After Barbara left, Leonhardt heaved a deep sigh.

He was tired of it all.

He felt suffocated between his father, who found fault with everything, and his mother, who placed all her expectations on her son. His only escape had been the consistently affectionate Daphne.

At least until the woman who captivated him at first sight appeared.

⁕⁕⁕

He first met Anaïs Benoit at the Academy. She was a princess from the Kingdom of Lucia who said she came to study abroad to learn about the Empire’s advanced culture.

Not only was she of noble birth, but she was also intelligent. She ranked 10th in her first exam and steadily climbed higher.

Anaïs, Leonhardt, and Daphne were all the same age. Daphne, who had never missed the top rank, now had a formidable competitor.

‘Unfortunately, she couldn’t surpass Daphne until graduation…’

Still, they were always the talk of the school. People even placed bets on which of the two would rank first in each exam, and Leonhardt naturally bet on Daphne.

He normally detested gambling and betting. Anything uncertain with too many variables made him anxious.

But his friends urged him on, saying he should support his fiancée.

It was graduation exam day. He was lining up as usual to bet on Daphne when someone tapped his shoulder.

It was Anaïs.

“Aren’t you bored?”

“…Huh?”

“I asked if you’re not bored betting on the same person every time.”

She winked at him and walked away.

Unlike Daphne with her cute and bright demeanor, Anaïs was a dazzling beauty. Her sensual figure, the kind that would make any man turn for a second look, suddenly captured his attention.

He hadn’t noticed before, but somehow her gaze seemed deep, exuding a mature sensuality he hadn’t felt from other ladies her age.

But that was all.

With his shining golden hair, eyes as deep green as a summer forest, and perfect nose and lips, Leonhardt was called the Empire’s most handsome man and was always surrounded by beautiful women.

In short, it was so commonplace that Anaïs didn’t feel special to him. Leonhardt valued family and power more than romance.

The two had no particular connection and parted ways after graduation, losing touch for some time.

Leonhardt was extremely busy learning the practical duties of being an heir.

Then one day, Anaïs contacted him first.

She greeted him with a wave of her hand.

“It’s been a while, Anaïs.”

“Leon, you seem to be doing well. You’ve become even more handsome!”

They weren’t close enough to use nicknames. But perhaps because it had been so long, it didn’t sound unpleasant.

“How have you been?”

“I was reluctant to return to my country… so I started working.”

“Really? That’s unexpected. I thought you had gone back home.”

“Why did you think that?”

“Royal family members prioritize succession, don’t they?”

“That hurts my feelings. Don’t treat me like those ladies who get married right after graduation.”

It was a direct jab at Daphne, but her boldness seemed quite charming.

“What kind of work do you do?”

“Maritime insurance.”

That should have been the end of it—just catching up over lunch.

But she asked for his help.

“The thing is, I don’t have many connections. If you introduce me to some of your acquaintances, I’ll repay you as best I can.”

As the heir to House Mücke, he received countless such requests. But Anaïs maintained a confident expression, posture, and demeanor despite being the one asking for a favor.

That aspect of her probably attracted him. Leonhardt gladly agreed.

The next day, Leonhardt introduced Anaïs to some of his acquaintances.

“I’m a bit nervous about meeting them alone. Leonhardt, would you come with me?”

That led to their next meeting, and Anaïs secured contracts with everyone she met through her attractive appearance, sophisticated manner, and eloquence. Even Leonhardt, watching from the side, was impressed by her skill.

Anaïs gave Leonhardt a pair of cufflinks as a gift, saying it was thanks to him that she achieved her first success.

They contained a gemstone he had never seen before. It was orange, making him think it might be carnelian. But it was completely different—transparent and radiantly brilliant.

After examining them for a while, Leonhardt asked:

“What is this?”

“What else? It’s something I bought with the first money I earned.”

Anaïs’s face was full of accomplishment as she said this.

She was so different from Daphne, who would offer hand-embroidered handkerchiefs. Perhaps that was why he felt more drawn to her.

For the first time in his life, Leonhardt fell victim to love’s fever.

⁕⁕⁕

Recalling his memories with Anaïs, Leonhardt frowned as his headache returned.

