Fortunately, I calmed down quickly.

“Are you really alright?”

“Yes. I’m really fine.”

Dante’s cold hand played a part in helping me regain my composure.

Noticing this, Dante continued to hold my hand even after linking arms with me.

I didn’t particularly want to let go either.

A precaution was necessary for my mental state, which could waver again at any moment.

“If you want to go back, just say so anytime.”

“Yes. I will. Thank you for your concern.”

Dante only worried about me without prying.

…Flora is lucky.

To be in love with such a man.

“Hm?”

What am I thinking right now? I quickly blinked my eyes to clear my mind.

It seems my inner thoughts are too noisy at the moment.

Should I just go home quickly?

The nobles weren’t showing the reaction I wanted, and I was seeing faces of people from the Count’s family that I didn’t want to see.

I had received an earful about heirs from the Emperor, and now I’m even having unnecessary thoughts.

…Maybe the ballroom grounds aren’t good for me.

Just as I was leaning towards the idea of leaving early,

“Congratulations on winning the hunting festival, Duke.”

A voice full of sarcasm blocked our path.

“Greetings, Your Highness the Prince.”

“Greetings, Your Highness the Prince.”

It was Isaac, the 1st Prince, unrivaled in his unpleasantness.

He boldly blocked our path and slowly scanned the faces of Dante and me.

Scanning someone’s face right in front of them.

Ah. Perhaps he self-studied noble etiquette?

I wanted to ask that so badly, but I held it in.

Dante seemed to be in a similar position, his expressionless face turning cold.

“All this time you’ve ignored His Majesty the Emperor’s attention, never showing an active appearance at the hunting festival. I wonder what wind blew this time for you to go and kill a bear. Ah. Perhaps marriage has brought about a change of heart?”

The Prince, who had been picking on Dante, now turned his gaze to me.

“You must be having a hard time.”

“A hard time?”

At my question, he put on a deeply sympathetic expression.

“Yes. Living with a man you don’t get along with can’t be an easy thing. Especially living with someone everyone avoids must be quite a hardship.”

Somehow his voice was loud.

It wasn’t as if he was speaking to me, but as if he was throwing words for those around to hear.

Oh my. Look at this guy.

Indeed, he was clearly the best when it came to being unpleasant.

In that case, I couldn’t hold back either.

I lowered my eyebrows as if empathizing with his words and slowly nodded.

“That’s true. Living with someone you don’t like must be truly unfortunate.”

“Right. You think so too, don’t you?”

“Of course. In that sense, I don’t know how lucky I am.”

The Prince’s face became worth seeing at my words, added with a bright smile.

The face that had been smiling leisurely lost its composure like a fool.

“What do you mean…”

“I’m currently living with someone I like. In our couple, I love my husband more.”

I leaned my head on Dante’s arm as if to show off, slightly extending our clasped hands.

Only then did the Prince notice our joined hands and frowned.

“…Well. This is unexpected. I had no idea the Duchess’s feelings for the Duke were this great. You looked so miserable at the wedding ceremony, I was certain you were living an unhappy married life.”

“You might think that. I thought my married life would be unhappy too. When I got married, people called my husband a monster, so I thought I was marrying a monster. But after actually getting married, there’s no better husband than him. He’s handsome, kind, and in many ways… he’s also good at work.”

I deliberately trailed off as if shy, then lowered my eyebrows again.

“After knowing my husband’s true nature, I thought people were being too harsh. They left all the demon beast handling to my husband, then treated him like a monster for being too strong. If they’re so afraid of my husband, they could just handle the demon beasts themselves.”

The Prince’s face turned red and blue at my dejected words.

He couldn’t control his temper and opened his mouth the next moment.

“Huh. Are you saying this for me to hear…!”

But his words were cut short.

“Your Highness the Prince. There are many eyes watching.”

A veiled woman appeared out of nowhere and grabbed his hand.

Who is that woman?

