What awaited Natasha upon her return was a warm welcome. The duchess’s maids and other servants rushed over to relay events that occurred during her absence.

“My lady, did you have a pleasant time?”

“We missed you so much. The mansion was too quiet without you and His Grace.”

Their chattering resembled chirping chicks, which was quite adorable.

“What about you and His Grace?”

“Hm?”

“We’re so curious about your trip together!”

But even the chicks had an ulterior motive.

With sparkling eyes, they probed for details about what transpired between Sieghart and Natasha. The prior information seemed to be a device to make the conversation flow naturally.

“A trip is just a trip, nothing special.”

“But we want to know what happened on that trip…”

Natasha shrugged, saying she didn’t know.

Unfortunately, there was no marital romance during this trip as they hoped. Though they did share an emotional connection…

Well, what they wanted probably wasn’t strange expressions of gratitude like “Thank you for enduring my awful kindness,” or scary resolutions like “I think I can lessen my resentment.”

Still, unable to completely refuse their request, Natasha listed the events of the trip in order.

Traveling around the western empire before moving to the principality and staying at the Marquis of Belchester’s estate. Her experiences in the principality she visited for the first time. The awkward incident of spending a day in a cave, and a detailed account of their wedding anniversary itinerary, which they were most looking forward to.

For some reason, they seemed to focus on the “day spent in the cave.”

“Please tell us more details.”

“That’ll be for the next tea time. I have things to do now.”

“Aww…”

Awaiting Natasha’s return to the mansion was not only a warm welcome, but also a backlog of work. Two weeks was enough time to pile up work like a tower.

Perhaps they were aware of the workload the duchess had to handle. No one rebelled when the duchess drew the line, saying today’s chat was over.

“Then I’ll call you when dinner is ready.”

“Alright, please do.”

“Shall I prepare tea in advance as well?”

“That would be very kind, thank you.”

They smiled brightly as if they had never been disappointed and bid farewell.

“Ah, could you have Cayena bring the tea?”

As they were leaving, saying they’d see her again when serving tea, Natasha hastily called them back and specifically requested Cayena.

“Yes, I’ll make sure of it.”

The woman who felt the gaze fixed on her slowly raised the corners of her mouth. Her expressionless face gradually melted into a smile.

Once the commotion had died down, she could finally focus on work. Natasha prioritized reviewing documents that needed approval by today. She also meticulously calculated and recorded the amount processed as travel expenses.

“Phew…”

Though there was still a mountain of work left to do, her mind felt at ease after putting out the urgent fires.

She decided to take a brief rest and check the letters addressed to her. Not official letters for the Duchess, but personal letters addressed to Natasha Asthart.

Letters from Countess Leon, Lady Dorothea, and Lady Helen. They were greetings from acquaintances she occasionally corresponded with.

She had just decided to write replies after enjoying dinner when an unfamiliar envelope caught her eye among the colorful ones.

However, the sender’s information, which should have been clearly marked, was blank. The sealing wax indicating origin was also roughly smudged. It was a letter with clear intent to conceal its origin.

‘From the Imperial family?’

Suddenly, one person crossed her mind.

But surely letters from the Imperial family would be managed separately by Sieghart.

Natasha had once asked Jenkins about the absence of letters from Kyle Letius, puzzled. Even the usually poker-faced, polite Jenkins was visibly flustered by the question, confessing that letters from the Imperial family addressed to her were managed separately by the Duke.

‘Then how did this letter arrive?’

It wasn’t just about concealing the origin. Suspicious letters or gifts were directly managed by Jenkins, so this one should have been intercepted in the delivery process as well…

“I’ve brought the tea.”

While she was deep in thought,

A sudden knock startled Natasha.

Had two hours already passed since she requested tea to be brought?

“Come in.”

Cayena entered the room. A teapot and cups were neatly arranged on the tray. After excusing herself, Cayena proceeded to pour and offer a filled cup.

“Thank you, Cayena.”

“I’m just doing my duty. Is the work going alright?”

“I’ve taken care of the urgent matters. Trips are only enjoyable during, the aftermath is tough.”

“As long as you had a good time, that’s what matters.”

As Natasha sipped her tea while observing the other’s expression, her eyes narrowed slightly. The green eyes moving languidly were fixated on one object.

She pretended not to notice and followed the gaze. What both of them had in their sight was the letter of unknown origin.

‘…Cayena visits the Imperial Palace once every ten days?’

‘Yes, yes. That’s right. Her visits were so frequent that all the guards at the palace gates recognized her face.’

At that moment, why did Charlotte Tristana’s words come to mind?

