For several days after the tea party, Lea was busy.

She had Luke issue a rebuttal and correction to the article reported in the Galdencia newspaper, and also posted an advertisement with a photo of her wearing the purple lace cape.

“My head’s been cut off again.”

Now she could only laugh when she looked at the newspaper.

At first, she felt uncomfortable because the photo looked strange, but considering the inconveniences of having her face known, Terran’s initial idea was right.

“Grandpa Rapha called and said people have started coming back to the general store.”

“Really? That’s good.”

That wasn’t all. Orders were pouring in for the cape Lea had showcased at the tea party. But the requests were all the same.

The problem was whether Chainer remembered the faces of all the noble ladies who came to the tea party.

Lea thought it was an unreasonable request and was planning to return the order forms. But Chainer confidently said she could do it.

“I remember everything. Their names, faces. And I know what clothes they wore then.”

“Really?”

Lea and Pauline exclaimed simultaneously. They thought Chainer was only a genius with her hands, but perhaps she was more intelligent than others.

“Let’s organize this. Chainer, for now, you’ll make the capes ordered by the Empress and the noble ladies. Pauline and I will look for someone to make the riding habits.”

“Yes! I’ll work hard, sisters.”

‘Chainer’s taken care of. Now the riding habits are the problem…’

No matter how much Lea thought about it, she couldn’t think of anyone to make the riding habits.

There are numerous boutiques in Revon and skilled dressmakers. But it was questionable whether they could make riding habits.

That’s when Pauline looked at Lea with sparkling eyes.

“Miss, we don’t necessarily need to entrust the clothes to a female dressmaker. For riding habits, wouldn’t a tailor who makes gentlemen’s suits be better?”

“That’s a good idea, Pauline.”

“Let’s ask the Duke for help. He must have a dedicated tailor for the ducal residence.”

“Let’s do that.”

But the slight awkwardness with Terran was a problem. He always treated her the same, but the issue was herself.

After meeting the Empress, she felt great admiration for her, but uncontrollable jealousy shook her heart.

Her feelings of inadequacy compared to the Empress, Terran’s first love, as well as doubts about why he hadn’t gotten engaged to the Empress, tangled together, confusing her mind.

And greed sprouted. She wanted to become a woman superior to the Empress in every way.

‘That elegant gait, that relaxed demeanor.’

She was so perfect that even a woman would fall for her.

“Pauline, there’s something I want to ask.”

Lea suddenly stopped on her way to see Terran. She wanted to confirm if it was just her eyes.

“What did you think of the Empress, Pauline?”

“What’s there to say? She’s the perfect image of a woman.”

“Re…ally?”

“I’ve never seen such a magnificent woman in my life.”

Pauline clasped her hands together with an enraptured expression. On the other hand, Lea was overwhelmed with a sense of defeat.

Clearly, she liked the Empress too. As Pauline said, she was wonderful, beautiful, wise, and perfect beyond words.

But a part of her heart ached. Not only did she feel regret for not being able to be such a woman, but she even felt self-loathing.

“But… the Duke likes you more, Miss.”

Pauline’s perceptiveness was problematic. Without even having to say anything, she seemed to see through her and offered unnecessary comfort.

‘It’s not a matter of whether Terran likes me more or not. I’m the problem.’

Lea shook her head repeatedly, trying to shake off her complicated thoughts.

* * *

Lea took a walk with Terran along the spruce forest path after a long time. She talked about the Empress’s order and the things she wanted Terran to help with.

“He’s a skilled tailor, so he’ll do a good job.”

“Thank you for readily helping.”

“It’s not just anyone, but Vivian who’s asking for a favor.”

‘Still Vivian?’

A man trapped in old memories, still calling the Empress by name. Lea tried to react nonchalantly, but it wasn’t easy.

“Vivian has dark brown eyes, so brown or beige really suits her.”

“!?”

“She rides horses so well, and now she’s entering a horse riding competition. That’s just like Vivian.”

Terran spoke passionately about the Empress.

“Vivian has slender arms and legs, and her feet are small compared to her height. It would be good to consider this when making the riding habit. Oh, and her head is small, so the brim of the hat should be short.”

Lea was at a loss for words.

It felt like her mind was collapsing and her heart freezing. She lost interest in the riding habits or anything else.

Terran’s affectionate expression and eyes full of melancholy when talking about the Empress were ridiculous. She hadn’t known until now that the woman he really liked was in the Imperial Palace.

“Terran, why did you get engaged to me? The Empress, your first love, was there.”

