After the ceremony, a grand celebratory reception was held in the Great Hall of the Grand Duke’s residence. A banquet made with precious ingredients brought from all over the empire was served to the distinguished guests.

‘It’s like a royal palace banquet.’

‘It’s even more splendid than the imperial family’s.’

The nobles were in awe of the diverse course dishes, too numerous to count, as well as the finest champagne and wine.

‘Did you see the wedding gifts displayed at the edge of the banquet hall?’

‘The extravagance is beyond words.’

The wedding gifts that had been brought to the Grand Duke’s family were neatly displayed on a huge table. It was not only an expression of sincerity towards the gift-givers but also had other implications.

‘Did you hear? The Grand Duke’s family will donate as much as the wedding gifts they received this time.’

‘I heard. Moreover, they will donate in the name of the gift-givers… It’s truly a thoughtful consideration.’

‘Did you also hear that it was Her Grace the Grand Duchess who came up with this idea?’

‘My goodness! Is that true?’

Gregory smiled with satisfaction as he watched people’s expressions of admiration throughout the banquet hall.

He felt especially proud seeing the praise for the donation method of giving back, which Aidel had directly proposed.

Gregory was in the middle of writing thank-you notes for the wedding gifts that had come to the Grand Duke’s family. Aidel, who had been lost in thought for a moment while looking at the list of wedding gifts, opened her mouth.

– Lord Gregory, I see that the Grand Duke’s family regularly donates to charities.

– That’s right. It’s a tradition passed down from the Roman Ducal family to give back to society a certain portion of the profits generated by the Grand Duke’s family.

– These wedding gifts that have come in this time… while we’ll gratefully accept them according to etiquette, how about donating an equal amount with meaning?

– Donate as much as the wedding gifts?

– Yes. The Grand Duke’s family donates on behalf of the gift-givers. This way, we can express sufficient gratitude to those who gave gifts while also saving face for them.

– I hadn’t thought of that… It seems like a good idea. Those who sent gifts will be pleased too.

– Until now, the lavish weddings of nobles have been both envied and frowned upon by the public. If it’s returned to society through donations like this, it will be a benefit that satisfies everyone.

The thoughtful proposal made by the Grand Duchess was immediately approved by the Grand Duke. The Grand Duke, who had already told her to handle the unnecessarily sent gifts as she saw fit, readily agreed with her opinion.

Probably by tomorrow morning, news of the wedding held at the Grand Duke’s family today, as well as news related to the donation led by the Grand Duchess, would be spread throughout the empire.

Gregory once again paid his respects to the wise Grand Duchess who naturally elevated the status of the Grand Duke’s family.

‘The Grand Duchess must be resting now.’

The Grand Duchess had been busy preparing for the wedding since early dawn, and had no time to rest even at the reception after the ceremony, greeting distinguished guests.

Moreover, I heard she wasn’t good with alcohol, but she didn’t refuse the champagne offered as a congratulatory gesture.

Her outward appearance showed no signs of intoxication, maintaining a calm expression… but the Grand Duke standing beside her had been watching her closely and was sensitive to even small changes in her expressions and gestures.

As the Grand Duchess’s body swayed slightly just as she was about to take a step, the Grand Duke immediately embraced her and quickly gestured to Gregory who was assisting from behind.

– Take the Grand Duchess away.

– Ah… Your Grace. I’m fine. There are still people I need to greet.

Aidel closed her eyes tightly and then opened them wide, as if trying to regain her senses, and shook her head.

– This is enough.

– But there are still duties of the Grand Duchess remaining.

Caeron, who had been staring intently at the Grand Duchess with her exceptional sense of responsibility for a moment, laughed softly.

– Of course… your duties as Grand Duchess are not over yet.

His gaze, which met hers firmly, burned secretly and soon rippled gently.

– To fulfill your remaining duties… go and rest first. Aidel.

Aidel’s body flinched at that deep voice touching her ear. It was the first time he had called her name intimately.

Aidel’s eyes widened for a moment, then she lowered her gaze. A flush slowly spread across her face that had remained calm even after drinking.

Trying to hide her sudden heart flutter, she failed to notice the meaning in the man’s gaze directed at her.

Only Gregory, standing nearby, could notice as a fellow man. The gaze filled with a man’s clear desire for his woman.

Finally, as she nodded in agreement, Gregory called the waiting maids. Along with the maids, she returned to the Grand Duchess’s room.

Gregory looked briefly in the direction where the Grand Duchess had disappeared, then turned his gaze to the window.

The sky, which had begun to set, was already tinged with a reddish hue.

‘I hope you can rest well, even if just for a moment.’

Gregory briefly prayed for the Grand Duchess’s short peace before the start of the long, stormy night ahead.

“You’ve worked hard today.”

Marlin personally brushed Aidel’s hair, who had just finished bathing.

“I can do it myself… Marlin must be tired too, go and rest quickly.”

The touch of the maids who usually attended to her bath was always attentive, but today it felt especially meticulous.

Moreover, Marlin, the head maid, personally took care of her grooming before bed.

“No, it’s my job to serve Her Grace.”

Her Grace.

