“Your Grace.”

As Astrid entered the kitchen, she was greeted by Cradoc, who gave her a knightly bow. Though dressed as the head chef, he always maintained his decorum as her loyal retainer.

Even during their trip to the royal palace, he had insisted on personally serving as her escort, allowing her to leave Cliff Manor with peace of mind. Though the journey had burdened her with heavy truths and emotional weight, she was grateful for his steadfastness.

The inviting aroma from the kitchen lifted her spirits as she accepted the plate of cake Cradoc offered.

“It’s my favorite—your special chocolate cake?”

“Yes, Your Grace. I had considered delegating this to the sous chef, but tonight’s banquet holds the honor of representing Cliff Manor. I couldn’t do anything less than my utmost.”

“Thank you. It’s reassuring to know the honor of Cliff Manor is in your capable hands tonight.”

Smiling faintly, Astrid stabbed her fork into the cake. Its firm texture suggested it was perfectly baked. She cut a piece and brought it to her mouth, savoring the dense, rich flavor. The balance of bitter and sweet was indeed worthy of its reputation as Cliff Manor’s signature dessert.

“As expected, your cake is the best! If anyone asks for a second piece, refuse them outright, understood?”

She joked with a thumbs-up, drawing a hearty laugh from Cradoc. Yet, there was a hint of sadness in his gaze as he watched her.

‘What madness is this? Bringing Elena here as his lover and dragging the Marquis Chase into the mix? Poor Your Grace, caught in the middle of all this mess.’

Though anger simmered within him, Cradoc maintained a gentle demeanor. He had no intention of further troubling her already heavy heart with ill-timed advice or clumsy attempts at comfort.

“We’ve prepared veal steak and sea bass for the main course, along with plenty of wine. The kitchen is all set. I’ll need to check with Matilda about the decorations.”

As Astrid continued, Cradoc served her a cup of milk tea and freshly pressed fruit juice, creating a peaceful moment between the two that could have been mistaken for a father and daughter sharing an intimate chat.

***

“…Is this really necessary?”

Astrid muttered to herself as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Edith had spared no effort in dressing her up, leaving Astrid unable to voice her discomfort or ask for a change of attire. All she could do was sigh quietly.

She felt utterly out of place. Every detail of her outfit, from head to toe, was so extravagantly styled that she was embarrassed to even look in the mirror.

By nature, Astrid preferred simple and practical clothing. Living in the remote Cliff Manor, there were rarely any visitors, and with the knights often away on campaigns, there was little reason for her to dress up. Most of her time was spent visiting the “Cliff’s Tears” distillery, the estate’s hospital, or the orphanage—places where formal attire was unnecessary. Otherwise, she stayed in her laboratory, favoring comfort over style.

But now, her face felt suffocated under layers of makeup, something she rarely wore.

‘All this lace and frills… it’s too much.’

Her gown was equally overwhelming. The neckline plunged daringly, and the fabric clung to her body so tightly that breathing was a challenge. The voluminous skirt made her feel like a puffed-up loaf of bread, and she worried she’d be the laughingstock of the evening.

Yet, she couldn’t complain to Edith, whose eyes sparkled with pride over her handiwork.

“Of course, Your Grace is elegant and naturally charming, but you’ve underestimated how well you suit this glamorous style! With your striking features, it’s not over the top at all—I guarantee it!”

“But, Edith…”

“Just wait and see, alright? No matter how mature Lady Elena’s beauty is, it will pale in comparison to Your Grace’s splendor. I guarantee it!”

“Then, how about removing some of the jewelry?”

“It’s only a diamond necklace, bracelet, and earrings. Honestly, I wanted to add a tiara, but I restrained myself because the most radiant thing is not the tiara but Your Grace’s face.”

“Sigh… Matilda, is this really okay?”

At Astrid’s words, which signaled her surrender in convincing Edith, Matilda burst into laughter. She was just fixing Astrid’s hair, securing it with a diamond pin.

“When it comes to attire and makeup, Edith is never wrong. Even I was surprised. I didn’t expect such an extravagant style to suit you so well.”

“Exactly! We should have dressed you up like this when you visited the royal palace!”

“…Hmm.”

The mention of the royal palace suddenly brought Fabiola to mind. The chaos surrounding Elena had made Astrid forget all about her.

Thinking of Fabiola, the only remaining kin under the Croatan sky, weighed heavily on her heart. It felt like another enormous burden had been placed on her already troubled mind.

‘What could she be thinking? Cliff and the capital are far apart, so I want to believe nothing major has happened, but…’

“Your Grace, is something the matter? If you’re unhappy with it…”

Edith’s shoulders drooped as if she had noticed Astrid’s clouded expression. Realizing this, Astrid quickly patted her hand in appreciation of her efforts.

“Not at all. It just feels a bit unfamiliar. I trust your judgment, Edith.”

“Right? You won’t be disappointed. Tonight, Your Grace will be the shining star of Cliff. The one and only star!”

Would that really be the case?

Astrid’s honest hope was simply to avoid being mocked for her attire, chosen with Elena in mind. However, seeing Matilda side with Edith gave her hope that perhaps it wasn’t too bad.

