“Wow.”

“Who is it?”

“Oh, black hair, black eyes—could it be His G-Grace the Grand Duke!”

The sounds and colors around me faded as all my attention focused on Kaien.

He looked only at me without glancing around and extended his long, thick-jointed hand toward me.

“Ivy, I’ve come to get you.”

I held my breath as I looked at Kaien.

I had clearly seen Lady Rozian enter, yet here he was in just a shirt without even a coat, looking as if he had just come out from his office where he had been relaxing.

As if he had come immediately after my name was delivered to the mansion.

‘This shouldn’t be happening.’

My chest tightened painfully and my nose stung, making it impossible for me to take his hand.

He shattered my hesitation in an instant.

His firm hand strongly embraced my shoulder, burying my face in his chest.

His tightly embracing arms and solid body made it hard to breathe, but the familiar scent and my contracted lungs somehow made me feel like crying, forcing me to bite my lip.

He had come to get me himself.

“Kaien, I can’t breathe.”

I patted his back before becoming overwhelmed by emotion.

He loosened his arms but still held me. Unable to look up at his face, I rambled excuses.

“I’m sorry for coming without an appointment. I thought I could meet you if I came here.”

“Let’s talk inside. This is not a place for you to be.”

Kaien, with his arm around my waist, left the waiting room.

Being held so tightly, my toes barely brushed the ground, making me kick at the air a few times as if walking through empty space.

A white horse approached, prancing lightly among the pale-faced soldiers.

“The horse is tall and might be frightening, but the distance to the mansion is far, so we need to ride.”

“Ah!”

As soon as he placed me on the saddle, he mounted behind me and firmly wrapped his arms around my waist.

His thick arm embraced my waist, his hot body touched my back, and his voice scattered near my ear.

“I won’t let you fall, so trust me.”

The horse began moving toward the mansion.

From the elevated view on the swaying horse, I tightly held Kaien’s arm and saw the women coming out of the waiting room.

Their expressions were incredulous and envious, but the flashy woman smiled broadly and gave a thumbs up.

‘I shouldn’t like this.’

On the gently rhythmic horse, I could feel Kaien’s heartbeat through my back pressed against his chest.

Sweet emotions swelled up like clouds.

‘No. Don’t get excited, Ivy. He’s not someone who will love you.’

“Why are you so stiff? Are you afraid of the horse?”

Having arrived at the entrance, Kaien helped me down and steadied my wobbling body.

“I-I’m nervous because it’s my first visit to your house.”

“Ivy, this will become your future home, so feel comfortable.”

He called my name so sweetly that I might mistake it for candy.

His pull caused my shoulder to bump against his muscular body. As I was about to tell him to let go, his lips descended on my forehead.

“So this is why people enjoy receiving surprise gifts.”

His low laughter made my ears burn, and as I turned my head to avoid his gaze, I saw the servants.

When our eyes met, they couldn’t hide their surprised expressions and hurriedly bowed their heads.

“Ivy.”

My heart wavered at his sweet call, but then a sharp female voice was heard.

“Your Grace! Who is that woman?”

Red-haired Rozian Manchester was looking down at us from the mansion stairs.

Looking up from below made her glaring face appear even more vicious, causing my shoulders to shrink.

“How can you be so affectionate with such a woman while making me wait? Do you want to attract my attention that badly?”

Kaien’s hand on my shoulder tightened, and he sighed softly above my head.

“Is she insane?”

No matter what, saying “Is she insane” was too much. She was still a Count’s daughter.

“I understand Your Grace’s feelings well enough, so please come and escort me. Send that woman of unknown origin back immediately.”

At Rozian’s continued words, I momentarily agreed with Kaien’s thoughts.

“Gohalm. How long must I listen to this dog’s barking?”

“I apologize. She was quite forceful. Escort the lady outside!”

The elderly butler nearby signaled to the servants, and several strong men approached Rozian.

“Your Grace!”

“How dare you approach! She’s Lady Manchester of the Manchester family!”

Rozian’s maid, apparently quite loyal, waved her hands to prevent the men from approaching.

Being just two frail women, the men hesitated to act and looked awkwardly at Gohalm.

“This is the first time I’ve been so insulted! Have you thought about how upset my father will be when he sees how I’ve been disrespected?”

Her eyes were full of venom, but she made a sobbing sound and staggered while covering her face, causing her maid to support her from the side.

“My lady! Are you alright?”

“I’m startled…… Ah, I feel dizzy.”

Being on high stairs while covering her eyes would naturally make one dizzy.

Though I knew it was an act, I was still somewhat concerned.

Would the Manchester family protest to the Blemer household over this?

“Your Grace, please help our lady. She’s collapsed.”

“Your Grace……”

Rozian called out to Kaien in a weak voice as if about to faint…… No matter how displeasing she was, she was still a Count’s daughter.

It could easily escalate into a feud between families. I looked up at Kaien, urging him to go help, but—

“I’m sorry, Ivy.”

Amidst the commotion, he was looking only at me.

“It’s your first visit to the Grand Duke’s residence, and it’s so chaotic. I’ll invite you properly with a formal invitation on a suitable day.”

As expected, Kaien couldn’t ignore the Manchester family either.

Though I understood the situation, I swallowed a bitter smile at his consolation as he prepared to send me away.

