‘There must have been a reason the late Duke kept her for five years.’

Come to think of it, why would this woman need to sell handkerchiefs for money anyway?

At first, Leopold had considered giving the shopkeeper who was trying to swindle his new plaything a taste of her own medicine, but his interest faded instantly.

Convinced he could spend his time in far more entertaining ways, Leopold casually tucked the handkerchief into his pocket and took Diez’s left hand, feeling that staying here any longer would be nothing but a waste of time.

“Let’s go. Even to me, this doesn’t seem like a place worth staying at.”

As he led Diez away by the hand, he deliberately threw out a remark loud enough to be heard.

“I might have to discuss this establishment’s reputation with the ladies.”

Practically dragged out of the shop by Leopold’s hand, Diez was only able to shake off his grip once they were outside. For Leopold, it was baffling. After all his help, this was the bewildered expression he received in return?

Of course, Diez was equally baffled. For someone she had just met today to not only act like her lover but also forcibly drag her out.

“I never gave you permission to hold my hand.”

“Is that so.”

“Nor did I ask you to take me out of that place.”

“Well. It seemed like you’d have to wait until you were old and dead before realizing what kind of situation you were in.”

“Who exactly are you to appear before me and……”

“Look, Miss Schleicher. You were just about to be thoroughly scammed by that woman. No matter how sheltered a young lady you might be, you should at least have that much awareness.”

When he addressed her by her surname, Diez’s face turned instantly pale.

Ah, right. This man was clearly from the upper class. Even if they were strangers, there was a good chance he knew about Diez.

She had always been a girl who attracted attention in social circles, but after being sold as the Duke Klaus’s mistress, she became even more notorious in a different way.

I shouldn’t have come out alone. The thought belatedly crossed Diez’s mind. She should have at least asked to borrow a car.

Perhaps because he could plainly see the small woman before him working her little brain hard, Leopold barely managed to suppress his laughter and soothed Diez in a gentle voice.

“Let’s stop this nonsense and return to the mansion, shall we?”

“……I have nothing more to say to you. Please don’t follow me.”

As Diez tried to ignore him and walk away, Leopold called out to her back once more.

“Actually, I came at a friend’s request.”

At that, Diez’s steps abruptly halted.

“Jürgen seems to be looking for you.”

When he saw the expression that appeared on Diez’s tiny face as she finally turned around, Leopold could at last be certain.

That he wouldn’t be bored for the foreseeable future.

* * *

The Klaus ducal residence was quiet as always. The only things that could make noise around here were the small birds flying near the forest on the private grounds. The servants always took care with their footsteps, fearful of disturbing their master’s mood.

This was especially true after the day Jürgen mercilessly dismissed several maids. For whatever reason, Jürgen’s mood showed no signs of improving, so it was clear that anyone who failed to mind their words would suffer the same fate.

Jürgen spent most of his time at the mansion confined to his study. Only a select few servants were permitted to enter and exit the study.

“Your Grace, how would you like your meal?”

To the servant’s polite inquiry, Jürgen replied with a tired expression.

“I’ll come down to the dining hall later, so prepare accordingly.”

“Then I’ll have everything ready in time.”

“Has that woman been fed?”

There was only one person in the ducal mansion who could be referred to as “that woman.” Though he deliberately avoided mentioning Diez by name, Jürgen inwardly regretted it.

Why am I concerned about that woman’s meals?

He had clearly decided to erase her completely from his mind.

Before Jürgen inherited the title of Duke, the food Diez received consisted of nothing more than miserable scraps of bread and watery soup. Of course, now she would be having proper meals regularly.

No one in this mansion would dare disobey a direct order from him.

Yet despite this certainty, the servant hesitated before answering.

“What is it?”

“Well, that is. Miss Schleicher is currently out.”

“She went out?”

As soon as Jürgen raised his eyebrows, the servant hastily offered an explanation. Clearly, Diez had tried to relay some request through a servant that morning.

