“Yeah. Enjoy it as much as you can. The day will come when you’ll be grateful to me for burning all the letters in front of me.”

Because he was the one who prevented the war.

Even after stealing and burning the letters, he still received thanks.

How thrilling it must be.

Looking at the anger in the way he directly sent the invitation, it seemed that Cersedis was quite upset.

“I want to go too.”

Strange light flickered in Cersedis’s eyes.

“I should drug you properly.”

“I’ll do my best. Without disturbing the feelings of the Duchess, your Highness.”

“Sure. Report back as soon as you return.”

“Yes. Understood.”

Cersedis waved his hand as if telling him to leave.

Then, as if he remembered something, he got up from his seat and picked up something.

“Give this to Annette.”

“Is it a gift?”

It was a beautifully wrapped box. At the end of the wrapping, the name of the patisserie was written.

Is it dessert?

Mikael wondered why he was given such a thing.

“I bought it for myself.”

“Does your Highness also enjoy desserts?”

“I didn’t like them at first. Annette kept eating them so deliciously that after trying a few, I started looking for them every day.”

For the first time, Cersedis smiled happily.

“It’s originally mine, but I’ll make a special concession for Annette.”

That was sincere.

‘What’s good about the Duchess?’

As Mikael, who was more interested in power than women, couldn’t understand.

All preparations to welcome guests were complete.

“You’ve prepared too perfectly; it must be burdensome.”

“Shall I remove those decorations?”

Hertian pointed to the decorations on the wall.

“No, those are what Hertian worked hard to put up.”

“Worked hard? Those kinds of decorations are amusing at best.”

“Come on. Is there sweat on my forehead?”

Jokingly, we exchanged banter, looking at the now splendid townhouse.

The awkwardness caused by yesterday’s incident had disappeared with the preparations for welcoming guests.

“Then, madam, please wipe it off.”

“Look at your forehead.”

I picked up a handkerchief and gently tapped his forehead.

Of course, even though the awkwardness had disappeared, his lips were still more prominent than before.

‘He seems moist today.’

It seemed that the cream made from bay leaves he personally made had an effect.

The swelling subsided, and his lips gleamed with moisture.

On the other hand, my lips, without the effect of herbs, were still swollen.

It felt like there was still heat lingering.
So, the events of yesterday keep coming to mind. Once the swelling subsides, I probably won’t think about yesterday’s events anymore.

“Are you sweating a lot?”

He opened his eyes slightly and asked.

Without realizing how close our faces had become, I took a step back, lost in my own thoughts.

“Oh, no. I guess it dried up by now.”

He smiled slightly and stepped back.

“It looks like the guests will be here soon.”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Is there anything I should be careful about?”

Hertian has been asking continuously.

Whether there’s anything he should be cautious or attentive about.

“As long as it’s not about the family, it doesn’t matter.”

As an old friend, I thought he might be concerned about possibly offending or disturbing me.

“Can I speak freely about other matters?”

“Of course. Casian is a very open person as long as it’s not about family matters. He’s different from me, who tends to be closed off, and he has a lot to teach and is kind and considerate.”

I couldn’t meet him due to certain circumstances, but Casian is truly a good person.

“I hope to become good friends with Hertian as well.”

He smiled brightly.

“I hope I can make friends too. When I read the lady’s letter for the first time, I felt that this person is sincere. I felt it too.”

Laughter poured out.

“Right? It’s comforting to read letters. You can feel that each word was written with consideration for the person reading it.”

I was pleased that he recognized how good of a person Casian is.

“Have you talked a lot about letters even when you met?”

But I couldn’t answer that question with a straightforward “yes.”

In reality, I didn’t feel the same affection in Casian’s gaze as I did in his letters.

He cares for me, but there’s a hint of weariness in his eyes.

‘Am I being too sensitive? Maybe Mikael, dealing with family issues, is tired.’

“Since the lady said so, I’m also looking forward to today’s meeting. I’m confident he’s a good person.”

Somehow, Hertian seemed even happier than I was.

And shrugged his shoulders.

“Are you that happy?”

“I only have one precious friend.”

He smiled at me.

Come to think of it, Hertian didn’t have many close friends.

Probably only the friends he had when he was chased out of the Duke’s house when he was young. And even then, they probably didn’t keep in touch often.

The precious friend he mentions is probably Eleanor.

“Your Grace, Mikael Suhosha is here outside.”

The resident butler of the townhouse informed us that the guest had arrived.

“I hope you gain one more precious friend today.”

Hertian, burdened with the baggage, closed and opened his eyes.

As if someone precious to him is someone precious to me as well.

I liked Hertian’s expression.

Perhaps today’s meeting with Mikael will be much better than before.

Who knows what will happen in the future.