As the Duke, Damian had many official events on his schedule.

Today was another official event to inspect a merchant ship necessary for the family’s business.

Knowing that Damian was away from the ducal residence, Blake climbed over to Lucy’s balcony.

After the birthday banquet for Crown Prince Eden, Damian had warned him not to enter the ducal residence, but Blake paid no heed to such warnings.

Having received Lucy’s letter, Blake swiftly climbed over the balcony and checked if Eriel was inside.

Lucy had left a letter asking him to come see her when Eriel was not around.

“She’s not here.”

After confirming Eriel’s absence in Lucy’s room, Blake entered.

Lucy, who had been sitting on the bed blankly staring at the door, stood up upon seeing Blake.

“Uncle… you came?”

Blake tilted his head at Lucy’s weak voice.

“Why?”

“Huh? It’s nothing… By the way, Uncle, did you see the nobles’ gloves?”

Lucy asked.

Blake nodded and took out the investigation he had done on Jarvis’s gloves from his bosom.

“For now, I analyzed Jarvis’s gloves, but there was nothing particularly unusual.”

Lucy skimmed through the notebook Blake had placed down.

Inside, technical aspects such as Jarvis’s stitching, finishing, mistakes, and frequent designs were analyzed.

“Even if someone wore Jarvis’s gloves, it would be difficult to judge any connection to Baron Scala. It would be better to take off the gloves and check the hands directly. Some received them as gifts, while others bought them directly after hearing about the reputation. Baron Scala’s influence must have contributed to Jarvis’s fame…”

Blake paused his explanation and let out a deep sigh.

“Lucy. Why?”

Lucy, who had a sullen face, shook her head at Blake’s sigh.

“It’s nothing.”

Blake flicked Lucy’s cheek with his finger. Whether Blake flicked her cheek or not, Lucy was pushed aside each time he tapped, sighing.

“Uncle… you know… Sniff.”

Lucy, who had started speaking, suddenly began to sob.

“I… I… think I did something wrong.”

Lucy looked up at Blake with large, teary eyes. Blake’s shoulders flinched at the child’s tears.

Comforting others was unfamiliar to Blake, especially consoling a child.

“Uh… what do you think you did wrong?”

Blake sat down beside Lucy with a creak and patted the child’s back. He recalled what Eriel sometimes did when comforting children, but it only made Lucy cry more.

“I fought with Mom and Dad, and I think it’s because of me.”

Lucy, who started wailing, dropped large teardrops and wiped her tears with the back of her hand.

Blake’s lips moved, not knowing what to do.

“Sniff. Uncle…”

Lucy, who called out to Blake, struggled to speak with a choked breath.

“Do you know Baron Shannon well?”

“…Shannon?”

Blake’s hand, which had been patting Lucy’s back, stopped.

It was a name he hadn’t heard in a long time.

The image of the fellow who used to visit the mansion to play when they were young and acted arrogantly came to mind.

He said he often visited because the mansions were close, but Blake didn’t believe his words.

It was because Jared Shannon treated Blake and Eriel oddly.

“Why him?”

When Blake asked as if he knew about Shannon, Lucy’s face crumbled like a bitten butter cookie.

“Mom… no, Mom and him couldn’t possibly…”

“No.”

Blake shook his head without even fully listening to Lucy’s speculative question.

Eriel was never the type to cheat on her husband in the first place, but considering the conversation they had in the Imperial carriage, her brother-in-law seemed to be an extremely precious existence to Eriel. He had her full trust.

With such feelings, Eriel wouldn’t have diverted her attention elsewhere.

Moreover… Lucy’s very existence proved that such an assumption was absurd.

Blake looked down at Lucy, who was rubbing her tears away.

“But if that guy and Eriel have no relationship, what did you do wrong, niece?”

When Blake asked back, clearly stating it wasn’t the case, Lucy spoke with a more even breath, perhaps having calmed down a bit.

“I made a friend named Helen. So I tried to introduce Helen to Mom, but Helen’s father turned out to be Baron Shannon. But when we were together, Dad showed up… Dad got angry. Because I unnecessarily introduced Helen. I think that’s why Mom and Dad fought. Since then, Mom has been withering away.”

Blake frowned.

Holding his furrowed brow, Blake closed his eyes.

