“……”

I had anticipated what Ains was going to say, perhaps even before he started speaking. Initially, I thought hearing it would make me uncomfortable and weigh heavily on my mind, which is why I had been avoiding it. However, when I finally heard it, I didn’t feel that way. Instead, I felt a bit more at peace.

Ains waited anxiously for my response. His face showed a hint of resignation, as if he had already guessed what I might say.

I paused briefly, choosing my words carefully, unsure of how to respond. It was a situation much like when I had left the Graham estate a year ago.

The only difference now was that nearly a year had passed since then.

I believed that leaving the Graham estate despite Ains’s apology back then was not a mistake.

Looking back, I had always been in a subordinate position to Ains.

It couldn’t have been any other way.

I had initially been living off the Graham Dukedom. When my parents both passed away, leaving me alone, I followed the then Duke Graham, my grandfather, to live there.

Even as a child, it was never a completely comfortable place for me.

Having already become withdrawn after losing my parents, living in an unfamiliar place only added to my discomfort.

It was young Ains who helped me adapt to the Graham estate, but after Sir Alex passed away, the situation changed again. Ains began to resent me.

After Ains started disliking me, I never felt at ease again. This continued even after we got married.

I always had to consider Ains’s mood and be wary of his anger.

Had my grandfather not been there, enduring it all would have been much harder.

After leaving the Graham estate, I began living a life that was slightly different from before.

A life where I didn’t have to constantly watch someone else’s mood.

A life where I didn’t have to overly concern myself with someone else.

While this might have been normal for others, for me, who had almost never lived that way, it was a very new experience.

I earned money by working and managed the estate with that income.

Of course, Master Cesare and Master Belle provided significant help. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

In any case, the bottom line was that I didn’t want to return to my past life.

“Duke.”

“I’m listening.”

Ains responded immediately.

He had asked for one last chance, but it seemed I couldn’t just give him an answer without explanation.

“I was unhappy while living at the Graham estate.”

“……”

“I don’t want to go back to that time.”

Ains’s gaze wavered anxiously. He understood the significance of my words.

But that wasn’t the end of what I had to say.

Just as Ains mentioned having realized many things during the past year, I too had come to many realizations during that time. So I became curious about what Ains had realized.

“But I’m interested in hearing what you’ve realized and regretted over the past year.”

“…What?”

Ains blinked in disbelief, raising his head. His bewildered expression looked somewhat endearing.

It seemed absurd that someone much bigger and stronger than me could appear that way, but oddly enough, he did.

“So, Cecilia, are you saying…”

Watching him stammer, I nodded briefly.

“As you mentioned, I’ll give you one last chance.”

Joy began to fill Ains’s face.

“But I want you to understand that giving you a chance doesn’t mean I’m accepting your feelings.”

It was important to make this clear. If Ains were to change his mind later, it would be problematic for me.

The reason I accepted Ains’s request for a last chance was because I hoped he had learned something just as I had.

And above all, I wanted to see with my own eyes that he had changed.

Whether he understood my feelings or not, Ains smiled, tracing a curve with his lips.

“I know. That’s enough. That’s more than enough.”

Ains repeated his response and stepped slightly closer to me. It was at that awkward moment of looking up at him.

“His Majesty the Emperor is entering!”

The voice of an attendant announcing the Emperor’s entrance echoed softly from inside.

“We should return,” I said as I turned to check inside the ballroom. Ains nodded in agreement, stopping in his tracks.

“Indeed. But…”

Then, after a brief glance to gauge my reaction, he extended his hand.

“This should be okay, right? We need to go inside the ballroom.”

His gesture clearly indicated he intended to escort me. I shifted my gaze between his hand and his face. Ains gave a faint smile, as if to assure me he had no ulterior motives.

“Yes,” I replied, belatedly placing my hand on his.

Ains carefully took my hand. It was calloused and rough, yet his grip was exceedingly gentle.

“Let’s go,” he said, and began to escort me into the ballroom.

As we stepped outside, His Majesty the Emperor was slowly making his entrance. I stood with Ains in an appropriate spot, bowing respectfully like everyone else.

