Then, inevitably, their bodies would touch, right?

…Wait a minute. He must have undressed.

For a moment, she pictured her husband, who had been seen several times and had touched her body.

With well-defined muscles and smooth skin that exuded a firm texture, he sat in the transparent water.

‘Nice. It’s good.’

She had to admit it.

Around the time when she began to confuse whether the place she was sitting was a bathtub or a trash can,

“Madam, is something good happening?”

Jane’s voice startled Lamain to the point where the water splashed.

“Huh? What… what did you say?”

Holding a gown and a large towel, Jane approached.

“I asked because you seemed to be smiling, madam.”

“I was smiling?”

“Yes. Well… I mean…”
At the time when Jane uttered the words ‘like a pervert,’ worrying about what might happen.

“You were so beautiful. You’re beautiful even when you’re still, but when you smile, you’re truly beautiful.”

Words that made her promise to marry him in the next life.

With neatly folded eyelashes, Jane approached the bathtub, setting down the items she had been holding in her hands.

“The water temperature is alright…”

As Jane dipped her fingertips into the water, she stopped both her words and movements simultaneously. And then.

“Madam. May I examine your body for a moment?”

She asked with a cautious gaze.

“My body? Why?”

As Jane, who had approached the bathtub, scanned her back with her eyes.

“…”

Receiving Jane’s gaze in silence.

“Jane. What’s wrong?”

She turned her head slightly.

“There’s a strange mark on your waist.”

“A mark?”

“Yes. It’s a black mark, but it doesn’t seem like a wound. I don’t know what it is.”

Ah, Lamain quietly opened her lips slightly.

“I probably got a bruise from a slight bump yesterday.”

“You got hurt? Where?”

“Uh… that. It was on the study desk.”

“Please be careful.”

Jane made a pitiful expression as if she were in pain.

“It’ll heal soon. Don’t worry.”

Only then did Jane straighten her expression and step away from the bathtub.

“Jane. Today, I’ll bathe alone. Go and rest.”

“What? No.”

“No, I actually find it more comfortable to bathe alone.”

“Yes. If you need anything, please call me.”

After placing a gown for after the bath, Jane left the bathroom.

In the remaining space.

Lamain bit her lower lip tightly.

“It’s not time yet.”

From the time she let out a groan-like sound, hoping it wouldn’t come closer, time gradually began to tighten around her neck.

The next day.

As soon as Lamain opened her eyes, she sat in the study and began writing a letter to Marquis Haribo.

In the letter, she wrote detailed clauses for the contract and information about the future schedule.

She had considered meeting Marquis Haribo in person and having a discussion, but honestly, there were burdensome aspects to it.

A man she couldn’t understand even after meeting several times.

At times, she felt strange with the red eyes that silently looked at her.

But it wasn’t particularly uncomfortable or repulsive.

While writing the letter, Lamain suddenly chuckled.

“Cedric seems to find it uncomfortable and repulsive more than I do.”

If he dislikes it so much, what can I do?

Thinking of another reason not to meet Marquis Haribo in person, she slowly moved her hands.

The last line of the letter, which had been written for a long time.

After writing the most important sentence, she let out a short sigh.

She turned her gaze to the world outside the window, where the sunlight was warmly falling.

The world that was peacefully returning to its usual state, just like any other day.

After staring blankly for a while, Lamain forcefully lifted her eyelids.

And then, she lowered her head slightly.
“I knew it wasn’t anything unfamiliar, and let’s not let it sink like this.”

She neatly folded the completed letter and put it into the envelope.

As she was leaving the study with the letter envelope in her hand.

Knock, knock.

Jane entered the room.

“Madam, the Duchess Roger is calling for you.”

“Her Grace? Right now?”

“Yes, she asked you to come to her room.”

“Alright. I understand. Jane, please ask Robert to send this to Marquis Haribo.”

“Yes, madam.”

Having delivered the letter to Jane, she immediately headed to Duchess Roger’s room.

Upon arriving at Duchess Roger’s room,

“Lamain, come in quickly.”

Duchess Roger, seated at the center table of the room, greeted her, and Elena, who was sitting in front of her, came into view.

‘Come to think of it, she’s unusually quiet these days.’

They didn’t meet often, but whenever they did, she always showed her presence.

For example, during mealtime, when she was having a conversation with Cedric, she would chime in by snorting.

And when Duchess Roger asked for her opinion, she was always quick to seize the opportunity.

‘Well, it’s better if she stays quiet.’

Lamain, who quickly averted her gaze, greeted Duchess Roger politely and sat next to Elena.

“The reason I called you two is that…”

Duchess Roger immediately got to the point.

“Ian Ralph, the Duke, has sent an invitation to a party.”

“Ian Ralph, the Duke? Is that Lady Cordelia’s father?”

At Elena’s slightly twisted voice, Lamain subtly raised her eyebrows.

“Yes, that’s right. Why, Elena?”

“No, it’s nothing.”

“You’ve seen Lady Cordelia several times, haven’t you?”

“Yes, but we’re not particularly close.”

Looking at Elena with a disdainful voice, Lamain glimpsed at her.

“Anyway, the reason I called you is because…”

Duchess Roger went straight to the point.

“Ian Ralph, the Duke, has sent an invitation to a party.”

“A dress?!”

Elena’s voice suddenly jumped several octaves, piercing the ears like it would tear them apart.

…Oh, there’s someone next to me.

Momentarily wincing, Lamain turned her head.

“Well, I wanted a new dress anyway. Thank you.”

Elena, clasping her hands in front of her chest, sparkled with her eyes.

Knowing that she was usually interested in dresses, it wasn’t particularly surprising.

However, she wanted to advise her not to scream like that in someone else’s ear.

“Someone will come to the dressing room soon. I’ll call you then.”

Responding with a nod to Elena, who was expressing her gratitude loudly, Lamain stood up from her seat.

Upon returning to her room,

“Why did the Duchess call me?”
Jane asked, “She said she’s going to tailor a new dress for you.”

“Oh my! A new dress?”

Jane sparkled with her eyes and smiled brightly.

“You must be so happy.”

Looking at Jane, who was rejoicing as if it were her own business, Lamain blinked her eyes slowly.

‘Yes, that’s right. Ordinary women who receive a new dress as a gift would react like that.’

Did I respond too dryly?

She briefly reflected on her reaction to the Duchess’s favor.

‘Well, it’s fine as long as Jane is happy instead of me.’

Smiling lightly at the thought,

“But why all of a sudden is she giving you a dress as a gift?”

Jane asked again.

“It seems there’s a party in a few days. It seems like a gift for that occasion.”

“Oh, I see.”

“Who was it…?”

Lamain recalled the name she heard from the Duchess.

“Who is it that’s hosting the party?”

The unfamiliar name didn’t readily come to mind.

“Oh, Cordelia Youngae? The party is hosted by her father.”

Thanks to Elina, the name that had stuck in her mind was mentioned casually, and at that moment, when Lamain was turning her body towards the window,

“What? Cordelia Ralph Youngae?”

At Jane’s voice, which was strangely surprised, Lamain’s eyes widened.