“No way… surely not…”

I turned to look at the picture frames hanging behind me.

Beautiful landscapes and elegant portraits filled the wall above my head.

“But if it’s somewhere the servants wouldn’t have searched…”

They probably wouldn’t have dared to open or break these precious paintings, would they?

In my previous life, people my dad had swindled often tracked us down with legal authorities. They would smash furniture and rummage through drawers looking for any trace of him.

They particularly searched picture frames and walls thoroughly, believing my dad might have hidden safes or financial documents behind them. That seemed to be where con artists typically concealed important items.

But my dad had already returned all the money to the victims of illegal operators, so there was no money to be found where I lived. The frustrated searchers would end up destroying everything in the house.

“Well, might as well try.”

After examining the furniture I could climb on, I grabbed a footstool and climbed onto the console table.

“Ugh, heavy.”

Climbing onto the console in a dress was difficult enough, but placing the stool on top and trying to stand on it was no small feat.

“I need to hurry.”

Though I couldn’t hear anyone in the corridor yet, I couldn’t afford to relax.

After positioning the footstool as close to the frames as possible, I removed every picture frame I could reach from the wall.

“Please be there…”

With all my attention focused on the corridor in case someone knocked, I began examining each frame I’d placed on the floor.

“Phew…”

My hands kept slipping due to nervousness. I found myself constantly checking the door, unable to shake my tension.

Though visitors would naturally knock before entering the grand duchess’s bedroom, if someone happened to open the door, they would see all the frames on the floor—clearly suspicious behavior.

Especially since the Grand Duke could enter without knocking.

“Please, please…!”

Perhaps due to the time pressure, my mouth went dry every time I moved the fastening buckles holding the back panels of the frames.

After opening several frames and finding nothing, I began to doubt my instincts.

“Oh!”

Just then, as I removed the back panel of the fifth frame, something fell onto my knees.

An envelope about the size of my palm!

“…It was true.”

The message’s contents were real!

I could hardly believe my eyes.

Quickly opening the envelope while keeping an eye on the door, I looked inside.

“What… is this?”

Upon opening the tightly sealed envelope, I found white powder inside.

Wondering what it could be, I was about to examine it more closely and smell it when I heard muffled sounds from beyond the balcony.

“Hoofbeats…?”

I hurriedly closed the envelope and was about to put it in my dress pocket when I realized I might be searched. Instead, I slipped it into my chemise pocket.

As I approached the window, I saw several carriages crossing the bridge that extended beyond the moat surrounding the castle.

“No, no…!”

Looking back, I saw the disastrous evidence of my search—picture frames removed and opened.

The maids would soon burst in to announce the visitors!

I rushed to put everything back, hastily reassembling the back panels of each frame.

“Ouch!”

In my hurry, a sharp fastening buckle dug under my fingernail.

Blood immediately began flowing.

“Wow…”

My throat instinctively tightened at the sight, but treatment wasn’t the priority now.

This injury was nothing compared to what I’d experienced in my previous life.

I carried the frames to the console, climbed up, and began hanging them back on the wall.

The footstool wobbled with each rough movement, but fortunately, maintaining balance wasn’t difficult.

I was so anxious about hearing the maids’ footsteps in the corridor that I barely remember hanging the frames.

By the time I hung the last frame and climbed down, my hands were trembling like aspen leaves.

Knock knock—

“Come in…!”

With the knock, I jumped onto the bed and pressed my rapidly beating chest.

The envelope in my chemise pocket crinkled, making me acutely aware of its presence.

Eventually, a maid opened the door, approached, and greeted me.

“The bank branch manager and his wife have arrived, my lady.”

On my way to the Grand Hall used as the first-floor lobby, my attention remained fixed on the envelope I’d found in the picture frame.

However, the moment I stepped outside following the maids’ guidance, my aimless gaze turned outward, and my mind scattered in all directions.

The brilliant sunlight and fresh air seemed to penetrate deep into my skin.

Yes, this was my first encounter with the outside world since transmigrating into this body.

“Ahh…!”

I gasped at the open vista before me.

Though I had some idea of the estate’s elegant landscape from looking through windows, the garden I now faced directly was filled with such vibrant vitality that my heart swelled, and the artworks decorating various spots were truly wondrous.

In front of me stretched lawns and trees, all neatly arranged in curved sections. Beyond them, colorful flowers spread out in intersecting heart shapes. The harmonious landscape reminded me of a fairy tale world.

Ahead stood sculptures spaced along the path and a massive fountain tirelessly spraying sparkling droplets. Behind these extended a neatly paved road and lush green gardens.

To my right was an enormous glass greenhouse, and to my left, a dense forest.

What might lie behind the castle?

“What are you doing?”

