After the suffocating meal ended, Dalia was sitting in the reception room with Lloyd, using the excuse of drinking tea.

As soon as the maids set down the tea and left, Dalia, as if tension had been released, leaned back on the sofa and patted her chest.

Despite having eaten only vegetables, she felt uncomfortable as if something was stuck.

‘If I have to eat one more meal like this, I might collapse.’

The tension from worrying about what might happen was the cause.

If there was one more meal like this, she might really have to face a doctor that day.

So, for the sake of her health and well-being, she vowed again and again never to create an occasion for the three of them to dine together again.

Leaning her head back on the sofa headrest, Dalia felt a bit more comfortable and glanced at Lloyd.

Lloyd also seemed uncomfortable with the dinner, as he had been staring into space with a serious expression.

“Lloyd. Why do you look so unhappy when the Duke isn’t here? Is there something bothering you?”

At Dalia’s question, he inhaled sharply and tilted his head with a displeased expression.

“Something feels strange. Suddenly asking about me… He didn’t even ask how we became close.”

Come to think of it, Clayton didn’t ask many questions despite probably having a lot to be curious about.

At the time, she had just thought it was fortunate, but now that she pondered it, it was strange. But Lloyd continued as if that wasn’t all.

“And about the villa in the east. Do you know anything about that villa?”

“Well… I haven’t been married long. Why do you ask?”

Lloyd, who suddenly brought up the villa, touched his forehead as if trying to recall a memory.

“I feel like I heard something from my parents before, but I can’t remember exactly what.”

“Is that so? Then it must be quite a famous villa. Even your family knows about it.”

Unlike Dalia who didn’t think much of it, Lloyd’s expression remained unrelieved.

Thinking Lloyd was worrying unnecessarily, Dalia comforted him.

“Don’t worry. It’s probably just a simple trip. The Duke said so too. Since we couldn’t go on a honeymoon, we’re taking this opportunity to get some fresh air.”

“That may be true, but…”

Just as Lloyd trailed off, still sounding uneasy despite her comfort,

There was a knock and a maid’s voice was heard.

“My lady. It’s Samantha.”

“Come in.”

Dalia slowly rose to greet the maid.

Samantha, who entered the reception room, was startled to see Lloyd as if she didn’t expect someone else to be there, but soon approached Dalia.

“What is it?”

“A maid just came from the annex. The Dowager Duchess sent a message that she’d like to have tea with you. What should I do?”

“Ah.”

Dalia, belatedly remembering the Dowager Duchess, let out a short breath.

Although it wasn’t what Dalia wanted, the Dowager Duchess had actively helped her go to the Imperial Palace.

Moreover, since her relationship with Clayton had improved, she needed to thank the Dowager Duchess.

‘I should also tell her that I’m going on a trip with Clayton soon, so I might as well go pay my respects.’

She felt guilty for not thinking to visit the eldest member of the household first.

Having made up her mind to see the Dowager Duchess, Dalia looked at Lloyd.

“Roide. I’m afraid I’ll have to go meet the Dowager Duchess now. Let’s continue our conversation later.”

With those words, Dalia stood up and headed towards the annex.

* * *

Meanwhile, Clayton, who had left the dining room before the two, headed to his study.

As soon as the door closed, he ordered Jason who had been following him.

“We’re going to the villa in Hudson with Dalia. Prepare for it.”

“The villa in Hudson…”

Jason’s peaceful face darkened.

He remembered what kind of place the villa Clayton intended to go to with Dalia was. Hesitating on how to broach the subject, Jason carefully gauged his mood.

“How about the summer villa in the north instead? It’s not summer, but it’s spring so the weather should be much milder there. You can also see the snow-capped mountains in the north and…”

“Jason.”

But Jason closed his mouth at Clayton’s voice, as cool as the northern air.

“…Yes, I understand.”

Jason, who knew how difficult it was to change the Duke’s firm will, continued.

“Then, when do you plan to depart?”

“As soon as preparations are complete. As soon as possible.”

“I see. Then shall I adjust the schedule for about a week’s stay?”

“The return date…”

Clayton answered after a brief silence.

“I haven’t decided.”

“Pardon? What do you mean…”

That meant staying there for at least a month or more.

