I turned around with a start. Then I saw Duke Haven with a stern expression.

He stared intently at my face with a strange look and said:

“It seems you have something to say to me. As it happens, I also have something to say to you.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Then, let’s take a moment. Go to that balcony first. I’ll bring something to drink. Would wine be alright?”

“…No. I’d rather not have alcohol.”

“Then, I’ll bring tea.”

When I declined alcohol, the Duke nodded slightly and disappeared among the people.

Meanwhile, I headed to the balcony as the Duke had said. After waiting for a moment, Duke Haven soon entered. Closing the door to the banquet hall and drawing the curtains, he handed me a teacup and said:

“There was only herbal tea. If you don’t like it, I’ll change it for something else.”

“No. It’s fine. This is enough.”

I took the teacup and thanked him.

As I leaned on the balcony, the Duke also came and stood beside me about a step away. After a moment of silence, the Duke, who had been drinking the wine he brought, suddenly spoke to me.

“What’s that wound?”

“…Pardon?”

“That wound on your right cheek. I don’t think there was such a wound on your face until just now.”

At the Duke’s words, I reached out and touched my cheek.

A stinging pain was felt. It seemed that the skin had been slightly scraped where I was hit by the silver candlestick thrown by Duke Yusten just before.

Only now remembering this, I rubbed my cheek with my palm. As it felt sore, it seemed the wound had opened again, and blood stained my hand. I roughly wiped it off and said to the Duke:

“Just, something happened. It’s nothing.”

“……”

The Duke looked at me as if somewhat displeased.

Then suddenly he blocked my hand that was rubbing my cheek with his own. As I was a bit puzzled by his inexplicable action, he took out a handkerchief from his pocket, handed it to me, and said:

“Do you think rubbing it like that will help? Press this on it.”

“…Ah, it’s fine.”

“Stop arguing and take it.”

“…Thank you.”

I had refused, but seeing that he wouldn’t give up until I accepted, I reluctantly took the handkerchief.

Only then did the Duke seem satisfied and relaxed his stern expression. Once again, a long silence fell between him and me. I observed him and carefully began to speak.

“As you know, I kept my promise. So……”

At that moment, the Duke suddenly spoke to me:

“May I ask just one thing?”

“…Yes. By all means.”

“What’s the reason you, who has been loyal as the Duke’s ‘wisdom pouch’ and advisor until now, suddenly want to betray him and take my hand?”

Instead of answering the Duke’s question immediately, I pondered for a moment.

I couldn’t tell him everything honestly. But I couldn’t make up a flimsy reason either. Duke Haven was a suspicious person, and not one to trust and keep close someone who lied to him.

After organizing my thoughts for a moment, I opened my mouth.

“Because I want revenge.”

“…Revenge?”

“Yes. I want revenge on Duke Yusten, my uncle, Danae, my cousin, and Leonard Blake Klein, Viscount, my fiancé.”

“Can you tell me why you want revenge on them?”

The Duke asked me in a gruff voice.

I let out a short, mirthless laugh before answering him.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t tell you in detail. However, let me say this much – those people did terrible things to me and my father.”

“…Your father? Could it be that the current Duke is involved in the death of the previous Duke Yusten?”

The Duke asked me again. I didn’t answer.

Seeing me like this, the Duke closed his mouth with a stern expression. As if lost in deep thought for a moment, his appearance with his gaze lowered and his brow slightly furrowed looked just like a painting. I drank my tea while waiting for his words.

Finally, the Duke, having finished his contemplation, turned to me and said:

“…One year, was it?”

“…Yes.”

“If I judge this contract to be even slightly disadvantageous to me, I will break my promise with you at any time. Is that alright with you?”

I smiled slightly and said:

“Yes, that’s fine.”

“Are you that confident?”

“Yes. Because I’m going to stake everything I have to destroy those people.”

The Duke looked at me for a moment with a slightly surprised expression.

Then he laughed with a sound like air escaping and said to me:

“Your determination is impressive.”

“Well, without this level of determination, I couldn’t bring down those people.”

I answered with a shrug. Then the Duke put down the glass he was holding, and extending his hand to me as if asking for a handshake, said:

“Then, I look forward to working with you for the next year.”

“Likewise.”

I answered as I grasped the Duke’s outstretched hand.