Just then, a familiar, indifferent low voice reached my ears.

Turning around, I saw the Grand Duke walking quickly toward me, having apparently just left the Grand Hall.

Only upon seeing him did I remember why I was in the garden.

I’d put on makeup and worn the most elaborate dress I owned—would he notice the effort I’d made?

“Come here.”

He nonchalantly gestured for me to stand beside him.

With his eyes narrowed against the strong sunlight, the Grand Duke’s gaze appeared both relaxed and intensely powerful.

“Ah, yes!”

Today he wore a black jacquard jacket embroidered with dark silver, an elaborate cravat, a crisp shirt, and black trousers.

His expressionless face combined with his current attire made me think that the massive castle behind him somehow matched his atmosphere.

“Hmm…”

His expression suited him better than his clothes. His face revealed an attitude of someone born to be the master of this place—someone who had lived a life completely unacquainted with impatience, craving, or deficiency since birth.

A noble and arrogant young aristocrat who had lived a life entirely different from mine.

“What are you thinking about?”

“Oh, just looking at the garden. Isn’t it amazing?”

As I stood beside him and spoke, the Grand Duke examined my face carefully with languid yet cold eyes.

“What? It seems you’ve decided to act like you’re seeing this place for the first time.”

“I really am seeing it for the first time?”

“If you say so.”

Wow, this man really doesn’t believe a word I say.

He indifferently dismissed my words and turned his gaze toward the far side of the garden.

There, tall trees rose on both sides, extending their branches to form a massive curtain-like arch tunnel.

Beneath it, rectangular and circular tables had been arranged, and the newly arrived bank branch manager and his wife were taking their places under Norbert’s guidance, preparing to meet us.

“Give me your hand.”

As I stood with my mouth half-open, entranced by the picturesque scenery, a brusque voice suddenly reached my ears.

Wondering what he meant, I looked at the Grand Duke quizzically and discovered his extended arm.

His awkward, reluctant attitude somehow made me laugh.

“Ah… you want me to take your arm?”

“Just while we walk.”

“Yes, yes.”

“Don’t even dream of anything more.”

Ha, anyone listening would think I had begged for the chance to take his arm.

“I get it…”

I smiled brightly through gritted teeth and forcibly took his arm.

“Your Highness, please smile even if you don’t want to. Everyone is watching us, aren’t they? You seem to have forgotten our agreement to pretend we’re getting along.”

“You seem quite comfortable with this.”

“Yes, I like it. Now that I’m holding your arm, I have something to lean on.”

As I answered smugly, annoyed at how he’d offered his arm as if bestowing a great favor, he lightly furrowed his brow and leaned toward me.

“Then I could make you even more comfortable.”

“What?”

At that moment, his other hand pulled my arm-linked hand, making me stand closely beside him.

Startled by his sudden action, I grabbed his arm tightly. A cool yet masculine scent wafted strongly toward me, and through his jacket, I could clearly feel firm muscles beneath my hand.

“A happily newlywed couple would walk pressed together.”

“Is… that so?”

“Act well. Make those villains you mentioned so anxious they can’t help but contact you.”

Yes… Perhaps because our bodies had touched unexpectedly, my heart seemed to drop slightly, and I nodded reflexively without understanding what he’d said.

Feeling my mind suddenly go blank, I squeezed my eyes shut then opened them again. After trying to organize what I needed to do next, I asked him:

“Um… so I heard we’ll have tea and chat briefly in the garden first. Should I just greet them and then move with the wives for teatime?”

“While I receive reports.”

“And after that?”

“We’ll have a rest period and then dine together.”

“I understand.”

“Didn’t Norbert explain this?”

“He did. But I wanted to hear it from Your Highness once more!”

Having regained my composure, I answered with a slight smile, and he looked at me as if he found me ridiculous.

“What did you put on your face?”

Oh? He noticed!

“I put on makeup. I did my best! How does it look?”

“It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s still unremarkable.”

“…You’re really saying that so bluntly?”

As I looked up at him with displeasure, his gaze swept over me before suddenly freezing.

“What did you do?”

“What?”

Looking down in the direction of his gaze, I discovered drops of blood on my dress.

Startled, I quickly looked at my hand holding his arm.

Though I’d tried to wipe away the blood earlier, it was still flowing.

The Grand Duke urged me to answer with a hardened face.

“Answer me.”

“Well, this happened because…”

Work, brain, work!

“I’ll bring medicine.”

As I moved my lips trying to come up with a plausible reason, a servant ran off quickly to fetch medicine.

“Did you do it on purpose?”

“What?”

“I’m asking if you deliberately harmed yourself again.”

“How could you think such a ridiculous thing…!”

I tried to brush it off playfully, but then realized his expression was severe.

“Have I… done something like that before…?”