A few days passed quietly.

Adeline sat across from Kailen at the dining table with her usual expression and received the maids’ greetings just like always.

No one would have noticed that her jewelry box was empty.

But every time she opened the jewelry box, the remaining marks stood out particularly vividly. Adeline didn’t stand in front of it for long. Once was enough to check.

The promised Friday arrived faster than expected.

The sky had been overcast since morning. Standing by the window, Adeline heard the sound of a carriage approaching from afar and slowly turned around. Just as expected.

“My lady, a guest has arrived.”

Before the maid could finish speaking, Adeline was already heading to the reception room. Anton looked more haggard than before.

Adeline looked at him for a moment, then spoke quietly.

“Sit down, Anton.”

A small envelope was in her hand. What it contained—both of them knew without needing to check.

Anton kept his hands neatly placed on his knees and couldn’t lift his head for a while. He felt sorry.

“…I feel so ashamed for no reason.”

“Don’t think that way. This is Mother’s will. You don’t need to feel sorry, Anton.”

Anton moved his lips but ultimately couldn’t add anything more.

However, Adeline rose from her seat as soon as the business was finished, seemingly determined not to linger over what she’d given away.

As she left the reception room, Mrs. Lien was approaching from the end of the hallway. She looked at Anton’s face once, then at Adeline’s face, alternating between them. Then she spoke with concern.

“Madam, you don’t look well. Is something wrong?”

Adeline paused briefly, then slowly shook her head.

“No. It’s nothing.”

She soon turned her gaze toward Anton.

“I’ll just see the guest off and come back.”

“Then just go to the front gate. The wind is cold, so don’t stay out long.”

“Alright. I’ll be right back.”

After Adeline left, Mrs. Lien observed the situation for a moment before naturally changing direction.

As she climbed the stairs, an indescribable unease lingered on her face.

Adeline’s door wasn’t locked. Mrs. Lien hesitated briefly before carefully opening it.

Mrs. Lien moved cautiously and opened Adeline’s jewelry box.

“It seems the lady has disposed of all her jewelry. The jewelry box was completely empty.”

Mrs. Lien had thought it couldn’t be true when she heard Tanya’s report this morning.

But the space where the necklaces and rings that always sparkled should have been was completely empty, and only pressed marks remained on the silk lining.

Mrs. Lien stood there for a while. Without making a sound, looking down at the empty jewelry box.

Only then did she realize.

The reason for Adeline’s poor complexion.

* * *

That evening, the estate’s front door opened late. It was Kailen. Perhaps tired, his movements removing his coat were somewhat hasty. His face still bore the fatigue and irritation accumulated from a full day of work.

He had an outside servant summon the head housekeeper, Mrs. Lien. Mrs. Lien soon opened the door, entered his study, and bowed her head.

“Give this to my wife.”

Kailen held out an envelope. It was a social gathering invitation with a gold-embossed crest on thick paper.

“It’s an important occasion. Tell her she can’t miss it.”

“Understood.”

Mrs. Lien took the invitation and stepped back. However, instead of turning around, she hesitated subtly. Kailen wouldn’t miss that small hesitation.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Mrs. Lien closed her lips for a moment, then spoke carefully.

“…Well, it seems the lady has sold the jewelry she was keeping.”

Kailen’s eyebrow slowly rose.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes, I’m certain she disposed of the jewelry. It appears she sold everything she was keeping personally before entering the estate. I’ve already had a servant identify where the lady recently sold the jewelry.”

Adeline wasn’t fundamentally a greedy person. However, even Kailen could tell that she cherished the jewelry she’d insisted on bringing to the estate when they married—it was that obvious.

“Why would she do such a thing?”

“Someone sent by the Former Queen Consort has visited twice in the past few days. …I suspect she sent money there, but I’m not certain.”

A brief silence followed. Kailen nodded without a word.

“Now that I know, you may go.”

That was all. Mrs. Lien didn’t add anything more and closed the door as she left.

Kailen opened the evening newspaper neatly prepared on his desk. Then he began turning the pages one by one—politics, economics, society. But the text didn’t register. The sentences lost their meaning and just flowed like black stains.

Adeline.

