Standing before a window flooded with sunlight, Michael looked very different from how he had in the capital.

Regardless of whether he was going out, he had always insisted on putting on an impeccably tailored suit as soon as he got up each morning. Now, however, he wore comfortable, everyday clothes. A thin, tightly woven khaki jumper and beige trousers gave him a much gentler appearance.

For a moment, Eveline felt as though the man before her were the Michael she had first met seven years ago. The traces of boyhood that had lingered back then overlapped naturally with the face of the fully mature man he had become.

“Mrs. Tenon, where are you? I believe you need to come and see this.”

“We can stack the things we will take to the vineyard this afternoon over here for now.”

Just as the voices of the people searching for her reached them, Mrs. Tenon hurried away, leaving the two of them alone in the corridor.

Eveline wanted to hear more stories about his childhood, but the man himself had appeared just then, of all times.

For some reason, she felt self-conscious. She could only hope that Michael would drop the matter without asking her any more questions.

“Then, which story shall I begin with?”

As expected, however, he had no intention of doing so. Moreover, a smile that seemed half intended to tease her lingered upon his lips. Since it had become difficult to extricate herself naturally, Eveline decided to say something—anything.

“Was this painted when you entered the Royal Academy?”

Eveline pointed towards the frame while looking at Michael, who had stepped up beside her. It was a portrait of a seated boy wearing a sash embroidered with the royal crest.

Eveline had learnt almost everything from books and the two tutors who lived in Beaufort. Consequently, there had been times when she had wondered what it would be like to attend a school filled with children her own age. She especially tried to imagine the Royal Academy, where the children of the capital’s most prominent nobles gathered, but could never quite picture it.

“Judging by the fact that I was tortured by being forced to sit motionless for half a day while wearing a sash like that, it must have been.”

He let out a quiet laugh, as though recalling those days.

“What was school life like? I am curious about what kind of student you were.”

“My years at the Royal Academy were dull, busy, chaotic, and tedious.”

“That was not the sort of vague answer I wanted.”

Eveline concluded that it would be difficult to coax even a trivial childhood anecdote out of him. As though reading her thoughts, Michael spoke again.

“I was an excellent student, but not a model one. Needless to say, I wasn’t obedient enough to graduate at the top of my class. There was nothing particularly remarkable about school life either. I spent six years surrounded by scheming boys in the dormitory and classrooms.”

“You must have spent time with Sir Felix and Sir Damon back then as well.”

As she listened, Eveline recalled the faces of Michael’s two longtime friends.

“Of course. But whenever I remember some of the trouble Felix caused, there are times when I would rather not admit that we are friends.”

It was a jest containing a small measure of sincerity. Although Eveline did not know the details, she could easily imagine what the easygoing and somewhat mischievous Felix must have been like as a child.

“More importantly, I am curious whether you slept well last night.”

Michael had never been one to speak indirectly. Keeping her gaze fixed upon him as he changed the subject as though he had been waiting for the opportunity, Eveline answered.

“I am truly sorry that I fell asleep before you last night.”

They had been celebrating their first day in Razan when she suddenly fell asleep, collapsing as though she had fainted. Understandably, Michael was bewildered.

Michael had undoubtedly failed to sleep soundly again last night due to his persistent insomnia. This had been on Eveline’s mind ever since.

‘How long was he awake all by himself?’

Feeling increasingly apologetic, she nibbled restlessly at her lip.

“Why are you apologizing far more than necessary?”

After he had spoken, he gently pressed his thumb against her lower lip, which had been caught between her teeth. When his thumb touched its center, her lip slipped free with a gentle click.

However, Eveline could not answer his question. His finger slowly caressed the delicate, moist skin.

Made even redder from being caught between her teeth, her lip yielded easily to his touch. To Michael, it resembled a fragile flower petal that might tear at the slightest touch. Unable to draw his hand away, he asked again.

“Are you not even going to look at me properly?”

Only then did her green eyes, which had been fixed on his clean-shaven jaw, look up to meet his gaze. If she had opened her mouth to speak, his finger would have touched the tender flesh inside it. After hesitating, Eveline finally grasped his wrist and lowered his hand.

“People pass through this corridor, Michael.”

Her tone was distinctly reminiscent of a prim and proper schoolmistress. Just then, faint footsteps approached from the other end of the corridor, and Michael readily offered her his arm.

