Cadel had long since reached adulthood, yet he had never shown the slightest interest in women. Therefore, it made no sense that he would suddenly become interested in women just because he had married a grand duchess.

‘That’s impossible. A woman like that—an insignificant saintess…’

Someone like her was not right for Cadel. What he needed was an older woman who could accept and embrace all of who he is. Someone like her.

‘That’s right. That woman must have come to the office without understanding her place. So Lord Cadel came out only to send her away.’

Violet watched the two figures retreat into the distance, their shapes growing smaller with each step.

She told herself that the ignorant saintess must have entered the office unwittingly, unaware of its importance. As the Grand Duchess, Cadel could not reprimand her openly, so he merely escorted her out.

The closeness between them… That must have been her own misinterpretation.

As she repeated these thoughts to herself, weaving them together into a narrative she could believe, the rigid tension in her expression slowly began to soften.

***

In the end, after receiving a sharp remark from Jaina, Cadel turned back toward the office. When he saw Violet still standing before the door, his brows drew together.

“Why are you still here?”

“Lord Cadel.”

At his words, Violet hurried toward him.

Cadel flicked his hand dismissively in her direction, a silent gesture of irritation.

“Go back. I’m busy.”

“Why are you trying to follow her?”

Cadel, who had just grasped the office door handle, turned his head to look at Violet.

“Why are you following the saintess?”

“You’ve addressed her incorrectly, Violet. Not saintess—Grand Duchess.”

Although she felt it was unfair to be forced to address her by that name during what was clearly a private conversation between them, Cadel’s expression had become frighteningly cold.

She had no choice but to correct herself.

“Yes… the Grand Duchess. Why are you trying to follow her?”

“That’s none of your concern.”

“But what will you do when it rains?!”

She cried out hurriedly, but Cadel stepped into the office without the slightest hesitation and cut her off sharply.

“Do not set foot here carelessly, Violet.”

The door shut, leaving Violet standing outside. The moment Cadel turned and saw Adil, one of his brows lifted.

“Adil. I did exactly as you told me, yet Jaina’s heart hasn’t softened in the slightest.”

When he asked how he could amend his past mistakes, Adil advised him to show Jaina kindness.

When he admitted that he did not know how to do this, Adil told him to praise her for even the smallest things and show her that his feelings had grown from favor to affection.

“You followed my advice, Your Grace?”

“Of course I did. Didn’t you see?”

“See what—? Don’t tell me… telling Her Highness that any color suits her… that she shines….”

“Yes. And I told her she’s beautiful even when she’s angry.”

To be honest, he hadn’t thought much about it before saying it.

The shock of holding Jaina’s cold, lifeless body and screaming in despair had not left him yet. Simply seeing her alive and moving would have been enough. Even her anger would look beautiful and lovable to him — it was only natural.

“Ha.”

Adil let out an incredulous sigh.

“In any case, your advice hasn’t worked at all. I’ll have to find another way.”

“That is truly unfair. How did my advice turn into something so… frivolous?”

“Frivolous?”

One of Cadel’s brows twitched upward. Adil frowned in exasperation.

“I told you to show Her Highness kindness—”

“Yes. To reveal favor. And affection.”

“The kind of words you used are the sort shallow nobles toss at women in taverns when they’re flirting. How is that favor or affection? There’s no warmth in that at all!”

“Taverns? Flirting?”

Cadel’s smooth brow creased as he shot Adil a sharp look.

“How does calling someone beautiful become flirting? If she’s beautiful, then I simply state the fact.”

“In the middle of a conversation, so abruptly—”

“She was abruptly beautiful.”

Cadel lifted his chin without a trace of shame, his face filled with brazen confidence as he continued.

“To begin with, there is only one woman in this world to whom red suits so perfectly—my wife.”

Adil’s face twisted instantly.

“…Did you perhaps eat something strange this morning?”

“What?”

“No, it’s just… you were never like this before.”

As Adil pressed a hand to his forehead and let out a groan, Cadel folded his arms and gave a quiet scoff.

