I sighed and said, “I wanted it to be a modest party, but it feels like it’s getting further from that.”

Ian tried to comfort me. “It’ll be fine. Phillip is practically like a brother to me, and Sir Wayne is someone who always takes good care of his subordinates’ families. If there were no event like this, he’d probably go visit the Red Pub Mercenary group on his own.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, sometimes when someone dies, Sir Wayne has to deliver the news personally. He tries to meet them in advance and maintain good relations. So, no one at the party will make your friends uncomfortable.”

I see. Meeting in a good setting might not be so bad.

“And knights don’t usually attend parties unless the host is the head of the household. It’s awkward if the host turns out to be an enemy of their lord, and families don’t usually invite knights from other households either… It’s been a while since there’s been such an event, so they’re probably looking forward to it.”

I gave an awkward smile. Could it be that Sir Wayne is still unmarried because of me? Honestly, I might be competent enough as a deputy lord, but I’m lacking in many ways as the lady of the household. The biggest reason, of course, is that I don’t have any children, but the second is exactly this.

Other noble ladies throw parties based on their mood, hosting whenever they feel bored, but I only throw them when I have a proper reason, out of fear that Ian or my mother-in-law would disapprove or people would accuse me of being frivolous. And even when I did send out invitations, most people wouldn’t show up, leaving the venue feeling empty and making the whole thing seem like a pointless waste. Eventually, I almost gave up.

But what could I do? People thought Ian was infatuated with the Empress and assumed I must naturally hate Celia.

There aren’t many people who can openly show kindness to a woman who might one day pose a threat to the Empress. More experienced noblewomen avoided me for this reason. For a brief moment, I was admired by young ladies at the start of my marriage, but they later saw me as a leech clinging to the Keppel family for money. So how could I host parties all the time? Feeling frustrated, I gulped down water.

“Liv, are you alright? You don’t look well…”

“I’m fine.”

“Is it the pressure of hosting the party?”

“No.”

“Then why… Should I tell Sir Wayne and Phillip not to come?”

“I said it’s not that.”

I started to get annoyed but then sighed. The rumor that Ian loved Celia began when he tried to take in Prince Arthur.

Although Ian didn’t make a show of it, word got out as he went through the legal procedures. Stories began to circulate, getting exaggerated and spreading into exactly the kind of tale people love, and I believed it too.

It was a moving story: despite knowing Celia still loved Cade, Ian was still willing to protect her and even take in her child. That kind of selflessness could bring tears to anyone’s eyes. It’s no wonder people believed it. I don’t blame them. Even Celia believed it, and I had read the novel myself and believed it too. Damn it!

“I’m never reading a first-person narrative novel again.”

“What?”

“…Wait, wasn’t it written in third-person omniscient?”

“…”

“How strange. Why can’t I remember?”

I stared at Ian’s face for a long time. Back when I first debuted in society and followed Ian around, I would dream of the original novel every night after seeing his face.

The only reason I remember my past life is thanks to those dreams. In those dreams, I reread the book. It wasn’t even ten years ago, but now I can’t remember the narrative style. As I mumbled nonsense, Ian’s expression turned strange. Was he worried I’d gone mad? I couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

***

The next morning, as I was writing invitations, someone knocked on the bedroom door. It was Ian.

“Why?”

“I’m going to escort you today.”

“Aren’t you busy? I thought Phillip came by this morning.”

Ian approached casually and sat at my table.

“Phillip said he’d come along too.”

Ian began looking over the invitations I had written one by one.

“There aren’t many of them. If you’d told me yesterday, I would’ve come with you…”

His disappointed tone caught me off guard.

“I thought you were extremely busy? Do you really have time to follow me around?”

“I can adjust my schedule now that you’re handling the estate’s affairs. I’ve cleared all the meetings with the Keppel family retainers. And these are important people to you, so you’re delivering the invitations personally. If they’re important to you, they’re important to me too.”

Well, they’re not ‘that’ important… The remaining invitations were for Betty, Ellen, Sierra, and Sir Wayne. I paused from writing and cleaned my pen’s nib.

I had been considering sending invitations to some of my old friends, like Joyce and the others from before my marriage, but I decided against it. They might be a little disappointed for now, but if they came and found out it wasn’t a typical party, they might be let down. And if they didn’t mesh with my new friends, the atmosphere could get awkward.

Ian picked up one of the invitations I had been writing and asked, “Joyce Molly? She was one of the witnesses at our wedding, right? Aren’t you inviting her?”

