Trinity had heard rumors that Jieselgrante liked Duke Cardia.

However, she never imagined Jieselgrante would go to such lengths to attract Duke Cardia’s attention.

Jieselgrante’s beautiful face clearly frowned.

“Oh, my lady. You just frowned.”

“…What?”

“You usually pay attention to avoid getting wrinkles on your face.”

“…”

Trinity glanced at the mirror.

In it was a beautiful noble lady in the most radiant and flowery age of her life, looking somewhat youthful.

‘You’ve lived quite a tiring life, Jieselgrante.’

Was it all to win Cabelased’s heart that she put so much effort into managing her beauty since childhood?

Trinity shook her head at Jieselgrante’s incomprehensible behavior.

Then she asked Lindsey various questions.

It was to figure out who this maid was loyal to and what motivated her.

Lindsey gave unnecessarily detailed answers to her questions.

Thanks to that, she was able to learn a lot about Lindsey.

Things like her family relationships, household circumstances, financial situation. Things that a palace maid would never divulge so openly when asked.

“The young lady is quite strange today.”

“…”

Trinity lifted her gaze from the warm milk swirling in the mug to look at Lindsey.

“How so?”

“You’ve done a full background check on me.”

Lindsey’s expression was bright as she said this. As if she was pleased by the interest shown.

Trinity defined Lindsey as a quick-witted child.

‘This child could be useful with a little training.’

Although she seemed to act a bit too casually with her mistress, Trinity took this as an advantage as well.

The etiquette of the imperial palace was very strict, and the palace maids tended to revere Trinity like a goddess.

Because of that, it was difficult for her to properly see the maids’ faces.

They always kept their heads bowed low, looking only at Trinity’s feet.

Even though she should have gotten used to their submissive attitude, Trinity didn’t particularly like it.

If they only looked at her feet, she couldn’t read their expressions.

What they were thinking while being with her.

Whether they were secretly mocking her while outwardly treating her as their mistress…

So she had tried telling them to raise their heads and talk.

But every time she did, they would say they had committed a mortal sin and prostrate themselves flat on the ground, banging their foreheads.

Crying and begging to be forgiven just this once.

Not realizing that such an attitude made Trinity even more displeased.

“…My lady?”

Lindsey awakened her from her brief reverie.

“By the way, why is Duke Cardia here?”

At her question, Lindsey sighed deeply and said.

“The Duke is quite cruel… Coming to see you only after so much time has passed since that incident.”

At the stare she received, Lindsey quickly shook her head and corrected herself.

“No, I suppose we should be grateful that he came to see you at all, right?”

“Lindsey?”

“Yes, my lady.”

“Could you tell me that story in detail?”

“…Pardon?”

“Well, there was that… incident today, wasn’t there.”

Trinity leaned her body slightly against the headboard of the bed, swaying gently.

Lowering her gaze diagonally and putting on a melancholic expression was an added touch.

“Is that why? My memories of past events seem strangely hazy.”

Lindsey gasped, covering her mouth.

“Ah! So that’s why. Then…”

As if she had realized something, she nodded her head and began to ramble.

“Well, my lady, where should I begin…”

Even though she had asked about past events with a completely illogical reason, Lindsey haltingly told her the story of Cabelased and Jieselgrante.

“So, Duke Cardia was Lord Mikhail’s academy classmate, right? You remember that, don’t you?”

Trinity nodded.

She vaguely remembered maids discussing such things at some tea party.

“Because of that connection, Duke Cardia would occasionally visit the mansion to see Lord Mikhail.”

Trinity nodded slowly.

‘So this must have been the source of the rumors that Jieselgrante was overly interested in men’s faces.’

Duke Cabelased Cardia’s every move had long been the top interest of high society.

Because of this, even Trinity, who had not the slightest interest in Duke Cardia, came to know quite a lot about his preferences.

And Duke Amaterasu’s daughter was also one of the figures often talked about by high society gossips.

Her prestigious family background, her pure and beautiful appearance, and the simple-mindedness hidden behind that graceful face.

Traditionally, the people of the Amaterasu ducal family had been known for their intelligence, but Jieselgrante remained as a blemish on that record.

Some even went so far as to mock Jieselgrante as the fool of the Amaterasu ducal family.

Wondering how such a stupid woman could come from the Amaterasu ducal family.

In addition, rumors circulated that she was excessively interested in men’s faces.

It wouldn’t be a big flaw for a young and pretty woman to like young and handsome men.

But her somewhat clear head was clearly a problem.

