The servants of the Light Mansion were busy throughout the afternoon preparing to receive the Grand Duchess.

Yet, they kept glancing furtively at one spot.

It was their master, Cedric, who was standing on one side of the reception room, watching the situation as if supervising.

Finally, after the last dish prepared for today’s banquet was placed on the table, Cedric ordered the servants as if he had been waiting.

“Everyone, leave.”

“Yes……”

“Ah, and make sure no one comes near here while I dine with the Grand Duchess.”

Although it was a repeated request, the servants simply bowed politely and left the reception room.

Finally left alone, Cedric could not hide his anxious demeanor.

He paced around the table, checking and double-checking if anything was lacking.

Beautifully decorated luxurious dishes and top-quality wine, and candles lit everywhere.

Everything was perfectly prepared, and the ambiance was as romantic as it could be.

‘Perfect.’

Cedric came to that conclusion himself.

Soon after, he meticulously scanned the reception room once more.

‘Did Rebecca like this kind of atmosphere? No, maybe it would be better to decorate it more lavishly before Rebecca arrives…..’

Lost in serious thought while rubbing his chin for a while.

Suddenly realizing his own behavior, Cedric let out a short, self-deprecating sigh.

‘Getting nervous in a way that doesn’t suit me.’

He slowly walked towards the window to relieve the tension.

Leaning against the window, he took a moment to catch his breath.

At that moment, through the window, he saw Rebecca standing in front of the main gate of the Light Mansion.

Suddenly seeing her, a smile slowly spread across Cedric’s lips.

‘She’s finally here.’

However, that smile soon faded away.

It was after he belatedly realized that the one escorting her was Adrian.

They stopped briefly in front of the main gate, engaged in conversation.

In the past, it would have been a scene he wouldn’t have given a moment’s attention to.

But now, Cedric was very curious about what conversation they were having.

Having a private conversation at a distance where he couldn’t hear them.

Beyond feeling left out, he even felt resentful.

But he couldn’t take his eyes off the scene either, which made it even more agonizing.

Because standing there now was… Rebecca, the woman who had been capturing his gaze for some time.

The two, unaware of Cedric’s gaze, looked at each other and conversed for a long time.

The moment Adrian’s lips touched the back of Rebecca’s hand after they stopped talking.

Cedric exhaled a hot breath mixed with jealousy.

The words left by his foolish cousin, Vincent, kept replaying in his ears.

‘If you don’t cherish what’s by your side and leave it unattended, guys like me will keep an eye on it and steal it all away?’

At the same time, his heart burned hot like a ball of fire.

To feel such emotions towards someone he hadn’t imprinted on.

Cedric was both surprised and fearful of that fact.

‘If I really imprint on her, I’ll go crazy for Rebecca from that day on.’

Cedric turned away from the window, barely suppressing his raging jealousy.

* * *

‘It’s already this late. I should head to the Light Mansion soon…..’

It was when I finally finished getting ready and left the Grand Duchess’ palace.

In the distance, I saw Adrian leaning against the window in the corridor.

He seemed lost in thought, gazing out the window.

“Adrian.”

At my call, Adrian, who suddenly turned his head, had his lips slightly curled up.

“Your Highness, you’re out.”

“Yes, but… what brings you here?”

“I heard the news. That you were going to have dinner with His Grace at the Light Mansion.”

He spoke with a gentle smile.

“I came to escort you to the Light Mansion.”

“Ah, there’s no need to go that far….”

“No, it’s my duty.”

An awkward smile flowed from my lips as I slightly lowered my head.

Escorting me was indeed the role of the butler, Adrian, but knowing his heart, it was difficult for me to ask him to escort me to the Light Mansion.

So I was going to go alone….

“Your Highness, you look truly beautiful today as well.”

“….”

“As always.”

Adrian slowly approached me and offered one arm.

He had a gentle smile on his face as usual.

“…Thank you.”

I thought it was fortunate and held onto the arm he offered.

As I had asked the maids, it seemed that the incident with Duke Bold was kept secret from Adrian.

Given Adrian’s personality, if he found out about yesterday, he would surely blame himself severely.

Throughout the way to the Light Mansion, I tried to have a casual conversation with him.

But the more I did, the more awkward I felt, to be honest.

‘Getting escorted by the person who confessed to me yesterday while going to a dinner with my ex-husband.’

Honestly… it’s too weird.

As I slightly frowned, Adrian seemed to have noticed my thoughts and tried hard to hold back his laughter.

“Your Highness, you don’t have to try so hard for my sake.”

“But receiving an escort feels too cruel to you, Adrian.”

When I expressed my honest feelings, a faint bitterness spread across Adrian’s smile.

It was when we reached the main gate of the Light Mansion that his quiet voice was heard again.

“Your Highness, there’s no need for you to rush your decision for my sake.”

I suddenly raised my head at his calm voice.

Then, in his violet-blue eyes that were always looking at me, a faint wave arose.

“Of course, I hope it won’t be the case, but even if… you don’t choose me, Your Highness.”

“…Adrian.”

Looking at me with pity, Adrian let out a faint laugh.

