Two days later, the Somnium mansion was bustling from the morning.

Haley came out of the entrance, wobbling with a large suitcase.

The servants were busy loading luggage onto the carriage, including Jane’s belongings.

After entrusting her suitcase to a footman, Haley approached Jane.

“All the luggage has been loaded, my lady. I also checked the assignments for young master Joseph while you’re away in the countryside. My lady? My lady!”

“Oh, uh, yes!”

Jane, who had been absent-minded, snapped back to attention and replied. Haley narrowed her eyes slightly, then smiled brightly.

“Are you excited?”

“Huh? About what?”

“The trip! It’s your honeymoon, after all.”

It’s nonsense to call it a honeymoon when over two weeks have passed since the wedding.

Then what should this trip be called?

Jane recalled Cain, who had visited last night with an unexpected proposal.

She wanted to ask why they were going there and if there was any reason for her to accompany him, but Cain immediately kissed her, making her miss the chance.

And she didn’t see Cain in the morning, then greeted the next morning.

Thanks to Cain informing Mary and Norbert in advance, all of Jane’s travel preparations were complete.

There was only one thing Jane needed to worry about.

Joseph, who would be staying alone at the mansion for a while.

Jane stroked Joseph’s head as he was held in Nas’s arms and called for Mary.

“Mary, send Lady Burnett down to the estate as soon as possible.”

Jane was worried that Lady Burnett might bully Joseph while she was away.

She had arranged the schedules to minimize overlap between Joseph and Lady Burnett’s movements, but there was no way to stop Lady Burnett if she was determined to seek out Joseph.

So sending her to the estate was the best option.

“Yes, don’t worry. The Duke has already told Lady Burnett that it would be good if she went down tomorrow.”

“Cain did?”

“Yes. He said you had mentioned that date would be good.”

Jane had never said such a thing. She had only casually mentioned that she hoped Lady Burnett would return soon.

“I guess Norbert conveyed that there was a dispute between you and Lady Burnett over hiring new maids.”

Jane laughed awkwardly.

“It seems he indirectly conveyed that Lady Burnett was interfering with your work.”

“Surely he wouldn’t send her back quickly just because of that? He has so many other things to worry about.”

“I’m sure it’s for your sake, my lady. Trust me, I haven’t lived this long for nothing.”

Jane shrugged.

There was no way Cain would send away his own blood relative as if chasing her out for Jane’s sake.

‘It must be because of Joseph. Even the most oblivious person would notice that Lady Burnett doesn’t like Joseph.’

“How did Lady Burnett react?”

“She seemed disgruntled but said she understood.”

‘Did my threat work? She acted like she would resist until the end.’

Whatever the reason, it’s fortunate that Lady Burnett will return to the Gillian estate soon.

“Anyway, don’t worry about things here and just enjoy your rest, my lady.”

While Jane was away, Mary had agreed to take care of Joseph personally.

In exchange, Norbert would take on some of her duties as head maid.

Everyone was making an effort for Jane’s sake.

Jane’s nose tingled, and she sniffled unnecessarily while patting Joseph’s back.

“I’ll be back soon, so have fun while I’m gone. I’ll bring lots of gifts.”

Joseph hugged Jane tightly. She had been prepared to pretend to give in and take him along if he threw a tantrum about wanting to go, but Joseph saw her off maturely.

“Get in.”

Cain, who had waited until the two finished their goodbyes, opened the carriage door.

“Are you riding in the carriage too?”

“Should I walk instead?”

I thought you’d ride a horse, Jane grumbled inwardly as she boarded the carriage. Then she closed the door and opened the window.

The carriage began to roll.

Jane waved her hand endlessly out the window until Joseph became a tiny dot in the distance.

“We’ll arrive before dinner.”

Cain spoke as soon as the carriage left the lush gardens of the Hastings estate.

Jane, who was closing the window, opened her eyes wide.

Cain handed her the cushion placed beside him.

“Take it. Get some sleep. You won’t have anything to do during the journey anyway.”

Jane reflexively took the cushion and hugged it. Cain told her to sleep, but there was no way she could.

A confined space, even if spacious, it was just a carriage interior. In that small space, alone with Cain…

She felt heat rising from her collarbone where Cain’s lips had lingered. Jane instinctively rubbed her collarbone while looking at Cain.

Though he had told Jane to sleep, he was looking over documents.

Jane, who had glanced at him unintentionally, found her gaze captured by him.

His face, shadowed by deep-set eyes and a high, straight nose bridge, was no different from a beautiful sculpture.

