It had already been fifteen days since Natasha stayed at the duke’s mansion. Sieghart meticulously adhered to the contract terms to a suspicious degree. Moreover, his strange behavior seemingly intended to win Natasha’s favor continued consistently.

That day was no exception. When Natasha opened her eyes, her husband’s neatly arranged side of the bed greeted her. On the opposite side table were a warm tea and a note prepared by that husband. And a small bouquet of flowers that had been placed there at some point.

The face looking at those things was only indifferent. The recipient of the gift threw the note into the trash without even checking it.

While the maids who came to help with grooming were styling Natasha’s hair, Meliana selected jewelry from the jewelry box. She briefly held up the necklace she chose against Natasha’s neck, then fastened the hook with a satisfied look.

Having finished her task of choosing hair accessories as well, Meliana began to chatter in earnest.

“Oh! Come to think of it, I have good news, my lady.”

“Good news?”

“I heard that Lady Ten is returning to the duke’s mansion today.”

“Cayena?”

“Yes, I heard she’s expected to arrive around afternoon.”

Meliana smiled and rejoiced along with Natasha’s noticeably brightened expression.

Cayena is coming back!

Cayena Ten was the only child Natasha loved in this world. It would be no exaggeration to call her the savior who protected her and a companion to share the rest of her life with.

Suddenly, she was reminded of Cayena from her past life. She felt sorry for her friend who would have belatedly heard of her death. Instead, she vowed to stubbornly survive this time and build a happy life with her.

A rare happiness entered the monotonous daily routine. Natasha’s unusually excited state continued until the afternoon when Cayena arrived.

Cayena Ten arrived at the mansion as the sun was setting. Natasha, who was working in the study, heard the news from Vanessa and immediately rushed out to the annex.

“Cayena!”

As she went out the front door, she encountered Cayena and the servant carrying her luggage.

“My lady, it’s been a while!”

Natasha approached while calling out the other’s name, and arbitrarily embraced her. Cayena, who had stiffened momentarily in surprise, confirmed the woman’s presence and bloomed into a happy smile.

Cayena unpacked in her quarters and even changed clothes before coming out. The two decided to stroll through the garden until dinner began, to have a pleasant conversation with a long-lost friend.

The conversation started with exchanging trivial greetings. Cayena, who had been in a foreign land, said she heard the news of their marriage through the newspaper. She was so surprised that she thought the whole world was lying to her.

“By the way, Princess, no, my lady, you don’t seem very surprised that I’m working here? I was so excited thinking I’d surprise you as soon as I returned to the duke’s mansion!”

“That’s because… well, I heard about Cayena’s news as soon as I came to the duke’s mansion.”

“Still, how should I put it, I expected that even if you knew the fact, you would definitely be surprised when you actually met me, if you were the lady I knew.”

In fact, Cayena’s words were right.

If it had been her before, even if she had heard the news that Cayena was working here, she would have been startled as if hearing it for the first time when actually facing her. Also, she wouldn’t have been able to maintain a calm attitude due to her joy at the news of being able to live here again with her friend.

“I’m not as naive a child as before, right?”

“Yes, it’s almost bitter to see.”

It was an utterly unpleasant thing to have to lie to her friend, but she couldn’t reveal Natasha’s regression, so she had no choice but to pretend not to know.

“How is your life? I don’t need to ask more since the rumors of His Grace’s devotion to you reached even my hometown, but is everything else alright?”

Cayena, who found it difficult to ask her concerns directly, spoke roundaboutly. She meant to ask if mansion life was okay. While Sieghart might be fine, other servants wouldn’t easily accept the princess of a fallen country.

Natasha, who was contemplating whether to mention Charlotte’s incident, eventually closed her mouth. She thought there was no need for her to mention it directly when Cayena would naturally hear about it upon her return.

“It’s okay, more or less. Being the duchess favored by His Grace turns out to be quite a convenient role.”

She shrugged nonchalantly and looked around. Perhaps because dinner preparations were in full swing, there were no servants walking around the garden. Even the gardener who tended the flower beds seemed to have already gone home.

“However, I don’t know how long they will remain favorable to me. Perhaps their kindness will disappear as soon as His Grace’s interest wanes. So I’m trying to prepare in advance.”

“What kind of preparation?”

Cayena, who had been nodding in agreement, tilted her head.

“Dealing with those who will betray me.”

