That intense look in his eyes as he traced her neckline.

It was the look of someone who seemed ready to do anything to possess her at any moment, and also the look of someone deeply immersed in a sea of sharp desire.

She should return earlier than usual today.

Despite Lysith’s determination, the weather turned for the worst.

“My lady, I’m concerned that the carriage might have difficulty traveling in this weather.”

“……”

“It would be terrible if the carriage were to slip on the wet road.”

At the butler’s worried words, Lysith closed her mouth and blankly stared outside where the rain was pouring down madly. It had been sunny when she arrived……

If the distance from the Grand Duke’s residence to her mansion wasn’t far, it might have been different, but it took some time to reach Lysith’s mansion. After all, the Grand Duke’s residence was located in the center of the capital.

‘Even so, isn’t this a bit much? What about the rumors in society?’

If this fact spread through social circles, she might become known as some kind of… femme fatale.

Setting aside the downpour, they would probably enjoy gossiping about ‘Why did the lady visit the Grand Duke’s residence in the first place?’

It was impossible not to be concerned about being caught up in such rumors.

“Um, Your Highness the Grand Duke. I appreciate your concern, but I think I should return……”

“If it’s about social circles, I’ll take care of it.”

Dietrich quickly cut off Lysith’s words as he realized why she was insisting on leaving.

And when several maids of the Grand Duke’s residence joined in with His Highness the Grand Duke’s words, carefully yet firmly expressing their concern, Lysith had no choice but to nod.

Eve seemed a bit displeased, but given the weather, she appeared to have accepted it and stood quietly by her side.

“Then, for the room, shall we prepare the one you used previously……”

“Wait, wait. Say something that makes sense. I know the people of this residence aren’t ones to gossip easily, but still.”

“……Yes. I will guide you.”

Why are you looking disappointed!

The butler in his 50s who oversaw the Grand Duke’s residence was the same now as when she was the Grand Duchess, but right now she really couldn’t understand him. Did he want her to come back……

The butler had also helped her get closer to Dietrich during their married life—within appropriate boundaries, of course. For reference, all attempts had failed.

The room she was guided to was the best guest room available in the Grand Duke’s residence. Usually, rooms were assigned based on power dynamics, with higher floors given to more important guests, and Lysith was given a room on the 4th floor, the highest level.

Of course, there were exceptions, such as how much the owner of the mansion valued the guest.

For reference, though far from this room, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s bedroom was also on the 4th floor.

“Phew.”

After the butler left and Eve also departed to check the room, Lysith, left alone, sighed softly. It would be nice if things in life went according to plan.

She had arrived at the Grand Duke’s residence after finishing lunch, so it was now around 3 PM. If the rain stopped before dinner, she could return, but judging by the heavily clouded sky, it didn’t look like it would stop anytime soon.

And so, with the unrelenting rain, time flowed until it finally reached dinner time.

And since it was dinner time, naturally, she was now having a meal with Dietrich in the dining room.

‘Even during our marriage, we rarely did this, and now……”

Still, the meal at the Grand Duke’s residence was quite excellent.

If there was something uncomfortable, it was that her current mood felt exactly like… yes, as if she had returned to the days of her marriage. Though in reality, such situations had been rare back then.

And while there were many differences from those few times they had dined together, the most notable difference was the attitude, expression, and gaze of the person across from her. His deep blue eyes were fixed on her profile, checking if the food was to her liking.

……Somehow, it felt familiar.

Yes, definitely.

Verheigen had been like this too when she was at the imperial palace.

If she told him this, it was obvious he would show his distaste and openly express his dislike.

Lysith put down her fork after neatly finishing the pudding served for dessert. It had been a quite satisfactory meal.

“Didn’t you used to not eat pudding before?”

“……Pardon?”

Lysith’s movements froze at Dietrich’s question, who had been staring at her all this time.

“I remember pudding being one of the few desserts you avoided.”

