“Huff, huff!” 

 “Move quickly!” 

 Their voices carried through the window. She immediately went down to the first floor. 

 ‘What could have happened for them to rush in like this?’ 

 An uneasy feeling crept in. 

 The door opened and Rien and Alita poured in, nearly causing her to fall backward. 

 “Y-Your Highness the Grand Duchess!” 

 Thanks to Alita’s agility, she didn’t land on her bottom. 

 “Are you alright?” 

 “That’s what I should be asking. Did something happen? First, catch your breath.” 

 She spoke to the two while getting up. 

 “Someone who appeared to be from the Emperor approached us. Your Highness told us to just let them take the bait, but they tried to forcefully take us away. However, we escaped thanks to cats that suddenly appeared.” 

 Alita caught her breath and told her. 

 ‘Playing hard with the cats was worth it.’ 

 She gently rotated her sore arm. 

 Fortunately, they seemed to have taken the bait properly. She told them they did well and that they could rest. 

 “Good work. Both of you, Rien and Dame Alita.” 

 Now she needed to go prepare. This confirmed that Father would definitely try to trade for the magic stones. 

 She needed to inform Cedric of this. She quickly turned her steps toward the dressing room to change clothes. 

 Because she needed to become the Bowell that Father wanted. 

 ❖ ❖ ❖ 

 Cedric saw a carriage arriving hurriedly through the window. 

 ‘It seems my wife has stirred up something interesting again.’ 

 He had thought she must have had a plan since her eyes sparkled while saying she was looking forward to it. 

 He had reached the point of anticipating what Claire would do next. Two women in elaborate dress rushed into the mansion. 

 Cedric moved away from the window to his desk. The Emperor still hadn’t made contact. However, he wasn’t anxious. 

 He felt contact from the Emperor would come. The reason was simple. The two women who just entered were Rien and Alita, and their faces were completely flushed. 

 ‘Whatever it was, it seems they succeeded.’ 

 Knock knock knock. 

 “Your Highness Grand Duke, may I enter? A guest has arrived.” 

 Cedric raised his eyebrow at the servant’s urgent voice. 

 It was certain the Emperor had eagerly taken Claire’s bait. Cedric put on his jacket, leaving the startled servant behind. 

 “Your Highness Grand Duke?” 

 “You should call me Sir Paul. Did you forget?” 

 “I apologize! Sir Paul!” 

 The servant’s eyes widened. He quickly corrected himself. Cedric waved his fingers while neatly fastening his sleeve buttons and said. 

 “I assume someone from the imperial palace came to notify us.” 

 “Y-yes, that’s right!” 

 He put on the prepared wig and dropped medicine in his eyes. Then he turned and slightly pushed the curtain with his finger to look outside. 

 “Go tell Lady Bowell. Tell her they took the bait. Though she probably already knows.” 

 “Yes, I’ll inform her that she needs to prepare right away.” 

 After the servant left, Cedric composed his expression and put on his mask. 

 His steps were unhurried but not small. 

 His footsteps were light as he went down to greet the person sent from the imperial palace. 

 Cedric stopped abruptly when he reached the first floor. 

 “Lady Bowell.” 

 He gently called out to Claire who had come down before him. Her red hair swayed with the nod of her head. 

 It was as if a rose garden had spread out before his eyes. 

 ‘Perhaps it’s because of Claire’s subtle fragrance.’ 

 He went behind her and gently stroked her luscious hair with his fingers. He felt the illusion of red rose petals cascading through his hand. 

 “Paul, I heard someone came from the imperial palace. I’ll be in the reception room, so bring them accordingly.” 

 His lovely wife was faithful to her role. Her different atmosphere, voice, and even gaze from usual. 

 Cedric nodded with a subtle smile on his lips. 

 After staring intently at her retreating figure, Cedric nodded to the servant. 

 As soon as the door opened, the impatient knight spoke urgently. 

 “By the Emperor’s command, bring Levenia Bowell to him.” 

 Cedric smiled crookedly while looking at the letter thrust toward him. The Emperor must have been in a hurry to act without proper consideration. 

 “So.” 

 “W-what do you mean ‘so.’ Are you refusing His Majesty the Emperor of Lendsa Empire’s command?” 

 The knight’s body trembled at his low voice. Cedric didn’t miss this and spoke with an even deeper smile. 

 “The reason we should follow the Emperor’s command.” 

 Cedric’s red eyes stared straight at the knight. He crossed his arms and scratched his forehead with his finger. 

 When he furrowed his brow and raised it as if telling the knight to speak quickly, the knight’s lips quivered. 