‘Isn’t the future of the empire too bleak to entrust the position of mistress of the Cardia ducal family to such a mind?’
‘Oh yes. I completely agree with you, madam. How can the position of mistress of the Cardia ducal family be given to just anyone?’

Trinity remembered often seeing noble ladies in high society gossiping about Jieselgrante like this.

She also agreed with some of their opinions.

The Cardia ducal family was the ruler of fertile lands located in the southern part of the empire.

It was said that the high-quality crops harvested from the Cardia duchy accounted for more than half of the empire’s dining tables.

This meant that if Duke Cardia decided to cut off the crop supply, half of the empire could starve.

Therefore, nobles who knew the importance of the Cardia duchy opposed the idea of Duke Amaterasu’s daughter, who was considered somewhat stupid, becoming Duke Cardia’s partner.

Setting aside the fact that marriage is supposed to be decided by the opinions of the two people involved in the first place.

Fortunately, Cabelased was a person with good sense.

And he didn’t need to bear unnecessarily many things in exchange for gaining a young and beautiful wife.

He was undoubtedly the empire’s best catch, no matter what anyone said.

At one point, he had even been listed as a potential groom candidate for Trinity…

Knock knock.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Jiesel. How are you feeling? Can we come in for a moment to talk?”

Trinity gave a signal with her eyes to Lindsey. Lindsey promptly opened the bedroom door.

Soon, Duke Amaterasu entered the bedroom. And beside him was Duke Cardia.

“Cabel says he needs to leave now. I thought it might be good if he could at least show his face to you briefly before departing…”

Duke Amaterasu carefully asked for her opinion, and Trinity briefly scanned the men before her anew.

Tall and imposing stature.

Lean yet well-proportioned muscles developed without excess fat.

Both men had splendid physiques.

Trinity judged at a glance that they were diligent people who excelled at self-management.

It was impossible to build such bodies without consistent effort, and Trinity always thought that the body best revealed their usual lifestyle habits.

“You certainly look much better than before.”

At Cabelased’s words, she looked at his face and quickly turned her thoughts.

‘How would Jieselgrante have reacted in this situation?’

Jieselgrante had gone to extreme attempts to attract Cabelased’s attention.

Then wouldn’t she have shed tears of joy at the fact that he was now standing before her?

She probably would have.

But Trinity didn’t want to take a submissive attitude in front of this arrogant-looking man.

Even if her outer appearance was that of Jieselgrante who loved him, her inner contents were still those of the imperial princess.

She quickly finished her judgment.

As an imperial princess, she couldn’t make a spectacle of herself by being enthralled by a handsome man. Even if it might raise some suspicion.

“Thank you for your kindness in personally visiting the Amaterasu duchy despite your busy schedule, and for the Duke’s consideration in bringing a beautiful flower. You must have been startled by the unexpected commotion…”

At her response, not only Lindsey but also Mikhail’s expression turned to bewilderment.

‘Oh my, was that a bit too much?’

Trinity thought while maintaining a faint smile.

It seems she should have shown a moderately simple-minded appearance in front of Duke Cardia, even if she didn’t make a spectacle of herself.

“Mikhail.”

Cabelased called Duke Amaterasu in a low voice.

Mikhail looked at Cabelased with his mouth still slightly open.

“…Yes?”

“If it’s alright, I’d like to talk with your sister a bit more. Could you give us some privacy?”

“Oh, is that so? Jiesel, what do you think?”

Mikhail asked for her consent, flustered yet pleased.

She stared intently at Cabelased’s handsome face for a moment.

It was to discern what his intentions were. However, she couldn’t read anything from his expression.

Having no choice, Trinity nodded slightly.

“Of course, brother.”

At her normal response, a look of confusion flashed across Mikhail’s face. But he quickly nodded.

“I-If that’s the case… Lindsey.”

“Yes, young master.”

After Mikhail and Lindsey left, silence fell in the bedroom.

For a while, she and Cabelased silently gazed at each other’s faces.

Just as she tried to read his psychology, he seemed to be trying to read her inner thoughts as well.

The one who broke the silence and spoke first was Cabelased.

“It would be nice to talk while taking a walk, but seeing the young lady’s physical condition, that seems unreasonable, so it would be better to talk here.”

Jieselgrante had just received a death sentence moments ago.

She had come back to life, but still. In any case, it was better not to move around too much since she had been lying in bed for a while.

Trinity just nodded slightly at his questioning gaze.

“Young lady, what exactly are you plotting?”

At Duke Cardia’s sudden sharp interrogation, Trinity’s brows furrowed slightly.