Cedrion was a lord who had long since ceased to express emotions.

Even when the former Grand Duke and his wife met a mysterious death, even during his harsh studies after suddenly inheriting the title as a boy, even when he failed to save Lure…

Through all those moments, Cedrion Norhart remained composed. No—perhaps it would be more accurate to say that, having lived so long suppressing his emotions, he had lost the ability to show them.

“Was failing to secure the baby such a critical matter? According to the oracle, the baby was bound to…”

“…It’s a slightly different issue.”

Despite his words, Cedrion’s expression still bore traces of frustration.

As Franz observed his lord’s unfamiliar reaction, he recalled their visit to Meldorf.

‘Lady Odelia… As befitting the title of Arcadia’s greatest beauty, she truly was stunning. But His Grace sees his own face in the mirror every day—he wouldn’t be so easily captivated by mere looks. Come to think of it, he did seem oddly shaken that day…’

Then, a thought flashed through Franz’s mind.

He remembered the time when Cedrion suddenly ascended to the Grand Duke’s position and spent his days managing state affairs and his nights in relentless study. As someone who had assisted him since then, Franz would sometimes visit the young lord’s chambers, where he would find him beneath the moonlight, without even a single lamp lit…

“Could it be that bonnet?”

“Cough.”

Cedrion choked—despite having drunk nothing.

“No way… Is it true?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“The bonnet you held onto as you wept, Your Grace…”

“…Did I cry?”

Cedrion’s golden eyes flashed menacingly.

Having served him for over a decade, Franz was genuinely amused to witness Cedrion flustered for the first time in years.

“The bonnet you would take out whenever you missed your parents.”

“……”

“The one you would look at while vowing to become stronger…”

“Franz Nielsen.”

At Cedrion’s low, warning tone, Franz promptly shut his mouth.

‘So it’s true.’

For fate to entangle such a long-standing connection in this way—surely, this was the gods’ will.

‘Still, to think that girl hadn’t died…’

And not only that, but she was Odelia Lure. Was that why His Grace had been so desperate to save Lure?

Yet, neither in Belvo nor in Meldorf had they seemed to recognize each other.

Franz, keeping his curiosity well hidden, spoke in a composed tone.

“Wouldn’t it be best to at least hint at the baby’s true identity?”

“The oracle was given to the bloodline of Arcadia.”

“So you considered marriage? Well, since you’ve already claimed to be her father, it would be difficult to take that back now.”

“……”

Ignoring Franz’s teasing, Cedrion’s golden eyes darkened.

If he could be honest about the baby’s identity and his reason for wanting to secure her, the situation would be much easier. But leaving that impossibility aside…

“I know it’s a lie. Why do adults tell lies when it’s so obvious?”

A girl’s voice from his childhood echoed in his mind.

He should have done so if he had intended to be honest from the start.

“For now, you should shower her with compliments.”

“Compliments?”

“You need to win her over. Lady Odelia is the most celebrated beauty in society, so praising her looks is the bare minimum.”

At those words, a faint crease appeared between Cedrion’s smooth brows.

Had he ever once, in his entire life, put effort into winning someone’s favor?

Finding amusement in his lord’s predicament, Franz continued smoothly.

“Why not claim it was love at first sight?”

“Love at first sight?”

“It wouldn’t be entirely false… Oof.”

Franz barely stifled a groan as an ink bottle suddenly landed in his hand. It was a long-standing game between them—this was the result whenever Cedrion grew irritated by Franz’s sharp tongue.

“I told you, it’s not like that.”

“Yes, yes, I now fully understand that it’s not like that at all. Regardless, my point is that you should publicly court her.”

With an air of finality, Franz placed the ink bottle firmly on Cedrion’s desk, like a checkmate move in chess.

“If you make an extravagant show of your courtship for all of Meldorf to see, the lady won’t be able to ignore it.”

Cedrion leaned back in his chair, stroking his sculpted jaw.

Recognizing this as a sign that he was listening, Franz eagerly continued.

“Only last year, Lady Odelia was completely removed from the Crown Princess selection. If we time it right, acknowledging the baby as your child together wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“That would stain her honor.”

‘Do you think I don’t know that, despite being cast out from high society?’

Cedrion recalled the unwavering determination in Odelia’s violet eyes.

“Aren’t you planning to bring the baby under your official guardianship? Having a mother would be better than being branded an illegitimate child.”

“……”

“So, while you’re at it, you might as well fall in love. After all, the oracle could have meant that Lady Odelia is the child’s true protector. That might even help resolve the matter of Lure.”

As he listened, Cedrion sank deeper into his chair.

‘For us to meet again like this… Could this be the gods’ way of telling me to protect her this time?’

Yes. They had met again.

Even though this wasn’t the first time they had encountered each other as adults, every time he looked into Odelia’s eyes, Cedrion found himself momentarily lost.

Had she really grown into this person? Was her cold, ruthless demeanor in the royal court merely a mask?

“G-Good morning. You’re here again…”

“It seems you have an engagement today. You look splendid.”

Though she kept her expression carefully neutral, the emotions flickering behind her gaze shifted constantly, making it impossible for him to look away.

