Daphne didn’t even wear perfume like every other noblewoman did.

So this must be Daphne’s unique natural scent.

A warm, comforting fragrance that reminded him of childhood.

…Enough to make him want to fall asleep in Daphne’s embrace.

But he couldn’t.

After yesterday’s events, Astaire knew better than anyone that an insurmountable line had been drawn between them.

There was nothing more to say.

He no longer had the right to approach Daphne like before.

“You eat some too.”

Astaire spoke quietly.

Suddenly, Daphne’s ocean-blue pupils rippled widely. Eyes that showed she never expected Astaire to say such a thing.

Astaire tore off a piece of bread and brought it to her lips without hesitation.

And Daphne, like someone entranced, slowly opened her mouth.

Beyond her red lips, an even redder tongue appeared.

Gulp.

The one who should be swallowing at the sight of food was clearly Daphne.

Strangely, Astaire felt himself swallow and his heart tremble.

In a way, it was a natural emotion.

Astaire easily defined his feelings.

Being moved by an attractive woman was natural for a man.

Daphne was a beautiful woman by anyone’s standards. Enough for other men to covet her.

The man recalled the report he’d received from Daphne’s aide during her Academy days. The report about many male students stealing glances at Daphne from afar while pretending not to.

When Astaire heard that, he’d compiled and organized those male students’ names into a list and stored it away carefully. That list was probably still somewhere in his study even now.

“Mm.”

Daphne obediently ate the bread he offered.

The sight looked so much like a well-behaved dog that Astaire couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

The moment the woman’s warm mouth temperature wrapped around Astaire’s thumb and index finger.

A strange tingling sensation flowed from his toes upward.

Astaire nearly let out a heavy breath without realizing it.

They’d only shared a piece of bread.

Was there any reason for the dining room air to heat up like this?

“…What should I do?”

After yesterday’s incident, he’d asked the head butler for advice.

It was a first.

Needing someone’s help.

“Show her.”

“What do you mean?”

“How much you’ve loved my lady all this time.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

He couldn’t understand at all—he remembered clearly furrowing his brow deeply.

“Your Grace. The performance is over now.”

For the first time, the head butler looked him straight in the eye.

At that moment, Astaire was struck to the core.

This feeling was a first.

Someone who saw through his heart more clearly and vividly than anyone else.

The head butler who’d served him for so long knew everything.

He knew Astaire’s heart better than Astaire himself.

“Stop the performance now and show your true feelings.”

“…”

“Then my lady will return too.”

“What are my true feelings? You act like you know so well.”

“The truth that Your Grace loves my lady.”

The head butler answered without a moment’s hesitation.

“On what grounds do you say the Duchess will return?”

“Because my lady loves Your Grace too.”

Love.

How many times had he heard that foolish word he thought would never appear in his life again, yesterday and today?

Did Daphne really still love him?

Even after suffering such humiliation from him?

Astaire didn’t believe those words.

A cold sneer crossed the man’s face.

That couldn’t be.

This wasn’t love.

This was just a meaningless obsession.

Astaire swallowed the bread and stared at Daphne. For that moment, time seemed to stop.

Daphne’s body trembled at his intense gaze.

“…Is something wrong?”

Despite calling his name calmly before, this time her voice came out slightly trembling.

“I’m fine.”

Astaire reached out his hand.

He firmly grasped Daphne’s hand that had fed him bread.

When he squeezed hard, Daphne grimaced like it hurt.

Still, Astaire didn’t let go.

“But it seems like something’s wrong with you.”

Flustered eyes.

Astaire realized in that instant.

Somehow he could hear the gears turning in her head from here, and he couldn’t help but sneer.

Right. Think all you want.

You can’t leave me anyway.

Astaire still believed that.

“…Nothing’s wrong.”

“Daphne.”

Intertwining his five fingers tightly with hers across the table, Astaire continued.

“When you do something wrong.”

“…”

“Or when you tell a lie.”

“I’m not.”

“You don’t know how much your eyes tremble, do you?”

And how pretty your face is then.

Whenever she hated him and tried to run from him, Daphne always caused some small incident.

Now Astaire felt defiant.

He’d watch to see how long she could keep this up.

She’d give up eventually anyway, so why waste the effort?

But even then, Astaire had momentarily forgotten.

The fact that Daphne, whom he’d treated as foolish, was smarter than anyone.

The man regretted it belatedly, only after everything had happened.

And realized.

This emotion was love beyond obsession.

