“I believe I’ve already given you a sufficient answer.”

“That can’t be.”

Thea hurriedly headed toward the door. Then she stretched both arms wide and blocked the doorway—like she absolutely wouldn’t back down until she got what she wanted.

At that scene, he frowned deeply and tried to slip through a small gap, but it was impossible. Even the tiny opening was blocked by Thea’s dress hem.

“Stop this nonsense. If we’re too late, the Grand Duchess will be angry.”

“If she’s angry, she’s angry. I’m not scared at all.”

“Thea.”

“When we’re getting divorced anyway, what does House Winter’s dignity have to do with me?”

All that mattered was rescuing Count Yut, who’d been taken by the Grand Duchess. At Thea’s shameless behavior, he ultimately had no choice but to declare surrender.

“I’ll follow your wishes for now, but I don’t know if you’ll get what you want.”

At the half-hearted surrender declaration, Thea tilted her head. The words about not being able to obtain it didn’t register.

“What does that mean?”

“Because House Winter is also involved in this payment incident.”

“Why?”

“Because if Count Yut can’t repay the funds, he asked Winter to pay instead.”

“You’re saying Father asked for joint liability?”

“That’s right.”

Now she could understand why he hadn’t backed down easily. If his own house was involved, he couldn’t step back easily.

But it was puzzling. Why would he lend money to Count Yut, his father-in-law, knowing he couldn’t repay it?

‘For me?’

That definitely couldn’t be it.

“What exactly are your intentions?”

“Intentions? I simply did what needed to be done.”

Like he was tired of the continued argument, he raised one hand and began massaging the back of his neck. Though his stomach felt better after taking the digestive medicine earlier, he still wasn’t fully recovered.

“So what is this thing that needed to be done? My dull head just can’t understand.”

“If you can’t understand, it wouldn’t be bad to just swallow it as is.”

Subtly indicating he didn’t want to have the same conversation anymore, he gently pushed aside the somewhat weakened Thea and headed outside.

Thanks to that, Thea also found herself looking beyond the wide-open door.

He stood beneath a window where bright light poured down, and with his face armed with unusual fatigue today, Thea’s rebellion had to end there.

She knew that pushing further would only lead to trouble.

She’d gained more than expected from her considerable married life. One of those things was reading her husband and his family’s mood.

“…Fine. When everything’s settled later, you have to tell me. Even if we separate, I need to know what happened.”

“Of course. Shall we handle business now, my lady?”

He bowed politely and offered Thea an escort. He must be trying to show the Grand Duchess he’d improved.

At his transparent intentions, Thea bit her lip firmly, took his offered hand, and moved toward the balcony.

The entire way, nobles and maids looked at them with envious eyes—wondering if there could be another couple with such a good relationship.

At that ridiculous notion, she kept letting out hollow laughs, when his reprimand came softly from above her head.

“The corners of your mouth are twisted. That won’t do for a noble Countess.”

“I’ll be careful from now on.”

“Yes, there are many watching eyes, so you must be careful.”

At the sound that she absolutely must, Thea squeezed her eyes shut and opened them while moving her lips.

“Acel.”

“Why do you call?”

“I have something to say to the Grand Duchess. May I speak first?”

“Of course. What couldn’t you do?”

Perhaps because they were outside, his mood had improved considerably, and Thea closed her mouth firmly and stared at the balcony they’d soon reach.

Inside the balcony where the Grand Duchess was, another flock of sparrows had gathered, and they all looked busy chattering away.

But that was about to end.

“Your Highness. We’re here.”

At the call, the Grand Duchess’s face brightened like this was perfect timing since she’d been bored.

“Oh my, I was just waiting. The tea has cooled—shall I bring new tea? Or shall we just talk?”

“I’d prefer just talking.”

At Thea’s choice, the surrounding sparrows were dismissed and she was guided to an empty seat. Sitting carefully, Thea decided to raise the topic first, just as she’d told him.

“Your Highness. Please forgive me for getting to the point since we don’t have much time.”

“Forgive? Please speak comfortably.”

“I have something to tell you about Count Yut’s matter that Your Highness mentioned.”

“What is it?”

At the curious tone, Thea clasped both hands politely and opened her mouth.

“Last night, I found a receipt for 300 gold paid to the Grand Ducal House at the estate.”

“A receipt? Who issued such a thing?”

Meaning this was an impossible occurrence, Thea placed the receipt she’d brought in her bosom on the table. Then she pointed with her finger at the seal stamped at the very end.

“It’s Your Highness’s seal. They said the Grand Ducal House’s butler confirmed it and stamped it.”

“Let me take a look.”

The Grand Duchess, who’d been examining the receipt this way and that with a somewhat serious face, let out a sigh tinged with lamentation. She must have realized she’d made a mistake.

“I’m so sorry, Lady Winter. It seems there was a big mistake on our end.”

“You live such a busy life, so these things can happen.”

“How fortunate that our Lady Winter is so generous. This could have been embarrassing for me… To show such magnanimity.”

