‘Huh?’

Ignoring the people’s bewildered looks, the Grand Duke seriously repeated the motion of scooping up soup, bringing it to his lips, and then letting it dribble down. Like an actor putting on a show of eating soup.

Naturally, not a single drop of soup actually went down his throat.

‘Hmm, what a waste of food. What is he doing?’

Of course, I could be generous about the male protagonist’s eccentricities.

“Grand Duke! What rudeness is this!”

With a scrape, Duke Porche stood up from his chair. He seemed very angry at a glance.

“To treat the meal our family prepared with such care like this!”

If he had at least put the spoon under his mask to eat, it might have been understandable, but letting it dribble down like that was tantamount to suspecting poison in the food.

“Your Grace. The Grand Duke is simply uncomfortable eating with his mask on.”

“If you don’t want to eat, put down the spoon. How dare you mock us like this…!”

Everyone’s faces hardened, and the atmosphere became tense, as if a fight might break out at any moment.

Just as everyone’s nerves were on edge.

“Ahaha!”

A cheerful laugh cut through their tension.

“Anette?”

“What are you doing now too!”

“I’m sorry. It was just so funny.”

Pfft. I covered my mouth and laughed as if the Grand Duke had just told a hilarious joke.

The Duke, who was very angry, stood up abruptly from his chair as if he was about to grab the Grand Duke by the collar, and the face of the Duchess, the hostess, turned red.

Only I wore a comfortable smile. Like a carefree child.

“It’s just so funny to see a grown-up like the Grand Duke acting like a picky eater.”

While the host Duke had taken issue with the Grand Duke’s rudeness, I too was seated in a host’s position.

By dismissing the Grand Duke’s rudeness as mere ‘playfulness’, it became awkward for the Duke to further question the Grand Duke’s manners.

The atmosphere changed.

“…Hmph!”

The Duke looked at me with displeasure before sitting back down. Regardless, I smiled at the Grand Duke with goodwill.

‘You saw that I just took your side, right? Remember it well, okay?’

“Since they’re getting married, it seems their hearts are already in sync.”

“Indeed. There must be something special between them that we can’t see.”

My stepmother and younger sister Caitlin criticized me with barbed words.

While all our family members were stiff at the Grand Duke’s behavior, how could you find it funny? You’re really not one of us, that’s what they meant.

‘I’m grateful if you say I get along well with the male lead.’

If it meant living even one more day, what wouldn’t I match, let alone a sense of humor?

“I’m so happy to hear that the Grand Duke and I suit each other well.”

This was special service.

I winked at the Grand Duke.

Unfortunately, the Grand Duke completely ignored my cute eye gesture.

Contrary to appearances, he must be quite shy.

“On behalf of the Grand Duke and the North, I thank you for Lady Anette’s open attitude towards the Grand Duke from the start. I am Daniel, the knight serving as the Grand Duke’s aide, though I am unworthy.”

Instead of the cold Grand Duke, his knight greeted me with courtesy.

“Pleased to meet you, Sir Daniel.”

I smiled at Sir Daniel, but gaining his favor wasn’t my goal.

I turned my gaze to address the Grand Duke.

“You said you wore a mask because you injured your face. But you didn’t hurt your throat, did you?”

“Anette.”

Duke Porche cautioned me, as if telling me not to speak out of turn and stay quiet.

Oh? You were ready to fight just a moment ago, and now you’re minding manners? How unlike you.

“I want to hear the Grand Duke’s voice. I don’t need many words. Just one is enough. Whether the food is delicious, what you think of our house, something like that.”

“My lady, as I said before, the Grand Duke is wearing a mask, so it’s difficult for him to speak. If you need anything, I can…”

“I appreciate the Porche family’s hospitality.”

An unpleasant voice like scraping metal flowed from beneath the silver mask. It was the first time I heard the male lead’s voice.

Clatter.

At that chilling voice, Caitlin inadvertently dropped the utensils she was holding, making a clanging sound.

Startled, Caitlin’s face couldn’t hide her impression of the voice.

As if to say, ‘What kind of face is hidden behind that mask?’

“Making clattering noises during a meal is impolite, Caitlin. You should behave properly when guests are present, shouldn’t you?”

I lightly chastised Caitlin. Still, the atmosphere remained unpleasant.

Sir Daniel’s face darkened, as if he had expected this rudeness from the Porche family.

