The next morning, Aidel was preparing to go out to the city center in the dressing room.

In Bien’s hands, who was constantly expressing admiration while looking around the dressing room of a completely different scale from the Count Fluor’s mansion, was the outfit Aidel had chosen.

“This is the women’s tailored suit made by Charlotte’s atelier!”

Aidel chose a tailored suit to match today’s schedule, which seemed to involve a lot of activity. She had personally experienced its practicality and comfortable mobility while wearing it.

The suit newly designed and sent by Madame Pomfenu accentuated the waist of the tailored jacket and added ruffles to the collar and sleeves of the shirt blouse, giving a soft feminine charm.

“You look so cool, Your Highness!”

“Indeed. Today’s design suits you very well.”

As Bien spoke in an excited voice seeing Aidel dressed in the suit, Marlin, standing beside her, nodded in agreement.

It was when Bien was about to tie the women’s cravat that Madame Pomfenu had sent along with the suit.

With a short knock, the door opened and an unexpected figure entered the Grand Duchess’s dressing room.

“Your Grace…?”

From the maids attending to Aidel herself, everyone couldn’t hide their surprised expressions at Caeron’s sudden visit.

Caeron’s gaze immediately turned to Aidel standing in front of the mirror. He stared at her for a moment, wearing the tailored suit.

It was a suit with a shirt blouse that came up to the neck, unlike a dress that easily revealed the décolleté line.

Seemingly satisfied with her minimally exposed appearance, he smiled and slowly approached Aidel. Glancing at the cravat in the maid’s hand standing next to the Grand Duchess, he reached out and said.

“Is that a cravat? Give it here.”

Bien, who had stiffened at the Grand Duke’s appearance, came to her senses and quickly handed over the cravat she was holding with respect.

“I’ll tie it for you today.”

“…!”

Originally, tying the cravat was a tradition where the Grand Duchess would do it for the Grand Duke before going out. Everyone watching was surprised, covering their mouths with their hands at the Grand Duke’s unconventional action breaking this tradition in reverse.

Aidel also looked at the Grand Duke with a dazed expression. He came close to her, wrapping the cravat around her delicate neck as if embracing her.

Feeling as if she was in his large embrace, Aidel’s face instantly turned bright red.

After fully acknowledging and accepting her feelings for him, Aidel’s heart raced helplessly at his slightest actions. Her hearing and sense of touch reacting to his words and touch became extremely sensitive.

It was a distance where their breaths could touch. She was anxious that her pounding heartbeat might be heard by him.

“Do you remember what I told you before?”

“What do you mean…?”

As his low voice reached Aidel’s ears, she flinched.

Aidel barely raised her trembling eyelids to look at him in response to Caeron’s question. Seeing her puzzled expression, he continued.

“Why this custom of tying the cravat came about.”

“Ah…!”

Caeron’s gaze deepened as he saw Aidel’s expression, as if she remembered something. After tying the cravat, he grasped her shoulders and slightly lowered his head.

He whispered close to her reddened white earlobe.

“Never forget.”

Although he reluctantly allowed the Grand Duchess to go out with Prince Rainien today… Caeron’s heart was still displeased about sending her off.

A dark desire to chain her up tightly and keep her where only he could see her also arose.

Instead of chains, tying the cravat, the persistent beast revealed his intense possessiveness to her without filter.

He hoped that she would never forget for a moment that she was a woman belonging only to him, like the meaning of tying the cravat.

“As the Grand Duke belongs to the Grand Duchess, the Grand Duchess also belongs to the Grand Duke.”

“…!”

At his words that seemed to stick thickly, her lips parted helplessly and exhaled a thin, trembling breath. Along with her fragrant breath, her scent intensified.

Caeron’s body naturally tensed in response to that scent, but he tried his best to relax his grip on her shoulders. He raised his lowered head and steadily met her gaze.

“Have a good trip. And…”

Caeron’s eyes were brimming with eager light. His expression was like that of a child just before receiving a long-awaited gift. His charming curved lips slowly parted.

“I’ll be waiting for your return.”

The words that followed were whispered as if only for her ears, but they struck intensely.

“Tonight, in my room.”

“…!”

“Your Highness, we have arrived.”

The Grand Duke’s carriage stopped at the entrance to the city center. Aidel and Bien prepared to get out of the carriage at the attendant’s words.

“Are you sure it’s alright to only bring your maid?”

“Bien alone is enough. Besides, I’m here to quietly observe the lives of the imperial citizens, so having many attendants would make it less natural.”

Aidel shook her head, saying it was fine, in response to the attendant’s worried question.

“I’ll accompany Her Highness well by her side. Besides, the security forces often patrol the city center. There won’t be any big problems, so don’t worry.”

The attendant assigned by the Grand Duke reluctantly nodded at Bien’s words.

