Scarlet lowered her eyes and forcefully raised her lips. To anyone looking, it seemed as if she was trying hard to hold back tears.

“Tell us, Scarlet. You must have heard something from the Duke.”

Lady Giovanni took Scarlet’s hand that was placed on the table and shook it. As if it was difficult to speak, Scarlet bit her lip and turned her head.

Then Lady Eillot stepped in.

“That’s enough. Miss Scarlet must be uncomfortable. It’s probably for the reason we all suspect.”

Everyone nodded slightly as if they all knew.

Jane, who had been watching Scarlet’s performance as if mesmerized, clicked her tongue inwardly.

People saw Jane as a foreign object between Scarlet and Cain.

It was due to her cute acting and the behind-the-scenes work that must have taken place when Jane wasn’t around.

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Jane said.

Five pairs of eyes turned towards Jane.

Jane popped the last finely cut piece of tart into her mouth. After chewing and savoring it, she wiped the crumbs from the corners of her mouth with a handkerchief.

Unable to wait any longer for Jane’s words, Lady Giovanni asked.

“What don’t you understand, Madam?”

Jane looked at Scarlet with a bright smile.

“I don’t understand why the Duke would find it difficult to attend a couples’ gathering. He didn’t show any such signs to me at all.”

“Well!”

As Lady Eillot flared up, Scarlet tugged at the hem of her dress.

“Stop it, Lady Eillot.”

“Miss Scarlet! You shouldn’t endure at times like this. No matter how kind Miss Scarlet is, such things shouldn’t be overlooked. Given the relationship between Miss Scarlet and the Duke…”

At that moment, the smile disappeared from Jane’s face. Lady Eillot’s words implied something extremely dangerous.

She didn’t care about the rumors surrounding her. But rumors that tarnished Hastings’ honor were unacceptable.

Didn’t Lady Eillot’s words sound as if Cain was having an affair with Jane behind Scarlet’s back?

Even if that were the case, it wasn’t something to be spoken about openly in a place like this.

“I’m curious. Scarlet, what kind of relationship did you have with the Duke?”

When Jane, who had been smiling brightly even when she realized there was no chair, hardened her expression, the atmosphere changed instantly.

The impression that had seemed just like a gentle rabbit suddenly became a fierce lion.

Is this what dignity is like?

One by one, the ladies folded their fans and placed them neatly on their laps.

“Scarlet, tell us. If you really can’t, would Lady Eillot like to speak on your behalf?”

Jane’s cold gaze turned towards Lady Eillot. However, Lady Eillot kept her mouth tightly shut and pretended not to notice. It was quite different from her earlier stance when she had been about to stand up for Scarlet.

She must have belatedly realized how dangerous it was to speak of the Duke’s scandal in front of the Duchess.

The atmosphere sank heavily.

At that moment, a court servant knocked on the door. It was perfect timing for everyone except Jane.

“It’s time for you to leave.”

“So it is, everyone. His Majesty will be out soon, so let’s get up quickly. We can’t keep His Majesty waiting, can we?”

Lady Giovanni, the oldest among them, hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. But no one stood up first.

Everyone looked at Jane. And Jane looked at Scarlet.

At her, who was clutching her shoulders and panting as if she might collapse at any moment, like a tragic heroine.

If Scarlet were to act like she was fainting if pushed any further, the situation would become complicated.

Jane placed her palm on the table as if slapping it and stood up.

“Lady Giovanni is right. Let’s go outside.”

Jane left, creating a gust of wind. Then sighs of relief erupted here and there.

* * *

Fortunately, there was a seat prepared for Jane in the outdoor area. To be precise, it was a seat for the Hastings couple.

Jane sat alone at the table for couples and watched the nobles mingling among themselves.

Scarlet was also alone, but Jane was the only one who was like a lone island.

Scarlet was well taken care of by Lady Giovanni, and sometimes by Lady Eillot.

Someone who took an interest in Jane like this appeared.

The one who greeted her was Viscount Eillot.

“I thought I would be able to see the Duke, it’s a shame.”

Following Lady Eillot, now her husband was trying to upset Jane. If someone saw, they might think they were being paid to do so.

‘Could they have been paid?’

Seeing how they were particularly attentive to Scarlet, Jane had a reasonable suspicion that the Carelina Count’s family might have promised them a ship contract.

“I’m disappointed too. He’s a very busy person, you see.”

“I heard from Miss Scarlet. That he’s very busy these days.”

Even Jane, who was skilled at hiding her expressions, couldn’t hide her displeasure this time. No, she openly showed it.

“Did you ask Miss Scarlet about my husband’s affairs? Why?”

“Well, because Miss Scarlet and the Duke…”

Jane’s temples throbbed at the words that so naturally linked Cain and Scarlet.

“I find this extremely unpleasant, Lord Eillot.”

“Pardon?”

“Both the fact that another woman knows my husband’s schedule, and that she’s sharing that schedule with others.”

Jane turned her gaze to Scarlet.

Scarlet, noticing the arrow-like gaze piercing her cheek, turned her head towards Jane.

The gazes of the two women clashed sharply.

Scarlet slowly raised the corners of her mouth.

By this point, Jane was also very curious.

What exactly was the relationship between Scarlet and Cain?

