First floor of the Sayer Duke’s mansion.

The small room next to the kitchen was like a lounge where the mansion’s staff could rest for a while after meals.

Usually, during break time, several maids would gather and chat, but today there was one maid who was unusually quiet.

“Why is she so out of it?”

Jena, who had been gossiping about the new young stable boy, gestured with her chin towards Samantha, who was unusually quiet.

“She’s been like that since she went out with the madam a few days ago. Did something happen outside?”

“I heard they went out to get a dress fitted, but did she get ignored by other noble ladies there…?”

“No.”

As the maids’ conversation analyzing why Samantha was quiet was about to turn into gossip about Dalia, the quiet Samantha opened her mouth.

“Our madam is no longer ignored by other noble ladies outside.”

Jena’s eyebrows twitched at Samantha’s tone, which seemed to be scolding them.

“Our madam? Since when did you start caring about the madam? Didn’t you dislike the new duchess for being frustrating?”

“I never disliked her! I just… thought she didn’t quite fit as the Duchess of Sayer. But now my thoughts have changed.”

Samantha’s eyes sparkled as she said this.

“Haven’t you noticed? Doesn’t the madam seem different these days?”

“The madam has changed?”

“Yes. How should I put it… She’s become more impressive than before?”

Samantha asked in an excited tone, as if seeking agreement. The maids tilted their heads and replied in uncertain tones.

“Hmm. Is that so? Now that you mention it, it does seem that way?”

“It’s not just ‘seems that way’, she has changed! Look at what happened when she suddenly barged into the kitchen last time. Max got sick after being forced to eat that day. Probably, Max must have put something in the food. The madam knew that fact and came to scold Max.”

“No way.”

“Then why hasn’t Max been seen since that day? I heard he was kicked out of the mansion and went back to his hometown?”

“Really?”

The maids, who had only thought the head chef was on sick leave, asked in surprise.

Samantha didn’t stop there and listed the recent changes in the duchess.

“And when I accompanied the madam to the dress shop this time, you know what? With just a few words from our madam, Madam Louise worshipped her like a goddess!”

Who was Madam Louise?

She was currently the most famous successful commoner woman in the empire.

Despite her commoner origins, Madam Louise became the owner of the most famous dress shop in the empire, loved by many noble ladies for her innate talent and business sense.

She was such a successful woman that even the haughty empress called Madam Louise her close friend.

Because of this, even haughty noble ladies couldn’t treat her carelessly, and she was also famous for not bowing to noble ladies at all.

But Samantha had witnessed with her own eyes this woman looking at the madam as if worshipping her.

“And that’s not all. Remember that noble lady who insulted our madam and our duke’s family at the tea party hosted by the madam before? Well, the madam publicly humiliated that noble lady in front of everyone.”

“R-really?”

“Of course! That noble lady probably won’t be able to come out of her mansion for a while due to embarrassment.”

Samantha, no, all the servants working in this mansion clearly remembered what happened at the tea party that day.

How much a noble lady from who knows where had looked down on the madam and the Sayer family.

Samantha had been born and raised here, following her parents who worked as gardeners for the Sayer Duke’s family, and naturally became a maid.

Her parents and her parents’ parents.

They all had worked for the Sayer Duke’s family for a long time, so they felt proud to work for the empire’s top family next to the imperial family.

So when she saw the lady of the proud Sayer Duke’s family unable to say a word and just shedding tears, she was beyond disappointed and felt angry to the tips of her hair.

Even now, just thinking about it made her so frustrated and her teeth grind.

Samantha, who was present at that time, wanted to grab that noble lady’s hair right away, but in a situation where the madam herself was just shedding tears, there was nothing she could do as a mere maid.

“Our madam has changed now.”

The image of the madam deliberately placing a bug on the marchioness’s head that day was clear in her mind.

Although it wasn’t an elegant method, sometimes you need to use underhanded tactics to win a fight.

Regardless of the method, it was a very proud thing to have gotten back at the noble lady who had looked down on the madam and the Sayer family.

“I’ve decided.”