“It’s not quite magnanimity. So when can Count Yut return to the estate?”

At the question, the Grand Duchess folded a few fingers and curved her eyes like a bow.

“About two weeks from now, I think.”

“Two weeks?”

“I sent him on a tour to a rather distant place. I’m sure he’ll like it. When he returns, he might come back completely tanned.”

The Grand Duchess was nonchalant as she spoke of him resting comfortably, but Thea felt goosebumps rise from her neck to her back. Why would the noble Grand Duchess spend a large sum to send someone on a tour?

If he couldn’t repay the money, she must have planned to remove everything useful and then send him to a very distant sea to drown.

‘What a terrifying person.’

She was plotting a frightening plan with that smiling face.

If they hadn’t had today’s conversation, she would have proceeded pretending not to know. Just as she clenched her fist, grateful it wasn’t too late, the Grand Duchess glanced at Acel and Thea, then showed a reaction suggesting they should get up.

“I have quite a few people left who must have an audience with me today.”

“I’m sure you do. After all, it’s been a while since you held an audience.”

Thea answered without being too polite, then shifted her gaze to him sitting beside her.

“What will you do, Count?”

“I’ll go with my lady.”

“Yes, do that.”

With the consent given, they both bowed their heads lightly toward the Grand Duchess, then came out together just as they’d entered. No words were exchanged between them the entire way.

When they’d only gauged each other through silence, it was none other than Thea who cut through the awkwardness.

“…Are we taking the same carriage back to the estate?”

“Yes, I don’t think we need to prepare two carriages.”

“Then my carriage is ready, so let’s go straight to the entrance.”

“Fine.”

At the suggestion, he answered briefly and matched his pace to Thea’s slightly slower steps. Peace seemed to arrive as she passed by looking around, but inside it wasn’t peaceful at all.

They were dangerously close to shattering at any moment.

After walking for quite a while, when they stood before the carriage, Thea spoke to the coachman who was stroking the horses.

“We need to return to House Yut.”

* * *

Clatter, clatter.

The horse’s hooves roughly kicked the dry ground as they ran.

About ten minutes seemed to have passed since entering the carriage, and only a chilling silence thick enough to make one shudder enveloped them both. Thea kept looking out the window, and Acel only read the newspaper in his hands.

Though they both knew conversation would start if either one continued it, neither would open their mouth.

When the uncomfortable atmosphere continued endlessly, the coachman suddenly stopped the carriage.

Thea was startled and asked through the slightly open window.

“What’s wrong?”

“The right front wheel of the carriage is broken. We’ll need to rest for a bit before continuing.”

“It can’t be helped. When will we be able to run again?”

“About late evening, I think.”

At the words that it would be difficult right now, Thea’s complexion turned poor. She hadn’t even thought they’d arrive late.

She had unfinished work to handle when she got there, and she needed to tell the Countess, who must be filled with anxiety, about what happened today.

Since she was someone with such high anxiety, she must be biting her nails and stamping her feet right now.

When she showed difficulty at the clearly visible situation, he, who’d been watching from the side, gestured to the coachman.

“Check if we can rent a carriage somewhere nearby immediately.”

“I know of a rest stop where carriages gather near here.”

“Then arrange to rent a carriage from them. You handle the situation here and return to the estate.”

At the rapidly developing situation, Thea stared at him intently. Feeling her gaze, he shrugged his shoulders.

“I need to go to the estate quickly and then leave.”

“Where are you going?”

“When the sun sets, I’m supposed to go bear hunting.”

At the mention of hunting, she recalled the conversation she’d had with Lord Philip recently. 

She’d managed to forget about it… but now that it came from his mouth again, the wretchedness from that time raised its head again.

Was I someone you had so little trust in?

So little that you couldn’t even tell me you were going to a hunting ground?

The moment she realized that what she thought was her best effort wasn’t enough, she wondered what she’d been doing all this time.

She was still a ‘Winter,’ so she’d tried not to make mistakes, but now she felt it was meaningless.

Barely suppressing the boiling anger, she barely opened her trembling teeth.

“Y-you’re planning to go to the hunting ground in the evening?”

“Yes, that’s what happened.”

At his tone suggesting what the problem was, Thea’s strength drained away with a thud. Her anger became ridiculous.

Realizing it was pointless to be angry at his confidence, Thea stared into the distance, and the picture-like scenery hanging over there calmed her mind.

“So it was decided without a single word of consultation. I would have helped if you’d told me.”

“My lady, that’s…”

“I heard the details from Lord Philip. Important people are scheduled to come. Important people who will help Winter, no less.”

As she continued the conversation while staring coldly ahead, he seemed to finally recognize what he’d done wrong.

His calm breathing became slightly distorted with confusion, and the sound of him swallowing reached Thea’s ears nakedly.

But it was already spilled milk. He needed to know it was too late to turn back.

“Why didn’t you tell me? That something this big happened?”

“My lady… This is all a misunderstanding.”