It felt like a miracle that Cain had time to pick out Joseph’s words, as he became busy again.

The same was true for Jane.

In fact, Jane was in the middle of finding work to do herself.

Being busy kept unnecessary thoughts at bay.

Jane did what she could do right away to escape her complicated thoughts.

“This is the list of gifts for Mrs. Burnett to take when she goes down. Please prepare them.”

Jane handed a note to Norbert. After checking the list with his eyes, Norbert tucked the note into his inner pocket.

“Here are the documents you requested last time. It’s a compilation of the number of orphans and poor people in areas where Hays Company branches are located. But why are you looking for this?”

Norbert placed a thick stack of documents on the table. Jane immediately picked up the documents to examine them.

“There’s a budget for relief work among the Duchess’s funds. If we don’t use it soon, it’ll end up being spent on convenient places rather than necessary ones at the end of the year.”

“Are you planning to do relief work? You must be busy enough just teaching young master Joseph.”

Norbert was concerned about Jane’s health.

Jane hadn’t had a single day of complete rest since coming to the Hastings family.

Before her debutante, she was busy preparing for it, after that preparing for the wedding, and after becoming the Duchess, she was occupied spending time with Joseph.

In the meantime, whenever she had a chance, she pored over documents related to the Duke’s family.

Norbert and Mary’s sighs increased because of Jane, who acted as if something terrible would happen if she rested.

Norbert’s mouth turned sour, not entirely unable to guess the inner thoughts of Jane, who compulsively sought work.

〈I’d like to see the Hastings family documents from before and after that incident 7 years ago.〉

Norbert realized it when he handed over the documents Jane requested the day after the wedding.

That Jane’s guilt would continue to affect her married life with Cain.

Even though the Hastings were fine, and Jane hadn’t directly committed any sin, so there was no need to feel sorry.

Recently, she even thoroughly examined several years’ worth of budget documents.

In the process, she uncovered evidence of Mrs. Burnett’s embezzlement and double bookkeeping.

Although those responsible at the time had all quit, making it impossible to punish them, it was still a remarkable achievement to have uncovered it.

Thanks to that, it was satisfying to see Mrs. Burnett, who had been as stiff as if she had a splint on her chin, living quietly.

Thanks to Jane working so hard, Hastings was finding stability day by day.

Being so busy, Jane even forgot that she had something serious to talk about with Cedric.

And as a bonus, she was gradually losing weight.

Norbert looked down at Jane, who was concentrating with furrowed brows.

Her small face had become even more gaunt in just a few days. It was worrisome enough to think she might disappear if she got any smaller.

“You can take it easy.”

“Hm? What did you say?”

Jane frowned around her eyes, as if they were dry.

“I said you can take it slow.”

Jane’s eyes widened and then quickly curved like a bow. Jane put down the documents and rested her arms on top of them.

“You’re worried about me, Norbert.”

“It’s not just me, my lady. Mary’s sighs have increased too, and Pudica is putting even more effort into menu planning because he says you keep losing weight. Everyone in the Duke’s household is worried about you.”

Jane had expected a short response like ‘Yes, I’m worried,’ but Norbert’s nagging was long. And she heard something she never imagined.

That everyone in the Duke’s household was worried about her.

‘I thought they didn’t like me much.’

Jane was suddenly choked up. Her chest fluttered, and Jane pressed her palm firmly against her solar plexus.

“Thank you for worrying. I’ll take care of my health from now on.”

Norbert was relieved. The Jane he knew was a person whose words and actions matched.

“I’ll be going now. Please let me know if you need any more documents.”

Jane waved her hand, saying she understood.

Norbert left Jane’s room, unable to erase the look of doubt from his eyes.

As soon as his presence faded, Jane picked up the documents. Jane had lied to Norbert.

She intended to work even harder for the sake of the Hastings family people who were worried about her.

* * *

Cain returned home close to midnight. He was alone after dropping Nathan off at his home.

“You’re back now, sir.”

Norbert greeted Cain.

“Norbert? What are you doing here at this hour?”

Norbert usually went to bed at 10 o’clock. So usually, it was the night shift servant who greeted Cain on his late returns.

Even that made Cain uncomfortable, so last year he had said there was no need to greet him after 11 o’clock.

As a result, his homecomings were modest, unbefitting the master of the Grand Duke’s household.

When he came home in the early morning, often only the gatekeeper remained.

“I have something to tell you, so I waited.”

“If it’s not urgent, let’s talk tomorrow.”

“Are you tired?”

“Less than you. You should think about your age.”

Norbert smiled kindly. Despite his cold exterior, Cain was affectionate towards his people.

It would be nice if he showed that affection to Jane as well.

