The snowy North was somewhat noisy. Vahalla, who had been organizing the Grand Duke’s residence, hurriedly locked the door. 

 To think they would actually have to put their training into practice! 

 He couldn’t believe the current situation. He stood with his back against the door, his face pale as he paced anxiously. 

 “Sir Aiden! Sir Kaven! Everyone focus!” 

 At Vahalla’s shout, Aiden and Kaven came down to the first floor. Even the servants and maids all gathered, stopping their work. 

 “Master Vahalla, you called? Has His Highness the Grand Duke returned?” 

 Aiden was nearly in tears with joy. Fortunately, no one had visited since the two had left the mansion. 

 They had expected the imperial palace to send someone to check on the residence’s situation, but there had been no such movement. 

 Though they had trained and prepared for possible situations, thankfully each day had passed quietly. 

 Sensing something unusual in Vahalla’s agitated eyes, Aiden looked at Kaven. 

 “A carriage sent from the imperial palace is approaching from far away! We should prepare for anything!” 

 “……You’re saying they sent someone from the imperial palace?” 

 Vahalla nodded. Kaven jumped up and down restlessly. 

 “They’ll discover us if I greet them with this build! I only look convincing from afar. Should I really disguise myself?” 

 The maids rolled up their sleeves, seemingly ready to disguise Kaven right away. 

 Seeing this, Aiden sighed and said,

 “Master Vahalla, it would be better to say they’re away on outside business today.” 

 “Would that be alright?” 

 “I’ll send a letter to the imperial capital right away. For now, let’s just follow what we practiced.” 

 The reason for visiting from the imperial palace at this time was clear. It must be to deliver an invitation. 

 “We cannot let them enter the residence no matter what happens. Not if you don’t want to see that guy disguised as the Grand Duchess.” 

 Everyone wore determined expressions at Aiden’s words. 

 “Hey, you don’t have to put it that way! Her Highness the Grand Duchess said I looked pretty.” 

 “Sir Kaven…… You seemed disappointed when we said you couldn’t do it, after complaining so much before.” 

 “Th-that’s not true!” 

 Though his response was slightly delayed, they let it slide. Kaven cleared his throat and returned to his position. 

 “Then I’ll go send the letter.” 

 There was a messenger that Her Highness the Grand Duchess had told them about for times like this. 

 Aiden immediately went up to the second floor. 

 “Everyone act natural.” 

 Vahalla spoke to the maids and servants before straightening his clothes. 

 Tension filled the Grand Duke’s residence. Whatever the Emperor’s intentions in sending someone, they had a bad feeling about it. 

 “Absolutely do not let them in. No one is to be allowed inside no matter what happens.” 

 The moment they discovered that the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess were in the imperial capital rather than here, everything would fall apart. 

 Vahalla gave strict orders to the knights. Kaven nodded and disappeared for a moment. 

 Soon after, the carriage stopped in front of the Grand Duke’s residence. 

 The person who stepped out of the carriage quickly surveyed the surroundings before approaching the main entrance. 

 He wore a uniform with medals on his chest. They had thought the Emperor would send just anyone, but seeing he had sent quite a high-ranking noble, perhaps he suspected they wouldn’t be fooled easily. 

 Along with a knock, the messenger’s voice announcing he was sent from the imperial palace was quite loud. 

 “Marquis Kellindano has come to see His Highness the Grand Duke by His Majesty’s command.” 

 Marquis Kellindano? Not just a messenger but a marquis! 

 Aiden, who had just returned from sending the letter, exchanged glances with Vahalla at the marquis’s voice. 

 ‘We didn’t expect them to come like this.’ 

 No one had thought a marquis would be involved. 

 Marquis Kellindano did not get along well with the Grand Duke. Not only was his family at the forefront of keeping him in check as the Emperor’s closest confidants, but he was also an annoying person who nitpicked about everything. 

 “Of all people, for Marquis Kellindano to come…… This might not be easy.” 

 “It seems they deliberately sent him to create a difficult situation.” 

 Aiden nodded in agreement at Vahalla’s words. 

 Vahalla carefully opened the door and said,

 “Marquis Kellindano, His Highness the Grand Duke is currently away from the residence on business. If you give it to me, I will pass it along.” 