It seemed the kid was a snake, not a newt.

He thought it would be better to just take his sister and niece away, regardless of his brother-in-law.

But even in this situation, Blake let out a long sigh, feeling like his sister would still trust his brother-in-law.

Should we just grab them and run?

*

Damian, who had left the mansion, closed his eyes and rested his head inside the moving carriage.

Eriel’s slightly furrowed brow and trembling eyelashes were all visible. Nevertheless, he kissed her forehead.

Damian himself couldn’t define the feelings in his heart as he looked down at that sight. His emotions and thoughts didn’t align.

He was fearful, anxious, and anger was also embedded in between.

He clenched his hand that was resting on his thigh.

Only after his emotions subsided did he realize he had said something he shouldn’t have.

He hated seeing anyone standing beside Eriel in his place. It didn’t matter if it was his brother-in-law or Eriel’s old friend.

He just hated it, and anger rose within him.

And… friends, he said.

In Damian’s blue eyes that opened, a piercingly cold chill settled.

Even if Eriel considered him a friend, if the other party didn’t feel the same… could such a relationship still be called friendship?

Baron Shannon’s eyes, as he gazed at Eriel, were passionate. The man’s smiling face revealed his feelings toward Eriel.

He knew. Before the marriage, he was aware that Baron Shannon liked Eriel.

Back then, there wasn’t a single man in the banquet hall who didn’t like Eriel, so it was a trivial matter.

Moreover, as they grew up, the fact that Eriel and his relationship could exist under the name of friendship was proof of Baron Shannon’s constant efforts and that Eriel did not love him.

However, Damian couldn’t leisurely stand still and fully accept it.

Even though he knew she wouldn’t do such a thing, he wanted to confirm it.

Even if Eriel’s brow furrowed, even if she had to endure his forced kiss.

He wanted to confirm it one more time.

Damian now even wished for Eriel to do nothing as the Duchess of Xenova.

It seemed like it would be fine if she just stood there in that place.

Without encountering anyone, without smiling at anyone, just looking at Damian.

“Ha…”

Damian, who had repeatedly sighed into his hands, exhaled.

But Eriel would hate that.

“To that extent…”

Eriel had already decided to stay at the ducal residence for the time being.

As Damian finally filled the seven-year void of the husband’s position, the emotional drain would surely exhaust Eriel’s mind and body.

She also needed rest.

Along with Eriel’s rest, Damian wanted to take this opportunity to teach Lucy as the heir.

As a bright child with a great talent for learning, the lessons themselves would undoubtedly benefit Lucy.

Lucy would also be happy to receive a higher level of education.

Of course, there was a concerning part.

Since he had informed her when the relationship between Eriel and Damian was not good… there could be misunderstandings. But since she also replied that she understood, it should be fine.

Through this incident, it would be good if Eriel also stepped back from the child’s affairs and took a complete rest.

She had been constantly clinging to the child, so she must not have had time to take care of herself.

Damian would handle all external matters, and once stability was regained externally, he could sincerely apologize to Eriel then.

If she rested comfortably, her heart would also become more generous.

If he could somehow wrap up the Baron Scala matter with the merchant ship’s launching ceremony and the upcoming hunting festival, he could catch his breath for a while.

When everything settled down, he must apologize to Eriel then.

Having made up his mind, Damian got out of the carriage.

“Your Grace. Here are the items on the agenda for today’s Imperial Palace meeting.”

As soon as he got out of the carriage, Charles greeted him and gave a report. Damian lightly skimmed through the agenda items and nodded.

“And I heard that Baron Shannon has returned to the nobles’ faction this time. I did hear that… there were some unpleasant incidents with Your Grace at the banquet hall. It seems he stayed at the mansion for a while after losing his wife and is now active again. As for Your Grace…”

Charles, who had been reading the changes in the opposing faction upon arriving early, hesitated.

It was because Damian’s head had swiveled around while listening to Charles’s words.

“Did you say Baron Shannon?”

“Yes. Baron Shannon. I was going to ask Your Grace. I heard you encountered him at the banquet hall, were there any issues?”

Damian came to a complete halt.

Crumpling the paper he was holding, Damian let out a short sigh. His Adam’s apple slowly moved as he suppressed his anger.

“No. There were none.”