“…Yes. What should we do?”

Rivet asked cautiously. I found it difficult to make a decision. Why had Ains come to see me so suddenly?

I set down my fork, which I had been using to poke at my salad, and looked at Rivet. Staring at her wouldn’t provide any answers, but in my confusion, I sought her out for guidance.

“First, please escort him to the drawing room. I’ll be there shortly.”

Rivet instructed another maid to politely guide Ains to the drawing room. I watched as this unfolded, lost in thought.

Even before our divorce, Ains had never sought me out first. Aside from discussing the divorce, he hadn’t brought up any other matters with me.

Now, after the divorce, Ains seemed unusually interested in me.

I knew this interest wasn’t out of affection; rather, he appeared displeased with everything about me since the separation.

I understood his feelings. As the former Duchess of Graham, it must have been uncomfortable for him to see me involved with Cadia.

He was likely visiting regarding that issue.

Although I was managing things on my own, he didn’t seem to trust my judgment, so it might be beneficial to have a serious conversation with him.

Before heading to the drawing room, I checked my appearance. It was early morning, and I wasn’t dressed appropriately to receive guests.

Rivet, ever perceptive, quickly tidied me up and smoothed the hem of my dress.

“All done.”

“Thank you.”

After expressing my gratitude to Rivet for her diligent help, I made my way to the drawing room where Ains was waiting.

As I approached, I noticed two familiar faces—Ains’s aides, Jacob and Jackson.

They both bowed deeply upon seeing me.

“Greetings, Viscountess Marves.”

“It’s been a while, Viscountess Marves.”

I nodded briefly and walked past them toward the door.

“Announce me.”

“Yes.”

The servant lightly knocked twice on the door and then announced, “Viscountess Marves has arrived.”

The door opened silently as the servant spoke.

Taking a deep breath to calm my somewhat trembling heart, I stepped into the drawing room.

Ains was seated on the sofa, enjoying refreshments.

As I approached, he looked up from his tea, legs crossed, acknowledging my presence. Despite being the guest, he acted as if he were the host.

Normally, such behavior would be considered rude, but it felt different coming from Ains Graham, the only Duke in the empire.

His position made even such impolite conduct seem natural, and he had no obligation to show courtesy to someone of my rank.

“You’re here. Sit down.”

“That’s my line.”

I shot back at Ains, who was offering me a seat.

He set his teacup down and waited for me to sit. Reluctantly, I took a seat across from him.

Only then did Ains focus on me. His eyes were familiar, yet today they felt slightly different.

“Duke Graham, what brings you to my residence so early in the morning?” I asked, breaking the silence.

In response, Ains moved his hand and pulled something from his coat, placing it on the table with a thud. The shape of the bottle was unmistakable.

“That’s…”

“You know what this is, don’t you?”

I couldn’t deny it. The bottle Ains had placed on the table contained the sedative.

Since it hadn’t been found in the dining room, it was clear he had it with him.

As I reached for the medicine, Ains snatched the bottle away first.

I looked at him in surprise as he glanced at the contents. Inside were small, pill-like medications. I knew all too well what those pills were.

“Trintz disease.”

The name of the illness that had tormented me for so long came from Ains’s lips.

He shifted his gaze from the bottle to meet my eyes.

“I heard it’s a disease where the mana in the body gradually hardens. Is it true that you have this disease?”

Ains mentioned the main symptoms of Trintz disease—details he shouldn’t have known. This indicated he had done some research before coming to see me.

“You’ve already looked into it.”

I was puzzled as to why he was discussing my illness when he hadn’t shown much interest in me prior to the divorce. Still, I nodded in response.

“Yes.”

Ains frowned at my answer.

“Why did you hide your illness from me?”

A hint of anger colored his voice.

Why had I concealed my condition?

It was true that I hadn’t mentioned it to him. But rather than hiding it, I simply hadn’t brought it up. He had never been interested in me to begin with.

No matter what I did, how I felt, or where I was hurt, he hadn’t shown any concern over the years.

About six months ago, when I severely injured myself falling down the stairs due to the early symptoms of Trintz disease, if he had bothered to check on me even once, I wouldn’t have kept my illness a secret.

What was the point of telling him I was unwell when he hadn’t even glanced my way when I was at my lowest? Sharing that would have only caused me more pain.

His indifference hurt more than the physical suffering…

I couldn’t comprehend why he was suddenly questioning why I had hidden it when he had been oblivious to everything before.

Strangely, his words made me feel calmer.

“Would it have changed anything if I had told you? You would have continued to ignore me as you always did. Why not keep it that way?”

“Cecilia.”

Ains quietly called my name as he listened to me. I paused, waiting for him to speak.

“I admit that I wasn’t interested in you. But our relationship was never close. Still, an illness is different. If you had told me…”

“If I had told you? Would you have gotten me medicine?”

“I would have.”

At Ains’s words, I couldn’t help but let out a small laugh, quickly regaining my composure.

“No, you wouldn’t have.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because until the divorce, you didn’t care even when I was injured. You were indifferent even when I was a mess from falling down the stairs.”

“That was…”

Ains opened his mouth to respond but fell silent again. His quietness felt unbearably cruel, confirming my old wounds all over again.

If only he hadn’t denied it; then it wouldn’t have felt so bitter.

I pressed on, trying to hide the rising sorrow within me.

“Would you have gotten me medicine if you had known I had Trintz disease?”

No matter how many times I considered it, the answer remained the same.

So why was he acting this way now, after the divorce?

I sensed I knew the reason without needing to think too hard. He didn’t want to appear as the bad guy to others.

He had been cold to me for ten years, but now that we were divorced and effectively strangers, he suddenly had a reputation to uphold regarding me as well.

“And you don’t need to worry about the illness anymore. I’ve already been treated.”

“Treated?”

Ains’s eyebrows twitched at my words.

“Does someone who’s fully treated cough up blood?”

He sneered, likely recalling what had happened at the Duke’s residence yesterday.

Indeed, I had collapsed, coughing up blood right in front of him, so even someone as indifferent as he was must have been shocked. I nodded with a bitter smile.

“It’s just an aftereffect. It’ll fade with time.”

I had already undergone treatment for Trintz disease and no longer feared my mana hardening. Instead, I dealt with the aftereffects of my mana occasionally clashing with my body.

For some reason, Ains frowned deeply.

“Fade with time? Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think I would believe that?”

“What if you don’t believe it?”

I found it absurd that he didn’t accept it was merely an aftereffect. Explaining my illness to him or trying to make him understand the symptoms felt pointless. We were divorced—did I really need to justify my health to him?

Contrary to my thoughts, Ains continued, his face twisted with anger.

“Why are you going to such lengths to hide your illness from me? You’re still sick.”