I was a little worried that Ian might be upset, but it turned out to be an unnecessary concern. He was just rushing because he didn’t want to be late for our restaurant reservation. It was a famous place I had wanted to visit, but I had no idea they had private rooms like this. After finishing our meal comfortably and waiting for dessert, Ian handed me a long box.

“What is this?”

“A gift.”

What could possibly be in such a long box? A cane? A baton? I thought it was quite random as I opened the box. And inside was…

“This is…”

A very long pipe. I looked at Ian in surprise.

“It’s rather unique, isn’t it? It’s a long pipe used by the wizards of Laran to smoke roscari. I figured it was better to get something specifically suited for the purpose, so it took a bit of time.”

Shocked, I quickly closed the box. Then, realizing we were alone, I cautiously opened it again. This… was like something out of a fairy tale. Not a short and thick pipe like the ones you usually see, but a long pipe, the kind a teacher might have used as a cane in the historical era. Upon closer inspection, I noticed the delicate craftsmanship. It must have been quite expensive.

“I can’t believe you actually got this.”

“Didn’t you want one?”

Of course, I did. Heart medication might strain my heart, but roscari, which calms magical energy, is essential for my survival.

Even after the divorce, I couldn’t afford to burn such a rare luxury item, which was imported entirely from Laran, in an incense burner all the time. Plus, incense burners aren’t portable. Learning to smoke it from a pipe seemed like a useful skill for emergencies. But I hadn’t expected to receive this as a gift from Ian, of all people.

“Yes, I needed it. Thank you.”

At my words, Ian beamed, as if he were the one receiving a gift.

“Come to think of it, this is the first time I’ve ever given you a present. That’s why I wanted to give it to you personally.”

“…Your first gift isn’t exactly ordinary.”

I laughed out loud, both in disbelief and amusement. Ian must be the only husband in the world to give his wife something like this. Seeing me laugh, Ian seemed pleased and started explaining how the pipe worked.

“You put the roscari leaves in here, and if you turn this part…”

I was startled. As Ian twisted the stem of the pipe, there was a clicking sound, and a flame ignited.

“It’s enchanted to light up on its own.”

“Wow, that’s amazing.”

I clapped in delight. In a world without lighters, this level of convenience was quite impressive. Ian looked proud and happy as I showed my excitement. Taking the pipe from him, I said,

“But I don’t know how to smoke. So what do I do now?”

Ian’s happy expression instantly started to crack. Not knowing what was wrong, I stared at him blankly. After a moment of hesitation, Ian spoke.

“…Actually, I’ve never smoked before.”

“Huh? Really?”

I was surprised. I had thought men smoked cigars at clubs as part of their socializing. I had even seen my father personally teaching Benjamin to smoke when he was just fourteen. I had found it jarring to see him teach such a young boy to smoke, but I accepted it as a necessary part of this world’s customs. But Ian not knowing how to smoke? That didn’t seem right.

“I never learned how…”

…I see. Maybe his father never taught him. I felt a bit awkward, like I had unintentionally touched on something sensitive. Trying to lighten the mood, I forced a bright smile and said,

“Well, it’s not exactly a great thing anyway. A lot of women don’t like men who smoke. I didn’t want this because I wanted to smoke, but because carrying an incense burner around is inconvenient. I just thought this would be useful when I’m out.”

I placed the pipe on an empty plate. The flame quickly went out, but smoke still lingered. After a moment of serious thought, Ian said,

“It does seem necessary. I’ll learn how to smoke from Phillip and teach you.”

“Huh? No, it’s okay. I can just ask Benjamin later…”

“No, I’ll teach you.”

Ian said this urgently. I was taken aback.

“For portability, a shorter pipe might be more practical. You can use this one to practice at home, and I’ll find a new one. I’ll also look into whether the roscari can be pre-compressed to save time in emergencies.”

“You’re busy, Ian. You don’t have to go out of your way to learn for my sake. After the divorce, I’ll have plenty of time to learn at my own pace. And if you didn’t learn before, there’s probably a reason for that.”

Ian fell silent at my words, and I felt like I had made another mistake. I kept feeling like I was hitting a nerve. But soon, Ian sighed and said,

“It was just a matter of pride.”

“…”

“I didn’t want to have to go along with people just to fit in. And if anyone looked down on me for it… I’d shut them up my own way.”

Ian said this self-deprecatingly.

