“Michael.”

I greeted him as he entered the townhouse.

“Welcome.”

I didn’t speak casually as Hertian was also present.

He smiled happily with his silver hair neatly tied back.

“Your Grace the Duke. I pay my respects to Your Grace the Duchess.”

He then politely greeted Hertian standing next to me.

“Thank you for inviting me today.”

He handed over the gift he had brought.

As soon as the butler received it, Hertian recognized the gift.

“It’s dessert from the patisserie most famous for macarons. You seem to have bought it knowing the lady likes desserts.”

“Though you probably enjoy more delicious desserts in the North, I remembered you particularly liked the macarons here. I hope you’ll like it.”

Michael smiled at me with his eyes.

“I always welcome desserts. This shop is difficult to buy from as you have to wait in line every time. Thank you.”

I gratefully accepted it, but was not pleased.

This patisserie was a place that reminded me of memories before my possession.

‘I ate desserts from there in front of Serdis, mistakenly thinking he was my savior.’

It was a shop I never visited again because of those memories. I felt like revisiting would revive the nightmare.

But I hadn’t mentioned this in my letter, so of course he wouldn’t know.

I just had to gratefully accept the gift he bought thinking of me. I quickly erased the stray thoughts.

“Let’s all eat it together after the meal.”

“Sounds good. Let’s go inside for now.”

The dinner at the townhouse was perfect.

Penne with aged pumpkin. Braised beef with mushrooms and a gratin with baby potatoes.

They were all foods that Casian liked.

I suspected Hertian might have secretly read my letter.

Of course, I concluded our tastes were similar since many of the dishes prepared today were ones he liked.

Michael didn’t seem as pleased as I had prepared for.

Wondering if he was uncomfortable, I went over and quietly asked him.

“You can tell me if you’re very uncomfortable.”

“What would I be uncomfortable about? I’m grateful you made time for me to come.”

“It’s all prepared by the Duke because you’re coming. He wants to get to know you, so don’t feel burdened and just be comfortable.”

Michael nodded lightly.

I returned to my seat as well.

We sat facing each other at the round table.

Hertian first picked up a plate and filled it with food.

Then he placed it in front of Michael.

“The mushroom dish turned out delicious today.”

Mushrooms were piled high on top of the meat. He also added sauce without missing a beat.

“Eat plenty.”

As mushrooms were an ingredient Casian especially liked, I watched the two with a satisfied expression.

Providing favorite foods makes people become friends quickly.

“It looks even more delicious with the Duke serving it.”

Michael didn’t seem to feel burdened either.

He cut the meat into large pieces and put it in his mouth along with the mushrooms.

Seeing that made me feel a bit relieved.

When the atmosphere had mellowed, Hertian spoke.

“Is the food to your liking?”

“Yes. It’s very delicious.”

“That’s a relief. I was worried it might not suit your taste since I couldn’t prepare the fish dish you like.”

He said this recalling the story of when he had dined with me before.

Michael had eaten very well, but I felt sorry for not being able to eat as deliciously.

“I’m honored just by the dishes I’ve been served today.”

A polite response followed.

“Did Michael go to the imperial palace today as well?”

I asked looking at his attire. He was in neat uniform like when we first met.

“Yes. I’ve been practically living at the palace these days with all the work.”

“I heard you became Prince Serdis’s aide.”

It was Hertian’s question.

Michael hesitated to answer for a moment.

“You can speak comfortably. There’s no reason to be uncomfortable even if you’re close to the prince. I think of the person I invited here as just my wife’s old friend. Right, dear?”

He looked at me with a slight smile.

As he said, Hertian didn’t look uncomfortable at all.

Michael becoming the prince’s aide was to find out if anything had happened to me, so I wasn’t uncomfortable with him being Serdis’s aide either.

“Of course. Rather, I feel sorry in case you were forced to take on the job because of me.”

I muttered while fidgeting with my hands.

He said it wasn’t a bad position being next to the future emperor, but I still couldn’t help feeling concerned.

“There’s no need to feel sorry. Though I had a reason for starting, I’m learning the palace work with some satisfaction. It’s a good opportunity for me.”

“Does the prince know about today’s invitation?”

“…Yes.”

He hesitated slightly before answering Hertian’s question.

“He didn’t say anything separately? I remember being worried since you returned to the North with an injured leg at that time.”

“He didn’t say anything in particular. He just seemed to find it unexpected. No one knew I was an old friend of the Duchess.”

“Well, I was surprised too. To think my wife’s old friend whose identity she didn’t know was the prince’s aide. But seeing you apologize, it seems you approached knowing my wife was avoiding the prince. I’m just envious of how deep your friendship seems to be.”

At his words, Michael’s face hardened. Then it relaxed as if nothing had happened.

“I was surprised when contact suddenly cut off, so I thought I might find out if I went to Prince Serdis. I was shocked to learn you had married the Duke like this. But I’m glad. The Duchess seems comfortable by Your Grace’s side.”

