As Rail left and the door closed, silence descended upon the office.

After examining documents for a while, Edmond sighed, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt, and sank into the chair. Suddenly, his gaze fell on the green grape tart Rail had left behind.

‘It’s from a famous tart shop. Lady Etricia asked me to deliver it as a token of gratitude. She said she bought it based on your taste.’

Edmond glared at the green grape tart as if having a staring contest.

He felt an inexplicable frustration and irritation. Even he didn’t understand why. Why he was so displeased that Etricia had drawn a line and rejected his help. To someone who had even tried to kill his sister.

He had received reports that she had boldly slapped him twice and pretended to cry to turn public opinion around… but thinking about it since last time, isn’t she too defenseless? Isn’t it still dangerous?

Startled even by ice, trembling at heights, yet so fearless.

Recalling Etricia’s cold-hearted boundary-setting again, this time his insides boiled.

‘Didn’t she say we were in the same boat before? Looks like she disembarked alone? What a willful woman.’

To think he had hesitated in being wary of that woman because of such words. He was also angry at himself for that.

She must have easily said such things while smiling falsely at him to curry favor.

Tsk, Edmond clicked his tongue and, as if he couldn’t stand the sight, picked out only the green grapes on top of the tart to eat, then started working while chewing.

Lilien, who had been gloomy due to the canceled appointment with Etricia, hurried home upon hearing that she had bought tart for her.

As Lilien was hastily leaving the confectionery training institute building, she noticed groups of students gathered.

As she was passing by them, she caught a familiar name and thrust her face into their midst.

“What about Lady Etricia?”

Eek! The students were startled, each clutching their chests or shuddering their shoulders.

As Lilien blinked her big eyes, they eventually exchanged glances and, not knowing who was before them, spilled their story.

Nonsense! After hearing it all, Lilien got into the carriage, fuming.

The paper box she was holding became unsightly crumpled. She recalled the story she had heard earlier.

‘Well… They say the reclusive Countess Vuel is staying with the Mifidian family. But the real reason is that while Count Vuel was away from the island, with Count Mifidian…’

‘There was interaction from the forest, they say?’

‘Oh my, how outrageous…’

Lilien snorted and stomped one foot hard.

Who on earth spread such an insolent rumor.

“If I find out who, I won’t let them off…!”

Lilien paused momentarily at a thought that flashed through her mind like lightning.

She rolled her eyes.

‘…Should I let it be?’

While she was devastated by the rumor full of intent to insult her younger brother and Etricia, upon careful consideration, it wasn’t a bad rumor.

If the rumor became true, wouldn’t she be able to stay with Etricia forever? Above all, Edmond would be much better than that trash of an ex-husband.

“Why didn’t I think of this before?”

Recently, she couldn’t even concentrate on confectionery due to the thought of having to be apart from Etricia.

She barely passed the once easy qualification exam, and every night she felt that each passing day was too precious. She even felt a slight gratitude towards Devon, who hadn’t given her a divorce yet.

Originally, it seemed she was planning to stay at the Mifidian mansion only until the divorce was finalized.

Lilien furrowed her brow fiercely and racked her brain.

‘First of all, it’s nonsense that Edmond doesn’t… like Lady Etricia.’

How could he not like her? Someone as brilliant as a flame with an unquenchable kindness. Then what about Lady Etricia…?

Lilien recalled her brother’s strengths.

Mari had said that for men, it’s all about looks, looks, and more looks. Wealth is a bonus, but God is fair, she said. In that respect, the Count was someone on whom God’s affection was excessively biased.

Moreover, after the upcoming title ceremony, he’d have the status of a proper Duke.

Then the conditions as a spouse were met. Furthermore, didn’t she know Etricia’s secret preferences?

With her expression softening, Lilien barged into Edmond’s office as soon as she arrived at the mansion.

Edmond was reading documents, maintaining his composure.

In contrast to her bold entrance, Lilien hesitated. Even for family, asking such a thing seemed a bit…

“E-Edmond, you know. I have something to ask.”

“What is it now. My head is complicated right now-”

“Um, do you have big… breasts?”

