He had just seen the Duke carrying the Duchess in his arms, practically running up the stairs, and it seemed they had no intention of coming down yet. This despite the fact that dinner time was approaching.

After tidying up the study and stepping into the corridor, Willis stopped a passing servant.

“Reno, go to the kitchen and tell them not to set the Duke and Duchess’s dinner on the table but to prepare it on a trolley. Don’t forget to include the lamb steak that the Duchess likes. And when the meal is ready, personally bring it to the corridor outside the Duchess’s room. You must not knock on the door or make any noise. Just quietly leave it there and come back.”

“I understand perfectly, Head Butler. Last time, Letty thoughtlessly knocked on the door and incurred the Duke’s wrath for disturbing the Duchess’s sound sleep.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then I’ll go to the kitchen right away and relay those instructions.”

Willis smiled brightly as he watched the young servant bow his head and walk toward the kitchen with hurried steps.

It was spring in Elmano Castle after ten years of being frozen in cold air.

It was only natural that he couldn’t help but smile.

* * *

“I really thought I was going to be thrown out right then and there.”

Marie shook her head with a terrified expression, still finding the memory chilling.

“When he got angry, asking who had dressed the Duchess in such a thing that couldn’t even be called clothes and poured in such horrible perfume that turned one’s stomach, oh my, don’t even mention it. Especially that jar with alistro flower petals—he threw it away immediately after smelling it. If Sir Worklan hadn’t stopped him, I would have ended up like that jar.”

“Marie, you only prepared everything diligently for me, the Duke was too harsh. If you hadn’t been here when I returned, I would have been truly sad.”

At Lariella’s consolation, Marie’s mood quickly became smug.

“But when the head maid and Mrs. Deshiri were expelled, I felt so relieved. My goodness, who would have thought they had embezzled so much of the Elmano ducal family’s wealth? They were both thrown out in beggar’s clothes, and I felt like something stuck in here just cleared out all at once.”

When the wedding was over but the marriage remained unconsummated for more than a month, everyone had subtly looked down on Lariella, and by extension, Marie. But now they all bowed their heads deeply before Lariella.

Not that this bright and intelligent Duchess ever mistreated the servants. She pointed out mistakes firmly and scolded when necessary, but she also gave generous praise and rewards for jobs well done.

The more the servants of Elmano Castle got to know her true character, the more they genuinely came to like their lovely mistress. Marie was extremely proud of herself for recognizing the Duchess’s true worth from the beginning.

She skillfully braided Lariella’s hair and adorably pinned a small red flower ornament on one side.

“The Duke said it then. That the Duchess looks prettier without excessive adornment. I agree with that. So, staking my pride as the most capable lady’s maid in the capital, my newly prepared concept for the Duchess is ‘styled to look unstyled.'”

What Marie ambitiously brought out was a dress with a simple floral pattern. The dress, decorated with frills made of the same fabric instead of lace and jewels, was made of the highest quality silk with a subtle and luxurious sheen throughout.

When Lariella put on the dress, its simple lines accentuated her slender yet voluptuous figure.

“Marie, I really like this dress. Thank you.”

Watching Lariella admire herself in the mirror with satisfaction, Marie felt her severely wounded pride being restored.

“I am a maid who stays ahead of fashion. So, Duchess, you must continue to trust me, Marie Herona, the most excellent and capable maid in the capital.”

Lariella left the room laughing at Marie’s habitual way of speaking.

Today was the day of her second tea party.

Since various events had unfolded after the last tea party, she had created this occasion to finally deliver the crystal vase she hadn’t been able to give before and to catch up.

Lariella had invited the same seven noblewomen as last time.

The guests were the same, but their attitude toward Lariella had completely changed. Lariella too, now hosting for the second time and having consummated her marriage, was more relaxed in her manner with the guests.

The tea party was progressing quite well in a generally pleasant atmosphere when the Marchioness of Devers and the Countess of Tabanel exchanged subtle glances and began to subtly probe Lariella.

“You seem to have lost some weight, Duchess of Elmano.”

“Yes, indeed. You must have something on your mind. Your complexion looks a bit dark too. Do you have some worry?”

They still couldn’t believe the rumors that Duke Elmano wasn’t impotent, or that Lariella hadn’t been sold for a box of gold coins.

Especially the Marchioness of Devers, who had wanted to match her daughter with Duke Elmano, couldn’t accept the fact that Lariella, whom she considered inferior to her daughter in every way, was firmly established as the mistress of Elmano Castle. But no matter where she inquired, the new servants of Elmano Castle were uniformly tight-lipped, making it difficult to extract inside information.

So the Marchioness of Devers decided to probe Lariella directly. After all, she was just a naive country bumpkin who would surely spill everything with a little coaxing.

“If it’s a newlywed concern, it must be about your compatibility with your husband?”

The Marchioness of Devers began to catch the wind in earnest. When she went “thump,” the Countess of Tabanel, who had already coordinated with her, responded with a “clap.”

“If it’s that kind of problem, there’s no need to worry. Just find a lover you like. The Marchioness of Devers here is especially famous for her wide connections. She knows not only nobles but also knights, artists, and wealthy merchants. In fact, she introduced me to my lover.”

“In high society, it’s not even scandalous for noblewomen to have a lover or two. Duchess of Elmano, if you need one, feel free to say so. In matters like these, we who are in the same situation should help each other, shouldn’t we?”

The two women puckered their lips eagerly like greedy carp following bait.

Lariella slowly tilted her teacup while listening to their voices. It was all too obvious what answer these women wanted.

‘So the Duchess wants to, but can’t.’

‘Since the Duke is impotent, it’s hopeless forever, isn’t it?’

Lariella still clearly remembered what the noblewomen here had gossiped about behind her back during the last tea party. And what they had babbled about Kais’s lower body.

These women probably hoped the situation hadn’t improved. That way they could mock her behind her back and satisfy themselves with that.

Lariella slowly put down her teacup and sighed softly.

“Actually, I do have a concern.”

At Lariella’s words, even the other ladies who had been sitting quietly watching the situation chimed in.

“Oh my, what is it?”

“Tell us anything. I’ll listen as if it were my own problem.”

“That’s right. Concerns should be shared with people like us.”

“If we all think about it together, we’ll surely find a solution. So what’s the matter?”

Lariella looked around at the eyes sparkling with expectation.

Then, lowering her long eyelashes dejectedly and speaking in a weak voice devoid of energy, she murmured.

“Well, you see. It’s embarrassing to talk about this, but the truth is I…… even though I want to, I can’t.”

“Oh my, so there was a problem after all. Ah, I knew it. But don’t worry too much. I’ll introduce you to a very good lover.”

The Marchioness of Devers clapped her hands and smiled broadly, as if her prediction had been correct.

Lariella held up her extended index finger in front of the smiling Marchioness’s face. Then she wagged it from side to side.

“No. That’s not it. I mean even though I want to do it moderately, I can’t do it moderately. It happens day and night, at all hours…… Is this how it is for everyone during the honeymoon? At this rate, my body really won’t last. Marchioness of Devers, I truly appreciate your concern, but Duke Elmano alone is already more than enough for me. So I’ll pass on the lover and leave that to others who need one. For example, someone like the Countess of Tabanel.”

The Duchess of Elmano, who wanted to do it “moderately” but couldn’t do it “moderately,” elegantly took another sip of tea from her cup. It was a fragrant tea that improved her mood considerably.