Aidel blinked slowly at the unfamiliar new title. It now felt real that she had truly married him and become the Grand Duchess.

‘Even if it’s a contract…’

That’s why Aidel resolved to do her best during the remaining contract period.

She vowed to fulfill the responsibilities and duties given to her as the Grand Duchess.

Little did she know at this time that this resolution of hers would bring about a huge, unexpected confusion not long after.

“What’s prepared on the table?”

The room was unusually dim today, with only the flickering light of candlesticks. Something seemed to be set up on the table in front of the window.

“Ah… It’s the finest wine from the Baresco region that Lord Shade brought. He said it would help ease tension.”

Marlin briefly recalled Shade, who had explained the efficacy of this wine in detail while handing it over. It was a wine that was sweet but high in alcohol content, making one pleasantly drunk with just a little.

She didn’t bother to relay the additional comment about how this wine could make a woman’s body languid on her wedding night.

“The gifted book was enough. I should thank him later.”

Aidel smiled faintly as she looked at the wine placed on the table.

She felt Shade’s thoughtfulness, considering the lingering tension after completing the big event of the wedding.

She tilted her head slightly in confusion when she saw two wine glasses placed next to the wine bottle.

“And there’s one more gift to give you.”

“A gift?”

At Marlin’s gesture, a maid with a flushed expression brought something. The maid’s eyes were somehow full of anticipation.

“What is this?”

“It’s a negligee that Madame Pomfenu prepared along with the wedding dress. She said it was specially made. She hoped you would wear it after finishing the wedding ceremony.”

She had already been using the negligee purchased from Charlotte’s Clothing Store regularly. Yet, to specially make one for the wedding… It seemed like a gift with meaning.

“I’ll wear that today.”

Aidel, who gladly accepted the gift, took off the bathrobe she was wearing. With the help of the maids, she put on the negligee.

“Umm… Is this all there is to the outfit?”

Although negligees themselves don’t use very thick fabric as they are sleepwear, today it felt unusually thin.

The soft silk negligee that clung to her body had a deep neckline and was made of such thin material below the thighs that the inside was clearly visible.

The room wasn’t cold due to the warm fireplace, but Aidel shivered slightly at the unfamiliar sensation that enveloped her body like a second skin.

Aidel looked at herself wearing the negligee in the mirror. The woman reflected in the mirror looked more like a lascivious temptress than a graceful Grand Duchess. It was an appearance that stimulated the viewer’s lewd imagination.

“Yes. That is all the prepared clothing.”

Marlin deliberately avoided the Grand Duchess’s gaze, full of embarrassment with a bright red face.

“Sigh… Alright.”

The face of Madame Pomfenu, who hadn’t slept properly while making even the wedding dress, came to mind. She thought it didn’t matter since she would only wear it to sleep and no one would see it.

As Aidel reluctantly nodded, Marlin and the other maids bowed politely.

“Then have a peaceful night, Your Grace.”

“Everyone get some good rest.”

It was strange that the maids were excited with sparkling eyes until the moment they closed the door and left, but she thought they were just happy to be going to rest now.

As the door closed, Aidel slowly approached the window. The sky, which had completely set, was as dark as pitch black, with even the moonlight hidden by clouds.

Now the wedding ceremony has ended.

Somehow, she felt a lonely feeling, as if left alone on a dark stage after the curtain had fallen.

Sitting in a chair with her knees up, she rested her face on them and was lost in thought for a moment.

That thought, as always, started from the moment she first met Caeron in the library.

When he suddenly grabbed her. When he proposed a contract marriage and acknowledged her existence in front of others.

And today, when the door to the Grand Duchess’s room opened and she greeted him, and after the marriage declaration when he kissed her…

Aidel bit her lip hard, remembering those deep blue eyes that had completely captivated her at all those moments.

It seemed like a night when sleep wouldn’t come easily.

She reached out and picked up the wine bottle on the table. A sweet aroma rose from the wine glass filled with wine.

She tilted the glass and slowly savored the wine. The sweet-and-sour tannins stuck to her mouth richly.

“This wine… is delicious.”

A dreamy smile spread across Aidel’s face. Although she didn’t particularly like alcohol, strangely her hand kept reaching for it.

Was it because the tension had eased, or because fatigue had set in? Aidel’s eyes became slightly unfocused as she emptied the glass. Her whole body became languid and somehow hot.

“Mmm… sleepy…”

Completely relaxed from the rising intoxication and heat, she whined like a child throwing a sleep tantrum.

Thinking she should go to bed, she raised her body that had been half-leaning on the table.

Her head was telling her to walk straight to the bed and lay her tired body down, but her body wasn’t listening to that command.

As she was about to take a step, her feet tangled. Just as her body was about to fall over,

“I told you to rest, not to get drunk.”

Along with an amused voice from behind, someone firmly wrapped around her waist. Perhaps because she was wearing only the thin negligee, the firm body of the man pressed against her felt explicitly clear.

“You still have to fulfill the unfinished duties of the Grand Duchess. Aidel.”

She turned her head with unfocused eyes.

“Ah…!”

She exclaimed softly, her mouth slightly open, as if discovering something.

As always, it was those deep blue eyes that completely captivated her at unexpected moments.