She put down her teacup and picked up the letter next. Cayena’s shoulders trembled slightly, visible to her. She seemed a bit tense.

“Cayena, about this letter, could you pass it to Jenkins on your way out later?”

“You haven’t even opened it yet… Wouldn’t it be better to check it first?”

“There’s no need to read a letter when I don’t know who sent it.”

“But…”

Faced with her firm refusal, Cayena seemed to hesitate for a moment. Her lips quivered for a while as if there was something else she wanted to say, but she reluctantly nodded.

“Alright. I’ll deliver it to the butler on my way out.”

Cayena put the letter in her left pocket.

She was familiar with the habits of Cayena Ten, her longtime friend and companion since the palace days.

Right-handed Cayena would put personal items in her left pocket and items she was instructed to deliver in her right pocket. When busy, she sometimes mixed them up, but she would quickly switch their positions. It was a pattern to avoid work-related confusion.

Natasha silently waited for the other’s next move without saying anything. Cayena did not change the letter’s position.

‘It’s Cayena.’

It was certain now that Cayena was the one who brought the letter.

What could the letter be? Was it really a secret message from Kyle Letius? Had he realized that every letter was falling into Sieghart’s hands and now trying to contact through Cayena?

‘If the one Cayena has joined hands with is Kyle Letius…’

Natasha didn’t check. She couldn’t bring herself to check.

‘Does that child also wish for my unhappiness? Does she want to see me in pain, just as Kyle Letius did?’

Because the fragile thread she was barely holding onto, the precarious relationship between the two, seemed about to break mercilessly.

‘…When did she start betraying me? Since the palace days? Or after I entered the Duke’s mansion?’

Natasha gazed at the letter peeking out from Cayena’s skirt and fell into reminiscence.

The day after Sieghart and Natasha had been intimate, Natasha woke up to Cayena’s gesture. Pointing at the blood on the sheets, insisting it was evidence of the previous night, the girl had said,

‘My lady, it seems you haven’t had your monthly cycle lately. Could you be pregnant?’

‘It’s unlikely to be a mistake, but there’s no harm in checking. Let’s go to town together.’

‘The Duke’s maids were whispering among themselves. They were saying they should secretly give you medicine while you sleep. I thought it was a joke because it sounded absurd, but…’

She had stood by Natasha’s side during every moment of misfortune thereafter. Informing her of the situations, naturally leading Natasha.

The only one who testified to the relationship between the two was Cayena, and the doctor who confirmed Natasha’s pregnancy and miscarriage was also brought by Cayena.

‘If it was really you…’

It was a premise she didn’t want to imagine. However, turning a blind eye was not the right approach.

Natasha recalled the beginning of her misfortune. Just before “that night” Cayena claimed happened. When the two shared a sticky kiss.

The hot flesh pushed into her mouth stirred her mind violently and finally brought the woman to her knees. In her last memory, Sieghart was firmly holding onto her body.

‘There are no plans to go to the principality in this life.’

It meant there would be no reason for Sieghart to be enraged upon discovering a hidden plan.

‘But if that was really Cayena’s plan, it will happen in this life too.’

If what the enemy truly desires is one’s unhappiness, they will find a way by any means necessary.

Just as Kyle Letius had done, making her ingest poison at the coronation.

‘To destroy my innocence somehow.’

In the end, confrontation seemed to be the answer. Natasha decided to provoke the other.

“Cayena, you know. I’m always grateful to you.”

“…Pardon?”

“Thanks to you, I think I’ve adapted well to the Duke’s mansion. I’m getting along well with His Grace too.”

“…”

“I’m happy that His Grace seems to truly love me. Meliana tipped me off that our couple is quite envied in social circles these days.”

Natasha thought of one person. And slowly traced his face when confronting her. Her facial muscles moved to mimic his.

“I’m going to try to fully believe in His Grace’s favor now! He won’t change even as time passes. Actually, now that we’ve built such boundless trust, I want to have his child.”

Brilliant heterochromia and a strangely excited voice. Slender fingers hovering around her face and the corners of her mouth rising with every brush of the delicate bones.

“Our child, that would be when my life is happiest, right? His Grace would surely be pleased too.”

To others, it would appear as her usual excited demeanor. The loathsome act someone had taught her had taken root, allowing Natasha to use it skillfully now.

“Of course, His Grace would certainly be pleased. A child resembling you would surely be cute and gentle.”

Natasha couldn’t bring herself to smile at the calm response.

She wished for that day to come quickly. So that she could trust the one she loved most again in this harsh world.

Hurry.