“Greetings……”

Rosalyn Tenor, who had pulled Ariel’s arm as she was about to answer, stepped forward. As she blocked the way, Ariel’s face lightly frowned at the strong scent of perfume.

“Your Grace, I will escort the Princess to her bedroom. She must be very tired, having just arrived.”

Why this tiny country girl?

She wanted to ask this, but Rosalyn had to swallow those words at Kaius’s hardened face.

Even though she was a woman. Moreover, even though she was a relative, he showed no leniency. Because of this, Rosalyn had been nothing more than a respected servant during her stay in this house for the past year. At least to Kaius von Elbartan.

At Kaius’s cold gaze, Rosalyn let go of Ariel’s arm and stepped back on her own. Only then did Kaius turn his gaze back to Ariel’s face, looking at her with eyes expecting an answer.

“Just greetings, right?”

Kaius’s question was asking if it was alright to reveal her identity. Since she had decided to be directly involved in the competition anyway, Ariel readily agreed to that place, as she would need to be acquainted with the Kaldenbach representative. At her permission, Kaius slowly nodded, his gaze passing over Ludvian and heading towards the stairs.

“Let’s go up to the study.”

As the host and guest began to climb the stairs, the gathered servants started to move one by one to find work.

Except for one person, Rosalyn.

“That country bumpkin……”

She had a fairly handsome face, but her dull gray hair and rustic dress covered up that beauty. She was also small in stature, likely to be invisible among the tall and slender women of the North at parties, and her bare face without makeup was another matter. She was truly unfit to be the mistress of House Elbartan.

“Princess? What nonsense, you pauper.”

A smile gradually crept into Rosalyn’s eyes as she glared fiercely at the stairs. It was because of her deal with the Empress that came to mind.

If she became the Empress’s informant and helped Berry House win the competition. Then she would fully support her in becoming the Duchess – it was a very satisfactory deal. The Empress’s words that the country bumpkin princess could be divorced with a suitable excuse seemed very feasible.

It was then that Rosalyn’s gaze caught sight of a maid coming with tea prepared.

“Well……”

On the sofa in the study sat Kaius and Ariel, and across from them sat Ludvian and Lemon. The surprise of Ludvian and Lemon upon hearing about Ariel’s identity was evident in their expressions. Kaius had not told Ariel’s secret even to Lemon, as promised.

Ludvian, who had been unable to speak for a while, was the first to come to his senses.

“You’re going to prepare for the competition directly?”

“Rather than that, I’m passing on the secret recipe to the chef.”

“But Your Grace, wouldn’t it be dangerous if we keep Lady Ariel’s identity a secret? The spies……”

The Duke’s house was always full of spies. The contents of the competition had to be kept confidential. To prepare for that, Kaius began to explain what he had previously discussed with Ariel.

“So, we’re saying that Lady Ariel is practicing cooking for the Duke?”

Once again, a sigh-like exclamation escaped from Lemon’s lips. Of course, it was a perfect method, but it was something that would damage the Princess’s reputation.

The marriage was already on shaky ground, and if such rumors spread, it wouldn’t be easy to hold one’s head high in the future. Lemon found himself thinking about Princess Ariel once again.

“Ludvian, quickly find a chef to send to the competition and send them to the Duke’s residence.”

Just as Ludvian was about to open his mouth, there was a knock from outside the study. Rosalyn, who had brought in tea with the maid, did not leave but took a position in one corner of the study.

“Miss Rosalyn, please vacate your seat now.”

Seeing this, Lemon issued an order to leave, but Rosalyn gave her prepared answer.

“Your Grace, if the Princess’s greetings are over, I was thinking of escorting her to her bedroom now. She looks too tired.”

At Rosalyn’s words, Ariel let out a quiet laugh.

“I’ll be leaving now, so please continue your conversation.”

Since all the necessary words had been exchanged anyway, it was right to leave the place now. Kaius also agreed with Ariel’s opinion.

The Duke’s bedroom and the Duchess’s bedroom were on the third floor. The third floor had two grand rooms like hotel suites, and between them was the Duke’s study where she had just come from.

“This way, please.”

Ariel and Anna followed Rosalyn, who was leading the way. She thought she would be guided to the Duchess’s bedroom, but where she headed was the stairs going down to the second floor. Although it was strange, she couldn’t ask and just quietly followed the guidance.

“This is it.”

The place she guided them to was a guest room. And a very ordinary one at that. A smile crept into Ariel’s eyes at Rosalyn’s scheme.

Rosalyn Vianne. A woman who entered to become the Duchess. Taking care of the Duke’s house was just a plausible pretext. Countess Vianne had the calculation that if she placed Rosalyn by his side, Kaius wouldn’t just look at her. It was the Countess’s theory that a strong man wouldn’t just leave a beautiful woman nearby.

