“Don’t touch the grand duchess.”

The voice was as cold as midwinter frost. Elena’s icy gaze locked onto Chase with a ferocity that could make even a hardened man flinch.

Her glare was intense, but Chase remained unfazed. With an air of nonchalance, he met her eyes, a lazy smile playing on his lips.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. We were merely discussing business matters.”

“…You bastard.”

“Ah, the insults. I’ve heard them so many times, they’re getting old. Got anything new to say, El?”

“…!”

When Chase addressed Elena by the childhood nickname she used to be called, her eyes twitched in indignation.

“I can deal with you, but don’t drag innocent people into this! She’s not someone who should be used by a scoundrel like you. If you dare exploit her simplicity to bait me…”

“What are you talking about, El?”

Chase asked, his expression genuinely puzzled, as though he had no idea what she meant. Elena, restraining the urge to spit on his shameless face, had to take deep, rough breaths to calm herself.

“…Astrid has nothing to do with this.”

“And by that logic, neither do you, do you?”

“What?”

“This is between Her Grace and me. We were simply discussing business matters. I really don’t understand why the grand duke and you are reacting this way. It’s not me causing her distress, after all.”

“…”

Although he didn’t say it outright, it was a blatant criticism aimed at Caleb and Elena. At a loss for words, Elena bit her lip, while a wry smile crept onto Chase’s lips.

Then, feeling the sting of pain, he frowned slightly.

“…Ah, my lip’s split. I wonder what kind of humiliation I’ll face when I return to the estate in a week. If I’m lucky, I might avoid being labeled the mercenary captain’s punching bag.”

“…”

“Don’t worry, Elena. I know well how kind Her Grace is. I have no intention of hurting her. If anything, perhaps I’ll bring her some comfort.”

“You’re insane…”

Through clenched teeth, Elena muttered bitterly, her voice laced with anger.

“See? That insult is getting old. Until next time, El.”

With a calm smile, Chase waved his hand nonchalantly and turned on his heel, walking away. The man who would usually seize any excuse to stay near her had left her behind.

Perhaps because it was a first, Elena’s mind felt like a chaotic battlefield.

For the next week, Chase didn’t hover around her even once.

***

Her head felt foggy, as if a cloud had settled over her thoughts. Everything was blurred. During last night’s banquet, despite sitting at the same table, Elena had felt strangely isolated. To be precise, it wasn’t just her—it was both she and Caleb who had been left out.

With his split lip and bruised cheek, Chase chatted away effortlessly, moving seamlessly between stories that spanned continents and eras. The grand duchess, knowledgeable and cultured, willingly engaged him in conversation.

Thanks to Caleb, who silently ate with a sour expression, Elena had no choice but to keep quiet as well.

‘Could Chase truly be interested in Astrid…?’

Elena shook her head firmly, trying to dispel the thoughts that had plagued her since last night. She had thought enduring for just a month or so would be enough, but things seemed to be spiraling out of control.

‘Caleb, Chase… neither of them is in their right mind. It’s a madhouse.’

Yesterday at dawn, Caleb, with a sullen expression, had gone out hunting but had been preoccupied the entire time.

Caleb had always been fiercely competitive, never content to lose—not in swordsmanship, hunting, or even simple games.

This trait hadn’t changed even into adulthood. Yet, during the hunt, Caleb seemed strangely indifferent and unusually silent.

Even when Elena successfully took down a large deer, his only reaction was a disinterested glance.

“…And then, there was that deliberate act.”

It had happened deep in the forest when they encountered a large bear and fought together. While Elena fired five arrows into the enraged bear’s vital points, Caleb drew his sword.

Normally, he would have ended the fight swiftly with a precise strike to the bear’s weak spot, but his movements were oddly sluggish this time. As a result, the bear managed to claw his arm.

Of course, Caleb avenged himself immediately by stabbing the bear in the neck, but still.

“Is this enough? I’m hurting so much I could die—let’s head back.”

