After Askal and Schmidt left to attend the test drive event,

Rublion turned back after seeing them off until they disappeared from sight outside the main gate.

The upturned corners of his mouth and crescent-shaped eyes slowly returned to normal, then quickly changed to an expression devoid of any emotion.

Sensing something different from usual, the butler cautiously asked Rublion as he began walking across the garden.

“Are you unwell, sir?”

Rublion shook his head at the butler’s question.

“It’s just… the lady was so beautiful.”

“Yes, she had a dignified appearance befitting of a duchess.”

“I suppose that’s why.”

Rublion, who had been walking steadily, suddenly stopped. Then he lifted his head to look at the sky.

“I wondered if that’s what my mother would have looked like if I had one.”

“Young master…”

The butler stood firmly beside the young boy who was trying hard to compose himself while glaring at the sky.

“I almost impulsively called her ‘mother.’ It feels somehow nostalgic and sad… It’s a strange feeling I can’t quite explain.”

The butler took out a handkerchief from his pocket and held it out to Rublion. Then, taking a step back, he said,

“Take your time, sir. I’ll wait here.”

“…Okay.”

The back of the young boy walking while still looking at the sky seemed especially small today.

The butler watched as Rublion wiped his eyes with the handkerchief. He muttered quietly that some dust had gotten in, but the handkerchief was damp with moisture when he wiped it away.

The place the Duke and I arrived by carriage was an outdoor performance venue not far from the Lübeck family estate. It was a place that would become bustling during village festivals or religious events.

As we got out of the carriage, a man with a kind demeanor and a bushy beard approached us.

“I’ve been waiting. I’m Richard, your guide.”

He took off his fedora, held it to his chest, and bowed his head in greeting. The Duke responded to his greeting by offering a handshake.

“And the lady beside you…?”

The guide, Richard, asked cautiously.

“She’s my business partner. She runs a quite well-known investment office.”

The guide laughed heartily with his kind face and said he would arrange a seat right next to us.

I was touched even by this small introduction. The Duke introduced me first by what I do as a member of society, rather than by my status as a baronet’s daughter. That made my heart flutter.

‘It feels like I’ve been acknowledged.’

With that somewhat proud feeling, I followed Richard’s guidance into the event venue.

Outside the line where guards were posted to prevent uninvited people from entering, factory workers who had been sleeping rough near the concert hall were sitting on the ground. Each of them held a rye bread provided free by the management.

“This way, please.”

Under the individual earth-colored tent Richard guided us to, there was a wooden table, chairs, and some light refreshments.

“The test drive will begin soon. Reading this brochure will be helpful too.”

The Duke and I, sitting side by side, received the brochures. Inside was an explanation of how the automobile works. The Duke read it over and over with quite a serious expression.

‘An automobile…’

Not everyone gets to witness the development of an era they’ve only learned about in history. That made it all the more interesting.

“I apologize for being late. There was an urgent matter I had to look into…”

The secretary, Baron Tirel, strode into the tent. Then his eyes met mine.

Like the little one and the Duke, he froze in surprise for a moment before relaxing.

“You, you look different from usual, Lady Deli.”

“Everyone seems surprised by that.”

“I wasn’t surprised at all! Haha.”

“Thank you.”

Is it really that strange? When I looked in the mirror, I thought I looked like a noblewoman going to buy land.

“Rimon, what was the urgent matter you looked into?”

At the Duke’s question, the secretary’s smiling expression changed in an instant.

“Is it alright to speak here, sir?”

“It’s fine, go ahead.”

The secretary glanced at me briefly before speaking.

“The imperial family has sent someone. They say they’re on their way to the event venue now.”

“Let’s talk outside.”

He changed his mind instantly after giving permission to speak. I made a show of not minding, picking up some refreshments.

“Young lady, if there’s no special reason, I’d prefer you not leave the tent.”

It’s just an event, no different from an investment presentation, isn’t it? There are many people around and guards protecting the venue. It doesn’t seem dangerous at all.

I was about to part my lips to ask why, but the Duke beat me to it.

“Because… I’d rather not see you in that appearance in front of people.”

My heart sank. Was it serious enough to have to keep me confined to a corner?

‘I should have changed clothes after all.’

I felt embarrassed for no reason. My ears started burning.

“Then I’ll be back.”

He left the tent with Baron Tirel without waiting for a reply. I was left alone with one knight who took his guard duty very seriously, standing with his hands behind his back as if he wasn’t there.

I quietly put down the cookie I had been holding. Then I rested my chin on my hand in a relaxed posture.

After watching people busily passing in front of the tent for a while, I eventually turned my gaze to the automobile placed on the central platform.

