Anais Egenhart.

Just like her older brother Louis, who was three years her senior, Anais was a fortunate child born into immense wealth and power.

She also inherited the beautiful looks of her father, who was known as the jewel of the Empire.

Everyone who knew Anais could easily imagine that she would one day dominate the social circles.

The precious first birthday of the treasured daughter of the prestigious Duke Egenhart family.

To celebrate the day, a grand banquet was being held at House Egenhart for the first time in a long while.

***

“Which accessory would you like to wear today, Duchess?”

A maid presented a tray filled with jewelry as Evelyn changed into her outfit for the party.

“Let’s see… which one should I wear?”

Evelyn carefully examined the accessories on the tray. Her only standard for choosing jewelry to match her clothes was always the same:

‘Something light and unobtrusive.’

Knowing her mistress’s tastes well, the maid had selected accessories Evelyn often wore.

“I’ll take the pearl necklace in the middle, and the silver earrings. No hair ornament today… Oh, and this bracelet.”

Evelyn quickly chose her accessories without much hesitation, but then her gaze stopped at a corner of the tray.

“This hair ornament…”

“Oh, it’s something that’s been in the jewelry box for a while. You’ve never worn it, so I thought I’d bring it out.”

“This is an heirloom from House Berge.”

Evelyn looked at the old hair ornament.

A small ruby, no larger than a fingernail, was embedded in a tarnished bronze frame.

It was far too modest to be considered a noble heirloom, which is why she’d never thought of selling it and had simply kept it until now.

‘But somehow, it feels nostalgic.’

Recalling her childhood memories spent at the Baron Berge estate, Evelyn picked up the ornament without hesitation.

“I’ll wear this for my hair ornament today.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare it right away.”

As soon as Evelyn made her choice, the maid busily began styling her hair.

Just as the detailed grooming neared completion, the butler entered the room.

“A messenger has arrived with a letter and a gift from Her Majesty the Empress Dowager.”

At the butler’s report, Evelyn responded immediately.

“Please send them in.”

Soon, an attendant dressed in formal court attire entered the room and bowed politely.

“Greetings to the Duchess of Egenhart. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager sends her apologies. She has caught a mild cold and will not be able to attend today’s party.”

“Oh no… Is Her Majesty very unwell?”

“The physician said it’s nothing serious. However, traveling a long distance by carriage would be too much strain on her body, so she asked that I inform you of her absence.”

The attendant then presented a gift box and a personal letter from the Empress Dowager. After thanking him, Evelyn carried both items to the study.

“Her Majesty has caught a cold and won’t be able to attend today.”

“How unfortunate.”

Her husband Rashid, the Duke of Egenhart, who was reviewing documents in the study, responded in a tone that didn’t sound regretful at all.

“You’re just relieved that one less nagging voice will be around, aren’t you?”

“You’ve always had a knack for exposing my true feelings.”

Rashid turned his head and placed a light kiss on Evelyn’s cheek.

“You’re wearing glasses again today?”

“I’ve gotten used to them. They’re comfortable.”

His blue eyes gleamed softly behind the clear lenses.

It wasn’t because of poor eyesight. Now in his late twenties, Rashid had started wearing glasses while working with documents at Evelyn’s suggestion—to appear a bit more mature.

But on his finely sculpted, statue-like face, the glasses did more than add maturity—they enhanced the delicacy of his already striking looks.

“You know, I’m suddenly realizing all over again just how handsome you are.”

Murmuring with admiration in her eyes, Evelyn made Rashid let out a small chuckle.

“If you’re going to say something like that, shouldn’t you at least follow it with a kiss?”

Stepping closer to her shameless husband, Evelyn kissed him—this time on the lips, not the cheek.

But it was only a light peck.

“That’s it?”

Rashid whispered with dissatisfaction. Evelyn raised her index finger in front of him.

“Let’s not forget that today is our daughter’s first birthday. We’ll have a flood of guests soon, and we need to get ready, don’t we?”