“Ah, no. I came suddenly without notice.”

“You can come whenever you want. No one in this Grand Duke’s residence will stop you.”

“Your Grace……”

Rozian was calling Kaien in a fragile voice as if about to breathe her last.

But contrary to his words that suggested he would send me away, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder and climbed the stairs.

He didn’t even look at Rozian.

“An important guest has arrived. Remove this disturbance.”

“Yes.”

Knights quickly gathered around Rozian, forming a wall.

“What is this! Get out of my way!”

After that final shout, the Lady’s voice was no longer heard.

Due to the burly figures, I couldn’t see at all what was happening inside the knights’ wall.

The person leaving the mansion was not me but Rozian.

***

“Wait here. I’ll be back soon.”

After bringing me to the reception room, Kaien went somewhere.

Sitting properly on the sofa in the middle of Grand Duke Blemer’s reception room, I felt the pressure weighing on my shoulders.

Feeling awkward, I looked around and noticed a beautiful landscape painting on the wall that caught my eye.

Unlike the heaviness of the mansion, the warm atmosphere of the painting seemed out of place, so I approached to examine it closely.

It was a landscape painting with a familiar style.

“This painting is by Rawel van Halger, famous for landscapes.”

“It’s a landscape painting that references Halger’s style, the last work of the late Grand Duchess.”

I almost embarrassed myself by pretending to know.

An elderly man with a kindly appearance like a friendly neighborhood grandfather bowed politely to me.

“I am Gohalm, the butler in charge of managing this mansion.”

“I am Ivy Rabbit. Baron Gohalm. It’s such a warm painting.”

Baron Gohalm was a kind-looking, small-framed, white-haired grandfather, but despite his benevolent appearance, he was a veteran warrior known as the Battlefield Lion who had carried the previous Grand Duke Blemer on his back from the battlefield and raised him.

In his prime, legend had it that each time his sword cut through the air, ten demonic beasts’ heads would roll—he was an incredibly skilled warrior.

“To know the name of the butler who manages the mansion, you are a thoughtful person.”

One of Kaien’s subordinates whom I had seen before was peering into the reception room with maids, poking only his face through the door while watching me.

‘Why is he doing that?’

“The stories of the Baron who specially served the previous Grand Duke Blemer are famous even in the marketplace.”

“I thought those old tales had been forgotten.”

Baron Gohalm looked at me quietly, then turned his eyes to the door.

“Assistant Ransel, this is His Grace’s guest. Mind your manners.”

“His Grace ordered to remove men around the lady. An outstanding handsome man like me should preserve his life for the world’s sake, so please understand.”

Despite being reprimanded by the butler, Assistant Ransel wasn’t intimidated at all and gestured to the maid behind him.

“Quickly bring some tea.”

Three maids approached with tea sets in rhythmic steps.

The maid at the front smiled brightly and made eye contact with me.

“Would you like to see a performance to keep you entertained while waiting for His Grace, my lady?”

Ordinary maids wouldn’t make eye contact with nobles or speak first, but she was unusual. She showed no fear toward nobility.

“What? Ah, yes.”

Surprised by her boldness, I unconsciously gave permission.

“Benji.”

“The lady has given permission. Then I’ll pour the tea.”

After setting the tea set on the table, the maid carefully removed the tea cozy covering the teapot.

She didn’t pour the tea, but a soft aroma tickled my nose. Then the maid’s eyes flashed, and with the teapot in one hand and a teacup in the other, she flourished the teapot dramatically.

“This is the ultimate tea-pouring technique that maximizes the aroma and creates the perfect drinking temperature!”

The hot tea from the teapot seemed alive as it traced a heart shape in the air, nearly grazing my face, and before it could fall, it was caught in the teacup without spilling a single drop.

A rich aroma of black tea permeated the air.

The maid smiled contentedly and placed the perfectly temperature-adjusted tea in front of me.

Though she was smiling, her eyes looking at me were cold.

“Benji! What are you doing in front of the lady!”

“Oh, everyone enjoys when I show them, so I thought the lady would find it entertaining too. Since she’s dating His Grace, she must have enough courage for this.”

“Benji!”

“Oh my, I’ll bring fresh tea. This has gotten too cold!”

Though Baron Gohalm was not a pushover, the maid named Benji was not intimidated and left the reception room, acting as she pleased.

“I apologize, Lady Rabbit. I will thoroughly train her to prevent such incidents.”

“It’s fine. I found it delightful.”

Though I was momentarily startled that hot tea might splash on my face.

“What’s all this commotion?”

Just then, Kaien entered.

The disheveled appearance he had shown earlier was gone, replaced by a neat uniform.

Sitting across from me, Kaien clicked his tongue when he saw the empty table.

“Is this how we treat guests, Gohalm?”

“Ah, no. They brought tea, but it got cold, so I asked them to bring fresh tea.”

Moistening my dry lips, I brought up my request to him.

“I came with a favor to ask, Kaien.”

“A favor?”

“Please return my father to being a baronet.”

Kaien tilted his head, seemingly not understanding my words.

“You mean demote him to baronet? I’ve been gradually promoting him because the difference in status was too great for our marriage.”

“……Gradually promoting?”

“Gradually” made it sound as if Viscount was just an intermediate step.

As I was thinking “surely not,” he dropped a bombshell.