The Duke gripped my hand tightly once. His hand, which completely enveloped mine, which was large for a woman’s, was very rough, but equally warm.

After a brief handshake, the Duke of Haven and I silently emptied our glasses.

Just as I, having finished my tea first, was about to speak to conclude this meeting, the Duke turned to me and said:

“By the way, how exactly should I help? I’ve never done anything like this before, so I’m not quite sure.”

I shook my head slightly and replied:

“Well, I plan to think about that slowly from now on.”

“For someone who showed such fierce determination earlier, isn’t this quite a sloppy plan you’re presenting?”

“The more important the matter, the more cautiously one should approach it, you know.”

The Duke lightly sneered at my words. I retorted with a composed expression as I drew back the curtain separating the balcony from the banquet hall.

Then, lightly grasping the ends of my dress with both hands, I said to the Duke:

“Well then, as it’s gotten quite late, I’ll take my leave now, Duke. I’ll be in touch soon.”

“If you’re planning to visit my mansion again, I’d appreciate it if you’d contact my butler in advance. I’d rather not be disturbed while training or in the middle of official business.”

The Duke retorted thus. I nodded vaguely as if I understood, then entered the banquet hall.

Just as I was turning around after handing my empty cup to a servant, someone grabbed my shoulder.

“Christine, where on earth have you been?”

Startled, I hurriedly turned around. It was Leonard.

I gently pushed away his hand on my shoulder and answered him:

“I was just getting some air on the balcony.”

“I heard that Duke Yusten severely reprimanded you for what happened earlier. Are you alright? Nothing happened, did it?”

“…Yes, I’m fine.”

Looking at Leonard’s kind eyes gazing down at me, it seemed as if he was genuinely concerned about me.

However, while asking if I was alright, he failed to notice the wound on my right cheek. His feigned kindness made me feel genuinely nauseous.

‘Duke Haven noticed it immediately, though.’

Why hadn’t I noticed the indifference hidden beneath his kind demeanor before?

I coldly sneered at my past self who, blinded by infatuation with Leonard, had noticed nothing. At the same time, I gritted my teeth as hatred flared up intensely towards him for deceiving and using me with such cheap kindness.

“Christine?”

Unaware of my feelings, Leonard tilted his head and spoke.

Once again, his hand slowly reached towards my body. I subtly took a step back.

“It’s been a while, Viscount Leonard Blake Klein.”

At that moment, Duke Haven approached from behind me and greeted Leonard.

He was looking at Leonard with a polite but overbearing attitude. Leonard returned the greeting with an awkward smile.

“It’s been a long time, Your Grace, Duke of Haven.”

“It’s been three months since the New Year’s party, hasn’t it?”

“Has it been that long already? My, being cooped up in the townhouse dealing with estate matters, I hadn’t realized so much time had passed.”

“Oh, so you’ve been that busy helping your father all this time. And here I thought you were occupied hatching foolish plans with your future father-in-law, Duke Yusten, to give me trouble.”

“…How, how could that be?”

“Is that so? I’m glad it’s not true. I was a bit worried about what foolish plan you might come up with next to trouble me and my vassals. Hearing that, I can sleep soundly tonight.”

The Duke kept sneering with sharp words while smiling. Leonard’s clenched fist trembled faintly as he tried to counter the Duke’s words.

The Duke, who had been looking down at Leonard with growing disdain, suddenly turned to me and said nonchalantly:

“Oh my. Lady Christine Yusten was here as well.”

“…It’s an honor to see you, Duke Haven.”

Unlike when dealing with Leonard, the Duke’s voice when addressing me was almost excessively friendly.

I greeted him awkwardly. The Duke smiled slightly, then grasped the tips of my fingers and briefly kissed the back of my hand, saying:

“The red dress suits you remarkably well, Lady. Like a rose blooming on a spring night.”

“…You flatter me.”

“The conversation we had on the balcony earlier was truly enjoyable. I hope you’ll grant me the honor of spending more time with you next time.”

His voice, speaking to me as if whispering, was low and soft. As if he were genuinely trying to seduce me.

I unknowingly blushed slightly. The sweet words and affectionate actions from a stranger, experienced for the first time since my engagement to Leonard, felt unfamiliar and ticklish.