“Why are you like this? Today’s protagonist.”

“It must be Catherine.”

The piercingly clear gaze was directed somewhere towards the grand garden brightly lit with lavish illumination. The tired and indifferent expression looked languid.

“In terms of buzz, you’ll overwhelm her.”

Mikhail, leaning his back diagonally against the terrace railing, waved the lit match in the air after lighting his cigarette.

The scarlet flame flickered here and there before quickly disappearing.

“I should reflect on that.”

A monotonous voice flowed through the smoke rising like mist.

“As if.”

Mikhail snorted and gestured to the servant beyond the terrace glass, saying:

The servant approached with champagne glasses on a silver tray and bowed politely.

Mikhail, with the cigarette in his mouth, took two glasses and handed one to Johan.

“To the future duchess!”

Mikhail raised his glass slightly higher and winked at Johan.

As always, Johan showed no particular reaction and turned his gaze elsewhere.

“Shouldn’t you go take care of your fiancée? Someone might think you’re engaged to Chris.”

Johan, with a bored gaze on the landscape of blooming spring roses, took a sip of champagne.

“Am I the only one who finds it strange?”

“If you’re curious, go in and ask.”

Johan said dryly as he set down his half-empty glass on the railing. The crystal glass caught the light.

Mikhail changed the subject in response to Johan’s indifferent reaction.

“I saw the duchess. Ah, no. Miss Blanchet. Yes, I mean Miss Blanchet.”

Johan, who had been facing forward all along, finally turned to look at Mikhail slowly.

“She didn’t recognize me. Isn’t that too much?”

Mikhail clutched his chest, pretending to cry.

“Where?”

A low voice echoed briefly.

“Dumblin Club.”

Mikhail said, glancing at Johan.

“The atmosphere with Ed was quite peculiar?”

Some undusted cigarette ash fell through the white gloves with a thud.

Johan Leopold was an imposing man by his very presence, and as arrogant as he was intimidating.

Because he rarely showed any expression, the occasional glimpses of emotion were interesting to see. Like now.

Mikhail smiled broadly.

As one of the few acquaintances who knew about Johan and Edgar’s relationship, was this a small pleasure to enjoy?

“Miss Blanchet was smiling too. I think it’s the first time I’ve seen it. Did she often smile in front of you?”

Johan was about to say something but closed his lips.

She did smile in the early days of their marriage, but well. It was different from the smile he had seen in photos.

There was a subtle difference. Whether it was a smile stemming from a different emotion. Or because the person was different.

“She changed her hairstyle.”

“Mm.”

When Johan responded half-heartedly, Mikhail’s eyes widened in shock.

“Hmm? Did you just say ‘Mm’? Did you already know?”

Johan had nothing particular to say in response, so he raised his glass.

Oh, look at this guy. Mikhail asked with an incredulous expression.

He couldn’t go to sleep tonight without knowing why such a cynical man knew every little change about his divorced wife.

“How did you know? Did you meet her?”

“No.”

“Then? Don’t tell me you’re having her watched?”

Johan rubbed his temple as if tired while setting down his empty glass.

“Is it lingering attachment?”

Johan said, tilting his head slightly.

“How about. Should I go, or do you want to go?”

The soft flowing voice was very sweet, but it ultimately meant to get lost.

“I’ll go in. After hearing the answer. Surely it can’t be lingering attachment−.”

“It was worth it. That’s all.”

Johan glared as he cut off Mikhail’s words mercilessly.

It is lingering attachment, though. Mikhail subtly changed the subject at the fierce glare.

“By the way, since when did she play tennis? She completely crushed Russell Junior who’s been playing for ten years?”

While being cautious, Mikhail didn’t forget to observe Johan’s reaction. Without any particular expression, Johan took a deep drag of his cigarette.

“She couldn’t have played while at the Count’s house. Did you play together?”

“No.”

Johan briefly denied as he exhaled a long stream of bluish smoke. He didn’t know anything about Olivia’s tennis skills either.

“Was she naturally talented in sports?”

The ashen eyes that felt cold narrowed. Johan tapped his cigarette on the ashtray.

Come to think of it, he didn’t know much about Olivia. Perhaps that her face was pretty, and her body as pretty as her face gave quite a bit of satisfaction.

“Anyway, I bet on Miss Blanchet for this tournament. Even within the club, the support rate… Oh! My. I should stop talking about the ex-wife.”

Mikhail, who had been chattering excitedly, suddenly put on a gentlemanly smile.

“While someone gets married twice, it’s time for the guy who couldn’t even do it once to disappear.”

“It’s still once.”

Johan’s face became expressionless again as he looked towards where Mikhail was gazing.

“Here comes your fiancée.”

