Without haste, the man who had appeared behind Yuis gently placed his hand on her shoulder and leaned down slightly.

Meeting her gaze, he smiled pleasantly and addressed her tenderly, as if no one else in the room existed.

“My lady, are you enjoying yourself?”

As he carefully tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear, his voice melted like honey — tender and loving like that of a devoted husband.

“Ah… y-yes.”

Flustered by his affectionate tone, Yuis stammered, forcing a nervous smile as she quickly added.

“Didn’t you say you were busy today?”

“I was disappointed when your tea time was cancelled, so I came by to at least see your face.”

A lie.

He never shared tea time with Yuis. She felt relieved when she saw him, but this feeling was quickly replaced by shame.

‘Had he overheard their conversation?’

Her fingertips felt cold, as if the blood had drained from them.

Smiling tenderly at her once more, he finally turned to face the other ladies.

Looking as handsome as ever, Edric was impeccably dressed in a blue suit that matched the colour of his eyes perfectly.

“Ladies, I hope you won’t mind if I borrow my wife for a moment.”

As he spoke, he gently pressed his lips against Yuis cheek, making a soft ‘chu’ sound. The atmosphere of the entire gathering shifted the moment he entered.

Yuis found herself flustered and overwhelmed by his perfect, almost unreal appearance. She was also gripped by anxiety at the thought that he might have overheard everything.

“Of course! Go on, Yui.”

One of the ladies said brightly, and the others quickly agreed. However, Terian Johannes remained silent, quietly observing the couple.

“Thank you for your understanding. Shall we, my lady?”

Slipping his arm around her waist, Edric drew her closer. Yuis blushed slightly and bowed politely to the ladies as the two of them left together, looking like the picture-perfect couple they were.

For a brief moment, silence settled over the table they had just vacated.

“They say northerners are all rough and frightening, but clearly that’s not the case. I’ve never seen such a handsome man.”

“I’m so surprised — it’s nothing like what I imagined. Wasn’t there a rumour that he had a terrible scar on his face? That must have been a lie.”

“His manners are perfect, too. And how wonderful that he visits his wife, even when he’s busy!”

Once more, the ladies’ chatter faded into an odd stillness.

However, their gazes were now all turned towards Terian.

Hints of pity, sympathy and faint mockery could be seen in the glances the women exchanged.

Yuis Everett was now sitting in the beautiful, noble position that Terian had so desperately desired.

It was the Johannes name that had made it possible.

In the quiet tea room, where only the whispering green wind filled the air, the ladies’ eyes moved busily.

Meanwhile, Terian simply stared at the empty space where Yuis and Edric had disappeared, unable to hide her humiliation at failing to inflict it on Yuis Everett.

***

Once they had left the tea party and found a secluded spot in the garden, Edric increased the distance between them.

Yuis violet eyes travelled up the line of his sharp, blue suit.

His face was as handsome as ever, but his eyes were cold and piercing. His cold gaze cut deeper into her than the cruel words of the ladies who had tried to humiliate her.

Feeling the heat rise at the back of her neck, Yuis instinctively averted her gaze.

“It seems… I had expected too much.”

The words were mild, but his tone was flat and emotionless, making Yuis feel even more ashamed.

“When I said I wanted you to hold your place, I didn’t mean for you to smile while being insulted.”

‘So… he heard everything.’

Even then, Yuis almost gave him another awkward smile, but managed to suppress it, instead pulling a strained expression and lowering her gaze.

“There’s only one thing I ask of you. Maintain your position as Duchess of Descartes quietly.”

As she listened to him, her gaze fell on a tiny speck of dirt near the tip of his immaculately polished shoe.

It was such a small stain, yet on this man, who was flawless from head to toe, it stood out starkly.

And that small blemish somehow felt like a reflection of herself.

‘I won’t be able to do this.’
‘A maid from Darec becoming the wife of the Grand Duke of Descartes in the Empire…’

Whenever Yuis was reminded of that fact, she felt suffocated.

She didn’t belong to him or the Descartes name.

Edric studied her as she stood there, unable to meet his gaze. Then he calmly issued one final warning.

“Remember: anyone who insults you insults me.”

He looked at her once more, then turned away without hesitation.

Yuis watched his retreating figure silently for a long time.

The tight corset made it difficult for her to breathe.

Yuis forced a smooth, practised smile, lifting the corners of her mouth.

‘Stupidly, smiling was all she could do.’

***

Edric entered his study looking sharp.

He immediately ordered Noah to investigate Yuis.

“Look into Yuis, And Terian Johannes as well.”

Having witnessed their relationship first-hand, Edric realised it was far worse than he had anticipated.

To them, Yuis was nothing more than their amusing plaything. Edric was almost speechless at the sight of her sitting at the head table, smiling foolishly.

No—perhaps he was even a little angry.

‘They had the audacity to offer up their toy as my bride.’

And yet Yuis Descartes sat there quietly, smiling through all their insults.

He had made it perfectly clear that all he asked of her was that she maintain her position as duchess and behave with proper decorum. Yet she seemed determined to disregard him.

“You didn’t need to come.”

Had she not come, they would probably have humiliated her further, but she would have smiled through it, as she always did. But…

‘Why was she smiling?’

Edric couldn’t understand why Yuis continued to smile in the face of their humiliations.

To insult her was to insult Descartes himself, yet Yuis had allowed his name to be tarnished. Edric was angry about that.

He turned his gaze out of the open window.

The garden where he had left her came into view.

She had smiled through all their mockery, but when he had spoken, the pain in her eyes had been clear to see.

How could she endure their cruelty with a smile yet not be able to withstand a single word from him?

Shaking off the image, Edric ran a hand roughly through his hair and gestured for his attendant to withdraw.

***

Information about Yuis Everett was easy to find.

It was clear that she had abandoned the Everett name and been hastily registered as a member of the Johannes family shortly before the wedding, suggesting that the arrangement had not been carefully planned from the outset.

She was the only daughter of Viscount Casses and Viscountess Gelin Everett.

She is currently 20 years old.

She joined the Johannes household as a maid at the age of 17, and three years later she was sent to Kalang to marry the Duke of Descartes.

“Miss Yuis… It seems this was all arranged without the lady’s knowledge.”

A marriage even she was unaware of…

“Casses and Gelin Everett have moved to Kies, in the east of the continent. They’re living separately.”

“So she was registered under the Johannes name even though both her parents are still alive? What exactly happened?”

“Neither of them seems to be looking for the lady. In fact, since sending her to Kalang, they appear to be living even better than before.”

With a slight nod and a light tap of his fingers — a signal to continue — Noah went on.

“It seems that Lady Terian Johannes has been tormenting her for quite some time. Originally, Lady Johannes herself should have taken that position, but she cited the death of Prince Hetar as her reason for refusing and recommended the lady in her place.”

The death of Prince Hetar must have provided Terian Johannes with the perfect excuse. Hetar was powerful, and now he was gone, the King of Darec, who had always been wary of him, could no longer force the issue.

Noah stepped closer and placed a small letter on the table.

“It seems they have been rallying nobles behind the scenes to elevate the lady’s status, ensuring she is placed in this position to match His Excellency’s marriage proposal.”

“…….”

“You must first sever the lady’s ties with the Johannes duchy.”

Edric unfolded the letter and began reading it slowly.