‘Steam-powered automobiles have more disadvantages than advantages.’

Of course, the brochure only listed the advantages of the automobile. The explanation and principles were truly enticing, but not everyone accepts scientific progress.

‘People will prefer familiar carriages to automobiles.’

They might invest, but not enough to import them. That was the conclusion I came to.

Having settled on that answer, I was comfortably engrossed in observing the outside when the knight standing behind me took a step forward and stood close beside me. Then he put his hand on his waist.

‘Huh?’

At the same time, someone slowly walked into the tent. My gaze naturally moved upward.

“Ah… Am I late?”

It was a clear and elegant voice. A woman in a sky-blue dress that fully revealed her upper body’s volume, with silver hair braided large and draped over one shoulder.

I recognized her at once. One of only three dukes in the empire, and the first female duke who pushed aside all her siblings to take the position.

It was Mabel Rumps.

“The Duke doesn’t seem to be here…”

She looked down at me with narrowly opened eyes and asked.

“Who are you?”

She was emitting a tremendous pressure. The knight’s sharp tension was transmitted to me as well.

I obediently stood up from my seat. Then I slightly lifted my dress skirt and lowered my posture by bending my knees.

“Greetings to Your Grace. I am Schmidt Deli.”

“Ah, the baronet’s daughter.”

Duchess Rumps slowly stroked her braided hair with her hand. She was breathtakingly beautiful, even to another woman.

“But why is the young lady here?”

Her eyes, which had been narrowly open as if sleepy, slowly widened. Her mysterious silver eyes, a span higher than mine, sparkled like a water surface in the sunlight.

“I was given the opportunity to observe the test drive thanks to Duke Artenbach’s consideration.”

“Hmm.”

Duchess Rumps made a nasal sound.

“Consideration…”

Duchess Rumps slowly raised her hand above my head. Then she abruptly pulled out the pin that was holding my updo in place. My curly hair spread out in all directions as it came loose.

After all the effort I put in with the maids all morning.

“If you sit here all dressed up like this, people might mistake you for the Duke’s wife.”

It was an eerie expression with eyes not smiling but mouth smiling.

“I thought Duke Artenbach would never allow anyone by his side for life, but I’ve been blindsided.”

Her cold, beautiful eyes looked me up and down. Then she placed her hand on my shoulder. It was chillingly cold, making me wonder if it was really human body temperature.

“I wonder why?”

The Duchess gently touched my earlobe and earring with the hand she had placed on my shoulder. Instantly, cold sweat began to run all over my body.

“The earrings… are pretty. Though they don’t suit you, young lady.”

I was completely defenseless. The knight standing beside me looked ready to draw his sword at the slightest sign of harm.

“Shall I help you? I can take them off for you right now.”

My fingertips trembled. It felt like the chill of winter had frozen my entire body.

Duchess Rumps, who had been lightly touching my earrings, suddenly gripped my earlobe tightly. Startled, I froze, unable to even breathe.

“Ahaha, are you scared?”

Her silver eyes curved as if amused.

“So play moderately and stay away. Askal is not a man you can aspire to.”

So Duchess Rumps thinks I have that kind of relationship with Duke Artenbach?

“Duchess Rumps, I don’t have that kind of relationship with Duke Artenbach.”

“…”

“So there’s no need for you to warn me.”

Her narrow eyes opened fully. The expression ‘breathtakingly beautiful’ must have been coined for her.

“You think I’ll believe that?”

“Hmm…”

I crossed my arms and thought seriously. Then, having made up my mind, I said,

“To explain further, I prefer big, animal-like people over slim and fit people like Duke Artenbach. I’d like them to have big hands, big feet, and soft flesh.”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

Duchess Rumps’s black eyebrows twitched. I drove in the final nail to break down the wall of misunderstanding.

“So Duke Artenbach is not my type.”

“What?”

I conveyed my lack of ill intentions with my whole body.

“To me, the Duke is…”

I had never voiced this thought before.

I didn’t expect to say it like this.

“Like a painting in a masterpiece, he doesn’t look like a man to me.”

Duchess Rumps raised one corner of her mouth in a smirk.

“Ha, this is ridiculous.”

She removed her hand from my shoulder. Then, raising the other corner of her mouth as well, she said,

“Young lady, that thought of yours shouldn’t change in the future, right?”

She stroked her own hair again. At the same time, she whispered quietly.

“I’ll tell you one thing because you’re cute.”

Duchess Rumps tilted her head slightly to the side and said,

“Remember that when I’m smiling as I speak is when it’s safest.”

I swallowed hard.