“That belongs to the Polar family, so the Polar family may use it however they wish.”

Lariella conveyed a few words of gratitude on behalf of the Polar residents. Kais nodded his head perfunctorily.

“And thank you for trying to become my destiny from the beginning, Kais.”

Just because she found out late didn’t mean Kais’s sincere desire to become her destiny disappeared.

Now that she knew such a story was hidden behind the gold box, which had only been surprising at first, his feelings touched her even more deeply.

“Then what about now?”

“Pardon?”

“Who do you consider your destiny now?”

Lariella smiled sweetly at Kais when he asked while looking straight at her.

No question could be easier for her now. Lariella answered immediately without any hesitation.

“I just need you, Kais.”

With a smile so bright it made one squint, Lariella answered once more, enunciating each word clearly.

“No, now I can’t do without you.”

My lovely Lariella, who makes me fall in love at first sight, makes me fall deeper the more I see her, and makes me fall in love anew every moment.

Kais jumped up from his chair, strode over, and kissed his radiant sunshine who was smiling brilliantly.

Lariella finally burst into laughter at the sight of Kais, who even then tried not to cross the boundary between the two desks by placing his hands behind him and stretching only his face forward.

“Right now, there’s no punishment more frightening to me than you locking your bedroom door.”

At Kais’s words, Lariella, who had been laughing so hard that tears formed at the corners of her eyes, rose from her chair and jumped straight into Kais’s arms. If he couldn’t come to her, she could go to him.

Kais embraced Lariella, placed her on his thigh, and sweetly covered her soft lips, which were still spilling laughter, with his own.

“No, is it that good? Is it that good? Good heavens, it’s so sickening that a person can’t live.”

Worklan grumbled while walking down the east corridor.

No matter how lovesick you are, how can a person change like that? With that big c*ck of his, he never touched women and spent every day shut up in his office, but now he throws away all his work and spends every day shut up in the bedroom. How can you go from one extreme to the other, you cousin of mine!

Worklan, who still hadn’t received the budget allocation for the knight order’s spring training costs and new weapons and uniforms, had rushed over, abandoning his training as soon as he heard that Kais was in the office.

Today he was determined to settle this matter once and for all. Firmly resolved, Worklan turned the corner at the end of the corridor and flung open the office door.

He thought he wouldn’t have to see them kissing anymore since the Duchess had said she would place a separate desk and sit apart, but damn it all!

He angrily slammed the door shut again.

“Oh seriously, just go to the bedroom already. You duke who doesn’t do any work!”

Worklan, who had been gesturing angrily at the door, was grumbling while walking back down the corridor when he saw Willis approaching from a distance, carrying a tray full of documents and letters in both hands.

“Willis, just go back. Today’s ruined too.”

Willis’s already yellow face gained another layer of yellow sediment when Worklan waved his hand dismissively.

“Then I’ll just leave the documents by the door. But where are you going, Sir Worklan?”

“Going to the village for a drink. Might spend the night with a woman if I see one I like. Unlike someone, I never do anything as foolish as getting hung up on just one woman. Take care, Willis.”

However, Worklan’s boast about never getting hung up on one woman didn’t last long.

And that destiny was closer than he expected.

* * *

The spring social season began with piles of party invitations.

Nobles who had spent the quiet winter secluded in their territories sent invitations one after another, seemingly having waited for the weather to warm. For Kais too, it was time he could no longer postpone external activities.

From countless invitations, Kais selected a green one with an elegant ribbon and handed it to Lariella.

“Count Viller’s ball?”

“Yes. Count Viller is my biggest business partner, and he’s also famous for hosting the most splendid and entertaining balls in society. It seems like a good choice for our first ball of the year.”

“Sounds good. It should be fun.”

In truth, Kais’s choice of Count Viller’s invitation wasn’t for such a simple reason.

Count Viller’s house was where Kais and Lariella had first encountered each other last year.

Kais had contacted Count Viller in advance to request that the ball be held on the same day as last year’s, and the Count had gladly agreed. Kais had also arranged for fireworks to be set off at a time he specified.

Kais wanted to properly propose to Lariella again in that garden where she had been reading a book.

He had already ordered a necklace and ring adorned with decorations shaped like the latia flowers that Lariella had diligently cultivated in the garden, believing they would bring complete love.

Just as Lariella had first confessed her love to Kais by offering him a bouquet of latia flowers she had grown herself, he planned to confess his eternal love by placing the latia necklace around her neck at the place where they first met.

Preparations for attending the ball proceeded smoothly, and the day of the ball arrived swiftly like the wind.

“Madam, are you alright?”

Marie looked worriedly at Lariella, whose complexion was poor even as she tightened her corset.

Perhaps because there were so many things to do inside and outside the castle with the arrival of spring, Lariella had been feeling increasingly tired lately. She also had no appetite, and even after sleeping, she didn’t feel refreshed.

But she couldn’t cancel her attendance at the scheduled ball just because she felt a bit tired.

“I’m managing. Don’t worry too much. I’ll be fine soon.”

However, contrary to Lariella’s hopes, her physical condition didn’t improve much even after attending the ball.

The nobles showed great interest in Lariella, whose descriptor had changed from “the poor Duchess married to the impotent Duke of Elmano” to “the charming Duchess who instantly captivated the Duke of Elmano’s heart.”

People crowded around her to greet her whenever she tried to rest for a moment, giving Lariella no chance to relax. Her face cramped from smiling so much, her tightly cinched dress was uncomfortable, and the effects of the champagne she had inadvertently sipped made her feel terribly stuffy.

“Would you like to go out to the garden for a moment?”

“Yes, Kais.”

Kais’s suggestion to get some fresh air in the garden sounded like salvation.

But the couple couldn’t take more than a few steps before encountering an interloper.

“Oh my, Duke Elmano. I sent a letter expressing my desire to invest in your merchant ships quite some time ago, but you still haven’t replied. Please spare me just a moment. Just a brief moment will do.”

Since the delayed reply was Kais’s oversight, he found it difficult to dismiss Viscount Woodley who asked for just a moment of his time.

“Lariella, would you wait for me just a moment?”

“It’s fine. Go ahead and talk. I’ll go to the garden first.”

Lariella felt so hot and stuffy that she couldn’t stay inside for even a minute longer.

Kais briefly fixed his gaze on Lariella’s flushed cheeks before nodding shortly. He didn’t like sending her out alone, but it seemed there was no other option than to quickly finish his conversation with Viscount Woodley.

“Don’t go far, just wait a little. I’ll be right there.”

“I will. Don’t worry.”

When she stepped out into the garden, it felt like her blocked breath was finally clearing.

Lariella had already noticed that Kais had prepared something special for today.

Otherwise, there would be no reason for him to be so restless, checking the time throughout the ball, on the exact anniversary of their meeting, at the very place they first met.

Still, she should pretend not to know until Kais brought it up first.

With a slight smile, Lariella walked slowly along the garden, enjoying the cool breeze. Walking down the path lined with small shrubs, she could see in the distance the bench where she had been sitting and reading a book last year.

To think he had overheard the nonsensical conversation between Ronais and her there and sent a box of gold coins! It was absurd, but when she thought about Kais saying he wanted to become her destiny, her heart felt warm and fuzzy.