“I need your help, Aunt.”

“Alright, what kind of help do you need?”

Even if not for gratitude about her health, Anne wanted to do everything she could for whatever Eisha asked.

But Anne’s lips immediately stiffened upon hearing Eisha’s request.

“Did I hear you correctly? You want me to do what with that child?”

Without a single change in expression, Eisha calmly stated her intention once more.

“I asked you to help Milo be recognized as Hebrandt’s legitimate heir.”

“Eisha, that’s…”

Flustered, Anne couldn’t continue and only blinked rapidly.

Did this niece-in-law understand what her own words meant?

For Milo to be recognized as Hebrandt’s legitimate heir, first both of Milo’s parents had to be Hebrandt people. In other words, it meant registering Milo as the son of Claven’s wife—that is, Eisha.

No matter how much noble marriages were only about calculating gains and losses through strategy, there were still basic morals to maintain between spouses.

What legitimate wife would be happy to register a bastard child in her family registry?

‘Just how kind are you?’

Even though she acted like someone emotionally barren, Eisha was ultimately a softie who couldn’t be harsh. So Anne felt pity, thinking she couldn’t abandon a young child and was trying to take him in, but then another possibility occurred to her.

‘What if she didn’t step forward herself?’

Recalling her nephew who hadn’t hesitated to use any means or methods for his goals after the war, Anne reached out and grasped Eisha’s hand.

“Eisha, did Claven—did that bastard tell you to do this? If that’s the case, I won’t let him get away with it.”

As Anne stirred like she’d go find Claven right away to confront him, Eisha re-grasped her hand and stopped her.

“No. It’s all my idea. I can’t just leave the child like that, can I? That’s why I really need your help, Aunt.”

At Countess Zobrack’s event, they’d clearly stamped Milo as Hebrandt’s only heir, but it still wasn’t enough for him to be formally recognized as the family’s heir.

It had been almost half a year since bringing Milo into Hebrandt.

But if Anne, who still had considerable influence in Hebrandt, stepped forward to support Milo, the problem would be different.

Once recognized by the vassals like that, imperial recognition would become much easier. 

Because there was no precedent of the imperial family rejecting an heir recognized by the vassals.

“…”

Anne couldn’t just let Eisha go down a path that was obviously going to be thorny, even without experiencing it. So she was choosing words of roundabout refusal in her mouth when—

With a knock, a maid came looking for Anne.

“My lady.”

“Yes, what is it?”

Thanks to the news the maid delivered, Anne, who’d been troubled over not being able to choose words to answer Eisha, could catch her breath.

Desmond Blay, Anne’s husband, had returned.

“Did everyone make a promise today? It’s always been news that they’re running late, but today everyone’s coming this early—it’s like a dream.”

Anne greeted Desmond with a pleased expression.

Likewise seeing him for the first time in two years, her uncle-in-law by marriage Desmond still had his dignified appearance, and his affection for his wife remained unchanged.

Only after leaving a kiss on Anne’s forehead did Desmond turn to look at Eisha.

“Good, you came.”

She couldn’t tell if he meant it was good that Eisha came to see Anne, or good that she’d returned to Hebrandt, but what was certain was that the gaze he directed at Eisha held warmth.

After the three exchanged simple greetings and sat down, a cup of tea was also placed before Desmond. 

Desmond leisurely savored the warm tea until he’d emptied the cup, seemingly pushing out the cold energy remaining in his body.

Eventually, impatient Anne asked first.

“You said you had important news to share? What is it?”

Even at Anne’s urging, Desmond looked at Eisha for a moment. He seemed to be weighing whether the news he had to deliver was something Eisha should hear too. Not wanting to cause discomfort, Eisha was about to excuse herself when Desmond began to speak.

“Right, you’ll find out anyway once you return to Bondrake, so it might be better to hear it from me.”

Before she could decline, Desmond delivered the news. The news all the Empire’s people had been waiting and waiting for.

“The war between Patagon and Astour has ended.”

People had been saying the war would end soon since a year ago, but strangely it had dragged on and continued until now. Some had even said that while the invading nation Astour wanted to end the war, Patagon was deliberately prolonging it.

Whatever the case, since the war had ended, the news Desmond would deliver next was naturally expected.

“Then…”

“Right. The King of Patagon has permitted the return of Lady Iris Chatré, who was the Empire’s hostage, so she’ll be returning to the Empire soon.”

* * *

Watching Eisha’s carriage depart toward Bondrake Manor, the Blay couple stood under the sunset sky for a while.

Once Eisha’s carriage disappeared from the couple’s view, Anne spoke first.

“Desmond. It’ll be alright, won’t it?”

“It has to be alright.”

“Eisha asked me to help formally register Milo as heir—why would she make such a decision? Really.”

“Hmm…”

“What if she’s just being too kind? What if she gets used and abandoned again like that…”

“Well, maybe she’s not just being kind.”

“What?”

“…Never mind.”

Desmond, who’d kissed his wife’s cheek deeply after she didn’t understand his words, escorted Anne inside while thinking.

It was just a guess.

What was contained in those calm eyes wasn’t only sadness.

Since she’d returned to the position of Grand Duchess that she’d fled from herself, there might be another meaning.

Perhaps she wanted to solidify that position.

If Eisha legally made Milo her son, even if Claven later divorced Eisha again and remarried Iris, Eisha would forever remain as Milo’s mother. That’s what registering him under her own name meant.

Desmond became curious about what moves Eisha would show going forward.

