Chelsti, who had taken the last remaining raisin biscuit, said smugly.

“You remember Nadeira, don’t you? Nadeira Beaufort.”

“If I ever forgot her, it wouldn’t be my body that was sick – it would be my mind.”

Regina replied, her tone uncharacteristically cold.

Nadeira had made her debut in society on the same day as Regina. In a way, they were social equals – though more rivals than comrades.

“She really hated you.”

Chelsti remembered, biting into the cookie with a crunch as if she were biting into Nadeira herself.

“If someone offered her a hundred million seeds, but on the condition that you got ten million too, she’d probably turn the whole deal down – just because she couldn’t stand the thought of you getting anything at all.”

“I couldn’t agree more.”

Regina said, her appetite gone as she put down her teacup.

“But why bring up Nadeira now?”

“She got divorced. Can you believe it?”

“What?”

Regina couldn’t believe her ears.

“Nadeira – she married a prince from the neighbouring kingdom of Marika, didn’t she?”

“Yes. The fourth or fifth prince, I think… far down the line for the throne, but still royalty.”

“She certainly held her head high, thinking she was a princess now.”

“Everyone will have to kneel before me from now on.”

That’s what Nadeira had once said, staring at Regina with unsettling intensity.

“How did she end up divorced?”

“I’m not sure of the details. Cultural differences perhaps? In Marika, divorces happen all the time, unlike here.”

It was something almost unthinkable in Wailin, and Regina clicked her tongue.

“So where’s Nadeira now? Still in Marika?”

“She’s been back for ages. The Marquis of Beaufort is beside himself with grief over his poor, divorced daughter!”

“She was already the apple of their eye, being the only daughter.”

“Which is probably why Nadeira turned out so terribly spoiled.”

Hearing of her former rival’s misfortune, Regina felt a strange mixture of emotions.

“But Regina, the reason I brought up Nadeira is because…”

Chelsti was about to speak when a clear, melodious bell rang from the front door.

Regina, glancing absently out of the window, muttered.

“Looks like Grey is back.”

“Ugh!”

A strange noise came from beside her. Regina turned to see Chelsti, her complexion suddenly pale as she nervously averted her eyes.

“What’s wrong, Chelsti?”

“Uhh… I think I ate too much. My stomach’s a bit queasy, so I’ll go now?”

“You’re pregnant, remember? Be careful. Grey will be up soon – why don’t you stay and say hello before you go?”

It was common courtesy to say at least a quick hello to the master of the house when visiting someone else’s home.

But Chelsti’s expression twisted at the perfectly reasonable suggestion.

“In other words, I really don’t want to say hello to the Count of Cabil, you fool.”

Clearly, her discomfort wasn’t from overeating.

“Well, I’m off! I’ll call as soon as the babies see the light of day!”

“You know you’re being incredibly suspicious right now?”

Regina grabbed Chelsti’s arm as she tried to sneak away and squeezed her.

“Come on, just tell me the truth, Chelstina. What kind of trouble did you get into this time?”

“It’s really nothing! Don’t worry about it – don’t even be curious.”

“Spit it out, now!”

“I said no! Can’t you let go? I’m pregnant, you know!”

The rather childish scuffle between the two noblewomen came to a swift end.

“I wasn’t aware we had an unexpected guest.”

Grey appeared as quietly as the moon in the daytime and greeted them calmly.

“It’s been a long time, Countess Beaty.”

“L-Lord Cabil!”

Chelstina stiffened, her eyes widening like a badger confronted by its mortal enemy.

Ignoring her completely, Grey walked past and approached Regina.

“I’m home, my lady.”

As he kissed her cheek, Regina flinched and tried to pull away. But as if expecting her to do so, Grey caught her by the shoulder, blocking her escape, and planted a kiss on her lips.

His actions were so smooth and natural that Chelsti didn’t even notice.

“How are you feeling today, my lady?”

“Much better, thanks to your concern.”

“I’m glad to hear it. Here, I brought you this.”

What Grey handed her was a charming little bread box in the shape of a loaf of white bread.

“I heard that a world-renowned pastry chef recently opened a shop in the harbour at Kapten. This was part of a gift package and I thought you might like it, so I brought it.”