“In that case, would you like to see something Aidan’s parents left here early this morning as a gift for you?”

“……A gift for me?”

Eveline was taken aback by the unexpected revelation. Since she did not even know who Aidan’s parents were, she could not understand why they had visited so early that morning.

“They own a vineyard in Razan. When they heard that the Duchess had arrived, they came here to see you.”

Eveline knew very little about Aidan’s personal life. After they had left the long corridor, Michael gestured towards a table in the central drawing room. Inside a wooden basket adorned with a beautiful ribbon were various grape-themed items.

The gifts, which ranged from bath salts to soap and oil, were all made from grapes. Even without opening the wrapping, each one seemed to exude an intensely sweet fragrance.

“Is Aidan away at the moment?”

“Today is the first day of the harvest at his parents’ vineyard, so they dragged him straight there. He probably will not return until late tonight.”

From Michael’s explanation, Eveline realized the true reason Aidan’s parents had visited so early that morning—as well as why Aidan himself was nowhere to be seen.

***

From that afternoon until late that evening, Eveline examined the ledgers detailing the required budget and expenses of the ducal castle. Mrs Tenon naturally remained beside her, providing thorough explanations.

‘Every year, the period from now until the end of the year is when our expenses are at their highest. At other times, the cost of maintaining the ducal castle itself is not particularly substantial.’

As Mrs. Tenon had explained, their expenditure was highest during this season, when Michael visited Razan and the number of people residing at the castle increased.

“A significant proportion of the taxes paid by residents is reinvested directly into Razan. His Grace naturally holds sole authority over those decisions. From now on, however, I will also report on them to you, my lady.”

The duchy’s accounts were exceptionally complex and systematic, given the enormous budget that had to be administered. They adhered strictly to one fundamental principle, though: more than half of the taxes paid by residents were reinvested within Razan itself.

“So that is why Razan’s city center is lively enough to resemble a smaller version of the capital.”

“His Grace believes that the territory can develop only if its funds remain in constant circulation.”

Eveline nodded, evidently agreeing with Michael’s philosophy.

While she worked to understand the flow of the accounts, Michael attended to his own schedule.

After dining with the officials responsible for overseeing the main city district, he joined them for drinks in an informal setting. Everyone accompanying him that evening had been born and raised in Razan.

Although they were seated with the Duke, the conversation remained relaxed.

“Everyone is delighted that Your Grace has returned to the territory with Her Grace this year.”

“Indeed. The two of you make such a wonderful couple.”

“It would have been even better if you had held a grand wedding here as well.”

At the remark from the man responsible for overseeing the city’s shops, Michael silently clinked his glass against the others.

“What does the wedding matter, brother? His Grace married a beautiful duchess and brought her back to Razan.”

“Ha ha, you’re right. I only meant that it would have been nice for everyone to see a wedding as big as a festival.”

The men continued their light-hearted banter. Michael silently recalled the hastily arranged wedding they had held in the capital.

What kind of wedding had Eveline dreamed of?

It was a question he could not answer, but he knew one thing for certain: No woman would want a quiet wedding held without enough time to prepare.

The lamplight flickered across Michael’s face as he gazed down at his half-full glass.

***

Eveline heard the sound of the invited guests’ carriages departing as she went up to her bedchamber. It was well past one in the morning. Shortly afterwards, as she lay in bed, she heard movement in the adjoining room.

The footsteps continued for some time, as though Michael were moving in and out of the bathroom, before stopping abruptly. Even then, she suspected that he had not fallen asleep easily. Eveline sat up, leaned against the headboard and deliberated for a while before finally getting up, as though she had made a decision.

She put on the robe she had hung to one side and approached the door connecting their bedrooms. She knocked precisely twice and, after a brief silence, heard a reply from beyond the door.

The bedchamber she slowly entered felt considerably cooler than her own. Michael was sitting on the sofa in the middle of the room where the lamp had been dimmed almost entirely.

“Eveline.”

Setting down the glass in his hand, Michael called her name with apparent surprise.

“I thought you were asleep.”

Without offering a specific answer, Eveline moved closer. Her gaze briefly settled on the glass, which was filled not with wine, but with a strong liquor that carried a heavy alcohol scent.

Having spent many hours drinking with the others, Michael appeared far more languid than usual. Wearing a loosely tied robe, he exuded a darker, more dangerous air.