Just as she was about to take a step, Walter Asner blocked her path.

“Ignore it.”

“Move.”

“Lady Owello must have her reasons.”

Unable to argue further at Walter’s knowing look.

If she rashly intervened, she might end up troubling Victoria Owello instead. But it was too vexing to let it go like this…

“That purple dress.”

“Lady Jeanne Burkin, Princess Catherine’s favorite.”

Sidney muttered the name under her breath as she headed to the window seat.

The window framed the gray sky and downtown Marcel like a picture, and the light streaming in warmly enveloped Victoria Owello and Isabel Monroe as they chatted.

As if they belonged to a world separate from the chaotic interior.

Isabel Monroe brought out Salon Siesta’s pride – Darjeeling black tea, soft chiffon cake, and tart.

The subtly fragrant, mild tea paired well with the crunchy texture of the nut-filled tart.

Sidney, sitting next to Walter Asner to avoid scandal, set down her teacup and glanced around.

Unlike others who were sneaking peeks, Jeanne Burkin was openly staring, and their eyes met again.

What’s her deal? Something feels off. Sidney crossed her legs the other way and gazed intently at Victoria Owello.

“Vicky, explain now.”

“…?”

“Coming to the Imperial Army headquarters unannounced, introducing yourself as my fiancée, deliberately spreading rumors like this… I need to know why.”

Despite the direct demand for an explanation without preamble, Victoria Owello calmly asked in return, unfazed.

“What you said earlier… that I need the support and protection of a family to survive, that Justin wouldn’t want me to seek revenge, right?”

“…Yes.”

“Mm, that fool would certainly think so. Then Anthony Warden, your… wouldn’t he?”

She had tried hard to ignore it. That she needed someone to blame, to erase the guilt and fear from Anthony’s death – Anthony, who had wished for his sister’s well-being and happiness.

In being unable to move forward, stuck in the past, she was no different from Victoria.

Yet here she was, trying to push Victoria’s back. Sidney cleared her throat, covering her mouth with her fist and looking sheepish.

“So I thought about it, and realized if I marry you, it would solve everything.”

What nonsense.

“Vicky.”

“My father won’t get grandchildren to carry on his bloodline. And I can fully enjoy the protection and support of the Owello family while I’m alive, then erase that name forever.”

The moment her secret is revealed, she and the Warden family will crumble like a sand castle.

If Victoria joins hands with her, Victoria and the Owello family will fall into the abyss too.

Sidney tries to dissuade her again.

“Knowing my situation, yet still…”

“That’s why I’m making this proposal. Marrying me would be better than Earl Redford, who won’t give up anything…”

“Wait.”

Walter raised his hand, interrupting Victoria. Sidney, who had been unconsciously fiddling with the ring from Logan, looked up.

Walter Asner, his face contorted in disbelief, asked in a trembling voice.

“Sidney, did you agree to marry the Commander?”

“…That’s how it turned out.”

Walter turned his back on the people in the hall and lowered his head. After making eye contact, he fired questions in a lowered, angry voice.

“You, what were you thinking… Did that bastard threaten you? Is that why Lady Owello is saying these things?”

“It wasn’t a threat, it was a deal.”

“Are you crazy? Marrying that bastard means… that is… if you reveal yourself as a woman, everyone will know. Damn it! If that happens, neither Owello nor Redford, no one can do anything.”

Exactly. Why would Logan Redford want to do such a dangerous thing?

Of course, she wouldn’t live as a woman in this form as Walter thinks… but even with an artifact to change her appearance, it couldn’t be without risk.

Sidney looked into Walter’s seething eyes and let out a shallow breath.

“Calm down, Walter.”

“Calm down? You’re about to die? Damn, that cursed Redford bastard is finally trying to push you into the fire pit. And yet…”

“Don’t insult Logan.”

“What?”

Sidney pushed away Walter’s stunned shoulder and snapped sharply.

“Walter Asner. Even if it’s you, I won’t forgive you if you insult that person.”

“Sidney, how could you…”

And in a low but resolute voice, she also warned Victoria, who was watching from across.

“And Victoria Owello, I’m declining your proposal. Don’t think about using me for your revenge.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Leaving Victoria Owello trying to explain with a tearful face and Walter Asner staring blankly at her, Sidney stood up and left some parting words for the two.

“I’ll leave first. When we meet next time… I hope my two most cherished people will respect my choice, my marriage, and that person.”

