‘Ah! Maybe he’s worried I’ll get dragged around everywhere and make some kind of mistake?’

In the end, she reached the conclusion that something might happen to damage the ducal house’s reputation, so he pulled this stunt to prevent such a situation.

Jin deciding to become an affectionate husband out of jealousy over Dante—no matter how she thought about it, that had to be a plot hole.

“The most accurate way would be to ask the duke directly, wouldn’t it, Duchess?”

Along with Shuga’s dazzling smile, a courtier announced Jin’s arrival right on cue.

“His Grace, Duke Daihan, has arrived.”

“Let him in.”

The moment Shuga gave permission, Jin strode forward.

“Your timing is perfect, Duke.”

Shuga greeted Jin with a bright smile.

“It’s been a while, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

“Please sit, Duke. We’re still in the middle of tea time.”

Jin surveyed the table with movements neither too fast nor too slow.

The tea in Rayenne’s cup remained more than half full—she’d barely taken a few sips.

“Understood.”

When Jin naturally took the seat beside Rayenne, everyone’s eyes turned to him.

“I was quite surprised when you suddenly announced your marriage, Duke. There must have been a reason.”

Unlike Rayenne, who could only watch nervously since they’d been discussing Jin just moments ago, Shuga smiled cheerfully and spoke like he knew nothing.

Rayenne was the one who looked puzzled by his words.

“It was simply something decided long ago.”

His words could mean different things depending on who heard them.

“Do you mean the two of you have been in contact since early on?”

Shuga’s eyes sparkled like he was listening to some hero’s love story.

But Jin didn’t elaborate further.

“I asked something too personal. More importantly, I heard the Duchess has been tremendously popular in high society lately, Duke.”

Shuga seemed determined to ask Jin about the letters’ whereabouts.

“Is that so?”

His utterly indifferent tone could cut off anyone’s curiosity, but Shuga remained completely unfazed.

Instead, his face grew even more intrigued as he continued.

“Absolutely. I hear the Duchess receives over twenty tea party invitations a day.”

He’d already said the same thing to Rayenne.

But Rayenne was also genuinely curious about what happened to the letters, so she quietly waited for Jin’s answer.

Jin took a sip of the tea Shuga had personally poured, then set down the cup with refined movements.

Then he made eye contact with each person in turn—Shuga, Dante, and finally Rayenne.

“I gave instructions not to deliver any letters except those from acquaintances.”

This answer seemed directed at Rayenne rather than Shuga.

“Because I thought it would trouble you.”

The moment Shuga’s speculation became reality.

Rayenne felt warmth in Jin’s bright blue eyes meeting hers.

Worried her cheeks might flush from that sincere warmth, Rayenne quickly lifted her teacup.

The fragrance of the already-cold tea seemed to make her head spin.

“…Thank you, Jin.”

After wondering what to say, that was the answer she barely managed while setting down her teacup.

Shuga’s gaze, leaning back against the sofa, flicked toward Dante and back, but no one noticed.

“Was the Duchess so beautiful that you kept her all to yourself even before the marriage, Duke?”

This time too, it wasn’t a question expecting an answer—Shuga continued without giving Jin time to respond.

“Everyone was truly curious when they heard Count Shellon’s daughter was marrying the Duke. Weren’t they?”

Now that innocent expression no longer made his words sound as pure as they appeared.

What exactly does he want to know this time? Though suspicious, Rayenne kept quiet.

Dante, unusually quiet today, replied indifferently.

“They were.”

His answer was so dry it made her doubt whether they really had been curious.

Again, Shuga didn’t care in the slightest.

He acted like he couldn’t even see the bleak atmosphere Jin and Dante created.

“It’s truly surprising that such a beautiful young lady was completely unknown in high society until now. Moreover, the Duchess is talented enough to graduate second in her class from the Academy.”

Only now did Rayenne catch on to what Shuga was curious about.

‘The original Rayenne only stayed home until she met Jin.’

Her uncle Gwenn kept Rayenne confined to the house, saying she mustn’t get caught up in bad rumors if they were to secure the marriage with the Daihan ducal house.

It was a baseless demand that she stay home reading books and doing embroidery, focusing only on cultivating the refinement befitting a duchess.

‘The naive Rayenne believed those words completely.’

Her parents had passed away when she was very young, and having grown up dependent on her uncle Gwenn, she believed everything he said was right.

She’d lived with marriage to Jin as her sole life goal, and though she finally achieved that goal, the bleak married life so different from her expectations strangled Rayenne.

The more she’d believed she’d be happy, the more unhappy Rayenne became.

She couldn’t honestly tell him about that foolishly blind past.

“My uncle didn’t really like me going out.”

She didn’t care what happened to Gwenn’s reputation. Besides, it was the truth.

