As soon as the other servants had left, Sherry opened her mouth.

“Madam, something terrible has happened.”

“……Something terrible?”

“Yes, yes. Well… Ilina heard it by chance from a customer, and I just heard it from her.”

Sherry dragged out her words. As if she was afraid to even speak. Is the matter quite serious?

“Why are you dragging it out like this? Is it about me?”

“Not exactly… It’s actually about Count Floredo……”

After hesitating for a while, Sherry finally spoke carefully. Her eyes revealed traces of numerous hesitations and worries.

But there was something more important than that.

Count Floredo means Alex, right?

Has he done something?

I had an ominous feeling.

“Count Floredo?”

When I asked with wide eyes, Sherry seemed to contemplate before nodding.

“Yes. Actually, he recently entered the capital.”

But what does this mean? I thought Alex was staying in Floredo County, but he came to the capital? I was momentarily flustered, but soon regained my composure.

Coming to the capital could be for business purposes. Moreover, isn’t he a businessman?

But the ominous thought wouldn’t go away. If he came to the capital for business, would Sherry need to drag out her words like this?

“Has something happened to him?”

“No. Rather than something happening… it’s more like he’s causing something to happen.”

“……?”

“Actually, I heard that Count Floredo has been going around to parties spreading false rumors that the both of you aren’t really over.”

And then I realized my ominous feeling was correct.

“What? He’s going around saying such nonsense?”

“Yes……”

I could easily imagine what kind of resentment had driven him to say such things. I pressed my throbbing head with my hand and said,

“It’s nonsense, so there’s no need to worry about it.”

But why? Sherry dropped her head. Her expression is dark, making me wonder if there’s more, when Sherry heavily began,

“Well… Ilina thought the same at first.”

“……”

“But it seems the situation is more serious than expected.”

“How serious?”

“It seems it’s already widespread in social circles, with every guest talking about it.”

“……What?”

But there was one thing I didn’t understand. I had just met Estelia. It was strange that she, a member of the imperial family, didn’t know such important information, and she wouldn’t have not told me.

“Her Highness the Crown Princess didn’t mention anything, which is strange.”

But such puzzlement was resolved not long after.

“It seems it spread in earnest at Viscount Balonte’s social gathering this afternoon.”

“Viscount Balonte……?”

“Yes, do you know him?”

I nodded.

Viscount Balonte. He was known in social circles as a young, handsome, and cheerful man.

Moreover, as an inventor, his parties offered many rare sights. If the story had leaked out today at his always-crowded party venue, all previous questions were resolved.

“Was it Ilina who told you this story?”

“Yes, she just came and left.”

“Where is she now?”

“She’s at the trading company. Since we didn’t know where you’d go after meeting Her Highness the Crown Princess, we decided to split up. Whoever met you first would deliver this news.”

“Ah……”

Now I understood the situation. So after Ilina heard this news and passed it to Sherry, she returned to the trading company in case I might go there.

“Is there nothing else you’ve heard?”

“I don’t really… Oh, and she said to tell you to come to the trading company as soon as I found you.”

“I understand. I should go to the trading company right away.”

“Right away? Madam, are you alright?”

Sherry looked at me with a worried expression, and I nodded.

“What could possibly happen?”

I was actually worried, but Sherry was a child with such rich sensitivity that she would cry along if someone nearby cried.

Rather than seeing that, I’d prefer to worry alone.

Once preparations were roughly complete, Sherry tried to follow me, but I waved her off.

“While I’d be happy if you came along, if something happens at the mansion, there would be no one to inform us.”

“……Ah.”

“If someone comes looking or asks about this matter, come to the trading company.”

“Yes! Madam, understood!”

Sherry responded energetically, and I gave her a small wave before turning around.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

“Yes!”

The knight and several maids followed behind me, and I got into the carriage.

❀❀❀

When I arrived at my office in the trading company and opened the door, there was Ilina, sitting on the leather sofa with an anxious expression, staring into space.

Seeing my appearance, she seemed startled for a moment before rushing to me with an expression that looked like she might cry at any moment.

“Madam, where have you been until now?”

“I stopped by the mansion.”

“The mansion… then did you hear the story from Sherry?”

I nodded, and Ilina urgently offered me a seat.

“Please sit down. I have something to tell you. It’s about Count Floredo.”

“Do you know where he is now?”

Ilina nodded.

“Yes, actually, when nonsensical rumors started circulating a few days ago, I initially ignored them, but feeling uneasy, I secretly had someone investigate.”

