From early morning, the handmaidens’ footsteps were busy going back and forth between the Grand Duchess’s powder room and dressing room.

“Lady Aidel, please raise your face a little.”

Feeling the sensation of the brush sweeping across her face, Aidel tried to become accustomed to this process. Following the handmaiden’s skillful touch, a bright glow was added to her transparent skin.

Even in the Count’s household, her exclusive handmaiden Bien had prettily adorned her with great skill, but the handmaidens of the Grand Duke’s household were far more numerous and professional.

“As it is a banquet at the Imperial Palace, a dress that adheres to formality without being excessive would be good.”

Aidel’s wardrobe at the Count’s estate, which was usually filled sparsely due to her lack of interest in attire, had always caused Bien much anguish.

The dressing room, whose scale was entirely different from that wardrobe, was packed full of garments made from luxurious fabrics brought from the Charlotte Atelier.

Among them, a handmaiden approached holding a cream-colored dress intricately embroidered with delicate lace.

Rather than an excessively puffed crinoline style, dresses that naturally accentuated the body’s lines and used bright pastel tones instead of intense primary colors were in fashion.

“Oh my! Lady Aidel, you are so beautiful.”

Her honey-colored hair, scented with perfume, flowed softly like honey. Atop the flowered pin fixing her hair in place, an elaborately crafted Turkish diamond sparkled subtly.

“You look just like a flower fairy.”

“His Grace the Grand Duke will surely fall for you when he sees you!”

The young handmaidens’ eyes twinkled at the sight of the future Grand Duchess.

The sight of the ice-like Grand Duke melting only in front of the future Grand Duchess was currently the most popular topic of conversation among the handmaidens.

“Lady Aidel, if you are ready, shall we go to His Grace the Grand Duke’s dressing room?”

Marlin, who had been watching the scene with a pleased expression, suggested to her.

“To His Grace’s dressing room?”

“Did you perhaps read in the manual I gave you yesterday about the part where the wife must personally attend to His Grace before his official outings?”

Aidel recalled the contents of the manual for the Duchess of the Roman household that she had carefully read through last night before bed. If it was the part about what to take care of before official outings… Ah!

“Are you referring to tying His Grace’s cravat for him?”

“That’s right. Now that the Grand Duchess has arrived, it seems this old woman no longer needs to do the task in her stead.”

Marlin smiled benevolently and guided her to the Grand Duke’s dressing room.

The spaces of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess were mostly connected. Opening the inner door of the Grand Duchess’s dressing room and passing through a short corridor, they arrived at the door leading to the Grand Duke’s dressing room.

“Your Grace the Grand Duke, I shall enter for a moment.”

Entering the dressing room with a short knock, Aidel saw Caeron standing in front of a full-length mirror and attendants waiting with the attire he would wear.

He was in the midst of fastening the buttons of the dress shirt lightly draped over his shoulders. Between the open shirt, his refreshingly stretched collarbones were revealed. Beneath that, Aidel’s gaze was momentarily captivated by the smooth and delicate pectoral muscles, carved as if sculpted.

“It would be troubling if you stare so intently like that.”

Startled by his voice tinged with laughter, Aidel’s eyes met his in the mirror. His deep blue eyes were observing the changes in her expression as if interested.

Lowering her gaze in embarrassment, Aidel pressed her cheek firmly with her hand. Her entire face felt hot, as if flame flowers had bloomed.

“What is it? I’m still in the midst of preparation.”

“Lady Aidel has come to personally tie your cravat for you.”

“Ah… I see.”

Caeron’s smile deepened at the sight of the lady who still had a flushed face, not knowing what to do.

Her pure appearance after being adorned was eye-catching, but his gaze was drawn even more to her bashful expression like a newly blossomed flower bud.

“Come here. Closer.”

When Caeron turned around and called her, Aidel, who had been hesitating, slowly approached and stood facing him. The attendant who had been standing nearby handed her the cravat he was holding.

“…I learned in a crash course, so I might be clumsy.”

“It’s alright. It’s always like that at first.”

Holding the cravat in her hands, Aidel took a small breath. Trying to avoid the gaze looking down at her, she reached out and placed the cravat around his neck.

With the motion of wrapping around him as if embracing, her scent penetrated deeply. His gaze, watching the lady tying the knot of the cravat with slightly trembling hands, grew deep and intent.

“My maternal grandmother once told me. Why the custom of the Duchess personally tying the Duke’s cravat before his official outings came to be.”

His voice, bringing up the story of the previous Duchess of the Roman household, was slightly lowered. Aidel raised her head and looked at him with curious eyes.

“Even when going outside, it is to remind the Duke not to forget that he belongs to the Duchess. It carries the meaning to remember that they are bound to each other, just as this cravat is tied.”

The deep blue eyes holding a yearning gaze seemed to be hinting at something. Aidel’s hand holding the cravat unknowingly tightened.

* * *

The carriage engraved with the Grand Duke’s coat of arms arrived at the entrance of the Imperial Palace. The Grand Duke and the future Grand Duchess, escorted by him, alighted from the carriage.

“Welcome, Your Grace the Grand Duke. And Lady Aidel.”

The Imperial attendants, including Isaac, the head attendant of the Emperor who had come out to greet them beforehand, bowed their heads in salute.