“Isn’t it childish? I don’t think like that anymore. Now I understand how hard and difficult it is to try to fit in with others, even if it’s easier to ignore them. I’ve realized that changing the world with my own way is almost impossible. And also…”

He smiled again, this time brightly and without any shadows.

“Because it’s for you, Liv.”

I had been trying to think of something to say to comfort him, but his words left me frozen, unable to respond. Silence fell between us once more. I watched as Ian’s smile awkwardly faded and he nervously bit his lip. I felt like I should say something to ease the tension, but I couldn’t figure out what to say. In the end, Ian spoke first.

“I didn’t mean to make you feel pressured… I just…”

“I know.”

I answered quickly. When I awkwardly smiled, Ian smiled back. Another silence followed. This is driving me crazy. I racked my brain for something to say and finally managed to ask,

“What time is it? We’re not late, are we?”

“We’re fine. We could still stay for dessert…”

“They’ll probably serve refreshments at the meeting anyway, so should we skip dessert and just go?”

I suggested it, thinking moving would help ease the tension. But to my surprise, Ian hesitated and said,

“It’s the ice cream you said you wanted to try…”

Ah, well, in that case, we’re definitely staying. I sat back down properly, abandoning my urge to leave.

***

“I’m Theodore Wilson.”

I smiled and extended my hand for a handshake. Theodore, a gentle-looking man with thick-rimmed glasses, shyly took my hand. He then tried to shake hands with Ian, but Ian, distracted and looking elsewhere, left Theodore awkwardly lowering his hand. I pulled on Ian’s sleeve, but he remained oblivious, glancing around as he said,

“I don’t think this room is soundproof at all.”

Theodore, embarrassed, cleared his throat and awkwardly laughed. Of course, the room wasn’t soundproof! What do you expect from an old office? I smiled apologetically at Theodore, who, thankfully, seemed to understand and nodded in reassurance.

“Well… the Count of Hershey mentioned me to you, but I’m curious to know why you wanted to see me…”

“Oh, so you weren’t told the reason?”

“No, I thought it might involve client confidentiality, so I asked to hear the details directly from you.”

Theodore’s demeanor had changed as soon as we began discussing business. His earlier shyness was gone, replaced by a serious and focused expression.

Since Benjamin’s letter had already informed me about Theodore’s background and character, I calmly explained the situation about Ellen. Theodore, who had initially been tense due to meeting a Duke and Duchess in person, gradually relaxed as I shared that I was only looking for a guardian for a maid. Seeing him visibly at ease, I smiled.

“I’m looking for someone to establish a law firm.”

“…Excuse me?”

Theodore put down his teacup, coughing in surprise.

“Sorry—cough—sorry, what did you just say?”

Did he not understand? I calmly explained again from the beginning.

“I need a law firm. Ellen will inherit her mother’s business, but since she’s unmarried, she’ll need a legal guardian. The lawyer acting as her guardian could be mistaken for a lover or suitor, so I’d like a law firm to take responsibility under its name.”

“A… law firm? You want me to establish a law firm?”

I nodded, smiling.

“Duchess, I’m not sure if you’re aware, but founding a company requires capital. And if it’s as you say, I’d need more staff, but who would work under someone as inexperienced as me?”

“There’s no need to worry about capital. The Keppel family will invest. Besides, I’ve heard there are plenty of lawyers struggling to find work.”

Theodore scratched the back of his head, looking a bit flustered.

“That may be true, but even with the Keppel family’s investment, the firm still needs to operate. It’ll require a steady stream of clients. But who would entrust their cases to a firm created solely to guarantee a woman’s reputation? You’d be better off finding an experienced, well-known lawyer instead of someone like me…”

“Oh, there’s no need to worry about that either. You’ll become famous soon enough.”

“Pardon?”

I smiled brightly.

“You’re going to handle the Keppel Duke and Duchess’s divorce case. You’ll be famous in no time.”

Theodore froze, looking as if his brain had short-circuited. I understood how he must be feeling, so I wanted to give him time to process it. But Ian wasn’t as patient. Glancing at his wristwatch, he said,

“We don’t have much time, so let’s wrap this up quickly.”

Startled, Theodore hurriedly stammered,

“I-I’m sorry. I was just so shocked. You mean… a divorce?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

Is this guy really up to the task?

TL NOTE: Visit and bookmark the story at dusk blossoms for more advanced chapters and updates of its latest release.