Without anyone speaking first, tick-tock. Tick-tock. Time flowed like water, each second feeling like a day.

I, who had been quietly staring into the tea, suddenly lifted my gaze. I carefully examined Edmond under the bright light.

Edmond Mifidian, the rightful heir to the Mifidian duchy who fell to the status of retainer due to his uncle’s scheme.

The leader of the monster subjugation unit and soon to be the empire’s only duke, regaining his original honor.

A strong man who returned after about 9 years of monster subjugation in the northernmost Jeder Forest to reclaim his title.

It is said that the wealth left by his grandfather grows faithfully every year with each breath he takes.

Even to the point of becoming a heroic and sacrificial hero to his countrymen.

The heroic tale of him single-handedly entering a cave where a giant monster resided with just a spear at the age of 14, before heading to the battlefield, was still talked about to this day.

And what about his appearance?

His silver hair reaching his shoulders, unkempt from long expeditions, and his raw, feral gaze exuded a dangerous and decadent atmosphere.

To the extent that certain women cheered for that atmosphere.

As time passed and he adapted to the empire, becoming more neat, sighs of regret could be heard from various places.

Even that was considered handsome, they swooned.

‘He’s certainly a handsome man.’

His tall stature, honed by years of training, and his noble appearance overwhelmed others.

No wonder women threw themselves at him like moths to a flame, wanting to be held in his arms just once.

Not knowing there was a negative factor.

As briefly described in the original work, Edmond was exclusive and cold-blooded to anyone other than his own people.

Truly a work of art to be observed from afar.

‘Ah, what a waste of a face, such a waste.’

‘…!’

At that moment, while admiring his lowered silver eyelashes, our eyes unexpectedly met.

Startled, I quickly put on my social mode and smiled brightly.

“I’m late in greeting you while I’m indebted to you. I’m Etricia Vuel of the Vuel Count family.”

Edmond set down his teacup casually and looked directly at me.

“I’m Edmond Mifidian.”

It was fortunate that he returned the greeting. It meant he was at least respecting me as Lilien’s guest. I’d have to use my years of small talk skills from my previous life to kill time until Lilien reappeared.

“I never thought I’d meet such a legendary commander like this. It’s an honor.”

“That’s an exaggerated title.”

“……”

“……”

The conversation ended.

“I’m worried I might have ruined the emotional reunion between siblings.”

“We’ve been in constant communication through magical devices, so there’s no need for a reunion.”

“……”

“……”

It ended again. I bit my lip in the awkward silence.

‘…How is the conversation not continuing? It’s not like we’re on a forced blind date.’

Even after that, I tried to start a conversation several times, but he consistently maintained his iron wall.

His attitude was as good as saying he had no intention of engaging in conversation, so I decided to maintain silence. Some people are uncomfortable with forced conversation anyway.

Just as it was so quiet that breathing could be heard, Edmond loosened his cravat as if feeling stifled.

His collarbone was visible through the white shirt due to the rough movement.

I hastily averted my gaze, but the afterimage remained in my head. I reflexively swallowed at the sight of the skin faintly visible through the white shirt and the clavicle indented as if water could pool there.

‘He didn’t just subjugate monsters for years.’

Edmond, who had even unbuttoned one shirt button, opened his mouth while taking a languid breath. That sigh sounded strangely dangerous and sexy.

“You seem to have become quite close with my sister.”

At the voice tinged with strange discomfort, I casually glanced at him.

He must be displeased, some unknown woman known as the reclusive countess. And with his beloved sister, Lilien, no less.

Just by the fact that he rushed back, advancing his return date by 5 days upon hearing the housekeeper’s report, one could tell how dearly he cherished his family.

I smiled as harmlessly as possible.

“If it seems that way, you’re mistaken. It’s only because of Lady Lilien’s considerate nature that I was able to be at ease. I’m worried I might appear shameless.”

“It’s something my sister allowed. Don’t worry about it, madam.”

“If you think that way, I’m grateful……”

I paused mid-sentence.

The faint smile that had been lingering on my lips slowly faded.

‘……Madam?’

Of course, it’s not wrong to call a noblewoman ‘madam’. But recently in the empire, it was an unwritten rule for men to address married women by their family name and title.

Otherwise, wouldn’t it sound like they were calling their own wife?

“I express my gratitude for saving my sister from an excited horse, madam.”

Just like now.

‘Again with madam……’

I felt my insides churning at its reappearance.

Well, the etiquette Edmond learned would have been last updated 9 years ago, and since etiquette has always been compromised according to lifestyle, he might not know, having lived far from noble society.

‘It’s not like it’s absolutely necessary to follow……’

Was it because it came from that handsome man’s lips?

The two syllables of ‘madam’, which I had heard countless times from Devon, sounded unfamiliar and ticklish.

