“My goodness, who are all these people outside!”

Bianca exclaimed in surprise as she put on her apron in the kitchen.

She was startled when she tried to open the window and saw the scene outside.

From early morning, unknown people were lingering in front of her house.

Behind them, carriages rarely seen in this village were lined up.

“What on earth is this commotion!”

She hurried to the entrance, shaking water from her apron.

“Bianca, what’s wrong?”

When Ellin asked as she came down the stairs, Bianca answered while opening the front door.

“There are people outside our house.”

Finding this strange, Ellin also hurried to the entrance and, just as Bianca had said, strangers gathered as if they had been waiting for the door to open.

“What’s the matter?”

When Ellin asked, a middle-aged blonde man whom she seemed to have seen yesterday looked at her cautiously and said,

“Is the Duke here? The coachman said he dropped him off in front of this house last night.”

Another plump man, elegantly dressed, added,

“If the Duke is here, I’d like to briefly discuss Napas business matters with him. I know it’s rude, but could you ask if he could spare even a moment?”

Ellin looked with a bewildered face at the people waiting for the Duke at the entrance.

From their clothes and carriages, they seemed to be influential people in Napas.

For such people to come here early in the morning to wait for the Duke…

She vaguely recalled what Secretary Higgins had once told her.

“When he goes on business trips, the local dignitaries are so bothersome. They’re people who want to meet the Duke even just once.”

She thought it made sense that the appearance of the famous Duke Linderto in this southernmost port city would cause a stir.

“The Duke already left at dawn. Please go to the hotel where he’s staying.”

Ellin said this and closed the door.

Through the kitchen window, she could see the people leaving with looks of doubt and disappointment.

“My goodness. I heard that the man Miss married was a high-ranking person, but I didn’t know it was to this extent.”

“I’m sorry, Bianca. For causing such a commotion.”

“Not at all. It’s not your fault, Miss. I’m just amazed. To see such noble gentlemen standing outside waiting for someone.”

Bianca shook her head as if it was something incredible to witness in her lifetime.

Ellin let out a small sigh as she looked at the sofa, now empty, where he had stayed last night.

* * *

The Duke, whom she thought would be harassed by people, appeared again before lunch.

He knocked on the door looking perfectly picture-like, as if nothing had happened yesterday.

Ellin froze at the door, momentarily forgetting what to say when she saw him smiling in the midday sunlight.

She couldn’t understand his intentions.

Ellin couldn’t comprehend his actions.

Nor why he appeared as if nothing had happened between them, making her confused again.

Had it meant nothing to him that he had been away on a long business trip without news, and all the events that led to her decision to leave the capital?

Ellin wondered why he had come looking for her.

“If you have something to say to me about the divorce issue……”

“I’m hungry. Will you have lunch with me?”

When Ellin looked at him with perplexed eyes, he added,

“I also have something to tell you.”

At those words, Ellin nodded briefly.

She figured that was why he had come all this way—because he had something to tell her.

If people kept coming here because of the Duke, it could also inconvenience Bianca.

“Please wait a moment.”

Ellin just put on a light coat over her clothes and came out.

The two began walking side by side toward the sea.

People inside the village shops who happened to look outside discovered the two.

“Isn’t that the young lady from Bianca’s house?”

“Who’s next to her?”

“I’ve never seen such a handsome person before.”

Shop owners and customers alike pressed against the glass windows, curiously watching the two walking together.

When they reached a certain spot, Dominic, who had been quietly following Ellin, looked around.

There were many cafes and restaurants serving breakfast in another direction, but she had walked past them to a quiet seaside.

“I know you’re not really hungry.”

Knowing that he rarely ate breakfast even at the mansion, Ellin didn’t want to awkwardly sit across from him with food ordered.

“If what you want to discuss is the divorce issue, if I’ve missed something……”

“Ellin.”

Before Ellin could finish her sentence, he interrupted her.

The sea breeze swirled around the two.

With her red hair reaching her waist fluttering in the wind, she looked pure, as if she had never been a Duchess.

Those green eyes that he had met in the greenhouse at the Count’s party now looked up at him just like then.

Back then, her gaze held fear and trembling when looking at him, but now it seemed empty, as if resigned.

As if she had already let go of their relationship.

Because of that look, Dominic found it difficult to speak.

“I met Eddie. I went to Ephes looking for you.”

Hearing those words, Ellin’s eyes widened in surprise.

“You went to Ephes?”

She couldn’t imagine that he would have taken a ship all the way there to find her.

“Edward looked much healthier than when he was in the hospital.”

Ellin turned her head slightly away from him and answered,

“Thank you, Your Grace. It’s all thanks to you.”

She briefly and dryly expressed her gratitude, misinterpreting his words.

Seeing this, Dominic let out a light laugh.

“I didn’t come to hear such thanks.”

Ellin looked up at him again with curious eyes, wondering why he had sought her out.

Dominic turned away from Ellin and looked toward the sea.

A refreshing breeze passed by, brushing his bangs.

“I thought you had gone to that bastard Bane. That’s why I went there.”

As soon as Ellin heard his words, she gave a bitter smile.

Her heart felt empty at the thought that his belief in her only went that far.

“I couldn’t bear it. When I thought you were with that bastard, my mind went blank and I couldn’t do anything, couldn’t think anything.”

