Finally, the morning of the birthday celebration dawned.

Normally, the mansion should have been bustling with excitement due to the Duke and Duchess preparing to attend a major event, but not today.

This was because of rumors spreading a few days ago about the Duke and Duchess having an ominous fight in the study, followed by some noble lady occupying the east annex yesterday.

And due to these series of events, it became an established fact that Clayton had taken a mistress.

It had long been concluded that the incident that day ended in a fierce marital quarrel, with rumors that the master of this mansion, Duke Sayer, had an affair and brought his mistress into the house, causing a big fight with the madam that left the study in disarray.

Perhaps because of this, the eyes of the maids helping with the preparations today were different.

It was like a salon owner dolling up a woman going to her ex-boyfriend’s wedding.

The maids were silently carrying out their duties with tightly sealed lips.

‘If it’s this tense now, there’ll be an uproar when they find out I’m not going to the party.’

Last night, Jason had already come to Dalia and informed her that Clayton would be attending the party with Lloyd.

Judging by how carefully he broached the subject while gauging her reaction, the butler seemed very concerned that Dalia might be hurt.

Not knowing how relieved she actually was to hear that news.

‘Still, it’s fortunate. This is going according to plan.’

So Dalia was deliberately dolling herself up to maximize the image of a pitiful Duchess.

She needed to actively appeal to the male lead how much she wanted to attend this party, so it would leave a lasting impression on his mind.

After quite some time primping like that, the maids who had been huddled around finished and stepped back, exclaiming.

Amidst that, Samantha’s voice rang out in admiration.

“My lady, you look absolutely beautiful!”

Wasn’t Madame Louise’s atelier said to be the most famous in the empire?

Indeed, there was a reason everyone said so.

The dress that fell straight down below the slightly accentuated bustline had a very simple design without any special patterns, but it didn’t feel plain at all.

While exaggerated silhouettes and excessive decorations that had been in fashion may have hidden a beautiful woman’s curves, the dress Dalia was wearing now subtly highlighted her feminine lines.

It was like a single lily, a pure beauty that evoked protective instincts in those who saw her.

‘Wow. This exceeds my expectations.’

Dalia turned this way and that, examining her reflection in the mirror.

The crystals softly embedded in the sky-blue dress looked like morning dew.

It felt like just standing still without saying anything would ensure half the plan’s success.

She inwardly sent overwhelming words of gratitude to Madame Louise who made this dress.

“This is a dress I’ve never seen before in my life! If you just wear this dress and go out, you’ll beat that redhead in an instant!”

Samantha’s eyes were burning with passion.

Thanks to that enthusiasm, the preparations that started in the afternoon only finished as the sun was beginning to set, but the result was superb.

‘This is exactly the look I wanted.’

Perhaps practicing forlorn poses in front of the mirror when no one was around paid off. The reflection in the mirror looked utterly desolate, like a woman who had been jilted.

“Everyone at the imperial palace will fall to their knees before your beauty, my lady.”

Samantha kept exclaiming “Our lady is the star of tonight’s party!” while clenching her fists.

Watching Samantha like that, Dalia inwardly apologized.

‘I’m sorry, Samantha. I don’t think I’ll be able to live up to your expectations.’

The thought of Samantha in the future going on about how this couldn’t be and badmouthing the Duke and Lloyd was already giving her a headache.

‘But Samantha, just bear with it a little longer.’

After going through this a few more times, that man would fall head over heels for her. Then all these annoying antics would be over.

Once the male lead fell for her, she would live a peaceful life enjoying wealth for the rest of her days.

‘This much investment for the future is welcome.’

As Dalia adjusted her outfit with a confident expression, she suddenly had a question.

‘But why did the male lead go with the mistress instead of me in the original story?’

Come to think of it, she only remembered that it was an important event where the male lead started paying attention to the female lead, and that it was related to the family curse.

So she racked her brain trying to think, but she just couldn’t recall any proper reason.

‘Oh well. I’m sure I’ll remember later.’

But the reason wasn’t important right now, so she quickly changed her train of thought.

