Despite Esika’s voice sounding nonchalant compared to her words, Shupert frowned and immediately asked back.

“Betrayal? That girl dared to betray you?”

One thing Shupert had been wary of about Yuri was that her inner thoughts, which outwardly seemed to comply with Esika completely, didn’t appear very pure.

It felt as if she was forcibly complying while hiding other intentions.

Having studied commercial psychology from a young age and learned the art of reading people’s minds, he found Yuri very suspicious.

That’s why he had subtly expressed opposition when Esika, after getting married, called for Yuri.

At that time, Esika pretended not to hear him though.

“Yuri has become the head maid here, and she’s trying to torment me by sticking close to the Grand Duchess. She’s also trying to seduce my husband Callian. I’ll tell you the details later.”

Esika calmly took a sip of tea.

Shupert’s insides boiled upon hearing Esika’s words.

“How dare that ungrateful girl try to go against Brigitte.”

It’s obvious how hurt Esika, outwardly cheerful but inwardly delicate, must have been by Yuri’s betrayal without her saying it.

How many trials must she have gone through to be able to talk about it so calmly now.

“I’ll speak to the Grand Duchess right away to have that girl driven out…”

“I’m sorry, elder brother, but this is a matter for the Klaus family. It’s also an issue between Yuri and me.”

“But, Esika.”

Esika set down her teacup with a clink after drinking.

“The Grand Duchess doesn’t allow outside interference. Especially if it’s Brigitte’s meddling.”

Esika continued speaking.

“So, elder brother, please just proceed as I wrote in my letter.”

Shupert stared blankly at Esika.

She certainly looked different from before.

What could have happened to Esika in the meantime?

Esika smiled with a cold glint in her eyes.

“She will pay the perfect price for her betrayal someday.”

Esika didn’t seem like she would answer.

But Shupert believed in his younger sister, both in the past and now.

“You’ve really changed a lot since marrying into the Duke’s family, Esika.”

He then nodded and continued speaking.

“I’ll do as you wish. Don’t worry.”

Esika smiled brightly at Shupert’s affirmation.

“Thank you, elder brother.”

Esika, having tea together after a long time, looked like a completely different person from her immature days.

Her face seemed even more beautiful than before marriage, and from her elegant tea-drinking posture to her controlled expressions that didn’t easily reveal emotions… Now anyone could see she had become a proper Duchess well-versed in noble etiquette.

Shupert felt bitter yet oddly reassured by her appearance.

She won’t live being pushed around by others.

“By the way, did you purchase the land in Elmur that I mentioned last time?”

“Yes. Here, I brought the documents for the land too.”

Shupert handed Esika the deed he received after purchasing the land.

With Tschen gaining popularity now, Elmur’s land prices were extremely cheap in comparison.

Esika unfolded the deed and asked back with a slightly surprised expression.

“But this is larger than what I mentioned?”

The document indicated about twice the size of the land they had originally planned to purchase.

“I added some of my own funds too. I realized I hadn’t given you a gift since you got married… Please accept it, Esika.”

Esika’s eyes wavered at Shupert’s words.

Her eldest brother, Shupert Brigitte, was a bit stiff but inwardly took meticulous care of his siblings.

“Thank you, elder brother.”

This much land would be an enormous foundation for her.

As Esika expressed her gratitude, a smile also played on Shupert’s lips.

“Oh, and there’s something I’d like to ask you, elder brother.”

“Sure, ask me anything.”

Esika voiced what had long been on her mind.

“The incident in Hasetz when I was eight years old… I don’t remember it, so could you tell me about what happened then?”

Shupert’s eyebrows twitched at the unexpected question.

**

The next day, Callian frowned at the throbbing headache as he opened his eyes.

After briefly pressing his forehead, he squinted and sat up in bed.

However, the blanket that should have naturally come with him seemed caught on something and didn’t fully come along.

Callian slowly turned his gaze to the side.

And he startled, his hand flinching.

“…”

Yuri Anesis, who had neatly tied up her blonde hair, was lying next to him with disheveled hair covering part of her face.

