“Oh my. I thought I’d see you in a few days. What brings you here, Duke Temnes?”

“I happened to be here. Madame Cronak.”

Claudel, who turned her head following Kaian’s gaze, was surprised.

Madame Cronak was a petite woman with the common brown hair and brown eyes of the Kingdom of Oberon.

The quite alluring beauty had smooth skin that seemed to defy age, well-maintained to look youthful.

However, a hideous scar was visible from her left ear down to her jawline, as if the flesh had been crushed.

The scar was so large that it couldn’t be fully covered by Claudel’s hand and extended to her neck.

The reddish, gnarled mark stood out in stark contrast to her otherwise fair and soft-looking skin, which seemed to hide her age like a woman’s secret.

Claudel, who had shuddered at the sudden sight of the terrible scar without mental preparation, thought she had greatly offended Madame Cronak.

“I apologize. You are…”

As Claudel hesitated to continue, Madame Cronak smiled and covered the scar by draping her hair to the left side.

That alone covered the scar considerably, so that from the right side, it wouldn’t be noticeable that such a wound mark remained on her body.

“I should be the one apologizing, Duchess. If you had notified us of your early arrival, I would have covered up this unsightly appearance.”

“No, it’s fine.”

While Claudel was feeling awkward, Kaian, seemingly unaffected by their encounter, asked Madame Cronak:

“Guide us to a private room and tell us if there are any recommended activities during our stay in the capital.”

“Of course, Duke. This way, please.”

Madame Cronak led the two to an elegantly decorated reception room.

“Please wait a moment.”

Claudel looked around.

Unlike the bright and cheerful atmosphere of the entrance and entrance hall from earlier, the reception room they were led to had a sofa and couch covered in dark purple velvet on dark wood, creating a more dignified atmosphere.

The tea brought by the servant was warm and delicious.

As she was chewing on a small cookie that Kaian had put in her mouth, Madame Cronak returned with three servants carrying what looked like thick bundles of documents, having changed her clothes and donned a hat with a veil.

With makeup covering her scar and her hairstyle and veil draped askew over it, the scar wasn’t as glaringly visible as before.

Madame Cronak had the air of a very intelligent beauty.

Claudel, who was actually visiting a salon for the first time, had seen paintings depicting women drinking among gentlemen in art books several times, so she thought that a salon madam would have a somewhat depraved and gloomy atmosphere.

Whether it was her preconception or if all the painters who depicted salons had such tastes, the atmosphere was completely different from what she had imagined.

Should I say that the image of Madame Cronak pouring drinks doesn’t come to mind easily?

As Claudel was about to be introduced to the unfamiliar salon culture, Madame Cronak bowed her head to her.

“Allow me to formally introduce myself. I am Cronak Delmore, the owner of Salon Arbo.”

“Pleased to meet you.”

Kaian chuckled as he watched Claudel greet awkwardly.

“You seem unusually nervous.”

“There’s no need for that, Duchess. Please be at ease.”

“It’s my first time in a place like this.”

“Indeed. There are no salons in the North, are there?”

“The Duchess of Vermonte oversees everything there.”

Madame Cronak flashed a business smile and gestured to the servant to place thick catalogs in front of where Claudel and Kaian were seated.

“The King’s birthday celebration is such an important and grand event. So, the main attraction in the capital during this time would be the royal events that the Duke will be attending.”

“I see. My wife is very curious and would like to do some sightseeing to make her visit to the capital worthwhile, beyond just those formal events.”

Claudel watched as Kaian skillfully conveyed what he wanted to Madame Cronak.

The main focus of the salon’s work was to research, investigate, arrange, and book all kinds of things that the nobility desired.

Even if they wanted to go somewhere or obtain information, nobles who had just arrived from their provincial territories wouldn’t know such prime information about the capital.

And it’s not feasible to keep a permanent attendant in the capital when they might visit only a few times a year, if at all.

So, by paying the salon, they would handle all sorts of miscellaneous tasks needed during their stay in the capital – for example, from introducing suitable cooks or servants and maids who wouldn’t compromise the dignity of the temporarily rented mansion, to bringing in skilled artisans to mend a lady’s dress or silk shoes, and even booking seats at desired restaurants.

As a result, competent salons attracted nobles with deep pockets, and according to Kaian, this Salon Arbo was currently the most popular and famous salon in the capital.

“Does the Duchess enjoy watching performances?”

“Performances? What kind of performances do you mean?”

When Claudel asked, Madame Cronak flipped through the thick catalog and opened it to about the middle.

“Yes. Operas are very popular in the capital these days. We have secured the best seats for tomorrow evening’s performance.”

What Madame Cronak showed had the title and name of the theater company written large, along with portraits and roles of the starring actors.

“The Revenge of Karl Hamelin?”

“Yes. It’s a story about an enraged husband punishing his wife who had an affair with her lover while he was away at the Five Year War.”

While Claudel was wondering if that would really be entertaining, a servant came in and whispered softly to Madame Cronak. Her eyes widened slightly, and she respectfully informed Kaian.

“Duke, there are people waiting who wish to see you. What should we do?”

“It hasn’t even been thirty minutes since we entered the salon, and already there’s a commotion.”

Kaian stood up.

