Inside the carriage, alone with Cedric.

As soon as the door closed, I glanced sideways at Cedric.

“You didn’t have to say that.”

However, Cedric only responded with a nonchalant expression.

“Say what?”

“…”

“Hm? What are you referring to, Rebecca?”

He even urged me with a slow tone.

Soon, the corners of his mouth curved up leisurely.

‘Wow, he’s really annoying.’

Who knows who will give in first?

But it was also true that I felt embarrassed to say those words myself.

“You know, something like ‘you’re the most beautiful I’ve ever seen’… that kind of thing.”

Cedric slightly bit his lips as if trying to hold back laughter.

Then, raising his long arched eyebrows high, he turned his head towards the window.

“Ah, who was it that suggested we play the part of a show window couple?”

Cedric’s characteristically relaxed attitude was usually charming, but sometimes it could feel annoying.

Just like now.

I pouted my lips before continuing.

“That was meant to be just enough not to get caught, but this is too much now. Also… it might give Bianca false hope.”

“False hope?”

At the questioning response, I nodded slowly.

“Yes, the hope that we’ll be together for a long time as a happy couple.”

“…”

“We’ve long since lost the ability to grant that wish, haven’t we?”

Cedric was silent for a while.

His gaze, which had been fixed on the window, turned back to me after some time had passed.

“…It wasn’t something I said forcibly just to act as a show window couple.”

“…”

“Those words were sincere.”

His languid baritone resonated pleasantly in my ears.

How long had I been staring into those blue eyes looking straight at me?

Feeling a strange heat rising up my neck, I opened the carriage window.

‘It’s true that you look the most beautiful today out of all the times I’ve seen you.’

Those seemingly insignificant words, and the blue gaze that kept turning towards me.

All of it kept jumbling up my thoughts into a mess.

* * *

Around the same time, at the Dmitri Count’s residence.

Count Dmitri was preparing to greet guests at the entrance of the banquet hall with his wife Camilla.

‘She still seems to be in a bad mood.’

The Count kept glancing at Camilla, who was looking at herself in a hand mirror.

After returning from a long journey, Camilla had suddenly quit her position as the Duchess’s lady-in-waiting.

Although Camilla kept her reasons to herself, the Count vaguely sensed that she had fallen out of favor with the Duchess.

It was something he could easily infer just by seeing how Camilla’s hysteria had been worsening since that day.

“My dear, if you’re uncomfortable, you don’t have to attend. I can tell them you couldn’t attend due to feeling unwell.”

Count Dmitri spoke in a gentle, soothing tone.

Suddenly, Camilla’s eyes widened and she threw down her hand mirror irritably.

Crash-!

“I know that! That’s not the point! Don’t you understand yet?”

Servants hurriedly gathered around her to clean up the shattered mirror fragments.

However, Camilla just stood still, glaring at her husband as if she wanted to kill him.

‘To think I’m living with such a dense man!’

Count Dmitri was a caring and substantial husband, truly a perfect ten out of ten.

However, Camilla inwardly compared him unfavorably to her lover Henry.

‘If only Henry’s wealth was a bit more abundant, I could divorce right away and go to him!’

Camilla ground her molars.

Henry Bart, Count of Bart, her friend Robelia’s husband and her secret lover.

Until recently, she and Henry had been steadily carrying out their plan to create their own world together.

A plausible plan to increase their wealth through gift transactions, divorce their respective spouses, and officially remarry within 3 years.

But all of that fell apart in an instant.

‘Rebecca, because of that stupid Duchess.’

The dream of a happy new beginning had become distant.

Now all Camilla had left was her precarious title as the star of the northern social circle and her desire for revenge against Rebecca.

‘I’m still furious, but… I have to greet the Duchess with a smiling face.’

Camilla tried hard to compose herself.

News of Camilla quitting her position as the Duchess’s lady-in-waiting had already spread widely in the northern social circles.

People were gossiping that Camilla must have been kicked out of her position after being caught with a fatal flaw.

It was enough to deal a critical blow to Camilla’s proud image and self-esteem.

‘It’s all because of that Duchess that I’ve become fodder for the social gossips.’

A chilling sound escaped through Camilla’s gritted teeth.

‘I must divert the attention of the gossips watching me towards the Duchess.’

She felt that her seething insides might be soothed a little if she could humiliate Rebecca and get her revenge.

From the beginning, Camilla had invited every lady of the northern social circles to today’s banquet with that intention.

‘I wonder how those gossip-loving ladies will react when they learn about the Duke and Duchess’s separation…’

Camilla’s lips curved up maliciously as she imagined what was about to unfold.

* * *

The Dmitri family’s mansion was not far from the bustling downtown.

The carriage arrived at the Count’s mansion about forty minutes after the banquet had begun.

They had deliberately left with plenty of time to spare, as it was considered proper etiquette for higher-ranking nobles to arrive later to banquets.

When I got out of the carriage, the sky had long since darkened.

However, the area around the mansion was still lively due to the light, music, and laughter flowing out from the banquet hall.

“It seems Adrian and Bianca aren’t here yet, right?”

The carriage they had departed in wasn’t visible, so it appeared they hadn’t arrived yet.

As I was looking around just in case, that’s when it happened.

“Then let’s go in first.”