Everyone’s posture was impeccable, but they could not refrain from directing their gazes towards the future Grand Duchess, who was veiled.

‘So that person is Her Grace the future Grand Duchess.’

‘Indeed, she has the grace to captivate His Grace the Grand Duke.’

The palace attendants whispered quietly while watching the receding figures walking towards the Emperor’s audience chamber.

“Are you nervous?”

Caeron, who felt the hand he was holding for escort trembling slightly, looked at her.

“It’s my first visit to the Imperial Palace. And also my first audience with His Majesty the Emperor.”

“There’s no need to be so nervous. I’ll say it again, you are a person of the Grand Duke’s household. Don’t be daunted anywhere. Even if it’s in front of the Emperor.”

It was clearly an arrogant remark, but to the Grand Duke, it seemed utterly natural and matter-of-fact. Feeling the peculiar sense of stability he provided, Aidel relaxed and straightened her back.

“It’s been a while, brother.”

Emperor Pascal greeted Caeron, who entered the audience chamber. Soon, his gaze turned to the lady beside the Grand Duke.

“So you are the future Grand Duchess.”

“I pay my respects to Your Majesty the Emperor. I am Aidel of Fluor.”

Using flawless etiquette, Aidel greeted him. The future Grand Duchess, whose veil was lifted, was a refined beauty beyond expectations.

‘So this is brother’s taste.’

Pascal thought to himself and sat across from the future Grand Duke and Duchess at the table in the audience chamber.

Seated next to the large and sturdy Grand Duke, the future Grand Duchess appeared even more slender. However, her calm expression without wavering was strangely similar to the Grand Duke’s.

“I was curious. About the reason why brother suddenly announced this marriage. I barely restrained myself from immediately going to the Grand Duke’s estate.”

“That temperament of yours hasn’t changed.”

“It was just like you, brother, to let me find out about your marriage through a newspaper article without a single word to me. I was actually a bit worried you might not come to today’s banquet.”

The Emperor, with eyes full of disappointment, spoke in a tone as if he were complaining. Aidel was inwardly surprised at the Emperor’s informal and unassuming demeanor, which she was seeing for the first time.

Unlike Caeron, who had black hair like the late Empress, Pascal had blond hair like the late Emperor, with a handsome appearance. However, the deep blue eyes, the symbol of the Imperial family, were exactly alike between the two.

The two looked more like close brothers in a certain household rather than the Emperor and the Grand Duke. It felt a bit endearing to see the Emperor, younger than the Grand Duke, grumbling.

“Now that I’ve met the future Grand Duchess, I understand. Even brother, who used to keep women at a distance, was just another man helpless before such an exceptional beauty.”

At Pascal’s arbitrary assumption, Caeron maintained a strange expression that was neither affirmative nor negative. Aidel also had an awkward smile and remained silent.

They were merely bound by a contract, but it seemed he intended to keep this contract a secret from the people of the Grand Duke’s estate and even from the Emperor.

The Emperor, observing Aidel’s slightly clouded complexion, smiled meaningfully.

“No matter how much you like the future Grand Duchess… It was too much to make her part with her family before the wedding.”

At the mention of family, Aidel’s eyes wavered. Caeron’s eyes also narrowed.

Despite the subtly changed atmosphere, Pascal continued to speak with his usual smile.

“As it happens, one of my aides went to a salon of an acquainted family and met Lady Roselyn of Fluor.”

At the unexpected name, Aidel’s shoulders trembled. Pascal watched her reaction.

“Lady Roselyn was quite disappointed to be suddenly separated from her sister and was on the verge of tears. She said she couldn’t even say a proper farewell.”

On the verge of tears due to the disappointment of parting… Aidel bit the inside of her lip. If she had shed tears, it would have been for a different reason.

“So, what are you trying to say? You know I don’t like beating around the bush.”

“I was about to get to the point. Since the future Grand Duchess was coming, I prepared a surprise gift.”

Unfazed by Caeron’s cold expression, Pascal called the head attendant with a broad smile on his face.

“Isaac, tell her to come in.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As Isaac opened the door to the audience chamber, the lady waiting in front of the door walked in. Following her steps, a dress as splendid as a fully bloomed flower rippled. As the footsteps drew closer, the familiar scent of roses grew stronger.

“I pay my respects to the beloved Emperor and His Grace the Grand Duke.”

It was a voice like a chirping bird. Aidel knew well the woman who pushed others to the edge of a cliff with such a voice without any qualms.

“Welcome, Lady Roselyn.”

“Thank you for the invitation, Your Majesty. For allowing me to meet my sister like this.”

“I also understand the desire to see one’s sibling.”

Pascal introduced her appearance to Aidel with a dubious smile.

“Are you surprised? I specially invited Lady Roselyn. I thought the future Grand Duchess would also want to see her younger sister.”

“…I am grateful for your consideration.”

At the stiff voice answering the Emperor’s words, Caeron intently observed Aidel’s face.

He knew that when she sensed wariness, she would press her lips tightly together and make a resolute expression. Caeron frowned at that sight.

“I missed you, sister.”

Roselyn smiled brightly at Aidel, her eyes curved. It looked as if she was truly glad on the surface, but…

In those eyes, there was a distinct hostility that only someone who had spent more than a decade with her could read.