Given how emotions had run too high, and considering the place, Sidney left Salon Siesta, promising a next time.

Sidney Warden left without looking back. Victoria Owello and Walter Asner stared dumbfounded at her cold retreating figure.

After a moment, Walter slumped back in his chair and muttered to himself.

“She’s really angry.”

“Yes, she is.”

Sidney Warden was angry. For her to storm out like this, showing emotion when she rarely does.

The two, unable to stop or chase after Sidney, quietly sipped their tea, lost in thought. Victoria, mulling over the recent situation piece by piece, broke the silence first.

“She definitely said… ‘next time,’ right?”

“She also said ‘most cherished.'”

The glimmer of relief between the two was short-lived as Victoria raised her eyes primly and blamed Walter.

“This is all because of you, Lord Asner. Pushing Sidney like that and even insulting Earl Redford…”

“Ha, the problem started with arranging this meeting without consulting Sidney first.”

“What’s wrong with this meeting?”

As soon as Victoria retorted, Walter spun around, grabbing the table, and sat down next to her. He whispered in a lowered voice.

“Do you think Sidney doesn’t know? Your intention to create a scandal about Lady and Sidney being in that kind of relationship, to make Duke Owello directly push for the marriage.”

Victoria glanced sideways and gulped dryly.

Tap tap, Walter Asner tapped the table with his index finger and sneered.

“She knows. Why Sidney wants to distance herself from us, and that she will absolutely never marry Lady. So you tried to spread rumors first to move your father.”

“Of course I know. In case everything is revealed, to keep others from being harmed because of her… that’s why she’s maintaining distance. That’s why. Just like Earl Redford forced it, I thought maybe if I did the same, Sidney might accept…”

As she continued speaking, Victoria’s brow furrowed and her shoulders slumped.

Walter Asner, who had been listening quietly, frowned and turned his gaze to the window. White snow was starting to fall from the gray sky.

The fluttering, scattering snowflakes seemed to mock the ‘difference’ Logan Redford had spoken of. Walter Asner grumbled, resting his chin on the table.

“You think I haven’t tried that? But it won’t work for Lady Owello and me.”

“Why. Why, Logan Redford can do it, but we can’t…”

Victoria’s mumbling was closer to a lament than a question.

After returning a muttered ‘That’s right,’ Walter stared out the window for a long time.

As white snow piled up on the roof of the building across, Victoria, who had been deep in thought, picked up her teacup again.

“Do you trust that person, Lord Asner?”

At the question of whether he trusted Logan Redford, Walter Asner furrowed his brow. He slowly rolled his eyes to look at Victoria.

Though the Owello ducal family lacked the wealth of the Redford marquis family, their reputation and influence were certainly not inferior.

But Logan Redford, who would use any means necessary…

How could the Owello family with no proper heir and an old duke win?

Moreover, Logan’s obsession and confidence towards Sidney was fanatical. Walter Asner unconsciously clicked his tongue.

“Well, I may not know what that bastard is thinking, but I trust his abilities. He’s the type to get what he wants by any means necessary.”

“It seems so.”

Victoria Owello’s expression as she nodded also looked quite unsatisfactory.

It seemed her anxiety wouldn’t easily subside, given how much she cared for Sidney.

As if having made up her mind, Victoria Owello took a deep breath and gripped her teacup tightly.

“Lord Asner, instead of blindly trusting that person… Shouldn’t we come up with our own countermeasures?”

“How do you mean?”

Looking straight at Walter who showed interest, Victoria continued.

“First, we should pretend to respect Sidney’s decision and marriage. While watching over Sidney closely like that…”

“While watching?”

“We can discuss… what to do.”

Victoria smiled brightly as she fumbled for words. Walter Asner, who had been waiting quietly, sighed and nodded repeatedly.

“Ah, from now on.”

“Yes.”

“So… this is a sudden, spontaneous idea that just came to you.”

Walter Asner’s tone as he pointed out each detail was extremely polite. But his expression seemed to mock ambiguously, inevitably unsettling Victoria.

“Is that not allowed?”

“There’s nothing wrong with it. Then… shall we start with the story of Sidney agreeing to marry the Commander?”

The two sat side by side by the snowy window, so absorbed in their own conversation that they paid no attention to others’ gazes.

Despite drawing more attention as the surrounding tables were cleared thanks to Salon Siesta’s owner Isabel Monroe’s consideration.