Even though everything had been carefully planned, it was a little strange to be asked to bring the finished version immediately, but the tailor complied without complaint.

Dalia knew that if she didn’t intervene, there was no way that Curtis would wear the outfit that had been made to fit Irvelyn, so she had made all the necessary preparations.

From the dressmaker’s point of view, however, this must have seemed puzzling. But the doubt was short-lived, as there was plenty of time until next year, and any changes could be easily accommodated.

After all, it wasn’t something that could be rushed, especially since the Duchess looked a bit down today.

“Then I will proceed as requested.”

“Leave now.”

And so the preparations for the Moon Banquet were completed, each with their own thoughts.

***

“And where is the Duchess?”

“She will come down shortly.”

The moon was low and seemed within reach, large and bright in the night sky. In the central garden of the palace, Curtis waited for Dalia for the moon banquet.

“I’ve kept you waiting.”

Dalia said as she walked down the steps. Curtis looked at her in silence before quietly holding out his hand. Dalia said nothing, just smiled brightly as she placed her hand over his. They did not speak during the entire carriage ride.

As usual, Dalia started to talk about the weather, but quickly stopped. There was only silence between the two, who had no intention of talking.

When they arrived at the central garden of the Imperial Palace where the Moon Banquet was to be held, they naturally went to their respective positions.

“The emperor summons you.”

Curtis informed her.

“Yes.”

Dalia replied, smiling, without the usual mention of waiting, unlike during the New Year’s ceremony.

As soon as Curtis disappeared into the inner part of the garden, people began to flock to Dalia like pigeons drawn to a delicious piece of bread.

To fulfill her duties as the Duchess of Fraser, Dalia wore an elegant smile and interacted skillfully with the people. Her appearance at tea time was before the New Year’s ceremony.

Afterwards, she was pleased with the rumors that spread like wildfire, and she stopped accepting invitations. During the New Year’s ceremony, the Duke of Fraser himself embraced his wife.

From a refined perspective, people smiled at the strong bond between the Duke and Duchess of Fraser. But to put it bluntly, people were busy prying into their private affairs, snooping around like curious onlookers.

Perhaps, in time, the Duchess of Fraser’s one-sided, melancholy love would turn into mutual affection.

Oh, in this world, the love of the Duke of Fraser! The man with such a reputation that even if he were stabbed with a sword, you wouldn’t think he would bleed-and yet that very reputation fits his love so perfectly!

Only a handful of people could be considered close to Curtis, and even among them, none had ever seen the emotionless expression on his face change.

The Duke of Fraser’s face was called the masterpiece of a great artist. It was famous for two reasons: first, it resembled a painting, and second, a finished painting doesn’t change.

Therefore, most people were sure that even if the sky fell and the earth was turned upside down, his face would never change!

While Dalia, who only smiled like a painting and had no intention of speaking, was nearby, those who exchanged glances here and there noticed someone known for being talkative approaching, seemingly ready to speak.

“Duchess! How have you been? I saw you arrive with… the Duke! You two look so perfect together, may I ask where you had that beautiful dress made?”

At first glance, it seemed to be a simple compliment on Dalia’s outfit, but it was clear that what she really meant was, “You two look perfect together.

Though she tried to hide it, it seemed that she wasn’t very good at hiding her emotions or thoughts yet, because the underlying expectation and hope were obvious in her words.

Instead of resenting the young lady’s impatient question, Dalia chose to understand. After all, anyone who had seen Curtis couldn’t help but admire him.

This young lady was probably one of those who had dreamed beautiful dreams after seeing him. Regardless of age, how many people didn’t have the fantasy of dancing with him?

Though she was often whispered about behind her back as the “Lucky Duchess,” no one could deny that she was, in fact, the Duchess of Fraser.

The rumors of her intense, unrequited love had only fueled the mockery of some, while others sympathized with her.

But for people like the young lady standing before her, it was a love to be admired.

Had it been an ordinary love, it might not have had such a powerful effect, but this was a love directed at Curtis Fraser.

Despite the fact that she was a married woman, her passion still held the hope that it might one day become a reality.

And that made her love feel more attainable than it might for others. For those who still believed in love, it was enough to inspire a few novels.

Fortunately, unlike the young lady, Dalia no longer harbored any illusions about sitting next to Duke Fraser. However, there were still many who clung to vain hopes and dreams of such impossible aspirations.

And the biggest fool among them, lost in those illusions and daydreams, was none other than the person she had been before her regression.

Love. Love. Love.

She had poisoned her own mind with the belief that one day he would notice her.

She had poisoned her heart with the hope that he would reach out to her.

She had poisoned her own soul with the fantasy that in the end she would be the only one for him.

It was absurd that even after drinking all that poison, she hadn’t died. Worse, even though she couldn’t die, she lived in torment.

Dalia, who had finally met her end at his hands, never even had the chance to express the love she had clung to for so long. In the end, it was love that had killed her.

Now she could see the bright eyes of the young lady, so full of hope and innocence, at an age when no one would even think of talking about arranged marriages or engagements.

Dalia couldn’t tell if the sadness and mockery was directed at the young lady or her own past, but she skillfully hid the smile that betrayed those emotions.

“If you like it so much, I’ll send them an invitation.

They’ll be very pleased,” Dalia said calmly, continuing as if she hadn’t noticed the sharp edge in her own words.

The young lady, clearly on the verge of saying something more, hesitated.

But when the woman accompanying her gently tapped her elbow with a fan, she sulked and fell silent.

After that, no one dared to ask the bold questions the young lady had raised. As often happens in high society, the conversation meandered, full of hidden meanings and veiled remarks as people carefully tested the waters.

While Dalia was busy socializing and passing the time, Curtis did not join the lively crowd in the garden after his meeting with the Emperor.

Instead, he stood in the shadows where the moonlight couldn’t touch him.

“Hahaha! At the New Year’s ceremony, the Duke held his wife tightly and didn’t let go, right? The Duke, colder than the northern winds blowing across the northern borders!”

The Emperor’s voice, still echoing in his mind, had been full of such trivialities and nonsense, causing a deep furrow to form on Curtis’ otherwise smooth brow.

What had happened at the New Year’s ceremony was nothing more than an accident. Yes, really an accident.

If one of the people in the chapel had disappeared, and that person had been his wife, the one who should have been standing by his side… of course…

Before Curtis could finish his thoughts, his violet eyes glowed, drawing the darkness from the shadows.

Again and again.

His thick eyebrows twitched, lifting slightly. At the edge of his gaze, Dalia appeared – shattered, broken – and then vanished, only to reappear elsewhere.

‘Am I losing my mind?’

His voice, usually cold and dignified, now had a rough, hollow quality to it, as if the words were echoing inside him.

For a moment, Curtis questioned his own intelligence and sanity. But he stopped trying to deny what was happening before his eyes. Something inexplicable was unfolding, but he still couldn’t grasp its full meaning.

No… could it be that he simply couldn’t understand it?

It had been a long time since he had witnessed anything like this, but what had changed was Dalia Fraser.

She was the only one closely connected to the phenomenon. And in an instant, she became someone he now saw in a completely different light.

Which came first – the phenomenon or the fact that she had changed?

Curtis’ surroundings remained quiet and still, but inside his head it was the loudest and most chaotic it had ever been in his life.