“I didn’t think you would find it unpleasant, Madam. It’s something everyone takes for granted.”

“I’m very disappointed that this is the best excuse you could come up with, my lord.”

As Viscount Eillot became flustered and started sweating profusely, people stopped their conversations and showed interest in them.

Viscount Eillot’s pride was severely hurt when a woman much younger than him, who would have been a mere governess if not for Cain, was lecturing him.

So, even though he could have resolved the situation with a simple apology, he couldn’t bring himself to do so.

“You’re going too far. Disappointment? What have I done to deserve disappointment?”

Jane abruptly stood up from her seat. She had been quite displeased with the man looking down on her from earlier.

Standing up, she found herself at eye level with him.

Jane then realized why the man had been trying not to lower his chin while looking down at her.

Jane looked the man up and down once.

Although she didn’t mock or say anything, Viscount Eillot felt ashamed.

“Listen here, Duchess!”

“I’m going to tell you what you did wrong, so listen carefully. First, it was wrong to ask Scarlet about the Duke’s schedule.”

“Everyone…”

“Just because everyone does it doesn’t mean it’s not wrong. Let’s say I slapped your cheek. And then I ordered everyone here to slap your cheek. Does that make slapping not wrong?”

“Slapping and what I did are…”

“Not different.”

Jane’s voice was stern.

When people asked Scarlet about Cain’s whereabouts, Jane felt as bad as when she was slapped by Victor.

It wasn’t just physical harm that constituted violence. Low-level ostracism and words intended to hurt were also violence.

Sometimes, because it wasn’t visible, the wound hurt even more.

“And one more thing, your attitude of not being able to admit when you’re wrong and not considering other people’s feelings is the problem.”

“Duchess, aren’t your words too harsh?”

Viscount Eillot growled. Born as a noble man, he had never been lectured by such a young woman like Jane before.

Moreover, in a place where many people were gathered, including some with deep business connections!

“Lord Eillot, considering other people’s emotions is also…”

Jane leaned her upper body slightly forward with her arms crossed in front of her chest.

“A matter of intelligence.”

So you’re a fool, Jane swallowed the last words neatly while smiling brightly.

But Viscount Eillot wasn’t so stupid that he couldn’t guess the words Jane had swallowed.

His awkwardly quick wit, that’s what made him even more miserable.

“Duchess! Apologize! I absolutely cannot let this pass. How dare you insult me!”

He placed his hands on his waist. Although he puffed up his chest to look bigger, Jane, who didn’t back down even from Cain who was two heads taller and had a better build, found him merely amusing.

And over the past 7 years, she had seen countless men with nothing to their name raise their voices.

Since people were watching, he wouldn’t dare to hit Jane, so there was nothing to fear.

“What will you do if you can’t let it pass?”

And she was curious. How would someone who didn’t even treat her as a duchess act? How would others react to this person’s rudeness?

Except for Lady Eillot, the others still pretended not to be interested. They glanced, but as if it wasn’t their business.

But if Viscount Eillot continued to raise his voice, they wouldn’t be able to keep pretending not to notice.

Jane raised her chin.

“Apologize right now! If you don’t apologize to me…”

“If I don’t?”

Jane opened her eyes wide as if really curious.

At times like this, Jane often thought how convenient it was to be a duchess.

Because she could return ten blows for one received, fear disappeared.

Seeing Jane’s smiling face, the man felt a thousand flames burning inside. He glared fiercely at Jane while growling.

Just like that!

At that moment, his arm raised involuntarily. It was a habit that came out automatically, like when he used to hit the servants.

But he didn’t actually hit her. He never really intended to.

It was literally just a habit, and after raising his hand, he only meant to threaten. But even that seemed to cross the line, and he was about to lower his arm.

“What kind of situation is this.”

A low, heavy voice captured the attention of everyone present.

Cain appeared at the garden party, holding a large bouquet of flowers.

* * *

“Aren’t you going? If you don’t leave now, you’ll be late.”

Nathan asked Cain as he put on his jacket.

“How long will it take?”

“They said since the circumstances are already clear, you just need to answer a few questions. Including travel time, it should take about an hour and a half.”

An hour and a half.

Cain, who had been quietly repeating the words, clicked his tongue.

〈It’s a couples’ gathering, they say.〉

The words Jane had said while showing him the invitation from Helena kept lingering in his mind.

〈Can we go together? If you’re busy, it can’t be helped.〉

For a couples’ gathering, of course she should ask to go together, Jane had said while fidgeting and watching his reaction the whole time.

He was going to go together, but early in the morning, there was a call from the police station.

Just when they were supposed to leave for the palace, they asked him to come to the police station to help with an investigation.

Normally, he would never refuse such a request, so he accepted without thinking, but Jane’s words kept bothering him.

It would probably keep coming to mind even at the police station. If that’s the case, it’s better to give up the side he can control for sure.

Cain made his decision and grabbed his coat.

“Let’s stop by the flower shop and then go to the palace.”

“What? You’re not going to the police station?”

Cain didn’t explain twice and headed straight for the palace.

At that time, he didn’t know he would encounter such a scene.

Cain glared fiercely at the man who had raised his hand towards Jane.

“What kind of shit situation is this.”

Everyone tensed at the words he muttered as if talking to himself.

It was vulgar language they had never imagined would come from Cain’s mouth.