After their marriage, Aneta and Carlos were practically inseparable.

They woke up in the same bed, worked in the same space, and ended the day falling asleep in that same bed. With such a routine, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say they spent nearly every moment together.

Seeing them always side by side, some people remarked that spending so much time together would tire them of one another.

Naturally, their predictions couldn’t have been more wrong. No matter what others said, there wasn’t the slightest crack in the couple’s loving relationship. On the contrary, the more time they spent together, the deeper and stronger their bond grew.

“Carlos must have reached the palace by now and is probably talking with His Majesty.”

Aneta thought of Carlos, who had left for work earlier than usual after being summoned by Russell.

With a face full of reluctance, he had looked back at her countless times, dragging his feet until he finally got into the carriage. He had left with the parting remark that he would miss her.

Of course, it wasn’t just Carlos who hated being apart. Though she had smiled as she sent him off, Aneta felt the same way.

“How is it that I already miss him, even though it hasn’t been that long?”

She felt oddly uneasy not being able to turn her head and immediately see his face, which was always nearby.

Their affliction was mutual. With a small, self-deprecating laugh, Aneta hurried to finish getting ready for work.

It had been over ten days since they moved into the duke’s residence after spending two months at the marquisate. Since Isabel wasn’t there to send her off, seeing Aneta at the door fell to Linden.

As Aneta descended the stairs, Tyr, who had been waiting at the foot, barked briefly.

“Good morning.”

Aneta returned the greeting, gently stroking Tyr’s head. The dog, in turn, closed its eyes and wagged its glossy, fluffy tail enthusiastically.

Though the barking sound might seem threatening, Aneta knew it was just an expression of affection; to her, it was adorable.

“Now that you’ve said your goodbyes to Tyr, shall we head out, My Lady?”

Linden’s voice reminded Aneta that it was time for work.

She could linger a little longer without being late, but the thought of her employer likely craning his neck waiting for her urged her to move along.

“Alright. I’ll be back, Tyr. Be good while I’m gone.”

Smiling at Tyr, who barked again as if in reply, Aneta straightened up and prepared to leave. Another day was about to begin.

As she stepped outside the main building, the crisp morning air filled her lungs, invigorating her for the tasks ahead.

The early morning sunlight streamed down gently thanks to the warmer weather, bringing a pleasant smile to Aneta’s lips.

Lately, Aneta felt her days couldn’t be more peaceful or happy. And it was all thanks to Carlos. She silently wished this tranquility would last for a long, long time.

But Aneta had rarely lived a life without chaos. The marriage didn’t change her fate, and soon, a commotion picked her ears, seeming to herald the arrival of trouble.

“Get out of my way at once!”

Aneta and Linden exchanged glances. The voice was unfamiliar.

“What’s going on?”

“It seems there’s a disturbance at the front of the estate. I’ll handle this matter myself and report back. My Lady, please board the carriage in the meantime.”

“Do so.”

Aneta agreed to let Linden take care of the situation. But given the audacity of whoever was causing a scene in front of the duke’s estate so early in the morning, she thought she might as well get a glimpse of their face.

“Haven’t you heard my name? I’m the child’s maternal grandfather!”

If not for those words, she might have left it at that.

Aneta froze in her tracks.

At first, she thought the voice was unfamiliar, but suddenly, it struck her as someone she’d heard before.

“This is problematic. If you are truly Her Ladyship’s maternal grandfather, please follow the proper procedure and formally request a visit.”

“A grandfather wanting to see his granddaughter needs to follow procedures? Nonsense!”

“My apologies, but this is the duke’s estate. No matter the circumstances, we cannot open the gates for someone who arrives unannounced.”

Meanwhile, the altercation continued. The guard at the estate’s entrance responded politely yet remained firm, while the other man’s voice grew louder and angrier.

Thanks to the exchange, Aneta confirmed the identity of the man arguing with the guard.

Zeroph Mellet.

Formerly known as Viscount Mellet, he was Elena’s father.

What nerve brought him all the way here? Aneta frowned in displeasure.

“Here, I have proof that I’m part of the Mellet family. Is this still not enough for you?”

“I’m sorry, sir. Regardless of what you say, my response remains unchanged.”

As the guard apologized while firmly standing his ground, Aneta picked up on the underlying meaning.

“The one confronting him must be Sir Carton. If it’s Sir Carton, he surely recognizes your maternal grandfather, doesn’t he?”

“He seems to be pretending not to recognize him on purpose.”

“I see.”

Linden didn’t need to ask Aneta for an explanation; he already understood. After all, everyone knew how Elena Adenauer had married Derek Adenauer.

The man who had sold his daughter for money was now looking for his granddaughter, and his intentions were obvious. Carton likely realized this and blocked Zeroph Mellet’s path.

