Side Story.

The Duke’s residence, which they returned to after a little over a month, remained unchanged. The area around the mansion, bathed in the fading summer sunlight, was as quiet as ever.

But it wasn’t the same kind of quietness as before.

The atmosphere surrounding the Klaus duchy always tended to reflect its master’s mood. When the Duke was in a bad mood, the stillness that settled over the estate created the illusion of an invisible fog. A fog so thick it was difficult even to breathe comfortably.

Even the birds seemed reluctant to chirp nearby. While all the servants working in the mansion were careful with every step to avoid disturbing the Duke’s mood, sensitive creatures like birds couldn’t help but feel the atmosphere.

That was why a heavy silence had enveloped the duchy after the previous Duke died and Jürgen inherited the position of head of the family.

The servants had been affected by Jürgen’s perpetually uncomfortable mood for reasons they couldn’t understand.

But now, the fog that had been choking everyone had lifted.

The young Duke, who had been away briefly, returned with a lady who had brilliant golden hair. After getting out of the glossy black car first, he personally extended his hand toward his lady.

The atmosphere between the two had changed remarkably. Hadn’t their relationship been so strained it was on the verge of collapse when Diez left the duchy?

The Duke’s gaze, which had once found it difficult even to meet her eyes, was now gentle and warm as if coated with honey. Diez, too, in the servants’ eyes, didn’t seem to find the Duke unfamiliar or difficult to approach.

“Were you uncomfortable during the journey?”

The Duke asked. Diez shook her head and whispered in a small voice, “I was fine because you held my hand.”

The Duke smiled, seemingly relieved. “You must be tired from traveling. Let’s go inside.” Saying this, he took the golden-haired lady’s hand and led her toward the mansion.

The Duke no longer appeared troubled or sharply on edge. He seemed to have been colored by the energy of the lady walking beside him.

The sunlight shining above their heads held a warm hue.

There was another small life form that brought a different change to the always-quiet duchy where even the city’s noise couldn’t reach. After spending a day wandering around the duchy, sniffing and surveying the atmosphere, Puppy had perfectly adapted to its new home.

Although he didn’t seem to understand why the sandy beach where he could roll around and play freely had disappeared, he wasn’t the type to be intimidated.

Puppy’s favorite place was the back garden. The very place where Diez used to stroll occasionally.

“You and I seem to get along really well, Puppy.”

When Jürgen was briefly away from the mansion, Diez would carry Puppy out for walks in the back garden. The summer flowers, including roses that had once bloomed abundantly throughout the garden, seemed to have noticed the changing season and were already starting to wither.

The garden couldn’t be left to be overrun by withering flowers. At least, that seemed to be the gardener’s opinion.

Diez watched the gardener pruning branches while holding Puppy in her arms.

Although she felt regretful that she wouldn’t be able to see summer flowers anymore this year, it was still alright. When autumn fully arrived, new flowers would proudly bloom, waiting for her.

“Just smell them. Don’t eat them.”

When she cautioned Puppy, who was showing interest in a rose that was barely holding on, the gardener burst into laughter and said,

“You brought a cute dog while you were away.”

Even when she had been awkward with the servants working inside the mansion, she had exchanged trivial conversations with the gardener. Although he was an employee like the others, somehow he felt different from the rest of the servants.

He was a servant, but he seemed untouched by the mansion’s atmosphere.

“His name is Puppy. Jürgen brought him for me.”

“You must have brought him from the summer villa, and it seems he’s completely stolen your heart.”

The gardener, gazing intently at Puppy, added,

“He looks like he’s been receiving a lot of love.”

“Does he look that way?”

Diez’s face brightened. Of course, he would show signs of being loved. After all, she had adored him so much that she had barely let him out of her arms since they first met at the summer villa.

“I think I fell in love with him the moment I first saw him. He was so cute that I couldn’t take my eyes off him.”

“Did the Duke personally select him?”

“I’m not sure about that……”

“He may seem cold on the outside, but I don’t think he’s entirely like that. Looking at that little one makes me think so even more.”

The gardener grinned down at Puppy from atop the ladder. As Diez followed his gaze to look at the innocent Puppy, she felt her earlobes turning red and quickly changed the subject.

“I didn’t know the summer flowers would wither this quickly.”

“Since you were away at the villa for quite a while, it must feel that way to you.”

“What flowers are you planning to plant in autumn?”

“Well, that’s been my concern.”

Judging by the way he shrugged, it seemed to be a genuinely troubling matter for him.

“Until now, I could select plants according to the late Duke’s taste, but now the master of the mansion has changed. I don’t know much about the internal affairs of the mansion, but seeing that everything from furniture to picture frames has been replaced, I feel somewhat uncomfortable planting the same flowers that the late Duke liked.”

Diez nodded silently. Jürgen had changed everything to erase his father’s traces. Though flowers were innocent, the back garden wouldn’t escape a similar fate.

“The problem is that I don’t know the new head’s taste at all. And I can’t just plant any flowers in the Duke’s garden, can I?”

“So that’s been your concern.”

Diez didn’t know what kind of flowers Jürgen liked either. He had never revealed his preference for flowers.

After pondering for a moment, Diez spoke again.

“Then…… would you like me to tell you what flowers I like?”

“That would be truly appreciated.”

The gardener, who had finally come down from the ladder, smiled brightly and said,

“I’m certain the Duke will like it if it’s decorated according to your taste.”

“Everyone can have different tastes.”

“Does that matter? What significance do slight differences in taste have in the face of love? There are so many things that lose meaning before love.”

At his casual addition, she felt her ear tips burning red again. Diez closed her mouth and silently stroked Puppy.

Love.

Although she no longer had reason to doubt Jürgen’s feelings, a thought suddenly occurred to her. It seemed like she hadn’t heard him say he loved her in the past few days.

Knowing that he was a man who was awkward with expressions, she wasn’t particularly disappointed, but she couldn’t help feeling a bit wistful.

His gaze when he looked at her and the way he handled her with care, as if dealing with something precious, were already telling her that he loved her, but there was nothing better than hearing those words directly from his voice.

It might be a needless desire, but as she continued her thoughts, she really wanted to hear those words today.

When Jürgen returned home in the evening, she planned to wait throughout their time together. Would Jürgen notice her inner thoughts?

It seemed like it would be quite an interesting experiment.

Fortunately, Jürgen didn’t make Diez wait long. Returning to the mansion in time for dinner, he sought out Diez first. After kissing her forehead as she rested in the bedroom, he asked,

“Would you like to have dinner now?”

“I was just getting hungry.”

After leaving Puppy in the care of the maids, they went down to the banquet hall together, where a delicious meal was already prepared. Soft bread sprinkled with white, sweet powder and dishes garnished with egg yolks caught her eye. All were things Diez liked.

Even without Jürgen’s instructions, the perceptive servants had prepared meals suited to Diez’s taste. Although it hadn’t been a week since they returned from the summer villa, everyone in the mansion knew that Diez had risen to a position no different from that of a duchess.

The servants withdrew from the banquet hall to allow the two to dine. Jürgen, seated across from her, pretended to play with his cutlery while glancing sideways at Diez.

She had a happy smile on her face after discovering her favorite dish. Her cheeks, which were usually pale, were tinged with a rosy hue. The woman who used to be stiff and awkward in front of him no longer existed here. Jürgen was finally certain. The fact that Diez was no longer uncomfortable being with him.

Diez, who was tasting the soft egg dish, suddenly looked toward him.