“…….”

A deep silence settled in the corridor. During that brief moment, someone wondered if there had ever been such a woman in the Grand Duchy, while another questioned if a guest had arrived at the Grand Duchy, though it seemed unlikely.

Indeed, it was understandable.

Even without the powder on her face, she would be unrecognizable, let alone this woman in a sea-colored dress with bare shoulders – how could one immediately guess that she was the Grand Duchess?

Boreas Adrian, who fell into that rare probability, etched into his retina the unusually clear and elegant face of the woman today.

The area around her eyes, which used to be painted black like a witch’s makeup, was clean, and her lips, once dark red, now had a bright scarlet hue. The jewels that used to weigh heavily on her head were completely gone. Instead, only a peony-shaped pin, similar in color to her hair, was used to tie half of her hair back.

Unlike usual, her hair, not tightly pulled up, cascaded down like a waterfall tinted with the sunset, swaying gently.

The pearl bracelet on her wrist, the hollow of her collarbone, the fair exposed nape, the crescent-shaped earrings peeking through the falling red droplets.

The movement of his dark eyes, carefully taking in every detail that made up the woman, ended at the blue eyes directed at him.

It came again. The moment when they looked at each other, once commonplace but now rare.

A clear tone melted into his ears, stirring the lingering images in his mind.

“Are the carriages under repair?”

But although much clearer than before, as if the dawn mist had lifted, the eyes that once sparkled with affection were still not there. Lowering his gaze, Boreas checked the time on his wrist watch and answered.

“……We can go with two today.”

Hans, who was standing beside him, supplemented the explanation, saying that thanks to the quickly repaired carriages being brought first, they could use multiple carriages today.

I see.

Selene nodded lightly and passed by Boreas’s side to board the carriage first.

As she brushed past him, her hair fluttered in the breeze once more. The air, still carrying remnants of the not-yet-faded winter, touched his cheek.

As the cool sensation seeped into his skin, a scent he had only imagined in dreams embraced him warmly.

Boreas suddenly realized the reason for this unfamiliar sensation.

The scent carried by the wind was no longer the pungent perfume.

It was a fresh fragrance reminiscent of spring, the season of budding life.

* * *

Selene, seated in the carriage, fiddled with the lace on her gloves while watching the black carriage through the window. The emblem of the Grand Duchy was also embedded on the side of the carriage waiting directly opposite.

A man who chooses exactly the same thing as himself even when given a choice. When would that man who covers himself in achromatic colors find his own hue?

At the end of Selene’s gaze, the owner of that emblem was preparing to board the carriage.

The man was handsome. When he came down the stairs, the moment she saw him standing at the main entrance, Selene realized anew the flawlessly perfect fact.

Dressed up after a long time, he was a man crafted from the word ‘handsome’.

Did he feel her gaze? The smooth series of movements as he stepped onto the footboard and entered inside faltered for a moment.

“…….”

But that was all; soon after, the man completely disappeared from view. As the door closed, the carriage began to move, and as the carriage vanished from sight, Selene’s gaze, which had been directed at the window, shifted towards the direction of the approaching sound.

“Oh?”

Raemi, who was about to open the carriage door and enter, suddenly tilted her head and stopped her movement.

When the long-time dedicated maid reacted as if a completely normal situation was strange, Selene also paused in the act of removing her gloves and looked at Raemi.

“What’s wrong?”

Why, Your Grace……. After you fell seriously ill last time, you sometimes do things I can’t understand…… Did you forget?

Raemi asked in bewilderment.

“Will you be alright?”

“What do you mean?”

“Oh my, you get motion sickness if you sit there. Because the carriage is going in the reverse direction.”

Raemi pointed directly at the seat where Selene had sat without any particular intention.

“Ah, was that so?”

Just because she had regressed didn’t mean all her memories had returned. From such minute details as which seat allows for a comfortable carriage ride to quite important matters like how she died or how she fell into the lake just before regressing. There were many things she couldn’t remember.

“Thank you.”

I see. So that’s why sometimes I didn’t get motion sickness, and sometimes I did.

As she realized the forgotten fact, the scene of Boreas nodding towards the opposite seat suddenly floated over Raemi’s tilting head.

Could it be…… that he was being considerate of me? But Selene soon dismissed the thought. It’s just excessive self-consciousness, there’s no way.

As Selene moved to sit on the opposite side, Raemi finally sat down as if this was the correct answer.

Soon, the carriage carrying the two of them also departed for the Imperial Palace.

* * *

The ‘Persian Palace’, with its exterior walls covered in gold, was called the most luxurious masterpiece in the empire. Currently, a grand banquet was being held at this place, said to have been built with the most money poured into it in the Eastern continent.

The sight of colorful carriages forming a procession entering and exiting the palace unfolded day and night, and the footsteps of visitors did not cease until dawn.

“Ohoho, Lady Mer, you look beautiful today as well.”

“Oh my, I’m still far from matching the discerning eye of Lady Sina.”

In the center of the vast hall were ladies exchanging greetings while elegantly holding glasses in one hand. They seemed to be concentrating on the conversation more than anyone else, but every now and then, when they heard someone had arrived, they would glance at the doorway as if they were waiting for someone.

Unable to bear it any longer, Lady Mer, known for her impatience, covered her mouth with a fan to hide her obvious expression and threw out a topic of conversation.

“The night is quite deep, I wonder if the Grand Duke will not be attending?”