“And what does kissing have to do with preparing for guests?”

“Well…”

“Or could it be that the Duchess wants more than a kiss?”

Rashid, spouting nonsense that defied all logic, grabbed Evelyn’s shoulders and leaned in for a proper kiss…

“Ugh.”

Evelyn pressed her palm firmly against Rashid’s lips to stop him.

“When exactly do you plan on growing up, Your Grace? We have two children already.”

“Tch.”

Clicking his tongue in dissatisfaction at the rejected kiss, Rashid pouted. Evelyn, amused, placed a light kiss on his forehead—just like she used to when they were kids.

Though still looking disgruntled, Rashid backed off obediently.

“I should head down now. I need to do a final check on the banquet preparations.”

With the rare social event being held at the ducal estate, Evelyn couldn’t help but feel concerned.

‘The food and drinks are prepared in abundance and of the highest quality, and the flowers and interior decorations look flawless…’

Even the seating arrangements for the most important guests—always the trickiest part of such a large social event—had been finalized perfectly after days of deliberation.

“Preparing for a party is always so exhausting. I’ve never been more grateful for the fact that I used to work as the Duke’s personal secretary.”

“You’ve always been capable—whether as a secretary or as the Duchess.”

“I’ll gladly accept such sweet words, even if they sound like flattery. It feels like all the fatigue of the past few days has just melted away.”

“If you’d prefer, we never have to host another party again.”

Rashid offered sincerely.

If Evelyn ever wanted to lock the gates of the Egenhart estate and live forever just with their family, Rashid would have gladly agreed.

To him, Evelyn and their children were far more important than power or social connections.

“That wouldn’t be any fun. I’ve earned the title of Duchess, after all—I should put it to use at least once a year, don’t you think?”

“…”

“And if I’m going to throw a party, I want it to be the best. I can’t stand losing in things like this—it would hurt my pride.”

Evelyn smiled meaningfully. Rashid nodded in strong agreement.

Evelyn squeezed his hand and whispered.

“Now, shall we go meet today’s star?”

Anais was born with the blessings of the Emperor and Empress, both sides of her noble lineage, and everyone associated with the Duke’s house. But the one who rejoiced most at her birth was none other than her older brother, Louis.

“Peekaboo!”

Now three years old, Louis stood on tiptoe, clinging to the cradle and gazing at his baby sister.

His bright blue eyes were fixed on the birthday girl, his face brimming with curiosity.

“The baby’s moving.”

Louis whispered in amazement as he watched his little sister wriggle her arms and legs.

Anais, lying in the cradle, flailed her chubby limbs, whether she recognized the little boy standing before her as her brother or not.

Then Louis carefully reached out and lightly grabbed her tiny wiggling fingers.

“She’s going to be my Subordinate No. 2 now!”

Louis turned to the adults with an excited expression.

“She has to do everything I say—because she’s my subordinate!”

Watching her triumphant eldest child, Evelyn asked with a laugh.

“Oh my, Subordinate No. 2? Then where’s Subordinate No. 1?”

“Right over there!”

Louis pointed toward the window.

There, basking in the sunlight in cat form, was Veronica, fast asleep.

“Vero is my first subordinate!”

At those words, Veronica’s fur stood on end.

[How dare you, brat! You dare call me your subordinate?]

“You’re the guardian beast of House Egenhart! So that makes you my subordinate!”

[Stop spouting nonsense, you little brat!]

Veronica snapped at Louis’s bold declaration.

But realizing the boy who looked at him with sparkling eyes was only three years old, he let out a deep sigh and shook his head.

Then he leapt onto the window sill and darted out of the room.

“Ah! He ran away!”

Murmuring with disappointment, Louis turned back to his sister.

“Then you’ll be my Subordinate No. 1 from now on. You absolutely must not run away!”

Perhaps she understood his warning—Anais kicked her legs even harder.

“I think it’s about time someone explained to Louis that ‘younger sibling’ and ‘subordinate’ are not the same thing.”