“Why didn’t you report to me?”

When I asked, Ilina bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. You seemed busy, and I didn’t want to trouble you with such trivial matters.”

I stopped reprimanding her. She was right. For the past few days, I had been in an extremely sensitive state.

“No, it’s my fault. I should have paid more attention to you. Anyway, that’s not important right now, so let’s move on.”

“Thank you, Madam.”

“So what did the investigation find?”

Ilina immediately handed me the document she was holding and said,

“This is the investigation report. It seems he’s currently staying in the capital, having purchased a mansion.”

“What?”

“I just found out today too. If I had known earlier, I would have certainly told you.”

“No, I’m not blaming you, but buying a house means……”

Ilina made an expression of understanding, and soon answered in a low voice,

“It means he intends to stay for a long time. It doesn’t seem to be simply for business reasons. Especially since there’s no notable movement from his trading company in the capital.”

“Huh.”

Hearing Ilina’s words, I felt an incredulous laugh escape me. This was because the fact that he didn’t come to the capital for business could mean he came with other intentions.

Moreover.

“And the first thing he did upon arrival was to sweep through parties?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

At her subsequent report, I felt my mind growing distant.

“Ah, and I think I heard that he mentioned your name at the first party he attended.”

“……There’s no need to check further.”

And finally, I was convinced. Alex had come to the capital to torment me.

Of course, he might have other intentions, but that wasn’t important right now.

I had already struggled so much to repair my image damaged by the divorcee label.

Rather than being fully repaired, it was more like everyone was gradually accepting it. Among them, many didn’t welcome my return to social circles.

In such a situation, sensational topics like rumors about my ex-husband would be like good news to them.

“We need to somehow stop this rumor from spreading further.”

“……”

“Where is he now?”

What I’ve learned from my recent experience in social circles is that the easiest way to eliminate rumors is to confront them head-on.

Rumors spread behind backs, and the embellishments added are often things people wouldn’t say directly to the person involved.

Of course, this is when the subject of the rumor has power, but I am no longer weak enough to kneel before rumors without power.

Not after spending nearly three years desperately building my strength.

❀❀❀

According to what Ilina’s informant discovered, Alex was planning to attend a wine party held at Baron Ferris’s house this evening.

The Ferris barony, along with House Ophelia, was a family famous for producing excellent wine for generations.

Naturally, many people would flock to a party where one could taste that wine.

Moreover, it was currently the transition from spring to summer, a full social season.

‘Both visiting during the social season and attending only crowded parties…’

There were many suspicious points. To the extent that I even suspected he had come to the capital solely to spread rumors about me, with no other reason.

Moreover, it was a reason I couldn’t back down from.

‘I need to attend the party.’

Thinking I needed to meet Alex as soon as possible, I decided to go to the party this very evening.

Since I also had an invitation to Baron Ferris’s party, there wouldn’t be any problem.

The only issue was that I needed to match the dress code, and for that, I initially thought of returning to the mansion but changed my mind.

Going back to the mansion, changing clothes, and then heading there would take too much time. I might even be late for the party.

Then suddenly, I had a realization.

‘Wait, clothes are everywhere around me anyway?’

Of course, since they were for sale, I couldn’t just take any clothes.

I asked Baroness Dupont if there were any clothes I could wear, and she brightened up.

“I’ve been secretly making many clothes since you haven’t asked for any to be made—how did you know!”

Seeing her speak with a smile, I suddenly remembered her talking about me being a muse or something a few months ago during the fashion show. I thought she was just saying it, but was she serious?

Anyway, thanks to her, I put on clothes matching the red dress code, quickly fixed my appearance, and then got into the carriage.

The carriage wheels began to roll.

Toward Baron Ferris’s house, where Alex was.

It didn’t take long for the carriage to reach the Baron’s house. While the distance from the mansion to the trading company was quite far, Baron Ferris’s residence was close to the trading company.

That allowed me to arrive just in time for the party entrance. When I handed over my invitation at the entrance of the party venue, the soldiers guarding the door split to the left and right, creating a path.

I walked leisurely along that path, and as I got closer to the interior, music could be heard.

And finally, upon reaching the party hall, the source of that sound, I saw numerous people enjoying the party, gathered in small groups and chatting.

Among them were many familiar faces, and it seemed the feeling was mutual as people began to acknowledge me as I entered the party.

“Oh my, aren’t you Duchess Esteban? I thought you rarely attended crowded places like this…!”

