The Grand Duchess, or more precisely the Grand Duke, sent an invitation with the next audience date immediately.

Looking at the invitation, Eve thought, ‘The Grand Duke must be in a hurry too.’

Indeed, the audience was scheduled for just two days after their first meeting.

Before the audience, Eve requested information about the Grand Duchy and Ptotr from
Walter. She thought he would know everything she needed.

On the day of the audience, while she was preparing early in the morning, there was a knock at the door.

It seemed he had finally brought the materials she requested.

“Sir Walter.”

Eve opened the door with a cheerful voice. And found herself face to face with Medric, who stood there with a sullen expression.

“We’re not even divorced yet, and you’re openly calling another man’s name when opening the door?”

“Ah.”

Eve was at a loss for words, rolling her eyes before answering.

“Is Sir Walter just any other man? He’s your subordinate, after all.”

“…What kind of excuse is that.”

Medric started to speak but stopped himself.

‘Oh, should I explain that this is a misunderstanding? But wouldn’t explaining something so trivial be even stranger?’

‘Why did I have to call out his name while opening the door?’

As Eve stood there, glancing nervously at Medric, he strode into the room and placed food on the table as usual.

“Never mind. Just eat.”

Eve cleared her throat and quickly sat down across from Medric, obediently picking up her spoon.

Today, it seemed best to follow his instructions.

After watching Eve eat for a while with his arms crossed, Medric spoke.

“You’re going to see the Grand Duchess again today, aren’t you? Your clothes seem thinner than usual.”

“Yes. She asked to meet in the greenhouse in the garden today. Thinner? I don’t think they’re particularly thin.”

Eve briefly put down her spoon and smoothed her dress.

Though it didn’t cover up to her neck as usual, it was made of thick fabric that was almost too warm for indoor wear.

Medric looked at Eve for a moment, then casually pushed something fluffy across the table.
She looked back and forth between him and the object, wondering what it was.

“It’s a scarf. Since you’ve been going out of your room often lately, wear it when you move around.”

She picked up the fluffy bundle he offered. When unfolded, it was quite long and soft, looking warm enough just by placing it on her neck.

“Thank you. It looks nice.”

“Of course it’s nice. Have I ever given my wife anything that wasn’t good?”

“You’ve always given me nice things. But this one seems particularly practical, which I appreciate.”

It was a much more meaningful gift than the overtly expensive jewelry and dresses he usually gave her.

After all, she would have to return all the jewelry and dresses once they divorced.

‘I should be able to keep this scarf at least.’

It would be a memento of him.

Eve placed the soft wool scarf on her lap.

As she was about to put more food in her mouth, Medric handed her some documents.

“Here’s the information about the Grand Duchy and Ptotr that you asked Walter for.”

Eve looked up at him with surprised eyes, not expecting Medric to bring the information she had
requested from Walter.

‘That means…’

Did he know all along why Walter was coming to her room and why she had called out Walter’s name when opening the door?

And yet he had acted so upset earlier?

She gave him an incredulous look.

But that wasn’t all.

“And I heard about what you asked Walter to do.”

No way…

“You wanted to speak with the Grand Duchess alone, right? I said I would arrange that for you. You’ll be able to talk comfortably at today’s audience.”

This too?

Even if they were superior and subordinate, would they share this kind of information?

And would a superior normally fulfill a request that was personally made to his subordinate?

Eve looked at Medric with an expression of incomprehension.

Perhaps feeling her intense gaze, Medric belatedly added:

“Just to be clear, he did nothing wrong. Walter is my subordinate. He must report everything to me. Especially if he has had a conversation with my wife—he shouldn’t miss a single detail.”

Since when was that considered normal?

When Eve just blinked in response, Medric added further:

“Originally, I wasn’t going to interfere with my wife’s affairs. But now that I know your plan, I can’t just stand by. I can be more helpful than Walter. I’m more powerful, too.”

Power? What kind of power?

“How… exactly do you plan to arrange for me to speak with the Grand Duchess alone?”

“I’m going to set up a barrier.”

“A barrier?”

She hadn’t expected him to mention using magical power.

“Yes. I’ll create a barrier that will make the people monitoring you see and hear something different.”

“Is that possible?”

“It’s usually impossible.”

So he’s saying it’s possible because it’s him?

“If it were Walter, this method would be impossible.”

Medric deliberately compared himself to Walter.

Why does he seem so jealous of his own subordinate?

“What else can you do that Sir Walter can’t?”

“Since my magical power is stronger than Walter’s, I can do most things.”

Eve stuck out her tongue at his increasingly childish remarks.

Fine. If that’s how he wants to be, so be it.

“I’m just saying that you went out of your way to ask someone else to do something I could easily do. From now on, just ask me.”

She wanted to ask how she could make such requests to a husband she was about to divorce, but Eve kept her mouth shut and nodded.

There was no point in prolonging this conversation.

“Now finish your meal. Then we’ll go to the audience together.”

“Together…? Wasn’t I supposed to see the Grand Duchess alone?”

“I need to go with you to set up the barrier. Don’t worry, I won’t interfere with your conversation.”

How did it come to this?

Unable to understand the situation, Eve focused on forcing the food into her mouth.

8. The Fall of the Grand Duchy

Eve and Medric walked along the stone path leading to the garden to see the Grand Duchess together.

‘In the end, I couldn’t even say I wanted to go alone.’

Trying to avoid the Grand Duke’s eyes, she had fallen into Medric’s instead.

Although Medric said he had no intention of interfering, his mere presence was uncomfortable for a conversation that would involve national matters.

‘If you can’t avoid it, you have to accept it.’

Faced with an unchangeable situation, Eve decided to let him do as he wished.

Medric looked up at the sky and said:

“It’s a nice day, fortunately.”

Eve looked up at the sky.

Despite being a northern country, it was quite a warm day. There was no wind, and the Grand Duchy basked in warm sunshine—a rare day of beautiful weather.

“How much did you hear from Walter? You know about the Grand Duchess too, right?”

“…I know about the Grand Duchess because he often sent reports about her in his letters.”

“And yet you didn’t take any action?”

“That’s right.”

Medric said, keeping his gaze fixed on the sky.

“Normally, even after hearing about the Grand Duchess’s situation, one couldn’t easily say they want to help her.”

“I understand. The Grand Duchess’s situation isn’t exactly simple.”

“Yet you immediately said you wanted to help her.”

“That’s because my situation is different. I’m also entangled in complicated national affairs. While I’m at it, I might as well help the Grand Duchess if I can. Something like that.”

“…Indeed. You haven’t changed, now or before.”

What does he mean by that?

‘Has he seen me before?’

Eve looked at Medric’s profile. With sunlight pouring over his distinct features, he looked almost like a painting.

As they walked while making small talk, they soon arrived at the greenhouse inside the garden.

Seeing Roanne sitting at the tea table inside the greenhouse, Eve caught a glimpse of the elegance she had once displayed in Ptotr.

“The Duke of Archild and the Duchess of Archild have arrived,” announced the attendant.

Eve’s eyes met Roanne’s.

Roanne’s eyes widened briefly in surprise at seeing Medric, but she quickly composed herself and greeted them.

“It’s been a while, Duke of Archild. Duchess.”