“I plan to meet her separately.”

I avoided Ian’s gaze, hoping he wouldn’t press the issue, while I busied myself sealing the invitations and talked about the schedule.

“First, we’ll go to the workshop to give Ellen her invitation, and I’ll also discuss the new design we talked about yesterday. Since you’re coming along, it works out perfectly—you can get your measurements taken too. If Phillip’s coming, should we get him a suit as well?”

I asked casually, and Ian responded indifferently,

“Why? But the new design is only for me.”

“…Why?”

Why was he suddenly being possessive about the design? I looked at him curiously, and Ian furrowed his brows, thinking for a moment before answering.

“I don’t want to share the spotlight with Phillip.”

“What is that?”

I burst out laughing, and Ian followed suit. I wasn’t planning to ask Phillip to wear such a daring design anyway. I just felt bad for how hard he’d been working and thought I could at least make him an outfit. It feels a bit awkward to be spending the Keppel family’s money like water, especially with the divorce approaching, but since Ian hasn’t said anything, I guess it’s okay.

“Oh, right, the design. I sketched something last night. Jane, where did I put it?”

Jane brought me my drawing. I’m not great at drawing, so I felt embarrassed, but since Ian was the one who would be wearing it, I gathered my courage and handed it to him with a racing heart.

“It’s this design. What do you think?”

“It’s nice.”

“Really? Is it really okay?”

I asked anxiously. Ian let out an “ah” sound and made a serious face. So, he didn’t like it after all? I swallowed nervously.

“It looks really comfortable.”

“……”

“It’s much simpler than the usual formalwear, so it seems like it would be easier to move in. At the same time, it’s more form-fitting than a regular lounge suit, so it will look more stylish. And this tie… it’s not a bowtie, but it’s also not the usual cravat. It’s simple and neat.”

Ian gave the most earnest review he could and then looked at me with sparkling eyes, as if seeking approval for his response. I was a little taken aback.

“Oh… thanks for the detailed feedback.”

I had always heard older women say that men remain like boys even when they age. I never thought I’d find myself agreeing with that sentiment. Since my response was lukewarm, Ian seemed a little disappointed.

“Are you disappointed because I said it was simple?”

“No, no, it’s not that… Phillip taught you that, didn’t he? The answer you just gave? What on earth did he say to change you like this?”

Now that I thought about it, I was genuinely curious. Ian was the kind of person who probably wouldn’t notice even if his valet, John, dressed him in the same clothes every day.

“…Phillip said that if Liv asks about clothes or hair, I should respond with at least three positive sentences.”

“So you’re saying you only answered like that because Phillip told you to?”

“No, I genuinely liked it…”

“Alright. Thank you.”

I took the sketch back from a dejected Ian and carefully placed it in an envelope. After getting ready to go out, I headed downstairs to the lobby, where instead of Greta, Sir Wayne was waiting. As soon as he saw me, he greeted me with a knight’s salute, his right fist to his chest and a bow.

“Duchess, today I’ll be escorting you in place of Dame Greta.”

“Sir Wayne, it’s been a while. But… is Greta unwell?”

“Dame Greta is currently under house arrest.”

…What? I froze in shock. Sir Wayne also greeted Ian. When Ian said he would escort me, I quickly interrupted.

“Wait a moment, Sir Wayne. Since you’re here, please take this. It’s the invitation for the party two weeks from now. And, if it’s alright, could you tell me what Greta did wrong?”

“…Ahem.”

Sir Wayne suddenly started coughing. As his face grew redder, I began to worry that Greta had caused some major trouble. Sir Wayne cleared his throat and finally said with difficulty,

“I cannot tell you.”

Why? Why wouldn’t he tell me? As I grew more anxious, Ian intervened.

“Tell her. That’s an order.”

“…It concerns Dame Greta’s honor.”

Gasp. I took a sharp breath. Could it be that the unfortunate incident Jane and I discussed yesterday had already blown up? I was so worried that I clasped my hands together and tried to calm myself before speaking.

“Has something happened to Greta? Is she alright? I should go see her.”

Sir Wayne suddenly looked ten years older, his face pale, as he responded,

“Duchess, Dame Greta is the most alright person right now, so there’s no need to worry. But… yesterday’s incident…”

And then, unexpectedly, Sir Wayne’s eyes started to well up with tears. Oh no. I’ve been seeing far too many men cry lately. I flailed my hands in panic.

“Let’s talk in the carriage.”

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