Gjorn was flustered.

Satin instinctively understood the meaning behind ‘a bit surprised.’

Even though it was a wedding in a fit of anger, I’m surprised you two are living well together.

Even if the twenty-year friendship ended in a complete mess, the experience of being friends for twenty years didn’t disappear. If anyone could read someone’s heart, it was certainly easier with Gjorn than with Rublier.

Rublier’s constant closeness to Satin had its effect. Despite her turmoil, Rublier had consistently shown the best behavior for her. From salvaging her disastrous wedding to making her the star of the day, to their grand entrance into the Papal Palace.

‘I’ll take care of it. Trust me.’

Indeed. He was an excellent problem solver. Following his words had never resulted in a loss.

I’m surprised you seem to be living well.

That was the first greeting from her ex-fiancé after a long time. Satin couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Really? How did you think I would live?”

One downside of becoming independent from her family through marriage was that Satin no longer had anyone to control her. Her parents often scolded her to hide her emotions and act nobly.

So, while living under her parents’ roof, Satin tried to suppress her temper. But now, there was no one to force her.

As her anger welled up, Satin snapped sharply. Her cold tone came out unfiltered.

“Did you really think I would live struggling?”

The person who had truly made her life difficult was Gjorn. Who was responsible for that dizzying wedding? Who tried to keep two households even during their honeymoon by bringing in a mistress?

The man who tried to make the only daughter of the guardian family a side character in his love story now had the nerve to comment on his ex-fiancée’s married life, expressing surprise.

Gjorn hesitated and tried to explain.

“…I meant I’m glad you’re living well.”

“That’s strange. Why would my well-being be fortunate for you?”

“Because I was worried. Both you and I went through a big change overnight. I was concerned about how you were adjusting to your new life and was curious about your well-being… Didn’t you feel the same? After all, our families have known each other for a long time.”

Satin feigned surprise.

“You were worried about me?”

He shouldn’t have created reasons for worry in the first place. Even if he did worry, it was presumptuous, and she didn’t believe he actually worried.

Gjorn must have been constantly compared to Satin. His entrance was shocking, but his exit was pitiful. The gains and losses of both families were vastly different. While Satin’s family, who gained a lot, never mentioned Gjorn, Sel Wio, who lost much, probably nagged Gjorn about Satin at every turn.

“How ridiculous. You are not in a position to worry about me.”

You should worry about your own life.

Her sarcasm, fueled by frustration and anger, was about to reach a dangerous level. Satin and Rublier, Gjorn and Delilah—just standing there like the protagonists of a well-known scandal drew unnecessary attention.

Continuing the conversation in this tense atmosphere made everyone stop their socializing and focus on them.

In the midst of this, one of the orchestra members mistakenly played a wrong note, producing a screeching sound.

“Gjorn. There is no reason for you to worry about my wife.”

Rublier cut in, interrupting Satin.

“I accepted it as concern from a friend, but neither Satin nor I need anyone’s concern, do we? And worrying about another woman during her honeymoon, especially in front of the person you love, is inappropriate.”

Trying to cover up his inadvertently revealed feelings, Gjorn almost got into an argument with Satin. Rublier’s pointed remark left Gjorn looking ashen. Finally finding a moment to breathe, Gjorn gauged Delilah’s reaction.

“Wait, Delilah. I…”

“Lord Gjorn.”

Delilah looked over each person Kirion had described as a ‘strange composition.’ Satin, the lady of Del Mare, still had her guard up, while the Paladin held his wife with a relaxed demeanor.

Archbishop Kirion watched the situation with interest, and Vitalis seemed utterly lost.

And Gjorn. Gjorn looked like a rabbit caught in a trap. He had provoked his former fiancée’s anger with his rambling, unnecessary words, and now he was nervously trying to convey his apologies to Delilah.

Delilah instinctively understood.

Gjorn would never be able to win against Satin. Satin was the woman who had turned the unfavorable situation around by pushing through a seemingly absurd marriage.

Even if there had been a man who set the stage for her, it was Satin who seized the opportunity. It couldn’t have been an easy decision. According to Gjorn, Satin didn’t even have a close relationship with her husband.

All or nothing. Most people, when forced to make a choice without preparation, would hesitate indecisively and miss the opportunity or postpone it. But Satin had revived a ruined wedding on the spot.

She shouldn’t be underestimated based on appearances. She had a natural boldness.

Yes. Being able to fight honestly whenever she was angry, having a broken engagement be the biggest crisis of her life, and having a man who would conveniently help her even in such situations—all stemmed from being born into a reliable background. Satin’s life was very different from Delilah’s.

Delilah calmly adjusted the hem of her luxurious dress. Then she smiled brightly at Gjorn. He was a man who needed a lot of care.

“You explained it well to me earlier, but now you failed to clarify. Right? He meant he was surprised by Sir Rublier. I was surprised too. I thought the Paladin was a quiet person when I met him last time, but he is endlessly kind to Madam Satin. I almost didn’t recognize him.”

As she smoothly covered up the situation, she felt Kirion’s gaze on her again. This time, it lingered a bit longer than before. It wasn’t her imagination.

Feeling relieved, Gjorn agreed with the excuse Delilah provided.

“Yes, that’s what I meant.”

Everyone knew it was time to step back appropriately. The banquet hall of the Papal Palace was a public place.

Nobles of all kinds, as well as artists and various other people, were gathered. Continuing to argue would only make them a spectacle. The scandal might even be turned into a play by the invited theater troupe soon.

Rublier concluded.

“I told you before, Gjorn. A wife’s honor is her husband’s honor. So, I must protect my honor.”

Satin silently watched Rublier bring her hand to his lips.

Kissing a woman’s hand was said to signify reverence. But where did a man who had spent his life wielding a sword hear such a romantic notion? Wasn’t this something you’d expect to see in a grand theater performance? Trends often started in the theater these days.

Moreover, Delilah had subtly acknowledged Rublier. How did they know each other? When and where? Had he been frequenting the grand theater?

A sense of caution rose within her. But she had enough sense not to show it in front of Delilah and Gjorn.

An attendant from the Papal Palace approached Kirion to report the time.

“It’s time to prepare the speech for His Holiness. I must go. Rublier, please use the Holy Knights to maintain order. And I’d appreciate it if you could join me later. The Paladin by my side would make a striking image.”

“Of course.”

Kirion left first, followed by Rublier and Satin.

The command to the Holy Knights, given by Kirion, provided an excuse for the scandal’s protagonists to disperse. Even without Rublier’s orders, the knights were trained to control the crowd inside and outside.

They found a less crowded spot and stepped out onto the balcony. As Satin lowered the curtains to prevent others from entering, she turned to Rublier.

“Maybe I should be called Satin Wook¹욱 is a state in which one suddenly feels anger Mare instead of Satin Del Mare.”

Rublier chuckled.

“…How do you know Delilah?”

But Satin wasn’t in the mood to laugh. Delilah seemed to appear wherever she went. Despite everything, the prima donna’s reputation remained intact.

Even though Madam Suzanne’s salon had predicted that Delilah wouldn’t be as influential as before due to falling out of favor with high-ranking nobles, it was merely a consolation for Satin.

None of the salon ladies were unaware of Delilah. Moreover, Delilah managed to create her own space by showing up at events she wasn’t invited in and subtly built connections with people around Satin.

“The prima donna?”

Rublier responded as if it were no big deal.