‘This is fascinating.’

Mikhail thought to himself.

Before the banquet.

Karina had ordered him to memorize a list of nobles separately and gather some nobles at the venue into the room next to the study.

She also told him to signal her with a flower when everything was ready.

Along with that came the inexplicable order to wait quietly in the study, pretending nothing was happening no matter what.

All the strange orders Karina had given him fit perfectly as precautions for this event.

‘How did she know to prepare in advance?’

Mikhail was certain that Karina knew and prepared beforehand.

He wanted to go ask her directly, but he didn’t think she would answer truthfully even if he did ask.

Mikhail wanted to become closer to Karina.

‘Close enough for her to confide everything to me.’

He wished that Karina would lean on him completely and rely on him.

‘Sigh. I want to set her free as soon as possible.’

Mikhail’s resolve deepened.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Duchess.”

Mikhail was suddenly standing next to Karina.

“Ah…”

His expression looked complex, mixed with worry and relief.

‘He must have been very concerned that I might end up in a difficult situation.’

Karina deliberately comforted him more cheerfully.

“You did well. This is all thanks to you following my orders so well. Thank you.”

As Karina spoke with a bright smile, Mikhail’s eyes also curved gently.

“But it’s not over yet. There’s still work to be done.”

Karina whispered in a low voice so only Mikhail could hear.

“You need to follow and monitor Genon Yeongshik.”

“Monitor?”

Mikhail asked with a puzzled expression.

“Are you telling me to monitor someone who’s going to be imprisoned anyway?”

“Someone will try to secretly approach Genon Yeongshik.”

Even for Caroline, dealing with Genon Yeongshik, who had close relationships with high-ranking noble ladies, would be burdensome.

But she couldn’t completely silence him either.

She would try to make secret contact with Genon Yeongshik by any means necessary.

That’s when they needed to catch her in the act.

“It will probably be someone from within the Grand Duke’s household. You must prevent them from making contact.”

“Ah…”

Mikhail’s expression as he looked at Karina was somehow strange.

Karina asked in a serious voice.

“What? Does it seem difficult?”

“No, it’s not that, but…”

Mikhail wore a meaningful expression.

Just then, Jeremiah suddenly approached and stood before her.

“Let’s talk.”

“…?”

Karina was a little taken aback.

She hadn’t expected Jeremiah to come to her first and request a conversation.

‘Well, I had something to say to him anyway, so this works out.’

“Alright.”

Karina lightly agreed.

“I’ll come along as well.”

Mikhail said, sticking close to Karina’s side.

“Not allowed.”

Jeremiah spoke before Karina could answer.

Surprised, Karina looked at Jeremiah.

Jeremiah had a hardened expression as if he was very angry.

‘It’s understandable he’d be upset that another unsavory incident occurred at an event hosted by the Grand Duke’s family. He’s probably calling me over to warn me to behave properly now too.’

Moreover, his gaze towards Mikhail was quite fierce.

‘What’s this? There’s no need to be so openly hostile to my guard.’

Karina thought with displeasure.

But Mikhail showed no signs of backing down, just as before.

He met Jeremiah’s intimidating aura head-on, displaying wariness and hostility.

“The Duchess must be very shocked. She needs time to calm down, so let’s do this later.”

At Mikhail’s words, sparks flew from Jeremiah’s eyes.

“Who are you to say such things?”

A vicious voice flowed from Jeremiah’s mouth.

‘Ah…!’

The timing was not good.

‘There are still many noble ladies around watching. I can’t let a fight break out here.’

Karina hurriedly came between the two.

“He said that out of concern for me. What’s wrong with my guard worrying about me?”

“What?”

Jeremiah made an incredulous expression.

In that moment, Karina quickly whispered to Mikhail.

“Mikhail. Go do what I told you earlier.”

“But…”

“Please.”

“…”

Mikhail gave Karina a look that said he was uneasy about leaving her alone.

“I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”

Karina reassured him.

“…Understood.”

Mikhail’s expression still didn’t look comfortable as he answered that way.

[This is the timeline separator]

“So. What did you want to discuss?”

As soon as she was alone with Jeremiah, Karina promptly asked.

Karina’s voice as she asked was extremely businesslike.

“…”

Jeremiah stared blankly at Karina with a hardened expression before opening his mouth.

“Don’t you have something to say?”

His voice was calm but somehow grumpy.

“I clearly told you to send the guards out of the banquet hall before the event started. Did you ignore my words and stay with him the whole time?”

“Is that what you wanted to ask me about separately?”

Karina asked back with an incredulous expression.

“Answer me.”

Swallowing a hollow laugh inwardly, Karina answered carelessly.

“The study isn’t inside the banquet hall. Is that answer enough?”

“So you’re saying you were together the whole time.”

Jeremiah looked at Karina with sharp eyes.

Karina couldn’t understand.

The guard was just doing his job by her side, was that something to make such a fuss about?

Karina sighed and shook her head.

If that was all he had to say, she didn’t feel the need to listen any further.

