Resignation gave way to radiance in an instant. Her face lit up with such unguarded joy that she seemed to forget her position entirely, a bright smile breaking across her lips.

“Thank you, Madam Meg.”

“In the end, it only delays your schedule, my lady. You’ll be the one pressed for time.”

“Even so.”

‘Could it truly make her this happy?’

Meg glanced at Ilenia’s neat, quick movements and found herself smiling.

“Amanda. Before someone else runs off with the papers, inform them and bring them here.”

“Yes, Madam Meg.”

While Ilenia hurried through her simple preparations to step out, Amanda returned with the documents in hand.

“There was an order for them to be delivered before sundown, so you may have to move quickly, my lady.”

Ilenia gazed at the brown envelope placed in her hands. Bound with nothing more than a simple string, it looked so fragile she thought it might come undone at any moment.

‘What could be inside?’

It was sealed so loosely that she could easily peek without leaving a trace.

She had spent countless hours at Delphius’s side, and yet never once had she been told about his work. Still, the thought of secretly prying into it did not sit well with her. With only a brief spark of curiosity, she tucked the envelope securely into her arms.

“Have the carriage prepared.”

She was far more excited to see Delphius than she was interested in the task itself. What expression would cross his face when he saw her instead of the servant he was expecting?

Would he be startled? Or would he look at her with quiet exasperation, perhaps even scolding her for coming to such a place alone? He had never liked that. Yet, as always, he would soften if she smiled, helpless against her.

He might even thank her for bringing the documents. If the moment allowed, perhaps they could return home together.

Holding onto those small, hopeful daydreams, Ilenia stepped into the carriage. The rhythmic clatter of hooves on the road echoed like a gentle heartbeat in her chest.

Sunlight wrapped around her, filling her with warmth and quiet contentment. The scent of the forest drifted in on the breeze, fresh and green, brushing softly against her senses. Golden light filtered through the trees and scattered like starlight, much like the glow that filled his office at night.

Once they had passed beyond the thick woodland, the office building came into view. In the daylight, it stood tall and imposing, far grander than it had seemed under the night sky. At the foot of the steps, an anxious employee waited, his worry plain to see.

“Why are you so late? Do you have any idea how furious the director gets when the documents don’t arrive on time?”

“Lu… Lady Lukhardt?”

But the moment the carriage door opened and she stepped out, his voice faltered. Startled, he quickly withdrew his hand, which he had been holding out for the envelope, and tucked it awkwardly at his side.

“I—I mean, I didn’t expect the Duchess herself to arrive… How—how did you come here…?”

“I came to deliver the papers Delphius asked for.”

“Ah, the papers… But usually it isn’t the lady herself, but a servant who…”

His words trailed off as he swallowed hard, his gaze flickering over the woman in front of him.

Golden hair. Her eyes were tinged with pink, which was both rare and striking. Her attire was simple yet elegant. There was no doubt about it — this was the Duchess of Lukhardt.

Yet she was nothing like the rumors suggested.

The gossip had painted her as sharp and predatory, a woman waiting to seize the Duke’s wealth. But the person standing before him was nothing like that.

They said her eyes were so ominous that they could drive away fortune itself, and that her lips were drawn tight as though ready to curse anything they touched.

The clerk quickly shook his head, pushing the slander from his mind. Whoever had described her that way had clearly never seen the Duchess of Lukhardt in person.

Otherwise, they could never have mistaken her soft, gentle eyes, nor her lips curved ever so faintly in quiet composure.

“Um…”

“A–Ah, forgive me!”

Realizing he had been staring outright at his employer’s wife, the clerk blanched and bent hastily at the waist.

“Where is Delphius?”

“Your husband—the director—he is in the reception room with a guest.”

“Would it be all right if I delivered this myself? Since I’ve come this far, I’d like at least to see his face before I go…”

“Of course, my lady—no, madam. Please, I beg you! Do deliver them to him.”

It was the greatest blessing of all. He had already been scolded endlessly, starting with the adjutant who had failed to keep the documents in order. Now, the Duchess herself had offered to deliver them. How could one not be moved?

The thought that such a lovely woman would sacrifice her time to lighten their load moved him deeply. His eyes turned reverently towards her, if only for a moment.

“Would you guide me, then?”

“At once.”

Relief was plain on the man’s face as he led her swiftly down the hall.

“Then, I—I have a great many tasks waiting for me, so I’ll take my leave…!”

Making his excuse, he vanished almost instantly, leaving her before the reception room door.

‘Was he truly that busy?’

Tilting her head, Ilenia turned her gaze back to the door.

“…”

Delphius was just beyond it. Delphius, in the midst of his work—something she had never seen before.

Hoo… She drew a steadying breath, pressing down the wild beat of her heart, and knocked.

“Enter.”

She turned the handle and pushed the door open. Delphius came into view, sitting on the left-hand side of a mahogany table, facing another man. The moment he sensed her presence, he turned his head.

Thump. Thump.

The instant her eyes met his golden gaze, Ilenia’s heart began to pound violently against her ribs.

‘What kind of reaction would he show?’

She had imagined it countless times. If it were Delphius, surely he would scold her at first, only to yield in the end with that helpless smile…

Her mind was brimming with such hopeful guesses when—

“Leave it there.”

The cold voice, so unlike her expectations, struck her ears.

By the time she jolted back to her senses and looked ahead again, Delphius had already turned back to his papers.

For a long moment, Ilenia stood frozen, unable to take in what had just happened.

‘Did I mishear him?’

She retraced her memory—those few seconds between opening the door, meeting his gaze, and hearing that cutting command.

“…Ah.”

The sound slipped from her stiff lips.

She realized that the chill that had run down her arms came from his eyes. The way he had looked at her!

He had never looked at her like that before. Even when she made a mistake, his gaze had always been gentle.

Perhaps he had only brushed her aside because he was busy. Her attire today was rather plain — he might easily have mistaken her for a servant.

“…Um.”

Her voice was so faint it barely existed, yet in the silence of that room it carried to him all the same.

“Hoo…”

He dropped the papers onto the table with a sharp sound, his tone edged with irritation.

“What are you doing? Didn’t I tell you to leave the documents? I never told you to stand there gaping.”

It had not been a mistake.

He was looking straight at her. Unwavering, unyielding.

And in that alien gaze, she finally understood.

‘This is how he looks at others. At strangers. At people who are not his own.’

“The young Duke of Lukhardt tends to be this sharp when the matter is time-sensitive.”

The man seated opposite finally interjected, unable to watch any longer.

He offered Ilenia a strained smile, at the same time nudging Delphius’s shoulder.

“Did you two quarrel? Why else would you turn such a cold face on your lady?”

“My lady? What are you…”

His voice trailed off as Delphius turned his head again.

This time, the look he gave her was completely different. It was full of fury, distrust, and even disgust — emotions she had never glimpsed from him before — all tangled together as his gaze swept her from head to toe.

The moment their eyes met again, Delphius pushed back his chair and rose to his feet.

“…Handle the rest yourself.”

“What? Wait a moment—”

“I’ve thought of something else that requires my attention. We’ll end here for today.”

Startled, the man scrambled up as well.

“If we don’t close this deal, you know better than anyone what will happen! The whole project could collapse!”

“Let it. Even if one or two fall through, it makes no difference. I’ll be the one to shoulder the loss.”

“H–Hey! Hold on!”

Ignoring the man’s protests, Delphius brushed him off and strode forward. In an instant, he was standing before Ilenia.

Frozen, unable to react, she felt his hand clamp around her wrist.

“Come with me.”