Demian spoke a step ahead. All eyes turned to him at the unexpected remark.

Demian opened his mouth again with a calm and composed face.

“It was my wife who led the magic airship project from the beginning. I was fortunately offered collaboration first because I am her husband, and I simply did not miss a good opportunity.”

“Ah… I, I see.”

“Yes, so I hope everyone won’t misunderstand. Although it’s embarrassing that I rode on my wife’s coattails, I feel somewhat hurt that no one seems to recognize my efforts in supporting her.”

The combination of his dignified, gruff voice and self-deprecating tone created a sense of dissonance.

People were flustered, not knowing how to react.

It’s one thing to praise someone for being humble when they’re just being modestly self-effacing, but when they come out correcting a truly mistaken fact like this, it becomes awkward.

As small murmurs arose from all around, Demian said.

“Moreover, it’s not me but my wife who knows well about the magic airship. If you have questions about the airship, please ask my wife, and only ask me about external matters.”

It was an impeccably clean finish. Arasila looked at him with quite surprised eyes.

She didn’t expect him to step forward and praise her like this. Usually, she had to take care of her own share for people to recognize it even a little…

Arasila, who had always fiercely fought with colleagues who tried to increase their own merits and diminish hers, felt strange.

‘Is he a much better man than I thought?’

While she hesitated for a moment whether to say thank you, suddenly people flocked to her.

Those curious and interested in the magic airship itself had moved towards Arasila.

Thanks to this, Arasila, who had missed the timing to speak to Demian, decided to respond to the people who approached her first.

“Madam, how did you come up with the idea for the magic airship?”

“What is the operating principle? Did you only use the floating stones you’ve been researching recently?”

“I’m curious why you designed it after a bird! Is there a special reason?”

Facing the bombardment of questions like a wave, Arasila paused slightly before saying.

“I didn’t create the magic airship alone. Two of my proud juniors worked with me. I’ve invited them here today, so it would be nice to have a conversation together.”

She brought her juniors who had been stuck in a corner of the party venue. They had been almost hiding, unable to adapt to the party overflowing with nobles everywhere.

Sally and Rudy, who were initially awkward and at a loss, gradually regained confidence as they continued answering questions.

While taking care of her juniors, Arasila occasionally glanced at Demian.

He was in conversation with those who wanted to collaborate on the magic airship business.

Thanks to that, no one was left out and there was no need to fight for their share, so she felt she should definitely thank him.

After the party ended and all the guests were seen off, a hand suddenly grabbed Demian’s sleeve as he was about to go up to his office.

As he slowly turned his head, there stood Arasila, who had let her hair down naturally, having untied her ribbon at some point.

“Thank you for today. Thanks to you stepping up, I was able to take care of my juniors as well.”

“It’s nothing. I simply corrected the part people were misunderstanding.”

Demian replied plainly without trying to take credit.

For Arasila, who had seen many men act arrogantly or expect impure rewards even when she showed just a little gratitude, it was a refreshing attitude.

Somehow wanting to show him a bit more appreciation, Arasila pondered and said.

“Do you want to sleep in the bedroom today?”

“Are you offering to give up the bedroom to me? And you’ll sleep in the office?”

Now somewhat accustomed to Arasila’s way of speaking, Demian interpreted her hidden meaning on his own and expressed his refusal.

“It’s fine. I have no intention of taking the bedroom from you for something like this.”

“I never said I was giving it up.”

“Pardon?”

“I meant sleeping together, I did.”

“…What?”

Demian, who bit his tongue in shock for a moment, hurriedly covered his mouth.

Ignoring the tingling pain on his tongue and the fishy taste in his mouth, he desperately articulated clearly.

“Wh-what do you mean?”

“What do you mean, what do I mean?”

“I’m asking with what intention you’re saying such things.”

He looked at Arasila with bewildered eyes. Arasila shrugged her shoulders and said in a somewhat indifferent tone.

“No matter what, it must be uncomfortable to always sleep on the office sofa. I’ll yield today, so sleep comfortably in the bed.”

When she didn’t know well, she didn’t care how Demian slept in the office.

But once she actually shared the office, she realized that it was by no means a suitable place for sound sleep.

Unlike when they were on bad terms, now that they had somewhat warmed up to each other, that fact bothered her a little.

“…Didn’t you say to sleep together?”

As Demian hesitantly asked again, Arasila nodded.

“Yes, let’s sleep together in the bedroom. You on the bed, me on the sofa.”

She didn’t want to sleep on the hard office sofa. The bedroom sofa was much softer and fluffier, so if she had to sleep on a sofa, that one was far better.

Noticing Demian’s ears turning as red as a ripe apple, Arasila narrowed her eyes.

“Demian, don’t tell me you…”

“Don’t say it!”

Anticipating her next words, Demian yelled, throwing his hands forward. The corners of Arasila’s mouth twitched.

