As she quietly steadied her breathing, she watched families and couples strolling along the beach. Their laughter mingled with the sea breeze and was carried on the waves.

Before long, the sun began to set. Against this backdrop, the blue waves broke gently on the shoreline, forming frothy white crests that rolled in.

The scene was so beautiful that she couldn’t tear her eyes away.

She stood there watching the sea until only she and Edric remained on the beach.

Edric walked over to a nearby ice cream vendor. Returning, he handed one to Yuis, who accepted it with another bright smile.

Bite after bite, she eagerly enjoyed the treat before turning to him.

“Would you like to try some?”

Edric let out a soft chuckle and replied.

“I’m fine.”

As if she had expected that answer, Yuis nodded and happily took another bite of her ice cream.

Everything was so new to her.

This beautiful place, this sweet ice cream — it all felt like Edric was opening up a whole new world just for her.

‘If only I could do well this time… but why is it so hard? Why does it have to be this difficult?’

Still, she truly wanted to do well.

As she continued to eat, savoring the cool, sweet flavor, Yuis became lost in her thoughts, mindlessly repeating her motions—until she finally noticed how close Edric’s face had grown.

Edric suddenly found her face so close that he let out a low chuckle right in front of her.

That faint laugh sent another ripple through her heart. As the ripple spread, their lips met.

Unlike her cool lips, his were warm.

When Edric gently caught her lower lip between his teeth, Yuis lips parted naturally. Their breaths mingled in the small space between them.

His hand caressed her cheek softly, just like the breeze she had felt all day.

It was the same kiss as always, yet it felt different.

His tongue slid in gently, stirring her breath and making her chest tighten.

Her heart was beating so loudly that she worried he might hear it. Its deep beats echoed in her ears.

As their tongues entwined, her breathing became shallower.

Recognising this from previous kisses, Edric skilfully eased her breathing by pressing a few soft kisses against her lips. Then he delved in again, sucking her lower lip deeper into his mouth.

The clean, refreshing scent that usually lingered on him now filled her senses completely, leaving her defenceless.

As if she were his favourite ice cream, Edric nibbled and licked her lips hungrily.

Yuis squeezed her eyes shut and accepted his kiss.

When Edric opened his eyes slightly, he saw that Yuis had her fists clenched and her eyes tightly closed.

Swallowing a breathless chuckle, he took her hand and placed it around his neck.

He wrapped his arm around her waist, drawing her closer as he deepened the kiss, their tongues tangling intimately.

It was a beautiful, dreamlike moment that she knew she would never forget.

Kissing Edric like this by the sea, under the glowing sunset — Yuis knew this memory would be forever etched in her heart.

‘To him, it probably wouldn’t have mattered who stood as Duchess Descartes—as long as someone filled that role.’

She already knew this. But today, she wanted to keep that truth hidden away in her heart.

When their lips finally parted, Yuis eyelashes fluttered open to reveal her violet eyes.

Her cheeks were pink, her lips were swollen and plump, and her eyes were redder than usual.

As Edric gazed at her shy smile, he realised something.

He finally recognised the nature of the thirst he felt whenever he looked at her: Desire.

Ultimately, he was no different from those other men.

However, unlike them, Edric knew one undeniable truth: Yuis Descartes was already his wife.

With a languid smile on his lips, he whispered softly to her.

“Shall we go?”

Yuis nodded and took his hand as he helped her to her feet.

With practiced ease, Edric escorted her back to the carriage, and it smoothly set off once more.

***

Jerome, who had been dragged back to his room by Damian Lobis while he was still half-conscious, had now woken up. He stared at the setting sun sinking into the western sky, lost in thought.

What on earth had happened in Darec while he was away on holiday in Hetar—for Yuis Everett to suddenly become the Duchess of Descartes?

Judging by how agitated Lobis had been when he burst into the room that day, the rumours seemed to be true. Yet no matter how much Jerome thought about it, he couldn’t make sense of it.

‘Why Yuis Everett and not Terian Johannes?’

According to his plans, she was supposed to become his mistress.

He still vividly remembered the day he first saw her at the House of Johannes, standing demurely behind Terian during one of his visits. The moment his gaze landed on her small, pale, porcelain-like figure, he felt a surge of desire.

He wanted to possess her—to cherish her, indulge her, even break her. He craved the power to push her to tears, only to gather her into his arms and soothe her afterward. More than anything, he wanted her to belong to him.

From the moment he first laid eyes on her, Jerome was certain that Yuis Everett would be his.

After all, noble marriages were merely business transactions. His plan had always been clear: to marry Lady Doran, the Marquess’s daughter, while keeping Yuis Everett as his mistress.

Even when Terian stopped inviting him, he felt little regret. It was a shame not to see Yuis Everett anymore, but she was better suited to the role of mistress. A maid like her was far more convenient for that purpose.

Yet now, Yuis Everett had become the wife of Duke Edric Descartes.

Jerome could still clearly recall the man’s gaze that day — he was tall and upright, walking towards him at an unhurried pace. From a distance, Edric had seemed almost slender, but up close, his presence was overwhelming.

This commanding aura caused Jerome to unconsciously recoil and lash out at Yuis with sharp, petty words.

‘Did Yuis Everett cry after hearing my words? Did that man comfort her as she wept?’

Throughout the entire encounter, Edric’s gaze never once strayed from Yuis. Aside from the brief moment he walked toward them, his eyes were locked on her—and her alone.

‘Could it be love? No, that couldn’t possibly be.’

Before he could think any further, there was a knock at the door.

When he opened it, his drinking companion from earlier that day, Robin Covent, was standing there.

“What is it?”

“Jerome! Come on, let’s go out for a drink.”

Jerome frowned, annoyed at being disturbed while thinking about Yuis. No matter how much he pondered it, however, he could not find any answers. It was something he would have to investigate once he returned to Darec.

Following Robin, Jerome soon caught up with the rest of their group and made his way through the underground lobby where he had first met Yuis. They continued on towards the casino.

The appeal of drinking, gambling and the company of women quickly diminished. Ever since he had met Yuis Everett, everything else had begun to feel dull.

It was time to bring his early summer holiday to an end.

Even as the carriage rolled towards the train station, and even after he had boarded the train, Jerome Remy’s mind was consumed by thoughts of Yuis.

Upon arriving at the Remy estate, he hastened directly towards the Count’s study.

Without knocking, he flung open the door. His father, Count Jim Remy, was seated inside, smoking a cigar.

Jerome strode confidently towards the desk.

Count Jim Remy extinguished his half-smoked cigar as he looked at his son approaching.

He couldn’t comprehend why his son had taken a holiday at such a critical time. His voice, heavy with anger, lashed out at Jerome.

“Jerome Remy! What have you been doing at such an important time?”

Jerome cast a brief glance at the documents on the desk; his expression was calm and indifferent. Whatever they were, they weren’t his concern. He had come back to Darec early for one reason alone.

“Why is Yuis Everett now the Duchess of Descartes?”

When Jim Remy heard these words, his face turned pale with shock.

He closed his eyes tightly and rubbed his forehead as if everything had suddenly become clear. Leaning back deeply into his wing chair, he sighed heavily.

“Did something happen between you and Duke Descartes?”

Everyone knew that the Duke would be granted the rights to the railway project connecting Kalang and Darec. To avoid being left behind, they had to prepare for the new era of capital dominance. And no one was better positioned to lead that charge than the Duke of Kalang.

Yet rather than working with Count Remy, the Duke had chosen to ally himself with Viscount Damian.