Between the long-drawn morning sunbeams, Kaius’s low laughter seeped in. Examining his long fingers, the mark Ariel had left was already fading.

To think she would bite.

Yesterday, Ariel had rushed to snatch the design book he was looking at, but couldn’t achieve her goal. When Kaius pressed down with his fingertips, the book didn’t budge at all.

It was then that Ariel’s eyes, which had been staring at him intently with a completely reddened face, moved to his hand.

Ariel, who had been glaring at Kaius’s hand for quite some time, bit, his finger hard. She must have used considerable force, as a faint groan escaped from him and he dropped the book. Only then did Ariel release his finger and ran out to the terrace, hugging the design book to her chest like a treasure. At this absurd scene, Kaius ended up letting out a few bewildered laughs.

Looking at the bite mark, Kaius chuckled.

“Your Excellency, I’m coming in.”

Butler Raymond’s voice brought Kaius’s consciousness back to reality. The door opened, and Raymond and Lemon entered together.

“Raymond, please make an invoice for all the costs incurred in building the greenhouse, without missing anything. As soon as possible.”

“Understood.”

Raymond the butler was momentarily puzzled by the incomprehensible order, but answered without further question and left the office.

“Lemon. Stop by the Tris vault and check if there are any deposits in Ariel’s or Anna’s name, and if there are, prevent any withdrawals until I give permission, no matter what reason is given.”

Lemon combined the previous talk about the invoice with this current order. The owner of the greenhouse was the madam, and if the invoice was to go to her, shouldn’t that not be done? He tilted his head at this thought.

“That would cause considerable trouble for the madam.”

Kaius’s silently staring figure made Lemon close his mouth. It was intimidating enough to make him break out in a cold sweat no matter when he saw it.

“I’ll be going then.”

“On your way out, investigate Duke Beloas’s whereabouts as well.”

“Understood.”

Leaning deeply back in his chair and crossing his legs, Kaius took out a cigar from the office desk and put it in his mouth. Between the long puffs of cigarette smoke, Kaius rose.

Opening the window and leaning against the windowsill, the problematic greenhouse came into view.

He intended to prepare the invoice as she had said she would ultimately pay the money. Whether she could pay or not was another matter.

Thinking about it again, it was incomprehensible.

She should just receive the greenhouse, express her gratitude, and use it well, that’s all.

It was when the thin cigarette smoke was escaping through the window that Kaius saw Ariel lingering at the entrance of the greenhouse.

It’s locked so she can’t go in. She must be eager to plant the plants she brought. Kaius’s gaze slowly turned to the office desk drawer. More precisely, to the greenhouse key inside it.

She’ll come looking for it soon.

“My children, this time I’ll definitely protect you.”

So that Ludvian can’t harm you.

With her eyes closed, Ariel stroked the dragon eggs with a warm smile. Next to her bed, two large dragon eggs had taken their place. She had brought them up from the carriage while seeing off Madam Bella yesterday afternoon, and the task of awakening the eggs had begun last night.

These two dragons would be beings that would protect humans from demons in the future.

After finishing a simple breakfast, Ariel left the bedroom with Anna, dressed in pants as usual, to go to the greenhouse.

As they came down to the lobby, all the busy servants stopped. Their faces, which politely greeted them, were full of bewilderment. Although Ariel knew it was because of her attire, she headed towards the greenhouse with just a slight smile, without saying anything.

“Lady Ariel, this place certainly has a proper hierarchy. Except for that woman.”

Nodding in agreement with Anna’s opinion, Ariel opened her mouth.

“This way, Anna.”

Since she had already told Anna about the greenhouse during breakfast, Anna followed her without any particular question. However, when Ariel arrived at the greenhouse door, she realized only then that the door was locked.

“Didn’t you receive the key?”

“No…”

Letting out a small sigh, Ariel turned her head to look at the mansion. It was becoming increasingly uncomfortable to face Kaius.

With that unforgettable kiss. Biting his finger. Refusing his dinner invitation. And now having to ask for the key to the greenhouse that she said she would pay for and receive.

“Let’s go. Butler Raymond should have the key.”

It was a voice that was desperate, as if it absolutely had to be so.

“Hello, Princess Ariel.”

As they entered the mansion, a voice a tone higher was heard.

Wearing a more modest dress than on the first day, Rosalyn, who was slowly coming down the stairs, scanned Ariel from top to bottom.

“Good morning, Miss Rosalyn.”

Already having more than enough to worry about, Ariel gave her an appropriate greeting and turned away immediately. It was just as Ariel was looking around for Butler Raymond.

Mixed with the clicking sound of high heels came the words, “Like a country bumpkin, dressed in such a ridiculous outfit.” Ariel let out a faint sigh and turned towards Rosalyn, when a loud slap was heard.

Slap!

The first to move was Anna.

