“By the way, aren’t you going back, Duke?”

I felt a bit burdened by Duke Berzel, who continued to stay by my side until I closed my eyes.

The Duke answered with a gentle smile.

“I’ll just stay by your side until you fall asleep.”

“Ah. I see.”

I didn’t particularly mind either.

It meant I could keep imprinting the image of an incredibly handsome man in my eyes until I fell asleep.

Feeling reassured, I slowly closed my eyes.

Perhaps because I was tired from taking in so many stories in a short time, sleep came quickly.

***

When I opened my eyes again, not much had changed from before I fell asleep.

Judging from that, it seemed that the situation I was experiencing wasn’t really a dream.

Knock knock.

As I was blankly staring at the ceiling painting, still not fully awake, I heard a knock on the door.

I turned my head to look at the door, and a woman’s voice was heard from outside.

“Madam, it’s Avina. I’ve brought water for washing up.”

Water for washing up?

For me?

As I was getting up, wondering, I belatedly realized that I had become the Duchess of Berzel.

“Oh right, that’s true… Come in.”

After I gave permission, the door opened and a maid entered the bedroom.

The maid, who came in pulling a cart that looked more expensive than the one I used at Count Maynard’s house, came up to me and prepared everything for me to wash up.

I carefully started washing up, receiving someone else’s care for the first time.

The moderately warm water moistening my face made me feel a bit more awake.

After washing up, I headed to the dressing room to change clothes.

“Wow… Are you saying all of this is mine?”

“Yes, of course. They’re all your clothes, Madam.”

I couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration at the spectacle of gorgeous dresses before my eyes.

These were clothes made of expensive fabrics I had never seen before.

“Which outfit will you wear today?”

“I’ll let you know after I look around a bit.”

“Yes, please take your time choosing and let me know.”

The maid, Avina, took a step back.

I carefully examined the clothes as if I were shopping, then chose an ivory-colored frilly dress.

After changing clothes with the help of Avina and the maids, I came out to find a young maid fidgeting in front of the door.

“Who are you?”

“M-Madam. My name is Lize Merwan.”

“And?”

As I tilted my head in confusion, the maid who introduced herself as Lize bowed deeply to me.

“I’m sorry, Madam. Because of me… Because you fell down the stairs trying to save me…”

Lize said, sobbing.

Only then did I realize that I was facing the person who had been the starting point of this situation.

“Well, it’s okay. It doesn’t even hurt anymore. Don’t worry about it.”

When I answered with a smile, Lize closed her mouth tightly and looked up at me.

Her large eyes were filled with tears.

“Are you really okay?”

“Of course. Instead, be careful from now on. We wouldn’t want something really serious to happen if you fall like that again, right?”

“…Thank you.”

At my words, Lize finally burst into tears.

I quickly found a handkerchief from my pocket and wiped Lize’s tears.

“Have you finished crying now?”

After some time passed, Lize’s sobbing sounds subsided.

When I asked with a gentle smile, Lize nodded with a face that had turned red, seemingly embarrassed.

“Then go and rest. I need to have breakfast too.”

“…Yes, enjoy your meal.”

After confirming Lize bowing to me, I moved on.

I entered the dining room for the meal.

Duke Berzel had already arrived in the dining room.

As soon as he saw me, he stood up and immediately moved to pull out the chair for me to sit.

It felt awkward, but receiving the consideration of a handsome man felt quite nice.

Barely holding back a smile that was about to escape, I sat down on the chair.

Thanks to the Duke gently pushing in the chair, I was able to sit comfortably.

Only then did the Duke sit down across from me.

“Did you sleep well?”

“Of course. This is the most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept in. How much does it cost?”

“Well, I didn’t really consider the price when purchasing it.”

I inwardly let out a small exclamation at the Duke’s words as he shrugged his shoulders.

How much money does one need to have to be able to purchase without thinking about the price?

Well, the Berzel Duchy wasn’t just famous for its notoriety.

The trading company operated by the Berzel Duchy was also one of the three largest trading companies in the empire, so they must have more than enough money.

…Wait a minute!

Does that mean that since I’ve become the Duchess of Berzel, all that wealth is also mine?

“Hmm? Your face suddenly lit up?”

Duke Berzel, who had been watching me, asked with a gentle smile.

It seems I hadn’t managed my expression properly because I was too pleased.

“Huh? Ah, um! It’s nothing. I just like the breakfast.”

Ahem, after clearing my throat softly, I picked up the fork and knife again.

Come to think of it, the way I handled the knife seemed quite familiar.

It was as if I was watching Miss Veronica’s elegant movements.

Was I originally able to handle a knife this elegantly?

Is this also something I learned after becoming the Duchess of Berzel?

I was amazed at how naturally and familiarly I was moving.

Duke Berzel smiled even more deeply as he watched me.

“After we finish eating, I was hoping you could spare me some time. Would that be alright?”

“Yes, that’s fine with me.”

I quickly agreed, partly because I had nothing particular to do, and partly because I was bored.

Although I was scared of him because of the rumors about him being a villain, I thought that surely he wouldn’t be a villain to me, his wife, and above all, the kind demeanor he had shown me so far felt disconnected from the rumors.

Moreover, above all else, Miss Veronica wasn’t afraid of Duke Berzel.

Our Miss wouldn’t leave me in a dangerous place, so there must be some hidden circumstances with Duke Berzel as well.

Having finished my thoughts, I continued with the rest of the meal.

***

As we finished the meal, Duke Berzel approached me and held out his hand.

It looked like a gesture to escort me.

I hesitated for a moment, but then placed my hand on his.

Even to my own eyes, it looked elegant, and I quietly admired it inwardly.

He gently held my hand and led me out of the dining room.

I wondered where he was taking me, and it turned out to be the back garden of the mansion.

“Wow!”

The back garden was beautifully decorated with flowers of various colors.

Flowers more splendid than I had ever seen even at Count Maynard’s house were in full bloom.

“It’s really beautiful!”

I exclaimed in admiration as I strolled between the flower paths.

It felt as if I had become a princess in a fairy tale.

Was this what Duke Berzel wanted to show me?

If so, it was a success.

Just looking at it made me feel naturally at peace.

But the Duke didn’t seem to want to end it here, as he approached my side.

Then, holding my hand with one hand and my waist with the other, he moved forward again.

“Where are we going now? You’re not taking me somewhere strange, are you?”

Anxiously, Duke Berzel didn’t give me a proper explanation.

He just smiled.

Oh, even if he’s called a villain, he wouldn’t do that…

I became a bit scared as I wasn’t sure.

But it seemed too late to run away from here now.

I didn’t know the geography of this place well, and if I got lost in the garden, it would be a big problem.

In the meantime, Duke Berzel and I were able to reach a certain space.

“This is…”

“It’s our duchy’s greenhouse. It was a place you particularly liked.”

Although it was spring and flowers were blooming in the garden, it was nothing compared to the greenhouse.

I let out a small exclamation and stepped into the greenhouse.

Our footsteps were buried among the sounds of insects chirping.

Beautiful flowers of various colors were each showing off their beauty, and the sweet fragrance of flowers stimulated my nose.

“Do you remember what we did when we first came here?”

While I was looking around the flowers in admiration, Duke Berzel suddenly asked me a question.

But there was only one answer I could give to his question.

“You know I can’t remember.”

As I answered with an awkward smile, the Duke gave a bitter smile.

Then he slowly approached me.

Wondering what he was going to do this time, I watched as he stood in front of me and then formally extended his hand towards me.

“Would you care for a dance, wife?”