Cedric’s arm suddenly extended in front of me.

When I looked up questioningly, Cedric gently took my arm and led me.

“A married couple invited to a banquet can’t enter far apart from each other.”

“Ah… that’s true.”

As I linked my arm with his, I could feel Cedric’s firm bicep gradually tensing.

Cedric’s unique scent felt close.

Trying to shake off the subtle flutter it caused, I began walking with him towards the banquet hall.

After walking for a while along the ornately decorated corridor,
we finally reached the entrance of the banquet hall where the Count and Countess Dmitri were visible.

It seemed they had been waiting for us, their last guests.

“Oh, the Duke and Duchess have finally arrived! Thank you so much for coming, haha.”

Count Dmitri approached with a bright smile.

“Thank you for inviting us, Count Dmitri.”

As Cedric and the Count began exchanging greetings, Camilla, who had been standing next to the Count, naturally approached me.

“Your Grace, it’s so good to see you again.”

Camilla spoke while grasping my hand in a still friendly manner.

‘Ah… So you’re going to pretend nothing happened?’

Hiding a sneer with effort, I gave a fake smile in return, and Camilla responded in kind before turning her head slightly towards the Count.

“Darling, I’ll go in first with Her Grace.”

“Alright, Camilla.”

As much as I wanted to shake off Camilla’s hand right away, refusing the host’s goodwill would be a tremendous breach of etiquette in noble society.

‘Since I’ve come this far, I have no choice.’

Just as I was about to let go of Cedric’s arm and move,

“Rebecca.”

Cedric gently gripped my arm and leaned in close to whisper in my ear.

“How about we return together after the banquet ends today?”

Even if noble couples arrived at banquets together, it was common for them to leave separately at their preferred times.

This was especially true for Cedric and Rebecca.

Although surprised by the sudden suggestion, I soon realized it was a proposal for the show window couple act.

‘…I hadn’t thought that far myself.’

Inwardly impressed by his attentiveness, I nodded.

“Alright. Have a good time, Cedric.”

“You too.”

After briefly bidding farewell to Cedric, I entered the banquet hall with Camilla.

After walking a few steps,
Camilla waved her hand high towards somewhere.

In the distance, about a dozen or so noble ladies were gathered at a large table, engaged in conversation.

They seemed to notice my arrival, bowing their heads in greeting from afar.

“All the ladies have been waiting just for you, Your Grace. Many new faces have joined us today.”

I could only spare time for Camilla up to the point of not being rude to the host.

Anything beyond that was out of the question.

‘I’ll be leaving the northern social circles in a few months anyway, so there’s no need to make an effort and endure discomfort.’

I stopped in my tracks.

“I’m sorry, but I find new gatherings a bit burdensome. I also need to look after Princess Bianca.”

“Princess… Bianca?”

“Yes, since she’s spent a long time in the capital, I think the northern social circles might still feel unfamiliar to her.”

“My, it seems your relationship with Princess Bianca has improved?”

Camilla smiled awkwardly, as if her forehead was pinned in place.

“But Princess Bianca hasn’t arrived yet. Just stay until then.”

“No, Camilla…”

“Over here! Her Grace has arrived!”

Camilla immediately gestured towards the group of noble ladies.

It was as if she was trying to drive a wedge to prevent me from escaping.

‘Why is she so intent on bringing me to that gathering? Something seems suspicious.’

As I was frowning slightly at the ominous feeling, two ladies approached me with friendly smiles.

“Your Grace! It’s been so long! Have you been well?”

“We’ve been feeling a bit hurt lately without any tea party invitations!”

I had no choice but to be led to the table by them.
As I approached, all the ladies seated at the table stood up and bowed their heads to me.

“It’s nice to meet you.”

After greeting them and taking the seat of honor, all the ladies blinked and focused on me intently.

Unfamiliar situation and faces.

I couldn’t help feeling a bit nervous.

‘Ah, right, the highest-ranking noble should speak first.’

Realizing this belatedly, I hurriedly opened my lips.

“What were you all talking about?”

Just then, Camilla sat down next to me and spoke.

“We were discussing recent rumors about Your Grace and me.”

“What kind of rumors?”

“Well, they say the reason I quit my position as lady-in-waiting was because I committed a crime and was chased out by Your Grace!”

Camilla looked at me intently with an artificial smile.

“Your Grace, it’s such a ridiculous rumor, isn’t it?”

At that moment, I had to hold back a scoff from escaping.

‘So this was the reason you insisted on bringing me to this gathering?’

Although a promise is a promise, I had no desire to play along just for Camilla’s sake.

However, Camilla seemed to push my silence as affirmation and called out to those around us.

“See? Didn’t I tell you, everyone?”

All the ladies nodded at her confident smile.

Camilla, seemingly emboldened by the situation unfolding as she intended, flashed a slight eye-smile.

“I’m grateful that you all understand. If it weren’t for personal circumstances, I would never have quit my position as lady-in-waiting.”

“…”

“Especially at a time like this…”

With an exaggerated tone and raised voice as if performing a play, all eyes focused on her at that moment.

With a upset expression, she let out a small sigh and continued.

“At a time when the Duke and Duchess are living separately, I couldn’t possibly qui- Oh my!”

Camilla hurriedly covered her mouth and blinked her eyes twice with an innocent expression.