***

That night.

The banquet to celebrate the duke’s return and welcome the guests was a grand success. And Edith’s prediction proved accurate.

Astrid became the star of the evening, receiving admiration from countless men for his beauty and charm.

The problem, however, was that one of those men turned out to be someone entirely unexpected.

Thud, thud.

Caleb’s footsteps echoed heavily down the long corridor, unusually burdened as he made his way to escort Astrid to the banquet.

“The person who shares your heart and walks through life with you. Let it be me. Promise me that if you return safely, you’ll see me as a woman.”

“Hey…”

“It’s fine as long as you don’t tell me not to love you.”

“Listen to me…!”

“I love you, Caleb.”

The image of Astrid confessing with flushed pink cheeks, damp lashes trembling, quivering lips, and tightly clenched fists kept flashing in Caleb’s mind.

She had spoken in a slower tone than usual to mask her nerves, but her words had been clear and resolute.

It felt like a fog had settled in his mind, weighing him down unbearably. The aftermath of Elena’s situation was already significant, and now Chase’s interference had thrown everything into further disarray.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her like this.”

No matter how composed she appeared, Caleb couldn’t ignore the occasional sorrow and pain that flickered in her blue eyes. Each time, his heart would drop with a heavy thud.

Given the depth of the wound, she should have given up by now. But Astrid had declared she would not abandon him.

It was an odd feeling—pity for Astrid mixed with a strange sense of relief.

“Pathetic…”

Facing the duality of his emotions, Caleb scorned himself.

Why did he feel this way? He hadn’t anticipated it, nor could he comprehend it, which only deepened his confusion.

The announcement of his relationship with Elena had caused a far greater stir than expected. He had prepared himself to some extent, but not for this level of backlash.

He’d thought there might be some pain, but he had believed it would pass, that people would understand once they knew the full story. But Astrid’s reaction, coupled with Chase’s sudden intrusion, had thrown all his expectations off course.

The awkward behavior of the servants, who would subtly avert their gazes whenever he passed by, was impossible to ignore.

“A beautiful, wise, and kind-hearted woman devoted only to her husband. The pure and noble grand duchess betrayed by a faithless grand duke who brought another woman to Cliff.”

That was the new label the people of Cliff had pinned on Caleb.

“…Sigh.”

Standing before Astrid’s door, Caleb let out a deep sigh. One of the servants, who had been warily watching him, announced his arrival in a hushed tone.

“Your Grace, the Grand Duke is here.”

“Let him in.”

A calm voice came from beyond the door. Hearing the serene tone, no different from usual, eased the stifling tension in his chest just a little.

‘At least she’s not crying.’

Feeling a slight sense of relief, Caleb stepped into the room, only to be met with an unexpected sight.

“…!”

“Welcome, Caleb.”

“…”

“Did I overdo it?”

Astrid smiled awkwardly at Caleb, whose frozen expression betrayed his shock. She tucked a few stray strands of hair behind her ear, revealing diamond teardrop earrings that shimmered brilliantly under the light.

“It suits you.”

Startled by his unexpected words, Astrid’s eyes widened. Unlike her usual unadorned appearance, she had accentuated her eyes with blue-toned makeup that matched her dress, giving her features a striking clarity.

What could he say?

It felt unfamiliar, yet so perfectly fitting for her that no further discussion was necessary. Though the dress and jewelry were dazzlingly ornate, they harmonized beautifully, exuding elegance.

It was as if a radiant peacock were spreading its tail feathers in a proud display, showcasing the mature beauty of the 20-year-old grand duchess before Caleb’s eyes.

“Let’s go.”

Her face was one he knew well but seemed unfamiliar tonight. Caleb, unable to tear his gaze from her sharply defined eyes, lips, and delicate nose, extended his hand toward her.

Without a word, Astrid placed her hand in his.

“…!”

The moment her hand lightly rested on his, his grip tightened instinctively.

“…Sorry.”

Startled, Astrid flinched, her body trembling slightly. Caleb immediately muttered an apology in a low, half-hoarse voice, sounding awkward.

But his gaze wasn’t on Astrid—it was fixed ahead. Caleb, who always maintained direct eye contact during conversations and had taught young Astrid to do the same, was now avoiding her eyes.

It was a strange sensation. Astrid felt, perhaps, that Caleb was flustered.

‘…It might just be my imagination.’

When Caleb began walking without a word, Astrid hurried to match his pace. She didn’t want to stumble or falter under the weight of her heavy clothes and jewelry, especially not today. But such mishaps didn’t occur.

It was thanks to Caleb. He waited for her to catch up and, after ensuring she was ready, resumed walking.

In the end, their steps fell into rhythm, moving as one.

‘Come to think of it… Caleb has always been like this.’

Fifteen years old. From the first day she met him in Hestian, he had always been like this. Gruff in demeanor but considerate in silence, putting others at ease.

Even with his rough words, he’d casually offer comfort, never seeking acknowledgment or thanks.

It was this quiet, unassuming kindness of Caleb’s that Astrid still cherished deeply.