Belatedly realizing his own oversight, Jürgen unconsciously sprang to his feet.

“How long has she been gone?”

“I believe she left the mansion immediately after receiving Your Grace’s instructions……”

“Did she go alone?”

Even as he asked, Jürgen already knew the answer. A woman who couldn’t do anything without a lady’s maid even when she was a young lady, now fearlessly going out alone!

There was nothing more to hear. Jürgen stormed out of his study before he could even properly think. His fingertips trembled, and his heart felt constricted. Was he worried about Diez being out there alone?

No. That wasn’t it.

What drove Jürgen to action was anxiety. Diez Schleicher might perplex him, but she had always been under his control. The fact that she was now beyond his control made him more anxious than anything else.

When a precious item that had been safely stored in a drawer had vanished, there was always the possibility that he might never find it again.

Despite his daylong efforts to forget Diez, Jürgen immediately left the mansion building, only to stop abruptly in his tracks.

What entered his field of vision was an unfamiliar car in front of the main gate. The first to emerge from the car door was Leopold.

And the one who got out with him was none other than the Diez Schleicher he had lost.

* * *

Jürgen Klaus. Before that name, Diez offered no resistance. It was a stark contrast to her earlier determination to cautiously but firmly leave his side.

It was worth adding a little lie to test the small lady before him. Approaching a woman who would now be worth less than a 20-gilling handkerchief was purely for his own amusement. What Diez could offer him was clear.

The only remaining question was how Jürgen would react.

‘That’s something I can find out soon enough.’

Did Jürgen truly feel nothing for Schleicher? Despite her being the mistress his own father had kept?

If so, why hadn’t Jürgen thrown Diez Schleicher out of the mansion?

Just because of that debt?

What more could he possibly extract from that woman?

The contradictory situation only heightened Leopold’s interest. As they traveled by car, Leopold leaned comfortably against the backrest, leisurely gazing out the window before his gaze shifted slightly toward the lady sitting beside him.

The faded former young lady sat pressed against the opposite side, almost frozen in place. Naturally, she didn’t even glance in Leopold’s direction.

It seemed she hadn’t realized what kind of person Leopold was. Was it the fact that she was sitting alone with a strange man that made her uncomfortable, or……

Seeing her tense up like a frightened baby bird, he couldn’t help wanting to tease her a little, but Leopold decided to restrain himself.

Yes, I should hold back. Soon enough, I might witness an even more entertaining sight.

It didn’t take long to reach Jürgen’s private property. After all, Diez hadn’t strayed far from his domain. As they approached the ducal residence, Diez took a small breath as if preparing herself mentally, clasping her hands together on her lap.

It was around the time Leopold was observing this interesting behavior that the car stopped at the main gate of the ducal residence. Leopold willingly opened the door first and got out, then helped Diez disembark from the other side.

“Come on, get out. We’ve arrived home.”

After hesitating slightly, Diez took his hand and got out of the car. Instead of releasing her small, soft hand, Leopold led Diez toward the mansion as if escorting her.

It was around then that Diez spoke first.

“Did the Duke ask you to find me?”

Her voice was cautious. Was she worried about upsetting his mood? Of course, Leopold, who had never actually received any such request from Jürgen, merely offered a faint smile in response.

“What’s wrong, afraid Jürgen might scold you?”

“It’s not that……”

Diez trailed off, lowering her gaze. Suddenly, her eyes darted to her right hand, still held in Leopold’s grip. She seemed to want him to let go, as she applied pressure to pull her hand away.

At that moment, Leopold noticed someone approaching from a distance and looked up. The one coming toward them with anxious steps was none other than Jürgen.

The timing was too perfect for someone who had simply come out after hearing news of visitors. It was as if he had been about to go out, or…… as if he had been about to search for someone.

Noting Jürgen’s completely rigid expression, Leopold maintained his smile and tightened his grip on Diez’s right hand as she tried to pull away from him.

It seemed that Diez Schleicher would not disappoint him after all.

* * *