The next day, after an early bath, I put on a cherished dress. Rivet, who had taken special care, spent extra time on my makeup.

Once I was ready, I boarded the waiting carriage with only Rivet accompanying me.

“May we depart?” the coachman asked through the window.

“Yes, go ahead,” I replied.

With my permission, the carriage began to move slowly. Normally, it would have gone faster, but the dolls decorated for the Cape Rild Goddess lined the streets, slowing our pace.

However, since the Marves Viscounty and the Graham Ducal House were close together, we arrived at the Graham Ducal House in a reasonable time despite the slow speed.

The carriage came to a complete stop, and Rivet opened the door. A familiar knight, one of Ains’s, extended his hand to assist me down. I took his hand and stepped down slowly, while Rivet followed behind and adjusted the hem of my dress.

“I’ll see you later,” I said to Rivet as I entered the Graham Ducal House. She looked worried, unsure if it was okay to leave me.

“It’s fine. I’ll return in the Graham Ducal House’s carriage later, so don’t worry.”

“Alright, I’ll go ahead. Please be careful on your way back.”

Feeling awkward about being left alone, Rivet kept glancing back at me until she got back into the carriage. I approached the coachman and handed him a purse filled with money.

“Drive carefully as always.”

“Yes, of course. Enjoy your time and return safely,” he replied, tipping his hat.

After taking a few steps back, the coachman urged the horse to move the carriage. Once it was gone, I turned to see Rachel, with whom I had enjoyed tea yesterday, waiting for me.

“Rachel, could you guide me inside?”

Even though I had spent ten years at the Graham Ducal House and didn’t technically need guidance, I asked her to lead me.

“Yes, I will guide you,” she said.

As always, Rachel led me into the mansion.

“Where is the Duke?” I asked, even though I knew he would be at the royal palace for the banquet. It felt proper to inquire in case he was at the mansion.

Rachel shook her head with a smile, reassuring me that my concerns were unnecessary. “He left early in the morning and said he would return late at night.”

“Do you know what time he will return?”

“Ah… I didn’t check that far.”

“No, it’s fine.”

From past experiences, I knew Ains would return only after the banquet had concluded, as it always had been.

Following Rachel’s lead, I headed straight to my grandfather’s bedroom. When I opened the door, I found my grandfather lying on the bed.

As I approached, his gaunt face and frail body became clearer, nearly bringing tears to my eyes.

“Cecil, you’re here?” he said, his voice weaker than it had been just a few days ago. To hold back the tears welling up, I blinked several times, focusing on the empty space around me.

Once I managed to calm myself, I sat in the chair next to the bed.

“Grandfather, how have you been?” I asked.

“I am always well. But I worry about you, especially after hearing about your condition from Dr. Watt. Why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

As I held my grandfather’s now withered hand, he scolded me gently.

“Do you know how shocked I was, thinking you might die back then?”

“I’m truly sorry. I didn’t want to worry you, especially since your health hasn’t been good lately. But I took the medicine and I’m fine now.”

Despite my reassurance, my grandfather looked at me with disbelief. His gaze was filled with concern rather than suspicion.

“Yes, I heard you took the medicine. But I also heard the aftereffects are severe. If you hadn’t divorced Ains, he could have helped you a lot with that…”

He muttered with regret, then awkwardly smiled.

“I shouldn’t have said that. You, Cecilia, must have been hurt more than anyone, so I made a mistake. Can you forgive me?”

“Yes, of course. Don’t worry too much. I’ve already asked the Magic Tower for help with the aftereffects. Fortunately, Master Cesare is helping me control my mana. Now that I can sense mana, if I learn to manage it, I’ll be able to control it myself.”

Hearing this positive news, my grandfather finally relaxed and smiled warmly.

“Yes, Cecilia, you are a wise child, and I believe you will manage the aftereffects well.”

He released my hand and gently caressed my cheek. His touch was as gentle as when he wiped away my tears after I lost my parents.

As memories flooded back, a wave of sadness washed over me.

After losing my parents so suddenly, my grandfather became my only support. Without him, I might have starved at the Marves Viscounty.

I vividly remember the day I first entered the Graham Ducal House, holding my grandfather’s hand. That was the first time I saw Ains.

He was a sixteen-year-old boy who, despite occasionally gazing at his mother’s empty room with sadness, always tried to make me smile.

That was my first impression of Ains.

If it hadn’t been for my grandfather and Ains, I would have been overwhelmed by grief. I felt immense gratitude toward both of them.

“Why did you come to see me instead of enjoying the Cape Rild Goddess banquet today?” my grandfather asked, worried that I was missing out.

“It’s an annual event, but this year, I wanted to be with you instead of attending. So I came. Do you not like that?”

“Not at all. I’m so happy you came.”

“That’s a relief.”

As I smiled while holding my grandfather’s hand again, he smiled back. Then he hesitated, as if he wanted to ask something.

“What’s wrong?” I prompted.

“…This might be a painful question, but is Ains still treating you harshly?”

“…”

I paused, caught off guard by the unexpected question. After a moment, I began to share my recent feelings.

“I’m not sure. Up until just before the divorce, he was definitely cold toward me…”

Reflecting on Ains’s recent behavior left me feeling more confused.

If he had continued to hate me, I would have accepted that he was someone capable of only hatred. But since the divorce, he has shown a strange interest in me.

“Lately, the Duke has been coming to see me.”

“Ains has been visiting you, Cecilia?”

My grandfather’s surprise made me chuckle a little.

“It’s unexpected, right? But it’s true. Sometimes it confuses me. It’s also frustrating. Why didn’t he show this interest when I wanted it? Now it just makes me resent him more.”

Hearing my hesitant confession, my grandfather smiled bitterly.

“I wish I had been well. Then you two wouldn’t have had to suffer so much. I’m very sorry.”

“Why are you apologizing, Grandfather? I’m alive because of you. I’m always grateful to you.”

Tears filled my grandfather’s eyes, and they fell, tracing the lines of time etched around his features. I took out a handkerchief and wiped his tears away.

Afterward, he closed his eyes and took slow, deep breaths. I watched him for a moment before whispering softly in his ear.

“Rest comfortably. Don’t feel like you need to stay awake for me. I’ll go to my room for a bit.”

He nodded weakly. I gently released his hand and stood up, moving quietly so he could rest peacefully.

Just as I was about to leave his bedroom, the door opened before Rachel could do it for me.

Looking up, I saw Ains standing there.