Why was he looking at her like that? In fact, the answer was already set. Without much thought, one could guess how he would view the woman who had become his father’s new wife. Imagining how much contempt he would show in his eyes, she felt as if she were standing at the edge of a dizzying cliff.

As they came outside, a drizzling rain was falling. While it was perfectly fitting for a funeral, it was terribly tiresome weather for transporting and interring the body at the cemetery.

Amidst the lined-up hearses to carry the coffin, laborers to move the coffin and dig the ground, and two or three luggage carriages, two carriages for the deceased’s family were visible.

Several people were clustered around one of the carriages. After exchanging words with serious faces for quite some time, one of them ran over to where Celia and Eugen were.

“Um, young duke… no, Your Grace.”

As a servant approached and spoke with apparent difficulty, Eugen turned to look at him.

“What is it?”

Celia flinched at the deep, low-resonating voice. It was the first time she had heard Eugen’s voice. This was because he had been abroad and returned upon hearing of his father’s death, and the postponed funeral procedures had begun immediately without time for separate greetings.

“Well… there’s something wrong with the carriage, and we’re short on carriages to take you to the cemetery. It’s not easy to quickly find a carriage befitting your status, and besides the hearse, excluding the ones for the laborers…”

The servant trailed off.

“There’s only one carriage available.”

A moment of silence fell.

“It can’t be helped.”

Eugen nodded and then turned to look at where Celia was standing.

“Would it be alright if we travel together?”

“Ah…”

Celia hesitated for a moment, unable to say anything. Seeing his gaze as if waiting for an answer, she hurriedly nodded.

“O-Of course.”

Her face flushed beneath the veil. It was because he had asked for permission so politely.

“Then, please get in first.”

As the duke extended his hand, Celia hesitated again.

“We don’t have time.”

The duke took Celia’s hand and led her to the carriage. As a result, Celia inadvertently placed her foot on the carriage step and naturally boarded with the duke’s assistance.

As Eugen, seated opposite Celia, tapped on the carriage wall, it started smoothly.

“……”

The inside of the carriage was enveloped in a quiet stillness. Though it was for a funeral, it was a spacious and luxurious carriage with seats covered in black velvet.

Finding herself seated face to face with the duke in this enclosed space, Celia felt as if every hair on her body was standing on end. Her toes curled and her fingertips grew cold.

“Are you cold?”

“What? No.”

“You seem to be shivering, though…”

She could feel the man’s gaze sharply scanning her body. Even through the veil, that gaze was distinctly perceptible.

“No, I’m fine.”

The man draped the coat he had been wearing over Celia’s shoulders. Suddenly enveloped in the coat imbued with the man’s warmth, Celia flinched.

“It will take quite a while to reach the family cemetery. You must be tired from the funeral, why don’t you try to get some rest?”

“Thank you for your concern.”

Though she said this, it was impossible to fall asleep easily in such an uncomfortable situation. The carriage, traveling on rough roads in the rain, occasionally jolted but otherwise provided a fairly decent ride. It was a comfort that couldn’t be felt in a cheap carriage. While the regular rocking might have induced sleep, her tense mind, more than anything, didn’t allow for even a moment of rest.

Celia quietly gripped the edge of the coat he had covered her with. Her throat felt strangely dry and her body tense. The man sitting across from her with his legs crossed maintained his posture without any wavering, just as he had in the chapel earlier.

“You can’t sleep because you’re uncomfortable, I see.”

“N-No, that’s not it.”

Celia almost choked at his words, which seemed to see right through her.

“Well, it’s not an environment conducive to resting comfortably. If you had been able to ride in a separate carriage, you could have rested for a while.”

His voice, sounding almost kind, made Celia shrink even more.

“Come to think of it, I’m late with introductions. It’s been hectic. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“No, not at all.”

Celia hurriedly waved her hands. Her ears turned bright red in an instant at his sudden request for forgiveness. He was the head of the long-established Hilbert ducal family. A noble man who had no need to seek understanding or forgiveness from her.

If the situation hadn’t turned out like this, he was someone with whom she would never have had the chance to sit so close and converse.

“It seems we’ve ended up meeting for the first time in front of my father’s coffin. I am Eugen von Hilbert.”

His neatly resonating voice had a deep and low timbre. In the pause that seemed to be waiting for her response, Celia cleared her throat.

“I am Celia…”

As she was about to continue, she suddenly felt his gaze.

“…von Hilbert.”

Celia hesitated for a moment before answering. She wasn’t sure what to say for her surname. Although it was just for one night, she had come to this ducal family as a second wife, so she had the right to use that name. No, she had to use it.

“……”

At Celia’s response, Eugen tilted his head and looked at her. Though his expression wasn’t clearly visible, she could understand what the smile forming at the corners of his mouth meant.

‘He must think it’s ridiculous.’

To dare to attach the name of the Hilbert ducal family based on just one night’s qualification. To him, the legitimate heir, it must look like a truly ridiculous act. Nevertheless, Celia had no choice but to be brazen. She had to be.

“Hilbert?”

There was an inexplicable pleasure in his slightly raised tone.

“……”

“So, we’re using the same surname then.”

“Well…”

She had done something presumptuous. Celia immediately felt deep regret. But contrary to her expectation that he would be angry, he asked another question in a gentle tone.

“That veil, when did you start wearing it?”

She could feel the man’s gaze scanning her body. It felt as if a very thin blade was sweeping over her entire body.

“Since right after the Duke passed away…”

Celia trailed off. The long black veil draped from her head enveloped her entire body like armor, giving her confidence that it could protect her from the man’s gaze to some extent.

As long as she was in here, she was safe.

“How long do you plan to wear it?”

He said, slightly moving the tip of his crossed legs.

“I heard I should wear it for 100 days.”

“According to family custom, a wife who has lost her husband must wear a black veil for 100 days. During that time, she cannot meet with outsiders at all, and all social gatherings are prohibited.”

That’s what the head maid had said when handing her the black veil and dress after Duke Andro von Hilbert’s death.

“Ah, you mean that outdated custom.”

There was a faint laughter in his voice.

“That practice that treats the living like the dead.”

At Eugen’s words, laced with bitter mockery, Celia gripped her clasped hands even tighter.

“Doesn’t it seem absurd? To mourn for 100 days and not even be allowed to leave the house just because one’s husband has died.”

“…It’s an old family, so I heard there are many etiquettes to observe.”

“So, do you intend to grow old and die trapped in those outdated etiquettes?”

Though his tone was kind and gentle, the content was utterly scathing.

“I think I should rightfully follow those customs since I married into the Hilbert family.”

Celia tried her best to speak without trembling. After all, Eugen was her husband’s child, which made him her stepson, clearly meaning he was her junior.

“Ah, that’s quite a touching statement as a member of the family.”

His words were filled with unmistakable mockery. Of course, that was to be expected. If she were in his position, she would have reacted the same way.

But it didn’t matter. To achieve her goal, she had no choice but to endure being called brazen.

Thud.

The carriage, which had been running smoothly, shook for a moment, causing Celia’s body to lurch forward.

“……”

Celia let out a small scream. Fortunately, thanks to Eugen catching her body, she avoided the misfortune of tumbling onto the carriage floor.

“Are you alright?”