Ellin listened to Dominic’s words with a bewildered expression.

Why was he saying these things now?

Where was he when he left her lonely?

How much painful time had she endured alone with self-blame?

He coldly pushed her away when she needed warm comfort and just one embrace.

Did he feel regret when he thought she had gone to another man?

Ellin’s mind remained confused.

She never wanted to return to the capital again.

She didn’t want to be placed on the scales of nobles who carelessly judged her and assigned her value.

She especially didn’t want to tarnish the Linderto family name simply by existing.

The most painful thing had been facing his cold gaze directed at her.

That’s why she firmly made up her mind and left the capital.

Even after leaving, she constantly struggled to strengthen her weakening resolve.

“I’d prefer if you didn’t come to the house anymore.”

“……”

“When Your Grace keeps coming to the house, other people camp outside and it becomes troublesome. I don’t want to disturb this quiet village either. I’m also in a position where I’m indebted to others.”

When Ellin tried to quickly end the conversation, Dominic said,

“I went to Castia too. I learned the reason you couldn’t tell me, what you had been hiding.”

Ellin slowly blinked her large eyes, wondering what he meant.

“That man’s son. When I saw the gun again, memories I had lost came back faintly.”

“……”

“If I were in your situation, I wouldn’t have been able to tell either. I came to like you for being that kind of person, and I’m truly sorry for misunderstanding.”

Ellin’s mind went blank.

So the Duke now knew everything.

She couldn’t understand why he was apologizing to her.

He had done nothing wrong.

The fault was hers for not telling the secret until the end.

Of course, she had suffered because of how cold he had become during that process.

But she hadn’t left him because she was angry with him.

She just couldn’t bear the situation anymore.

So why was he apologizing to her with a face like a criminal?

Unable to control her confused feelings, Ellin stepped backward and quickly turned to leave.

Seeming to understand her feelings, Dominic didn’t try to stop her.

* * *

Elderly, respectable-looking couples gathered for a meal at an upscale restaurant in downtown Napas.

“The mayor went to that house early this morning. But they say he left without even catching a glimpse of him.”

“Bianca’s house, the one who makes and sells clothes. Was that woman really the Duchess?”

“Of course. Why else would the Duke go to such a place?”

The pastor’s wife slowly rolled her eyes while sipping her tea.

She thought the young woman who had brought clothes to her house must indeed be the rumored Duchess.

She felt a pang of guilt remembering how she had treated her like a maid.

‘Well, who would have known she was a Duchess?’

Just then, Sir Hamilton entered the restaurant, leaning on his cane.

“Perfect timing. I’d like to visit the Duke once and pay my respects. Is he at the hotel now?”

A viscount sitting and dining with them asked while offering Hamilton an empty seat.

Sir Hamilton sat down awkwardly and wiped his sweat with a handkerchief before answering.

“He left the hotel at daybreak. I’m certain he went to see her again.”

The people nodded with serious expressions.

“Indeed. He came to find the Duchess.”

People who had little interest in the capital’s affairs now began searching for old newspapers and learned about the situation between the ducal couple.

“There were articles saying they had already divorced, but that must not be true. The Duke seems to still love her very much if he came all this way to find his wife.”

“Who knows. The affairs between a husband and wife…”

“How did the Duchess think to stay at the home of someone who was my house maid?”

“You saw it in the papers. Her family fell into such a state, she probably had nowhere else to go.”

They all nodded together, recalling the downfall of the Nilson barony.

“So that’s why the Duke doesn’t stay at the hotel and only visits his wife.”

“That’s strange too. It seems his wife doesn’t welcome him much.”

“What? Why not?”

“How would I know about matters between husband and wife?”

Husband and wife.

With that one phrase, the couples present all nodded slightly.

“The Duke came all the way here, yet it’s so difficult to see him even once. My goodness.”

The viscount who ran a trading business with several large ships in Napas sighed regretfully.

What an honor it would be for his family if he could meet Duke Linderto and discuss business.

“Hmm. What if we try this?”

The pastor’s wife then opened her mouth to suggest something.

A good idea had occurred to her to make up for her previous rudeness.

“The Duchess is staying at that house, right? I know Bianca, the homeowner, well.”

People looked at each other, wondering what she was getting at.

“She’s skilled, so I often commission clothes from her. She also comes to worship without fail every weekend. She’s our kind neighbor who faithfully serves the Lord.”

“Darling, what are you getting at……”

“It wouldn’t be strange to invite her to the pastor’s residence for a meal, would it? We could combine it with a modest party and invite all of you as well. Of course, we would naturally invite the lady staying with her. And at that gathering……”

The pastor, who had been irritably responding to his wife until just now, finished her thought.

“You mean to use that old woman.”

“Darling!”

She glared at him and lightly hit his arm.

He then rephrased more delicately.

“Anyway. If we invite that woman and the Duchess, and then invite the Duke to the same gathering, he certainly wouldn’t refuse. We could naturally create an opportunity to be in his company.”

The others nodded in agreement with her plan.

“That’s a good idea.”

“But will the lady attend?”

“We’ll have to make sure she does. Leave it to me.”

“Then I’ll respectfully speak to the Duke.”

Sir Hamilton also spoke confidently.

The pastor’s wife’s eyes gleamed as she fiddled with her teacup.