Sophie still looked dumbfounded, but Wilhelm’s expression quietly hardened.

It was obviously the fault of the family heads who inherited the family that the fortunes rapidly declined as soon as her maternal grandfather passed away.

Nevertheless, what was clearly visible on Wilhelm’s face was guilt.

I sighed slightly and drove the point home.

“Duke Fedegrin and Elena are committing fraud. My brother is turning a blind eye to it.”

“…Miss. Is that true?”

The old butler’s face froze in shock. It seemed he only had vague suspicions or didn’t know at all until this point.

I slowly nodded.

“Duke Fedegrin will swallow up the Lopez family through marriage to me. My brother won’t care what happens to the family as long as he himself prospers, so soon the Duke will become the de facto head of the family.”

I said while staring intently at Wilhelm.

It wasn’t speculation, but fact. What had actually happened over the past five years.

My calm tone seemed to add more persuasiveness, as Wilhelm’s eyes gradually widened.

Sophie had been deathly pale since hearing about Lucas and Elena, as if about to faint.

“I have no intention of being swayed by such deception anymore. That’s why I decided to marry His Grace the Duke. But I’m not running away.”

I said firmly as I looked at the two of them.

“When everything is over, I intend to reclaim Lopez without fail.”

The Lopez family that my grandfather had built up and my mother had been proud of.

I will no longer stand by and watch their legacy crumble like a cheap toy in their hands.

“You two, can you help me?”

[This is the timeline separator]

As winter set in properly, the wind became as sharp as a knife.

Day and night alternated dozens of times. As time passed, Edward became increasingly sensitive.

“We must make this opera a success. That’s how we can put our performance on the National Foundation Day.”

He repeated those words obsessively at every opportunity, almost like someone with a compulsion.

“The National Foundation Day held at the Imperial Palace is attended by all sorts of dignitaries, even foreign royalty. If we succeed there, our opera house will soar as if on wings!”

True to his words, the Lopez Opera House will soar after their performance submitted for the National Foundation Day receives an explosive response.

That’s what happened in the past, that is.

Elena also devoted herself to practice with rare enthusiasm. And Lucas…

“The first day is completely sold out. All the tickets are gone!”

Two weeks before the wedding, he delivered such news with a face full of joy.

“Oh! Is that true?”

“That’s such great news!”

Edward and Elena were also delighted, almost jumping for joy.

Lucas lovingly stroked Elena’s bouncing head.

“It’s largely thanks to our future sister-in-law. Word has spread even outside the institute about how lovely our future sister-in-law is when she sings.”

“Oh, stop. You’re embarrassing me.”

“Hehe. Our future sister-in-law is so shy.”

At that time, I was quietly sipping tea with a smile.

It was fortunate that I had a light breakfast today. At least my stomach wasn’t too upset.

Today too, the two of them were putting on a nauseating scene of intimacy.

“Oh, brother-in-law, really. Stop teasing me from the morning!”

“Haha, everyone’s expecting to hear such a beautiful song from sister-in-law, you know?”

The wedding was five days away.

Only five days left to closely observe this farce.

“And Ari.”

Lucas suddenly addressed me, who had been silently sipping tea like an outsider in this place.

“Won’t you go out with me today?”

For a moment, I almost let an annoyed expression slip out.

Going out with Lucas at such a busy time. I didn’t want to waste time like that.

Carefully hiding my dislike, I calmly said.

“Go out?”

“Yes. The wedding is right around the corner, but I haven’t given my fiancée a proper piece of jewelry yet.”

His intention was obvious in not calling a jeweler but insisting on going out.

It seemed he wanted to show off a bit since the first day’s tickets were sold out.

Elena glared at me with sharp eyes.

I addressed Elena sincerely.

“If it’s jewelry, buy it for Elena. I have enough.”

“What are you saying?”

Was his pride hurt at being refused? Lucas immediately retorted.

Having grown up pampered as the only son of a noble family, Lucas could hardly stand anyone contradicting his words.

“Stop talking nonsense and come along. My fiancée is you, Ariana, so of course you should accompany me!”

At that moment, Elena’s expression crumpled.

Realizing his mistake, Lucas hastily added.

