“Your Grace, a reply has arrived.”

Alex looked approvingly at the messenger who had traveled to and from the Zeroden estate in just one day.

Of course, judging by how he was trembling with his head pressed against the floor, it was likely because he found Alex terrifying. But regardless, Alex was pleased.

He instructed Lowen to reward the messenger for his efforts before taking the letter himself.

Loosening a couple of cuff buttons, Alex moved toward the table by the window. He intended to read his wife’s reply and then retire early for the night.

However, when he noticed the cigars on the table, his handsome brows furrowed.

“Lowen, get rid of the cigars.”

“Oh, my apologies. I forgot.”

Though he had deliberately avoided them because his wife and daughter disliked them, the nobles incessantly urged him to drink and smoke. Some even encouraged him to gamble.

They insisted that those three things were essential refinements for a gentleman, claiming that engaging in them was the only way to form close bonds.

Having grown up as a commoner, Alex neither understood nor cared to understand their reasoning. Rather, he found it repulsive.

The one time he had visited a so-called gentlemen’s club, the place had been thick with cigar smoke, and the air had been filled with the coquettish laughter of half-dressed women.

The Marquis of Helton, the man who had deceitfully dragged him there, already had one official mistress, two concubines, and three lovers, yet still took another woman into a private room and locked the door.

As the unpleasant memory resurfaced, Alex pressed his fingers against his temple in irritation.

“Your Grace, here is some wine. A glass should help you sleep better, so I prepared it.”

“Alright.”

Sitting at the newly set table, Alex sliced open the letter with a cutting knife. The round, gentle handwriting brought a natural smile to his face.

“…Ha.”

But in the end, he sighed.

—My dear Alex.

A clear voice echoed in his ears. Slowly, Alex lifted his wine glass.

His wife was truly beautiful.

Her eyes shimmered like amethysts submerged in seawater, and her cascading hair was a warm shade of brown.

If he could, he would grasp her hair and kiss it, making those brilliant eyes focus solely on him.

Her graceful movements were softer than a spring breeze, making him want to hold her within his arms, and her gentle voice was so sweet that he wanted to swallow it whole.

Thinking that all of those things belonged to him made his chest tighten with overwhelming emotion.

And yet, at the same time, that very thought tormented him.

Until now, those beautiful eyes had only sparkled when looking at their daughter, and those warm hands had only moved for their daughter’s sake.

That sweet, tender voice had been reserved solely for their daughter.

It was not jealousy. Absolutely not.

But Alex couldn’t help but wonder—would there ever come a day when all those things were directed at him instead of their daughter?

They had spent so much time together…

And yet, while Elicity might legally belong to him, she was never truly his emotionally.

Before her, he always felt small and insignificant.

He felt the same way before their daughter.

Isabella was the spitting image of him.

Her jet-black hair, as beautiful as the night sky, and the sharp, upturned eyes that gleamed like rubies—she would likely grow to resemble him even more as time passed.

Yet, no matter how much she looked like him, in the future, Isabella would live a life completely opposite to his.

“…”

Alex instinctively placed his hand over his ring. As he ran his fingers over it, he felt the rough engraving beneath his touch.

It was the emblem of a jaguar, the symbol of the House of Zeroden.

As the strongest noble house in Madonia, he should have felt pride every time he touched the ring.

And yet, all he felt was a heavy weight in his chest.

He did not want his beloved daughter to ever know what he had done to obtain this ring.

One day, Isabella would grow into a rational and calculating woman. She would carefully weigh her gains and losses, and she would always achieve what she desired.

At the same time, she would have a strong moral compass, able to distinguish between good and evil. She would be kind to the weak and unyielding before the strong—a queen of Salita so great that the people would sing her praises for generations.

That was the kind of upright daughter she would become.

And Alex was certain that such a daughter would one day turn away from him.

His fingers once again traced the surface of the ring, slowly.

The weight on his hand felt as though it was constricting him, making him let out a short sigh.

***

The morning sun was warm and gentle.

“H-Hey. You there.”

Having sneaked out without Nurse noticing, claiming a stomachache, Bella cautiously approached the boy tending to the horses.

“What’s your name?”

“…”

As the boy’s mysterious silver-blue eyes stared intently at her, Bella suddenly started hiccupping.

‘C-Come on, I have to keep my dignity as a noble lady.’

Straightening her back, Bella placed her hands on her hips.

“I—I said, hic—I asked your name, hic—didn’t I, hic?”

“Perhaps… you should ask after stopping your hiccups first.”

The stable boy handed her a glass of water, seemingly having prepared it without her noticing.

