“Haah……”

A hot sigh escaped between Ariel’s lips as she leaned against the terrace. Kaius had obediently retreated at her words that she needed time.

After the marriage, it was clear that the artifact would be discovered, and after that, he would withdraw on his own anyway.

As the cool autumn wind cooled her face flushed from alcohol, her hazy mind cleared. Just as she was growing increasingly worried that Anna was later than expected, a carriage entered the mansion.

Anna had returned.

“Lady Ariel!”

“Why are you so late? I was worried.”

“I’m sorry. I got the item you asked for. I was a bit late because I was running around for this.”

What Anna held out was a white medicine bottle.

“That’s a relief. Thank you.”

Ariel took it and placed it deep in the bottom drawer of her dressing table.

“The money?”

The bag Anna had put down didn’t look like it contained money at all.

“The Tris Bank refused to give out the money, citing ridiculous reasons.”

“What reasons?”

“They said they can’t afford to give out such a large sum right now and asked to wait about a week. Does this make any sense?”

“A whole week?”

Ariel’s face frowned at the incomprehensible situation. This had never happened in all the time they had been dealing with Tris Bank. And in the Tris territory, the stronghold of Tris Bank, no less?

Could it be.

The one who even handed over the key willingly? No way. It can’t be.

“No matter how I think about it, it’s strange.”

Nodding, Ariel suddenly had a thought and took out Elia Camellon’s certificate and seal from the drawer of the cabinet.

“Go again tomorrow. This time, take this with you.”

Most of the money Ariel had was kept under Elia Camellon’s name. Considering the kingdom’s creditors, she always had to be extremely careful.

[This is the timeline separator]

It was a cool autumn morning.

After a quick wash and getting dressed neatly, Kaius’s gaze naturally turned to the door that didn’t need knocking. It was because of her smiling face, drunk last night, that came to mind.

The reason he had obediently retreated at her words that she needed time was because that time was already running out anyway.

He would wait only until the wedding.

After fastening his sword belt and neatly arranging his hair, Kaius headed to his office as usual.

On the desk, as always, were documents, mail, and coffee. Kaius, leaning against the windowsill with a coffee cup in hand, looked towards the greenhouse. Ariel didn’t seem to have come out yet.

After looking at the beautifully colored autumn forest, he sat down in his chair and picked up a document. The document sent by Dvian contained the chef’s resume along with a brief message.

[Your Excellency.

To cut to the chase, all the hotel chefs are refusing to learn cooking from a woman.

As you know, their pride is no ordinary matter.

Given the situation, I had no choice but to persuade my nephew, a chef at the Metron Hotel. I’ll send him the day after the wedding.

He’s a bit stiff, but he’s such a sincere fellow that it should be fine.]

On the next page was the name ‘Demian Baron’ and a brief career history. Demian was a fairly skilled chef that even Kaius knew of. Kaius chuckled, imagining the situation that was probably closer to coercion than persuasion.

Just then, what caught his attention was a letter bearing the name of his friend, Rashid von Baltesran. He hadn’t been expecting it, but knowing Rashid, he thought he would have been the first to rush over. It had been quiet, and now suddenly a letter.

[I was about to rush over to see the Letiana princess that Kaius von Elbartan fell in love with at first sight, but something suddenly came up. There’s a problem at the messenger bird training ground, so I might only be able to see her at the wedding. Bring some good alcohol when you come.]

Reading the letter, Kaius chuckled once again.

Why so curious about someone who’s not even his wife?

He was well aware of the rumors circulating in high society. According to them, the reason Kaius had refused the imperial order for the past few months was that he couldn’t forget Lady Lantiano, who was taken away by Emperor Hart.

And then he suddenly brought Ariel, saying he would marry her.

Love at first sight.

That was the only reason they could comprehend, so such rumors spread. Half of the rumors in high society are usually right, and half are wrong. To believe such things. Kaius laughed softly and got up from his seat to head back to the window.

As he gazed blankly at the greenhouse, Ariel came into view.

In Kaius’s gradually narrowing eyes, Ariel’s figure was visible. Her long, single braid swaying was clearly silver.

Most likely, her eye color had changed too. To gold.

[This is the timeline separator]

Ariel’s daily routine began to run tightly.

The first thing she did upon opening her eyes was to remove the sofa blocking the door to his bedroom. The sofa would return to that spot at night, but this was to ensure that no one discovered this fact.

Only after that did she wash up, dress lightly, and head to the greenhouse. After spending the entire morning growing Japaros, Ariel immersed herself in the pool, careful not to wet her hair. The water was rather cold, but the greenhouse was quite hot at midday, so it was still bearable.

“I wonder if I can retrieve the money.”

She would feel much lighter once she could repay that debt.