Rosalyn, who had been slapped hard on the cheek, fell to the floor, and blood flowed from her lips. She had a bewildered expression, as if unable to understand what had happened. Just as Rosalyn’s maid grabbed her arm and helped her up, Rosalyn, having come to her senses, began to point at Anna with fiercely raised eyes.

“She is the princess of Letiana and will soon be a duchess. That’s to say, she’s not someone the likes of you can treat carelessly. Got it?”

“How dare you, what are you to hit a noble lady of a count’s family?”

The counterargument came, oddly enough, from Rosalyn’s maid. But.

Slap!

“Aah!”

That maid too was slapped by Anna and thrown far away.

“That’s the punishment for speaking rudely to a noble.”

Anna was the daughter of a count and a knight.

One who had sworn loyalty to her master. And now that someone had slandered that master, she had gone berserk. As Ariel slowly approached Rosalyn, Anna bowed her head and apologized.

“I’m sorry, Lady Ariel. I should have educated them properly from the first day. I left them be, and now these things are running wild, unable to distinguish right from wrong.”

“It’s alright. I didn’t think that a count’s daughter from the Empire would be so ignorant of etiquette.”

As the conversation between Ariel and Anna continued, Rosalyn’s angry breathing grew louder.

By then, servants and knights had begun to gather one by one and watch them. It was only a matter of time before this reached Kaius’s ears. She didn’t want him to intervene again.

“How dare you! Coming from a poor country that no one even knows where it is!”

It wasn’t just Anna who had gone berserk. In the end, Rosalyn once again crossed the line with her remarks.

Slap! Slap!

Slapped twice more in succession, Rosalyn fell again, her eyes growing even fiercer. The reason she was acting so recklessly was because she thought she would be kicked out after the wedding. If that happened, she couldn’t gather the information Empress Catherine wanted, which meant she couldn’t become a duchess herself.

“Miss Rosalyn.”

At Ariel’s low voice, Rosalyn, supported by her maid, staggered to her feet. As she tried to approach Ariel, Anna blocked her way. Unable to contain her anger, Rosalyn trembled violently, gripping her dress so tightly it seemed it might tear.

“I will soon become the mistress of the duke’s household. Disrespecting me, the mistress, is the same as disrespecting the duke. So, Miss Rosalyn, if something like this happens one more time, I will have you confined to your room until the wedding. Keep that in mind.”

As Ariel’s words were coming to an end, the sound of several people’s heavy footsteps was heard.

“Lady Ariel, what’s going on?”

Turning her head, she saw Sir Carsen and his subordinate knights. Ariel and Carsen exchanged brief eye greetings.

“Sir Carsen, this woman dared to do this to me. This is an act of disrespect towards the Empire and the duke.”

Ha. A laugh inadvertently escaped at the sight of Rosalyn, who still hadn’t come to her senses and was eagerly tattling to Sir Carsen.

Rosalyn’s face, swollen from Anna’s slaps, turned pale when Sir Carsen’s sword touched her neck.

“Watch your words, Miss Rosalyn. This person is a princess of a country and will soon be a duchess. Don’t forget that such insulting words alone could warrant immediate execution.”

“T-then what about that woman! That woman insulted me. She dared to hit me, a noblewoman of an imperial count’s family, three times!”

Despite the sword at her neck, her voice was shrill as she pointed at Anna.

“Lady Anna is the daughter of Count Lidius of Letiana, holds a knight’s title, and is the sole lady-in-waiting to the princess and future duchess. Who exactly insulted whom?”

Unable to leave the increasingly hostile atmosphere as it was, Ariel stepped forward.

“It seems I too must keep to what I said. From now on, Rosalyn Bianne is confined to her room. Until the moment she leaves with the countess after the wedding is over.”

As Ariel commanded in a quiet but powerful tone, Rosalyn finally caused a disturbance, saying she couldn’t accept it. But she was quickly subdued by the knights.

“Sir Carsen, may I ask you a favor?”

“Please speak.”

“I was wondering if you could station two knights in front of Miss Rosalyn’s room.”

“Of course.”

Ariel smiled brightly at his ready answer. With Sir Carsen’s permission, Ariel called one of the servants who had gathered around.

“Take Miss Rosalyn to her room, and call for Dr. Hearn to treat her.”

“Yes, madam.”

Kaius, who had heard about the commotion downstairs, leaned obliquely against the railing on the third floor and watched the scene.

He was satisfied to see her firmly establishing her position on her own, but on the other hand, it also irritated him. Like not readily accepting the greenhouse, Ariel’s refusal to rely on him for anything was not particularly pleasing.

Kaius rose and quietly instructed Raymond the butler, who was behind him. As he headed towards the stairs, Kaius once again observed Ariel standing in the lobby.

Ariel’s face brightened upon seeing Raymond, but quickly darkened. Having apparently received his message from Raymond, Ariel’s gaze slowly turned upward.

As their eyes met, Ariel’s gaze wavered.