looked shameless, as if he didn’t believe he had said anything out of line.

Grace’s face burned with embarrassment.

“Why not? It’s not an inappropriate question,” Cajetan said nonchalantly.

“If my brother and sister-in-law are healthy adults, it wouldn’t be out of the question, would it?”

An uncomfortable, stifling silence filled the room.

“Or is the idea so far-fetched because your relationship as a couple isn’t exactly… ideal?”

This time his question was aimed directly at her, his piercing blue eyes fixed on her like a predator.

“…Th-that’s not true.”

Grace stammered, her voice trembling uncontrollably. The warm and cheerful atmosphere from before Cajetan’s arrival had completely vanished, replaced by a heavy, suffocating silence.

“If you’re not feeling well, you should rest. I’ll see you to your room, Grace.”

Velenus said, rising abruptly. His hand wrapped gently around her shoulder, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

“Mother, Father, I’ll apologise as well.”

“Of course, go on.”

“Take good care of Grace.”

No one stopped them as they left the dining hall, the air too thick with unspoken emotions to protest. Grace glanced over her shoulder as they left.

Cajetan’s sharp, piercing gaze was still upon her, burning into her back like a dagger. His tightly pressed lips twisted again, a clear sign of his dissatisfaction.

‘What doesn’t he like so much?’

She wondered bitterly. She wanted so badly to turn around, grab him, and ask—’Why do you hate me? What exactly about me bothers you so much?’

Lost in thought, Grace unconsciously bit her lip, hard enough to hurt.

“Why are you hurting yourself like this?”

Velenus’ voice cut through her confusion as his hand reached out and pressed gently against her lips, stopping her.

“Oh.”

Only then did Grace realise she had bitten her lip.

“Sorry about that. Let me apologise on Cajetan’s behalf.”

“…”

“He is not usually like this. Something must be bothering him lately. Even I’m surprised – I’ve never seen him like this before. I’m sorry for his rude words.”

“No, it’s all right.”

“Even our parents were so startled they couldn’t say anything. He’s really not the type to act like that.”

Grace could hardly believe it. A man who glared at her and openly showed his displeasure at every opportunity – this man was supposed to be calm and kind to others? A hollow laugh escaped her lips.

“I don’t understand why he dislikes me so much.”

“Dislikes you? That can’t be true.”

Velenus replied, sounding surprised.

“Isn’t that why he acts this way towards me?”

“There must be some… misunderstanding,” Velenus suggested cautiously. “What if you tried to have an honest conversation with Cajetan?”

“But…”

Grace hesitated, unsure how to even approach such a conversation.

‘Had a conversation with Cajetan ever yielded a good result?’

Grace thought back to the morning after their wedding night. It was a situation she never wanted to relive, especially with Cajetan’s habit of making sharp remarks about her marriage.

Hadn’t he started this morning with a snide remark the moment he sat down?

“I’m going to talk to my brother first, then why don’t you try talking to him? I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding. I know it may sound hard to believe, but Cajetan isn’t like that at all.

‘Is he just defending him because he’s his brother? Or is Cajetan’s behavior truly different from the person Velenus knows?’

Velenus’ gentle persuasion continued, convincing Grace to at least try to talk to Cajetan.

“All right.”

She finally agreed, raising her hands in surrender. She didn’t have much of a choice. It wasn’t as if Cajetan was going to get married and leave right away.

For the foreseeable future – possibly years – they would be in each other’s company. Surely it was better to try to work things out than to endure this awkwardness indefinitely, whether they cleared the air or became irreparably estranged.

‘And if it becomes the latter… what then?’

Her head throbbed at the thought, but she covered her frustration with a bright smile at Velenus.

“Get some rest,” he said, stroking her arm gently. “I’ll talk to Cajetan and see what’s going on.”

His wide, confident smile seemed to say, “Trust me.”

All Grace could manage was a weak, bitter smile. How had it come to this? Everyone had been so kind and welcoming – except Cajetan. She let out a long sigh and sank onto the bed, leaning back against it.