Nigel’s mood was worse than yesterday. Thanks to the news Count Owen brought early in the morning. Who could have done such a thing? How clever of them. Nigel had only read the article’s title before setting it aside, so he was relatively calm. But Count Owen wasn’t.

“The Berthe family won’t stay quiet about this, Your Highness.”

“……”

“You know what this means for an unmarried noblewoman. You should have been more careful, even with a humble family.”

Count Owen was more worried about Rosia than Nigel. Such a scandal was troublesome for Rosia, who was already pressed to marry. Nigel would surely know this, so Count Owen didn’t bother to explain further. But Nigel seemed utterly indifferent. He just leaned against the window with his arms crossed, looking at Count Owen with disinterested eyes.

“What are you trying to say?”

“I mean you should be careful for a while. If you care about that lady at all.”

Count Owen sighed. It was strange, actually. The Grand Duke, who had never shown interest in women, suddenly giving gifts and personally visiting a woman he had just met… They even spent intimate time together recently.

But even that was brief. At some point, Nigel completely cut off his interest in Rosia. Like someone who had planned to do so from the beginning. Count Owen didn’t quite understand what intention Nigel had in doing such things.

Was it because his homeland felt unfamiliar after being away for so long? Count Owen had watched Nigel’s deep and cold loneliness closer than anyone else. Yes, Nigel had only been momentarily captivated by the woman named Rosia Berthe to overcome that solitude. Now even that seemed to have cooled off.

Count Owen drew that conclusion. Naturally, he felt sorry for Rosia Berthe. Nigel’s capriciousness was famous enough that it didn’t need to be pointed out. That innocent-looking lady must have been used. Although blood is thicker than water, Count Owen tended to be lenient toward young ladies. Therefore, the Grand Duke he served now appeared as the villain.

“You’re speaking as if I’ve done something wrong, Count.”

“That’s not what I meant, Your Highness.”

Nigel glanced at Count Owen’s tired face before staring out the window where rain was pouring. Rosia Berthe must have seen this article too. He recalled her face, flushed with shame and looking ready to burst into tears at any moment. Suddenly, irritation welled up.

“What exactly does it say?”

“Pardon?”

“The article’s content.”

Count Owen made quite a troubled expression.

“It would be better if you saw it yourself.”

Just how bad could it be? Nigel frowned and picked up the newspaper. It was an article written with quite a persistent and clingy perspective. The Grand Duke had fallen deeply in love with a viscount’s daughter, they even enjoyed secret meetings late at night, behavior completely unacceptable for an unmarried woman, a woman who brought shame to her family name. That was roughly the content.

Perhaps conscious of the Grand Duke’s position, there was barely any mention of Nigel. Therefore, countless eyes would turn toward Rosia. Toward a weak and young woman with no social status. Moreover, it was all lies without a grain of truth. Embarrassingly enough, Nigel hadn’t even managed to have a proper meeting with Rosia.

Someone must have had fun writing this garbage novel with great care. Nigel put down the newspaper as if throwing it away.

“Cancel all of today’s schedule. Contact the Berthe family in advance.”

“Pardon? Understood.”

Count Owen was about to add something but stopped. It was because Nigel’s expression was deeply furrowed. If he rashly visited the Viscount’s family at this time, it might only fuel more rumors. Nigel must know this too, so what could he be thinking? Count Owen briefly pondered while gathering the newspaper, then left the room.

“Hah.”

Once Count Owen disappeared from sight, Nigel irritably ruffled his hair. He shouldn’t have gotten involved with that woman from the start. That thought dominated his mind. He had simply wanted to suppress Davion. But after being rejected once, twice, his pride was hurt. So he wanted to truly capture her heart and then discard it mercilessly.

Moreover, Rosia Berthe had rudely tested Nigel several times. Creating difficult situations deliberately to check if the man’s feelings were genuine, watching how he would act and speak. It was one of the stories circulating secretly among the social ladies, but Nigel hadn’t expected Rosia Berthe to act like them. It was no different from what Davion Gragford did. She was the same kind as his brother who smiled to your face while plotting behind your back. For a moment, Davion’s face overlapped with Rosia’s.

Why did Nigel get angry when he too was using Rosia just as much? Was it simply because he felt deceived? Or was it because of those small white feet walking on the hard stone floor? That couldn’t be it.