“What did you just say…”

Edmond’s dreamy gaze, which had been on the documents, slowly rose.

Lilien’s face became very flushed. Her younger brother’s eyes looking at her were creasing. But having already broached the topic, face didn’t matter.

“Can you let me measure your chest size just once?”

“Did you learn something strange from Countess Vuel?”

“Lady Etricia doesn’t say such outrageous things.”

Haah, really… Edmond pressed his temples with a headache-stricken expression.

“…Please leave.”

“Let’s just measure your chest size once, okay?”

Edmond stood up abruptly, personally opened the door, and pushed Lilien’s back.

“I-If that’s not possible, how about doing some chest exercises?! From what I know, Lady Etricia’s ideal type is-”

Bang-!

Pushed out and expelled from the office, Lilien stood with her back to the door and pouted her lips sulkily.

“How mean…”

Lilien turned around and shouted at the door.

“Edmond, you must do chest exercises! Got it?”

There was a crashing sound from inside at the end of the sentence, but she continued talking to the door for a while, undeterred.

It was not long before the banquet.

We had a leisurely breakfast followed by a light tea time in the greenhouse.

Lilien had left to bake cookies, leaving me alone with Edmond. As we sat facing each other drinking cherry blossom tea, Edmond spoke first.

“You seem to be in a good mood.”

His tone was oddly displeased.

“Well… a little?”

I smiled faintly and placed both hands neatly on the tea table.

“Actually, I requested verification of the will I mentioned before. They say the results will be out soon.”

After breakfast, I received an imperial order from Rail. It was an interim notice of the verification by the Magic Tower.

“Is that so.”

Edmond just nodded indifferently without asking further.

‘Well, he probably checked the imperial order before me.’

I lowered my head with a faint smile.

“I’m planning to talk to Lilien about Viscountess Weekley today. It’s not something to be too burdened about, but she shouldn’t be flustered when introduced at the banquet.”

“Do so.”

“Ah, I forgot to thank you for resolving the scandal.”

“It wasn’t me, but the Countess who resolved it. Splendidly.”

“…”

He seems unusually prickly today. Did Devon do something wrong again?

Feeling the back of my head tingle, I scratched it while trying to recall, but I couldn’t remember anything. Devon’s rampage, the scandal, etc., there should be quite a few things.

Hoo, I let out a shallow sigh.

‘Let’s pretend not to notice for now.’

If the other person’s emotions are ambiguous, it’s best not to bring it up. Trying to resolve it through half-baked conversation could become the source of an argument.

Wanting to change the atmosphere, I glanced at Edmond, looking for a topic.

Edmond had his hair down, which was rare. His silver hair was sparkling in the sunlight filtering through the transparent greenhouse windows today.

As I stared, unable to take my eyes off, I suddenly realized that his hair, which used to touch his shoulders, was hanging down messily.

“How about getting a haircut before the banquet? I think it would suit you well if you swept your hair back coolly.”

Edmond twitched his brow and looked at me directly, as if displeased.

“Why should I do that?”

“But the protagonists of the banquet are undoubtedly you and Lady Lilien.”

“I’ll pass. Just take care of my sister.”

What a shame. He would look even more handsome.

I tapped the table and clicked my tongue. I couldn’t suggest it again just to fulfill my own desire.

In the brief silence, Edmond spotted Lilien entering the greenhouse and stood up, leaning on the tea table.

“Then I’ll be going.”

“You’re leaving like this?”

Surprised by his cold attitude of disappearing so abruptly, I spoke up, forgetting my resolve.

Edmond stopped before passing the table and looked at me indifferently.

“Is there anything else?”

I hesitated, then brought up the discomfort I had been feeling for a while.

“…Is there something I’ve done to upset you?”

Edmond raised one eyebrow and looked at me intently with cold eyes. After a while, he opened his mouth.

“No.”

Edmond brushed past me coldly after his icy reply.

‘…No, there’s clearly something wrong.’

What could it be? Is he upset about those rumors about us? Unable to guess, I could only stare blankly at Edmond’s retreating figure.