If the recent banquet was mentioned, it referred to the event held at the Delmark Duchy. Although Mirella was not a noble, and thus didn’t receive invitations to such events, she had picked up bits of information about the nobles’ conversations during their visits to the temple.

Having a hunch that the topic might be related to the Delmark Duchy’s banquet and possibly involve Herdin, Mirella hid behind a wall and listened closely to their conversation.

“The Duke wouldn’t reveal such things. Even though he may seem fine on the outside, who’s to say he isn’t harboring something deep inside?”

The noblewomen and young ladies, covering their mouths with fans, were discussing. Rachel, who had thrown out the topic and had been quietly listening to the conversation, subtly opened her mouth.
“In my observation, Blair… no, the Duchess, seems to have a bit of an attachment to the Duke. Whenever the Duke even exchanges glances with another woman, she appears so uneasy.”

The name ‘Blair’ was firmly imprinted in Mirella’s ears.

“Oh my. Isn’t that a case of spousal jealousy?”

“Well, it could be. The Duchess has had a tendency to excessively cling to things she considers hers since she was young. That’s why she used to be quite obsessed with me as well.”

“Certainly, Lady Selden must have had a tough time.”

“Oh, no. For me, she’s an old friend and family, so even that aspect is pitiable and understandable, but…”

Rachel spoke with a tone expressing genuine concern for Blair.

Upon hearing the story, the reactions of the noblewomen and young ladies shifted from sympathizing with Rachel, who had been tormented by Blair, to worrying about Herdin.

“If the Duchess is so possessive, it must be quite suffocating for the Duke. If even Lady Selden can see it, how much more obvious must it be in front of the Duke himself?”

“The Duke is also quite complicated. He went through all the trouble of becoming a national hero, only to find himself entangled in a complex relationship with the imperial family, which can be seen as a conflict of interest.”

“That’s true. With the Duke’s status, he could easily marry another lady with a different mindset.”
The group, who had been chatting for a while, noticed that there were many ears around here, and one by one, they left, claiming to have other matters. Mirella, who had been listening to the conversation, also quietly turned away.

Reflecting on the recent conversations, Herdin naturally came to mind.

A man indifferent and cold to everything.

Yet, the moment Mirella first saw him, she felt as if the world she had known was shaking to its core.

It seemed as if God had created him for everyone and everything in this world to love him.

‘How can one not love such a person.’

Mirella fell in love with him at first sight, as if following the will of the gods.

However, he was already a man who had made a covenant with another before the gods.

Mirella had no intention of trying to change that. Even if her love remained unreciprocated, it was enough to watch from afar.

She simply wished for his happiness.

But what if he was not happy?

If his unhappiness was due to his marriage?

Mirella was well aware of the unfortunate fate between the royal family and the Delmarc Duchy.

If the long-standing curse of that fate had turned him into the serious and dry person he was now.

‘Marriage to the princess is too harsh for him.’

Even though Mirella didn’t harbor any resentment towards Blair, the woman who made him unhappy became the object of her dislike.

Whether the gossip the noblewomen and young ladies were chattering about earlier was true or not, it was hard to tell. Rumors were often fabricated out of thin air.

But one thing was certain.
Knowing the clearly doomed fate, Blair accepted the marriage with him, thinking he was a bad person. Mirella was lost in thought.

‘Is there no way for me to rescue the Duke from an unhappy marriage?’

“Shall we end it here for today then?”

Agnes and Blair finished their tea time and stepped outside the greenhouse.

Now that the weather had warmed up a lot, the temperature difference between inside and outside the greenhouse was not significant. Agnes seemed to feel it too, as she said,

“Now it really feels like spring. Next time, we can have tea time outdoors.”

“When the cherry blossoms bloom, I’ll arrange a place for us to sit in the garden.”

“Oh, that sounds romantic. I can almost smell the flowers from the carriage.”

Blair smiled at the delighted Agnes, then, looking at the cherry blossom buds on the cherry tree, she asked, recalling something,

“Lorelei, has Lady Lorelain said anything specific?”

“What do you mean?”

“About hypnosis.”

“Oh, hypnosis. She hasn’t said anything specific. I think she believes it’s still too early.”

“What do you think, in your opinion?”

“I think it would be okay to start to overcome pyrophobia… It seems Your Grace is quite concerned about Lady Lorelain.”

Agnes had a way of packaging even ordinary words to make them sound pleasing.

Blair saw her off and went up to her bedroom, deep in thought.
‘Perhaps Herdin’s overprotection of me… is probably due to the guilt from the fireplace incident.’

But such things were of no help to me at all.

Blair stared blankly at the scenery outside the window.

A world covered in the green hue of growing sprouts. Spring was now in full swing.

And the time with Asiel was at the beginning of summer.

‘I don’t have much time left.’