“Was it when Caleb and I first met? I must’ve been around ten years old.”

“…Oh.”

Astrid had heard they had known each other for a long time but didn’t realize their connection went that far back.

“My father was a knight serving the late Grand Duke, back when he was still a prince. When His Grace asked my father to teach Caleb swordsmanship, we stayed at Cliff for several months. After that, we visited every summer.”

“I see.”

Elena’s eyes glimmered with nostalgic fondness as she spoke of the past. Even without further explanation, it was clear how cherished those memories were.

What kind of child had Caleb been? Astrid felt a sudden pang of jealousy toward Elena, who knew a part of Caleb’s life she didn’t.

“I remember one summer—it was for Lady Hestian’s birthday. His Grace had a special gift made: a ring crafted by the master artisan Bliss. I believe the young lady had just turned ten.”

“Could it be…?”

“Yes, the young lady of Bowell. The ring’s recipient was you. I must admit, I envied it a bit and teased Caleb about it for days, though he never humored me.”

“…Ah.”

Feeling a gaze on her hand, Astrid instinctively hid the one adorned with the ring. Realizing how absurd it was, as though Elena might take it from her, she awkwardly placed her hand back where it had been.

‘What am I doing?’

Her face flushed with embarrassment, but Elena seemed unbothered, merely shrugging.

“Don’t worry, Astrid. While I may have taken Caleb’s lover’s place, I know well enough that the Grand Duchess of Cliff is the rightful owner of that ring. I’m not so greedy as to covet it.”

“…”

What was Elena Blevit trying to say? Astrid couldn’t fathom her intentions.

Elena was not a bad person—this much had been clear for some time. However, Astrid was bewildered by her attitude: openly claiming to be Caleb’s lover, yet not coveting the position of Grand Duchess. How was one supposed to interpret such behavior?

“…So, what is it that you…”

“Speak, Astrid.”

“What is it you’re trying to say? That you’re not so wicked as to crave even the position of Grand Duchess? Or are you telling me not to fret because you won’t go so far as to steal this seat? Or perhaps…”

“…?”

“Do you pity me? Is that what this is? Are you sympathizing with me because I seem… pitiful?”

“…!”

Astrid’s piercing blue eyes locked onto Elena. Transparent and devoid of malice or resentment, his gaze seemed as though it could see through her very soul.

Meeting those icy blue eyes, Elena’s expression momentarily faltered, as though a chill had crept into the corner of her heart.

“…My, I’ve overstepped. Forgive me, Astrid,” Elena said, bowing her head in apology without hesitation instead of offering a lengthy explanation. Even in this act of contrition, she looked so dignified that Astrid couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of inferiority once more.

“No, it’s my fault. I invited you here only to act pettily toward you. This isn’t your doing. If I made you uncomfortable, I apologize again—”

Astrid had just begun to bow her head and offer a formal apology when—

“Astrid!”

“…Yes?”

At the urgent call of her name, Astrid quickly raised her head to look at Elena, whose face bore an unusual hesitation—so unlike her usual confident demeanor.

Elena’s lips moved as if to say something, but she hesitated, appearing uncharacteristically uneasy.

“…Elena?”

“It’s just… what I mean to say is… Caleb and I, well…”

“…Yes?”

Though she had no desire to know the specifics of Caleb and Elena’s relationship, Astrid felt obligated to respond out of courtesy. Her face stiffened slightly as she did so, and Elena, as if gathering her resolve, began to speak.

“Caleb and I… While it’s true we’re in a relationship, there are circumstances…”

Elena, who had been hesitating, was just beginning to explain when—

Bang!

The door swung open without warning. Startled by the sudden noise, both women instinctively turned their gaze toward the door.

“Who…?”

Astrid murmured in surprise at the sight of a stranger standing firmly in the doorway, and Elena let out a gasp of recognition.

“Chase.”

“…Ah.”

It was only after hearing Elena utter his name that Astrid realized the identity of the unexpected visitor. The man standing in the doorway was none other than Marquis Chase, whom she had met in the royal palace a few days prior.