* * *

That day was no different from usual.

After breakfast, Astaire went into his study and didn’t come out even at mealtimes. He’d ordered all food to be brought to his study.

Daphne ended up eating all her meals alone in the spacious dining room, except for breakfast.

“He might find it uncomfortable to see me.”

Daphne muttered quietly while eating.

She’d expected this anyway.

Though a strange atmosphere had flowed briefly at breakfast.

That was merely impulse, not affection.

Any person could be momentarily blinded by bright light. And might do things they wouldn’t normally do.

Daphne thought it was that kind of behavior.

Feeding each other bread.

Wasn’t it absurd?

But in that moment…

“It wasn’t acting, it was sincere.”

Daphne muttered bitterly.

Only now, at the moment she’d decided to completely leave the man, did she feel like she’d seen each other’s true feelings.

Feeding Astaire bread earlier.

For Daphne, that had been a kind of experiment.

How far the man could fall for her.

If, really if.

If she treated him well, showing she still loved him. Perhaps, even suspicious Astaire might let his guard down once—that experiment.

Then, aiming for when Astaire was off guard, she planned to completely leave this estate.

She had to make that man lose focus for a moment.

Somehow.

Right now, Daphne’s mind was filled only with that thought.

* * *

Even under one roof, the ducal couple didn’t see each other all day.

Late at night, only at bedtime did they see each other.

The estate’s luxurious door opened soundlessly.

But Daphne immediately knew Astaire had entered her bedroom. Because a long shadow fell across the wall.

“…What is it?”

“You know.”

“Pardon?”

“What day it is today.”

Astaire muttered with a bitter smile.

“…Ah.”

Only then did Daphne remember.

As long as Daphne hadn’t signed the divorce papers, their marriage contract was still valid.

She’d memorized every clause of the marriage contract from the start, to the point of being sick of it.

Daphne immediately realized what Astaire was trying to say.

Periodic efforts to produce an heir.

That day was tonight.

“Don’t make that face.”

Astaire looked straight at her and spoke through gritted teeth.

A face that truly couldn’t bear it.

“…Am I that repulsive to you?”

Astaire strode closer.

“Smile a little.”

Now Daphne didn’t back away from him or scrunch up her face.

She just looked up at him quietly with a half-resigned expression.

Dark night.

Silver moonlight from beyond the window illuminated Daphne’s features.

She sparkled like a moon goddess, but her transparently shining blue eyes seemed to hold wordless sadness.

Why does she have those eyes?

Astaire clenched his fist.

He didn’t like how Daphne looked up at him like that.

“…Is this smile okay?”

Daphne forced the corners of her mouth up into a smile.

The voice flowing between her bizarrely curved lips came out garbled.

“Are you joking right now?”

Astaire lay down beside her bed. Propping himself up on one arm with only his upper body raised, he looked down at Daphne quietly.

But why did he feel like this woman was looking down on him?

This feeling was a first.

Because Astaire Seyfried had been the dominant party in every relationship in his life.

But why.

This time…

Astaire ground his teeth distantly.

He was sick of being emotionally swayed by this woman now.

He had to see the end of this damned obsession.

If he possessed this small woman dozens, hundreds of times, would this question be resolved?

He didn’t even know that.

The two people’s gazes collided in the air.

Neither looked away.

A moment when even the fierce night wind seemed to pause.

The two acted like they were playing some terrible game where they’d die if either turned their head.

“Can you promise?”

Slowly, Astaire reached out and cupped Daphne’s cheek as he asked.

“…Promise what?”

Truthfully, Daphne wanted to say.

That she couldn’t promise him anything.

Having already decided to leave.

What meaning would any words to Astaire have now?

“A promise not to leave me.”

And precisely, Astaire spoke words that pierced through Daphne’s innermost thoughts.

Suddenly Daphne’s breath caught.

Because it was a promise she absolutely couldn’t make.

“I—”

Just as she parted her dry lips, Astaire’s face drew close.

Soon the man stole the woman’s lips. He took away her breath, her warmth, everything.

Astaire held Daphne so tightly on the bed, like he’d crush her.

Daphne, suffocating, pounded his back frantically.

“Mmph.”

But every sound escaping her lips was swallowed by Astaire.

His back, massive like a mountain, didn’t budge.

Only when she thought she might really die in his embrace did the man release Daphne.

“Don’t say anything.”

Astaire muttered lowly.

“I don’t want to hear anything you say right now.”