Serena was the cherished only daughter of the Count and Countess of Soltanir, raised with all the love and care they could give.

As she blossomed into a confident and beautiful young lady, her parents took her to the capital for her societal debut. The journey, filled with excitement, culminated at the debutante ball. Serena, certain that no one could rival her beauty, felt no nerves and eagerly awaited the event’s commencement.

Indeed, when Serena’s name was announced, she instantly became the star of the ball. Even the Empress herself praised her perfect etiquette and noble demeanor, so it was no surprise.

However, when Leopold Lawrence made his late entrance into the ballroom, the attention on Serena immediately faded. Although she felt a twinge of disappointment, Serena had to acknowledge the shift in the crowd’s focus the moment she saw him.

In a word, he possessed a beauty she had never encountered before. Simply calling him handsome was insufficient. His face was both neat and striking, sharp yet gentle. His movements, befitting the word “noble,” were dignified. His polite smile seemed warm at first glance but left one curious about his true feelings.

Serena was captivated by him at first sight.

From the following day, she persistently begged her father to arrange a private meeting with the Duke. However, Serena realized for the first time that even the Count of Soltanir had his limitations. In a way, she found his aloofness even more appealing. If she had to marry, it had to be a man like Leopold Lawrence—a beautiful man so upright that he evoked the urge to challenge him.

Every season thereafter, she visited the capital. Winning the favor of other young ladies was as easy as breathing, and attracting suitors was even easier. However, every attempt to get closer to Duke Leopold Lawrence ended in failure.

Even when she approached him warmly at a ball, he would only respond with a few gracious words, never showing any vulnerability. When she openly invited him to tea in front of everyone, he politely but firmly declined.

Occasionally, he accepted her invitation to dance, but Duke Lawrence behaved as if he were a doll. He never initiated conversation, and when she spoke to him, he replied curtly. He couldn’t have made it clearer that he was dancing out of obligation. The only consolation was that he treated all young ladies the same way.

Serena’s determination grew. She hated how she was the only one fretting while the Duke paid her no mind. So she acted as if she had moved on from him. She even attempted to develop a good relationship with another young gentleman to genuinely lose interest. However, not a single man met her standards.

Years passed in this manner, yet strangely, Duke Lawrence remained unmarried, well past the usual age for marriage. Serena found this puzzling but also hopeful, thinking she might still become his match. Among the high-ranking nobles suitable for the Duke’s family, there was no better match than her.

However, one day in the height of spring, her parents brought news that was utterly shocking. Duke Leopold Lawrence was suddenly getting married, and to a common orphan with no family background, no less.

Who on earth was this woman?

Even if she was an exceptional healer, there were plenty of healers at the academy. They were individuals who would come to the Soltanir estate whenever summoned. It made no sense. Was this supposed to be some kind of legendary love story? Leopold Lawrence, of all people?

It was unbelievable, and she didn’t want to believe it. She couldn’t shake off the feeling of defeat. Naturally, she didn’t attend the wedding. Her parents tried every possible way to console their heartbroken daughter, but nothing worked. Even her favorite activities, like horseback riding and painting, felt pointless.

The feeling of not being able to get what she wanted was worse than she had imagined. She was gloomy, occasionally irritable, and prone to anger over small matters. She became extremely sensitive, often finding fault with the staff, and even her parents were cautious around her.

She disliked how she was making those around her uncomfortable and tried to pull herself together, but it wasn’t easy. Amidst this turmoil, another piece of news caught Serena’s attention.

It was a request for troops from the Duke, citing the search for his missing wife.

Even after some of the standing army was dispatched, she practically snatched the letters from her parents and read them repeatedly. How could she be missing so soon after the wedding, and in a region completely opposite to the northeastern Lawrence estate? There were too many strange aspects. Moreover, as the Duchess, she would surely have had guards, making such a disappearance unthinkable.

Perhaps the woman couldn’t overcome the difference in status and ran away.