“Oh, come now. Surely not. It’s the birthday celebration of His Highness the Crown Prince, how could he miss it? That wouldn’t do.”

“Of course not. There are still quite a few people who haven’t arrived yet. It’s unlikely.”

The tone was closer to meaning that it shouldn’t happen, but no one here bothered to raise an issue. After all, everyone who was waiting felt the same way.

The mad Grand Duchess, Selene Adrian. A woman who was both an object of admiration and at the same time, a target of jealousy and inferiority.

At that time, the Grand Duke, a Sword Master and war hero, the heirs of noble families, the next Head of the Magic Tower, the Cardinal who was mentioned as the next Emperor of the Holy Kingdom. Selene Athensia was the only woman in this group.

So, there were more than a few women who secretly rejoiced at the sight of Selene going mad after marriage.

While they cringed at Selene’s acts of mischief, they used her anecdotes as gossip fodder during boring social gatherings. A woman once loved by all but now abandoned by everyone. There was no better spice to add to such trite conversations.

What kind of outrageous behavior would she show today? The women who had envied Selene pretended not to care outwardly while inwardly anticipating.

However, it seemed she wouldn’t be coming early, and as the waiting time grew longer, Lady Mer, who had grown bored in the meantime, scanned her surroundings widely as if searching for a new target.

Then, her eyes caught sight of a young lady standing in front of the balustrade on the upper floor, which offered a clear view of the area below.

Lady Fritten Crosse Lenoir, currently known as the most beloved flower in the empire. A woman who had appeared like a comet in the social world, attracting attention with her beautiful appearance and securing her place beside the most prominent men in the empire.

Lady Mer’s eyes glinted like a hunter who had found prey.

“By the way, Lady Lenoir must be happy today as well.”

She initiated the gossip she prided herself on being the best at in the world, casually throwing out a topic.

“Indeed, she’s worthy of taking that position. Originally, the Grand Duchess was in that place, wasn’t she?”

Lady Sina’s words were close to the truth. Coincidentally, the ‘men’ she had claimed were all once close friends of Selene and men who had liked her. Those who had been with Selene left her when her madness began, and it was Fritten who took the place that Selene had vacated.

Following the change in topic, Lady Mer extended her finger to poke the air. The ladies’ eyes moved following her raised thumb.

“There’s no woman more fearsome than a beauty who knows how to use her looks as power, we all know that.”

Lady Mer winked as she finished speaking, withdrawing her finger.

Ah, thrilling.

And currently, that ‘fearsome woman’ was enjoying reading the gazes aimed at her and the emotions entangled in those gazes. She deliberately tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled.

Moments like these make her infinitely happy. Those eyes filled with envy to the point of death. Eyes of jealousy and envy.

However, Fritten Crosse Lenoir had to be kind, pure, and innocent. Therefore, she only wore a light smile on her lips, like a dazzling doll.

Meanwhile, beside her, Carloi, frowning with a look of disgust, spat out words that broke the harmonious atmosphere.

“I absolutely hate crowds. Ugh, it’s just noisy, why do they even hold such banquets?”

If he didn’t want to come, he shouldn’t have, Fritten was displeased with Carloi who came only to squawk. But she was still smiling. It was an excellent mask, so no one would have guessed that the thought ‘shut up’ existed in that tiny head of hers.

“Magic Tower Master, you seem to not understand, but this is the Crown Prince’s birthday celebration, so it needs to be this grand to avoid gossip. And please maintain proper etiquette at official events, okay?!”

As Carloi made no effort to hide his unruly attitude and waved his hand dismissively, Johan shook his head and sneered.

“I’ve had enough and just want to go home.”

“You’ve been muttering non-stop, my ears are about to bleed. Can’t you stop?”

“Then you should cover your ears, you ill-mannered Duke.”

“I sometimes wonder how an indolent person like you became the Magic Tower Master.”

Rather than joining this meaningless conversation, it seemed more beneficial to feel the admiring gazes. Fritten turned her head.

“By the way, I heard you took in a girl from the orphanage you visited for volunteer work as a maid?”

Fritten, who had been occasionally glancing at the door while looking down, suddenly raised her head at the voice coming from beside her.

“Yes, a girl named Amy. Somehow, we ended up forming a new connection.”

“It must not have been easy to bring a stranger into your mansion.”

Fritten blushed shyly and lowered her head slightly, just enough for her expression to be fully visible.

“She was old enough to leave the orphanage but had nowhere to go. She said she hadn’t found a job yet either. How could I ignore that?”

Fritten Crosse Lenoir had to be kind and compassionate. She slowly raised her head.

“The young lady is too soft-hearted. You need to be a bit tougher sometimes.”

Hearing Johan’s following words, Carloi urged for an explanation with a curious expression.

“What’s this about? Tell me too.”

Johan relayed to Carloi in detail the charitable story of Lady Lenoir that he had heard from Edmund, who was known as the gossipmonger of the social world. Carloi, whose expression of dying curiosity had disappeared, raised an eyebrow.

“Not bad?”

“I merely extended a small helping hand to someone in need.”

Fritten, who had been trying to suppress her rising smile, elegantly crinkled her eyes. Now she would appear in their eyes as a pretty young lady who was not only beautiful but also humble and kind. She let her smile rise freely on the second attempt.

The atmosphere in the hall ripened as time passed, and it was just as the interior was gradually filling with people.

“The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Adrian. Entering!”

Those names that everyone had been longing for concentrated the gazes that had been scattered all around towards the entrance.