After leaning against the pool wall reading a book for quite some time, Ariel checked her pocket watch and hurried out. She needed time to get ready before meeting Madame Bella, who would be coming for the wedding dress fitting.

Heading to the changing room, Ariel changed clothes and put on the artifact. She also let down her hair, which had been tied up in a round bun. Ariel’s steps towards the mansion were light and cheerful.

Stopping at the stairs leading to the second floor, Ariel thought of Rosalyn for a moment, but deciding it was too early to release her, she continued upwards. At that moment, she encountered the resident physician, Hearn, coming down from the third floor.

“Hello, Lady Ariel.”

“Nice to see you, Hearn. Is the Duke unwell?”

Ariel asked, tilting her head, and Hearn answered with a smile.

“It’s nothing serious, he’s just been having headaches for a long time. It would improve if he increased his sleep, but he just can’t sleep.”

“I see… Thank you for your hard work.”

Ariel was also aware of his insomnia. Thinking that she should visit him today with some things that might help, she bid farewell to Hearn.

[This is the timeline separator]

“We’re finished now.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

While Madame Bella and her staff were carefully packing up the dress they had brought, Anna returned.

“Lady Ariel… I’m back.”

As Ariel turned around after seeing off Madame Bella at the door, Anna wore a quite complicated expression. It was completely different from her bold appearance when she left in the morning, dressed in a knight’s outfit.

“What’s wrong, Anna?”

As Anna dropped the bag she was holding onto the floor, a rather heavy sound was heard.

“You found it!”

Ariel, who had brightened up looking at the bag, shifted her gaze back to Anna. As she stared blankly, Anna let out a deep sigh.

“I don’t know how to explain this.”

Seeing Anna’s perplexed expression, Ariel smiled gently and pulled her hand towards the sofa. She handed Anna a cup of water she had poured, which Anna accepted.

“It’s okay, just speak comfortably.”

After hesitating, Anna drank the water in one gulp and let out a faint sigh.

“That money is Elia Camellon’s money. Today again, they said they couldn’t retrieve money under Lady Ariel’s name. Do you know what this means?”

Anna gazed steadily into Ariel’s eyes.

“The only person who could exert such influence here in Tris is the Duke, right? So, it means the Duke doesn’t want Lady Ariel to repay the money. In a way, that seems good, but.”

Anna, who had poured and drunk another glass of water herself, let out a sigh that sounded like a lament.

“On the other hand, it also means he’s not respecting Lady Ariel. I really don’t know whether I should be happy or sad about this situation.”

Ariel comforted Anna, who was lamenting with a face that was neither smiling nor crying, with a quiet laugh.

Blocking all escape routes and making the other person go the way he wants. That was Kaius’s specialty. On the battlefield, in business, and now with her.

Kaius was that kind of man. A person who achieves what he wants by any means necessary.

But she had strayed from the path he had laid out.

Ariel paid a bit more attention to her appearance. Anna also neatly braided her slightly disheveled hair again. After checking her outfit one last time in the mirror, Ariel turned to Anna.

“Shall we go now?”

“Yes! Lady Ariel.”

The two women left the bedroom with vigor. In Ariel’s hands was a tray with peppermint tea leaves, oil, heated water, and an invoice. Following behind, Anna carried a bag full of gold coins.

[This is the timeline separator]

Kaius started his tuxedo fitting a bit late. The male tailor from Bella Boutique was in the middle of fitting clothes to Kaius’s body and leaving marks.

Knock knock knock.

“It’s me.”

Ariel had first stopped by the office but came here after hearing from Lemon that he was in the bedroom. At Kaius’s nod, Butler Raymond opened the door.

As Kaius slowly turned towards her, Ariel held her breath. He was excessively tall and sturdy. The sight of him in a tuxedo under his neatly combed hair exuded a dignity that overwhelmed just by looking. His cold gaze was so intimidating that Ariel, who had come confidently, wanted to turn back.

“Come in.”

In contrast to his appearance, his voice was low and gentle. As soon as the permission was given, Butler Raymond took the tray Ariel was holding and placed it on the coffee table, then smiled contentedly.

“Sit down for a moment.”

Kaius leisurely continued what he was doing, while Ariel sat on the sofa and brewed peppermint tea. When she heard the sound of clothes being taken off behind her back, Ariel’s cheeks flushed red. As she was feeling awkward, thinking she had come at the wrong time, she heard people leaving and the door closing firmly.

Only after buttoning up his shirt to the top did Kaius face Ariel.

Kaius briefly glanced at the invoice placed in front of him, then picked up the teacup in front of him and moistened his throat.

“Speak.”

Kaius, who spoke in a calm voice, put down his teacup. Although she felt a bit intimidated by his expressionless face, Ariel knew she had to deal with this issue decisively.

“Anna, please bring in the bag.”