Ariel didn’t know the exact relationship between Kaius and Rosalyn. But as long as she was aware of her position and didn’t interfere with saving him, she was going to leave it alone.

But it was troublesome if she acted like this from the first day.

“Thank you, Miss Rosalyn.”

“Do you like the room?”

Rosalyn asked with a pretty smile. Ariel, who briefly looked around the room, asked her back.

“Is this the Duchess’s bedroom?”

“Ah, no. I thought you’d be more comfortable staying in a guest room since you’re not married yet. The Duchess’s bedroom is connected to the Duke’s bedroom, so I thought it might be uncomfortable for you. It’s also more proper this way.”

At first glance, it sounded like she was being considerate, but it meant that she couldn’t use that room because she wasn’t qualified yet. Ariel quietly laughed at Rosalyn’s attitude. Anna, who immediately noticed this, was about to step forward with raised eyes, but Ariel slightly shook her head to stop her.

Even if she asserted her authority as a princess, she could only get a better guest room on the second floor at best. If she called Kaius, it would be resolved immediately, but she didn’t want to rely on him for such matters.

“There’s no need for you to worry about such propriety, Miss Rosalyn. Surely you don’t think that I, a princess of a country, know less about propriety than a daughter of a count’s family?”

Surprisingly, a sneer crossed Rosalyn’s lips for a brief moment. To think she would be this arrogant. If that’s the case.

“Or are you saying that the Duke is an inconsiderate person?”

“Ah, no. That’s not it. It’s just that it’s my job to make sure you two don’t have to worry about such things. I hope there’s no misunderstanding.”

When Kaius was mentioned, Rosalyn seemed flustered and her confident demeanor subsided a bit.

“Your job? Are you saying that you, Miss Rosalyn, have the authority to decide on my accommodations as the future mistress of the Duke’s house? If the Duke agrees with this as well, then I won’t say anything more.”

If she wasn’t guided to the Duchess’s bedroom even after saying this much, one could only think that Rosalyn’s position in this mansion was quite significant.

“It’s not like that, but I think the Duke’s thoughts wouldn’t be much different.”

“Ah… You mean your thoughts are the Duke’s thoughts? Is that what you’re saying?”

Rosalyn’s face flushed with embarrassment at Ariel’s direct question.

“No, it’s not like that.”

Ariel, who had been staring at Rosalyn, let out a light sigh.

“So you’re saying that my being guided here was solely your independent judgment, Miss Rosalyn?”

“That’s true, but it was a decision made with your best interests in mind, Princess. If rumors were to spread in high society about you sleeping together before marriage, it would tarnish your reputation.”

Sleeping together? Reputation?

Ariel frowned at Rosalyn’s forced words. In the end, despite all the excuses, Rosalyn simply didn’t want to give up the room on the third floor.

“I don’t think you need to worry about my reputation, Miss Rosalyn.”

Kaius hurried to end the conversation.

What stopped his steps as he was coming down to see Ludvian off was Ariel’s voice heard from the second floor.

Curious, Kaius bid a brief farewell to Ludvian right there, saying they’d see each other tomorrow. Then he quietly moved towards the room where the sound had come from. Lemon followed Ludvian down the stairs, and Raymond followed behind Kaius.

“I’m sorry, but I’m worried, you see.”

Rosalyn, thinking that she couldn’t let this woman dirty the third-floor bedroom she would be using, refused to back down until the end.

“Perhaps Miss Rosalyn’s concern is that the Duke might come to my bedroom before the wedding?”

Ariel and Anna, Rosalyn, and the guest room visible through the open door. From the occasional words he heard, Kaius could easily guess the situation.

“Of course, the Duke would never do such a thing. If anything, it might be the opposite……”

Rosalyn’s gaze, which had been on Ariel’s face, slowly moved down and then back up. Rosalyn’s face, with her chin lifted, was full of inexplicable confidence.

“I’m not sure if you could be a temptation with that body.”

Rosalyn had put considerable effort into looking prettier than the princess who was said to be arriving today, but the Duke, as always, didn’t even glance at her. A man who couldn’t be seduced even by her quite voluptuous body, this woman could? Rosalyn sneered again as she looked Ariel up and down.

She must be wearing such loose clothes because she’s not confident about her body.

“Temptation… you say?”

Kaius, who was about to end the situation, stopped his steps as he was about to enter the room at the mention of Ariel’s temptation. At that moment, Anna noticed him, but he gestured for her to be quiet.

Kaius began to watch Ariel with interested eyes.