Why would a man who had shown no interest in her remember such a thing? Moreover, the fact that the original Lysith didn’t eat pudding was something she hadn’t known.

Unaware that Lysith was breaking out in a cold sweat, Dietrich tilted his head curiously.

“I remember you saying you didn’t enjoy the texture.”

“……Instead of remembering such things, you could have been a little kinder.”

“Ahem.”

As Lysith, who had been contemplating how to overcome the situation, went on the offensive, Dietrich cleared his throat as if embarrassed.

Having barely escaped the difficult situation with her quick wit, Lysith secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The reason Lysith hadn’t known this until now was simple.

Pudding was never served as dessert at her mansion.

She had just assumed that was normal, but it turned out that since she disliked pudding, the chef at her mansion, knowing this, had never served it in the first place.

This level of discrepancy probably wouldn’t cause major discomfort, but a strange anxiety enveloped Lysith.

With the dinner ending in a peculiar atmosphere—one person feeling anxious and the other feeling guilty—Lysith, having nothing else to do, returned to the room given to her and resumed her embroidery.

It was the handkerchief she had promised to give to Dietrich.

While embroidering the family crest prominently would take some time, embroidering it small on a handkerchief wouldn’t take that long. Though it was a more complex and delicate task.

The sound of rain hitting the window filled her ears comfortably. While she didn’t particularly like rain, she did enjoy the benefits rain brought to humans and the sound it made.

Engrossed in her work, she suddenly looked at the clock to find it was 11 PM, a good time to sleep. Since all she could do while awake was embroider or listen to the rain, Lysith put away her embroidery and lay down on the bed that Eve had prepared.

And just as she got into bed, the room flashed brightly, followed by a loud clap of thunder.

Until just a moment ago, there had only been the sound of rain, but suddenly the sky began to madly unleash thunder and lightning. Lysith momentarily frowned before closing her eyes. She thought that if she fell asleep, she wouldn’t hear it.

How many more times did thunder and lightning shake the room?

Knock knock……

“……?”

She thought she heard someone knocking on the door just now. As soon as she hesitantly got up from the bed, thunder and lightning crashed through once more.

Knock knock……

Why were they just knocking without calling out? She didn’t know exactly who it was, but it didn’t seem to be Eve. Lysith grabbed a shawl from the sofa, wrapped it around herself, and slowly approached the door, opening it slightly.

Only then did she discover who it was……

“……Your Highness the Grand Duke?”

Dietrich stood in front of her door, dressed in what appeared to be—yet wasn’t quite—nightwear. A simple white shirt and black pants. That was all he wore.

He had knocked so timidly that she hadn’t imagined it would be him. And she couldn’t think of any reason why he would visit like this.

Directly receiving Lysith’s startled gaze, Dietrich seemed embarrassed himself and fiddled with the collar of his shirt.

“Why did you come here?”

“……”

The man who had been consistently answering Lysith’s questions suddenly kept his mouth firmly shut. Just as she was about to tell him to leave if he had no particular reason, a tiny answer escaped from Dietrich’s hesitant lips.

“……I’m afraid of thunder and lightning……”

“?”

With that build……?

The man who was a head taller than her and could completely embrace her in his arms was saying he was afraid of thunder and lightning.

No sooner had she thought this than thunder struck again. Thanks to the lightning that illuminated the dim corridor, the man’s face, which she glimpsed momentarily, was paler than usual.

‘……No, that’s possible. Im being prejudiced.’

Being struck by lightning would send anyone to the next world regardless of size, so he could certainly be afraid.

Setting aside her prejudice, Lysith opened the door for him. The profile of the man who entered with words of gratitude was indeed pale. She wondered if she had seen wrong due to the lightning, but apparently not.

If he were merely scared, he wouldn’t react this strongly; perhaps some unpleasant memory was resurfacing.

‘What do people usually do in situations like this?’

Setting aside conquest, Lysith thought she should help this poor man and, with a heart that had expanded to the size of the Pacific Ocean, offered him the bed.