“Oh my, Duchess Esteban? My goodness.”

Thanks to people making a fuss and acknowledging me, the gazes of those around soon focused on me. This would make it difficult to find Alex.

“Hello. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you all. You’ve both become even more beautiful since I last saw you.”

But since I couldn’t show such feelings, I handled them with a smiling face before saying goodbye.

“As much as I’d like to catch up, I’m actually looking for someone. I’ll go ahead.”

“Oh, I see. See you next time!”

As I turned around and blended into the crowd, I could hear whispers from behind.

“Who could she be looking for to be like that?”

“Oh, madam. It’s obvious, isn’t it? It must be her ex-husband? I heard she still can’t forget Count Floredo and even sent him a love letter.”

“Oh my goodness, really?”

It was the two women I had just spoken with. They were gossiping without even checking if I had properly left.

But before anger, I felt a complicated emotion. It meant everyone believed in the inappropriate relationship between Alex and me as fact.

‘This is truly miserable.’

I need to find Alex quickly and make him explain this situation.

That’s the only way out of this miserable situation.

“Where on earth is he……”

But due to the large crowd, he remained unseen despite my searching, and just as my ankles were starting to hurt from the high heels,

“Count Floredo, is that rumor true? The one related to Duchess Esteban.”

A familiar baritone resonating among various voices.

“……I was drunk that day. I’d rather not talk about it, can we drop it?”

Especially the accent mixed in, different from what typical capital men used, was familiar to me.

‘Found him.’

Sure enough, following the voice, I saw Alex sitting in a corner with several people.

Around him were various noblewomen, unmarried ladies, and men known as businessmen.

That was why I hesitated before approaching him directly. But soon, there was no need to be cautious anymore due to a woman who recognized me.

“Oh my, aren’t you Duchess Esteban?”

She was a pretty young lady who appeared to be in her late teens. Her face was quite familiar, but since I couldn’t remember her name, she clearly wasn’t from a notable family.

In other words, she was a complete stranger, so she probably didn’t call me with malice, but it felt strange to be recognized by someone I didn’t know.

Especially since that person had been chatting amicably with Alex until just now.

“You know me.”

Was it because of this feeling? Or was it because Alex’s blue gaze suddenly turned to me in surprise?

The voice that flowed from my lips was lower and colder than I had intended.

“Yes, of course. How could I not know you?”

But the young lady seemed unaffected by my attitude, remaining calm.

If only that had been all.

“You’re Count Floredo’s ex-wife.”

After scanning Alex, the young lady looked back at me and smiled brightly. It seemed like a pure smile without any malice, but I knew it was essentially mocking.

But I decline a mud fight. Moreover, there’s something else important to me right now.

“You know well. Actually, I have something to say to Count Floredo, so could you step aside for a moment?”

At my dry question, the young lady finally seemed to grasp the situation, flinching before moving aside, and the others sitting with them also looked around before soon standing up.

It was then.

“There doesn’t seem to be any need for you to stand up.”

Clearly directed at those who were standing up, Alex uttered.

Surprised, I looked at him, and he formed a twisted smile at the corner of his mouth and looked at me, saying,

“After all, Duchess Esteban and I aren’t over yet.”

“……”

“Even if you deny it, Duchess, I’d like you to remember that our relationship is already over.”

But what is this now? I could feel people’s gazes gathering. The gazes directed at me were especially stinging.

Just as an incredulous laugh was about to escape, irritation welled up from within.

“What did you just say?”

Alex raised his eyebrow slightly and answered with a nuance suggesting there was nothing wrong,

“I’m saying I’d prefer if you didn’t seek me out like this in the future.”

At his answer, I swallowed the rising hollow laugh.

“I don’t understand what you’re saying. This is the first time I’ve sought you out since our divorce.”

Now everything was clear. Alex was currently engaging in politics, or swaying public opinion.

It was evident as he subtly checked people’s shocked reactions with his eyes.

But I couldn’t just stand by. I smiled slightly and continued,

“And a love letter? I’ve never written a single love letter even to my current husband, the Duke. He’d be disappointed if he heard this.”

But Alex didn’t seem to have any intention of backing down.

“I wish your words were true, Duchess. I wanted to maintain courtesy toward my ex-wife.”

“Courtesy?”

Looking at him speaking nonsense beyond shamelessness, I could feel my blood pressure rising in real-time.

At my aghast question, he nodded with a relaxed smile.