“Th… thank you.”

“No need to thank me.”

‘Don’t be moved by something so small.’

Regina steeled her softening heart as she slowly opened the lid of the box.

To make a long story short, the solution was pointless.

Chelsti, noticing the strange look on Regina’s face as she stared into the box, leaned in curiously.

“What’s wrong? Ew!”

Chelsti recoiled in horror, as if she had seen something she shouldn’t have.

“They’re raisin scones, aren’t they?”

“…Yes?”

Grey frowned slightly, clearly puzzled.

‘What about it?’

Chelsti was stunned.

“You didn’t know? Regina doesn’t eat raisins. She hates them.”

“Ah.”

“Oh, come on. You’re her husband – didn’t you know?”

There was a moment of silence.

The atmosphere grew stiff as no one spoke, until suddenly Grey smiled faintly.

“Now that I think about it, I do owe Countess Beaty an apology, don’t I?”

“Wh-What? An apology? There’s no need for that! Really, let’s not talk about it.”

Chelstina stammered, glancing quickly at Regina in panic.

It was clear that she was desperately hoping that Grey wouldn’t bring it up.

But of course Grey, fully aware of that, decided to bring it up anyway – ever the gentleman.

“How could I forget the letters you sent me, Countess? Even now, when I think of the emotional state you must have been in to use such hateful language… it still weighs heavily on my heart.”

“”Letters? Grey, what are you talking about?”

Regina couldn’t help but interrupt.

“Oh dear. It seems my wife didn’t know.”

As if he had planned it all along, Grey lowered his silver lashes and drew her in.

“Countess Beaty was so worried about you, she was furious with me. She sent me several letters of protest after I turned down her request to visit while you were ill.”

“Is that true, Chelsti?”

Chelsti glared at Grey, sweat breaking out on her forehead.

‘All this because of a comment about raisins? Was that really necessary?’

“I remember those letters clearly—you accused me of abusing my wife, even went so far as to suggest I might have secretly murdered her. You claimed I was hiding her away because I had something to conceal…”

“Aaaah! I’m sorry! I don’t know what came over me. I must have been in shock!”

“Well, whatever shock you were in, it couldn’t possibly compare to mine, could it?”

Grey replied as calmly as ever – although he glanced at Regina for a moment to gauge her reaction.

And Regina noticed the flicker of unease in his usually calm eyes.

‘Has Grey… perhaps profited from my failure in some business deal?’

With that sorrowful expression, playing the part of a heartbroken husband, he must have easily won people’s sympathy.

That image alone could’ve placed him in a very favorable position at the negotiating table.

She didn’t want to doubt her husband. She truly didn’t.

But deep down, she knew all too well—

Grey was absolutely capable of something like that.

Oblivious to the subtle tension between them, Chelsti fidgeted nervously in the middle.

“It was all a misunderstanding! I sincerely apologize for my previous rudeness, Lord Cabil!!”

“Thank you for your gracious apology.”

“Ah! Suddenly my stomach feels tight. I’d better go before I overdo it. Regina, I’ll see you soon!”

Regina burst out laughing as she watched the world’s most agile pregnant woman make her hasty exit.

But the smile that remained on her lips tasted bitter.

‘Regina doesn’t eat raisins.’

Even Chelsti knew that.

But her own husband didn’t.

As she stood there, staring silently down at the box, she heard a tongue click from above.

“Throw it away.”

“…Sorry?”

“You said you don’t like raisins. No need to force yourself to eat it.”

Grey took the box from her hands himself and dropped it to the floor.

Before she could react in surprise, he kissed her – as if to block her view with his lips.

It was a short, cold kiss.

The contact, almost urgent, as if to make up for his mistake, caused her lower lip to strike his teeth, leaving him slightly numb.

Moments later, Grey pulled away, smiling brightly as if nothing had happened.

“I have to go back out after changing. I just stopped by to do some work.”

“Alright.”

But he didn’t wait for her reply. He had already turned away.

A breeze, stirred by the movement of his cloak, brushed Regina’s fringes a beat later.

It was unexpectedly cool for spring – and left a faint, bitter sting.