“This isn’t the time for me to be doing this.”

Soon the Duke and Lloyd would board the carriage together. She needed to go out and wait before they got on the carriage first.

With that thought, Dalia hurried to finish her preparations.

* * *

When Dalia came down to the first floor, the maids waiting below started buzzing.

Among their words were praises of Dalia’s beauty, but also sympathy due to the sudden intrusion of a mistress.

‘Very good. Keep whispering like that, everyone!’

It was obvious how the image of a woman waiting forlornly for her husband would appear amidst the maids’ whispers.

‘That’s partly why I came out earlier on purpose.’

As Dalia approached the waiting carriage with tightly pursed lips, the butler Jason came towards her with a troubled face.

He had clearly delivered the news yesterday. But he hadn’t expected Dalia to appear all dressed up like this today.

“M-my lady. Why are you here…?”

Jason’s pupils shook rapidly from side to side.

Since Dalia had come down to the first floor all dressed up, he had no choice but to repeat what he said yesterday.

“My lady. As I mentioned yesterday… today the Duke will be going to the imperial palace with someone other than you.”

At those words, the faces of the maids following behind turned pale.

Dalia barely managed to pull down the corners of her mouth that were trying to curl up at the situation unfolding exactly as she had predicted.

Then she deliberately put on a sad expression and murmured.

“I know.”

“Then why…?”

“As the Duke’s wife, I can’t not see my husband off when he’s attending an important event. And more than anything…”

Dalia briefly looked down at the dress she was wearing as she continued.

“…I’d hate to waste the dress I prepared for today.”

“My lady…”

At her final words driving the point home, the eyes of those around, including Jason, became full of pity.

Just then, as Jason was carefully choosing his words while gauging her reaction, the main character finally appeared.

“I’m sure I told you to relay the message, Jason.”

The moment Clayton appeared with Lloyd beside him, a heavy silence fell over the mansion.

Lloyd kept his head bowed, as if he couldn’t bear to look at Dalia’s face.

Dalia alternated looking at the two of them without adding any words.

She didn’t forget to occasionally make her eyebrows tremble slightly.

As if she was trying hard to accept an unbelievable situation.

“…Don’t blame the butler. I had already been informed of the situation. I simply came out to see the Duke off today.”

And she deliberately spoke in a calm tone. She wouldn’t waste her tears. Just one drop at the crucial moment. That would be enough.

Perhaps her acting worked, as the expressions of Jason and the maids darkened even further.

“This works out well. Actually, I haven’t been feeling well since yesterday. I would be grateful if Miss Hertz could accompany you in my place.”

Dalia deliberately swallowed her words in the middle and answered calmly. At this, the atmosphere in the mansion became even more solemn.

Anyone with eyes could tell that those words were a lie.

The Duchess looked like someone who had dressed up in excitement to go to the imperial palace.

‘Even I think that line just now was very good.’

She could feel dozens of gazes fixed on her back, sympathizing with her. That was exactly what she wanted.

Now if she just shed one tear as those two left, everything would be perfect.

So Dalia was secretly preparing to pinch her thigh as she waited for the two to pass by her…

“This can’t be.”

Huh?

Lloyd, who had been quiet until now, broke the silence.

“The Duchess, not I, should go to the imperial palace.”

Hey, hey, why are you suddenly acting like this?

And the one most flustered by Lloyd’s sudden outburst was none other than Dalia.

She kept looking at Lloyd, trying to signal him not to do this. But unfortunately, Lloyd didn’t notice.

“If the Duchess doesn’t go, I won’t go either!”

“N-no, Miss Hertz… We can’t both go to the party…”

“But you were looking forward to going to the imperial palace!”

“Th-that’s not it, I…”

He made his bombshell statement and looked into Dalia’s eyes with a faint smile.

As if telling her to just trust him, and then she would be able to go to the imperial palace.

Ha, Lloyd.

Dalia looked at Lloyd, who had clearly misunderstood something, with an ambiguous expression that was neither crying nor laughing.

Please, just shut up.