Summer was approaching, and with the change of seasons, many other things changed as well. One of the biggest changes was that I had my own fans now.

“Another stack today, huh?”

Every morning, it had become a ritual for the postman to deliver fan letters while Jane prepared me, and Joyce read them aloud. The fan letters came from a wide range of places—from the poorest neighborhoods to high society—and the senders varied as well. Sometimes, I was addressed as “Red Lips,” other times as “Duchess.” Among the many letters I received, Joyce found Lady Avery’s letters the most amusing.

“Pfft, Lady Avery says she wants to catch Princess Ophelia in a dramatic swoon like you did, but she’s ended up fainting twenty times herself.”

How interesting. Lady Avery claimed that, recently, ladies had been fainting all over society—because of me, apparently. She said my graceful fainting and the way Ian caught me so dashing had sparked this bizarre trend. Society is always full of strange things.

“Oh, this one’s not a fan letter. It’s from the bishop. He says the cathedral’s dedication ceremony has to be postponed again.”

Again? Originally, the ceremony was scheduled before my divorce, but it was postponed. Ian had mentioned that the cathedral was already complete but was being delayed due to issues within the Holy Office.

Something about a priest not yet being appointed. Just thinking about attending the dedication after the divorce was already awkward. I fleetingly suspected that the church might be trying to delay the ceremony to avoid my divorce becoming an issue, but I quickly brushed it off. Surely, my divorce wouldn’t be important enough for them to do that.

“Oh, here’s one from the Empress’ lady-in-waiting! But it seems like Her Majesty wrote it herself. She thanks you for attending Prince Benedict’s baptism. Oh! She mentioned me too! She says to come with you next time. Can we go? You’ll take me, right?”

“Joyce, calm down.”

I worried that Joy’s excitement might startle the baby. When I’d brought her to Prince Benedict’s baptism, perhaps to keep her from feeling bored at home, it seemed she’d made quite an impression.

“You really like the palace, huh?”

“Of course! It’s so magnificent; it just inspires me. Could I come along today too?”

“Today’s event might be a bit much for you.”

Today was Greta’s title conferment ceremony, a full-on formal event. It had been quite a while since I had to get fully dressed up from head to toe. I double-checked my attire. I had gained some weight recently, moving away from the very thin look. It was essential not to appear too frail, as people were less on edge around me when I didn’t look like I might break at a touch.

Especially Ian, who seemed proud lately of how he’d been fattening me up. Every day he brought home some treat, which always reminded me of my father. Once, I mentioned this honestly to him, and he’d surprised me with his response.

“If your father were still alive, I’m sure I’d have learned a lot from him.”

“If my father were alive, there’s little chance I’d be married to you.”

After saying that, Ian had faltered, and I regretted my blunt words. This troublesome mouth of mine, always telling the truth.

“By the way, Liv, I have a favor to ask… I want to write a novel with Dame Greta as the protagonist.”

“Why tell me?”

“Because I think she might say no. But if you ask her, she might give permission.”

“Well, Greta would actually appreciate it more if you ask her yourself.”

Joyce’s talent was surprising. Her imagination always flowed in a positive direction, which happened to align perfectly with what her readers wanted. She’d already published a short story featuring Little Molly and the Crown Prince and was planning her next work.

“Try bringing it up after the title ceremony today, maybe when she’s in a good mood.”

Greta had passed all the exams. Despite her constant complaints that she’d fail, it turned out she was a genius all along.

Ian told me that, in truth, Greta was already famous on the battlefield; Red Pub’s mercenaries had participated in nearly every major conflict, and because of her rarity as a female knight, there were few who didn’t know her. Though I felt a bit tricked, I was still thrilled. After getting ready, I soon heard a knock. It was Ian.

“Liv, are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“You look beautiful today.”

Ian… Ian had been calling me beautiful almost daily since that first time, as if the hardest thing was saying it once. Honestly, I always felt like ‘beautiful’ was too fancy a word for me. It seemed like a word better suited to him. Hearing it, especially today when I’d dressed up more than usual, felt odd. Hesitantly, I asked him.

“Could you just say I look pretty instead?”

“You’re pretty.”

Ugh. That was just as bad for my heart. Joy grumbled behind me.

“Oh, come on, My Lord. Why keep teasing our Liv like that when you’re getting divorced soon?”

“Joyce?!”

It wasn’t Ian but I who was taken aback by Joyce’s remark. She must be out of her mind.

“It’s just that… if you’d done all this back at the start of the marriage, she would have moved heaven and earth for you.”

“Can you please be quiet?”