“I was always like this. You’ve simply been seeing this very personality all along.”

“Then it seems I have failed to properly grasp Your Grace’s temperament for decades.”

“You’ve always lacked perception.”

“How is that relevant right now?”

Adil shot him a look of disbelief.

Cadel often told him he lacked awareness, and each time, Adil found it faintly unjust.

“In any case, we need another method. Your advice isn’t working at all.”

Moments earlier, he had complimented Jaina on how beautifully she walked. She had responded by telling him to stop following her.

Recounting this, Cadel sank heavily into his chair, his expression turning serious.

“It seems my wife isn’t the type who appreciates compliments like that.”

At this peculiar conclusion, Adil’s expression darkened into one of utter exasperation.

“She likely dislikes it because it feels entirely devoid of sincerity.”

Adil let out a long sigh and started to offer Cadel more concrete advice on how he might win Jaina’s heart.

Like Cadel, Adil was a man who had never had a beloved woman of his own.

However, he had gained considerable knowledge about women, courtship and love through reading countless books.

***

After staring at the firmly shut office door for a while, Violet finally turned away. She was upset that Cadel had gone inside without giving her a second thought. Recalling how Jaina had casually taken him away right before her eyes made her teeth grind together.

‘That damned saintess.’

Although Cadel had followed Jaina of his own accord, Violet convinced herself that Jaina must have arranged it so that he had no choice but to act that way in front of her.

Otherwise, why would he have treated her so coldly when she had come with a clear purpose?

Biting down hard on her lower lip, Violet turned and began walking towards the third floor, where Jaina’s chambers were located.

She needed answers. She needed to know what Jaina was thinking and why she was trying to take Cadel to the Empire.

No matter how naïve a saintess might be, this made no sense. To drag Cadel, who was responsible for governing the North, into an Empire overrun with monsters and black mages…

Was that not beyond the bounds of reason?

‘If she wants to die, she can die alone. Why drag an innocent person along and put him in danger?’

Although Violet had clearly overheard Jaina and Cadel’s conversation when they walked past, she still forced herself to believe that Jaina had pressured him into going.

Cadel had clearly fallen under the influence of that wicked saintess, and had become unrecognizable.

Violet resolved to confront Jaina and find out what she was planning by insisting that Cadel accompany her.

She had every right to do so. She didn’t know when they were planning to leave, but she knew that the rainy season in the north was about to start. When it rained, Cadel would need her, and there would be no avoiding it.

***

Jaina stepped into the temporary study prepared for her by the butler and let out a quiet, incredulous laugh, remembering how strange Cadel had been acting today.

For some reason, he had been acting rather strangely. He wasn’t usually like that. Throughout their conversation, however, he had seemed unusually playful — almost shameless at times — and occasionally so out of character that it bordered on the absurd.

‘What does it even mean that the way I walk is beautiful? Honestly.’

The more she thought about it, the more incredulous she became, and the more laughter escaped her.

She even wondered if something had gone wrong with his mind when he regressed.

“I’m saying it because I truly think so. It’s not an empty compliment.”

That was his response when she snapped at him for saying such things, even in jest.

As she thought about him, she felt her face grow warm against her will. It felt strange to hear words from him that she had never heard before after the regression.

Was he simply trying to tease her? Or did he truly see her that way now?

The more she replayed the scene in her mind, the more confused she became about his sudden change. Then she shook her head sharply.

‘No. It doesn’t matter either way.’

No matter how friendly he was acting, the rift between them would not be easily mended.

She didn’t know what had caused his behavior, but the woman who had once laughed and cried at his every word had disappeared long ago.

There was no reason for her to be affected by his meaningless gestures.

Knock, knock.

A sound echoed from the door.

“It is Violet, Your Highness.”

Jaina’s eyebrows drew together at once at the sound of a voice from outside.

She had already been irritated when she saw Violet outside the office and had deliberately ignored her. Now Violet had followed her all the way here, however, that effort felt wasted and a dull ache began to pulse at her temples.

Pressing her fingers firmly against her temples, Jaina looked towards the door and replied.

“Come in.”