“I understand. I’ll be waiting here until you return. If there’s any urgent matter, please use a nearby phone to contact this number.”

With that, Bien and Aidel got out of the Grand Duke’s carriage and headed into the city center. The city center was bustling as usual today.

“This place is still the same.”

“Indeed. By the way, tailored suits seem to be really popular. I see many women wearing them.”

The tailored suits popularized by the Grand Duchess were now available in general clothing stores, and many women enjoyed wearing them. They were especially popular among women who worked in various fields to make a living.

Although they couldn’t use high-quality fabrics, tailored suits made with durable and sturdy fabrics were much more comfortable to work in than cumbersome dresses.

Thanks to this, Aidel, also wearing a tailored suit, could walk through the city center without feeling out of place.

She also wore a cloche hat to cover her face, but perhaps due to her inherently elegant demeanor that still showed through, the gazes of passing pedestrians naturally turned to Aidel.

“Aidel, come this way.”

Bien, who was instructed not to use the title “Your Highness” in public places just in case, changed her form of address and made Aidel walk on her inner side.

Bien looked around vigilantly. Aidel smiled gently at Bien, thinking, ‘I don’t think it was this intense when we went out together before…’

Not only had she become the Grand Duchess instead of just a count’s daughter, but perhaps because of the attendant’s earlier caution, Bien seemed even more tense.

In fact, the reason Bien was acting this way was because of a special mission from the Grand Duke, but Aidel was completely unaware of this secret mission.

Bien’s attitude reached its peak when the target of caution, as strongly warned by the Grand Duke, joined them.

“Aidel! Over here.”

“You arrived first. Did you wait long?”

“Not at all. I just got here myself.”

Perhaps due to the expectation and excitement of meeting Aidel, Rainien had arrived much earlier than the appointed time. Although he had been waiting for quite a while at the meeting place, he deliberately didn’t tell Aidel this fact.

Just as Rainien was about to approach Aidel with a bright smile on his face, someone intervened between Aidel and Rainien.

“Greetings to Prince Rainien. I am Bien of the Ingrid Viscount family, a maid of the Grand Duke’s household.”

“Ah, I see. Nice to meet you, Lady Bien.”

Bien, who was formally greeting Rainien, was different from usual. Although she usually had a cute impression with a bright smile, now she was resolute without a hint of a smile. Her expression was solemn, like a soldier on the battlefield.

‘Is she nervous because she’s in front of Prince Rainien…?’

Aidel tilted her head, looking at Bien like this, but Bien’s true feelings were different.

‘So this is Prince Rainien.’

Bien narrowed her eyes, discreetly observing Rainien.

‘He has a gentle impression as rumored. He’s certainly handsome, but… not as much as our Grand Duke.’

Indeed, that’s right.

As the saying goes, blood is thicker than water. Although she hadn’t been at the Grand Duke’s household for long, Bien already had great loyalty to the Grand Duke. Above all, since he was the first man the Grand Duchess had given her heart to, in Bien’s eyes, no man could compare to the Grand Duke.

Moreover…

− Did you say your name was Bien?

− Yes, yes! That’s right, Your Grace.

In fact, before going out today, Bien had been separately summoned to the Grand Duke’s office along with Marlin. It was the first time Bien had faced the Grand Duke so closely, and she was so nervous that even her voice trembled.

− You’ve been with the Grand Duchess since the count’s household, I hear.

− I entered as a maid from a young age and have served Her Highness.

− Then you must know the Grand Duchess well.

− What aspects do you mean…?

− Everything about her. From her eating habits to her preferences, hobbies, likes, dislikes, and so on.

− …!

Bien, who hadn’t expected such questions, opened her eyes wide in surprise. Seeing the Grand Duke inquire about even the minute details that only those close to the Grand Duchess would know, Bien was greatly impressed.

Until now, no one, not even anyone in the Fluor Count’s family, had shown interest in these aspects… Only the Grand Duke uniquely showed interest and asked about them.

Seeing such a Grand Duke, Bien clearly felt that he truly cherished Aidel. Bien nodded, deciding to soon write a report on the topic of “everything about the Grand Duchess.”

− I will organize the information you’ve inquired about and soon submit it to Your Grace.

− And there’s one more thing you need to do.

− Please command me.

− I heard you’re going with the Grand Duchess when she goes to the capital for her assignment.

− That’s correct. I plan to accompany her well by her side.

− Don’t leave the Grand Duchess’s side for even a moment and watch over her. Especially the accompanying Prince Rainien…

As if emphasizing, the Grand Duke spoke the last sentence with particular force.

− Make sure he does not get too close to the Grand Duchess.

Seeing the Grand Duke’s coldly burning eyes as he gave this order, Bien was scared but also felt relieved.

Knowing that this too stemmed from his affection for the Grand Duchess, Bien was willing to carry out the Grand Duke’s order. Bien clenched both fists tightly as if making a vow.