“With a voice like this, I remained silent so as not to disturb the pleasant meal time.”

Only the Grand Duke remained calm. Alright then, I should live up to expectations at this dreary table.

“Thank you for granting my request, Your Grace. I’m overjoyed that you’re pleased with the banquet our family has held.”

“How unexpected. Lady, doesn’t this voice bother you? I was sure you’d be frightened at the thought of marrying such a man.”

Even with the mask on, I could tell. He was teasing me now.

Is this a sign of liking?

I smiled at the Grand Duke with a composed attitude.

“To think you were holding back out of concern that I might be startled by your voice, Your Grace must truly have a warm heart.”

Gasp, someone inhaled as if moved. The protagonist was Daniel, the knight serving the Grand Duke. His face, which had been disappointed at Caitlin’s rudeness, was now looking at me with admiration in response to my reaction.

‘Honestly, I’m not surprised because I know he’s the male lead from the original story.’

There was no particular description of the male lead’s voice being bad in the original novel. Then this voice must be deliberately altered. Since he’s wearing a mask anyway, he’s being more thorough.

Male protagonists are all handsome anyway, except for special cases.

What I should be worried about now is Darius’s feelings towards me, not whether I like his voice or not.

“Lady Anette has a broader mind than I thought. I’m impressed by your inclusiveness.”

‘Hmm.’

Is his words genuine praise? Or is he being sarcastic, telling me not to try anything?

Unlike Daniel, who wore his emotions plainly on his face, Darius’s feelings remained unknown behind his silver mask.

“To show you more of my inclusiveness, I’d like to invite you for tea after the meal. We need to talk to get to know each other, don’t we?”

“If time permits, we shall.”

‘That means he’s not coming, right? What business could he have in a place that’s not even his home? Tch.’

Tonight’s dinner conversation was mainly led by Duke and Duchess Porche. Daniel, speaking on behalf of the Grand Duke, and I changed the atmosphere from time to time with appropriate responses.

The Grand Duke, wearing a silver mask, sat silently at the dinner table without saying a word, but no one could ignore his presence.

* * *

‘He seems more like the master of this place than Duke Porche, who is the actual owner of this house.’

Daniel thought fondly of his lord to himself. How much more so for the lady who would become his lord’s wife.

Today, Anette was as witty in her speech as she was lovely in appearance.

According to investigations, the eldest daughter of the Porche family was said to be so timid and shy from growing up under a stepmother that she was almost servile, but no such traits could be seen at all.

Anette led the conversation pleasantly with witty responses that were neither too much nor too little.

While Daniel quite liked Anette’s attitude, if there’s someone you like, there’s bound to be someone who inexplicably angers you.

“Acting like her fiancé is something special! Usually can’t even lift her head properly, why is she showing off so much today!”

Normally, when the Porche family held dinner parties, it was Caitlin’s role to monopolize the guests’ attention.

Caitlin was a beautiful girl with curly red hair and green eyes, Anette’s half-sister.

Anette was just there to fill a seat, her shabby appearance serving only to highlight Caitlin’s charm like a flower’s foliage. But today was the opposite.

Even Caitlin was so stunned by Anette’s appearance, which somehow stole people’s gazes today, that she couldn’t utter a proper word. Caitlin only came to her senses after the banquet had ended.

“Hmph! Marrying that gloomy Duke who won’t even show his face properly or say a word, what’s so great about her?”

While Caitlin was fuming, her dedicated maid whispered something in her ear.

“Miss Caitlin, actually, Miss Anette…”

“What?”

Caitlin’s eyes widened like saucers. Soon her face flushed red, and she clicked her tongue vigorously.

“That’s ridiculous. Being an older sister, coveting her younger sister’s belongings?”

A perfect excuse had arisen to find fault with Anette, whom she disliked.

* * *

“Take off that dress right now.”

Bang!

Caitlin, who had roughly opened the door and entered, looked at me with contemptuous eyes. I had just finished dinner and was about to change out of my stuffy dress into casual clothes.

“How shameful, what are you doing? Are you a beggar, sister? Did you steal my clothes because you have nothing to wear?”

Wearing only a muslin undergarment, I looked at my nanny. The nanny, feeling guilty, avoided my gaze.

As I recalled what I had heard earlier, I roughly grasped the situation.

‘Why didn’t you bring my stepmother’s clothes instead?’

If you were going to pin this on me anyway, that is.