“Still, not as much as the Viscount. My wife always says you’re her most precious person.”

“Given that, the years I lived without revealing my identity were too long. Being in a position where I’m overshadowed by my siblings in the family, I couldn’t muster the courage.”

Hertian’s eyebrows twitched.

Michael continued speaking with a consistently mask-like expression.

“Being born as an illegitimate child, I lived steeped in inferiority. Looking for someone who would accept this bundle of complexes without prejudice, I unknowingly leaned on the Duchess.”

He kept blaming himself.

I didn’t know he had sent me letters for such reasons.

Casian was always someone who provided a place to lean on like a pillar, not someone I thought of as leaning on me to rest.

“An illegitimate child with an inferiority complex… Viscount. You’re similar to me.”

Hertian’s tone became chilly.

Come to think of it, being born illegitimate and suffering because of siblings was worse for Hertian than Michael.

Even if it wasn’t aimed at him, it was words that would make him feel bad.

Sure enough, his expression wasn’t good as he twirled his wine glass.

‘This is Michael’s mistake.’

I was grateful he was sharing his story, but it wasn’t something to say in front of Hertian.

He must have known Hertian was driven out of the palace for being illegitimate.

As even my face hardened, Michael noticed the atmosphere and apologized.

“Oh dear. It seems I’ve misspoken. I just wanted to say I was afraid I couldn’t be the Duchess’s friend because of my circumstances.”

“No. Rather, it’s nice to see you speak comfortably. My wife’s friend is like my friend anyway, so you can speak comfortably.”

“Thank you for your generosity.”

It was fortunate Hertian let it slide lightly.

“In return, I’d like to speak a bit comfortably too.”

“Of course.”

“So did you find out anything? I’m curious about that.”

“…What do you mean?”

Michael thought for a moment before asking back.

Hertian stopped twirling his glass and answered.

“I’m curious if you found out anything, since you went to the prince’s side for my wife. I’d like to hear your opinion.”

It was a question I hadn’t been able to ask last time out of feeling sorry.

Casian surely wouldn’t have just silently watched the prince.

If he was close, he would have been able to find out at least a little about what he was plotting, who he was meeting, what he was talking about.

But contrary to expectations, Michael gave a negative answer.

“The prince is very thorough, so he doesn’t share anything with me besides work talk. I just go to the palace, look at the given documents, and come back. That’s all.”

“Not a single word about my wife?”

“Oh dear. I should have been a bit bolder in finding out. I’m sorry I haven’t found out anything because I’m such a coward.”

Michael smiled awkwardly with a troubled expression.

“There’s no need to be sorry. It’s not like that’s wrong.”

“Michael doesn’t need to feel sorry at all. It’s not like I wanted you to find out in the first place.”

“Then shall we eat the gifted dessert together, my lady?”

“Sure! Hertian, you haven’t tried the macarons from that patisserie, right?”

Thanks to Hertian changing the subject, the atmosphere didn’t sink and was refreshed.

The appetizing macarons he bought were served on plates.

A sweet scent wafted from the pink shells with spring strawberries added.

Looking down at them, Hertian asked Michael.

“Were there other macarons at the patisserie?”

“By the time I went, many were sold out so there weren’t many types left.”

“What else was there?”

When Michael looked slightly flustered, Hertian added.

“I was thinking of buying some before returning to the North.”

“…There was one with orange and one made with blueberry. I don’t remember the others. It was so crowded.”

The corners of Hertian’s mouth curved up.

His dark gaze turned to me.

“Which macaron do you like best, my lady?”

“I…”

“No, never mind. I asked a needless question. I’ll buy strawberry macarons before returning to the North.”

Hertian concluded I liked strawberry macarons as if it were obvious.

But it’s not strawberry.

There was a different macaron I liked.

“I actually like blueberry macarons the best.”

I eat all desserts without discrimination, but I had a separate favorite. Macarons made with blueberry jam and cream cheese mixed.

It’s a basic macaron available at any shop, but I liked it the best.

“Is that so? I thought it wasn’t those two since you didn’t buy them even though they were available.”

“That’s…”

“Even if you’re friends, you don’t know everything about each other’s tastes. Right?”

When Hertian asked the flustered Michael, he nodded saying that was right.

His face looked as if he had really forgotten.

“It’s okay. I like strawberry too.”

I smiled happily as I took a big bite of the macaron.

I was grateful just for him thinking of me.

I was going to let it go at that, but.

“I have some I received as a birthday gift last year, so I can make blueberry with that.”

He showed no reaction to my words.

Come to think of it, it was strange.

There’s no way Casian wouldn’t know I like blueberry.

After all.

“Did you forget you made blueberry jam yourself for my birthday last year?”

There’s no way he would forget a gift he made and sent himself.