Ellin quickly supported her, preventing Melissa from collapsing to the ground.

Ellin’s chair toppled backward as she grabbed Melissa.

“A-are you alright?!”

Though she called out, there was no response from Melissa, who had already lost consciousness.

“What do we do!”

“The Madam must be d-dead!”

The marquis’s daughter trembled in shock.

Even Silvia, who normally remained unperturbed by anything, seemed so shocked she couldn’t approach Melissa and only backed away.

Only Ellin continued to hold the collapsed Melissa.

Servants came running when they heard the screams.

They too turned pale, all of them flustered about what to do.

“Quickly call the physician!”

“Yes. Yes, yes!”

After seeing someone run to call the doctor, Ellin calmly laid Melissa down on the grass.

‘I’ve seen this before. She’ll be fine.’

Ellin told herself this like a mantra as she began unfastening the buttons on Melissa’s clothes.

Long buttons from neck to chest were tightly constricting the old duchess’s body.

The bean-sized satin buttons kept slipping from her hands, but Ellin unfastened them one by one, as if opening her airways.

The noble ladies watched what she was doing with shocked eyes.

“Marchioness. Could you please loosen the ribbon around her waist?”

When Ellin asked for help, the marchioness who had hesitated briefly quickly approached. Then she began loosening the tightly bound waist strings.

It seemed to have some effect, as Melissa exhaled a faint but labored breath.

Ellin quickly moved to place a chair cushion under her legs.

Pink color began returning to Melissa’s pale face.

“What happened!”

Fortunately, the physician arrived faster than expected.

Haah.

Seeing the physician, Ellin finally relaxed and sank weakly into her seat.

“She suddenly collapsed while drinking tea.”

“The old duchess will be alright, won’t she?”

“I was so shocked my heart nearly stopped.”

Relieved by the physician’s arrival, the ladies began adding their comments one by one.

“She appears to have fainted. There’s no need to worry too much.”

The ladies sighed with relief at his assessment of the old duchess’s condition.

Servants carried the old duchess away with the physician.

“My goodness. What a situation.”

“I was truly shocked. I hope the Madam will be alright.”

They began leaving one by one with somber expressions.

The marquis’s daughter helped Ellin up from where she sat on the grass and said:

“It’s thanks to your quick action, my lady. How could you remain so calm?”

Ellin smiled at her kind words, seemingly relieved, but her startled heart had not yet settled.

“I’ll visit again when the old duchess has stabilized.”

Silvia gave Ellin a formal farewell and turned sharply to walk toward the main building.

Somehow she didn’t seem to be in a good mood.

* * *

Melissa slowly opened her eyes, like waking from a deep sleep.

Unable to recall the previous night’s memories, she blinked her eyelashes several times.

The feeling was somehow different from her usual sleep.

‘Strange. I can’t remember anything after tea time. Did I properly see everyone off?’

Her anxiety grew with her lack of memory.

Her eyelashes fluttered rapidly.

Just then, a maid entered.

“Mmm…… bring me some water.”

When Melissa touched her forehead and tried to rise, the maid dropped her tray onto the carpet in surprise.

“M-my lady!”

While Melissa was about to ask about yesterday’s events, the maid shouted loudly and left the room.

“Butler!”

Melissa looked at the door through which the maid had run with confused eyes.

“What is this……”

Moments later, she heard the sound of many people walking down the corridor.

“Madam!”

“My lady!”

“Mother!”

Melissa learned for the first time today that there were so many ways to address her.

She held her head and asked.

“What exactly happened? Why does my head feel so foggy?”

While the physician carefully examined Melissa, Jeffrey ordered the maid to bring water again.

Ellin watched the physician examining her with anxious eyes, standing a step back.

“Don’t you remember? You fainted during yesterday’s gathering, my lady.”

Melissa slightly furrowed her brow at the physician’s words, now understanding.

“I see. Even while talking, my vision would occasionally go white. I haven’t slept properly for days. Is that why?”

The doctor nodded at Melissa’s words.

“Insomnia is one of the causes. Have you also experienced decreased appetite and unusual fatigue recently?”

“Yes. That’s right. Sometimes my breathing becomes rapid too. I thought it was because I was stressed about the duke’s marriage.”

“That would have contributed as well. For now, please rest sufficiently to allow your deteriorated condition to improve.”

Melissa sighed softly.

“Everyone must have been shocked because of me. I hope I didn’t hit my head somewhere when I collapsed?”

She suddenly seemed worried and began examining her face in a mirror.

The physician smiled gently and glanced back at Ellin.

