‘What do children like as gifts?’

Her first instinct had been to bring something. But this was a grand ducal family. What could Zenon possibly not already have? She’d thought it over and come up empty.

She’d written to Cassian saying she might arrive empty-handed because she couldn’t find the right gift. He’d written back that Zenon wasn’t the kind of child who expected things like that.

‘Still, it feels lacking.’

“Miss, you’re really getting married.”

“I have to.”

“It feels like just yesterday you never left the house!”

“Will you miss me?”

Seria shook her head at Raelia’s question.

“No. You deserve to live your own life, Miss. There’s no reason to keep living so timidly and gloomily.”

It seemed even Seria thought the current version of her was better.

‘That’s true.’

It was probably only possible because she was a different person from the Raelia of the past.

Raelia looked at her reflection in the mirror and smiled faintly.

“Don’t you like how you look today?”

She’d worn a pink dress and light makeup deliberately, to make a good impression on Cassian and Zenon. Anyone would see a sweet, lovely noble lady.

“No, I like it.”

Raelia shook her head and held out her hand to Seria. Seria placed a parasol neatly into it.

“Have a wonderful time with His Grace and the young lord!”

“Thank you.”

She’d be going for a walk at the grand ducal residence today, so she’d worn flat shoes and made sure to bring the parasol.

She opened the door and stepped into the corridor, where a servant was waiting for her.

‘That servant……’

One of the servants who’d been on friendly terms with Juan. He glanced around nervously, then stepped forward and held out a letter.

“Juan asked me urgently to deliver this to you yesterday.”

The letter was sealed with a spell that only she could open.

Raelia unfolded the paper and her expression went cold.

‘What is this man saying.’

[Even if you become a grand duke’s wife, I won’t abandon you, Miss.]

Who was abandoning whom here?

Raelia was speechless.

She found the lamp on the wall and burned the letter on the spot. Even holding it felt revolting.

‘What a foolish man.’

He still thought she was the same Raelia as before.

“And his intentions were never pure to begin with.”

He’d never truly loved Raelia. Not even close.

Juan’s attitude disgusted her.

She wanted to see Cassian as soon as possible and soothe herself with the sight of his face. Seeing something so unpleasant made her miss him even more.

Seria, watching her, spoke quietly.

“Miss, His Grace the Grand Duke is downstairs.”

“Really?”

“It seems he came to pick you up.”

He could have just sent the carriage.

Strangely, every time he came to see her, he was always there waiting to meet her.

‘Why?’

Was this just how he was, always coming out to meet people and looking after them?

Then again, the novel had described him as a devoted husband.

She was glad he’d come.

‘It feels like being treated with care.’

Raelia shook off the bad mood Juan had left her with. Cassian was like a cool drink on a summer’s day.

* * *

Cassian was waiting at the end of the corridor. When Raelia approached, he held out a small box.

“What’s this?”

“A gift. I saw it and liked it.”

She opened the box to find a gold bracelet, sized perfectly for her slender wrist.

Hm, out of nowhere?

His gesture caught her off guard.

“Zenon helped me pick it out.”

“Oh goodness! I didn’t bring anything.”

They’d prepared a gift and she had nothing. She felt bad, and a little sad on top of it.

He said it was fine, took her hand, and walked slowly down the stairs with her.

Outside, a flag bearing the grand ducal family’s emblem, a blue butterfly, came into view.

‘I’m really going to become part of a grand ducal family.’

She was going to meet Zenon, who’d soon be family. Her heart beat a little faster, and she felt a flutter of excitement.

She didn’t usually feel this way.

“But why do you come to meet me every time? I could just come to you.”

His answer was firm.

“Meeting the woman who’ll be my wife is something I enjoy. Does my coming bother you?”

Raelia shook her head quickly.

“Not at all. I just wondered if it was too much trouble for you.”

“It isn’t.”

Warmth hidden inside a cool tone. A prime fangirl moment. His clipped answer put her in a good mood. She felt her cheeks warm slightly, and Cassian smiled and continued.

“Do you like children?”

Raelia nodded at his question.

“Of course. If I didn’t, how could I have accepted a marriage proposal from you?”

