“I…… is that so.”

“Of course.”

Cassian agreed from beside them.

“You’ll be a wonderful wife and mother.”

Raelia’s cheeks burned at his certain words.

‘You’re cool and handsome and you look at me with warmth when you say things like that. What am I supposed to do!’

Meeting a man with northern grand duke energy as her future husband in real life. She was lucky.

Cassian smiled and pulled Raelia into a firm embrace. His broad chest pressed against her and her heart felt like it might run away.

That was it for sleep tonight.

* * *

Raelia came home and smiled all through her bath. Cassian had held her close when he dropped her off.

“His chest was so broad.”

Cassian had originally intended to become a knight. Because of that, his build was better than most men’s. Raelia had always liked broad-shouldered men, and Cassian was exactly that. When she’d been held in his arms and felt that wide chest, the excitement had been almost overwhelming.

‘I’ve never felt this way even buying a limited-edition northern grand duke collectible.’

Raelia clenched her fist.

A husband this handsome who looked after his wife wasn’t something you found every day. He seemed cold but was warm underneath, and she had absolutely no intention of letting him go.

‘I should sort things out with Sara and Archan first, then marry into the family……’

To move into the grand ducal family and be recognized as grand duchess, she couldn’t carry on as before. She needed to show that she was on good terms with her family at the marquisate and maintaining those ties. The grand ducal family’s retainers wouldn’t welcome a lady who came with nothing behind her.

And Viloten Lateran was a family head with real influence in the military. Sara was the only daughter of the Marperun merchant guild master. Her brother was going to become both guild master and marquis. Why would she keep her distance from him?

If she handled the existing relationships well, they could all become her strength.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Cassian. She just didn’t want to come to him with nothing.

Raelia finished her bath and, relieved to be in a house without Juan, fell asleep almost immediately.

* * *

Archan opened the door with an awkward expression. His usual routine after lessons was to sit with his mother, chat, and review what he’d learned that day. But things had changed considerably lately.

“The rarer an artwork becomes, the more valuable it is. I collected quite a few during my girlhood, and they’re pieces you simply can’t find anymore.”

“And you’d show those precious things to me as well?”

“Showing them isn’t difficult.”

The sight of Sara and Raelia drinking tea together warmly was something he still couldn’t get used to, no matter how many times he saw it.

“Archan, you’re here?”

“Archan, you’re here.”

Raelia and Sara turned to look at Archan and greeted him. He bowed to both of them and naturally took a seat.

“The Darhan banquet is tomorrow. Are you ready?”

Raelia poured Archan’s tea and asked naturally. Archan accepted the cup and nodded.

“I prepared sweets for the comital family as a gift, like you suggested, and I’ll wear the outfit you and Mother picked out.”

Sara knew Archan’s tastes well, so the clothes she’d chosen suited him perfectly.

“That amount is just right for a gift, not too much. Those sweets pair well with the tea Lady Darhan usually enjoys. It’s a safe choice.”

Raelia had received invitations many times but this was actually her first time attending a banquet. Still, she was putting the information she’d gathered by asking Cassian to good use.

“Thank you for the advice.”

Raelia shook her head.

“It was His Grace who told me. Thank him later.”

She waved it off.

The atmosphere was warm. Archan drank his tea and talked about what he’d learned that day.

“I learned how to draft a budget. He said that to govern a territory, you need to be able to plan and analyze the annual budget well.”

Raelia had learned about budgeting at Archan’s age too. She’d never drafted one herself, but still.

“What did your teacher say about it?”

Archan organized his thoughts at Sara’s question and answered.

“He said you have to define the budget categories and allocate funds according to their nature. And that you have to clearly distinguish between fixed income and fixed expenditure.”

Raelia added a thought.

“It helps to organize fixed expenses on an annual basis too. You’ll learn that eventually.”

Sara and Archan both looked at Raelia at her sudden advice.

“You remember that?”

Sara asked, sounding surprised. The original Raelia had shut herself in her room, but she hadn’t been a poor student. She’d reviewed and understood what she’d learned. And from her previous life’s memories, she at least knew how to keep household accounts.

