Chapter 3.4

The moment Solnia returned from the Trovill Ducal Mansion, she locked herself in the couple’s bedroom.  

On the heavy table lay various magazines and newspapers published for the upcoming season.  

After hours of reading through every single one, Solnia finally leaned her head back. Her dry hands rubbed over her face.  

After reading all the magazines and newspapers, she had a general grasp of the situation.  

‘I was too complacent.’

Solnia brushed back her tousled brown hair.  

The suspicions toward the couple had already grown far too large. It was undoubtedly her grandmother’s doing.  

「The Hidden Side of a Beautiful Couple!」  

Her gray eyes locked onto the bold headline of a certain newspaper.  

It wasn’t entirely strange for newlyweds to retreat to their estate without making an appearance in society, but it wasn’t common either.  

Such cases usually involved unspeakable issues in the marriage. Perhaps the couple had entered into a political marriage against their wishes, to the point where they didn’t even want to maintain formal appearances. Or perhaps the wife was already with child.  

The Earl and Countess of Melfir were no exception to these suspicions.  

Furthermore, rumors began to spread that even the love story, which had once captivated people across all classes, was fabricated.  

Particularly, Luette Trovill’s colorful history of scandalous affairs, which had followed him wherever he went, only fueled the rumors.  

They said he had a mistress, that the mistress was already carrying the heir to the Trovill Ducal Household, and that he had fled to Melfir in a hurry. Some claimed that Luette Trovill had targeted the granddaughter of a wealthy family to secure his position as heir.  

Wild and sordid suspicions and speculations ran rampant, enticing anyone to take a closer look.  

「The perfect couple, who were celebrated by society just months ago, are said to be heading for a tragic end. According to a longtime acquaintance, the Countess’s mental illness has resurfaced, tearing apart the couple’s relationship.」  

As Solnia glanced over the article she had already read in detail, she found herself biting her lip.  

‘I can’t believe they actually published this nonsense.’  

The so-called mental illness attributed to Solnia was merely an excuse fabricated by Dowager Heston to confine her within the mansion.  

In truth, it didn’t matter much. She didn’t care if people thought of her as mentally ill or as a lady barely surviving under her grandmother’s protection.  

At least, not until this marriage.  

「Even so, it is said that the Earl is enduring it for the sake of the inheritance left to the Countess. However, it is doubtful that the arrogant man’s patience will last much longer.」  

After reading the latter part of the article, Solnia fell silent for a moment.  

She had never once considered the possibility that Luette Trovill might see her as mentally ill.  

Some might have taken the noble Dowager Heston’s words as gospel, believing every single one of them.  

But not Luette Trovill.  

At the very least, she could say he was more her person than her grandmother’s. If she had to choose, that is.  

But could he also have seen her that way?  

Could Luette Trovill have thought of me as…  

“Madam, may I come in?”  

A short knock was followed by Angie’s voice. Solnia, gathering up the scattered papers, responded that she could enter.  

“I just wanted to let you know that it’s almost time for dinner. Shall I prepare the evening meal?”  

When Solnia glanced at the clock, it was already past 5 p.m.  

She asked, 

“What about my husband? Is he not back yet?”  

“No, Madame. It seems he’ll be a bit late.”  

Luette Trovill, who had left the Ducal Mansion with her, had taken another carriage and left, claiming he had business to attend to. That had been five hours ago.  

“Aren’t you hungry? Would you like to eat first?”  

After a moment of thought, Solnia shook her head.  

“No. I’ll eat with him later. Could you warm me a glass of milk instead?”  

“Shall I add some cinnamon powder to it?”  

“Yes.”  

Angie, who had come to know her Madam’s preferences perfectly, smiled brightly and left.  

Solnia stared at the quietly closing door before turning her gaze to the thick stack of newspapers she had set aside.  

It didn’t matter how Luette Trovill saw her.  

What mattered was tomorrow’s party.  

The party, which would host dozens of people, meant there would be dozens of eyes watching them.  

Appearing as the perfect couple in front of them—that was all that mattered.  

***

Luette Trovill returned home well past 10 p.m. Though spring had arrived, the days were still short, and darkness had long since fallen.  

There were many places seeking the heir of the Ducal Household, who had returned to the capital after a long time. His father’s club, his friends, and even the Crown Prince, with whom he had to have tea.  

