“Was everything that happened last night… just a mistake?”

At that moment, Rebecca didn’t know, but Cedric was feeling it himself.

That his voice asking that question was trembling ever so slightly.

‘Rebecca must know about the imprint, so why is she now… saying that everything last night was a mistake?’

Cedric couldn’t hide his hurt expression.

Even pretending to be his usual composed self was burdensome.

Rebecca Twins.

She was a woman who could make him feel so powerless in just a single moment.

He swallowed dryly at the stinging sense of defeat that seeped in.

Rebecca looked up at him with eyes that seemed a little frightened, and also somewhat confused.

He felt resentful towards her like that, yet also ached at not being able to reach her fully.

“Cedric, last night I was too drunk…”

Cedric shook his head before Rebecca could continue speaking.

“I’ll be going back now.”

Leaving only those words, he immediately turned around.

He didn’t want to hear the word ‘mistake’ from Rebecca again.

If he did, it felt like he would end up revealing the emotions he had managed to hide belatedly.

Cedric forced himself to take a step, pretending to be nonchalant as he changed the subject.

“Everyone will be out to see us off, so it would be good to hurry and get ready.”

“Cedric…”

Rebecca’s voice heard from behind sounded somehow anxious.

‘No, perhaps it’s guilt about having to reject me.’

A bitter smile spread across Cedric’s lips.

Eventually, he turned around again to look at Rebecca and spoke softly.

“Whether last night was a mistake to you or not, I don’t care.”

“…”

“So you don’t need to feel sorry for me either.”

“Really…?”

A fleeting look of relief passed over Rebecca’s eyes.

“…Yeah.”

Only then did Rebecca start to walk alongside Cedric, as if there had never been any awkwardness.

Seeing her like that, Cedric couldn’t help but be overcome with complicated feelings once again.

Had he wanted her to feel sorry even while saying she didn’t need to?

But he had meant it sincerely when he said he didn’t care whether last night was a mistake to Rebecca or not.

Regardless of how Rebecca categorized that incident, the fact that he had already imprinted on her was irreversible.

Moreover, even in this situation, he didn’t regret it one bit.

For Cedric right now, the most important thing was simply…

That Rebecca could not leave his side, at least until the contract ended.

That fact alone.

In front of the town hall of Grayzone village.

Many people had already gathered to see us off.

“We’re indebted to you, Devon.”

As Cedric extended his hand, Village Chief Devon grasped it and shook his head.

“Indebted? Considering how the Twins family has taken care of us mixed-blood demons for generations, I feel only apologetic for hosting you in such a humble place.”

Next to Village Chief Devon speaking thus was his daughter, Jacqueline.

Jacqueline first greeted Cedric, then glanced at me furtively.

I raised the corner of my mouth towards her.

“I really enjoyed yesterday, Jacqueline.”

At my words, Jacqueline avoided my gaze with an embarrassed expression.

“We just had a drink together after work, it wasn’t anything enjoyable…”

Though Jacqueline grumbled, her eyes no longer held the hostility from before.

The same was true for the villagers standing around her.

“Well, if you get bored back at the Grand Duke’s estate, sometimes…”

“…?”

“You could come visit our village. Or not.”

When I couldn’t hide my surprised yet grateful expression, Jacqueline raised her voice as if embarrassed.

“No, I mean! How can we believe Lady Rebecca has changed after spending just one night together?”

“…”

“We’d have to spend a few nights to know. Ah, don’t you agree?!”

At Jacqueline’s brusque words, gentle laughter flowed from those around.

I looked at Jacqueline and the villagers with a soft smile.

“Yes, I’ll come anytime if you’ll have me. The honey beer Jacqueline made was really delicious.”

Just then, a few small children standing among the villagers ran up to me.

The children’s hands were full of dolls and snacks that I had prepared.

“Lady Rebecca! This is so delicious, thank you so much!”

“The doll is really cute too! Mom said to make sure to thank Lady Rebecca!”

The chubby-cheeked children chattered happily.

I gently stroked the small horns protruding from the children’s heads and smiled softly.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen these horns. Our Bianca doesn’t show me her horns often, so I’ve been feeling disappointed. I really like them, they’re so cute.”

At my words, the children smiled shyly.

Then Bianca, who was standing beside me, tugged at the hem of my dress and made a small gesture as if asking me to lend her my ear.

I immediately bent down to match her height.

“When we return to our family’s castle, I’ll be sure to show you this time. Then you have to say my horns are prettier than those children’s, okay?”

Bianca pouted her lower lip as if feeling slighted after whispering that.

I gently stroked Bianca’s head.

“Of course. I’ll say it a hundred times if you want, Bianca.”

Then Bianca looked up at me with a bright smile.

Just as all the villagers were still watching Bianca and me with amazement, that’s when it happened.

“This is an unimaginable sight compared to the Lady Rebecca of the past.”

I turned my head at the dignified voice and met Village Chief Devon’s eyes.

He looked at me intently for a moment before speaking again.