Always that calm expression, that silence like she’d swallowed something. A troublesome woman. Quiet yet bothersome, creating problems while saying nothing.

“Your mother practically abandoned you.”

Kailen knew that she’d become estranged from her mother when they married.

“And yet you still want to cling to her?”

Disappointment slowly turned to irritation.

Sometimes the process of cornering her, driving her into a tight spot, was enjoyable.

But even that often grew stale.

Because she seemed so worthless that she didn’t even feel worth tormenting.

“Pointless actions.”

Kailen spat out the words briefly and tossed the folded newspaper onto the table.

Swallowing a low sigh, he immediately reached for the telephone. His fingers dialing showed no hesitation.

– Hello.

A familiar voice came through the receiver.

“Collen, it’s me.”

Kailen sank deep into his chair as he continued.

“I need you to handle something annoying.”

Truly, she was a troublesome woman.

* * *

This was the third official social gathering they’d attended together. Kailen didn’t request Adeline’s company unless it was a necessary occasion.

But the day before, he’d unusually requested a partner for once. So Adeline felt a bit excited all morning while choosing an appropriate dress to wear.

Adeline was picking out an appropriately glamorous and appropriately formal elegant dress when it happened.

He’d said he’d send someone, and at 10 AM—much earlier than the appointed 3 PM—a driver arrived carrying a cream-colored box tied with a sky-blue ribbon.

Opening the large box revealed a complete outfit inside—dress, shoes, and accessories. Kailen had sent it. Adeline had no choice but to put back the dress she’d carefully selected. But since he’d sent clothes, there was no disappointment—rather, her excitement increased.

The gallery they visited after receiving an invitation to view a private exhibition was fairly quiet. Distinguished guests holding champagne glasses filled the exhibition hall. 

She’d thought it somewhat unexpected since they’d said only a small number of invitations were distributed among selected patron members. Charity events usually made a big fuss to show off connections.

Walking in order along the paintings, Adeline exchanged customary greetings with several people she knew. Long time no see, you look healthy, the exhibition is quite wonderful, and so on.

But when she stopped in front of the largest canvas and exchanged light greetings with someone, it happened.

Kailen, who’d been lightly resting his hand on her back for today’s escort, began leisurely rubbing the spot.

“To have welcomed such an elegant and cultured wife, Lord Belliche must be proud. I’m always envious.”

Adeline was too flustered to properly hear even that customary greeting, but his large hand seemed to be moving lower and lower.

“I’ve been fortunate. Well then, we’ll see you again.”

Adeline couldn’t show it during the conversation. After those they’d greeted left, Kailen was grinning when she glanced at him sideways.

“Pick something, anything. We can’t leave empty-handed.”

Adeline, holding Kailen’s arm, covered her mouth with the pamphlet.

“That’s true, but…”

She glanced over the gallery walls once and smiled awkwardly.

“The problem is there’s no wall space left in my bedroom to display a painting this size.”

Kailen looked at her with a somewhat incredulous laugh.

“Why are you talking about your bedroom?”

“Where else would I put what you bought? The reception room is already full.”

“That’s not my only house, is it?”

“Ah…”

Adeline seemed momentarily at a loss for words, then let out a small sigh.

“Ah, how foolish of me.”

“Only now realizing?”

Still, Adeline whispered not to tease her and gently shook his arm. But he just kept groping her waist.

“…But Kailen, your hand. …Stop playing around.”

As soon as she whispered, his thumb brushed her bottom. She felt heat rising to both cheeks, afraid someone might see.

Adeline tensed the corners of her eyes and turned her head sharply.

“Really…”

She’d tried to give him a fairly strong hint, but he just kept smiling down at the top of her head.

Just as she was troubled about how to restrain him, a gallery staff member quietly approached.

“The next program will begin soon. I apologize for the inconvenience, but I’ll guide you this way.”

She’d thought they’d view paintings at a leisurely pace, meet people, and then move on to drinks as the main event when it got dark. But she found it unexpected that the event schedule had changed earlier than expected.

The staff member politely extended both hands to indicate the direction to move. Just then, several other couples nearby were also moving, guided by other staff members.

“Alright. Let’s go too, Kailen.”

It was quite a welcome opportunity to stop Kailen’s hand, so Adeline also followed the staff member.