“Of course. It’s basic knowledge, and not knowing it would be embarrassing! I’m about to marry into a grand ducal family. Imagine a grand duchess who can’t even draft a budget. How ridiculous would that be.”

Raelia was right, so Sara and Archan said nothing, but a strange unease settled over both of them. Raelia noticed the slight tension as she sipped her tea and smiled quietly.

Even if their relationship had improved, she couldn’t expect their wariness to disappear entirely.

People could change in unexpected ways, even when she had no ill intentions.

“Let’s walk in tomorrow with smiles on our faces.”

Raelia said it to Archan. He snapped to attention and nodded.

“Of course, sister.”

“I told you, didn’t I? The closer we seem, the more favorably people will look at you. We need to spark their imagination when we get there.”

“Absolutely.”

“It’ll feel awkward since I’ve changed so suddenly, but think of it as something better for both of us. Alright?”

Raelia’s gentle explanation eased Sara’s lingering unease. Sara looked at her and let out a breath.

“Here we are bristling at each other when you have no bad intentions at all. I’m sorry.”

Raelia shrugged and smiled at Sara’s apology.

“It’s fine. I’d probably feel the same way. Change takes time to get used to.”

Sara and Archan looked at her with soft eyes at her warm words.

* * *

The next day, Raelia and Archan climbed into the carriage with their gifts. They were heading to the Darhan comital residence.

Raelia wore a light green dress with a blue ribbon hair ornament, and Archan was in a white suit with a matching blue ribbon accent.

Even from a distance, anyone could tell at a glance they were siblings.

“Archan, we’re not close yet, but we will be.”

“I understand what you mean, sister. You’re saying I should trust you and lean on you going forward.”

“Exactly!”

Awkwardness was fine. She just didn’t want them to keep looking through each other the way they used to.

Archan had understood exactly what she meant, and she felt relieved.

When Juan eventually came back, she’d need people in her corner. Her own influence within the household wasn’t strong enough on its own.

‘Either way, I just hope today’s banquet is fun.’

Raelia held out her hand to Archan, her heart light.

“Let’s go.”

The Darhan comital residence came into view in the distance. The red-brick building caught the sunlight and gleamed. It had been newly built in a recently fashionable style, and it stood out immediately.

Carriages were lined up waiting at the front gate. The Lateran marquisate’s carriage joined the queue.

* * *

People were curious when word spread that Raelia and Archan were coming together.

Sara Lorentz.

Born the only daughter of a merchant guild master, she’d become the mistress of a marquisate. Being a commoner, combined with rumors of a poor relationship with Raelia, had given her a rather unfavorable reputation.

Because of that, people had been reluctant to associate with her son Archan too.

But recently, word had gotten around that Raelia and Sara were on good terms, and that Raelia was bringing Archan to a banquet with her. Society was paying attention, especially since Raelia was already at the center of conversation for her engagement to the grand duke.

What would Raelia and Archan look like when they arrived? Everyone had come early on purpose just to see.

Eleman wore her brown hair loose and a charming dress. Young as she was, she was greeting guests with impressive composure.

There were a great many guests. The count and countess were also present and busy welcoming everyone.

The doors opened and a servant’s clear voice rang out.

“Miss Raelia Lorentz and Mr. Archan Lorentz have arrived.”

The subjects of all the rumors had finally appeared.

Every eye in the room turned toward them as they entered.

Both Archan and Raelia were striking enough to command the room. They walked in side by side, gifts in hand, looking entirely at ease with each other. The way they glanced at one another seemed genuinely warm.

People began to reconsider. Perhaps Raelia’s absence from society had nothing to do with Sara after all.

“Thank you for the invitation.”

Raelia bowed politely. Archan greeted Eleman, the banquet’s host, alongside her.

“It’s lovely to meet you.”

Eleman looked at the two of them with undisguised curiosity.

Her gaze lingered on Archan for quite a while. Half-commoner or not, at a glance Archan looked like any ordinary young nobleman.