For a couple who had been married for nearly a year, everyone seemed overly curious. Everywhere he went, the same questions were repeated.  

If he could, Luette wanted to carry a sign that read, ‘My married life is prosperous and peaceful, my wife is well, and we plan to have an heir in due time.’  

Having consumed nothing but air and tea, his stomach already felt unsettled.  

As he entered the townhouse, the butler approached to take his coat.  

“You seem tired. Are you all right, Your Grace?”  

“It can’t be helped.”  

“I’ll have dinner prepared immediately. Would you like a bath first?”  

Luette shook his head.  

“No dinner. Just the bath.”  

“Understood. I’ll have it prepared.”  

As he nodded and began heading to the study, he suddenly stopped and said,  

“Prepare it in the guest bathroom next to the study.”  

“The guest bathroom, Your Grace?”  

“My wife might be bathing. I don’t want to disturb her.”  

The butler tilted his head in confusion, but Luette smiled brightly, like a husband who truly didn’t want to bother his wife.  

Of course, he couldn’t keep deceiving the servants with such clumsy lies forever, but it didn’t matter. He just needed to hold out for one more day.  

Despite his exhaustion, his steps were leisurely as he headed to the study.  

Opening the door absentmindedly, Luette froze in place.  

“What the…?”  

He stepped back to confirm he had entered the right room.  

Inside the study sat Solnia.  

Dressed in modest indoor attire, she was seated in an unusually polite posture.  

“You’re late.”  

Her tone wasn’t reproachful or scolding, but it was unsettling enough. It felt as though she had been waiting for his return.  

Luette closed the door and asked,  

“What is this about?”  

“Have a seat.”  

The way she invited him to sit in his own study without permission was reminiscent of the past.  

‘Get out, Luette Trovill. You’re in the way.’ 

The fleeting memory brought a wry smile to his lips. Luette, following his wife’s orders, deliberately sat across from her.  

“What is this about?”  

When he asked again, Solnia took a sip of tea before lifting her head. Her gray eyes, set against her pale face, stood out more than usual today.  

Perhaps it was because he had spent the entire day meeting grim-faced men. Luette rubbed his temples.  

“Tomorrow is the party.”  

“I’m aware.”  

“Good. I was worried you’d forgotten.”  

Was she blaming me for not showing my face all day? It’s amusing. Since when had we ever been the type to seek each other out?  

“What is it now? What’s bothering you this time?”  

Luette thought to himself that something must have upset her.  

His wife, who was notoriously sensitive and particular, never let anything slide.  

But contrary to his expectations, Solnia shook her head calmly.  

“I came here simply to discuss what we need to do tomorrow.”  

“You barged into my study to do that?”  

“Yes. I was worried that we might end up arguing like this tomorrow, so I waited here in your study, uninvited.”

Solnia was truly skilled at quoting others’ words verbatim. It was no wonder, as she was the granddaughter of Dowager Heston, who was known for paying back any slight in full measure. 

She placed a newspaper she had been holding beside her thigh onto the table. On the front page was an article about the grand celebration of Dowager Heston’s seventieth birthday.

“Do you know how many people have been invited to Grandmother’s party tomorrow?” 

“I don’t.” 

“One hundred and seven.”

Luette, who had thought the number would be around fifty, scanned the article with a stunned expression. The article was filled with excitement over the number of guests invited to Dowager Heston’s birthday party, most of whom were high-ranking nobles of the kingdom and various famous figures.

“I trust you’re not suggesting that we greet all one hundred and seven guests individually.”

Luette said, incredulous.

“There’s no need to greet everyone individually. We only need to show them one thing.”

Luette, who had been skimming the newspaper, tilted his head and looked at Solnia. She wore the expression of a soldier preparing to charge into enemy territory.

“Everyone knows us as a couple so madly in love that we can’t bear to be apart for even a moment, which is why we rushed into marriage. That’s the image we need to show them tomorrow.” 

Solnia declared.

Her seriousness made Luette lean his chin on his hand slowly.

“Do we really need such an elaborate performance just to attend a birthday party?”

“……”

“It’s just one day.”

Solnia bit her lip. Perhaps he was right. Maybe if they just stayed close, smiled appropriately, and exchanged glances, no one would suspect them. 

But this wasn’t just any birthday party. Moreover…

“As you know, the situation isn’t exactly favorable.”