Lady Burnett’s voice, berating her, echoed vividly in Jane’s ears.

If that were true, how much must you have resented me?

Even the memories I cherish and hold dear must have been a past you wanted to erase.

Cain had thrown away everything related to Jane. When he found items he hadn’t yet discarded, he was horrified.

‘So that’s why…’

She finally understood the reason for his cold behavior. It felt like the ground was caving in beneath her.

‘How hard it must have been for him alone.’

A sorrowful emotion tinged her gaze as she looked at Cain.

At that moment, Cain lifted his eyes. His revealed blue eyes were as calm as the quiet sea at dawn. If she let her guard down, it felt like she might be sucked in.

“Do you need something?”

Jane quickly erased her emotions and shook her head.

Cain slightly furrowed his brow, then shifted his gaze back to the documents.

However, unable to concentrate at all, he irritably pushed the documents away.

It was because Jane kept glancing at him.

If she had something to say, she should say it, or else stop staring.

Norbert and Mary had made a fuss about overworking, so he brought her along, so she should at least sleep during the journey!

Cain irritably ran his hand through his hair.

While Jane’s gaze could be ignored, it was frustration towards himself for being unable to do so.

“You seem dissatisfied. Speak up. Or did you come along unwillingly? Should I turn the carriage around?”

Cain reached for the cord to call the coachman, as if he would stop the carriage right away.

“That’s not it, Cain.”

Jane hastily stopped him.

“Then why do you keep glancing at my face like someone who’s stolen something?”

Jane pressed her lips tightly together.

How could she say that this situation of sitting across from him in broad daylight without any business felt awkward, but that he looked so handsome reading documents that her heart raced, making her chest ache?

“…It’s nothing.”

Jane finally tore her gaze away from Cain’s handsome face.

Now it was Cain’s turn to look at Jane.

His gaze slowly and meticulously traced along the gentle slope of her forehead like a mountain ridge, the dizzying angle of her nose bridge, and the flowing line from her plump lips down her stretched neck to her graceful figure.

“S-stop staring.”

Though she tried not to be conscious of it, his gaze was so hot and sticky that she couldn’t help but be aware.

Jane’s cheeks gradually heated up. Just as she raised her hand to her cheek, not wanting him to see her reddened face, Cain spoke.

“Put your hand down.”

“What?”

“I’m looking.”

“At what?”

“What else would I be looking at right now besides you?”

He spoke so matter-of-factly that Jane lowered her hand without realizing it.

Cain now rested his chin on his hand and openly admired Jane.

He hadn’t looked with any particular intention, nor had he planned to look for long.

It was simply that he had nothing else to do, as it was impossible to handle work with his concentration disrupted by Jane.

But Jane showed an interesting reaction.

Though she seemed unaware, her eyelashes trembled slightly, the tips of her ears reddened, and her breathing quickened a bit.

To think that Jane would show such a unique response to his mere gaze.

The corners of Cain’s lips curved upward.

Suddenly, Mary’s request came to mind.

Now that he was consciously looking, her jawline did seem a bit sharper. And her waist that had been in his hands… Cain quietly clenched and unclenched his fist.

‘It has gotten thinner.’

A question he had put off at some point came to mind.

Why was she so enthusiastic about the duties of the duchess?

“No matter how hard you try as the duchess, nothing will change.”

However, what came out of his mouth was not a question but a rebuke.

Jane whipped her head around.

He had thought her side profile was quite artistic, but her front view wasn’t bad either.

Especially those eyes reminiscent of a meadow.

Strangely, her green eyes held a sparkling light like that emitted by stars in the sky.

In her eyes, one could see both the sky and the meadow.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying you don’t need to try so hard. Just focus on teaching Joseph well.”

“Cain.”

“Is there another reason why you’re working so hard?”

‘Like wanting to impress me.’

Cain swallowed the latter part of his words. Even if she tried to impress him, he had no intention of being impressed.

Jane blinked. Somehow feeling uncomfortable in his seat, Cain adjusted his posture.

“Well, it’s because we’re married.”

“You’re not even the real duchess.”

At Cain’s insensitive remark, Jane bit her lower lip. Jane took a deep breath.

Feeling stifled, Cain opened the window slightly.

She hadn’t been quick to answer anything since earlier.

“…It’s a contract. I’m just faithfully fulfilling the contract.”

The area below Cain’s eyebrows twitched.

“Ah, a contract? How diligent of you.”

One corner of Cain’s mouth twisted crookedly.

What answer had he been expecting? Her response left him feeling deflated.

“I must have been quite an eyesore to you.”