“You can think of it as giving me time to prepare my heart. Whenever it may be, if I get rejected right away….”

“….”

“I think my heart will ache a little more.”

Adrian’s fingers lightly brushed the back of my hand as he said those words.

His gaze lingered on the back of my hand for a while, as if longingly looking at something he couldn’t hold.

“So don’t rush. Waiting for you, as I have always done, is the happiest thing for me.”

Adrian’s lips gently touched the back of my hand that he finally enveloped.

“Just don’t forget that my heart is always by your side, Your Highness.”

* * *

Receiving Adrian’s farewell, I entered the Light Mansion and let out a long sigh as soon as the door closed.

‘It’s really been on my mind since that day.’

The moment I was holding the closed doorknob and let out another long sigh.

“Did you two have that much to talk about with each other?”

A familiar voice suddenly came from the side.

Startled, I quickly turned my head and saw Cedric leaning against the door with his arms crossed.

He had the same expressionless face as usual, but somehow he also seemed to be in a bad mood.

“You surprised me…. Were you waiting for me?”

“Yes.”

“…Don’t the dinner hosts usually greet the guests in the reception room? That’s what I thought.”

At my question, Cedric awkwardly stroked his eyebrows.

“I was curious the whole time about when you would arrive.”

He finally reached out his hand to me, muttering.

“Shall we go up then?”

Finally entering the reception room, I looked around in confusion.

There was not a single servant in sight.

“Where did all the servants go?”

“I sent them all away. I wanted no one to be around while we dined together.”

He poured wine into my glass and continued.

“I, the host, will take care of any errands for you, so don’t worry.”

“You will?”

Cedric nodded with a relaxed smile.

‘Cedric must prefer to be without servants in his private reception room.’

It was my first time being invited to Cedric’s private event, even as the Grand Duchess.

I didn’t know for sure, but perhaps even the ‘real’ Rebecca had never been invited here.

I heard this was a place Cedric had painstakingly created to spend his private time.

Cedric’s private reception room was small and cozy.

The table was also small enough for about two people to dine together.

‘Maybe that’s why the distance feels particularly close.’

It was the first time I had a meal with Cedric this close, facing each other.

Realizing that, my lips felt as dry as if it was awkwardness or tension.

I was about to quickly moisten my throat with wine.

“Here you go.”

Cedric said, placing the plate of steak he had cut into bite-sized pieces for me back in front of me.

“It would be bothersome for you to keep doing it. Wouldn’t it be better to call a servant now?”

Cedric shrugged.

“No, I prefer it even more. I have something I want to share with you in private.”

“Is it that important?”

“Well… sort of. It’s about Adrian.”

“Adrian?”

What could Cedric possibly have to say about him….

I wondered for a moment, then it hit me that Adrian had found out about our divorce some time ago.

‘Ha, did Cedric finally find out?’

Now that it was already exposed, I couldn’t keep my mouth shut.

Moreover, it wasn’t like I hadn’t anticipated a situation like this coming someday.

I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“That was… a mistake, Cedric.”

At my words, Cedric blinked slowly as if he had received an unexpected counterattack.

“…Huh?”

“I was just trying to find out in advance about the mansion where I would live later. I really didn’t know someone would notice that.”

“….”

“Besides, I didn’t blurt it out, it was found out. And Adrian isn’t the kind of person to go around talking about it….”

“….”

“So I’d appreciate it if you didn’t talk about the penalty fee so heartlessly….”

As I continued, I kept glancing at Cedric’s expression.

‘He wouldn’t really ask me to pay the penalty fee, would he?’

After learning about Grayzone Village, I began to devise a new welfare project for the people of that village.

And naturally, a large portion of my income earned from gift investments was going to be used for that project.

‘I already have to go out and make money again, but a penalty fee in this situation?’

At that moment, when I was anxiously biting my lip.

“Rebecca, what in the world are you talking about?”

Cedric had a puzzled face as if he didn’t know anything.

“Weren’t you talking about Adrian finding out about our divorce?”

At my question, Cedric’s eyebrows drew a high arch.

A bewildered look was evident on his face.

“That wasn’t it at all, but thanks to you, I learned some new information.”

Ahem. Cedric let out an awkward cough, and at the same time, my eyes and lips crumpled.

I should have kept it a secret, but I ended up revealing this fact with my own mouth….

At that moment when I wanted to sink into the Earth’s core right away.

“Rebecca, don’t worry, I have no intention of narrowly collecting a penalty fee.”

The angelic voice disguised as Cedric’s continued.

“What’s a mere penalty fee anyway.”

The penalty fee is several times the alimony Cedric gave me.

An astronomical amount that goes without saying.

I was deeply grateful in my heart for Cedric’s generosity in being able to treat that enormous amount as ‘mere’… no.

For the vast wealth of the Twins family that allowed him to have such generosity.

“But in the end, Adrian… found out that we got divorced.”

Cedric’s complexion darkened subtly as he muttered in a small voice.

He remained silent for a long time, lost in thought.

His gaze, which had somehow become resolute, turned towards me once more.

“In exchange for letting it slide, I have a condition.”