“……Huh?”

Mina’s eyes, which had been casually glancing over my shoulder, suddenly widened.

Following her gaze, I turned my head and immediately met a pair of blue eyes staring at me.

“……Cedric?”

Startled by his sudden appearance, Mina hastily bowed her head and stepped back.

She looked at Cedric with reverent eyes, but her expression showed she didn’t dare to even attempt speaking to him.

‘Of course, it’s partly because he’s the leader of the mixed demon race… but Cedric’s intimidating aura is truly incredible.’

I slowly nodded and looked up at Cedric again.

He was wearing a wine-colored velvet coat and holding an envelope in one hand.

I could see a carriage slowly passing behind Cedric as we faced each other.

‘Looks like he’s returning from somewhere. But why did he stop just to… Ah, maybe he felt it would be rude to pass by without greeting?’

But even so, Cedric still hadn’t greeted me and was just silently looking down at me.

Cedric with the lazy afternoon sun at his back.

As I looked up at him, a thought suddenly struck me.

‘Come to think of it, is this the first time I’ve met Cedric in broad daylight?’

Sharp eyes, a high, elegant nose bridge with graceful shadows.

Perhaps that’s why.

Cedric’s characteristic lazy yet relaxed impression seemed even more charming.

We stared at each other for a long while.

Feeling awkward from the prolonged silence, I spoke first.

“It seems you had an outing scheduled from the morning.”

Cedric’s eyebrows, still looking down at me, arched high.

He looked as if he had been swept away in a wave of thoughts and had just returned to reality.

“There was a meeting at the imperial palace.”

“I see.”

“……I thought you would have investigated my schedule in advance somehow. Was I wrong?”

His words reminded me of the task list that appeared on my bedside table every morning.

‘I wondered why there were so many documents when there were no Duchess duties… I guess except for the first page, the rest was a list of Cedric’s tasks.’

Truly amazing, Rebecca.

Newly surprised by her obsession, I let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll tell the servant in charge not to do that anymore. I forgot to give that instruction since I haven’t been looking at the schedule list lately.”

“You’re not looking at the schedule list?”

Although it was meant as an excuse, Cedric asked back with an incredulous expression.

Oh no, even if that’s the case, I’m still the Duchess, isn’t this wrong?

I hurriedly waved my hand.

“It’s not that I don’t look at it, more like I skim through it. Honestly, just between us… I don’t really have any schedules, do I?”

“……”

“Since I don’t even check my own schedule, there’s no reason for me to know yours by heart anymore.”

Cedric nodded slowly with a thoughtful expression.

“……I suppose so. You don’t have that kind of affection left for me anymore.”

I doubted my ears at first, but then became certain that I must have misheard the word ‘schedule’.

Not only because Cedric had spoken so quietly, almost murmuring…

But also because Cedric, who was always businesslike and cold towards me, wouldn’t utter such words.

“That’s right, I’d say there’s none at all.”

At my words, Cedric’s blue gaze settled on my face again.

After a moment, he exhaled deeply as if trying to clear his mind and looked over my shoulder.

“Are you on your way back from the Darkness Mansion?”

“Yes, I’ll be staying there for the next half year. I thought it would be good to go and check it out in advance.”

Of course, Mina had already stepped back to a distance so as not to interfere with the conversation between the Duke and Duchess.

Still, just in case, I didn’t mention the word ‘divorce’.

Even so, he should have understood what I meant, but for some reason, Cedric looked a bit confused.

‘Did he really not understand?’

I moved a bit closer to Cedric and whispered quietly, covering my mouth.

“We’re signing the divorce papers tomorrow, aren’t we?”

However, Cedric just silently looked down at my lips emphasizing the word ‘divorce’.

“……So you’ve really made up your mind.”

“Of course. I told you not to worry, didn’t I? I said I’d leave for the Darkness Mansion right away so you won’t have to see my face anymore.”

“……”

“By tomorrow, everything will be perfectly settled. Just as you’ve always wanted.”

And just as I wanted.

By tomorrow, one death flag would be cleared, so I raised the corners of my mouth with a light-hearted expression.

Seeing me like this, Cedric blinked with a subtle expression.

Then, looking down at the envelope in his hand, he murmured softly.

“As I’ve always wanted……”

Surely he’s not still doubting my sincerity?

I opened my mouth again to instill confidence in him.

“As promised, let’s meet at the Glass Garden at 3 PM tomorrow. Don’t forget to bring the divorce papers, just in case.”

At my calm words, a small ripple passed over Cedric’s blue eyes.

* * *

The next day.

For some reason, the maids dressing me up were busier than usual.

It was like watching salon staff meticulously preparing a client invited to an ex-boyfriend’s wedding.

I was slightly worried that they might have found out about my divorce from Cedric, but…

‘Cedric is such a thorough person. He wouldn’t stand by and let the divorce fall through just because my conditions changed.’

I was about to tell the maids to take it easy, but then I changed my mind.

What kind of day was today?