Along with Mikhail’s cheerful voice, the sound of music changing to a calm atmosphere flowed out to the terrace.

It coincided with Princess Krantz coming out to the terrace.

“You don’t hate me, right?”

Mikhail acted nonchalantly.

“No, I don’t.”

Princess Krantz looked at Mikhail with a faint smile before turning her gaze to Johan.

“If it’s alright with you, you should come with me. My maternal grandmother has arrived.”

Johan nodded slightly, buttoned his jacket, and offered his arm to the princess. The princess lightly placed her hand on his arm.

“See you next time.”

After bidding farewell to Mikhail, Johan turned around with the princess.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Johan greeted the old lady with a polite attitude.

The proud gaze that had made a Grand Duchess out of a daughter from a humble countryside family quickly scanned Johan.

The third son of the Duke of Edinburgh, who held the title of Duke Leopold, was perfect for marrying off her beloved granddaughter. Except for one thing.

“It seems you need to control your ex-wife a bit.”

“Grandmother.”

Irene quietly called out to her maternal grandmother.

“Did I say something wrong? These days, when I go to gatherings, that’s all they talk about. If this is how I feel. You… How must you feel.”

The old lady couldn’t continue her words.

She had given affection to her granddaughter out of longing for her daughter who had passed away early.

Irene, wearing a lavender evening dress, looked pure and elegant.

To think that such a lovely child would continue to be embroiled in rumors with that lowly illegitimate child.

It was heartbreaking and made her lament if she had lived too long.

“I apologize for causing you concern.”

Johan’s voice was courteous, but the most important sincerity was not felt. The old lady inwardly clicked her tongue at his arrogant attitude.

Even if stars shine, they don’t sparkle alongside the sun. But the young duke before her didn’t seem like he would be any different even in front of the country’s highest authority.

If only he didn’t have a divorce history. The old lady couldn’t help but regret that.

A scratch on a gold nugget doesn’t turn it into copper. But diamonds don’t even get scratched in the first place.

“This old woman just wishes for our child to marry with the full blessings of the world.”

“Yes.”

Johan answered briefly.

“She was a mature child from a young age. She grew up like an angel without causing any trouble.”

The noble lady said proudly.

“In today’s corrupt world, there’s no lady as chaste as Irene.”

Johan somehow felt like he was facing the Margaret sisters.

It was then that the name Josephine came to mind. Even that lady who only dances quadrilles is said to be chaste.

“Grandmother.”

Princess Krantz whispered softly as she gently pulled on the old lady’s arm.

“I’m not saying this because she’s my granddaughter. Irene really is…”

She was a granddaughter with many praiseworthy qualities. At the endless flow of compliments, Johan glanced at Princess Krantz beside the old lady.

The only person who could stop this story. But her attention seemed to be directed elsewhere. Johan stared at where the chaste lady’s gaze was directed.

Christian.

The princess was looking at the crown prince.

“Isn’t that right, dear. …Irene?”

“Ah! Yes, Grandmother.”

The hastily withdrawn gaze met Johan’s. It took only seconds for the princess’s expression to change nonchalantly.

A woman who was clumsy at hiding her expressions came to mind.

Olivia was also entangled with Christian, wasn’t she?

Johan raised his arm to check the time.

It was rude behavior in front of others, but since they had started it first, he decided not to mind.

He had fulfilled his role as a fiancé by staying at this level of event.

“It was a pleasure to meet you, madam.”

He bowed politely and briefly nodded to the princess.

The princess also responded to his silent farewell gesture of leaving by slightly bowing her head.

Johan turned around without hesitation.

A night that was moderately unpleasant and moderately irritating was deepening.

“What should we do now, miss?”

Anne asked Olivia with a gloomy expression. It was like sitting on pins and needles.

The Rose Ball, the scandal, and then the master’s attack.

The duke’s birthday gift that Anne had forgotten in the chaos had literally become a ticking time bomb dropped in front of the two of them.

Olivia didn’t have any other options either. She just felt overwhelmed.

The carriage carrying the two of them started with a rattle. Halo Department Store, the largest and oldest in Litton, gradually faded into the distance.

‘It seems difficult to stop the delivery.’

The words of the Patek Philippe store employee came to mind. It wasn’t much different from the answer she had already expected.

The ‘new watch’ from Patek Philippe, ordered three months ago, was scheduled to be delivered exactly on Johan’s birthday, and it was too late to return it.

Johan’s birthday was tomorrow.

Olivia’s gaze fell on the newspaper stocked in the carriage wall.

In the black and white photo, Johan and Princess Krantz, getting out of the carriage and entering the banquet hall of Rondos Palace, looked like a perfect couple.

A birthday gift from the ex-wife in this situation.

It really couldn’t be worse.