As if nothing had happened, life returned to normal.

Back at the Imperial Palace from the Grand Duchy, Idel, now functioning as the Grand Duke, spent every day tirelessly, almost punishing himself.

Today, once again, Marlene, seeing the Grand Duchess who showed no sign of leaving the office even as the sun set, felt worried.

“You shouldn’t push yourself yet. It hasn’t been long since you went through a big incident… Gregory, please dry Her Grace’s hair a bit!”

“Yes, that’s right. I’ll take care of the remaining tasks, so please rest now. Didn’t you stay up late working on assignments even after official duties yesterday?”

“It’s okay. I’m just doing what I have to do.”

Despite Marlene and Gregory’s earnest dissuasion to take a break, Idel, against their wishes, continued to focus on the administrative duties of the Grand Duchy that had been piling up and worked diligently to finish the remaining semester at the Imperial University.

“Both of you, go in now.”

“What are you talking about! I won’t leave until Her Grace leaves work!”

Gregory, who had suffered greatly from the Grand Duchess leaving early before, vehemently raised his head in determination.

“I won’t sleep until Her Grace falls asleep either.”

Marlene also made it clear that she wouldn’t leave until the Grand Duchess fell asleep.

Looking at the determined gazes of the two, Idel’s face turned awkward.

‘All this trouble because of me… I’m causing them distress.’

Intentionally avoiding being immersed in emotions, he dedicated himself solely to the tasks at hand the moment he opened his eyes.

Gratitude and guilt overwhelmed him for those who genuinely worried about him.

Idel eventually stood up from the office chair.

“Alright. Let’s call it a day today. You all worked hard.”

After receiving the surrender of the Grand Duchess, Marlene and Gregory breathed a sigh of relief.

Pushed by the backs of the two, who seemed unable to step back, Idel returned to the Grand Duchess’s room.

He sat at the table near the window.

Perhaps due to the white moonlight streaming through the window, memories of the last night spent with Kieron at the Imperial Palace surfaced like fallen leaves.

She stared blankly at the empty seat and the gift box on the table.

Like the gift box placed clumsily, the feelings she couldn’t convey to him remained in the same place.

Idel slowly reached out to open the gift box. Carefully touching the wrapped cravat with her fingertips.

Seeing the deep blue color of the cravat she had chosen while thinking of him, the image of his eyes looking at her resurfaced.

Despite confessing her sincere feelings toward him, he refuted it, claiming it was not the ‘love’ she defined.

[Dash] I, too, feel a similar affection for you. As a partner, as a colleague, I will help you so that you can pursue your goals without faltering.

He insisted that his affectionate actions toward her were merely based on the cooperation of a contractual partner, a ‘camaraderie.’ He asserted that her emotions were also of that nature.

[Dash] Until the end of the contract period, when you can leave the Grand Duchy and become independent.

Perhaps even the line of the contract relationship she wanted to cross… he sharply drew it, thoroughly rejecting her feelings.

The moment he mentioned the end of their relationship, Idel realized one more of her hidden sincerities.

Why she chose a cravat as a gift to convey to him…

As Idel’s fingers touched the cravat, which had become moist and trembling, her pupils, soaked with moisture, also swayed significantly.

[Dash] Like tying this cravat implies being dependent on each other.

As he once said, like the meaning of the tradition of tying a cravat…

‘I want to stay by his side…’

Being mutually dependent and wanting to stay by his side.
To freely become independent, she chose a contract with him, promising herself to be a living flower, not a greenhouse plant. However…

Her feelings toward him grew uncontrollably, becoming even clearer when she acknowledged them.

Even though she knew it was a relationship with a predetermined end, when Idel faced the sincerity he had deceived himself with, he truly understood his own heart.

‘I really…’

He deeply loved her…

He denied that his affection for her was love, insisting it was just camaraderie, but this feeling was undoubtedly more than mere camaraderie.

The affection Marlene, Gregory, and Vienne felt for Idel and the affection they felt toward him were by no means of the same nature.

Nevertheless, she accepted his rejection.

Although she didn’t know the reason he had to push her away, it was clear he was tormented.

She wanted to embrace even his unknown pain. So, she vowed that if her feelings burdened him and caused him pain…

If what he wanted was to maintain the contractual relationship as it had been until now…

Even if her heart shattered with sorrow, she would accept his will.

Idel closed the lid of the gift box. Her unexpressed feelings for him remained inside…