“I don’t even know why I’m doing this.”

Daphne murmured quietly to herself.

“You probably don’t know why you’re doing this either.”

Nothing betrayed reason as thoroughly as emotion.

Even this brilliant man likely didn’t understand his own heart. The human heart was deep, like an abyss where the bottom couldn’t be seen.

Just like that, the two shadows cast on the wall slowly merged together.

“Relax for a moment.”

Astaire lifted Daphne into his arms. One arm wrapped beneath her legs, the other firmly supporting her lower back.

“Ah…”

Flustered, Daphne momentarily forgot to ask him to put her down.

Thud, thud, thud.

Carrying Daphne, Astaire climbed the stairs. Daphne immediately knew where he was going.

Without realizing it, she squeezed her eyes shut.

“Open your eyes.”

Only when he spoke again did she slowly lift her eyelids.

The soft touch of the bed against her back made her feel like closing her eyes again.

“If we’re truly husband and wife, like you said.”

Swish—Astaire loosened his cravat with one hand. His forearm muscles looked even more defined.

His firm, veined hand lifted Daphne’s chin, making her look at him.

“You won’t refuse, will you?”

She answered with silence.

Slowly, Daphne felt her body becoming lighter.

The fabric covering her was peeled away layer by layer, then fell completely to the floor.

* * *

“Did something happen?”

Astaire came out of the bathroom and asked while changing clothes. Daphne, who had been covered by the blanket, poked her head out.

Her heart raced again. Could Astaire have sensed something different?

Had she done something wrong?

Daphne thought quickly.

But no matter how much she thought about it, there was nothing. She had done what married couples do, following his lead. They had eaten together. She had faithfully fulfilled everything Astaire required of her as the duchess.

“You’re looking at me like you did something wrong.”

Astaire came back toward the bed and looked down at Daphne.

Daphne shook her head.

“…No, there’s nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“There isn’t.”

“No, there is.”

Astaire didn’t seem willing to back down easily. He was like a massive boulder that wouldn’t budge no matter how hard you pushed.

“You’re different today.”

For a moment, she felt like the man had stopped the flow of time around them.

Daphne steadied her breathing for a moment to keep her voice from trembling before speaking.

“I am?”

“Yes.”

“How am I different?”

“Everything is different.”

He reached out and stroked Daphne’s eyelashes with his finger.

Next, her straight nose bridge, the tip that dropped from the peak.

Then past her philtrum, and finally, her lips flushed red from the man’s touch.

“Your expression, your tone, everything was different.”

It wasn’t like they saw each other’s faces every day.

Astaire was always busy.

And no matter what happened between them, the duke had always lived his daily life according to his own rhythm.

That’s what she thought, yet this man was speaking like he had been watching her every single moment of every day.

What do you even know about me to say that?

Daphne swallowed the words she couldn’t spit out.

“…I’ll tell you after you come back from this business trip.”

In the end, she glossed over it like that. Then the man’s hand that had been touching her face also stopped.

Daphne felt a strange sense of regret inside. The moment the man’s warmth left her face, she felt empty. It was a ridiculous emotion.

Of course, Daphne would never have the chance to tell him everything honestly again.

When he returned from his business trip, Daphne wouldn’t be in this mansion.

“Fine, I’ll wait.”

Slowly, Astaire’s shadow moved away from Daphne.

After that, he silently prepared for his business trip without another word.

* * *

The sky was still dark, like black ink had spread across it.

At this hour when the dim dawn air wrapped around the duke’s estate like a cold blanket.

There was a chilly energy permeating the air. The scent of grass and dew carried on the wind rushed in with every breath.

Despite the early dawn, the residence was bustling.

“Everyone doesn’t need to come out.”

“Still, it’s a long business trip, Your Grace.”

The head butler, head housekeeper, and the duchess stood at the entrance to see Astaire off on his business trip.

Astaire looked at the head butler who said something not unpleasant, then shifted his gaze to Daphne standing at the front.

“Then I’ll look forward to it.”

He looked straight into her eyes as he spoke.

“What you’ll tell me after the business trip.”

Daphne felt her breath catch for a moment.

There is no “us” after the business trip.

Yet even at the end of their meeting, the entire situation was urging her to lie.

Daphne nodded silently. Somehow it felt like her throat was locked and no sound would come out properly.

“Well then, I’ll be off.”

“Yes. Travel safely.”

Astaire boarded the black carriage approaching from the distance. Leaving everyone’s farewells behind, he climbed into the carriage without a hint of hesitation.

When the black carriage carrying the duke finally disappeared completely from view.

Only then did Daphne let out a sigh.

It wasn’t a sigh of relief but a frustrated sigh.