Elena clearly remembered Caleb’s face at that moment. For someone supposedly in pain, his expression was far too calm. In fact, he had looked almost pleased, a stark contrast to his earlier boredom.

Caleb, the ultimate slayer who regularly hunted monsters far larger than bears, had taken a hit on purpose—it couldn’t have been an accident.

‘That same man, claiming his arm was killing him, then went on to skin the bear with just a dagger…’

It was as though the bear were some honey jar he couldn’t wait to take home. Caleb hurried their return to the estate.

‘So, was Astrid the honey jar all along…?’

Elena’s elegant brow furrowed slightly. Calm as he tried to appear, it seemed his feelings for his wife had belatedly reignited with intensity.

At this rate, her plans were sure to fall apart. To make matters worse, Chase’s involvement had sent things spiraling in an unpredictable direction.

“This won’t do. I need a more fundamental solution.”

Elena tossed aside the blanket she had pulled over her head and quickly left her room. She headed straight for the grand duke’s study.

***

Caleb and Elkan sat across from each other, separated by a mountain of documents. Elkan was meticulously presenting each document to Caleb, explaining it before collecting the required seal of approval.

Caleb had always shown little interest in administrative matters, but today was worse than usual. His lack of attention was so blatant that Elkan had to muster every ounce of patience to restrain his rising irritation.

“Marquis Chase has formally proposed an offer. He wishes to purchase the entire supply of Cliff’s Tears for the marquisate.”

“…What?”

‘So, he was barely listening this whole time!’

Elkan let out a wry chuckle as he noticed Caleb’s eyes narrowing into triangles.

“As you know, the Marquis of Chase is among the wealthiest and shrewdest businessmen in the capital. He recognizes the value of the product. He’s offering to buy it all for exclusive distribution, and the amount he’s proposed is staggering. The down payment alone covers this year’s budget…”

“No.”

“…Pardon?”

“I said no. What kind of deal could we possibly make with that lunatic? And if it’s an exclusive contract, it means constant contact with him, doesn’t it? That’s dangerous.”

“…Ha.”

Although Caleb hadn’t named her outright, his point was clear: he didn’t want Astrid and Chase to keep meeting.

It had nothing to do with the potential profit Cliff might gain; it was simply the petty jealousy of a possessive man.

“I understand Your Grace’s opinion of Marquis Chase, but that’s irrelevant to me.”

“…What?”

“Regardless of his personality, he is an exceptional businessman. He’s grown his ventures significantly, and his reliability is well-recognized. There’s no better price to be had. Even Her Grace, the grand duchess, has already…”

“Astrid approved this?”

“Yes. Her Grace, who oversees this project, has given her approval. All that’s left is for you, Your Grace, to simply stamp your seal.”

In other words, shut up and stamp it. Elkan placed the document and seal firmly in front of Caleb, making no effort to hide his frustration.

“…Elkan?”

“Yes?”

“You’ve grown a lot. I remember when you were just a little runt.”

“Yes, well, someone has to step up when the grand duke himself insists on kicking away a golden opportunity for Cliff.”

“…Ha.”

“So, why don’t you go ahead and stamp it, dear brother?“

“…”

Caleb was about to retort when the sudden use of “brother” left him speechless, his mouth snapping shut.

Ignoring Caleb’s flustered reaction, Elkan continued calmly.

“My head is already about to explode as it is. Please, just cooperate.”

As Elkan ran a hand roughly over his face, Caleb clenched his teeth. Though reluctant, Caleb couldn’t outright refuse.

The contract offered terms that were objectively favorable. Letting personal feelings jeopardize the deal wasn’t an option.

“…I don’t like it,” Caleb grumbled like a sulking child, but he reached for the seal nonetheless. With a loud thunk, the Grand Duke of Cliff’s seal pressed firmly into the softened wax.

Elkan, not trusting Caleb to reconsider, swiftly snatched up the document and blew on it to dry the wax.

“…Insufferable.”