Victor greeted the grand ducal couple returning on horseback.

“Did you enjoy your ride? Even from afar, I couldn’t take my eyes off Your Highnesses.”

Victor gazed with admiring eyes at the Grand Duchess elegantly mounted on a magnificent black horse, and the robust Grand Duke enveloping her protectively.

‘What a well-matched pair indeed.’

The Grand Duke dismounted first, then helped the Grand Duchess down by holding her. Watching the Grand Duke gazing at the Grand Duchess with gentle eyes, Victor felt nostalgic. It was moving to see Caeron, whom he had known since he was a young prince, grow up and finally meet his companion.

‘If only the late Empress could see this scene, she would have been overjoyed…’

In his past memories, Caeron was a prince beautiful as a sculpture, but his temperament was endlessly cold, as if carved from ice.

Even in moments of riding, he never smiled, and now to see him make such an expression…

‘You’ve finally found your match.’

Moreover, even Caden, the noble black horse that resembled the Grand Duke’s temperament, willingly carried the Grand Duchess on his back. Victor laughed heartily as he watched Caden affectionately nuzzling Aidel after she dismounted.

‘Our Grand Duchess is quite the tamer!’

She had tamed both the most difficult man and the most difficult horse he had ever seen in this world.

Inwardly paying his respects to the Grand Duchess, Victor approached the grand ducal couple.

“I’ll take Caden to the stable. Your Highnesses should go rest at the clubhouse.”

At Victor’s words, Aidel stared intently at Caden. Somehow, she felt reluctant to part. From the first moment she saw him, this horse had captured her heart.

The black horse with its sculptured, firm body and noble bearing seemed to remind her of someone.

Aidel’s eyes unconsciously turned towards Caeron standing beside her, and their gazes met. Hiding her slightly flustered face, Aidel spoke to Caeron.

“Though it’s been a short time, I’ve grown fond of Caden. May I accompany him to the stable?”

As Aidel expressed her regret, Caden seemed to share the same feeling, stretching his head towards her. Aidel stroked the bridge of his nose.

“If you wish, I’ll have that horse brought to the grand ducal residence.”

“Hmm… No, it’s alright. I’ve heard horses have a homing instinct. This place is Caden’s birthplace and home, after all. Besides, I think he’d be happier freely roaming these wide plains than inside the mansion.”

Aidel gently shook her head at Caeron’s suggestion. Stroking Caden’s neck, she continued.

“Instead… may I come horseback riding like this occasionally?”

“Of course. Next time, I’ll teach you how to canter.”

At his words promising a next time, Aidel’s face flushed. A pleasant throbbing spread throughout her chest. She slightly lowered her head to hide her excited face.

Caeron’s gaze turned to the black horse, who was narrowing his eyes contentedly under Aidel’s touch.

“This fellow would probably want that too. If he takes after his dam, he should run faster and better than anyone.”

As if understanding Caeron’s words, Caden neighed with a ‘hee-hee’ sound as soon as he finished speaking. Seeing the black horse’s reaction, Caeron chuckled.

“Give me the reins.”

Caeron took Caden’s reins himself instead of her. Victor watched with a pleased expression as the Grand Duke considerately cared for the Grand Duchess, who must be tired from horseback riding.

A bright smile spread across Aidel’s face as she alternately looked at Caeron and Caden walking side by side towards the stable.

They really do look alike.

Aidel exhaled deeply with brightly shining eyes, as if wanting to fully savor this dreamy, peaceful moment.

Bien’s tense eyes carefully scanned the reception room of the grand ducal residence. It was different in scale from the Fluor Count’s house.

Feeling overwhelmed by the magnificent atmosphere, Bien clasped her hands together under the table. Her palms were damp with sweat.

“You say you’ve come from the Fluor Count’s house.”

Marlin, sitting across from her, served Bien tea while discreetly observing her face. She appeared to be a cute and youthful young lady around the same age as the Grand Duchess.

“Yes, I am Bien from the Ingrid Viscount family. I have served by Aidel’s side, I mean Her Highness the Grand Duchess, since she was at the Fluor Count’s house.”

Marlin looked over the letter of recommendation from the Fluor Count’s house that Bien had brought. The letter stated that Bien had been Aidel’s close maid since childhood and was being sent to the grand ducal house to help care for the Grand Duchess’s well-being.

A flicker of doubt passed through Marlin’s eyes as she looked at the recommendation letter. If they were going to send a maid for the Grand Duchess’s sake, they should have sent her earlier… Why now?

“I was surprised by your sudden visit, to be honest…”

“I apologize for not giving prior notice. As soon as I received my family’s permission to serve the Grand Duchess, I rushed here in my excitement.”

Bien bowed her head, blushing. Seeing the pure emotions clearly reflected in her gentle eyes, Marlin set aside her initial wariness.

Marlin, also being from the Delfe Count family, a vassal house of the Roman Duchy, understood Bien’s position of having limited freedom under her family’s decisions.

“The final decision on hiring and placing maids rests with Her Highness, but she is out at the moment. We’ll have to wait until she returns. Is that alright with you?”

“Of course. I can wait as long as it takes.”

Bien nodded willingly with a bright smile. Looking at Bien’s kind face, Marlin was reminded of Aidel.

‘This maid will probably help Her Highness find even more peace of mind.’

Like the relationship between the late Empress Meriel and herself, a maid who had grown up together since childhood would be a source of comfort. Imagining Aidel’s joyful reaction, a gentle smile spread across Marlin’s lips as well.