Her snow-white bare skin and the blanket precariously covering her chest were visible.

Callian remained frozen with shock for a long while, not moving.

What had happened last night?

“The Duke has been managing his territory well with high popularity, and also has the Emperor’s trust. I’ve always wanted to meet the Duke at least once since I was in Anesis.”

Only fragments of Yuri’s face smiling as she poured wine into her glass come to mind.

His head still throbbed with a headache, and Callian couldn’t think of anything.

“…”

A moment later, Yuri, her fine eyebrows slightly furrowed, fluttered her eyelashes and opened her eyes.

Her red eyes, meeting Callian’s gaze, also widened slightly in surprise, then she was seen averting her gaze as if shy.

From her reaction, Callian could know for certain.

That he had shared a bed with Yuri Anesis, Esika’s friend, last night.

The back of his head felt numb as if hit by something.

“…Oh no…”

At his irritated voice coming out involuntarily, Yuri startled and slowly raised her body.

While pulling up the blanket with one hand to cover her chest.

“Duke… I…”

Callian’s gaze turned to Yuri again.

She spoke as if sobbing, shrinking her body and bowing her head deeply.

“…It’s not Your Grace’s fault. It’s my fault… for not refusing Your Grace when you were drunk.”

A trembling voice flowed from her.

Callian wasn’t angry at her.

He was angry at himself for getting so drunk he couldn’t tell right from wrong and really committing adultery with Yuri.

He had always been interested in Yuri, and was even drawn to her enough to give her an Alet ring, but he never crossed the line.

He just enjoyed having a relationship of exchanging precarious interest with her, but stopped before it went as far as taking responsibility.

Yuri spoke sadly after glancing at him.

“It’s all my fault, so please don’t blame yourself.”

“…Yuri.”

Callian pressed his forehead and spoke with a sigh.

Seeing tears rolling down Yuri’s cheeks, Callian felt somewhat pitiful.

It was natural sympathy as a man, seeing the woman who spent the night with him trembling and crying.

“You did nothing wrong. If there’s any fault, it’s all mine.”

Yuri was the head maid belonging to the Klaus family, and Callian was the Duke, her master.

“Your Grace! *sob*”

At those words, Yuri looked at Callian with tear-filled eyes.

And she fell into Callian’s arms.

When she suddenly fell into his arms, Callian instinctively flinched, but after a moment he awkwardly raised his hand to pat Yuri’s back.

There was a faint bloodstain on the white bed.

The thought that he was Yuri’s first man made him feel an even greater sense of responsibility.

“What… what should we do now? I don’t know anything…”

Yuri’s trembling voice was heard from within his arms.

She must have been shocked by this incident too, and he needed to calm her down.

Also, this must not be known to Esika under any circumstances.

Callian’s pupils were deeply shaken by the aftermath of the sudden thunderbolt-like situation.

**

“You let my brother in?”

At Riona’s inquiry, the maid bowed deeply and answered.

“Yes, Sir Shupert Brigitte just finished tea time and left.”

At those words, Riona didn’t hide her displeasure.

“She acts like it’s her own chamber when I’m away. How impertinent.”

Esika Klaus, daughter of an obscure baron’s family.

A lowborn who should be trampled as much as she’s trampled, yet she dares to raise her head high.

She even seems to be swaying Callian’s heart, so this can’t be overlooked any longer.

Once the profits from the Tschen development come in, she will return the dowry Esika brought when she married and drive her out of Klaus, even if she has to do it herself.

“By the way, where has Yuri gone? I don’t think I’ve seen her all morning.”

Riona looked around sharply for Yuri.

She hadn’t been seen since last night.

Just then, as if on cue, the door opened and Yuri entered with her head bowed.

“You called for me, Grand Duchess.”

Riona scanned Yuri from head to toe with a cold gaze.

And she moved her lips.

“Did you get caught in the night dew somewhere?”

At those words, Yuri’s hand flinched.

This was Riona, who had whipped her calves until she fainted for saying she coveted Callian.

If she showed any suspicious behavior, who knew what would happen.