“Louis Cristina Mute. He’s the eldest son of the Marquis Mute, a founding hero of the Defiem Kingdom, and is expected to inherit the title within five years.”

Daisy Cape reported the gathered information in an indifferent tone.

Her report detailed Louis’s graduation from the Royal Academy’s Department of Public Administration, his connections, and the circles he frequented—irrelevant details that finally gave way to the crux of the matter.

“There’s much gossip about his involvement with women. He doesn’t discriminate based on age or marital status, leading to his bad reputation. However, he’s skilled at maintaining a glamorous appearance, ensuring he’s never short of female company.”

“Ha.” Gopher let out a heavy sigh.

“They first met at the wedding of Count Beckers, but the first time they spoke was during the party that followed. Would you like me to find out what they talked about?”

“No.”

Digging any deeper would turn the investigation from Louis Mute to Mel, and Gopher wanted to avoid creating unnecessary problems. Rubbing his tired eyes, he sank into thought.

Louis’s unusually polished looks wouldn’t usually have warranted his concern. If it hadn’t been for Mel—who rarely engaged with others—choosing to speak to him, Gopher wouldn’t have cared.

It couldn’t have been anything significant. How intimate a conversation could two people who’d just met possibly have?

Besides, Mel had a good eye for people. While she’d reluctantly try to trust even the worst of individuals if circumstances demanded, she had a knack for picking the right people when given a choice.

It was probably just idle chatter, nothing more. But then…

“The Duchess, you know, might have taken an interest in Louis.”

Snap. The familiar sound of something breaking resonated in his hand. He’d snapped another pen. Gopher stared blankly at the ink-stained glove now dirtying his hand.

The ink, as if it could seep through the cloth, penetrate his skin, and contaminate his veins, gave him an eerie sensation. Thud-thud. His heartbeat, heavier than usual, resonated within him, accompanied by emotions that he recognized as far from normal. Chaotic impulses surged in discord.

Louis Mute.

As a sticky anger reached his throat, Gopher barely managed to suppress it. Acting rashly just because of a brief conversation would liken him to Mixeluke, who’d harmed anyone who approached Mel.

Gopher didn’t want to walk that same path. He didn’t want to be cast away from Mel’s heart. He had to stay virtuous, moral, and rational. Ha. He sighed again.

“Shall we assign someone to keep an eye on Louis Mute?” Daisy suggested.

“Leave him alone.”

There would be no further opportunity for the two to meet anyway. Mel rarely engaged in social activities, and Louis Mute would soon return to his home country. Agitating the matter further served no purpose.

But for those who acted with evident malice, the approach was different. Gopher’s gaze darkened.

“Someone at the party didn’t know their place.”

“I’ll take care of it.”

“Handle it properly. She’s not exactly spotless, is she?”

Daisy Cape nodded and left the office.

A stifling heat seemed to press against Gopher’s chest. Clenching his gloved fist tightly, he swallowed a deep breath.

I trust Mel.

Even as he murmured this to himself, Gopher had to admit that his emotions resembled distrust more than trust. Not toward Mel—but toward himself.

***

A major scandal broke out in the social scene.

Immoral and tangled romantic affairs were exposed in vivid detail. The scandals went far beyond the tacitly accepted norm of maintaining discreet lovers, crossing boundaries of age, gender, and even numbers. The sheer audacity of the incidents set off an endless stream of gossip columns.

One of the names listed in the storm was familiar to Mel. While walking with Gopher, she commented, “I heard Lady Emera is getting a divorce.”

Ironically, her husband, Tobias, also appeared on the scandal list. Despite their reputation for such issues, they put on a show of mutual shock and hurled accusations at each other. The absurdity was palpable.

Gopher’s eyes widened slightly at her comment. If his expression hadn’t changed, she might have believed him. Mel laughed dryly and asked, “That was you, wasn’t it?”

“I don’t recall endorsing infidelity.”

“I meant leaking the story.”

“Did I acquire a newspaper company at some point? Not that I remember.”

Gopher feigned innocence, but Mel caught the faint stiffness in his posture. She gently stroked his arm and said, “I’m not angry. It’s not like you made up crimes that weren’t there.”

He hesitated, lips moving as if organizing his thoughts, before asking, “…How did you know?”

Mel chuckled in disbelief. How did I know? His attempt to play dumb was almost insulting.