Joyce dutifully fell silent, but her quietness left a heavy awkwardness in the air, making me feel painfully uncomfortable. Ian smiled, looking somewhat exasperated. I’d asked him to stop apologizing for everything, so now he just gave me that look.

“Shall we?”

Thankfully, Ian offered his arm, and I took it, beginning to walk alongside him. Arriving at the palace, Ian whispered, recalling last year’s title conferment ceremony.

“You won’t disappear on me today, will you?”

I replied as a joke.

“Well, if you’re that worried, why don’t you just keep holding on to me?”

Ian looked genuinely pleased with my answer, though I hadn’t meant anything serious by it…

There were quite a few nobles attending the title-bestowal ceremony. Most, like us, were there to witness knights from their own families being appointed, and this year’s attendance seemed even larger than last year’s. The fact that so many new knights were being titled implied, in a way, that many had perished in the past year.

Most of them had died in guerrilla warfare with the wizards, which was why the royal knights receiving titles today were not greeted with warm gazes. Amid this tense atmosphere, I was startled to spot Isabella standing tall in an elaborate dress. While other mages had chosen discreet black formal robes to avoid attention, Isabella alone was dressed as though she were headed to a ball.

“Ian, that dress…”

It was the same dress she had worn when she accompanied Ian to the ball. I could hear the whispers among the nobles starting.

Some who remembered the scandal involving Ian muttered that she was treating the title-bestowal ceremony like a stage play and had shamelessly shown up wearing a dress the Duke of Keppel had gifted her. Although the comments weren’t directed at me, I found myself uncomfortable and took a deep breath. Ian’s warm hand covering mine brought me back to the moment, and he whispered.

“Cade told her to wear it.”

“Oh, well then…”

The ceremony proceeded in order of rank, and Isabella was the first among the knights. As she walked down the red carpet in her extravagant dress, the murmurs grew louder. But just as she reached the emperor, Cade raised his hand, and the hall fell silent. In an imposing voice, Cade began his speech.

“Isabella Anne Marcus, my loyal and secret servant…”

Oh my. As Cade’s speech began, I bit my lip to hold back a laugh, then realized others were watching me and hid my face with my fan.

It was clear that Cade had deliberately made her wear such an eye-catching dress to commend her for her past deeds while simultaneously presenting her as an imperial spy who had served the crown. He also skillfully highlighted her status as Lord Oran of Light’s apprentice, and I could almost hear the men who had tried to court her holding their breath. I whispered to Ian.

“His Majesty has a remarkable talent for handling people, doesn’t he?”

“He certainly does.”

“I would never have expected him to recycle the same dress for such an occasion. Even the noble ladies have to rack their brains to rewear a gown twice.”

“Cade has a knack for managing his household.”

Was that supposed to be a joke? Why did he say it so earnestly? Unsure if I should laugh, I missed my timing and let it go. I then relaxed, waiting for Greta’s turn. She was up next, following the royal knight order. I had been worried, but Isabella had caused such a stir that Greta’s debut as the first female common knight passed with surprisingly little reaction.

After the ceremony ended, I went out to the palace gardens to wait for Greta. Unexpectedly, I heard someone call out.

“Duchess!”

It was Isabella. Gathering her dress in her hands, she ran toward me with a bright expression. I was taken aback.

“You came to congratulate me, didn’t you?”

“Oh…”

“This means so much to me!”

“Congratulations, Isabella.”

Her cheeks flushed, and I fanned myself lightly, aware of the attention now focused on us. Thankfully, it wasn’t suffocating like before, and I could bear it without too much discomfort. Greta, who joined us shortly after, gave Isabella a pointed look.

“Shouldn’t you be over there?”

Greta gestured toward Benjamin, who was attending to the newly appointed royal mage knights. Isabella glanced in that direction, then replied brusquely.

“He’ll come over here anyway.”

Sure enough, Benjamin soon approached with the rest of the group in tow. I flinched under the gazes of the mages, who were now looking at me with admiration and reverence. Why…why were they staring at me? Benjamin spoke up.

“They wanted to introduce themselves to you.”

Among the group, the deputy and chief aide—whom I recognized from my mother and mother-in-law’s attendance at my party—greeted me first. Whatever they had told the others seemed to have sparked something, as the mages all began chiming in.

“Duchess, may I be invited to your party as well?”

“Yes, me too!”

“Please, count me in too!”

“Our captain has no plans to marry, so we have no one to debut us into society!”

The mention of no plans to marry startled me, and I looked to Benjamin, who avoided my gaze. But before I could question him further, the mages’ insistent requests diverted my attention back to them.