“It’s me, Duke.”

Just as the affected voice was starting to grate on his ears, snap, the parasol closed.

Recognizing the woman’s identity, Cain frowned.

The uninvited guest was Scarlet.

“Scarlet?”

His voice calling her name was filled with undisguised irritation.

Cain recalled the times when Scarlet used to cling to him desperately. Scarlet was a woman who was the worst until the very end.

“This place is only for invited guests. So please leave.”

“To the Duchess!”

As Cain was about to turn away, Scarlet hurriedly tried to stop him with words.

“I want to apologize. Sincerely!”

At the loud voice, people who were finishing their boat ride and coming ashore craned their necks towards Scarlet.

“Lower your voice.”

Cain knew that Scarlet was deliberately raising her voice to draw attention. He warned her in a low tone.

“Do you want to be dragged out?”

“I really want to apologize.”

Scarlet’s brazenness in showing her face at someone else’s event without an invitation was unparalleled. She did not back down.

“Let it be, Cain. I’ll meet with her.”

Jane, who had been listening to their conversation from the boat, stood up. As the boat rocked, Cain quickly approached and grasped her hand.

“Thank you.”

Jane whispered softly, holding tightly onto Cain’s hand and arm as she looked at Scarlet.

“Go ahead, apologize. Right here.”

Scarlet’s eyebrows twitched.

“First… please accept my greeting, Duchess. May the glory of the goddess be with you.”

“May the goddess bring you fortune.”

Jane acknowledged Scarlet’s polite greeting with just a slight nod of her head.

From Scarlet’s perspective, it felt like a very rude response, but considering their positions, it couldn’t be questioned.

Because Jane was a duchess while Scarlet was merely a count’s daughter.

Nevertheless, until now, Jane had shown great respect to Scarlet.

Inwardly, she was bothered by Mrs. Themis’s words about ‘keeping Scarlet in mind as the next duchess’.

Since Cain hadn’t made any particular excuses about the rumors with Scarlet, Jane had considered the possibility that things might unfold as Mrs. Themis hoped.

Another reason was Joseph.

In case Scarlet might project any dissatisfaction with Jane onto Joseph.

But then the situation changed. At the gathering to commemorate Children’s Day, Cain had drawn a clear line with Scarlet.

In social circles, Cain and Scarlet were no longer mentioned together.

So Jane’s attitude changed as well.

“Scarlet, you said you wanted to apologize.”

Jane let go of Cain’s hand and took a step forward.

“Jane, it’s better to ignore her.”

Cain tried to dissuade her, but Jane shook her head with a gentle smile.

“The children are watching, Cain. I believe this will be a good example for them. They’ll learn that even adults apologize when they make mistakes. And.”

Jane’s gaze turned back to Scarlet. Scarlet maintained her smile with tightly pressed lips, but Jane could clearly see the boiling emotions inside her.

“As adults, we should also show magnanimity and mercy.”

I am your superior, and if your apology is appropriate, I will gladly show magnanimity and mercy.

The arrogant words and patronizing gaze grated on Scarlet’s nerves.

Scarlet gripped her parasol tightly. If she hadn’t been holding it, she might have slapped Jane’s smooth face.

‘How dare you. A traitor’s daughter talking about being superior?’

Curses rose to the tip of her tongue, but Scarlet held back. Jane’s days of arrogance were numbered anyway.

Victory would be hers in the end. Thinking this, the blazing anger subsided a little.

Scarlet put on an even brighter smile.

“There’s nothing I can’t apologize for here.”

Tomorrow the social circles might be in an uproar, but that would be brief.

The world would be turned upside down once again with the Hastings heir scandal.

Scarlet took a step back and bowed deeply.

“Please forgive my past rudeness, Duchess.”

Intrigued by this development, the ladies forgot about their faces being exposed to the sun and watched Scarlet.

Though her pride was hurt, Scarlet endured until Jane told her to straighten up.

‘It’s about time she told me to get up.’

Scarlet slightly raised her head to check Jane’s expression. Their eyes met.

In that moment, a chilling sensation ran down Scarlet’s spine. Jane’s cold eyes contained not a trace of the mercy and magnanimity she had spoken of.

‘That woman doesn’t intend to let this go easily, does she?’

Had she fallen into Jane’s trap? Scarlet’s cheeks trembled.

“Scarlet, the children are watching.”

‘How many times is she going to say that? I have eyes too, I can see everything! So what do you want me to do?’

She had gotten herself into a predicament. Scarlet bowed her head deeply and rolled her eyes, trying to find a way out.

Jane let out a deep sigh as if she had no choice.

“When apologizing, you should follow three rules. One, specifically state what you did wrong.”

Jane’s shoe tips came into Scarlet’s view.

“Two, make a promise about what you’ll do in the future.”