Marlin had been worried ever since seeing the Grand Duchess’s drastically darkened complexion after returning from the recent imperial banquet. Especially when Aidel mentioned refusing consummation, her heart had sunk.

Though the reason given was poor health… Marlin had been on pins and needles hearing about the Grand Duchess who seemed to have tossed and turned all night, and the Grand Duke’s unscheduled departure for fly fishing the next day. It would be a disaster if even a small rift formed between the grand ducal couple.

‘Thank goodness. The relationship between Their Highnesses has recovered.’

Marlin let out a sigh of relief. Although she had been concerned, a softer atmosphere could be felt again recently in the relationship between the grand ducal couple.

Moreover, the Grand Duke, who had been busy with work, was now actively creating time alone with the Grand Duchess, as if trying to close the distance that had formed between them.

Hoping that the Grand Duchess would return after having a happy time on her horseback riding date with the Grand Duke, Marlin glanced at the wall clock hanging above the console in the reception room.

‘It seems about time for them to have finished riding and returned…’

No sooner had Marlin’s thought ended than news of the grand ducal couple’s arrival was delivered by a footman.

“I’ve just been informed that His Highness the Grand Duke and Her Highness the Grand Duchess have arrived at the main gate. Shall we go out to greet them together?”

“Yes! That would be wonderful.”

Bien responded in a loud voice, her eyes sparkling at Marlin’s thoughtful suggestion. With an excited expression, Bien quickly rose from her seat and followed Marlin towards the entrance.

‘Lady Aidel…’

Bien’s heart swelled at the thought of facing Aidel after so long.

In truth, Bien had been treated like an outcast in the Count’s house after Aidel’s departure.

− How can you, who was always by her side as her close maid, claim not to know? Not only did she deceive us completely and become the Grand Duchess, but she even entered the Imperial University!

After Aidel left to become the Grand Duchess, all arrows were aimed at Bien. For not knowing about the meeting with the Grand Duke or the preparations for entering the Imperial University… Roselyn took every opportunity to maliciously torment Bien, keeping her by her side.

Considering that Bien was the second daughter of the Ingrid Viscount family, one of the Fluor Count’s vassal houses, she wasn’t expelled, but that rather became her shackle. She had reasons to stay attached to the Fluor Count’s house.

− Bien, as you know… your elder sister is weak, and your younger brother is still little. You need to become a maid of the Fluor family. That’s how our family can receive stable investments.

The large southern territory owned by the Fluor family consisted of fertile land with a mild climate. Based on this, their main sources of income were horticultural farming, growing and selling rare flower varieties, and producing and exporting abundant timber.

Her family, the Ingrid Viscount house, was in the business of exporting timber produced in the Fluor territory. To continuously secure trading rights, they had to maintain a close symbiotic relationship with the Fluor Count’s house.

So the young girl Bien came to the Fluor Count’s house following her family’s orders. There, she became Aidel’s maid and grew up with her.

− My lady, you must be happy.

− Thank you, Bien.

Recalling their last exchange before Aidel left the Fluor Count’s house, Bien’s heart ached.

‘Bien, I’m sorry for suddenly leaving you behind. And for not telling you beforehand…’

Aidel’s eyes, filled with melancholy, seemed to say those words. Having grown up beside her for many years, Bien understood her true feelings even without words.

Aidel probably thought it would be better if Bien knew nothing, to spare her from interrogation. It was likely the best approach she could choose, knowing Bien’s situation of being unable to leave the Fluor family due to business interests.

Though she fully understood, she couldn’t help missing Lady Aidel. Especially on days when Roselyn’s fierce hysteria was at its peak.

− Ah, it’s cold! The water is too cold! You still can’t get the temperature right?

− I’m sorry, my lady. I’ll bring heated water right away.

− Are you telling me to wait shivering while naked?

− I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry.

Roselyn’s sharp voice, full of irritation, echoed through the bathroom. Bien, bowing her head repeatedly, hurried to fetch heated water. Filling the bathtub was usually the maids’ job, but Roselyn had Bien, her lady’s maid, do it personally.

Her wrists, already aching from moving several heavy water buckets as usual, throbbed with renewed pain as she brought the heated water. But Lady Roselyn never let things slide.

− Now the water is too hot!

− I’m sorry. I’ll add some more cold water.

− I’m sick of hearing ‘I’m sorry’! I didn’t expect much from the education you received as my sister’s maid, but… to think it would be this bad.

Roselyn clicked her tongue, looking at Bien with contempt, criticizing not only her but Lady Aidel as well. The bath water temperature not being right was just an excuse. She was merely looking for reasons to criticize Lady Aidel through Bien.

Thinking of the time she had endured all sorts of mistreatment and reproach from Roselyn, Bien felt a dull ache in the corner of her heart.

‘It’s alright now. I’m back by Lady Aidel’s side.’

Bien quickly wiped away the tears welling up in her eyes as she gazed at the carriage arriving at the entrance.

The door of the six-horse carriage bearing the grand ducal crest opened, and the Grand Duke, dressed in riding attire, stepped out first. His presence alone commanded all attention in the vicinity.

As he extended his hand into the carriage, a small, white-glowing hand gently rested on his. The woman who alighted from the carriage holding the Grand Duke’s hand was also in riding attire.

The woman in riding pants exuded a refreshing charm while her delicate features created an indescribably elegant atmosphere.

“Lady Aidel…!”

Unable to contain her joy, Bien called out in a choked voice upon seeing the woman’s face. Hearing the familiar voice calling her name, Aidel’s gaze turned to Bien.

“Bien…?”

Aidel’s eyes widened as if unable to believe what she was seeing.