“I’ll briefly show my face at the club and come back. You take your time looking over things with Madame Cronak and see if there’s anything you’re interested in. If there’s somewhere you want to go, you don’t need my permission, so go ahead and make reservations.”

“Alright.”

As he disappeared following the servant’s guidance, Claudel let out a small sigh.

“Are you tired?”

“Unfamiliar experiences are always like this at first. It’s not uncomfortable, so don’t worry about it.”

Claudel hesitated before bringing up what had been on her mind.

“Um. I’m sorry for being so startled when I first saw you earlier.”

Madame Cronak’s eyes widened as if hearing unexpected words.

“I didn’t mean to hurt or offend you. If my reaction upset you, please understand it wasn’t intentional.”

“The Duchess is truly a kind person.”

Madame Cronak smiled at her words.

“This scar is what I gained in exchange for everything in my life.”

“How did it happen? May I ask?”

“There was a big fire at my home. The foundation of life I had built over a lifetime, the nest I shared with my family, all turned to ashes.”

“…I see.”

“Due to a burglar, I was stabbed and lost consciousness. When the fire broke out, I couldn’t escape quickly.”

Madame Cronak spoke calmly.

“I must have had the will to live, as I somehow managed to crawl out of that house. Although I suffered burns.”

“Yes. It’s a great fortune that you survived.”

Claudel smiled faintly.

“The person who saved me was Lord Kaian.”

“The lord?”

“Yes. The Duke happened to be passing by and found me. He took me to a doctor.”

A brief sadness crossed Madame Cronak’s eyes, which had been maintaining a professional demeanor without revealing much emotion.

“It must have been severe burns to leave such a large scar. And I was also gravely injured from being stabbed. I hovered between life and death for half a year.”

Claudel unconsciously reached out and held Madame Cronak’s hand.

“But you survived. You’ve accomplished something truly admirable.”

“…Duchess.”

“Someone must have earnestly wished for you to live.”

If only, if only she could have saved her mother from the red flames that threatened to engulf the village where she was born and raised, the forest that embraced the laughter of young girls, the mountains that promised their prosperity.

Claudel would have willingly offered her body and soul even to the devil if it meant saving her mother’s life.

‘If mother hadn’t passed away, father wouldn’t have made that choice either.’

Even if they had left Ploneu village, the three of them could have started a new life together somewhere cozy.

To shake off the gloomy mood, Claudel deliberately smiled and pointed to the opera she had recommended.

“Isn’t it more common for noble husbands to have affairs rather than noble wives?”

A wife’s life was at the mercy of her husband.

Even if she suffered abuse, no one could help a woman due to the absolute rights of the husband.

Yet here was a story about a husband taking revenge on his unfaithful wife.

Even just getting divorced would mark a woman as a symbol of misfortune, potentially forcing her to wander the streets as a beggar until the end of her life. There was no need for such grand revenge.

In response to Claudel’s point about the story being unrealistic, Madame Cronak shrugged.

“What’s important is considering the feelings of the husbands who will pay for the opera tickets. If it were a story about a wife taking revenge on her husband, the Duke might not be so generous in buying tickets.”

Claudel became even more perplexed by this.

“Then do other noble ladies enjoy this content where a woman has an affair and gets punished?”

“Hohoho. Other noble ladies…”

Madame Cronak lowered her voice meaningfully.

“They like the male singer appearing in this performance.”

“…Huh?”

“In the middle, when the lover seduces the lady and when the husband expresses his anger towards his wife, both singers tear their clothes.”

“What on earth…”

Madame Cronak smiled brightly.

“Not every lady is blessed with an extraordinary husband like Lord Kaian.”

Claudel, who hadn’t been married for long, blushed with embarrassment.

“If, if it’s this kind of performance, I don’t think I can watch it with the lord. Please recommend something else.”

“Among the performances in the capital, this is considered quite decent, Duchess.”

Claudel fanned her heated face with her hand, feeling warm.

Claudel eventually succumbed to Madame Cronak’s salesmanship and made a reservation for the performance.

‘If you’re attending the palace ball, you’ll be conversing with other noble ladies of the capital’s social circles, so you’ll need some common topics of conversation.’

Listening to her words, Claudel thought it might be worth going to the theater at least once for the experience.

Afterwards, they had dinner at a restaurant in the bustling street recommended by the salon, enjoying the night view of the capital with Kaian.

Sitting on the third floor surrounded by the vibrancy and lights of the street, it was such an enjoyable experience that she could barely hear what Kaian was saying across from her due to the noise, but it was thoroughly enjoyable.

However, when Claudel lay down her tired body from the unusual outing after returning to the royal palace, a nightmare visited her.

Whoosh, whoosh.

The massive inferno, viewed from a child’s eye level, was burning the entire world around her.

Claudel was fleeing the burning village in Evan’s arms.

Over her father’s shoulder, Claudel reached out towards the flames, crying.

‘Mom! Mom!’

At that moment, a hand suddenly stretched out from the licking flames and grasped the small child’s hand.

The face of the woman engulfed in flames melted like candle wax.

‘Do you really want me to live?’

Ahhhhh!

As Claudel screamed, Kaian shook her awake.

“Claudel. Claudel. Wake up.”