“Those accessories are clearly the most expensive items.”

“…What?”

“He might buy you dresses, but he couldn’t afford those large jewels.”

“Ah…”

“Look at that sapphire with diamonds embedded in it. Something like that is extremely expensive. He should spend more money instead of being so stingy.”

“Ahhh…”

“That fellow isn’t the warm, caring type who worries about others getting hurt. I’ve known him a long time, so I know.”

This is practically an insult, isn’t it?

Do grandfathers normally talk about their grandsons like that?

I stared at him quizzically, feeling somewhat strange, while Odin lay on his side, resting his head awkwardly on one paw.

“Don’t just stand there blankly. Steal one of those secretly.”

What Odin pointed at was a hairpin embedded with diamonds.

The tailors didn’t bring jewelry like necklaces or bracelets, but rather items like hairpins or expensive gloves. Among their offerings, these hairpins appeared to be the most valuable.

Still, stealing? That’s absurd…

“…Can I really steal it?”

“Well, what’s the worst that could happen? You’d just go to prison. Just do it.”

“No thanks!”

Why would I commit more crimes here?

The impudent Odin was fidgeting so much he looked like he might fall off the sofa, so I placed cushions around him for safety. Watching this, Mariette approached me.

“If there’s anything else you’d like to see, you can call for them anytime. I heard you’re unable to go out because you haven’t fully recovered.”

Me?

I could move around perfectly fine if only they’d let me out!

I looked at Mariette in confusion, wondering what she meant.

“I could clearly see how concerned the Grand Duke is about you. Your relationship is so special that it warms my heart to witness it.”

Ah… The problem must have been when I answered “going out” when he asked what I wanted.

So this is how he plans to keep me confined to the castle.

He must think I’m a woman who might plot something if allowed outside.

“…Haha. I suppose so. He must care for me a lot.”

As I nodded and forced a smile, Mariette nodded along as if agreeing a hundred times over and lifted her teacup with a pleased expression.

After taking a sip of tea, Mariette composed herself and met my eyes.

“I have a feeling only good news awaits you both. Despite having gone through difficult times with your mind in turmoil, you graciously invited and welcomed us. I’m truly grateful.”

“Not at all. It was wonderful to meet you.”

“I never imagined I would come here and explore so many places. It was all thanks to Your Highness’s consideration. Please forgive me for misunderstanding Your Highness and causing concern.”

“What are you saying? Concern? I truly enjoyed it! I mean it!”

I quickly grabbed her hand to stop Mariette from bowing her head, and she paused to stare at me.

A flicker of mild surprise crossed the face of this noblewoman who seemed to have lived surrounded by beauty all her life, before gentle wrinkles formed as she smiled.

“I was happy too, thanks to you.”

Mariette warmly clasped my hand and added:

“I mean it.”

Though I unconsciously shrank back at the unfamiliar affectionate tone in her formal speech, I forced a bright smile.

Looking at Lady Jeanette who had embraced me, the branch manager couples who had expressed their gratitude for my kindness, and now Mariette before me, I felt both happy and somewhat melancholic.

After the Swinton couple departed, I would likely feel their absence.

“From now on, we’ll only hear good news from you two. I’m already overwhelmed with emotion.”

Mariette and everyone else had been worried about the attack incident at St. Berte Castle.

Though they hadn’t given me a definite reason, they had likely been concerned that I might be the culprit, as the knights had suspected.

However, during their stay here over the past few days, they had directly observed that the Grand Duke and I got along exceptionally well. Of course, this was all for show.

Nevertheless, they would have been reassured that I couldn’t be the culprit if the meticulous Grand Duke cared so much for me despite my being a suspect.

Mariette’s hopeful words about hearing only good news from us made my chest sting.

In the end, wouldn’t I be betraying the hopes of Mariette and everyone else?

“I hope so too, Mariette.”

This was truly sincere.

I didn’t want to hurt Mariette, who seemed to have grown so close to me in just a few days.

I looked once more at the dazzling silks creating gentle waves and all the jewels, then thought of the Grand Duke.

“The Grand Duke is truly a wonderful person.”

When I thought about it, whether he bought me jewelry accessories or not really didn’t matter.

What he had shown me was, in a way, great generosity, and what I owed him was gratitude, not betrayal.

As much as possible, what I needed to give everyone was my best effort as grand duchess before stepping down from this position.

“Excuse me, may I leave for a moment?”

I wanted to thank him for allowing me to buy whatever I wanted without any restrictions when he heard my dresses were torn.

Well, in many ways… the same applied to other things too.

I had never properly expressed my gratitude, always making excuses about not having enough time, so this seemed like a good opportunity to do so.

“He’s inside, my lady.”

As I approached the office, the doorkeepers discreetly informed me.

They used to always ask if I had the Grand Duke’s permission, so this was tremendous progress.

Startled by this unexpected greeting, I smiled gently.

“Thank you.”

After greeting them, an attendant carefully opened the door with proper etiquette.

As I entered, dazzling sunlight poured in through the glass windows at a frightening speed.

I closed my eyes briefly and opened them again to realize the vast office was empty.

Strange, I had just heard the Grand Duke was inside.

While looking around and approaching his desk, then crossing the carpet, I noticed the door to the conference room connected to the office was slightly ajar.

Is he in there?

—…Would you consider accepting this invitation?

As I drew closer, a man’s soft voice faintly drifted out.

—It’s the first time they’ve invited the grand duchess. It means they have something to confirm.

From their hushed tones, it seemed to be a private conversation. I should have turned back, but the word “grand duchess” drew my feet toward the door as if pulled by a magnet.

—I suppose so.

The Grand Duke’s slow response was utterly indifferent.

Judging by the other person’s slight sigh, the concerned party seemed to be the other person rather than the Grand Duke.

—The Azanie comital family, who had been lying low for days after the attack incident, started moving this morning. When we gradually spread rumors that the Grand Duke and grand duchess are getting along well, amazingly, they reacted.

—They would want to confirm.

—Could the invitation from the imperial family possibly be a coincidence? I heard this imperial picnic mainly invited young nobles. Because of that, Count Azanie wasn’t invited, but I confirmed that Viscount Dillan was.

Viscount Dillan…

In the original timeline, Count Azanie was Dillan Azanie, who inherited his father’s title.

Currently, his father must still be alive, making him a viscount.

—They must think their plans went awry because the grand duchess is staying here under Your Highness’s protection. Won’t they try to make contact somehow, even with the imperial family’s help?

The moment I heard their conversation, I instinctively stepped back in shock.

While they might suspect the Azanie Count regarding the attack incident, from their conversation, they clearly had the imperial family in mind as well.

They seemed to suspect a cooperative relationship between the two families, as if they had already guessed the connection between them.

Perhaps they knew far more than I anticipated.

“……”

Rubbing my arms covered in goosebumps, I hesitated about what to do, but the thought of leaving immediately crossed my mind.

If caught eavesdropping secretly, I would only invite suspicion.

Even saying I came to express gratitude would obviously be misunderstood as a prepared lie.

“Oh!”

Crash!

At that moment, a glass figurine knocked by my retreating arm fell to the floor.

Frozen in startled shock, I began to hear leisurely footsteps approaching.

“……”

The door opened, and cold aqua eyes looked down at me.