As he recalled the way Odelia’s amethyst eyes gleamed brilliantly like gemstones, the tips of his ears turned red—though even Franz failed to notice.

“In any case, a premarital pregnancy is out of the question.”

“We could adjust the baby’s birth records slightly. If you’re getting married anyway, officially listing her as your child would be ideal.”

“……”

“Besides, who would doubt it when Lady Odelia arrives with the baby?” Franz said in an offhand tone.

Odelia had thought of him as rational, but in truth, he was just as eccentric in his own way—so long as it involved Norhart, nothing else seemed to matter.

At any rate, his lord had accepted at least part of his suggestion.

With a pleased clap of his hands, Franz declared,

“Well then, you must begin your courtship in earnest tomorrow.”

“…What?”

“It’s been a while since we last invited the madams to the castle. The Norhart haute couture industry is quite displeased because Your Grace has been too preoccupied acting like a war hero to keep up with the trends in gentlemen’s fashion.”

“……”

“I shall take care of spending Your Grace’s personal funds as I see fit, then?”

***

The next day, Franz was restless, pacing back and forth in the adjutant’s office. The other adjutants, sensing his unease, grew nervous and kept glancing at their senior aide.

“Are you that worried about His Grace?”

“If he doesn’t get himself kicked out after carelessly throwing out a few high-handed remarks, I’d consider it a success.”

“Surely not…”

Oh, but surely so.

“At least he dressed impeccably today and brought plenty of gifts…”

“Was his formal attire designed by Madame Cindy? He looked absolutely stunning.”

“And his hairstyle! Monsieur Jerome truly is the best barber in Norhart.”

“If only he’d always try to dress like that…”

“One of Norhart’s strongest assets is His Grace’s looks, and yet they’ve been buried under that relic of an armor…”

One by one, the adjutants reminisced about the breathtaking sight of Cedrion that morning.

Cedrion had been polished to perfection, donned in a refined and elegant formal suit by the Grand Duchy’s top designer, his hair styled by the finest barber in Norhart, before setting off for Meldorf.

“But courting aside… has His Grace ever even had a proper conversation with a woman?”

“A woman? He barely speaks to anyone other than us.”

Franz wasn’t the only one convinced their lord’s appalling conversational skills would ruin everything.

“I know he’s worked tirelessly since childhood to take over as Grand Duke, but still…”

“We should be grateful he’s the Grand Duke. Otherwise, surely…”

“He’d be infamous in the social circles for his terrible personality…”

As the adjutants fretted over their lord’s lack of social skills—

BANG!

The heavy doors of the adjutant’s office swung open. Cedrion strode in, still dressed in the fine attire he had worn to Meldorf, and Franz hastily followed.

The adjutants exchanged glances like wary meerkats.

Did he fail?

Looks like he failed, right?

He must have failed.

As their eyes silently conveyed sympathy for their lord’s crushing defeat, Franz nervously awaited Cedrion’s words.

“She said cherry tomatoes were better.”

“…Pardon?”

“She said they were prettier than the gifts I chose to send her.”

There was a faint trace of a smile on Cedrion’s lips—a clear sign of his competitive spirit.

***

“Good morning, Lady Odelia.”

I nearly dropped my expensive, elegant watering can at the unexpected voice.

Masking my surprise, I turned toward the source of the voice and saw Viscount Nielsen, the Grand Duke’s aide, smiling warmly.

‘Considering his title, he must be the senior aide and one of Cedrion’s closest confidants…’

Swallowing that thought, I smiled pleasantly and greeted him politely.

“Good morning, Viscount Nielsen.”

“The morning sun is dazzling, but it pales in comparison to your radiance, my lady.”

“Oh my, you flatter me.”

His words overlapped with the dreadful flirting lines I had heard from the Grand Duke yesterday…

‘So it really was Viscount Nielsen feeding him lines.’

Hearing the original source say them made all the difference.

In the original story, Cedrion was described as a man of few words, and trying to spout romantic lines he neither had the talent for nor genuinely meant must have been pure agony for him.

“I apologize for dropping by unannounced yet again.”

“Think nothing of it. His Grace visits every day, so it’s hardly surprising that you would also come.”

Still wearing his amiable smile, Viscount Nielsen continued.

“His Grace is quite occupied with matters of the Grand Duchy, so he has sent me in his stead to check on the young lady’s well-being and inquire after your own, my lady.”

“His Grace has been away from the castle quite frequently these past days.”

“Yes, he has…”

A faint trace of regret flickered in Viscount Nielsen’s eyes.

I only felt a brief pang of sympathy for him before he began carefully scanning his surroundings—me, the garden, Angie sitting on a bench with the nanny in the distance.

“You were tending to the garden last time as well. Do you take care of it yourself, my lady?”

“Yes. I was suddenly sent into exile, and the shock weakened my health. My physician recommended gardening as a way to regain my strength and find peace of mind.”

I smoothly recited the excuse I had prepared just in case a moment like this arose.

“You’ve been in poor health… and you have a personal physician…”

A sharp glint flashed in Viscount Nielsen’s eyes.