He heard that the woman now known as Lamein Roger had attended Lucia’s birthday party.

He, who had never gone to a party without accompanying Lucia, headed towards the party hall.

The moment he entered the party hall, he was able to recognize her immediately.

But knowing that she didn’t recognize him, he was about to turn around from a distance, when.

He spotted a handkerchief dropped beside her.

‘Ah, thank you.’

She was still looking at him as if she didn’t know him.

But it was okay.

The desire to see her from his memories again.

It was an action led by a simple thought.

A woman who had become someone else’s wife.

Moreover, a woman who had become Cedric’s wife.

‘No matter who she is, I don’t need to care.’

There was nothing to gain from showing unnecessary attention in such a relationship.

He intended to end it with a fleeting encounter.

‘Did he kiss her because of me?’

The thought of Cedric’s blue eyes filled with caution made him feel strange.

“Hmm…”

He let out a small sound as he held his breath and slightly squinted one of his eyes.

The Duke of Haribo, who had been deep in thought with a serious expression, lightly opened his squinted eyes.

‘Why should I care about this?’

The needless prickle of his nerves made him smirk.

What Cedric was thinking when he had that look in his eyes.

Why he had kissed her in front of him was none of his business.

‘Whether they kiss or do something more, it has nothing to do with me.’

He completely eliminated any interest he had in not only Cedric, but also Lamein.

And just as he was about to move his steps with a calm gaze.

“Your Grace. Miss Lucia says she’s ready.”

The approaching servant informed him it was time to fetch his sister.

“Let’s go right away.”

The Duke of Haribo left his seat with light steps.

.

.

.

‘Did you see it just now?’

‘What? Oh, you mean the kiss?’

Is my hearing good? Or is their voice loud?

Everywhere, there’s talk about his kiss with Cedric.

‘The two of you seem to be in a much better relationship than the rumors suggest.’

‘You two look quite affectionate even now.’

Lamein, who was glued to her husband’s side, smiled knowingly.

‘When is the Duchess of Haribo coming?’

The main character of today’s party hasn’t shown her face at all.

‘Then I can leave here quickly.’

I didn’t know that receiving others’ attention could be so exhausting.

Now, she wanted to leave this place more than Cedric, a sincere desire reflected in her eyes, when.

“The Duchess of Haribo is here.”

At one woman’s voice, Lamein’s eyes widened.

The party hall door, adorned with lavish patterns, opened wide.

“Oh my. The Duke of Haribo is here again.”

“Indeed. It seems he came instead of his father.”

Not the late Duke of Haribo, but the Duke of Haribo made a reentrance into the party hall with her.

“Oh my. She’s pretty.”

Lamein unwittingly murmured while watching Lucia.

She felt Cedric’s gaze at that moment, but she did not take her eyes off Lucia.

The adorable halfmoon shaped eyes, the distinct line of her nose and lips, and the dazzlingly fair skin made the beautiful girl a sight to behold for the nobles as well.

As Cedric had said, it was hard to believe at first glance that she was ill.

However, a small child, short for her age of fourteen, with a frail physique.

Staring entranced at the lovely face of the girl, she found no smile, no vitality.

“My father has some matters to attend to and will be down shortly.”

The Duke of Haribo’s deep voice echoed throughout the party hall.

“It’s not polite to keep you waiting too long. Lucia and I have come to greet you.”

Subsequently, Duke Haribo, who had delivered the message, whispered something softly in Lucia’s ear.

And together they began to greet each of the attendees at the party.

“Happy birthday, Princess Haribo.”

“Thank you for coming.”

To the warmly extended greetings, Lucia responded in a courteous voice.

Of course, all eyes in the party room were focused on Lucia, including Lamein’s.

“Let’s get out of here as soon as we’re done greeting.”

Lamein, who glanced at Cedric whispering as if to remind her, looked back at Lucia.

And then narrowed her eyes slowly.

‘Why does her expression seem to get worse?’

Lucia’s expression seemed a little strange, walking in front of the people lined up waiting for their greetings.

There was no energy from the start, but it seemed to darken progressively.

Lamein, who had been closely examining Lucia’s face, slightly lowered her gaze.

The tips of Lucia’s hands, neatly laid on the lace decorated on the chest of her dress, were trembling slightly.

Each time she courteously bowed and lifted her waist, her red eyes seemed to shimmer with some anxiety.

‘Something’s weird?’

Because she’s the center of attention.

Because the attention of everyone in the party room is poured onto her.

It’s not just because she’s nervous, her condition seemed a little worrisome.

She recalled Cedric’s words that Princess Lucia had collapsed at her birthday party four years ago.

‘Is it just needless worry?’

Lamein, who had been looking at Lucia for a long time, took her gaze off her.

Because she had concluded that her spontaneously invoked occupational disease was excessively judging all situations needlessly.

“Yes. Let’s go right after the greetings.”

Responding late to Cedric’s words, this time Cedric’s gaze was directed at Lucia and Duke Haribo.

“Lucia. What’s wrong?”

At the sound of Duke Haribo’s voice coming from afar, Lamein quickly turned her head.

“Ah … No. I’m fine.”

Her complexion turned pale as she clenched her trembling fingertips into a fist.

“Why? Are you suddenly not feeling well?”

Duke Haribo, who had turned as pale as his younger sister, stopped in his tracks.

“We need to go back to the room.”

“No, I’m fine. I have to greet.”

Haah. Haah. As Lucia, who was gasping for thin breaths, replied, her chest began to heave significantly.

Lamein’s eyes, which had been stretched out straight, crumpled in an instant.

‘This isn’t just my intuition!’

At the moment when she was concluding that her anxiety would turn into reality.

“Lucia!!”

Duke Haribo’s urgent voice echoed terrifyingly in the party room.