It was entirely possible. In reality, many nobles took lovers of lower status, but it was common for those lovers to flee, unable to endure the humiliating treatment within the family. Let alone an orphan entering the prestigious Lawrence family.

On the other hand, it was amusing that Duke Lawrence himself had set out to find his wife. He had built such walls, rejecting all the young ladies who courted him despite the risk to their reputations. She even found herself wishing the woman had run far away, just to trouble him. But from what the returning soldiers said, it seemed the Duke had safely found his wife.

It wasn’t the outcome she wanted, but Serena decided to erase the name Lawrence from her mind forever, not wanting to think about him any longer. However, not long after she made this resolution, Hazel Lawrence expressed her intention to visit the estate. Truly, the couple was provoking her in unison.

Her parents, who cared deeply for the people of their estate, would never refuse the Duchess’s offer to treat patients within the estate. Serena knew that opposing it would be futile, but she still put up a front out of sheer pride. She even took to her bed, but her parents simply went on preparing to welcome Hazel Lawrence.

When she finally heard that the woman was coming, she deliberately acted unpleasant, knowing she wouldn’t be able to put on a smiling face. She needed someone to vent her frustrations on. Even as she headed to the annex with the intention of criticizing Hazel if she didn’t perform the treatments properly, Serena harbored a certain hostility towards her.

However.

‘You’re just throwing a tantrum because I took away the person you had a crush on. It’s pathetic, so stop it.’

Hearing the word “pathetic” for the first time in her life, she felt as if she had been struck hard on the head.

The great Serena Soltanir, pathetic? The beautiful, graceful, intelligent, and elegant Serena Soltanir?

All because of a married man?

Because of a man to whom she hadn’t even given a fraction of the love she had for her people?

She couldn’t possibly accept the fact that she had become so twisted as to hear such words.

***

“In other words, it was the healer’s words that brought me to my senses. I might not have realized it when I was younger, but now I have no romantic feelings for the Duke.”

As she concluded her long story, she picked up her teacup to wet her throat. Unsure of how to respond, I simply nodded. It didn’t seem appropriate to praise the lady or to side with Leopold’s cold demeanor.

In any case, contrary to my concerns, Serena’s focus was unexpectedly intriguing. It seemed more like a possessive desire towards an object rather than affection for a person, similar to the feelings my mother seemed to have for me.

Stefan, who had been quietly listening, broke the silence on my behalf.

“The lady is indeed… quite unpredictable.”

“What did you say?”

Serena flared up for a moment, but he continued to express his thoughts without concern.

“I mean you’re remarkable. It’s very difficult to objectively recognize one’s own state of mind, yet you’ve just done it perfectly. It’s impressive.”

It was a sincere compliment, delivered in a straightforward tone. Smiling in agreement, I looked at her, and her previously aloof face turned red.

“But what about the disappearance? What happened? I heard there was even a battle in the principality.”

Serena shifted the topic and asked. I briefly explained how I met Raphael while traveling to D’Agnon for research, rescued him, and thwarted a rebellion plot.

“So, you disappeared while heading to your destination and were misunderstood? Still, it’s a relief nothing serious happened. The Duke must have been quite anxious. He seemed to have written the letter in a hurry.”

I was listening absentmindedly until she mentioned the letter being written in a hurry, which made me pause. What did she mean by that? Was there something unusual about the content? My curiosity was piqued.

“…Do you still have it?”

“The letter? Of course. I’ll show it to you.”

“Thank you.”

With that, we wrapped up the tea time and continued to see patients until the sun had completely set. Later, I attended the dinner prepared by the countess and discussed the patient care plan at length. I was eager to see Leopold’s letter, but time seemed to crawl.

Finally, after finishing everything, I followed the maid to the guest bedroom.

As I pondered whether to ask for the letter immediately, I noticed a silver tray on the low sofa table while looking around the room.

At some point, someone had placed it there, and on it lay the neatly folded letter, likely bearing Leopold’s tidy handwriting.

With a strangely trembling heart, I picked up the letter.