Lea unintentionally revealed her inner thoughts. Still, she tried her best not to show her agitation.

“Because Vivian got engaged to His Majesty…”

“Why didn’t you hold onto her? She was your first love.”

“Should I have?”

“Yes, if it were me, I don’t think I’d let go of a man I liked so much.”

“Then, what kind of man am I? Am I a man you like very much?”

Squirming like a loach, avoiding the question. Lea was seized with the urge to hit Terran out of spite.

“I wonder.”

Lea also avoided answering. But she didn’t know why her eyes were getting hot. She tried her hardest not to cry.

If she cried here, she would feel too miserable.

“You got engaged to me because of brother Aiden, right?”

She continued her attack on Terran instead.

“Didn’t we finish that conversation last time? That’s not it.”

“I feel sorry for you. That you couldn’t be with your first love.”

“Are you serious?”

Terran’s voice was very low.

“Of course. If I had been mature enough back then, I would never have held onto Terran. I don’t want a man who doesn’t love me, and I don’t want him either. It’s not too late even now. We’re not married yet.”

“What did you say?”

“Ah! It might be difficult with the Empress. Then Terran should find a woman who can fulfill the wistfulness of his first love.”

Lea was too absorbed in the invisible emotional battle with Terran. No, she was insanely jealous. She hated the very fact that he and the Empress had separate memories.

It was pathetic that while she had been the one to repeatedly push him away, saying she would never love him and wouldn’t indulge in such luxury, she was now lashing out just because he brought up some old memories.

Knowing full well that she shouldn’t be doing this, she was unable to control herself, trapped in childish stubbornness.

‘Lea Hamilton, you’re a hypocrite. Selfish and pathetic.’

But not all of what she said was just a facade. If Terran were to meet a woman like his first love even now, she would bless them.

“Let me ask one thing.”

Terran looked ominous. He blocked Grace’s path and looked down at her fiercely as he spoke.

“Go ahead?”

“Since we’re not married, does that mean you can go to another man anytime?”

Lea couldn’t answer right away. The reason was obvious.

Because now she couldn’t go anywhere without Terran. The boundaries she had created to keep him from intruding had long since crumbled.

But her pride wouldn’t allow her to change her words now.

“Of course.”

“Of course?”

Terran seemed greatly shocked.

“Terran, I need to go see James. I have to meet the tailor. I’ll go ahead.”

Lea left the spruce forest, almost as if fleeing from him.

She walked straight ahead, leaving Terran shocked in the middle of the forest.

* * *

Terran stood motionless, staring at the spot where Lea had left.

“Damn you, Luke.”

He had said things he didn’t mean, just because Luke had told him there was nothing better than jealousy to understand a woman’s feelings. But Grace had remained calm. Rather, he had learned things he shouldn’t have known.

‘So it’s okay if it’s not me?’

As expected, Grace was trying to distance herself from him under the pretext of effort.

With this, he only confirmed that the little bird in his cage was eagerly looking for a chance to fly away. But his heart ached as if it was being torn apart.

Now he couldn’t do without Grace, but she was trying to open escape routes in various ways.

Could it be that the reason she was cultivating the ability to do anything on her own was to get away from him?

‘Has she grown sick of me?’

In the past, he had treated Grace quite harshly. Perhaps those memories remained as wounds, and she was trying to pay him back in full.

‘Grace, do you no longer love me?’

Terran briefly imagined Grace leaving him and loving another man.

“Kuk…!”

Even the mere imagination made his heart feel like it was burning black with jealousy. Then, a murderous intent rose like smoke from his solar plexus.

‘How dare anyone try to take you away from me.’

He seemed to have heard once that true love means blessing the other person to do well.

‘What bullshit.’

He had to use any means necessary. If her heart had left him, he just had to bring it back.

‘Grace, love me. That’s the only way for both of us to live.’

Terran didn’t know himself that he could be so terribly obsessed with one woman.

His heart was so full of her that there was no room for anyone else…

Only then did Terran come to his senses. He could see Grace walking far away, leaving him behind.

‘Don’t leave me behind!’

Terran ran quickly after Grace.

For some reason, he couldn’t bear the ominous feeling that he shouldn’t let her go like this.

Terran finally grabbed Grace’s arm as she walked ahead.

“Terran!”

“You must not love anyone but me!”

Terran shouted at Grace. On the other hand, Lea wanted to shake off his hand that was gripping her arm tightly.

“It hurts!”

“Don’t forget, you’re my woman!”

Lea was angry at Terran shouting with a frightening face.

“Terran, you’re a liar.”

Lea shouted back at him.