The final preparations for the Grand Duke’s wedding, which was approaching next week, were in full swing.

Along the edge of the Great Hall in the Grand Duke’s residence, a huge table covered with purple velvet was set up. The servants were busy moving the arrived items onto it.

They were luxurious wedding gifts sent from the major noble families of the Jupiter Empire, as well as from surrounding empires, to celebrate the marriage of the Grand Duke and his bride-to-be.

Beautiful porcelain, pure gold and silver tableware, and decorations adorned with crystals and jewels were displayed. Sets of expensive gems such as diamonds, sapphires, and rubies were also enclosed in boxes.

“Be careful not to break that.”

Marlin supervised the items being moved, while Gregory checked the list of arrived items.

“It’s overwhelming, as expected.”

Gregory exclaimed softly, his mouth slightly open in amazement. He gently shook his head at the thought of sending thank-you notes again so soon after sending out the wedding invitations. At the same time, a satisfied smile spread across his face.

“It seems there are more gifts arriving because Lady Aidel is at the Grand Duke’s residence. To think we’d finally see such a day.”

Marlin, with a noticeably flushed cheek, quietly wiped her eyes with a voice full of emotion. She had been no small amount of worried that the Grand Duke might live his entire life as a bachelor.

‘If only the late Empress could see this…’

Marlin’s expression darkened as she remembered the late Empress, pressing her hand to her chest. Originally, Caeron, whom she had cared for since he was a prince, wasn’t such a cold-hearted person even if he didn’t express much emotion.

‘It must have been from that time…’

It was after the late Empress passed away. That’s when the Grand Duke changed, as if everything given to him lost its meaning. From that point on, he who had been educated to become Emperor since childhood, changed.

The fourteen-year-old boy, so brilliant that his tutors in imperial studies said they had nothing left to teach him, refused to become the Crown Prince.

− “Very well. I’ll do as you wish.”

In particular, his relationship with the late Emperor deteriorated beyond repair. After a private audience with the late Emperor one day, whatever happened caused the greatly angered late Emperor to officially name the second prince, Pascal, as Crown Prince.

The late Emperor, who had now passed the throne to Pascal, was currently enjoying a cruise with his favorite mistress, Countess Katrina. Whether the late Emperor would attend the Grand Duke’s wedding was also a matter of public interest.

“Lady Marlin. A footman has reported that a guest has arrived.”

A servant approached the contemplative Marlin and spoke. At those words, Marlin tilted her head in confusion.

“A guest? We don’t have anyone scheduled at this hour.”

“It’s Lord Shade from the Hilburn Duchy.”

At the servant’s words, Gregory’s hand, busily writing out the list for thank-you notes next to Marlin, froze as if stiffened.

“Lord Shade has come?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

At the servant’s confirmation, Marlin and Gregory’s eyes met. Both thought simultaneously:

‘This is trouble!’

Of all times, the Grand Duke, who also serves as the Empire’s Chief Justice, was away for a noble trial council that had been splashed across the newspapers. The two could guess Shade’s intentions in visiting the Grand Duke’s residence at such a convenient time.

Shade had been a long-time friend since Caeron was a prince, so he was also familiar to Marlin and Gregory.

They had heard news of his return from the Grand Tour, but… rather than anticipation, they felt more fear about how that mischievous man might have grown in the past two years.

“Where is he now?”

“He said he was taking a stroll around the Grand Duke’s residence, as it’s been a while since his visit. He mentioned he would come when preparations are ready, since he arrived without notice.”

It was fortunate that he showed such consideration, as the reception room wasn’t prepared yet. Marlin, who quickly ordered a tea table to be set up in the reception room, asked a nearby maid:

“Where is Lady Aidel now?”

When the Grand Duke was absent, the Grand Duchess was the mistress of the residence. She had the duty to receive guests in his stead.

‘He must have come knowing this.’

Marlin sighed deeply, thinking of Shade who likely visited the Grand Duke’s residence with intention.

“She’s arranging flowers. She’s making centerpieces.”

Recently, with the wedding approaching, more guests had been visiting the Grand Duke’s residence. Making centerpieces to decorate the reception room was also one of the mistress’s roles.

Marlin smiled briefly, touched by Aidel who was meticulously taking care of the household affairs, finding time despite being busy with administrative work and preparations for school admission.

“Inform Lady Aidel that a guest from the Hilburn Duchy has arrived, help her prepare to receive them, and then escort them to the reception room.”

“Yes, I understand.”

The maid nodded and hurried away.

Marlin moved towards the kitchen to give instructions for dinner preparations following the tea time.

Gregory also headed to the office where the telephone was located to inform the Grand Duke’s entourage of Shade’s visit.

As they each busied themselves with preparations for the guest… the first to encounter the unexpected visitor was an unexpected person.

Aidel was in the midst of creating centerpieces to decorate the table, along with a maid skilled in flower arranging.

“These days, the gardeners of the Grand Duke’s residence are excited. It’s because a new mistress has arrived. It’s a great joy for them, as there hasn’t been anyone to appreciate the garden they’ve been tending all this time.”

