‘Was it Countess Rikeran?’

As soon as their eyes met, the woman flashed a bright, cheerful smile and sent a look filled with goodwill.

“Duchess, I do hope you’ll attend the tea party I’m hosting next time!”

Unlike the others attending the tea party, the countess’s interest was focused solely on Roina.

The unfamiliar attention left her inwardly bewildered as she tried to discern the woman’s intentions.

However, since she couldn’t detect any malice on the woman’s face, Roina nodded obediently.

“Yes, I’ll make sure to do that.”

Daphne, who had been quietly observing them, folded her fan and placed it on the table.

Then a young lady sitting to her right began to champion Daphne with a cunning smile.

“Come to think of it, the Clovis family has started a new business venture.”

Recently in the Noxtan Empire, the cruise ship business had been drawing public attention.

And the person in charge of it all was the head of the Clovis family, who had been in the shipping business for a long time.

“Yes, Father has been putting in considerable effort in various ways.”

Roina could somewhat predict the conversation that would follow.

Daphne and her group usually looked down on the Würetti family.

“But how could it compare to the duchess’s family home? The Würetti marquisate family has built their legacy through business.”

‘Even after three years, you’re still the same.’

Before earning their marquisate through military achievements, Würetti had been called a family of rootless merchants.

Unlike Clovis, which was an established family that had been with Noxtan since its founding.

Moreover, Daphne had another reason for looking down on the Würetti family.

Recently, the emperor had been establishing new trade ventures.

There were whispers among the nobility that this was aimed at weakening Würetti’s monopoly on trade.

“You must be quite worried, duchess.”

Though Daphne sent her a concerned look, Roina didn’t miss the mockery in her voice.

She was clearly intent on diminishing her standing and making her a laughingstock in front of everyone.

Lifting her teacup to moisten her throat lightly, Roina answered in a calm voice.

“My family’s affairs are far beyond my authority.”

At her response, the women at the tea party momentarily stopped their actions.

At first glance, it seemed like she was humbling herself, but it implied something entirely different.

She was telling them to treat her as a member of the Asheter family, not Würetti.

Roina’s cold purple eyes met the red irises that seemed to barely conceal contemptuous emotions.

Daphne, who didn’t avoid her gaze, soon hid her feelings and spoke with a gentle smile.

“I’d like to speak with you privately, duchess. Would that be alright?”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

As an ominous atmosphere flowed between them, the noble ladies glanced around and began rising from their seats one by one.

“Come to think of it, the weather seemed nice today.”

“Let’s take a look around the outdoor garden while we’re at it.”

“The Clovis family’s landscaping is quite splendid!”

※※※

Only Roina and Daphne remained in the Clovis family’s greenhouse garden.

Perhaps judging that their conversation wouldn’t leak out, Daphne began to fully reveal her emotions.

“It seems you still don’t understand what I’m saying, duchess.”

“I wonder. I’m simply fulfilling my duties.”

As Roina continued her indifferent responses, Daphne looked at her with increasingly contemptuous eyes.

“You haven’t changed even now. There’s only one thing I want.”

“……”

Roina didn’t know exactly what Daphne was referring to, but she had a rough idea.

It must have stemmed from the past she couldn’t remember.

To hide her anxious expression, Roina dug her nails into her palm hidden beneath the table.

Then, as she swallowed dryly and tried to look at Daphne nonchalantly—

“Please return my position to me now.”

“……!”

Roina doubted her own ears about what she had just heard. But she must have heard correctly.

Daphne was boldly claiming the position of Asheter’s mistress as if it were her own.

‘She must want to marry Conrad when the marriage term ends.’

Faced with the woman’s confident attitude, showing she hadn’t given up on Conrad, Roina couldn’t respond easily.

There was nothing she could claim as entirely her own position.

As Roina remained silent, Daphne twisted her lips and said:

“You heard it that day too. That he regrets this marriage.”

At the sensation of her heart sinking, Roina’s purple eyes wavered back and forth.

‘I… heard such words?’

At that moment, a severe headache suddenly struck, and Roina massaged her forehead while suppressing an inward groan.

Not wanting to show this state to Daphne, she closed her eyes tightly and opened them as if nothing was wrong.

“Duke Asheter, don’t you have any regrets?”

“About what?”

“About your marriage to Lady Würetti.”

“……I regret it. Every moment.”

‘Why had I forgotten about this until now?’

How deep a despair the conversation between those two, flowing through the open door, had brought her.

Roina fell into contemplation when the memory suddenly surfaced.

She knew better than anyone that she didn’t suit the position beside Conrad.

‘Perhaps the reason I lost my memory was……’

She thought it might have been because those times were too overwhelming and difficult to bear. Enough to make her want to erase the memories herself.

Unaware of Roina’s condition, Daphne snapped with a voice full of dissatisfaction:

“Why on earth did you return to the ducal residence?”

“……!”

Roina’s heart sank as she clenched her slightly trembling hands.

This wasn’t anger. It was wretchedness spreading like a tide.

Daphne Clovis even knew that she had left the ducal residence.

‘Was it Conrad who told the lady about that incident?’

Why Daphne knew this fact, how much she knew—

Though it was full of questions, Roina answered deliberately calmly to avoid being caught having lost her memory.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

At her words, Daphne snorted as if it were ridiculous.

“As you know, duchess, His Grace doesn’t want you.”

“……”

As Roina just stood there silently without any response, Daphne pressed her with a twisted smile.

“How long do you intend to make His Grace suffer?”

Roina thought the woman had crossed the line.

Perhaps Daphne wanted to show that she was still in an intimate relationship with Conrad.

Roina found the woman impressive for being able to display such confidence both three years ago and now.

However, no one except the emperor and the parties involved could know how long Duke and Duchess Asheter, who had become victims of political strife, would have to maintain their marriage.

Barely managing to steady her agitated heart, Roina finally opened her tightly closed mouth.

“You really lack confidence, don’t you, lady?”

“What do you……!”

As if struck right on target, Daphne’s lips trembled slightly.

Watching this quietly, Roina continued her response in an indifferent voice.

“That I might steal Conrad from you forever.”

You’re afraid of that, aren’t you?

Daphne was probably trying to belittle her opponent to shake off that fear.

Like a form of self-defense.

“Ha— Listen here, Duchess Asheter!”

“Fortunately, you seem to be aware.”

“……?”

“I almost misunderstood that you had forgotten your position, lady.”

Though her heart was throbbing, Roina maintained an impassive expression while pretending to be composed.

‘This should be enough.’

Just as Roina was about to turn around, leaving behind what had become a somewhat presentable face—

Daphne’s eyes flashed as she suddenly lifted up a flower vase.

At the woman’s impulsive action, Roina flinched and hunched her body.

At that moment, something unimaginable happened.

Drip, drip—

“……!”

The one who ended up drenched in water that should have been aimed at her was none other than Daphne herself.