How can she calm the Prince so quickly?

From the looks of it, they seem quite close.

Wait. If she’s close to the 1st Prince…

I glanced at Dante’s face. His gaze, which had been directed at the Prince, was now fixed on the suddenly appeared woman.

And it was piercing.

At this point, I could guess the woman’s identity.

Julia.

So that woman is the traitor who drove Dante’s brother to his death.

I forcibly pulled down my eyes that were naturally narrowing.

“Oh my. It seems His Highness the Prince has misunderstood something. I was merely talking about those petty individuals who don’t acknowledge my husband’s achievements and only point fingers… Surely the esteemed Prince isn’t so narrow-minded and mean, is he?”

“…That’s right. That’s right. I too am always grateful for the Duke’s hard work.”

Hmm. It doesn’t seem so.

“I thank you on behalf of my husband. I sincerely hope that Your Highness will also spend a hundred years with a woman you truly love. I wish for Your Highness to experience how happy a marriage full of love can be.”

Oh my.

His bulging eyes were so fierce, it looked like all the blood vessels were about to burst.

However, the Prince could not add any more words and only forced a smile.

Right. What could he say when someone wishes him happiness?

If he gets angry here, he’ll only be digging his own grave.

“My, the Duchess is so kind!”

As I was grinning, foreseeing my victory, someone suddenly squeezed in.

Ah. I’m already tired.

“…Your Highness the Princess.”

“We meet again, Mrs. Richter.”

The Princess waved at me with a bright smile.

I greeted her back lightly.

Naturally squeezing between Isaac and me, she covered her mouth with a fan and let out a laugh.

“I couldn’t just pass by when I heard such pleasant voices.”

“Ah. Yes.”

“Oh my. It seems you two know each other, so do continue your conversation. I’ll be on my way.”

Sensing an opportunity, the Prince tried to leave, but the Princess widened her eyes as if to say, “What are you saying?”

“One of those pleasant voices was my brother’s. My goodness. Brother, are you not happy to see me?”

“…No. I’m happy. Of course I’m happy.”

“Aren’t you? Me too. By the way, I’m surprised. To think the Duchess is so thoughtful and kind.”

Both the Prince and I closed our mouths at this unexpected compliment.

“You’re sincerely wishing for my brother’s happiness. A marriage full of love, you said.”

Creak.

The sound of the Prince grinding his teeth could be heard from here.

It seemed the relationship between the two wasn’t very good.

Ah. They should take their family quarrel somewhere else.

“Oh, and congratulations on your second place in the hunting festival, brother. Although second place wasn’t officially recognized, everyone knows you were second. Second place. That’s really amazing, brother.”

Wow.

She has a natural talent for serving up insults with a smile.

The Prince’s face was turning increasingly red, perhaps reaching the limit of his patience.

Goodness. What if he explodes at this rate?

In the end, it was Isaac who raised the white flag first, under the one-two punch from the Princess and me.

“Let’s go now. His Majesty is looking for you.”

The role of removing the Prince fell to the woman presumed to be Julia.

After making a suitable excuse to extract the Prince from the situation, the woman gave a slight bow and moved away.

I snorted at the backs of the couple I couldn’t possibly like.

“My, they’re quite an eyesore, aren’t they?”

The Princess, covering her mouth with her fan, added more scathing words instead of a snort.

“Don’t you think we make a pretty good team?”

“No, we don’t.”

“Oh my. How disappointing. Still, I like the Duchess even more now. I’m glad I became friends with the Duchess.”

Somehow, the people of this family seem to have strong obsessions.

The Emperor is obsessed with heirs.

The Princess and the 2nd Prince are obsessed with friends.

Is it some kind of family trait?

“So, how about ending your friendship with Joshua and just being friends with me?”

“…Pardon?”

“I think I could be a better friend to the Duchess than Joshua. It’s a bit strange to share a close friend with my younger brother, so just be friends with me.”