“Have I interrupted your pleasant time?”

Startled by Cedric’s sudden appearance, Adrian and I exchanged bewildered glances.

Adrian, too, seemed very flustered.

“…Cedric?”

“Your Grace.”

However, Cedric was utterly relaxed and languid.

He leaned on the window frame, gazing at me with a face carved like a sculpture.

“Huh? Rebecca.”

His face was beautifully chiseled, and that angle, that tone of voice…

It felt like a sudden strike to the heart, taking my breath away.

‘Wow, our Grand Duke… I thought he was only good with his body in the original work, but now I see he’s also good with his face. Phew.’

If I got entranced by that face, the fondness for Cedric I had just raised to ‘friend’ level might plummet.

‘I need to snap out of it right now, or it’s straight to hell in a handbasket for me!’

I mentally scolded myself, trying to regain composure.

But part of me felt unjustified.

‘How could I not go crazy if he’s been so aloof since our wedding night five years ago?’

To think I would come to understand the heart of crazy dog Rebecca in the novel…

I kept repeating to myself like a mantra.

‘That’s a fox, a nine-tailed fox. Must not be charmed.’

Only after calming myself down could I turn back to Cedric.

“We meet again, Cedric. But what’s with this carriage? It doesn’t seem like one from the Twins family.”

At my question, Cedric’s lips slightly curled up.

“I just bought a new carriage on my way back this morning.”

“A new carriage all of a sudden? And one without the family crest, why so hastily…”

Of course, compared to the Twins family’s mountain-like wealth, a carriage was just a speck, but still, a carriage was not a small investment.

While I was looking over the carriage, puzzled, Cedric spoke.

“I remembered what you said about not wanting to stand out in the city.”

“…What?”

He bought a carriage immediately because of what I said?

“Even so, it’s too much. Such an expensive purchase just like that…”

“What’s wrong with that?”

Unlike my bewildered expression, Cedric’s lips were relaxed.

Somehow, his face seemed as sly as a fox at that moment.

“Last night, it was what you wanted.”

Cedric’s eyes, usually stern, now drew a gentle curve.

“…It seems you spent last night together. I’m truly glad to see both of you getting along well.”

Adrian nodded, glancing down slightly.

‘Oh no, Adrian might have misunderstood…’

But Cedric, who had made a misleading comment, remained nonchalant.

“Of course. The relationship between a husband and wife is often different from what it seems.”

Adding such a remark.

It seemed Cedric was indeed planning to faithfully execute my request to pretend as a show window couple.

But the problem was his overzealous approach.

‘If he suddenly changes like that, it’s going to look even weirder. Why can’t there be a middle ground?’

As I furrowed my brow in astonishment, I quickly turned to Adrian.

“I know what you’re thinking, but it’s not that.”

“Me? How would you know what I am…”

“Anyway, it’s not that. I just happened to bump into Cedric during a walk last night.”

Simultaneously, a tiny crack appeared on Cedric’s forehead.

“Rebecca, there’s no need to make excuses for what happens between a husband and wife.”

At his comment, I gave him a silent look.

‘No, Your Grace… that’s fine and all, but let’s keep it within limits, shall we?’

However, Cedric nonchalantly turned his head away from my gaze, addressing Adrian.

“Adrian, long time no see.”

“Your Grace. Have you been well?”

“Of course. I appreciate your dedicated management of the Dark Mansion, from the time it was empty until now.”

“I am simply doing my duty, Your Grace.”
Adrian once again lightly bowed his head.

“I heard that the health of Duke Monter is deteriorating day by day.”

At Cedric’s words, a shadow fell over Adrian’s violet eyes.

“That’s correct. Fortunately, my brother and sister-in-law are taking good care of my father.”

“That’s good to hear, but I thought you would return to the demon world because of that.”

“Yes, of course, I considered returning…”

Adrian paused for a moment, his gaze shifting to me.

His lips curled up slightly as he continued to gaze at me intently.

“I found a new reason to stay here.”

Following Adrian’s gaze, Cedric’s eyes stopped in front of me.

Cedric looked at me with a subtly nuanced expression.

Only then did I realize that Adrian’s reason for staying was ‘me’.

‘I didn’t know about Adrian’s situation and only thought about keeping him working for me.’

Feeling a bit embarrassed, I absentmindedly played with my hair.

“Adrian, I didn’t know about your situation. I’m truly sorry about your father.”

“It’s alright, Your Grace.”

“I’ll leave the mansion for a while today; go and visit your father.”

“No, there’s no need to…”

“It’s an order.”

“…Yes, I will do as you wish, Your Grace.”

“And if the reason you’re staying is because of me…”

“…?”

“You don’t have to force yourself to stay.”

Adrian, however, refused with a polite yet firm attitude.

“It’s not like that. It’s entirely my own desire to stay.”

“But Adrian…”