The woman who had gone out returned far later than expected. She had left in the morning, yet word of her return did not reach him until evening.

Kieron listened to the report with a deeply furrowed expression, unable to understand why his mood refused to improve.

“She has returned.”

“Yes, sir.”

“That’s all?”

“…Y-yes, that is all.”

His hopelessly oblivious aide offered no further information, not a word about whether she had eaten dinner, what she had been doing all day, or the reason for her late return.

However, he couldn’t exactly order him to report on such trivial details, so Kieron lowered his gaze back to the documents on his desk.

“If you need, I could look into—”

“No. It’s fine. Just work.”

“Yes, understood.”

Without even pausing to read Kieron’s mood, Herald immediately returned to his seat. Had he trained the man to be this dense?

Kieron let out a small sigh, briefly wondering if he had chosen the wrong aide. Maybe he should call Derrick instead.

“By the way, sir. What would you like to do about dinner?”

“Dinner?”

While he was silently searching for a way to learn about Ariadne without going through anything troublesome, Herald suddenly asked a question he normally never would, and one that presented him with an excellent excuse.

“…It’s that late already?”

“The head butler said he would prepare dinner in the dining room. It will be ready the moment you come down.”

Reciting Derrick’s plan word for word, Herald added one more line in his usual calm tone.

“My lady has not eaten yet either.”

Upon hearing this, Kieron immediately put down his quill and rose to his feet. He’d thought that Herald was unaware, but perhaps he was more perceptive than he had realized.

“Then I’ll go.”

“Yes. I’ll just finish up here and leave for the day.”

“Do that.”

Kieron almost stopped in his tracks when he heard the remark about leaving early, but he quickly brushed it aside and continued towards the dining room.

There was always work — endless, relentless work. Leaving a little earlier than usual wouldn’t cause any real harm.

Unaware that he had become uncharacteristically generous simply because he had heard something concerning Ariadne, Kieron moved briskly down the corridor.

How many weeks had passed since their last tea time?

Had he or she been too busy? Somehow, they hadn’t seen each other at all.

He had insisted that she rest for the sake of her health, even going so far as to stop her doing any work. Yet instead of resting, she had been outside the estate nearly every day.

As he neared the dining room, he remembered their last tea time: a shy yet lively young woman, faintly reminiscent of the girl she had been when they first met.

“My lady has already arrived.”

Derrick announced, bowing lightly from his post at the entrance.

Kieron barely acknowledged him, simply jerking his chin towards the door.

“Has she been here long?”

“She entered just a moment ago, sir.”

“I see. Open it.”

At his command, Derrick slowly pushed the door open.

He hadn’t seen her face in days; he had only received daily reports saying that she was unwell.

No matter how frustrated or irritated he felt, it would be an outright lie to claim that he had never been concerned about someone he lived with.

As Kieron caught a glimpse of Ariadne’s silhouette beyond the doorway, he silently hoped that her face wouldn’t be pale today.

But the moment the door opened—

“…Y-Your Grace?”

Contrary to his wish, her face was ashen white.

***

After returning to the mansion, Ariadne discussed the next steps of her plan with Jay in detail. Of course, all of this depended on whether Jade would agree to help her.

“Do you think Jade will really help me?”

“Of course! It’s Young Master Jade we’re talking about. He’ll definitely agree.”

“But… now that he’s back, the countess will probably start pressuring him to prepare for marriage.”

Ariadne sighed softly as she thought of Countess Derayan, a woman who expected far more from her son than she did from her husband.

Her original plan had been simple, almost elegantly so.

Find a reasonably attractive playboy who seems sincere, stage an affair, secure a divorce, flee the empire together, pay him generously and then part ways.

In theory, it was perfect.

‘But if Jade helps me, the rumors in society will turn vicious. That would ruin the Derayan family.’

If Jade became involved, his reputation would be destroyed.

This wasn’t just a minor scandal, it was adultery.

Who would trust a man who helped destroy someone else’s marriage?

Especially when so many already mocked the Derayans for being talentless nobles obsessed with performing.

“No, no. I can’t involve Jade. Absolutely not.”

“Oh, honestly, my lady. If you’re planning to run around those salons again, this is far better.”

“No. Instead, find out which noble families are most desperate for money right now. Look for houses with sons whose reputation is decent but who are struggling financially.”

And preferably someone who also wanted to leave the empire.

Ariadne added that quietly as she rose from her seat. Jay, satisfied at least that her lady was not suggesting they return to those salons, nodded with a broad grin.