‘Ah, tiresome Daphne!’

He quickly drank a painkiller and pressed his temples firmly.

‘Making me drink alcohol I can’t even handle. What an impressive fiancée!’

Remembering her vicious face from yesterday only intensified his headache.

It wasn’t as if he wanted to make Anaïs his primary wife, yet Daphne’s wide-eyed rage remained vivid in his mind.

And to speak of breaking the engagement!

Leonhardt had considered it too, but only as a last resort in case Daphne ultimately refused to accept the situation.

How could she be the one to mention breaking the engagement first?

‘Was all her gentle obedience until now just pretense?’

How could someone be so two-faced? He felt whatever affection he had left for her draining away.

Unaware of these circumstances, his father Gustav didn’t want the engagement broken. Knowing his father’s temperament well, Leonhardt sighed repeatedly.

But then he realized there was no need to worry prematurely.

Leonhardt knew Daphne better than anyone. As Barbara had said, by now she must be deeply regretting her actions.

Imagining her trembling with fear of truly having the engagement broken, crying her eyes out, his headache began to subside.

“First, I should meet Anaïs. She must be waiting…”

Unlike some people, he thought of her generous, open heart as vast as the ocean.

Perhaps it was because she worked alongside men in society? Her level of understanding and consideration for others was incomparable to Daphne’s.

Just thinking about her made him smile involuntarily.

He decided to let Daphne suffer a bit longer. Once you start giving in, they’ll try to win two or three more times.

⁕⁕⁕

Despite Christine’s strict efforts to contain the story, within three days, all the servants in the Marquis’s household knew about Daphne knocking Zenos unconscious.

They gossiped about it whenever they gathered in small groups.

“Honestly, the young master has been too harsh all along.”

“Right. Even commoners like us only squabble with siblings when we’re little. How can a grown man hit a woman, even if she’s his sister? And he’s a noble!”

“What reason could there be to hit someone so delicate? Tsk.”

None of them hid their displeasure.

This was separate from how the Marquis and his wife discriminated between their children. To the servants who worked and received compensation accordingly, the infinitely kind and pretty Daphne was the better person.

In contrast, the ill-tempered Zenos had lost their goodwill long ago.

“No, I take back calling her delicate.”

“Right, she was truly impressive!”

“By the way, when did Miss learn self-defense? It wasn’t ordinary.”

“Maybe the knights taught her because they couldn’t bear to watch anymore?”

“Come on, Miss doesn’t have occasions to meet the family knights.”

“True, that refined lady wouldn’t have reason to frequent the training grounds.”

“Maybe it was coincidence? When the young master pulled her too roughly, she fell and crashed into him.”

“That’s it, that must be it.”

“Is Miss’s head alright?”

“I heard she’s been lying in bed all day today. She sent away all the maids, saying she wanted to be alone.”

“Not just the maids. A doctor came, but she sent him away, saying she was fine.”

“Such a kind person must have been so shocked to act that way.”

“…The Madam was unexpected too.”

“What do you mean?”

“What happened?”

Those who hadn’t heard the full story asked urgently.

“She never said a word when young master Zenos used his hands before.”

“Sigh, she always pretended not to see it.”

“But this time…”

He looked around and lowered his voice.

“She was displeased, saying he should use those fists on Leonhardt instead of cowardly hitting his powerless sister.”

“What?”

They couldn’t close their mouths for a while.

“Young master Zenos returned to the Academy as soon as he regained consciousness. The doctor advised him to rest more, but he refused.”

“Did he hear what Madam said?”

“He must have. And he must have been embarrassed too.”

Everyone suppressed their laughter.

“Is Madam finally trying to act like a mother?”

Hearing this, one maid pursed her lips.

“Tsk, it’s too late for that.”

Most of the servants didn’t particularly like Christine.

She’s a mistress of the house who grew up pampered, neglecting household matters and focusing only on her appearance?

Going out to social gatherings every day was understandable for a noble.

But her discrimination against only Daphne couldn’t be viewed favorably no matter how you looked at it. Even if it was because of the label of who her father was.

“Still, even a birth mother shouldn’t act that way. What sin did the child commit…”