“The duchess displayed quick reflexes and resourcefulness in protecting you safely, my lady.”

Melissa looked at Ellin with slightly surprised eyes at the physician’s words.

“……Really?”

Embarrassed by the physician’s praise, Ellin smiled awkwardly before approaching Melissa.

“I’m glad you’re alright. I was truly shocked yesterday too.”

When Melissa slightly raised her hand, Ellin hesitated briefly before gently taking it.

“Thank you.”

Ellin nodded, relieved that Melissa was fine.

The physician added while observing their warm interaction:

“The duchess responded calmly. Thanks to that, you were able to regain consciousness quickly, my lady.”

“Is that so?”

Melissa looked at Ellin once more with surprise after hearing the physician’s words.

“I’ve experienced this before while caring for my great-aunt. If it had been my first time, I would have been quite flustered too.”

Melissa silently nodded at Ellin’s humble attitude.

“Anyway, I’ve ruined what was a lovely tea time. I’m worried about how shocked everyone must have been.”

When she slightly furrowed her brow, Ellin reassured her,

“I’ll send letters to everyone right away. I’ll tell them that you’ve safely regained consciousness and are now resting.”

“Thank you.”

Melissa lay back in bed with a relieved expression. Ellin helped her lie down.

Just then, the maid who had left earlier hurriedly entered with water on a tray, but was stopped at the doorway by Jeffrey.

“Butler……”

She looked at Jeffrey with confusion.

Hadn’t he just told her to bring water quickly?

Jeffrey simply observed the scene unfolding around the old duchess’s bed.

The maid couldn’t read the butler’s thoughts, as his expression remained consistent whether events were happy, angering, sad, or joyful.

Yet strangely, today the corners of his mouth seemed to be pulled up ever so slightly more than usual.

* * *

Dominic was speaking with a man of exotic appearance in a large office.

“Without Your Highness, this deal would have been difficult to accomplish.”

When Dominic extended his hand, the man sitting across from him grasped it firmly and shook it.

“What are you saying? You’re the person who has helped me most since I came here, so naturally I should return the favor.”

Prince Sarmant, second in line to the throne of the Nazar Kingdom, had crossed the sea during his childhood and stayed here.

He had long maintained ties with Duke Linderto as both business partner and friend.

The conversation between the two young men flowed pleasantly throughout.

“I heard about your marriage. Had I known earlier, I would have returned from Nazar sooner. What a shame.”

When Sarmant expressed regret at missing the wedding, Dominic smiled wryly.

“It was a hastily arranged wedding, so we couldn’t invite many guests.”

Sarmant looked at Dominic with curious eyes while twirling his elegant mustache.

“Rushing into marriage like that. I’m even more curious about what kind of woman captured the duke’s heart.”

In response to Sarmant’s curiosity, Dominic answered with a perfectly restrained, handsome smile.

Just then, Prince Sarmant’s eyes sparkled with a sudden thought.

“I’m planning to hold a party to celebrate my return from Nazar. It would be wonderful if the duke and duchess of Linderto could attend and grace the occasion.”

Looking at the expectant prince, Dominic couldn’t refuse.

Moreover, the parties he hosted gathered important figures, making them more business extensions than social gatherings.

“We’ll certainly attend. The honor is mine.”

Prince Sarmant nodded with a satisfied smile.

“Many attendees who could help with the duke’s new business venture will be present.”

“That sounds enticing.”

“Then I shall eagerly await meeting the Duchess of Linderto.”

After Prince Sarmant shook hands one last time and left, Dominic approached the window.

‘Marriage brings no shortage of annoyances.’

He had thought that simply holding a formal wedding would be enough.

He had expected that if she just quietly played the role of duchess at his residence for a year, his life would continue exactly as before marriage.

But his wedding wasn’t just a simple ceremony.

Many people connected to him were curious about the new duchess.

Not knowing she was only a temporary wife for one year.

Dominic folded his arms and watched Prince Sarmant board his carriage and depart.

“A couples’ party……”

Pretending to be an affectionate couple in front of people wasn’t particularly pleasant.

But as Sarmant said, few social venues were as beneficial for his business as parties.

If he couldn’t keep hiding her, introducing the duchess casually to curious people in this way wasn’t a bad idea.

Just then, Higgins entered after an urgent knock.

“Your Grace. A telegram has arrived!”

Higgins’s voice sounded more urgent than usual, prompting Dominic to quickly snatch it.

After reading it on the spot, Dominic said with a hardened expression:

“I need to return home immediately.”

* * *