Jane placed her hand on Scarlet’s back. And she firmly pressed down on Scarlet’s awkwardly bowed back.

With her weight shifted forward, Scarlet stumbled. She tensed her legs to avoid falling.

“Three, lastly, a sincere apology. Scarlet, that’s how you apologize.”

With her back pressed down deeply, blood rushed to Scarlet’s face, turning it red.

Or perhaps it was red from the humiliation disguised as teaching.

“Du-Duchess…”

Jane was tormenting her.

“Oh my, Scarlet. Your face is red. Are you alright?”

Jane grasped Scarlet’s shoulders and lifted her up. After just forcefully pressing her down!

Scarlet glared with wide eyes.

Jane looked at her kindly, as if she had never coldly stared her down just moments ago.

And she hugged Scarlet tightly. Scarlet reflexively tried to push her away, but it was futile against Jane, who was toned from an active lifestyle.

The gazes of the people around them also constrained Scarlet’s actions.

“Listen well, Scarlet. As you just felt, I can push you down or lift you up with force. So be careful with your behavior from now on. There won’t be a second forgiveness.”

Jane whispered so that only Scarlet could hear.

‘You’re threatening me? Someone like you?’

Scarlet let out an empty breath.

“Smile. That’s how fortune comes.”

Jane released Scarlet. Scarlet, who had been helplessly subjected to Jane’s attack, was pale.

In contrast, Jane turned to face the people with a refreshed expression.

“Everyone, Scarlet and I have agreed to get along well. Scarlet, since you’re here, would you like to have some tea? I’d like to take you on the boat too, but it seems the boat ride is wrapping up.”

Scarlet, who had been shocked by Jane’s mercurial behavior, finally came to her senses.

Scarlet’s dominance in social circles wasn’t just due to her beauty. Scarlet was skilled in social maneuvering. For her, hiding her true feelings was as easy as drinking water.

Scarlet opened her parasol. She also fanned herself as if her face had reddened and then turned pale again due to the heat.

“It’s an honor, but I should go back. Maybe because the weather suddenly got hot… I feel a bit dizzy.”

“That’s a shame.”

Jane said words she didn’t mean.

“Thank you for your forgiveness, Duchess. I won’t forget this.”

I will surely repay this grudge.

Scarlet hid a knife within her deep smile.

“Madam, the refreshments are ready. Shall I wake up young master Joseph?”

The Hastings’ servant interjected appropriately.

“Would you? Ladies, shall we move to our seats now? Scarlet, as you can see, I have guests, so I can’t see you off.”

“That’s fine. However, I have a favor to ask of you, Duchess.”

The purpose for which Scarlet had volunteered to be an uninvited guest – if only that purpose was achieved, the humiliation she suffered from Jane would be washed away cleanly.

“What kind of favor?”

“I’d like to relay some Rose Faction information to the Duke. Would that be alright?”

A cold light flashed in Jane’s eyes.

“Why are you asking me for permission for that, Scarlet?”

For the first time in a while, Scarlet smiled sincerely. As expected, the Rose Faction was Jane’s Achilles’ heel.

“I was worried that you might be upset, Duchess. Given the rumors about the Duke and me…”

“I don’t care about such baseless rumors. You two only exchanged official help, that’s all.”

Jane immediately retorted to Scarlet’s words. And she clearly defined the relationship between Scarlet and Cain.

Scarlet’s lower eyelids twitched. She stubbornly forced strength into the corners of her mouth.

“Thank you. Then, since I’m here, may I have a brief conversation with the Duke? Would you allow that?”

Jane, who was fed up with Scarlet’s behavior, wanted to get rid of her as soon as possible. She turned to look at Cain.

“I’ll go in first. It seems Scarlet’s purpose was to meet with you rather than apologize.”

Jane spoke the truth. But Scarlet waved her hands in denial.

“I came to apologize to the Duchess…”

“Enough. You said you were dizzy, didn’t you? Please go now.”

Jane headed towards the gazebo. Ladies holding children’s hands followed behind her. As they passed by, they gave slight nods to Scarlet.

The ladies who had initially looked down on Scarlet no longer bothered to manage their expressions and pretend to like her after Jane had firmly put her in her place.

Scarlet observed and memorized the faces of the women following Jane.

‘Just you wait. When I become the Duchess.’

As Scarlet’s mind was turning red, Cain addressed her.

“Your trick is shallow.”

“That’s because you’ve been ignoring my attempts to contact you, Duke.”

“I thought I made it clear. I don’t need information from the Carelina Count’s family.”

“I’m sure you don’t. But after you hear what I have to say today, that will change. You’ll find that you need me, not information from the Carelina Count’s family.”

Tables turned, Scarlet raised her chin as if to say, ‘What will you do now?’