“Children cannot lie. Seeing how Bianca has come to follow Lady Rebecca like this, it seems the maids’ words about Lady Rebecca being different from before are not entirely wrong.”

Village Chief Devon, speaking thus, looked at Cedric and continued.

“The person I trust most in the world said the same.”

After finishing those words, Village Chief Devon pondered for a moment before slowly opening his mouth.

“Regarding the welfare foundation you mentioned, it seems we should have a serious discussion with the villagers.”

Having said that, Village Chief Devon slightly bowed his head before me.

“Lady Rebecca, I apologize, but could you give us some time to think about it?”

Unlike others, Village Chief Devon had maintained a polite attitude since we first met, but until now, I hadn’t felt at all that he acknowledged me as the Duchess of Twins.

After all, in Devon’s eyes as he looked at me, there was clearly a subtle contempt seeping through everywhere.

However, in Village Chief Devon’s gaze looking at me now, I could even feel a bit of warmth.

Relieved at that change, I immediately nodded.

“Of course. Please think it over thoroughly with the villagers and contact us. We’ll always keep a place for you.”

With that final greeting, all the Twins family members, including myself, headed towards the carriage.

Finally, as the three of us boarded the carriage, Bianca started chattering cheerfully.

“I spent all night listening to fun stories from the village children! There’s a boy named ‘Jeff’ who’s quite handsome and also really funny!”

Bianca, who had been excitedly talking, glanced alternately between Cedric and me.

“How about you two? Did you get along well last night?”

That seemed to be what Bianca really wanted to ask.

However, regrettably, the atmosphere between Cedric and me was as awkward as could be.

It was because of that damned ‘mistake’ from last night.

No, to be precise, the awkwardness was on my part, while Cedric was expressing his uncomfortable mood with his whole body.

Bianca seemed to notice this belatedly and was checking Cedric’s expression when at that moment.

“We spent it well. It felt perfect in every way.”

Cedric, who had been looking out the window the whole time, frowned and loosened his tie languidly.

“…Of course, the only problem is that it was all a mistake.”

Meanwhile, at the same time, in the Monter family of the demon realm.

Adrian held his father’s withered hand and looked sadly at his face lying on the bed.

His father’s face, once like that of a brave general, was already aged, and his chest, with ribs protruding like a starved corpse, was barely rising and falling with breaths that seemed about to cease.

As he wiped the cold sweat beading on his father’s forehead, that’s when.

His older brother Elliot, who had entered the room, grasped Adrian’s slumped shoulders.

“You’ve come, brother.”

“Yes. You’re returning to the Twins family again today?”

“Yes… I’m sorry to leave Father in the care of you and sister-in-law again.”

Hearing Adrian’s lifeless words, Elliot gave a complicated smile.

“…It seems this suffering won’t last much longer. I think it’s time we prepare ourselves mentally.”

At Elliot’s words, Adrian looked at his father’s face again with sorrow.

“Let’s talk outside, brother.”

In the dark, silent corridor as gloomy as Lord Monter’s remaining life.

In that empty place with only the two of them, the brothers let out sighs tinged with deep regret.

Elliot, who had been closing his eyes feeling the night breeze seeping through the corridor pillars, suddenly turned his head towards Adrian.

“Adrian, it’s time for us to make a decision for our family.”

Elliot’s eyes were filled with determination as he spoke.

“But brother, Father is still…”

“Father would surely want this too.”

“…”

“Adrian, think about what sacrifices Father has made to protect our Monter family.”

Adrian, who had been leaning his arms on the railing, soon bowed his head and let out a long breath.

His worry seemed to have deepened.

His brother Elliot grasped Adrian’s arm firmly, as if urging him.

“Adrian. You must become the head of our Monter family.”

The eldest son Elliot’s opinion was firm.

“With your magical power, not only can we maintain our current strength, but our Monter family could even become more powerful.”

“Brother…”

“That’s what Father, I, and all our retainers want.”

At Elliot’s words, a faint ripple passed through Adrian’s violet eyes.

However, Adrian eventually shook his head.

“…I don’t want to return to the demon realm right now.”

As Adrian said this, Rebecca’s red hair flashed hazily through his mind.

Her beautiful smile, shining like sunlight, too.

“There’s something I want to obtain even if it takes a lifetime. In the human realm.”

A bitter smile spread across Adrian’s lips.

Elliot, who had been staring at him intently, let out a small sigh and looked up at the night sky.

“Did you find a woman you desperately want?”

Adrian gave no answer.

But Elliot quickly realized that this was an affirmative response.

“Then you must become the head of this Monter family even more, Adrian.”

“Brother…!”

“If you become the head, we could become the highest among the mixed-blood demon nobility, no…”

Elliot’s lips curled up slightly as he continued speaking.

“We could even become a family comparable to the Twins family.”

Adrian’s eyes wavered greatly, like a stone thrown into a calm lake.

“Gain power. And with that power…”

Elliot, sensing Adrian’s wavering heart, looked straight into his eyes and spoke forcefully.

“Seize what you want, Adrian.”