Everyone seemed tired on the first day and went to bed early. Hoping for more days like this, Selene also retired early, and thus the day came to an end.

The next day, Selene woke up feeling the reddish sunlight flowing through the window.

From early morning, Selene was busy preparing for the tea time snacks scheduled for the morning.

With her hair neatly tied up, Selene gracefully guided the guests who had finished breakfast to the greenhouse.

There was a custom of serving a cup of tea to guests when they visited the mansion, and it was the lady of the house’s duty.

‘So let’s just focus on the task at hand.’

Hiding her uncomfortable feelings behind a bright smile, Selene entered the greenhouse while conversing with people.

The greenhouse, beautifully reorganized over several days, was brightly covered with red and white roses. Several round tables were placed here and there, with various snacks on top.

As per custom, Johan, Nocturne, and Selene sat at one table. Those seated in their assigned places began casual conversation comfortably. As the sound of conversation gradually increased and eyes were averted, Johan briefly dropped formalities.

“Have you been well?”

There was a slightly awkward tone. Selene, reading the implicit meaning of whether it was okay to return to a personal relationship for a moment, readily gave the desired answer.

“I’ve been the same as always. It’s late, but congratulations on becoming a viscount, Johan.”

“It was bound to happen anyway.”

Johan awkwardly smiled and sipped his tea following Nocturne. Even the lively Johan hesitated to speak, and an awkward atmosphere quickly flowed. Selene, once again recalling her duties as hostess, brought up a new topic.

“The inspection team has a lot of miscellaneous work, and the compensation is low compared to the workload, so most people try to avoid it. That’s why I was a bit surprised to hear that you two became part of it.”

“How could a subject disobey the imperial command?”

It was a way of saying he hadn’t volunteered. Selene nodded slightly and took a sip of tea. Silence fell again.

It was when Selene had taken two sips of tea that Johan parted his lips to try and break the awkward atmosphere.

“Is your leg okay now, from when you hurt it that time?”

As a topic that could lead to a fairly long conversation was placed, Selene put down her cup and replied.

“Yes. Fortunately, it’s fine except for a slight ache in my knee.”

“I don’t know how surprised I was. Boreas went right after you left, did you happen to meet him?”

The moment someone’s name was mentioned, the hand reaching for a cookie in the three-tiered tray paused. Selene, quickly resuming her movement, feigned calmness.

“Yes, I met him.”

“Actually, I was the one who explained the situation to Boreas and told him to go after you. But that guy, I’ve never seen him so surprised before.”

At that point, the motion of placing the cookie on the plate stopped.

“He seemed more than just a little shocked when he heard about you. He left looking really worried.”

This time, the movement didn’t immediately continue. Selene carefully traced her memories, drawing the man’s face in the air from that day.

A tightly set mouth. Twitching eyebrows. A slightly furrowed brow.

It was a face that held more annoyance than worry, to that degree of emotion.

Moreover, the thorny words Boreas had spat out. Recalling these, she naturally concluded that Johan had misunderstood.

Having made her judgment, Selene put the cookie in her mouth, signifying that she had no energy to bother answering.

Nocturne, observing her reaction, timely brought up a different topic.

“By the way, is Lady Lenoir doing well in her room? I haven’t seen her once since we arrived here.”

Fritten, who had persistently demanded to visit, hadn’t taken a single step out of her room since arriving. That strange silence felt like the calm before a storm, grating on nerves. Selene shook her head vigorously as if shaking off bad luck.

“I gave her a guest room on the second floor of the annex. She seems to be sleeping constantly, probably tired, but we’re set to have a separate tea time this afternoon, so if you have any messages to pass on, feel free to ask.”

“That’s not really why I asked.”

Nocturne, who had just thrown out any topic to change the atmosphere in the first place, didn’t make any further comment.

Sensing that quite some time had passed, Selene prepared to enter into business. Having neatly sorted out the information to obtain and give out during this tea time, she began her formal manner.

“I have some questions about the inspection schedule. Tomorrow…”

Overall inspection schedule, the majesty flowing from the grand ducal crest decorating the main gate, and the scenery of Bayern Castle that had changed so much it looked newly renovated, as well as light contemplation on Polona territory, the next inspection site.

Selene skillfully led the conversation, choosing appropriate topics in succession.

The strangely disturbing ominousness gradually faded during this time, and by the time the sun that had been high in the sky tilted downward, it was completely forgotten.

Selene anticipated that today too would end safely. Everything was flowing steadily according to plan. Even disbanding the gathering when everyone’s faces showed they wanted to go rest was all smooth.

However, crises tend to come when one least expects them. At that time, when everything seemed to be going smoothly, she didn’t know.

That a loss incident would occur within the grand ducal castle.

* * *

Bang!

The sound of roughly hitting the desk rang out sharply. Fritten, who had slammed her palm on the desk, slowly curled her fingers into a fist.

The more she thought about it, the more infuriating it was.

Taking things, hurling insults, and behaving frivolously was befitting of that woman, the grand duchess. Elegant gait and dignified gestures were the wrong side.

Despite right and wrong being so clear, the grand duchess kept making wrong moves.

The image of the grand duchess welcoming her when she arrived here just wouldn’t leave her mind. The bigger problem was the men. Those men whose eyes roll at the sight of anything pretty, regardless of principles, were the key issue.

Fritten, her fist trembling, abruptly stood up and approached the window.

Her fierce gaze was directed at a group enjoying tea time beyond the window. There, Selene, Johan, and Nocturne were chatting amicably.

‘They’re all friendly even without me! How can this be happening?!’

Her glare, filled with the desire to run over and bite them, was thick with anger. It felt like her insides were twisting. Fritten, overcome with rage, bit her nails even harder. Blood flowed from the opened wound, and her lips quickly reddened with blood.

‘Just wait, Grand Duchess. I’ll make that vulgar act of yours disappear too.’

If cornered, that shallow mask would crumble helplessly. As she was soothing herself by imagining the grand duchess’s downfall, there came a knock, knock at the door.

It was a good omen that the trap to corner the mouse had arrived.

Fritten, twisting her mouth grotesquely, threw a signal to enter and plopped down on the sofa. As the door opened, a maid with her hair braided in two entered the room, led by Fritten’s dedicated maid, Amy.

It seemed the talk was already done, as the maid’s face was quite pale and worth seeing.

Fritten leisurely observed the scene, crossing her legs until the maid knelt at her feet.

“P-please spare me.”

Soon, as the maid’s plea for mercy came out, one corner of Fritten’s mouth rose crookedly. She seemed to know that her weakness was in Fritten’s hands. Fritten asked in a bored tone while dangling one leg.

“Right. What was your name again?”

“R-Remy, ma’am.”

Remy. After savoring her name, Fritten smiled slightly.

“Right. You’ve heard from Amy, haven’t you?”