Not only would one death flag disappear, but I would also be promised a hefty alimony. It was nothing short of a festival for me.

‘That’s right. At times like this, there’s a certain charm in dressing up more elaborately.’

As I was contemplating whether to have a champagne toast when I returned, the long dressing session finally ended with the addition of pink diamond earrings that matched well with my red hair.

Just as I was admiring my beautiful reflection in the mirror, Mina entered the dressing room.

“Your Highness, the preparations in the reception room are also perfect.”

As usual, but especially today, Mina’s face was flushed, seemingly from working exceptionally hard.

“Good job, you’ve worked hard.”

At my words, which were as usual, the surrounding maids’ eyes widened.

They looked as if they couldn’t believe that the mad dog Rebecca would say such a thing to a mere maid.

Mina, who was smiling shyly, looked at the maids with an expression that seemed to say, ‘See, I told you so.’

I chuckled at Mina’s reaction, then approached her and whispered quietly.

“I think I’ll go for a short walk.”

“A walk… now?”

Mina tilted her head with a dubious expression.

But soon, meeting my steady gaze, she continued.

“Then I’ll prepare everything so you can leave right away.”

“No, I’m going alone today.”

I was planning to head to the Glass Garden under the pretense of going for a walk.

The divorce had to be kept strictly secret for the time being, so I couldn’t have Mina with me, no matter how much I trusted her.

Checking the grandfather clock in the corner of the dressing room, it was already thirty minutes before the appointed time.

‘I suppose it’s better to arrive a bit early.’

As I immediately left the dressing room and reached the central staircase, Mina followed behind me with a worried expression.

“Your Highness, are you really… really coming back soon?”

Mina’s excessively concerned reaction was a bit strange, but I simply brushed off that doubt.

“Don’t worry. I’ll finish everything perfectly and be back in no time.”

And after patting Mina’s shoulder a couple of times, I went down the stairs with light steps.

* * *

The Glass Garden, our meeting place, was located behind the Twin Mansion.

Due to the cold northern weather, it seemed that plants and flower gifts sensitive to cold were cultivated in the Glass Garden.

How long had I walked along the brick path between the Light Mansion and the Dark Mansion?

The brick path soon turned into a trail, and I arrived at the forest garden at the very back of the castle grounds.

And soon, a large statue in the center of the forest garden came into view.

‘It’s the famous Twin Statue.’

It was a statue erected to commemorate not only the Twins family but also the twin brothers who were the ancestors of the mixed demon race.

The twins in the statue were each extending their fingers towards the Light and Dark Mansions.

‘To see in person the statue I’ve only read about in novels.’

Just as I stopped, looking up at the statue with curiosity.

“Are you cursing it again?”

An attractive low voice came from behind me.

As I turned my head, my eyes immediately met Cedric’s, who was looking at me.

‘I didn’t even hear his footsteps… When did he appear?’

Just as I was thinking this, Cedric’s steps slowly came to a stop beside me.

“Why would I curse the statue?”

As I glared slightly while chiding him, one corner of Cedric’s mouth curved up.

“Well, it wasn’t just curses. You also poured alcohol.”

“Alcohol?”

“About three years ago, on that night when you, drunk, entered my bedroom. When I refused, you got angry and ran out.”

“……”

“……You’re acting like you don’t remember again. Or did you think I wouldn’t know if you did it secretly at night?”

I bit my lip and slowly closed my eyes.

‘Rebecca, you did such a thing. Wow… Even if I were a mixed demon, I’d really want to kill you…’

Cursing and pouring alcohol on the ancestral statue of not just a family, but an entire race.

Even though it wasn’t something I had done, my face burned with embarrassment.

“I had a hard time for a while, pretending not to know while the vassals were in an uproar trying to find the culprit.”

I let out a long sigh, feeling a throbbing in my head.

“It will never happen again. Especially not entering your bedroom while drunk.”

As I spoke through gritted teeth, I faintly heard a low laugh.

“That would be for the best. After the divorce, I’ll have no reason to cover up your flaws…”

“Shh! We agreed to keep it a secret!”

I hurriedly covered Cedric’s mouth with my palm.

I shot a warning glance at Cedric for a moment.

Soon, I realized that the distance between us was too close.

And that the soft, plump something touching my palm was Cedric’s lips.

“Ah……”

The wind blowing through the dense trees and the clear birdsong.

And the fresh scent of the forest.

Standing on the quiet trail leading to the vast forest, we gazed into each other’s eyes at close proximity.

The eye contact lasted for a long time, and neither of us looked away.

It was when I began to feel Cedric’s breath and its warmth through my fingers anew.

‘Ah… Cedric must be uncomfortable, I’ve been too lost in thought.’

The Cedric I knew would have already roughly removed my hand and coldly rebuked me.

‘But why…’

Just as a faint curiosity was rising.

“Rebecca.”

His lips moved gently, brushing against my palm.

His gaze, seemingly indifferent yet captivating, remained fixed on me.

And then came a question, uncharacteristically polite and soft for Cedric.

“Are you… going to let me go now?”