 “I-if you refuse the Emperor’s command……!” 

 “So. Why should we follow the Emperor’s command when we’re not even citizens of the Lendsa Empire? Unless it was a request for help rather than a command.” 

 Soon after, another man entered the mansion. Cedric tilted his head sideways at the different attire from the knight and somewhat fiercer gaze. 

 “Please tell Lady Bowell. This approach won’t work.” 

 “If it’s urgent, say it’s urgent. Then who knows if my master might show generosity and agree to meet.” 

 Cedric looked down at the two men from where he stood, preventing them from entering the mansion. 

 “Sir Paul, Lady Bowell said they may enter.” 

 The servant carefully approached Cedric and spoke. Cedric shrugged as if he had no choice and said,

 “Follow me.” 

 The two men sent by the Emperor followed at his gesture. 

 When the reception room door opened, they saw Claire sitting in a chair, greeting them with a broad smile. 

 “Welcome. His Majesty seems busy. Not in much of a hurry, it seems.” 

 Claire rested her chin on her interlocked fingers and tilted her head, blinking her eyes. Her green eyes held spring’s freshness but also carried a touch of madness. 

 “Have you accepted the contract?” 

 Claire buried herself deep in the chair and lifted her chin. The knight’s expression hardened further at her arrogant appearance. 

 Cedric stood behind her. Actually, he wanted to be across from her. He could see her face better that way. 

 “……His Majesty agreed to the trade. However, he wants to discuss at the imperial palace.” 

 “Good. Then this will be easy.” 

 Soon after, a servant entered the reception room with a contract. 

 Claire wrote Levenia Bowell with a bright smile in the contract’s signature space and handed it to the knight. 

 “This is the contract. If His Majesty wishes to meet and trade in person, we must go. Paul, prepare everything.” 

 “……Understood.” 

 Cedric bowed his head as Claire said and left the reception room. 

 All that remained was going to the imperial palace to find what she wanted and meet who she needed to meet. 

 The Emperor seemed quite concerned about keeping Bowell’s visit to the imperial palace secret. They got in their carriage and departed first. 

 Cedric boarded a carriage with Claire, and they followed the first carriage using the road behind the mansion. 

 “How was it? I thought my heart would burst.” 

 Claire leaned against the carriage wall and let out a long breath. She acted like she was exaggerating after enjoying herself with a completely relaxed face. 

 However, he knew why she was acting this way. He was just careful about bringing it up first. 

 “Are you worried the Emperor might recognize you?” 

 “That’s impossible. I’m just nervous about whether the person I’m thinking of is really the one waiting for me……” 

 She slowly shook her head as she spoke. Tension still showed through her faint smile. 

 “The thought that I might see Mother makes my mind go completely blank.” 

 Cedric thought he would feel the same way if his own mother or father, whom he thought were dead, appeared. 

 The problem was that if she really was alive, it wouldn’t necessarily be good for Claire. 

 “Don’t forget that I’m behind you.” 

 The Emperor will use Clarira to pressure Claire. She must be a card he kept hidden for when she would be useful someday. 

 Who knew what he would demand using her as leverage. But Cedric soon shook off his worries. 

 Because of Claire’s bright smile at his words, as if everything was fine. He felt she must have already read the Emperor’s thoughts. 

 “We need to finish talking and leave within half a day, will Your Highness be alright?” 

 She pointed at his face with her finger as she spoke. She seemed worried about him wearing the mask. 

 “I’m fine.” 

 Though taking care of her own heart should come first, Claire seemed more concerned about Cedric’s discomfort. 

 Her hesitant appearance was lovely. When did she stop pushing him away and become the one who cares for him more than anyone else? 

 Cedric liked this attention. 

 ‘Was I this impatient?’ 

 After clenching and unclenching his fist several times, Cedric got up from his seat and sat next to Claire. 

 “You should stop staring and get some sleep.” 

 He reached out his hand and guided her face to rest on his shoulder. 

 “……Why?” 

 Cedric’s Adam’s apple moved up and down prominently at her clear voice that showed no sign of sleepiness. 

 He wanted to kiss those pretty lips right away and pull that slender waist into his arms to trap her in his embrace. How could he say he wanted to caress and explore all her favorite places with his hands? 

 “Don’t you need to conserve energy for the battle of wills with the Emperor?” 

 “That’s true……! I should get some sleep like Your Highness said.” 

 Claire leaned her body completely comfortably on his shoulder. His chest rose and fell heavily as he watched her slowly close her eyes to try to sleep. 

 Cedric closed his eyes while barely managing to suppress his beast-like urges that were boiling up.