Nigel turned around after nervously drawing the curtains.

＊＊＊

“Rosia!”

Just after finally sending away Baroness Luther, now the Viscount came looking for Rosia. Rosia felt her heart sink the moment she heard her father’s voice. She put down the book she had been reading to regain her composure. Soon the door opened and Viscount Berthe entered the room.

“What on earth… Rosie, is this true?”

A faint smell of alcohol wafted from Viscount Berthe. Drinking during the day was unlike him. But Rosia had no leisure to point that out. Whether she intended to or not, she had tarnished the family’s honor. She glanced at her nanny’s worried eyes before calmly answering.

“No, Father.”

“But it’s strange, isn’t it? I heard you properly refused when he came to propose last time……”

Viscount Berthe took a deep breath while pressing his forehead. Rosia repeatedly opened and closed her lips, not knowing how to explain. Even saying she had agreed to meet for just a month due to his persistent courtship felt shameful in the current situation. She was also reluctant because it seemed to confirm the newspaper article’s content. While Rosia hesitated, the Viscount’s lips grew increasingly dry. Just then, someone knocked on the door. Rosia and the Viscount simultaneously looked at the door.

“Viscount, Grand Duke Gragford has arrived.”

The butler announced the Grand Duke’s visit in a somewhat flustered voice. Not only the Viscount but also Rosia and the nanny stiffened. The Viscount frowned at his eyes and turned to the butler.

“Was there any notice of his visit?”

“We received a contact but since the exact time wasn’t written, I couldn’t inform you in advance. I apologize.”

The middle-aged butler bowed in apology. It was customary to give notice several days, or at least a day in advance as a matter of courtesy. So the butler naturally thought it would be tomorrow at the earliest. Viscount Berthe, who knew this better than anyone, sighed and said it wasn’t his fault, then turned to Rosia.

“This might be for the better. Show him to the reception room.”

“Yes, understood.”

Once the butler disappeared from view, the Viscount patted Rosia’s shoulder and said,

“Get ready, Rosie. It would be better to talk directly.”

“Yes.”

Rosia nodded obediently. However, her inner thoughts were not at all composed. What did the Grand Duke come to say this time? Surely he wouldn’t spout nonsense about one night or such in front of her father, but still, she couldn’t help feeling anxious since the other person was no ordinary person.

“I’ll go down first to greet His Highness the Grand Duke, so come down slowly.”

The Viscount roughly brushed back his disheveled hair and left the room. As soon as he disappeared, Rosia barely managed to stand by grabbing the chair.

What kind of trouble had she gotten into? Was it wrong from the start to follow the Luther couple’s advice? Should she have ignored it from the beginning? Suddenly, an unpleasant speculation crossed her mind.

Davion and Nigel, brothers with a bad relationship. She began to wonder why both of them showed interest in Rosia at the same time.

Why did the Grand Duke leave for the principality at such a young age? What if the reason was related to Davion? If Rosia had somehow gotten caught up in their childish feud…… No. Her imagination is going too far. Rosia shook her dizzy head lightly while catching her breath.

“Miss, are you alright? You look like you might collapse at any moment.”

The nanny supported the staggering Rosia. When her warm temperature touched her, her mind calmed a little. Rosia patted the nanny’s hand to indicate she was fine.

“I’m just a bit dizzy because I skipped meals. I should go down, nanny.”

“Yes, hold my hand tightly.”

“Thank you.”

Rosia held her nanny’s hand tightly as she headed to the reception room. Since the nanny couldn’t accompany her inside, Rosia entered the room after receiving a comforting pat. The Grand Duke and Viscount Berthe were sitting face to face. Rosia curtsied with her lips firmly pressed together. It was a polite gesture without any trace of personal emotion.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness.”

“……”

Nigel looked at Rosia with a peculiar gaze, remained silent for a moment, then suddenly declared.

“I will take responsibility.”

“What do you mean by responsibility……”

“I mean my proposal to you, Rosia Berthe, is still valid.”

Before Viscount Berthe could speak again, Rosia quickly interrupted.

“Father, I’d like to speak with His Highness alone.”

“But, Rosie.”

“Please.”

Rosia gazed at the Viscount with pleading eyes. Her expression was filled with determination to somehow settle things with the Grand Duke.