In the end, it seems anything becomes plausible with a face like that. I felt I could understand, if only for a moment, the hearts of the young ladies who threw themselves at him knowing they would be rejected.

“So, madam—”

“Excuse me, Count?”

I finally couldn’t bear its reappearance and opened my mouth.

The heat at the tips of my ears had spread to the nape of my neck, making me feel flushed.

Unlike me, Edmond, who appeared only calm, nodded expressionlessly.

“Please speak.”

“Could we possibly modify that form of address, ‘madam’?”

One corner of Edmond’s eye twitched fiercely.

“……Are you saying my form of address bothers you? It should be correct in terms of etiquette.”

“Theoretically that’s true, but it sounds as if I’m your ‘wife’, Count, so it’s a bit……”

As I added with an embarrassed smile, his eyes widened. Bewilderment was evident in his roughly vibrating pupils.

A suffocating silence followed.

I quietly averted my gaze from his eyes, looking down. I was biting my lip hard, regretting having spoken unnecessarily.

“……I see.”

Blinking once and returning to his usual emotionless eyes, Edmond opened his mouth politely.

“I will correct it as you said, Countess Vuel.”

“……Yes, that would be better.”

Fortunately, he readily accepted my opinion.

When an awkward silence was about to settle between us again, it was Edmond who broke it first.

“I heard. That your mansion burned down and you lost your place to stay.”

“Yes, I’ve imposed shamelessly.”

“Do you have a place to stay?”

“I’m thinking of imposing on my uncle. I can’t ignore Lady Lilien’s kindness, so I’ll leave the mansion right after breakfast—”

“Stay, in this mansion.”

“……What did you just—”

“I said to stay in the mansion until you arrange accommodation after your divorce.”

For a moment, I thought I had misheard. I never dreamed it would unfold like this.

I had thought that if Edmond gave me the hint to hurry up and eat and get out of his safe zone, I would flee with my tail between my legs saying, “Yes, sir.”

‘But to stay in the mansion……?’

It felt like my body temperature was dropping sharply, like my jasmine tea that had gone cold.

I swallowed hard and opened my mouth quite urgently.

“I can’t impose any further. I have an ex-husband waiting for me.”

“I heard from my sister that you’re preparing for divorce.”

The smile I had been trying to maintain almost crumbled. I wondered how much Lilien had said while I was purifying my body.

“But preparing for divorce will be troublesome. I can’t impose. If my guests come and go, the mansion will be in disarray—”

“For someone living a dull life like me, even an uninvited guest is welcome.”

……Where had the man who seemed forced into a blind date gone? He was quite eloquent now.

I couldn’t understand why he was trying to keep me here, but I clearly sensed that I should avoid it. The look in his eyes as he gazed at me was mixed with the predatory glint I had seen at dawn.

‘Then how about this.’

I lowered my eyebrows as if troubled.

“But me staying in an unmarried count’s mansion might cause unsavory rumors.”

That the Mifidian family could be negatively circulated in society.

That would also have a bad influence on Lilien, the family’s young lady who hadn’t even had her debutante yet. It was the situation Edmond would most dread.

Contrary to my expectation that he would agree, Edmond coldly lifted one corner of his mouth. As if my excuse was laughable.

“Don’t worry about that part. I’ll take care of anyone who speaks impertinently.”

Take care of……? What kind of care? While I was harboring scary doubts, Edmond added:

“And if Countess Vuel leaves like this, as if fleeing, wouldn’t it seem like I’m chasing you out?”

His tone was clearly threatening, asking if I intended to make him look like an uncivilized person.

I bit my lip hard.

‘What should I do.’

In fact, there were many excuses to avoid the situation, such as feigning ill health or outright refusal.

But in front of a warrior who had returned alive from a battlefield where blood and flesh flew, my schemes would be nothing more than shallow floundering.

He was a man who, if he decided to do something, absolutely had to do it.

Didn’t he have the guts to make a deal with the emperor, staking his own life to reclaim his title at such a young age?

And he who returned alive from the Jeder Forest was scheduled to be appointed as a duke after the banquet. It meant he was already someone a mere countess couldn’t challenge.

I couldn’t honestly ask why he was trying to keep me here, as I felt that if the pretense in those upright eyes was stripped away, a dreadful true intention would be hidden.

“Then…… since you insist so much, I’ll shamelessly impose on you.”

In the end, I instinctively lowered my tail. The conclusion was to stay alive for now, even if it meant fleeing in the dead of night.

Edmond nodded indifferently. Though subtle, there was a faint satisfaction on his lips.

As I hazily watched Edmond calmly drinking his tea again, I thought.

‘I don’t know why he’s trying to tie me to the mansion, but……’

Hahaha.

‘I’m doomed…….’

It feels like I’ve had my nape bitten in the tiger’s den I entered just to briefly escape the rain.