Whether Eisha could overcome that massive wall called Iris and defend her place beside Claven.

Then he gave his clumsy sense of fairness a failing grade. Because even he, who’d been quite stingy with his son’s love, was ultimately a child’s father.

That was the one reason.

It was natural as a parent to root more for Eisha, who had nothing superior compared to Iris who’d made his son’s heart ache for so long.

Desmond hoped as much as possible that Eisha would accomplish that difficult task.

* * *

Eisha felt like she was hearing ringing in her ears.

She couldn’t remember how she’d greeted Anne and Desmond and left Blay Manor, and had no time to think about how Vera, sitting across from her in the carriage, might view her.

Even though she knew it was news she’d hear someday, why was she like this?

And she had no confidence in the expression she must be making right now. She wanted to appear composed, but contrary to her will, her lips seemed to be trembling.

Eisha only kept her gaze down and tried hard to hold onto a smile by putting strength in her lips.

‘What do I do? What should I do?’

She’d clearly thought she’d prepared her heart enough not to waver even when Lady Iris returned, but that wasn’t the case at all.

Her head went completely blank like white paper, and she became frightened like a lost child.

What if her husband, who was already unsettled, regained his memories the moment he met Iris?

Contempt and reproach would immediately pour down on her—could she endure all of that?

And what about how she’d acted like she was Iris and freely wielded the power granted by the position of his wife?

Knowing was more frightening. Familiar fear washed over her.

Worries led to more worries, and Eisha’s complexion grew paler and paler.

Eisha’s complexion turned whiter as time passed. Vera, who’d been watching her, quietly took her hand.

“My lady.”

“…Yes?”

“Everything will be fine. His Grace cares for you so much.”

“That’s… Yes, right. Thank you.”

She could guess what state of mind Vera, who knew all the master’s favor was based on a misunderstanding, was speaking from.

‘The play must go on, I suppose.’

Vera’s worry being genuine was conveyed through the warmth of the hand holding hers.

Still, thanks to Vera, her mind seemed to clear a bit. She began quickly organizing future matters in her head.

‘I can’t just stay still like this.’

She had work remaining. She had to move busily to proceed with Milo’s registration.

* * *

Tap tap, tap tap—

At the sound of Claven’s fingernails tapping the desk, all the staff at Attorney Rolling’s office were wrapped in extreme tension.

Unable to even roll their eyes before the Grand Duke they’d always admired, they were desperately waiting only for their boss.

‘Boss, when exactly are you coming? Please save us…’

Having far exceeded the expected time, reasonable suspicions began to raise their heads. 

Whether the president wasn’t taking long because he couldn’t find the documents, but had fled in fright at the Grand Duke’s menacing presence.

They hoped it was the latter. Then couldn’t they escape this place with the excuse of looking for their boss?

Around when the employees’ necks had stretched twice as long, their boss Dennis was returning to his office, sweating profusely enough to soak even the armpits of his well-pressed shirt.

As Claven’s red eyes immediately stabbed into him like a sword, Dennis’s narrow shoulders shrank even more.

“Um… Your Grace.”

“Right, so you made me wait like this when every second is precious—naturally you’ve prepared those documents I mentioned?”

“…I’m sorry.”

“Are you calling that an answer?”

As Fino was about to rage instead, Claven raised his large body and grabbed Dennis by the collar, demanding.

“Guide me to the safe.”

“Th-that cannot be done. Even if you are Grand Duke, as an attorney I cannot betray the trust with other clients. Please calm down and…”

“Why should I care about that? I only came to find my contract. Once I find that contract, I have no business with anything else.”

“However! Ack!! Waah!”

Claven shook the hand gripping small Dennis’s collar. Because of that, Dennis nearly bit his tongue. Before he could even wipe the spinning tears, Claven’s urging began.

“You clearly said it was in the document ledger list, so why isn’t there a physical copy?”

“Presumptuously, it seems my father lost the documents.”

It wasn’t an intention to sell out even his deceased father to avoid this crisis. It was just because no other reason could possibly come to mind besides that one.

Dennis Rolling Junior, though lacking ability as an attorney and not being a person of good means, had honesty as his one merit. Of course, it was also a major flaw in doing work.

“B-but…”

“What’s that in your pocket?”

Dennis, remembering belatedly, quickly added.

“Ah! This is a diary my father used during his lifetime. Though I couldn’t find the contract between Your Grace and my father, what it was roughly related to was recorded here.”

“Really?”

At Claven’s interest, Dennis quickly opened the diary to the page where the problematic scene was recorded.

[December 5, 1928

I, Dennis Rolling Senior, was clearly only left with fortune about to open up. Grand Duke Hebrandt came to entrust work to our office.

There are many other large law firms, yet the fact that he specifically came to my Rolling must mean the world is finally beginning to recognize my true worth.

I’m proud.]

[December 6, 1928

Today Grand Duke Hebrandt visited my office.

But it’s a bit strange. He requested odd documents.

Don’t people usually request remarriage documents after divorce is established? But the Grand Duke requested remarriage documents, not divorce documents. Like the divorce was confirmed for three years later…

Three years—what does he know will happen during that long time to prepare remarriage documents in advance? From what I hear in rumors, it was a loveless marriage to the point where divorce right away wouldn’t be out of place…

In any case, I sealed those documents with only the groom’s name written and stored them in the deepest place in the safe.

Since my life is precious, I didn’t dare ask about the detailed circumstances.

But will the Grand Duke really be able to remarry Lady Chatré three years later?]