“Still, was there really a need to stay so isolated? Most of the young nobles probably saw the Duchess for the first time at the wedding.”

“I also like being alone anyway.”

Shuga smiled back at her awkwardly smiling face.

“Your Highness.”

At the call that seemed to have been waiting for the right moment, Shuga turned his gaze instead of answering, and Jin straightened his posture.

He’d set down his teacup long ago.

“We should be going now.”

“Ah. I’ve taken up all of the busy Duke and Duchess’s time. Hmm… I understand the Duke will be attending meetings regularly for the time being.”

“That’s correct.”

Rayenne also straightened her back, and Dante’s gaze naturally followed and settled on her.

“Then will the Duchess come again tomorrow as well?”

At Dante’s question, Jin looked at Rayenne without answering. Since he’d come today at Rayenne’s request, he couldn’t answer carelessly either.

“I’ll probably come for a while. There are books I want to read.”

“It seems I took up quite a lot of the Duchess’s time today in various ways?”

Better late than never.

Rayenne just smiled without answering, hoping he’d feel a bit guilty.

Whether her intention got through, Shuga also smiled and stood. Since Crown Prince Shuga stood, Dante couldn’t just remain seated and stood as well.

“We’ll take our leave now, Your Highness.”

“The tea was delicious, Your Highness.”

She couldn’t quite bring herself to say it had been an enjoyable time.

“Let’s share tea again soon.”

Shuga saw them off with his characteristic refreshing smile.

When Rayenne followed behind Jin who led the way, Dante also followed them out.

“Huh? Sir Dante?”

Shuga’s flustered call soon scattered behind the three departing figures.

***

“Rayenne.”

The call came only after he’d followed them for quite a while after they left the garden where they’d had tea.

The two people who hadn’t stopped despite knowing Dante was following them stopped simultaneously, like they’d made a promise.

Jin turned around first, and Rayenne reluctantly turned around.

Instead of the calm expression Dante had shown all day, he now wore a somewhat troubled look.

Yet he still didn’t avoid her gaze, which was answer enough.

“I don’t intend to apologize for yesterday. It doesn’t seem like something to apologize for.”

Rayenne already knew that.

But whether she could accept that fact was a separate issue.

She had no desire to keep dealing with Dante, who kept making her feel uneasy.

“But I didn’t say it with any particular intention.”

That might be true.

Dante said he’d watched Rayenne during their Academy days, so maybe she felt different to him and he simply said so.

Really, the reason she was being so guarded about those words was because she herself knew she wasn’t Rayenne.

“…I think I was being sensitive too.”

She said it thinking that being too sensitive might actually raise suspicion.

But at those words, Dante returned to his usual face for the first time today and smiled.

“I hope I can see you again tomorrow.”

She didn’t bother answering.

Behind Rayenne as she turned to leave with Jin again, Dante stood in place for quite a long time.

***

Stark greeted the two when they returned to the ducal residence.

“Your Grace. I have something to discuss with you briefly.”

Stark didn’t overtly hint, but Rayenne had enough social experience from her past life.

She caught on that this matter wasn’t something she needed to hear and spoke up first.

“I’m tired, so I’ll head up first.”

“…Very well, my lady.”

Since it was still midday and she thought Jin would go handle work, Rayenne headed straight to her room.

It wasn’t just an excuse she’d thrown out—she was genuinely tired, so she planned to rest while washing up in warm water.

“Did you have a good outing, my lady?”

Appearing from wherever she’d been, Velma greeted her with a bright face.

“Thanks to you, I had a good trip, Velma.”

“Not at all. Is there anything you need?”

The way she followed along was adorable, like a puppy.

“I’m going to wash up now, so could you just prepare a bath?”

“Of course! I’ll have it ready right away!”

Velma hurried into the room to start preparing the bath, and Rayenne, who followed her in, stood before the vanity.

As she removed and set down her accessories, she stopped moving at her reflection in the mirror.

She was a beautiful person with a delicate impression.

Her long black hair held a blue tint like the night sky, and her violet eyes were as fresh as flowers blooming after meeting dawn dew.

A lovely person at first glance, with skin so bright it seemed transparent and a long, slender body that gave a delicate impression.

“Why didn’t you love someone like this?”

Even if he’d just treated her like he does now.

Words she couldn’t voice aloud lingered in her mouth.

The face in the mirror looked sad.

“My lady, it’s ready.”

Thanks to Velma emerging from the bathroom at just the right moment, Rayenne snapped out of her thoughts.

“You must be busy with your assigned work, but thank you.”

“Not at all. I’m happy to be helpful.”

Velma’s shy smile had the power to lift anyone’s mood.

“Please call me again when you need me. Promise.”