Once her heart had started to darken, it darkened uncontrollably. She began to have paranoid delusions that she couldn’t be with young and capable Duke Bauterminster, Sediloi, because of Ariante. This began after she overheard Sediloi telling Joslyn that he wouldn’t take a wife until Ariante came of age.

I want to get rid of her. I want to get rid of her! Both the unattractive little girl and the Meianna who always follows her around. I want to sweep them away like dust.

“The Duke has returned!”

Grete snapped back to reality at the maids’ shout. Running to the window facing the east outskirts, she saw a carriage actually crossing through the garden.

‘He’s back so soon….’

Grete clenched her teeth in frustration. The situation had only become more critical for finding the item Ariante had hidden, the item she had prepared to link Meianna and Sediloi….

‘I don’t know how Bainti girl found out, but it must be true since she told me. She must think I can’t do anything about it…. Once I regain my status, I’ll sell Bainti off as a slave.’

She saw the carriage stop. Grete took a deep breath to calm her flushed cheeks and her emotions.

She now knew there were things she had to hide to achieve her goals. She had thought everyone would sympathize with her if they knew she was of noble origin, but that was not the case; instead, she had been mocked.

Sediloi got out of the carriage holding Ariante. Joslyn’s face hardened at the sight, but he didn’t even glance their way as he went inside.

The only thing that people found odd was that Meianna, who followed, looked quite unwell. Ariante, too, while in Sediloi’s arms, had a deeply furrowed expression.
The servants could tell just by looking that there was a problem with today’s outing and began to bow their heads. Clearly, Ariante had done something wrong, or perhaps Meiana had overstepped her bounds…

“Your Grace.”

It was Joslyn who finally broke her silence. Sedilroy and Ariante, who was in his arms, both turned their heads at the same time.

Joslyn looked at Ariante, who was snuggled in Sedilroy’s arms, with an awkward expression and said,

“The demeanor you should maintain as Your Grace is not appropriate for such behavior. The same goes for the princess. For a grown lady to be acting like a child and being held in Your Grace’s arms tarnishes the Baltermister family’s honor.”

Ariante’s eyebrows furrowed even more. Meiana also wore a disapproving expression, but she couldn’t argue with Joslyn right now.

Meiana cautiously approached Sedilroy and reached out her arm.

“Princess, come here.”

However, Ariante hesitated and simply stared at Meiana. For a brief moment, Meiana realized Ariante still held a grudge against her due to the incident in the coach.

It was then that Sedilroy chuckled.

“Joslyn, this so-called honor of the Baltermister family seems to be no more valuable than wet, rotting dirt.”

Joslyn’s face turned not just pale, but darkened. Her withered hands that were politely gathered together started trembling.

“Your Grace, what exactly do you mean?”

“If an honor is tarnished simply by a father holding his daughter, then it can’t be that great. Stop fussing over trivial matters. You’re getting old, too.”

Sedilroy then turned and began to walk towards the eastern stairs with Ariante in his arms. The servants, and even Meiana, were so surprised that they were at a loss for words and could only look at Sedilroy’s retreating figure.

That was when Meiana felt the burning gaze of Joslyn.

“What have you instilled in His Grace?”

Meiana let out a hollow laugh.

“Butler, what are you talking about? I’ve done nothing. And His Grace is not wrong, either. Nowhere in the world is a father holding his daughter considered to dishonor the family.”

A twisted smile appeared on Joslyn’s lips. Then, for a moment, she glared at Meiana as if to say she knew everything without having to see it.

“Do you think I don’t know your tricks?”