“Thank you for coming again today. It feels wonderful to have you celebrate with us every year. There’s no point in talking too long on such a fine occasion, so I’ll keep it brief. Enjoy the ball, everyone.”

The Emperor concluded his short speech and took a seat on the throne at the front of the ballroom.

With the Emperor’s entrance, the orchestra, which had paused momentarily, resumed its performance.

Young lovers and middle-aged couples began to dance toward the center of the ballroom, moving to the sweet melody.

I watched them intently, reflecting on my memories and realizing I had rarely danced with Ains.

Even though we were married, how often did I have the chance to dance with Ains, who always kept his distance and harbored resentment toward me?

I turned my head slightly to check on Ains. He, too, seemed to be having similar thoughts, as he glanced at me furtively.

Come to think of it, when we entered the ballroom earlier, Ains had also suggested dancing.

But the idea of drawing attention from everyone made me uncomfortable and hesitant, so I wasn’t inclined to dance.

I shook my head with a bitter smile, signaling my refusal to Ains, who seemed to be hoping for a dance.

Ains paused briefly, then nodded and turned his gaze back to the front.

In the past, I had wanted to dance with Ains so much, but now that it was possible, I was avoiding it for different reasons. It was both fascinating and ironic.

Instead of dancing, we stood at one side of the ballroom, sipping from prepared wine glasses and engaging in conversation.

People seemed to find our interaction unusual and kept their distance, making it easier for us to talk.

“So, how have the aftereffects been?” Ains asked.

“They’ve been fine. As I mentioned, I’m now capable of supplying mana stones to the Magic Tower. I can control and manage the mana within my body on my own now,” I replied.

“That’s a relief,” Ains said, letting out a long sigh, visibly relieved. He must have been quite worried all this time.

Watching him, I absentmindedly raised my hand to touch the necklace around my neck. Then, hesitantly, I spoke to Ains.

“It’s partly thanks to this necklace and earrings you gave me, Duke.”

“……”

“If I had been on my own, it would have taken a bit longer to reach this point.”

Ains’s gaze shifted to my neck. He confirmed the necklace was still there and smiled faintly.

“I’m glad it helped,” he said.

“How did you come up with the idea? To make a magical artifact using the Tieria flower?” I asked.

Typically, magical artifacts themselves are extremely expensive. But using the Tieria flower as a material was a bold move that ordinary people wouldn’t dare to imagine.

“You rejected the Tieria flower. I thought it would be better to make it into a magical accessory since it was otherwise useless. I was quite shocked when you initially refused it,” Ains explained.

“How could I accept such an expensive item without thinking?” I said, thinking back on it, which made me dizzy. Moreover, the person who crafted the magical artifact was none other than Master Cesare of the Magic Tower.

If Ains knew how burdensome it had been for me, he probably wouldn’t have attempted it.

“Please don’t do that again,” I said with a shiver in my voice. Ains looked down at me gently.

“It sounds like you’re saying there might be a ‘next time,'” he remarked.

“I’m saying don’t do it. And now, I’m capable enough to be called a mage, so you don’t need to worry about the illness,” I assured him.

I was starting to feel a little tipsy. Ains said he could use mana to dispel intoxication, but I wasn’t skilled enough for that yet.

“I think it’s time to head back,” I suggested.

“I’ll escort you to the front,” Ains offered, taking the initiative to guide me. Once we finally stepped outside the ballroom, Ains gently held my hand.

I looked at him in surprise, and he hesitantly spoke.

“May I visit your estate tomorrow? There’s a place I’d like to go with you.”

“A place you’d like to go?” I asked, hesitating for a moment at his unexpected words, then nodded in agreement.

“Alright, then. Come by around lunchtime tomorrow,” I agreed.

After I finished speaking, I took Rivet’s hand as he approached. Balancing myself to avoid falling, I climbed into the carriage.

Soon, the carriage began to move.

As I let myself be swayed by the carriage’s motion, I turned my head to check the window behind me. In the distance, I could see Ains standing in the same spot.