* * *

“Did you enjoy yourself?”

After finishing dinner and returning to the mansion, Magnus was standing at the entrance.

“Magnus? I thought you were coming back late, did you just get in?”

“No?”

“But you’re still in your outdoor clothes?”

“……”

Magnus was silent for a moment.

“Come to think of it, I’ve only been back for about 20 minutes.”

Having returned exactly 2 minutes before her arrival, he felt sweat running down his spine and swallowed.

Trying to steady his rough breathing, he calmly opens his mouth.

“You’re quite late.”

“Ah, my appointment ran a bit long. But why have you been standing here for 20 minutes?”

“I was waiting for you.”

At Magnus’s words, Serena’s eyes widened and she tilted her head.

“For me?”

A puzzled expression reaches him.

“Oh, we just walked together, nothing special happened. With this, even if we divorce, there shouldn’t be any backlash on you, right?”

“Backlash?”

“Yes, rumors will spread that we’re divorcing because I committed adultery.”

Serena replied nonchalantly as she went inside.

‘Then everything should be resolved neatly.’

Serena nodded with satisfaction.

As Serena Lavernia, she was doing a solid job of playing the villainess role.

“Why……”

Magnus took a deep breath, feeling his sunken heart pounding.

“Why do you say such things?”

“What?”

Magnus strode forward and stood in front of her.

“Why are you blocking the way…?”

“Why are you trying to shoulder everything? There’s no need to take the blame. It’s a divorce by mutual agreement.”

Serena’s expression twisted slightly at Magnus’s words.

Seeing her expression that looked as though she was hearing something strange, Magnus felt an ache somewhere in his heart.

“But there’s no need to unnecessarily tarnish your honor, right?”

Throb–

With that one sentence, it felt like his heart was being squeezed.

“What about your honor?”

“Did I ever have something like honor? It’s fine, I don’t really care about it.”

Serena shrugged slightly with a faint smile, as if it was nothing.

Magnus felt a little angry.

No, in fact, he was more than a little angry.

But he couldn’t express his anger.

When she herself was saying it was fine like that, Magnus had no right to be angry.

It seemed like he had no right.

“Even so, there’s no need for you to bear such dishonor……”

“It’s my fault to begin with, isn’t it? You got tired of me, and I did some things wrong too.”

Serena, who habitually blamed herself, now looked a bit tired.

Magnus knew she didn’t want to discuss this further, but he couldn’t back down.

“And anyway, I’m hated by most people in the world, so it doesn’t matter.”

Nevertheless, why did that one sentence stab his heart so painfully?

Magnus couldn’t understand at all.

“…Don’t blame yourself. Instead, blame me.”

“Oh, then everyone will say I’m framing you, you know?”

There’s a playful laughter in her voice.

Magnus really wanted to ask. If she truly wasn’t hurt.

If she really didn’t mind at all.

But if he asked that, she would probably answer that she really didn’t.

“What would you do if I said I don’t want to divorce?”

“……Why?”

Serena asked with an involuntarily stiff face.

‘What now!’

I can’t add any more tasks.

Already, the to-do list that only had four items has grown to eight.

If it grows any more, either I’ll collapse or the world will.

“I just thought it might not be bad to stay with you……”

“Magnus.”

Serena opened her mouth seriously.

“What about the count’s daughter? She’s a good person. Weren’t things going well with her?”

Magnus closed his mouth tightly at Serena’s serious and worried attitude.

‘…She’s this nonchalant?’

Even though he knew the other person had no interest in him at all, as a married couple, it felt a bit off to be pushed so strongly towards another woman.

No, it felt more than a bit off.

And Magnus was at the point where he was gradually becoming aware of his feelings.

“……I’ve never even met the count’s daughter.”

Magnus said, feeling a bit wronged.

He truly hadn’t met anyone since getting married.

It’s actually unfair to be misunderstood like this.

They say there’s no smoke without fire, but Magnus really hadn’t lit any fire.

“Huh?”

“It’s true.”

“Hmm… but then why did you ask about date courses?”

“I told you, I wanted to go with you.”

“Ah……”

That’s right.

Serena blinked her eyes.

“I have no intention of meeting other women.”

“Oh, you will end up meeting someone.”

Serena said with certainty.

“I won’t.”

Magnus said with equal certainty.

“No, I’m telling you, you will.”

Serena retorted, a bit irritated.

“I won’t.”

Magnus growled in his throat.

“No, it will happen! Just meet someone! At a wedding, you know? You might fall in love at first sight!”

“Whose wedding are you talking about! I’ve never fallen in love at first sight!”

“You have! Her Highness the Crown Princess!”

“I haven’t! ……What? Her Highness the Crown Princess?”

Magnus and Serena were raising their voices and arguing when Magnus stopped first.

Somehow, a name that shouldn’t have been heard came up.

He narrowed his brows with a slightly flustered face.

“Why is that name coming up here?”

“Well, you liked Her Highness the Crown Princess, didn’t you?”

“Me??”

Magnus asked back with an expression of hearing this for the first time in his life.

“Um…, yes. You, right?”

Unless there was another Magnus von Kelahinum here.

Serena thought so, but couldn’t hide her puzzlement at his shocked expression.

“What do you…! What kind of person do you think I am to say such things! I’ve had you as my fiancée since I was young!”

I know that.

Serena nodded.

“But still, you can have someone you’re attracted to! It’s not like people’s hearts can be controlled!”

Servants began to gather around stealthily.

Their eyes, pretending not to look while glancing, were full of interest.

‘Oh my, a lovers’ quarrel…?’

‘Goodness, it’s the first time I’ve seen His Grace the Duke raise his voice like that.’

‘And the Duchess… is this the first time she’s gotten angry so gently like this?’

‘Right, she must be in a very good mood.’

‘Despite pretending otherwise, could she actually love His Grace the Duke?’

Glances were exchanged among the servants and maids who had gathered, pretending to clean or do their work.

The content of their conversations was roughly like this.

“No, no matter what, to think that I would like someone who’s already taken, wh-what kind of image do you have of me?!”

‘Oh my…! Did His Grace just stutter?’

‘This is the first time we’ve seen him like this.’

Magnus clenched his fists and raised his voice loudly.

“What?! W-well……”

Flustered by the direct question, Serena’s lips quivered before she hesitantly opened her mouth.

“P-pure…, pure love…?”

‘……Pure love?!’

‘Gasp, did the Duchess just say that……?’

‘Pure love… so the Duchess actually acknowledged our master. She liked him.’

‘But if that’s the case, why did she usually…… She was so cruel….’

‘Honestly, the Duke was quite cold too. Maybe it was all because she wanted attention…?’

Serena, angry to the tips of her hair, spat out the words.

But the slight trembling at the end of her voice was unavoidable.

She intended to curse, but in the end, what came out wasn’t a curse.

“P-pure love? To think you’ve been evaluating me so positively……”

Magnus, who instantly tucked his tail, startled and raised his head again.