 “My, then I shall wait until he returns. It’s not such a difficult matter, is it?” 

 “……It might take a long time. The North is quite cold with snow falling. It would be troublesome if you caught a cold while waiting for His Highness.” 

 Despite Vahalla’s words, Marquis Kellindano did not back down. He showed no intention of handing over the letter in his hand. 

 “Marquis Kellindano, we cannot open the door when the master is not home. If you still insist on waiting until the end, I won’t stop you, but I’m sure you understand that would also be discourteous.” 

 He took a strong stance to send him away. Marquis Kellindano’s eyes turned toward the slightly open interior of the residence. 

 Though brief, he caught a glimpse of purple hair passing by. The gaze watching him from behind a fan somehow felt sharp. 

 ‘What is this pressure?’ 

 Marquis Kellindano’s hair stood on end. For some reason, he felt like a well-honed sword blade was pressed against his neck. 

 He could even feel the urging to get out quickly. 

 “You look unwell.” 

 Vahalla keenly noticed the marquis’s subtly changed demeanor and spoke. 

 “Why don’t you give me the letter and go rest?” 

 “That would be difficult.” 

 Marquis Kellindano swallowed hard while rubbing his nape. 

 He felt like an invisible gaze was piercing through his body. Claire had certainly looked thin and delicate when he had glimpsed her before. 

 He hadn’t expected her to emit such killing intent and try to drive him away so blatantly, when she had lived while hiding her presence without drawing attention. 

 He frowned and took a step forward to try to get a better look. 

 ‘What is he trying to see?’ 

 When Vahalla turned his head to check inside, his heart pounded heavily. 

 He had thought it strange that he suddenly disappeared…… 

 ‘Sir Kaven. Please, don’t do anything.’ 

 He felt like laughing. He bowed his head deeply to barely contain his emotions. 

 He accidentally made eye contact with him as he fanned himself with a seductive expression. 

 Sir Kaven seemed worried about being discovered by Marquis Kellindano, as he carefully peeked his head out from behind a pillar to watch. 

 Though it was probably meant to dispel suspicion, from Vahalla’s perspective it only raised more doubts. 

 “It seems Her Highness the Grand Duchess hasn’t gone out.” 

 Marquis Kellindano’s eyes narrowed. He probably wanted to confirm if the person he saw was indeed the Grand Duchess. 

 Vahalla immediately blocked the marquis’s view. He thrust his head in front of him and said with a smile,

 “Marquis Kellindano? Peeping into a house when its master is away is also discourteous behavior.” 

 “No, but the Grand Duchess is in there……” 

 He tried to look inside by tilting his body to the side. 

 “Even if Her Highness the Grand Duchess is here, you cannot enter. Her Highness has not given permission.” 

 “If the Grand Duke isn’t here, can’t the Grand Duchess receive it directly?” 

 “She’s been sensitive lately due to pregnancy and isn’t meeting strangers.” 

 Due to Vahalla’s iron wall defense, the marquis couldn’t get a proper look at Claire. 

 ‘Has she changed like that because she’s pregnant? But that aura……’ 

 Though they hadn’t faced each other directly, the marquis seemed to understand why the Emperor had sent him here. 

 ‘The princess has changed. She’s become so strong that no one can ignore her.’ 

 Now he could clearly feel the killing intent. The marquis loosened his cravat slightly at the strong murderous aura that seemed to say she would end his life if he didn’t leave quickly. 

 “You don’t look well.” 

 Seeing his chance, Vahalla spoke to the marquis while trying to get him to hand over the letter. 

 ‘I can barely breathe.’ 

 Golden eyes glimpsed between the fan’s folds blazed fiercely. It seemed he wouldn’t be spared if he set foot in the residence. 

 Thinking he might collapse from suffocation if he stayed any longer, Kellindano took a step back. 

 In the end, unable to fully carry out the Emperor’s orders, he placed the letter in Vahalla’s hand and said,

 “……T-tell them to reply right away.” 

 “Yes. Don’t worry.” 

 The marquis immediately turned and walked quickly to his carriage. Cold sweat ran down his back from the persistent gaze still following him. 

 His instincts told him: Never look back.