It was no wonder, as the name of the person who had recently become the hottest topic in social circles was called out.

It was rare enough for Duke Magnus von Kelahinum to attend a banquet, but it was even rarer for him to attend with his duchess.

The discord between the Duke and Duchess of Kelahinum was so well-known that even commoners on the streets were aware of it.

And now these two had entered together, with him even escorting her.

Not only that, Duke Magnus von Kelahinum, who was treating his wife as if she were delicate, would immediately reach out and whisper something if the Duchess of Kelahinum so much as stumbled slightly.

And that’s not all!

What about the Duchess of Kelahinum, who always wore a stern expression or a face twisted with mockery or irritation?

She would frown slightly at the Duke of Kelahinum’s words, showing a displeased face, and then smile faintly and respond with something in return.

Even after passing the red carpet, the two were still holding hands tightly.

It wasn’t just the people attending the banquet who were surprised by this obvious change, but also those employed at the imperial palace.

This was because whenever Duchess Serena Kelahinum caused trouble, it usually ended with her overturning food or throwing something, so there were always designated people to clean up after her.

Today, she didn’t look like she was in a bad mood, showed no signs of misbehaving, and wasn’t alone in a corner as usual.

“Serena, would you like to eat something?”

“Oh, can I?”

“It’s food meant to be eaten, what’s the problem?”

“Usually no one eats it.”

The people in the banquet hall who were secretly watching the two took a deep breath at the blush that appeared on Serena Kelahinum’s cheeks as she rolled her eyes in apparent embarrassment.

“I heard she had changed a lot, but…”

“Haven’t you heard? Recently, she’s been developing some amazing prosthetic with the Mage’s Tower…”

“Could it be that she’s changed since starting her business?”

“I didn’t know she could make such an expression…”

“It seems the rumors might be true after all.”

“What rumors?”

“Haven’t you heard? They say that His Grace the Duke made a grand declaration of love at the entrance of the Kelahinum mansion.”

At those quietly muttered words, gasps of “Huh!” could be heard from all around.

“A grand declaration of love?”

Excited by this reaction, the young lady who brought up the story began to recount what she had heard from her maid.

“It’s exactly as it sounds. They say there was a day when the Duchess and His Grace had a big fight.”

“That sounds plausible.”

Those who were listening intently nodded their heads at someone’s words.

“But, the reason was that the Duchess asked for a divorce!”

“His Grace must have asked for a divorce, and the Duchess got angry!”

“No, it was the opposite! The Duchess asked for a divorce, and His Grace opposed it!”

Even at these words, mixed with the sound of wind, those listening opened their mouths wide.

Those who had opened their mouths indecorously quickly cleared their throats softly and covered their mouths.

People began to slowly gather around her. Even the sound of the orchestra seemed to diminish slightly.

“Serena, don’t eat too much.”

“…I have enough sense not to eat a lot.”

“Well, you do tend to eat well like a baby pig.”

Serena’s face contorted at those words.

“…You perverted gorilla.”

“…Perverted gorilla? That’s a bit harsh for a compliment. I can accept gorilla, but isn’t perverted too much?”

“Do you have any conscience?”

“My conscience is always intact.”

“…Even yesterday?”

“Yesterday, I just set it aside for a moment. I put it back this morning.”

Serena glared at Magnus with astonished eyes at his brazen response.

“Is conscience some kind of accessory? Something you can take off and put on?”

As Serena questioned incredulously, Magnus shrugged slightly with a faint smile.

Some of the ladies who first noticed the true nature of this seemingly bickering but actually incredibly intimate conversation blushed.

Of course, people began to slowly gather towards the back where the ducal couple’s conversation could be heard.

‘But baby pig?’

‘Perverted… gorilla?’

‘Is it some kind of pet name?’

Although it didn’t quite conjure up a cute image to be called a pet name, their hearts were pounding.

Weren’t these two famous only for their discord?

It was truly the first time they had seen them engage in this kind of conversation.

Perhaps that’s why?

Even such an insignificant conversation seemed so exciting to hear!

It was then, as their ears were turned towards where Serena was, that the young lady began to continue her thrilling story.

“Right there, His Grace got angry and said he liked the Duchess!”

Once again, the young lady began to continue her exciting story.

“Kyaa!”

At a situation that seemed to come straight out of a novel, one young lady let out a scream.

“You know how the Kelahinum ducal family always embraces the disease of madness. In that critical situation when it was about to go on a rampage! They say the Duchess cried and hugged His Grace, shouting ‘Actually, I like you too!'”

The story, distorted after being passed down orally over and over, began to be transmitted to them.

“C-cried? That Duchess…?”

“Yes, they say she cried.”

She didn’t cry.

Of course, she might have burst into tears inwardly due to resentment and indignation.

“Oh my… It’s truly an unbelievable story.”

“Indeed it is.”

Of course, it couldn’t be anything but an unbelievable story.

Because it never happened.

“Anyway, at that moment, His Grace, who miraculously came to his senses, said, ‘Actually, I love you too!'”

The young lady said, clenching her fists.

“……”

“……”

“Hey, Magnus. I want to go home.”

And that was heard very clearly by Serena and Magnus as well.

Magnus quietly nodded at Serena’s soft words.

He too couldn’t say anything and just pressed his palm against his eyelids.

Their ears, flushed red with heat, were clearly visible.

“After that miraculous understanding between the two, His Grace cherishes the Duchess so much…”

“My goodness, there was a reason for the change.”

“Come to think of it, I’ve heard that recently, even His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess have been keeping the Duchess quite close.”

“Oh, really? I’m sure… I thought the Duchess quite hated Her Highness the Crown Princess…”

“Well, I can hardly believe it myself, but according to what my servant told me…”

Another young lady was about to start a new story.

This time, people flocked towards the young lady who was about to start a new story.

Of course, they approached slowly to maintain their dignity, but the moving crowd was large enough to be noticeable.

Because of this, both Serena and Magnus had to keep their eyes unfocused, trying hard not to look in that direction.

“They say the Duchess bowed her head and apologized in front of His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

The quietly whispered voice was mixed with such astonishment that even the speaker seemed not to believe it.

“……”

“……”

“There really are no secrets in this world.”

It seemed that rumors spread faster than light even in this world without the internet.

Moreover, the words were strangely quite credible, which made it even more so.

Serena lightly rubbed her face and let out a deep sigh.

‘I want to go home.’

It’s fortunate that the situation she was worried about didn’t happen.

However, the fact that their family matters were being exposed like this further scrambled her thoughts.

It’s not that she was angry or sad, it just felt like her face was about to explode.

“Well, isn’t the business she’s doing now quite well-regarded?”

“That’s right, it’s so difficult to purchase that when I wrote a letter, I received a quite neat reply. Although I was rejected, advice on how to purchase was even attached. Should I say she was unexpectedly kind…”

One young lady spoke, apparently quite impressed by Serena’s actions.

‘…That must have been written and sent by Colin.’

All rejection letters were being handled by Colin Martora.

Most of the letters Serena wrote were related to business, and even those were mostly handled by Colin recently, with Serena only checking them once.

“I hear she gave a new prosthetic to the knight she keeps as a bodyguard.”

“A new prosthetic?”

“Yes, it’s said to be an amazing prosthetic that can move in detail even to the fingertips. They say she’s developing it with the Mage’s Tower for commercialization…”

“Oh my, then could that story be true? You know, about how some of the servants employed by the Duchess had their wrists or fingers cut off.”

One young lady whispered quietly, as if telling a very secret story.