However, that evening, Ariadne left the estate.

Although she had promised not to return to the Marquisate that day, she had never said she wouldn’t go out at all.

Hoping to clear her mind, she stepped outside for some fresh air.

“So you’re not going today after all?”

“I’ll go on Father’s birthday instead.”

“That’s a relief! Everyone will be gathered together this year.”

Jay, who had followed her outside, let out a quiet sigh of relief. When Kieron had barged into the room earlier, she had truly feared that something awful was about to happen.

Thankfully, although the argument had been heated at times, it had ended without turning into a disaster. Ariadne had declared that she would not be going to the marquisate today.

However, her decision not to go there didn’t change the fact that she was still leaving the ducal estate.

Her mistress appeared calm on the surface, but there was something unsettled about her, she seemed fragile and almost trembling underneath.

Seeing this, Jay could only proceed with the utmost care.

“Yes, do you have any idea how hard it’s been every year? I want to visit my family, but His Grace never comes with me and disapproves of my inviting them here.”

Ariadne rested her chin on the carriage window frame with a weary sigh.

“My brothers visiting was a surprise, but in the end, it worked out. I’ll be able to celebrate Father’s birthday this year.”

“Still, my lady… arguing like that is a little…”

“I’m sorry about that. Everyone must have been startled, with us raising our voices.”

Jay offered an awkward smile and gently added her own comment.

Ariadne apologized immediately.

She knew only too well that, when the master and mistress of a household were not on good terms, the entire estate ended up walking on thin ice.

Even Marquis Peyton and his wife had their disagreements, albeit rarely, and whenever they did, everyone in the marquisate moved with extreme caution.

She and Kieron were far from harmonious, even on ordinary days.

Ariadne let out another heavy sigh.

“It never goes the way I hope. I tell myself I should talk things out calmly… but once I actually speak to him, my emotions spill over.”

Today turned out the same as before.

In his office and again in her room, she could have handled things better.

She could have spoken more calmly.

She could have stopped her voice from shaking.

She could have held back instead of provoking him.

She couldn’t control his anger, but she could have controlled her own tone.

Yet, the moment she saw him and realized from his words and the look on his face that he found her presence troublesome and wanted the situation to end quickly, everything she had held in finally overflowed.

“Once things start piling up in your heart, you can’t help it. I’m glad you’re not keeping everything inside anymore, but expressing it all at once worries me too.”

“I thought so too. I should get a checkup from Mr. Brown soon.”

“You should. I’ll let him know.”

Jay nodded with a gentle smile. She meant every word, she was relieved that Ariadne was no longer keeping everything locked away inside.

Since the wedding, she had endured her pain in silence, never allowing any of it to show.

Brown had said that this was the root of her emotional illness. But now, she cried, raised her voice, and allowed herself to be upset.

And that alone felt better than what had come before — almost reassuring.

Yet was this really a healthy way for her to cope?

Jay couldn’t help worrying.

Before coming to the ducal estate, Ariadne had always been physically fragile, and Jay’s only concern had been her health. But ever since they arrived here, she’d also had to worry about her mental health.

Of course, everyone guards their own health and safety, but when it came to her mistress, Jay couldn’t help worrying a little more.

So, when Ariadne started acting differently, it was only natural that Jay’s concern shifted with her.

Seeing her mistress looking slightly lighter than before, Jay allowed herself a small, gentle smile.

“So where are we heading now, my lady? You still need dinner.”

“I’m going back to the restaurant from yesterday. I hardly ate since I was so busy talking to my parents.”

“Oh. You want to go back there?”

“Yes. I only had a little, but the food seemed good. You barely ate anything that day too, didn’t you, Jay?”

Ariadne smiled as she spoke.

It was true, sitting among such high-ranking individuals, Jay couldn’t tell if she was putting the food in her mouth or up her nose.

She let out an embarrassed laugh.

“I’m fine, but… are you sure you’ll be all right with that kind of food, my lady?”

“Why wouldn’t I be? It’s not as if they serve anything inedible. It’s food made for people, wherever it comes from.”

When Jay hesitantly suggested they choose a nicer place, Ariadne shook her head.

“All restaurants serve food. It’s the same anywhere.”

If anything, she looked more excited about going today than she had yesterday.

“This time, let’s order everything we want. Honestly, I wanted to try a few more dishes, but I held back because my parents were watching.”

“I don’t mind that, but… will you be able to finish everything?”

“Then we’ll just bring Martin too. The more the better.”