Standing in the doorway, Chase’s face was rigid. Behind him stood Caleb, his expression dark as he gripped Chase’s shoulder with an iron-like grasp, exuding an aura of palpable menace, as though he might tear the man apart at any moment.

“Forgive me, Your Grace, the Grand Duchess. I was not invited, but might I stay at Cliff Castle for just one week? I beg you.”

At Chase’s unexpected words, Astrid hesitated before opening her mouth to respond.

“Well—”

“Enough nonsense!”

But Astrid didn’t get the chance to finish her sentence. Caleb had roughly grabbed Chase by the collar, cutting her off.

“Caleb!”

Startled, Astrid took a step toward the two men, but Caleb flinched and spoke to her in a low voice.

“Do not take another step.”

His gaze remained fixed on Chase, burning with intensity. Caleb’s fiery eyes glared at him, yet Chase showed no sign of backing down. Unflinching, he stood tall and met Caleb’s gaze with unwavering confidence.

Though not as muscular as Caleb, Marquis Chase was still impressively tall, making the confrontation between the two men one of equal stature.

The tension in the room was so thick that it seemed they might come to blows or draw their swords at any moment.

“Release me, Your Grace. As I said, I came to see the Grand Duchess. I’ve heard that Cliff Castle never turns away a guest, even a beggar,” Chase said with calm defiance.

“A beggar? Ha! You’re worse than a beggar—”

Enraged, Caleb raised his arm as if to strike Chase. But just then, he felt a faint tug on his arm and stopped in his tracks.

“…!”

It was Astrid, small as ever, barely reaching his chest even at twenty years of age. Her earnest expression and desperate shaking of her head made him hesitate.

“I told you to step back—”

“Marquis Chase is right.”

“…!”

Caleb’s face noticeably crumpled at the sudden words defending Chase.

It would be a lie to say she wasn’t frightened. However, as the mistress of Cliff and the grand duchess, Astrid could not simply sit back and watch the situation unfold. Even though she had failed to become Caleb’s love, she was still Cliff’s mistress and the grand duchess.

To maintain the position he had acknowledged, she had to fulfill her role properly.

“Cliff never turns away guests who come seeking it. First, I’ll hear his circumstances. So, let him go, Your Grace.”

“…….”

A chillingly cold atmosphere enveloped the room. Yet, Astrid did not back down even a step from her stance against Caleb.

In truth, she felt as though her legs would give out at any moment, and she wanted nothing more than to collapse. But she was doing her utmost not to let it show. Even so, withstanding Caleb’s fiery aura was no easy task.

Astrid clenched her skirt tightly to hide her trembling hands. Caleb’s gaze, fixed solely on Chase, lingered briefly on her hands. However, no one noticed, not even Caleb himself, as it was a fleeting moment.

“…It seems the Grand Duchess’s words are correct, don’t you think?”

“…….”

Caleb’s gaze, locked in a standoff with Astrid, sharply shifted to Elena. Elena thought his openly twisted expression looked as though he was about to spew curses.

“Shouldn’t you meet with me first before speaking with the Grand Duchess, Chase?”

“…Elena.”

In that instant, the tension drained from Chase’s taut frame.

Thud.

It was at that moment. Just as Chase’s strength completely gave out, Caleb released his grip on Chase’s collar.

“Ugh!”

With no strength left, Chase staggered and collapsed to the floor. Though he avoided sprawling messily, his posture was far from dignified. Looking down at Chase, Caleb sneered.

“Nothing short of a clown.”

His tone was dripping with sarcasm, making his disdain unmistakable. With arms crossed, Caleb continued hurling petty taunts that seemed designed to wound Chase’s pride.

“Did you come for a ball? Perhaps you’re practicing the latest waltz steps? Your staggering gait is almost too graceful, rivaling that of a dancer…”

“Ha. Enough of this, Your Grace,” Elena cut in, her voice strained as she tried to diffuse the situation with a forced laugh. However, her tone carried a hint of teeth-clenched frustration.

At her words, Caleb ground his teeth audibly.

“…Are you taking his side now?”

“Of course he came to see me, not you. So just let it go, Caleb.”

“And here I thought you were…”

“Yes, I came to see her! Let’s talk alone, Elena. Right now!”