“It’s cold, everyone should go inside.”

Daphne quickly ushered the head butler and head housekeeper into the mansion. Then she hurried up to the upstairs bedroom she used alone.

As expected, Maria was waiting in the bedroom as they had arranged.

Running away didn’t require much luggage. Maria had already packed only the essential items into a small bag.

“You need to hurry, my lady.”

“Let’s leave quickly.”

In the early dawn when most of the employees were asleep, Daphne and Maria moved swiftly through the quietest parts of the mansion.

When they finally reached a corner of the garden, an exit leading outside the estate.

Daphne couldn’t calm her racing heart.

Freedom now.

This is really the end now.

But why wouldn’t her steps move easily?

She kept looking back.

She kept looking at that massive navy-blue duke’s estate.

And Astaire, the owner of that mansion.

He kept weighing on her mind.

“My lady?”

Only when Maria called out, noticing her steps gradually slowing, did Daphne snap back to attention.

“No, let’s go.”

“You must hurry.”

Daphne knew that too, that they didn’t have much time.

She had been told that if they left the duke’s estate and walked just a bit further in the direction Maria was guiding, there would be a carriage sent by the Second Prince waiting. 

Of course, since it was for disguise, the seats would be cramped and uncomfortable, but that didn’t matter at all.

The two hurried their steps.

The street where the streetlamps hadn’t been lit yet was more accurately described as dark rather than bright.

Daphne moved forward relying solely on instinct.

“We’ve arrived.”

Finally, Maria pointed to an old carriage. They opened the carriage door without hesitation.

And inside.

“Hello, Daphne.”

Astaire was sitting there.

For a moment, it felt like the flow of time had stopped completely.

When she felt like the entire world had frozen for a moment, Astaire slowly lifted his head and looked directly at Daphne.

Daphne flinched.

But she couldn’t avoid his gaze. It was like Astaire was exerting some irresistible force on her.

“I didn’t expect to meet you here like this.”

Astaire smiled languidly and bit off one of his white gloves with his teeth.

Thud.

Even the sound of the glove dropping echoed loudly in the silence that hung between them.

“You didn’t know either, did you?”

Sitting in the cramped carriage seat, he radiated a massive presence. His solid, triangular upper body tilted slightly toward Daphne. The man lowered his left leg that had been crossed over his right while leaning his arm against the backrest.

With each of those movements, Daphne felt her breath tighten.

“You didn’t know, but I knew.”

The duke’s gaze, which had been fixed on Daphne the whole time, turned to Maria beside her.

Flinch—Maria trembled.

Maria’s eyes were already stained with deep fear. Holding Maria’s hand, Daphne could tell.

Maria was trembling so much she looked ready to collapse at any moment.

And for good reason—Maria knew how Ada, the Grand Duchess’s maid who had tried to help Daphne at the estate, had ended up.

Though Ada’s story was an incident known only to a few within the estate, Maria was one of those few.

Even knowing Ada’s fate, Maria had tried to help Daphne.

Daphne had once asked her why.

“Is there something you gain from helping me, Maria?”

“…Well.”

Maria hesitated before answering. Daphne smiled quietly.

Of course, Daphne didn’t believe Maria gained absolutely nothing from helping her.

She figured the Second Prince—or rather, Jayden—would reward Maria in some way.

“Then why?”

It wasn’t a big deal, but she was curious.

After a moment of consideration, Maria told her.

“Actually, the Second Prince once saved my younger brother.”

“Saved him?”

“My brother was playing around in the street and blocked the path of a carriage carrying some high-ranking person. It almost became a huge incident, but the Second Prince happened to pass by and mediated.”

Maria’s eyes sparkled as she talked about the Second Prince. Her eyes even grew moist, showing how truly grateful she was to the Second Prince.

Daphne understood Maria completely.

“At that time, I wanted to repay him somehow. When the Second Prince asked if I could work for him, I formed a connection with him.”

Maria’s eyes were filled with firm loyalty.

Looking at her, Daphne thought.

She too had once thought of Astaire that way.

She had thought Astaire had thrown her a lifeline when she was suffering at the Count’s house.

Though not anymore, of course.

Daphne figured Maria would never betray the Second Prince. And she also thought that the Second Prince’s character when he was Jayden remained consistent from the past until now.

Though he probably wasn’t accepting her because of that ocean-like consideration and good heart.

So Daphne felt somewhat sorry toward Phaios.

“Maria.”

Cutting through her thoughts, Astaire’s voice pulled Daphne back to reality again.

Daphne looked at Astaire with clear eyes, then shifted her gaze to Maria.

“Yes, Your Grace.”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know whose person you are?”