〈I can’t understand the master’s thoughts. What does he intend to do with the mistress? If left like this, it seems the mistress might do something drastic soon.〉

That’s what Mary had said to Norbert in the afternoon. Apparently, Jane had staggered and held her head during a walk. Norbert judged that it wasn’t wise to just watch Jane.

“Follow me.”

Cain handed his jacket to Norbert and headed upstairs.

“If you have something to say, say it.”

Entering the bedroom, Cain took off his vest and cravat and threw them on the sofa. Norbert reached for the clothes.

“Leave it. Glenn will tidy up later.”

Cain unbuttoned his cuffs and sat back comfortably on the sofa.

He poured whiskey into a glass that Glenn had brought in advance. Norbert tried to do it, but Cain refused.

“Your quitting time has passed.”

Where is there a quitting time for a butler in the Hastings household? His wrinkled face softened at the words meant for Norbert’s comfort.

Norbert watched as Cain emptied the whiskey glass and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

Now that he looked, it wasn’t just Jane who needed rest.

So Norbert slightly modified his intended message.

“How about taking a vacation?”

“Suddenly?”

Cain chuckled.

“You didn’t go on a honeymoon, and neither you nor the mistress look well.”

The stream of whiskey pouring steadily into the glass wavered slightly.

“Is Jane sick?”

Cain’s eyes were fixed on the whiskey glass, but all his attention was on Norbert’s answer.

“Not now, but I’m afraid she might fall seriously ill soon.”

Norbert explained Jane’s murderous schedule these days and what she was trying to do.

Cain listened intently to Norbert’s words, having poured whiskey but not even touching it.

‘She said she’d do it properly, but was this what she meant by dedicating herself to the Hastings family? At this rate, she’ll even grind her bones and flesh to offer.’

Normally, he should feel grateful that she’s dedicating herself to his family, but Cain felt irritation rising first.

Why was she going through unnecessary trouble for things he didn’t even ask for?

“Stop her.”

“That’s impossible. It is work she should naturally do as the Duchess. From now on, neither the vassals nor the territory’s people will let things slide that were overlooked because the Duchess’s position was vacant until now.”

When Cain placed Jane in the position of Duchess, he thought there was only one job for her.

To act as Joseph’s mother.

But the situation had flowed strangely.

‘I thought too simply.’

No matter how closely he looked, there were places that needed the Duchess’s touch.

‘If Jane hadn’t said she would properly do her work as Duchess, I might have had to ask her instead.’

Cain recalled the conversation he had with Jane before contracting with her and let out a laugh that sounded like a sigh.

His thoughts naturally flowed to the contract they had written.

They had agreed to fulfill their duties as a married couple.

Come to think of it, how many times had he visited Jane’s room this week?

Once.

He was leaving on a business trip in two days, so to fulfill his duty, he would have to visit Jane’s room tonight or tomorrow night.

As his thoughts reached that point, Cain’s tactless body reacted.

Cain approached the window to dispel the heat.

“So, sir. How about going on a vacation together?”

“Norbert, I know you’re worried. So please understand me too. There’s too much work. The new history opening is right around the corner. That’s why I have a business trip in two days. Take good care of things at home.”

Norbert closed his mouth and thought deeply. Cain’s schedule, Jane’s condition.

In the midst of this, a brilliant idea occurred to him.

“That’s perfect, sir. How about taking the mistress with you on this business trip?”

He was caught off guard.

Cain laughed dejectedly.

“……I’ll think about it.”

Cain sent Norbert out and fell into thought.

Why does Jane try so hard?

What does she gain by living so diligently?

Whether she works hard or not, Cain intends to give her the promised alimony.

So she only needed to teach Joseph well.

Fortunately, as if to prove the testimony of several people who said she was the best home tutor, Joseph’s condition improved day by day.

Is it because of her innate personality that she does the work of the Duke’s family? It could be.

Cain quickly came to a conclusion. And he consciously excluded her from his mind.

Instead, he thought of Scarlet.

〈You’ve got an interesting friend.〉

Nathan had made an interesting report about Scarlet.

The circumstances of Scarlet commissioning several jobs to men who would do anything for money, and that one of those commissions was an investigation into Jane’s background.

However, among the numerous documents Nathan found, there was no evidence that Scarlet had passed information to the Rose Faction.

But the circumstantial evidence grew stronger.

She now had a motive to pass information to the Rose Faction.

Scarlet dislikes Jane and wants to drive her out of the Hastings family.

‘Have I been played by Scarlet?’

Whether it was true or not, just the fact that it made him think so was highly unpleasant.

Tsk, Cain clicked his tongue, drained his whiskey, and put down the glass as if throwing it, then headed to the bathroom.