“Yes, I’ll look into it!”

“And don’t ever bring up Jade again. Not inside, and definitely not outside—don’t let it slip by accident.”

“Oh, come on, my lady. What do you take me for?”

“I know. I trust you. It’s just… in case. So don’t take it the wrong way, alright?”

Ariadne reminded her once more, and Jay nodded obediently.

Although it was disappointing to lose the safest option, Jay understood her lady’s intentions.

Having worked as a maid in a noble household for many years, she was all too aware that society was not an easy place to navigate.

Therefore, as a capable maid who could read her lady’s heart, Jay decided to drop the subject.

“I understand what you mean, my lady. I’m not upset, so please don’t worry.”

“Good. Thank you, Jay. I know you only said it because you’re worried about me.”

When Jay responded, Ariadne smiled with relief. Seeing that gentle smile spread across her beautiful face was quite a sight.

Jay couldn’t help resenting the clueless duke all over again. Why did someone as kind and lovely as his lady have to worry about things like this?

“It’s time for dinner, my lady. Will you be eating in your room again today?”

“Shall I? Hmm…”

Ariadne was still thinking it over when a light knock sounded from outside.

“My lady, it’s Derrick.”

The head butler, who rarely came to her rooms, was knocking on her door. Ariadne and Jay exchanged a brief glance before turning toward the sound.

Jay moved first. Quickly stepping to the door, she looked back at Ariadne, silently asking whether she should open it.

After a moment of thought, Ariadne nodded.

“Come in, Derrick.”

With her permission, the door opened, and Derrick entered. As always—polite and dignified—he bowed to her.

“I’ve come to ask how you would like to have your dinner.”

“Oh…”

Ordinarily, around this hour, Jay would go downstairs to bring up her lady’s meal. Ariadne usually ate in her room and enjoyed a short tea time afterward. Most of the household staff knew about this routine and found nothing unusual in it.

Derrick, too, had always acted accordingly. So the sudden question made Ariadne blink in confusion before she slowly replied.

“I was thinking of eating in my room. Is something wrong?”

“Doctor Brown has been extremely worried. He suggested that it might be good for you to eat outside your room, so I came to ask.”

“Oh… Did Dr. Brown say that?”

“He’s devoted to his patients. He thought that if he said it himself, you might feel pressured, so he asked me to convey the message.”

In a calm and reassuring voice, Derrick explained the reason for his visit.

Dr Brown, the duke’s personal physician, was worried about her, which is why he had come.

It was true. Dr Brown had gently suggested several times that she try eating outside her room.

He said that going down to the dining hall, exchanging a few words with the staff, and eating there would be good for her health and spirits.

However, each time, Ariadne could only manage an awkward smile in response.

She had grown up at a lively dining table, surrounded by her parents and brothers.

Compared to that warmth, the vast, echoing dining hall at the ducal estate where she would never encounter her husband felt hollow and suffocatingly silent.

Being rejected once or twice was painful. But being turned away every single day…

After enduring so much, the dining hall itself had become unbearable.

Because of that, she had rarely set foot in it since her early days in the ducal household, aside from those first few attempts.

“Then… may I eat with Jay? I don’t want to sit alone in that huge room.”

“I’ve instructed the staff to arrange everything in whichever way you feel most comfortable.”

“Thank you, Derrick.”

But Ariadne was not the type to ignore the people who were making an effort for her. In the end, she accepted Derrick’s suggestion and rose from her seat.

“Please keep the service to a minimum. Something simple—just like when I eat in my room—will be fine.”

“Understood. Jay may feel uneasy otherwise, so I’ll keep the staff’s involvement to a minimum.”

“I’d appreciate that.”

As they walked together down to the dining room, Ariadne made a few requests.

The table setting should be simple, with nothing elaborate. Only the minimum number of servants should be present, standing near the entrance so as not to make Jay feel uncomfortable.

Ideally, no other servants should enter or leave the dining room during the meal.

Once everything was in place, the three of them reached the dining room, whereupon Ariadne and Jay stepped inside.

“Please enjoy your time.”

After guiding them to their places, Derrick took his leave. Before he exited, he seemed to whisper something softly to Jay, but the distance made it impossible for Ariadne to hear.

“Is something wrong, Jay?”

“Well, yes… no, no! Nothing at all, haha…”

Jay laughed awkwardly as she helped Ariadne to her seat.

Just as she turned to gesture for Jay to sit as well—

Clatter.

The door opened once more.