Bella thought he had both a very gentle face and a kind personality as she took the water from him. Holding her nose, she took a few sips, and just like that, the hiccups stopped.

“…What’s your name?”

“Lucas, my Lady.”

His bright smile was dazzling. Feeling flustered for no reason, Bella scowled.

“Lucas? Don’t you know that’s a terrible name? Why don’t you change it?”

“I know. But a girl I love gave me this name, so I don’t want to change it.”

“Love!? You’re only twelve, and you’re already talking about love?”

“It’s possible. Have you never had a first love, Lady Zeroden?”

“…My father?”

For a moment, Lucas’s expression stiffened.

His face turned so dark that Bella instinctively took a step back.

“Why in the world would that old—no, why would His Grace be your first love? I know daughters tend to adore their fathers, but that’s absurd.”

“But my father is handsome…? There’s no one else handsome in our kingdom.”

“What about me?”

“H-Huh?”

“I’m also quite the beauty, you know. When I grow up, I’ll be completely your type.”

The boy named Lucas spoke excitedly. Bella, still too young to understand what he meant, widened her eyes in confusion.

“So, in conclusion, you think you’re handsome?”

“Of course. If I’m not handsome, then who is? When I reach His Grace’s age, I’ll be even more good-looking. Naturally, the young lords of high society right now all have incomplete faces.”

Though only ten years old, Bella was a noble lady who had learned proper etiquette.

The stable boy before her was a commoner, and she knew that it was a grave offense for a commoner to disparage nobles.

And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to scold him. She didn’t even want to. All she could do was laugh.

It wasn’t because the boy was handsome. Without realizing it, Bella asked,

“Lucas, have we met somewhere before?”

“…Oh.”

Lucas smiled.

“Well, why don’t you try to remember?”

***

Before returning to the past, Elicity had never learned how to prepare for a banquet at this age. Having grown up almost like a commoner, there had been no opportunity to learn.

So she had simply pieced together things she found extravagant, current noble trends, and long-standing traditions of the Zeroden family, trying her best to make do.

As a result, she had been ridiculed. “As expected of a fallen noble,” they sneered.

She couldn’t even refute them. Compared to the banquets hosted by other noblewomen, hers had been embarrassingly crude.

But now that she had returned, she couldn’t let that happen again.

Elicity devoted herself to preparing the victory banquet, working tirelessly through the night. And so, the day of the banquet slowly approached.

“Madam! The master has returned!”

Even if the butler hadn’t raised his voice, she would have known.

The powerful sound of horse hooves echoed over the walls of the ducal estate, reaching all the way to the study.

Elicity had just put Isabella to sleep and was about to rest herself when she suddenly sat up in surprise.

“What? It’s only been a week, and he’s already home?”

“Perhaps he missed home,” Olivia said with a smile.

“Madam, your gaze keeps drifting toward the front gate. Will you go out to greet him?”

It was only after Olivia spoke that Elicity realized she had been staring at the entrance of the mansion all along.

She had been unconsciously waiting for her husband. Feeling the heat rise to her cheeks, she pressed a hand against her face and muttered,

“…There will be knights, his aides, and the chamberlain with him. It would be bothersome for him if I went out.”

Olivia was quick-witted. She immediately saw through Elicity’s words and gently urged,

“Oh, Madam, have you not learned that it is a wife’s duty to welcome her husband home?”

“…Most of them are rough men. A lady in a dress would just get in the way. I don’t want to be a nuisance to him.”

“Oh, Madam. Who would ever think of a wife welcoming her husband as a nuisance? Please, don’t think that way. Go and greet the master properly.”

Elicity pressed her lips together and fiddled with the hem of her dress.

She was old enough to know that she could argue, but she chose not to.

The truth was, she wanted to go outside right this moment to welcome her husband.

But she hesitated. She was afraid of how he would react.

In the past, Alex had never once told her he loved her. His piercing red gaze had always been cold, as if warning her not to expect affection. Sometimes, it even seemed almost hostile.

Of course, after returning to the past, she had begun to suspect that she had misunderstood him.

Still, Elicity remained uncertain about Alex’s feelings.

“…”

As she stood silently by the window, lost in thought, a warm voice comforted her.

“Madam, follow your heart.”

She turned to find Olivia smiling gently at her.

“…Olivia.”

Elicity found her nanny frustrating. How could she understand her heart so well? It made it impossible to keep hiding her true feelings.

She looked out the window again. If she didn’t go out now, her husband would, as always, head straight to his study on his own.

If that happened, nothing would change from before her return.

Elicity clenched her fists.

“Then, Olivia, prepare something light to drink and a late-night snack. The knights and coachmen must be exhausted as well, so ask the chef to prepare something for them too.”