“More importantly, please postpone Genon Yeongshik’s punishment for now.”

Karina immediately brought up her main point.

“You want me to postpone that bastard’s punishment?”

“Yes. And I’d like you to hand over the authority to investigate him directly to me.”

Jeremiah’s brow, which had been slightly furrowed, now openly twisted.

“Why?”

“There’s a need to investigate Genon Yeongshik separately. He probably didn’t plan this alone.”

“Are you trying to say there’s someone behind this?”

“There’s no benefit for Genon Yeongshik in putting me in a difficult situation, is there? If you think about who would gain the most from this incident, you’ll understand.”

Despite Karina’s serious explanation, Jeremiah didn’t seem very convinced.

Rather, he raised the corner of his mouth crookedly and asked.

“Isn’t the one who gained the most from this incident you?”

“…What do you mean?”

“I hear Ferguson Genon is quite popular among the noble young ladies with his handsome face and smooth talk.”

“So? What are you trying to say?”

“Have you really never asked him to become your lover?”

“…What did you say?”

“After today’s incident, no one would suspect anything between you and Genon Yeongshik. Isn’t that right?”

‘Ha!’

Faced with this absurd situation, Karina put her hand to her forehead.

“Are you trying to say this was all my scheme?”

“Didn’t you just say you want to investigate Genon Yeongshik yourself and postpone his punishment? Hearing that, I can’t help but be suspicious.”

“…Do you think I won’t punish Genon Yeongshik, using the investigation as an excuse?”

“The fact is you don’t intend to punish him right away, isn’t it?”

Karina gritted her teeth.

She felt like her insides were turning over with the rising anger.

“Huu.”

Karina took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure.

“This is ridiculous.”

“Ridiculous?”

“Even if I really did take a lover, why are you acting like this when you’ve shown no interest in me until now?”

“I am your husband.”

“Yes. A husband in name only. We’ll be divorcing soon anyway.”

At Karina’s words, Jeremiah’s expression turned cold.

“Just tell me clearly whether you’ll give me the authority to investigate Genon Yeongshik or not.”

“I cannot. You’re asking about something obvious.”

As soon as Jeremiah finished speaking, Karina abruptly stood up.

“Then our business is done, so I’ll be going.”

Karina turned around fiercely and slammed the door as she left the room.

“Haah…”

Left alone in the room, Jeremiah rubbed his brow with an exasperated expression.

Earlier, seeing Karina smile brightly at her guard had greatly disturbed his mood.

He had never seen such an expression from Karina before.

‘And that guard…’

The way the guard looked at Karina was very irritating.

That gaze was not normal.

When he saw the guard block his path and shield Karina, it felt like a fiery heat was burning him from within.

His cheek twitched with the anger he hadn’t fully shaken off.

‘Surely she didn’t go to meet that bastard again?’

Jeremiah clenched his teeth.

He rose from his seat and moved in the direction Karina had gone.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Damn bastard!”

As soon as she left the room, Karina vented her frustration.

She hadn’t expected to easily get the investigative authority from Jeremiah, but she never imagined he would act in such a manner.

Karina bit her lip as she breathed roughly and fumed.

‘Calm down. There’s no time to waste getting swept up in emotions.’

She had things to prepare before Caroline could make her move.

Since she couldn’t get the investigative authority, she absolutely had to catch Caroline in the act of contacting Genon.

That was the only way to prove Caroline was involved in this incident.

If that didn’t work, she had to make Genon confess about Caroline with his own mouth.

‘If he won’t confess, even circumstantial evidence will do. A shady guy like him must have some evidence.’

If things went well, maybe a promissory note offering money, or a secret letter asking to meet quietly away from prying eyes.

He must have left behind at least one piece of evidence as a precaution.

Karina slowly inhaled.

‘This isn’t a completely unexpected situation. I just need to follow the plan.’

Karina pushed all her anger towards Jeremiah into a corner of her mind.

Having barely composed herself, Karina headed towards the prison where Genon was being held.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Duchess, are you alright? You look terribly unwell.”

Mikhail asked as soon as he saw Karina.

Despite his worried words, Karina found it difficult to manage her expression.

“Did something happen?”

“No. Nothing happened.”

Karina forced herself to smooth her expression as she asked.

“By the way, was there anyone trying to contact Genon?”

Instead of answering, Mikhail gave a meaningful smile and rummaged in his breast pocket.

Then he took out a note from his inner pocket and handed it to Karina.

“Here you go.”

“Ah!”

“I knocked out the maid who had the note and detained her separately.”

Mikhail said proudly.

“Well done.”

After examining the contents of the note, Karina asked with a brightened expression.

“Where is Genon now?”

“This way. Please follow me.”

An unmanaged, musty smell wafted over.

Mikhail led her to the very end of the prison corridor.

“Duchess!”

Seeing Karina arrive, Genon jumped up and came close to the bars.

“Duchess! Please tell His Grace the Grand Duke to get me out of here!”

A hollow laugh escaped at the sight of Genon shamelessly asking for her help.