Ariadne motioned towards the coachman at the front. Since they were already on their way, she suggested they try all the food they wanted.

Jay smiled.

Yes — whatever else happened, it was enough for her to see her mistress enjoying herself so much. Whether Ariadne was truly all right or not was for Brown, the physician, to determine.

As a maid, Jay’s duty was simply to support her mistress in whatever brought her comfort.

So, when she saw Ariadne’s face brighten with anticipation, Jay smiled too.

Whatever the circumstances, her mistress’s joy was more than enough.

***

“She said she would be stepping out for a while and taking dinner outside.”

When Kieron asked about his wife as evening approached, Derrick answered in his usual polite tone—recited almost like a prepared response.

And that irritated Kieron.

“Stepping out? She said she wasn’t going to the marquisate.”

“She said she wanted some fresh air. She took Jay and Martin with her.”

Ariadne had left the estate with only a maid and a coachman. She now seemed determined to avoid him as much as possible.

In recent days, she had moved like an entirely different person — darting about, unpredictable and almost unrecognizable.

Kieron found himself questioning whether the woman standing before him was truly the same Ariadne Ambrose he had married.

The shy, quiet, gentle girl who once flinched at even the slightest movement.

He dragged a hand through his hair and let out a heavy breath.

“…Fine. I’ll eat lightly. Bring dinner to my office.”

“Yes, Your Grace.”

Derrick answered with his usual impeccable politeness. Kieron then turned to Herald, who had been working beside him for some time.

“Herald. Go eat. I’ll dine here.”

“Oh—then I’ll stay and eat here as well…”

“It’s fine. Go. Weren’t you complaining recently that you hadn’t had a proper meal in days?”

When Herald tried to stay, Kieron waved him off. He wanted to be alone, and he also felt guilty about how hard his aide had been working.

Kieron didn’t set excessive tasks, but once he started something, he insisted on finishing it, meaning Herald inevitably ended up paying the price.

“Th-then I’ll go for a bit.”

“Go ahead. Eat and take a short break if you need to.”

Kieron nodded, sending Herald off.

And then only he and Derrick remained.

“You should have gone out with the duchess, Your Grace.”

Once they were alone, Derrick spoke in a quiet, gentle and cautious voice, but never in a forceful way.

It was the kind of tone that didn’t make it feel like he was pushing for anything.

Kieron glanced at him, then turned back to the documents on his desk.

“I didn’t know she was leaving. If I had, I might have gone with her.”

“But… didn’t Your Grace already know? The lady said there was no need to inform you, so I assumed you were aware…”

“…She said there was no need to tell me?”

Had she tried to sneak out again?

Kieron frowned.

Not that he objected to her going out. She could do whatever she wanted as long as she didn’t annoy him. But if she intended to leave without saying anything after making him think he already knew…

“Then why did you tell me? If she told you not to bother.”

“I thought it might cause a misunderstanding.”

The question had risen suddenly in Kieron’s mind, but Derrick answered as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

“A misunderstanding?”

“Sometimes, the things you two say about ‘thinking of each other’ end up… causing confusion.”

“Thinking of each other? Who? Me?”

Kieron let out a short, incredulous laugh.

Maybe if it were some woman who had adored him enough to fall ill with longing.

But him? Why would he—? He waved his hand dismissively.

“That never happened. But I can accept that misunderstandings arise when communication fails.”

“Is that so.”

Derrick answered in the same steady, unruffled tone, appearing untouched and unaffected.

Yet there was something about his expression — too calm and knowing — that suggested he understood far more than he was letting on and was pretending not to know for Kieron’s sake.

Kieron briefly considered explaining himself, but decided it wasn’t worth the effort.

There was no reason to waste words on something so insignificant.

Instead, he voiced the thought that had first occurred to him when Derrick mentioned Ariadne’s supposed ‘consideration’.

“There was no mention of meeting anyone?”

“No such words, Your Grace….”

Caught off guard, Derrick shook his head, looking puzzled. Then, suddenly, his face stiffened, taking on a far more serious expression.

“Your Grace… surely you’re not suggesting that the lady went out to meet someone else.”

“She spoke as if she were keeping something from me.”

“But, Your Grace, didn’t we go through this before? And nothing was ever confirmed.”

“Yes. Nothing was confirmed.”

But the suspicion had always been there.

Kieron responded with a stern expression.

At his words, Derrick’s face darkened further still.

“It was never proven, Your Grace.”

“True. Which is why this time… I’ll confirm it for myself.”

In the dim light, Kieron’s eyes flashed with a sharp, cutting intensity.

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