“That’s true.”

Raelia rode with Cassian in the carriage toward the grand ducal residence.

* * *

The grand ducal residence was magnificent beyond any comparison to the marquisate. Raelia looked around with wide, curious eyes.

Cassian helped her out of the carriage and led her straight to Zenon’s room.

“Would it be alright to walk through the grand ducal residence’s garden with Zenon?”

“I’d planned on that without you needing to ask.”

Cassian answered bluntly, but she could tell he was nervous. His hand was trembling slightly.

The child’s room was on the ground floor.

Cassian knocked on the door.

“Zenon, it’s Father. May I come in?”

‘He really does become so gentle around Zenon.’

Just like at the teahouse.

It was a softness she’d never hear when it was just the two of them. Even his face, usually composed and businesslike, held warmth.

Anyone would see a devoted father.

She envied Zenon for having a father like that. Maybe it felt that way because Raelia’s own father was nothing like him.

“Are you generally gentle with your son rather than strict?”

Raelia asked quietly.

“I tend to be. I’d rather be a friend or an older brother to him than a stern father.”

He was cold and exacting with everyone else, yet showed a different side to his son.

Raelia smiled, and Cassian gave a slightly sheepish shrug.

The door opened a crack and the boy from the teahouse peeked out. His eyes lit up at the sight of Raelia.

“The young lady has arrived. I’m sorry I couldn’t come out to greet you, I was with the young lord.”

Hill, standing behind Zenon, bowed respectfully to Raelia.

“Please don’t worry about it.”

Raelia introduced herself to Hill.

“I’m Raelia Lateran, soon to be Raelia Lorentz.”

“I’ll serve you faithfully from now on. Future Grand Duchess.”

‘Ugh, that still feels strange.’

The title of grand duchess still sat awkwardly on her. She bowed to Hill and turned to Zenon.

‘He seems to remember me.’

She’d dressed up prettily on purpose to make a good impression. She hoped it had worked.

“Hello.”

Zenon greeted her politely.

“Hello, Zenon. I’m happy to see you again. I came today as the person who’ll be your mother.”

Zenon’s eyes went wide for a moment at the words ‘the person who’ll be your mother,’ then he broke into a bright smile.

“The sweets were delicious! Thank you so much.”

“Once I’m your mother, I’ll make you tasty things often.”

Raelia asked something important.

“And there’s something I wanted to ask you when I saw you today. What kind of mother do you want, Zenon?”

To become part of a family with a child, she first needed to win the child over. That was the only way to avoid trouble later.

Zenon blinked, then glanced sideways at Cassian.

“Father, could you give us a moment alone?”

Cassian looked at Raelia at Zenon’s request, then nodded.

“Alright. But leave the door open. Father worries.”

“Yes.”

Raelia found herself alone with Zenon without warning.

‘What’s this about?’

She hadn’t expected this at all. She looked around, a little flustered, and things began to catch her eye.

‘Pretty.’

Several paintings hung on the walls.

“Do you like paintings, Zenon?”

“I do.”

“I like looking at paintings too.”

Raelia studied them one by one. Among the portraits on the wall, one in particular stood out.

The woman in the portrait had golden curls that fell to her waist. Her blue eyes looked sorrowful, as if tears might spill at any moment. She seemed to be weeping toward someone, and Raelia’s gaze lingered.

“What’s this painting?”

“It’s a portrait of my birth mother.”

A portrait of his deceased birth mother hung in Zenon’s room.

What did the child want to say, asking to be alone with her like this?

“I’d like a kind mother.”

Zenon’s answer was surprisingly simple, but the meaning behind it ran deep.

“That’s a tall order. But I’ll try very hard.”

She didn’t know exactly what a kind mother looked like in practice, but she could figure that out as she went.

No, wait. If she didn’t know, couldn’t she just ask? Raelia voiced the thought the moment it came to her.

“What should I do first to be a kind mother? What about greeting Zenon every day, saying hello? Something like that?”

Getting close to a child meant talking to them often, didn’t it? Showing interest too. Didn’t things like that count as being a kind mother?

But Zenon’s expression was unusual.