Samantha, whose shoulders had now risen high, murmured.

“From now on, I’ll be on our madam’s side!”

Saying it out loud made it even more certain. That our madam has changed.

It was an honor to serve the lady of the Sayer Duke’s family. From now on, she would serve the madam with all her heart and soul.

And so, without even knowing it, Dalia had gained her first subordinate.

Two days later. Dalia, who had come out to the city under the pretext of shopping, ordered her maid before entering a hat shop.

“I can go in here alone, so Samantha, could you buy some lemon tarts from the bakery next to the square?”

“Do you mean La Ruelle? It takes at least a few hours of waiting in line to buy from there. Will you be alright browsing alone for that long?”

“Yes, it’s fine. I’ll just be inside the shop, so what’s the problem?”

In fact, the lemon tart was an excuse to buy some time alone.

Two days ago, when she heard from Lady Roman that you had to wait in line for at least three hours to eat lemon tarts, she came up with this clever plan.

‘I deliberately wore the plainest clothes, so there shouldn’t be a big problem walking around alone.’

Judging by the reluctant expression of the maid named Jena when she said she would wear these clothes, she must have chosen the right outfit.

“Yes, madam. Of course I should buy it if you want to eat it! But please don’t go outside and wait inside the shop. Even if you do walk around, make sure to stay with the guard. I’ll be back as soon as possible!”

“Mm, okay.”

Seeing the maid’s face speaking with sparkling eyes made her feel guilty, and her voice trailed off.

Samantha, who had recently become her personal maid, often gave her such burdensome looks whenever she looked at her.

Still, the girl seemed so pure and innocent. She didn’t seem like a bad kid.

‘I’m sorry, Samantha. I’ll be back soon!’

She had to quickly return before the maid noticed she was gone.

Watching Samantha’s back as she disappeared towards the square, she entered the store. Then she immediately headed towards the back door of the store, recalling her memory.

‘When I asked a passerby last time, they definitely said to enter through the path behind Wembley Park.’

Although Rachel had recommended a doctor, she couldn’t get birth control pills prescribed there.

No matter how well they kept secrets, it would be a big problem if she ran into someone she knew there. Moreover.

‘Isn’t that place not specialized in women’s diseases, but just in marital relationships?’

Dalia, who didn’t have the energy to correct Rachel’s misunderstanding that day, left saying she would definitely visit that hospital.

As she recalled that tiring day again, Dalia let out a low sigh.

“Let’s go quickly for now.”

Dalia snuck out through the back door, silently apologizing to the guard who would be waiting for her in front of the store.

Late afternoon, as the sun was setting.

Clayton boarded the carriage to return to the mansion after finishing his schedule.

Then Cadison, Clayton’s secretary sitting across from him, pushed up his glasses and said,

“It seems it was good to get acquainted with the people from the principality at the garden party the other day. There shouldn’t be much disruption to trade with the Kingdom of Ister.”

“Yes.”

Clayton, who was responding adequately to Cadison’s words, for some reason pulled back the curtain of the carriage window.

Looking at the sky turning orange beyond the window, he soon ordered Cadison.

“More importantly, look into the past of the Molden Baron family. Focus on the connection with the Sayer family.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Everything became clear after the garden party. The symptoms subsided when he touched Dalia.

Just holding hands with her allowed him to enjoy everyday life like ordinary people.

‘The intensity and duration of contact didn’t seem to matter much.’

Then he recalled the pond where he was with Dalia.

The coolness of the blowing wind, the hot skin touching his fingertips, and the soft lips meeting his.

Everything that happened that day was as vivid as if it had happened today.

Although he had initially decided to test it, that day’s kiss was somewhat impulsive.

And that fact bothered him.

Clayton’s brow furrowed as he stared blankly at the passing city scenery.

There was no one sitting next to him, but the familiar scent permeating the carriage seat made him feel as if Dalia was here with him.

Silver hair as if soaked in moonlight and mysterious purple eyes…

“…Dalia?”

And as if by a lie, Dalia appeared before his eyes, becoming reality.