It was a blurry face. Since Mayana wasn’t originally a noble, she didn’t know who would be appropriate as the Duke’s wife. She only combined the image of the ‘noble lady’ in her mind in various ways.

As she imagined the Duchess wrapping her arms around Cediloy’s head, kissing him on the cheek, Mayana suddenly blushed.
“I wonder what I’m thinking.”

Mayana, who had coughed awkwardly, lowered her gaze with a somewhat indifferent attitude.

“Where does it hurt?”

Suddenly, Cediloy leaned towards Mayana. The scent, completely unnoticed until now, flowed deeply into Mayana. It was the scent of cinnamon and pine, snow piled up freshly, or the sudden fragrance of lilies as he extended his head between them.

Mayana, looking at him a beat late, answered.

“Nowhere.”

Then she continued.

“I’m fine. Why did you call me? Do you have something to ask?”

For a moment, Mayana seemed to see a slightly perplexed expression in Cediloy’s eyes. Was it a misconception?

It must be. Mayana thought. What could possibly make him feel perplexed looking at her? Come to think of it, the purpose of her visit to the capital was for a friend’s funeral. Perhaps the aftermath had not completely settled yet.

Mayana, who was contemplating, spoke as if trying to console him.

“I’m sorry for your friend’s loss.”

Cediloy made a more complicated expression for a moment, then soon nodded with a faint smile.

“Thank you. It was… not as bad as I thought. Many people came to pay their respects. It’s better than a lonely funeral where no one comes.”

“Actually, I didn’t want to bother you until you had everything on your end sorted out… But Lady, you seemed to be really looking forward to the first tea party. So, I sent a letter hoping that you would join us, rather than just us being there.”

“You did well. I’ve said it before, but Ariante is my top priority. Don’t forget that you, too.”

Mayana nodded her head. Then she asked again.

“But why did you call me?”

Cediloy, losing words for a moment, looked at her, then suddenly leaned back on the sofa, giving a low laugh.

“Just… want to have a cup of tea.”

Mayana’s fingertips, resting on her knees, crumpled slightly. Scenes she had vividly imagined once again passed through her mind like a live broadcast. But she shook off those thoughts, realizing they had nothing to do with her… of course.

Mayana said, “If that’s the case, it would have been much better for you to call the Lady instead of me. Knowing that the Lady wants to play with you.”

“Getting scolded again. Well, I expected this.”

A forced laugh erupted. It was Mayana who laughed.

“If that’s what it is, calling the Lady would have been much better. It might cause misunderstandings if people hear that you called me, especially if the Lady is aware that you want to play with her.”

“Another headache. Well, I anticipated this.”

A wry laugh escaped. It was Mayana who laughed.

“If I say I caused a headache for the Duke, I don’t know what you mean. Anyone who hears it might misunderstand.”

Cediloy said, “It’s the truth. No one will misunderstand.”

At that moment, a maid entered with tea. When she placed the cup down, she glanced at Mayana with quick eyes, but Mayana once again averted her gaze pretending not to notice.
After the maid left, Mayana looked at Cediloy and spoke.

“If you want to have tea, it would be better to come to the east.”

Cediloy’s hand, holding the cup, paused for a moment. He asked in return.

“Why?”

“Surely, you’re not questioning that because you don’t know? If rumors spread that I’m entering the Duke’s reception room without any special reason, what do you think everyone will think?”

Cediloy, seeming to grasp Mayana’s intention just now, chuckled with a sound of realization. However, this laughter felt somehow different from usual.

Cediloy said, “Are you saying that because you’re afraid of rumors that I’m doing something frivolous to you?”

Mayana, staring at him for a moment as if she had been pricked, changed her words.

“It’s the opposite, Duke. Rumors would circulate that I’m playing tricks on you. You seem to keep forgetting, but you are the master of this place and my employer to a certain extent. Moreover, you are a nobleman in a high position. Such a person cannot be entangled in rumors of ‘misconduct.’ Especially when the other party is an employee.”

In the end, both of them seemed to be saying the same thing, but the underlying meaning was completely opposite.

Cediloy recalled the sudden desire he felt when he saw Mayana, whose hair and cheeks were moist from washing Ariante.

For the first time, he remembered himself being confused by emotions he had never felt before.

The words he had just said to Mayana were connected to the desire he had felt at that time. It did not disappear like a extinguished flame or sink like a stone thrown into the water. If Mayana knew about it, how would she react? Would she storm out of this mansion forever, driven by a momentary hesitation, even though Ariante was here?

Probably. Cediloy thought so. Even if Ariante were here, it would be only a momentary hesitation. Therefore, he had to hide this feeling, this desire. He had to hide it deeply, lock the lid of the box, close the door, and surround it with a fence made of thorny vines so that no one could approach and steal it.