“The garden visible directly from the Grand Duchess’s room is truly beautiful. As spring is coming and they’ll be even busier, it might be good to give the gardeners a special bonus.”

“I can already imagine them humming with joy.”

As they chatted while decorating the flower arrangements, the maid said with a troubled expression:

“We’re a bit short on eucalyptus for the filler. I’ll quickly go to the garden to get some.”

“Is that so? The weather is nice, let’s go together. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the gardener who has so carefully grown these flowers.”

The maid nodded with a smile at Aidel’s thoughtful words.

The Grand Duke’s residence had several courtyards befitting its large scale. They entered the nearest garden.

The courtyard, surrounded by antique corridors, was filled with lush trees and flowers blooming here and there, exuding the fresh air of spring.

Flowers, each boasting their own uniqueness, were neatly arranged around the central fountain.

In fact, Aidel hadn’t visited the garden during the day in a while, as she had been mostly in the office lately. She smiled gently at the leisure she was experiencing after a long time.

“I’d like to take a short walk. Would it be alright if I went for a stroll?”

“Of course. I’ll accompany you.”

“No, it’s fine. Go ahead and find the flowers we need. I’ll just walk a bit, greet the gardener if I meet them, and then return.”

After dismissing the maid, Aidel moved towards the inner part of the garden, holding a parasol. A neat walkway was laid out along the marble columns.

Looking around, she realized that most of the plants were ones she didn’t know the names of. Aidel somewhat reproached herself for perhaps intentionally not taking an interest in plants.

It was natural for a person from the Fluor family to like plants. Even she felt a sense of calm when looking at flowers and trees, though they had no scent.

However, whenever the anxiety in her heart that she might not truly be a Fluor weighed her down, she had deliberately turned away from it.

‘I won’t do that anymore.’

Her heart had become much lighter since her father, Count Fluor, had visited last time. Above all, as she spent time with the people of the Grand Duke’s household, she gradually found peace of mind.

Only her feelings for the Grand Duke, which confused her, remained unchanged. Whenever that happened, she tried to focus only on what she needed to do for the Grand Duke’s household, reminding herself of their contractual relationship.

‘Let’s focus on the role of the mistress.’

It was also her duty as the Grand Duchess to comfort the hardworking servants. She was in the midst of her walk, looking for the gardener who must be somewhere around.

‘…!’

Aidel stopped in her tracks when she saw a man’s long legs stretched out on a bench as she was about to turn a corner past a column.

Though startled by the sudden sight, she carefully took a step. As she fully turned the corner, she saw a man lying lengthwise on the bench.

The man, wearing only a shirt with his jacket, vest, and tie draped over the backrest, had a bowler hat covering his face, probably to shield from the pouring sunlight.

‘Is it the gardener…?’

While a gardener was the most likely man to encounter in the garden at this time… the well-fitted three-piece suit he had taken off and the luxurious shoes he was wearing didn’t seem like the attire of a working person.

‘Who could it be?’

As Aidel was pondering the man’s identity with furrowed brows, the lying man slowly moved his body. As if stretching, the man reached out his hand and pulled down the hat placed over his face.

“I must have dozed off.”

The man muttered in a sleep-laden voice, narrowing his eyes. His fine silver hair, catching the sunlight, fell softly over his forehead. His violet eyes, drowsy from sleep, were like those of a languid cat just waking up.

The man, who had half-risen, suddenly turned his gaze with sharpened eyes, sensing an unfamiliar presence. Aidel’s shoulders flinched at his gaze.

“Oh…?”

An awkward silence descended for a moment.

The man, with his shirt unbuttoned at the top and his hair disheveled, looked strangely dangerous. The alertness that had flashed in his eyes when he saw her disappeared, and his eyes lit up with interest as he fully sat up.

Aidel took a step back as the man approached her, gripping the handle of her parasol tightly. She was ready to strike the man if necessary.

As if reading her wariness, he stopped his approach and smiled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head.

“Oh my… I didn’t mean to startle you in my eagerness to greet you.”

“Who are you? Are you… the gardener?”

“Gardener…?”

The man tilted his head slightly, then smiled an indecipherable smile.

“Well, I do handle flowers quite well…”

“…So you are the gardener.”

At Aidel’s words, the man still wore an ambiguous expression but said nothing more. She breathed a sigh of relief, letting go of her wariness towards him.

“I wanted to thank you… for taking such good care of the garden. You must work hard.”

She thought he must have been so tired to have fallen asleep. Seeing the woman looking at him with sympathetic eyes, the man laughed out loud, as if amused.

“Haha. I do work quite hard for the Grand Duke’s household.”

With a face full of mirth, the man approached Aidel’s side. As the tall man took a step, he quickly closed the distance in just a few strides.

The man with violet eyes like pansies had an alluring scent. Whether that cool yet sweet fragrance was from perfume or from the flowers he tended, she couldn’t tell.

The man bent one knee in front of Aidel. Raising his head to meet her gaze steadily from below, he spoke:

“Won’t you bestow a reward on this poor servant? Your Highness, the Grand Duchess-to-be.”

Naturally taking her hand and placing a lingering kiss on the back of it, the man smiled mischievously with his eyes.