The grand duke and duchess returned to Cliff Manor, where the knights and servants who had been eagerly awaiting them welcomed their arrival with enthusiasm.

Walking past the knights lined up in their uniforms, Astrid exchanged glances with each of them. Though she had only spent a few months with them, she couldn’t contain her joy at their safe return.

The feeling seemed mutual, as the knights returned her kind greetings with respectful bows and warm words of welcome.

“Kyle, thank you for coming back safely. But your arm—!”

Stopping before the young knight Kyle, Astrid’s eyes widened. His left arm was bandaged from shoulder to fingertips. Astrid frowned as though she felt the pain herself, causing Kyle to smile sheepishly.

“This is nothing, really. Though my arm nearly got severed, if not for the potion from Mount Hestian, I wouldn’t even be able to stand like this.”

“…I see.”

Astrid was still speaking with Kyle when a lively commotion arose behind her.

“Lady Elena! It’s been ages since you last visited. How many years has it been since you were here at Cliff?”

“Seriously? We saw each other so often during the monster subjugation that I’m surprised you’re still this enthusiastic. Sir Helman, could you stop calling me ‘Lady’? I gave up that title ages ago.”

“Ha! Then should I call you ‘Captain’? For what it’s worth, I’m still a knight of Cliff serving Lord Caleb.”

“Who asked you to say that? Never mind. Let’s have a drink at the banquet later.”

“Oh! Are you including me, Elena?”

“Actually, I had something to ask you! It’s about the weapon you switched to this time…”

The knights, who had finished greeting Astrid, were now chatting with Elena as if they were long-time comrades.

‘So, the entire knight order knows Elena well.’

She had visited Cliff since childhood and had even fought alongside them. It was obvious she couldn’t compare to someone like herself, who had only known them for a few months.

‘It’s natural, but… why does it make me feel this way?’

Even though she stood among the group, Astrid felt as though she were isolated on a deserted island.

“Are you alright, Your Grace?”

Noticing Astrid’s pale complexion, Matilda asked worriedly. Lost in her thoughts, Astrid quickly pulled herself together and replied,

“Of course! I’m just a little tired from the long journey.”

“Then, please take a bath and rest until dinner. You don’t look well.”

“No, I’ll just wash up briefly, change clothes, and come down. It’s been two years since the knights returned, and we even have an esteemed guest.”

“…Your Grace.”

“Thank you for your concern, Matilda. But as the lady of the house, I can’t neglect my duties. Please let everyone know to do their best, even if it’s hard for them. This dinner must be perfect.”

It was the day the knights returned after completing a monster subjugation. It was also the day the master of Cliff, who had been absent for two years, safely came back—a day more special than any other. But Matilda couldn’t help feeling sorry for Astrid, who had to endure this harsh situation.

‘She’s always so kind and gentle to everyone, always smiling and lifting others’ spirits. How could she look so lifeless now, like a plant deprived of sunlight?’

Barely twenty years old.

Yet, a shadow that didn’t suit her youthful age cast itself over her small face.

What could she say to her? Right now, the best thing was to support her wishes.

‘Once dinner is over, I’ll have to meet with Sir Elkan first.’

Matilda quickly sorted through her plans in her head. Then she approached Astrid and silently linked arms with her, supporting her as if she might collapse at any moment.

“I’m fine, Matilda. I…”

“Lean on me, Your Grace. What if you collapse like this? I couldn’t bear to see that. If you’re going to hold out until dinner, you need to conserve your energy.”

“Matilda is right, Your Grace. I’ll make sure you shine brighter than anyone else—a star that outshines all others. I’ll help make you the most beautiful lady in the world.”

Edith, who was supporting her other arm, whispered softly, her gaze fixed on Elena mingling with the knights in the distance. Her slightly raised eyebrows betrayed her annoyance.

Seeing Edith’s expression, a small laugh escaped Astrid’s lips.

“Pfft!”

“…Your Grace?”

Astrid laughed again, looking at Edith’s bewildered expression. Though she still seemed weak, her pale face seemed to regain a bit of color with her laughter.

“You’re both overly enthusiastic. I’ll take all your concern to heart, so don’t worry about me.”

Astrid, back to her usual self as if nothing had happened, reassured the two. Though they had much to say, Matilda and Edith could only nod.

The best they could do now was to make her as comfortable as possible.

“I’m worried about whether we have enough meat. I believe there’s some in storage that we bought a week ago…”

Astrid began discussing dinner preparations with Matilda seriously. Meanwhile, a distant pair of eyes watched her intently.

“Why? Does it break your heart? What good does staring wistfully at her back do? Do you think the Grand Duchess will notice? Keep this up, and you’ll spill everything. Don’t forget—speaking of it violates the contract.”

“Elena Blevit. I’m warning you…”

Elena flinched briefly at the sound of her full name from Caleb’s lips. Then, tapping his shoulder playfully, she broke into laughter.

“Go on. Your lady is generous, after all. Well, I suppose I could share her with her husband, just a little.”

“But…”

“Then forget it. Do you think I want to send you to her?”

Elena’s playful tone faded, her smile gone. Caleb stared at her dark brown eyes for a long moment before turning abruptly.

“Commander! Are you joining us for a drink later with Elena? I have some reports about the final battle—Commander, answer!”

Caleb simply raised his hand in acknowledgment as he left the hall. His footsteps quickened as he climbed the stairs, heading straight for the Grand Duke and Duchess’s chambers—where Astrid was.

The moment Caleb disappeared, Helman’s grin vanished entirely.

“Now that the Commander’s gone, Elena, what exactly are you planning?”

“What…?”

Feigning ignorance, Elena shrugged.

“The Commander isn’t someone who’d easily take a lover while leaving the Grand Duchess behind. It’s suspicious for him to suddenly claim he has one after all these years.”

“…Ah.”

“So why not tell me? I’d love to know.”

“And why should I?”

Elena let out a small laugh, her gaze cold as she looked Helman up and down.

“To me, there’s only one Grand Duchess of Cliff. You’d be welcome as Caleb’s childhood friend and our comrade, Elena. But if you came with other intentions, that’s problematic. I’m sure the rest of the knights feel the same.”

“…Ha.”

Helman, who seemed more of a rogue than a knight, made such a remark, leaving Elena to scoff in disbelief.

‘I didn’t come all the way to Cliff to be treated like this. How could I refuse her request, though?’

The Grand Duchess of Cliff, dripping with loveliness even to Elena’s eyes. She couldn’t turn down her heartfelt plea.

‘I wonder if Her Grace knows how much love she has from the people of Cliff.’

Elena sincerely hoped Astrid’s dinner would not end in disaster. But deep down, she doubted it.

‘…Well, I saw this coming to some extent. Thanks to that bastard Chase, I’ve become the villain.’

The Grand Duke, returning after two years, had brought a lover with him, leaving behind his beautiful wife. Chaos was inevitable. Elena had anticipated it when she accepted Astrid’s invitation. But even so, now that it was happening, it didn’t sit well with her.

Thinking about the look in Astrid’s eyes when she gazed at Caleb left an ache in one corner of her chest.

‘Caleb Lionel, you thoughtless fool. How could anything about this be okay? A loving husband brings his mistress, and you think any woman in the world would be okay with that?’

As unpleasant as it was, Elena had no choice but to seize the opportunity. However, seeing Astrid hurt right in front of her made her feel as if her conscience were being pricked with knitting needles. It was unsettling.

‘But what can I do? I have no one but Caleb.’

For Elena, there was no alternative to Caleb. Hurting a kind and lovely woman pained her heart, but it was a price she had to pay for her own immovable reasons.