“What do you think I was going to say?”

“Whatever it is, absolutely do not say it.”

“Why? Why are you stopping me as if you have something to feel guilty about? Did you have some strange imagination?”

“I did not! I’ll sleep in the office today too, so please sleep alone in the bedroom.”

Demian turned around abruptly and left with quick steps. Arasila chased after him earnestly, trying to strike up a conversation.

“I don’t like that. I’m going to drag you to the bedroom and sleep together no matter what.”

“Please, stop saying it like that.”

“Why? I’m just stating facts, why are you so averse to it?”

“Just don’t talk to me at all.”

Demian said with an irritated face. Arasila giggled and persistently followed him, teasing.

But when he really tried to head to the office, she quickly raised both hands in surrender.

“Wait a moment, Demian. I won’t tease you anymore. I swear.”

“It’s fine.”

“I really won’t tease you. So today, come to the room with me and sleep comfortably in the bed.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“You really don’t believe me?”

Arasila’s voice, which had a faint trace of laughter, suddenly became serious. Demian stopped walking and turned to look at her.

Eyes like a clear, transparent lake gazed directly at him.

Now that they were even business partners, an answer of disbelief would be of no help, so he sighed and said.

“…I’ll believe you just this once. And you use the bed. I’ll sleep on the bedroom sofa.”

Arasila nodded with a bright smile.

Although Demian knew he didn’t need to follow her if he was going to sleep on the sofa anyway, he couldn’t stop his moving feet.

In the end, the two slept together in the bedroom for the first time since their wedding night.

Although they still slept separately, it was meaningful just to share another space following the office.

“Aaaargh!”

Nora screamed, punching a frilly cushion.

The maids had left the room to avoid her raging like a madwoman, so she was currently sitting alone on the bed, throwing a tantrum.

The reason she was having such a hysterical fit was always one.

Arasila Hugo.

That woman who had cunningly married the man she had a crush on and was now Arasila Vandermir.

Because of her, who had always been in her way since the academy days, Nora always felt stress that made her heart feel like it would burst.

“Leech-like woman! Weed-like woman! Unlucky! Annoying! Disgusting woman!”

No matter how much she cursed Arasila until her throat was hoarse, her frustrating feelings wouldn’t subside.

She had carefully spread rumors to drive a wedge between the couple, but not only did they ostentatiously attend the imperial ball together, they even succeeded in a joint business venture, becoming a young couple envied by their peers, which made her feel like dying of irritation.

“She doesn’t even usually attend imperial balls well. Look how shrewd and cunning she is when it’s disadvantageous to her.”

Nora muttered in a voice full of jealousy.

In fact, it’s natural for anyone to come forward to quietly settle such rumors in social circles, but for Nora, who found even Arasila’s breathing objectionable, it felt like an especially sly action.

“I liked Duke Vandermir first… You snatched him away completely this time too, do you think I’ll let you be happy peacefully?”

A twisted desire for revenge blazed in Nora’s eyes.

She felt like the emotions weighing heavily on her chest would only disappear if she somehow interfered with Arasila and Demian’s happy married life.

Full of malice, she soon held a gathering, inviting as many people as possible.

There was only one goal.

To completely bury Arasila in high society.

“Didn’t Lady Vandermir steal her husband’s credit? Of course, we can’t say the lady had no part since magic was used, but it was thanks to His Grace’s investment that it was possible, right?”

Having completely lost her self-control, she directly stepped forward to criticize Arasila. Her naked hostility was so obvious that even Lady Cooper, her right-hand woman, was taken aback.

“Who would have known that her greatest skill was seducing men and making them move according to her will rather than magic. What’s so great about her anyway.”

Nora, who had been vehemently slandering Arasila in explicit terms, paused briefly to drink tea.

In the meantime, a certain lady who had been newly invited today and hadn’t yet grasped the mood of the gathering, thoughtlessly retorted.

“But Lady Vandermir is beautiful enough to be considered impressive.”

“That’s true.”

Nora, who had been mentally chewing on Arasila, agreed inadvertently.

Immediately after, her expression hardened terrifyingly. Other quick-witted ladies hurriedly stepped in.

“Just because a person is beautiful doesn’t mean they can do anything they want, right?”

“That’s right. Honestly, using one’s face as a weapon is behavior that’s disgusting in others’ eyes!”

“The virtue a noble lady should possess is not appearance, but modest conduct and righteous mind.”

Fortunately, thanks to their efforts, Nora didn’t end up lashing out at the lady who made the thoughtless remark.

Afterwards, Nora tirelessly continued to hold gatherings, making every effort to form negative public opinion about Arasila.

It was because of her desire to at least have the upper hand over her in high society, if nothing else.

Eventually, that passion soon bore fruit, and negative words about Arasila began to circulate again.

And this soon reached Iris’s ears as well.