But Clayton was not in a situation to leisurely spend a vacation in the quiet countryside, so Jason tried to persuade him once again.

But Clayton beat him to it.

“I plan to finish as much work as possible before leaving. Cadison can come and go to handle urgent matters while we’re at the villa.”

“…Yes, I understand.”

The man’s nonchalant voice seemed oblivious to the hard work his subordinate would face.

Jason prayed for the luck of Cadison, who would suffer in the future.

As if to handle the backlog of work now that it was mentioned, Clayton sat down.

He intended to finish as much work as possible before leaving the capital.

As he flipped through the papers in front of him, he casually asked a question as if he had remembered something he had forgotten.

“What about Selman? Has he arrived at the mansion?”

Today was the day Selman, the family doctor who had been away for a few days, was supposed to return.

Since he couldn’t carelessly show Dalia, who had collapsed from blood loss, to someone who didn’t know the family secret, he had been waiting for Selman to arrive.

“He should have reached the capital by now. But…”

“What is it?”

“The lady said she wouldn’t receive Selman’s examination since she has no ailments.”

Clayton’s brow furrowed at Jason’s unexpected answer.

“She won’t be examined? Even though she collapsed yesterday?”

“Yes. I advised her to get checked just in case, but the lady was so adamant…”

Jason trailed off as if troubled.

Like Clayton, he was also worried about Dalia, so he spoke as if confiding his concerns.

“What should we do?”

Clayton tapped his fingers on the desk as if deep in thought. At the same time, he recalled Dalia’s face from their recent meeting.

She looked a bit tired, but didn’t seem to have any particular health issues. Moreover,

‘She went to meet that bastard as soon as she woke up.’

Clayton’s eyes darkened as he recalled Dalia’s face smiling brightly at Lloyd in the forest.

If she had really been unwell, she wouldn’t have even left her bedroom.

There seemed to be no need for him to worry about Dalia, who rushed outside as soon as her eyes opened.

Rather, even if only for a moment, he felt foolish for having worried about Dalia when she collapsed.

Having finished that thought, Clayton began moving his pen that had momentarily stopped.

“If she says there’s no need for an examination, we can’t force her. Let Dalia have her way.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Jason, who had inwardly hoped Clayton would persuade Dalia, wore a disappointed expression.

And just as he was about to leave after paying his respects, Jason stood before Clayton again as if he had belatedly recalled an important matter to report.

“Ah, and I have one more thing to report.”

He took out a small glass bottle from his breast pocket and placed it on the desk.

“This is the medicine you ordered me to investigate last time.”

The glass bottle containing blue liquid was what Clayton had found in Dalia’s room previously.

When shaken, it seemed to show a glimpse of an iris-like color that resembled the color of Dalia’s eyes.

After silently staring at the glass bottle for a moment, Clayton asked in a low voice.

“So what is it?”

His voice was mixed with curiosity about the identity of the medicine and an inexplicable fear. Jason hesitated for a moment before answering.

“It’s an infertility treatment called Alixium. It’s said to be a medicine for women who have difficulty conceiving.”

“…Infertility treatment?”

He asked again as if wondering if he had misheard something, but the answer remained unchanged.

“Yes. It seems to have gained quite a reputation through word of mouth among noble ladies for its effectiveness.”

Clayton was so surprised by the words ‘infertility treatment’ that he failed to hear the rest.

This was because Clayton was considerably perplexed to learn that the identity of the medicine was an infertility treatment.

The Dalia he had seen so far didn’t seem like someone who particularly wanted children.

As Clayton was lost in thought due to the confusion, Jason carefully added.

“It seems the lady might want children…”

“Nonsense.”

But Jason’s muttered words were coldly cut off. Clayton had a resolute look in his eyes as if he couldn’t accept it.

Jason, who inwardly sighed as if he had somewhat expected this, immediately asked about the disposal of the medicine.

“Then what should we do with this medicine? Should I put it back in the lady’s room? It seems the lady hasn’t noticed it’s missing yet.”

Just in case, he had told the maid in charge of cleaning Dalia’s room to let him know if the lady looked for the medicine, but there had been no news.

Clayton answered Jason’s question decisively, as if wondering why he even asked.

“Throw it away.”

Such medicine was neither needed nor should it be needed, so getting rid of it was the right thing to do.