“Linden, I think I need to handle this myself.”

While she appreciated Carton stepping up for her, Zeroph Mellet was not the kind to back down just because someone stood in his way. Aneta decided to take matters into her own hands, canceling her earlier decision to leave it to Linden.

“Are you sure about this?”

“Don’t worry.”

Aneta hadn’t gone through the arduous process of building her strength and influence to avoid difficult situations. All of it had been to keep her greedy relatives in check. Through that process, she fortified her standing and resolve in the political arena.

No matter what they demanded, she was confident she wouldn’t falter.

She resumed her steps toward the front gate, and as she approached, one of the guards stationed inside the closed gates looked visibly flustered.

“M-My Lady, it would be best not to step outside right now.”

Roy, the guard who had drawn closer, spoke hushedly. His intentions were aligned with Carton’s.

“I already know who’s outside. His voice was loud enough that I heard every word he said. Don’t worry—open the gate.”

“Understood. I’ll open it right away.”

Though still looking uneasy, Roy quickly composed himself. Though he was concerned, he had no choice but to follow her orders.

“Wait, Sir Roy! If you open the gate now…”

As the gate swung open, Carton—who had been blocking Zeroph Mellet—frowned deeply and turned around.

But thanks to Roy stepping aside, Aneta was the first figure to step through the open gate.

“My Lady.”

While Carton muttered resignedly, Zeroph Mellet, fuming moments earlier, suddenly brightened, his face flushing red.

From her light brown hair to her green eyes, Aneta was the spitting image of her beloved mother. Yet the sight stirred not affection but a deep sense of aversion in her heart.

“Oh, my darling granddaughter, Aneta! At last, I get to see your face!”

With a theatrical cry, Zeroph Mellet immediately tried to push past Carton and step through the gate. However, a man without proper training couldn’t bypass a seasoned knight like Carton.

Carton once again blocked Zeroph Mellet’s path.

“You scoundrel again!”

Aneta silently observed Zeroph Mellet, who had just referred to a knight of the ducal household as a “scoundrel.” Realizing his outburst under her gaze, Zeroph quickly stopped himself and cleared his throat.

“Hem. I may have gotten a little carried away.”

His sudden change in demeanor after noticing Aneta’s presence made it clear he was here with some ulterior motive. The knights and Linden shared the same thought.

“I would like to speak with Aneta. Would you please step aside?” Zeroph said, attempting to sound dignified.

Aneta suppressed the scoff, threatening to escape her lips. His tone belied the look in his eyes, which seemed like he wouldn’t hesitate to strike Carton if given the chance.

“Sir Carton, you may step aside,” Aneta said.

Though Carton had stood firm against Zeroph’s glare, he immediately stepped aside at Aneta’s command. Of course, for Carton, Aneta’s wishes held far greater priority than the demands of this unwelcome guest.

Mistaking her action as a gesture of goodwill toward him, Zeroph Mellet strode toward her, tears of mock sentiment welling up in his eyes.

“Aneta. You’ve grown so much. It feels like just yesterday you were learning to walk, and now you’ve become such a beautiful young lady, married into such a prestigious family. This old grandfather has no more regrets.”

Anyone listening might have thought he’d been a part of her life during those early years. Aneta silently regarded her maternal grandfather, who spoke so freely, assuming she wouldn’t remember.

The first and last time Aneta had seen him was at Elena’s funeral. His mention of her childhood struck her as utterly laughable.

Of course, Zeroph Mellet looked much older than he had back then. In the past, traces of Elena could still be seen on his face, but now they were entirely gone, replaced by a harsh countenance that seemed to reflect his nature.

Not that it mattered. Even if his appearance hadn’t changed, Aneta’s attitude toward him wouldn’t have wavered. Suppressing the distaste bubbling within her, she calmly asked,

“What brings you here?”

“Aneta, I’ve come because I have something to say to you,” Zeroph replied.

“Then please, speak.”

“Here? Like this?”

“Yes.”

Zeroph Mellet’s eyes darted to Linden, Roy, and Carton, clearly uncomfortable under their watchful gazes.

“Well, rather than discuss it here, I was hoping we could talk inside,” he said, his unease evident.

Aneta didn’t need to ask to guess what he wanted to say. She fixed him with a piercing gaze as if seeing right through him before finally granting him entry to the ducal residence.

“Come inside,” she said.

Fearing she might change her mind, Zeroph hastily followed her.

Before leading him further, Aneta turned to Linden.

“Linden, send someone to the palace and tell Carlos I’ll be late. If I’m late without a word, he’ll surely worry.”

“Understand, my lady. I’ll take care of it at once.”

Hearing Linden’s reassuring reply, Aneta finally felt at ease. She resumed walking, eager to deal with Zeroph Mellet quickly so she could see Carlos.