It would be no exaggeration to say that all the servants turned their backs on the duchess after Sieghart neglected his wife. However, there is a clear distinction between those who can be redeemed and those who cannot. Just as those who led the ostracism differ from those who stood by.

“Being unfavorable to me and being hostile are completely different stories. I need to root out in advance those who will endanger me in the future.”

Even with the same discontent, there was a difference between Charlotte who initiated the criticism and Meliana and Vanessa who only thought about it in their hearts. Natasha had to find and deal with the former.

From the helper who monitored her and reported everything to the duke, to the accomplice who administered the drug after hearing the order to remove the child.

Of course, it would be unnecessary to worry if Natasha Asthart continued to be treated as the duchess until the end, but since that was unlikely, she had to be especially careful. If not for the treatment of a duchess, at least to secure the respect and kindness deserved as a human being.

Cayena showed a bitter expression upon seeing the woman’s firm resolve. Even though she had been scolding the woman for having mountains of worries, she eventually promised to cooperate.

“If you’re concerned, my lady, I should help actively! What can I do to assist you?”

“I’m really grateful that you readily agreed to help. First, I want to categorize the maids. Since they’re a group that easily spreads rumors, it seems very important to understand their tendencies.”

As Cayena had worked in the duke’s household for over a year, she could provide Natasha with a lot of information.

Among that, she needed information about the maids. There was a limit to how thoroughly Natasha could read the emotions of those who had learned to hide their true feelings after entering high society at an early age.

“Charlotte Tristana…”

Except for Charlotte, who looked down on the mistress so much that she openly criticized Natasha even in front of her door.

“Have you met Lady Tristana? She’s such a good person.”

As Natasha, lost in thought, unconsciously muttered Charlotte’s name, Cayena, who had somehow heard the faint sound, responded.

The important thing was that her answer was so far from reality.

“Lady Tristana is?”

“Yes, she’s rarely kind.”

“You speak as if she treated you well.”

“That’s right, she was always gentle.”

Natasha was momentarily confused by Cayena’s bold affirmation.

Charlotte had criticized Natasha’s blood as lowly. Considering that she had lumped Cayena, her colleague, together in her remarks, she wouldn’t have been favorable to her either.

‘Did she pretend to be kind and get close to Cayena in front of her?’

Though perplexed, she didn’t doubt further since it was Cayena’s opinion.

“I didn’t know she was that kind of person.”

“Even though she has a cold impression, her heart is kind. Oh, shall I give you more hints about other people while we’re at it? We still have plenty of time until dinner, so I’ll tell you slowly.”

After that, Cayena began to explain in detail, pinpointing one person at a time.

‘Somehow…’

However, the story was somehow strange.

She was calling those who had tormented her before her regression allies, and advising to deal with those who had sympathized with her loneliness and tried to help her, calling them enemies.

It was too much to be dismissed as a mere coincidence, with too many overlaps to be brushed off as chance.

But since Cayena seemed to have no reason to tell unnecessary lies, Natasha was even more confused.

“Um, Cayena…”

“Yes?”

It was just as she was about to open her mouth to ask if she could take responsibility for what she had just said. Natasha, defeated by Cayena’s bright smile, withdrew her question. The unasked doubt dissipated on her tongue.

“Nothing, I was going to say thank you. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Yes!”

Since Natasha knew the correct answer, she could just let Cayena’s words pass by appropriately.

‘But…’

There must be some misunderstanding. There must be a truth that Natasha doesn’t know. Otherwise, Cayena, who loves her dearly, wouldn’t tell all these lies.

‘No, what am I thinking? Cayena loves me.’

Natasha thoroughly ignored the moment when her only friend suddenly seemed unfamiliar.

‘So, that child must be the Cayena I know. Yes, definitely…’

She forcefully suppressed the justifiable doubt that was slowly rising.

Telling herself that Cayena Ten, who had endured sacrifices for her sake and spent ten years together, couldn’t possibly deceive her.

Even if she doubted everyone else in the world,

‘You were going to die in my place? What a reckless…! If His Grace hadn’t recognized you, you could have died just like that!’

‘I just did what I had to do. I was the maid who took care of the princess. Anyway, if the princess hadn’t taken me in, I would have died painfully in poverty and persecution.’

She couldn’t doubt the pure and kind child who had gently whispered that even death was nothing for her sake.