She raised a finger and began to count off.

“During the first year of my second engagement, Baron Totten’s gambling den was raided by royal knights. They uncovered a cache of banned items, and he was sent to the dungeons.”

She folded down her second finger.

“Then, several newspapers that once tore into me, calling me a fraud, were exposed for bribing officials and forced to shut down.”

“That even reached Heaven’s ears… No, never mind.”

She bent her third finger.

“And those nobles who badmouthed me loud enough for me to hear? They quietly retreated to their territories. I heard that the heads of their families received lists of their wrongdoings and demoted them.”

Finally, she folded her fourth finger.

“And now, Emera Clover has met her downfall.”

“Well, what can you do? There are so many sinners in this world,” Gopher replied, hugging her as if to smooth over the situation, resting his cheek against her shoulder.

“I told you, I’m not angry.”

Mel chuckled softly and returned his embrace, patting his back.

“Still, don’t go this far next time. Taking revenge on everyone who says something bad about me will only make you more enemies.”

“They said something bad about you?”

“…You didn’t already know that?”

Gopher didn’t answer her question. Mel blinked in confusion and fell silent. If it wasn’t revenge for someone badmouthing her, it must mean that whatever rumors or insults they spread had harmed Gopher directly. If that were the case, Mel had no intention of intervening.

While it might not have been the right thing to do, Gopher had seemed so worn out recently that she didn’t want to make things more complicated for him. Loosening her embrace, Mel brushed a gentle hand under his eyes. Gopher leaned into her touch almost instinctively.

Is he still having nightmares? she wondered.

Mel knew all about Gopher’s restless nights. Sharing the same bed since their marriage had made it impossible not to notice.

Whenever she caught him tossing and turning, she’d either pretend not to notice and wake him gently or comfort him until his nightmares faded. Lately, though, she’d been sleeping too deeply to do that.

She understood what worried him. Every time she stepped away, his face would pale, making it impossible to miss.

I’m not going anywhere anymore, she thought to herself.

It seemed Gopher was still haunted by the day she faked her death and fled to Conercio. Maybe her recent tendency to avoid him only made his fears worse.

The thought filled her with sorrow, and she wanted to say something, but Harriet’s advice held her back.

“Don’t say anything until you’re sure. When it happened to me, I felt awful for getting Damian’s hopes up for nothing. Mel, in situations like this, you have to think about yourself first.”

There wasn’t much time left, anyway.

Mel bit her lip and forced herself to speak in a bright tone.

“I’ve kept you here too long. Let’s head back up.”

Gopher stared at her with heavy-lidded eyes before slowly nodding.

***

Mel prepared to go out again three days after attending Count Redbirds’ party. This time, it was mandatory—a court ball, for which the imperial palace had sent an invitation.

Exhaustion weighed down her eyelids more each day. She dozed off in the carriage, resting her head on Gopher’s shoulder. When the carriage came to a stop, Gopher finally broke the silence.

“You don’t seem well.”

“It’s probably just the seasonal change. I’m a little tired.”

“You can just show your face and leave. Once we’re inside, you should rest on the terrace.”

“Alright…”

Mel blinked her heavy eyes a few times before accepting Gopher’s hand and stepping out of the carriage. She entered the palace, greeted the royals, and exchanged pleasantries with the Heavens family she encountered along the way.

When the ball began earnestly, she did as Gopher suggested and retreated to the terrace. The cool air of the late summer evening was more refreshing than cold, and she leaned against the railing, taking deep breaths of the crisp night air.

The terrace was empty since the ball had just started. Soon enough, intoxicated guests would likely descend into the garden to disappear into the shadows, but that moment hadn’t come yet.

Or so she thought.

Mel froze.

No, maybe not.

In the rose garden connected to the terrace, she noticed two figures—a man and a woman, their contrasting builds suggesting they were a couple. She couldn’t make out their faces from her position, but the woman must have seen her. Upon noticing Mel, the woman flinched and hurriedly disappeared into the garden’s depths.

The man, however, didn’t follow. Instead, he walked toward the terrace. Mel straightened from her relaxed position against the railing.

As he drew closer, his features became clear: the sly curve of his lips, the proud bridge of his nose, and his face flushed red with drink. It was Louis Mute.

He greeted her casually as if this were the most natural thing in the world.

“Well, what a surprise to see you here, Duchess.”