“Ah, of course we’ll buy jewelry suitable for my future sister-in-law too.”

“Why? As you said, Your Grace, I’m not your fiancée.”

“Don’t say such hurtful things. As my fiancée’s sister, you’re family I need to take care of just the same.”

Elena sulking and Lucas trying to appease her.

It was a scene that made me nauseous despite having eaten a light breakfast.

I put down my teacup and said lightly.

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

Elena turned to look at me. With an incredulous expression, as if wondering why words of gratitude were coming from me.

I smiled faintly and continued.

“To think you care for me enough to consider my sister like this too.”

Lucas, who seemed momentarily flustered, soon put on an affectionate smile.

“Of course. I’m glad you understand.”

“Jewelry.”

I said as I stood up.

“Will you buy me something pretty?”

“…Of course, that goes without saying.”

Lucas nodded after a brief pause, as if my words were unexpected.

I put on a smile like a mask.

“I’m so happy.”

Come to think of it, it might not be bad to rip off some more jewelry.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Indeed, perhaps because your skin is so transparent, bold colors really suit you well. There are few ladies who can pull off this bracelet with such generous use of rubies.”

The jeweler who had been earnestly praising Ariana glanced meaningfully at Lucas.

“Of course, it’s also rare to find a gentleman with the wealth to easily gift such an expensive piece to his lover.”

“Hmm.”

The jeweler had repeated the words ‘expensive’ and ‘ruby’ so many times that all eyes in the store were now on the two of them.

Enjoying those gazes, Lucas said loudly.

“I’ll take it. I can gift jewelry like this to my fiancée anytime.”

“Oh my, your taste is indeed excellent!”

The excited jeweler moved to prepare the item.

Lucas turned to look at Ariana while basking in the pouring gazes, and his eyes widened.

Ariana’s eyes were glistening with moisture.

“Oh my, Ari. Are you crying?”

She seemed moved that he was readily gifting such an expensive ruby bracelet.

‘She has this cute side too.’

Lucas chuckled and said.

“When you marry me and become a duchess, you’ll have piles of things like this, so why cry over something like this? My adorable fiancée.”

At his oily voice, Ariana took a slight breath. No matter how light her breakfast had been, her stomach was greatly upset just now.

‘It seems tears welled up from holding back so many yawns.’

Ariana hadn’t been able to sleep at all lately.

During the day she had to prepare the opera pieces, and at night she had to secretly oversee the orchestra and Rosalyn’s practice, so there was no time for sound sleep.

“My goodness. The Duke must really love his fiancée.”

“To think he’s so affectionate.”

Lucas smiled contentedly as he listened to the voices whispering about him.

Handsome looks. A reputation for being outwardly kind and caring.

And the head of a noble ducal family to boot. Lucas was very satisfied with the reputation he had carefully cultivated.

Although the precarious financial state due to the previous duke’s consecutive missteps was a weakness, that was a secret unknown to the public.

‘The warehouse will soon be overflowing anyway.’

Lucas had been raised only with the finest by the previous duchess since childhood, resulting in refined tastes.

Thanks to that, he immediately recognized Ariana’s outstanding musical talent and decisively decided to invest.

The fruits of that bold investment were already showing.

Wasn’t the St. Benedict’s Day commemorative performance sold out? Although it was only the first day so far.

‘If this performance is successful, and we use that as a stepping stone to succeed at the National Foundation Day stage as well, my investment will yield hundreds of times the results.’

Thinking this, Lucas escorted Ariana out of the store.

He was very satisfied with Ariana’s white wrist, or more precisely, the ruby bracelet encircling it.

It was like she had been shackled with red jewels.

It was just as he was about to return to the carriage with Ariana.

Neigh!

“Kyaaaa!”

“Watch out!”

The sound of an excited horse’s neigh and people’s screams were heard.

Lucas turned his head and his eyes widened.

A crazed horse was charging towards him from across the street, foaming at the mouth.

“Ahh!”

The horse that had broken free of control was terrifyingly ferocious.

If hit by those hooves, bones would be crushed.

Without a second thought, Lucas threw his body to the side.

With that momentum, Ariana’s body was pushed forward as if bouncing.

“Ugh!”

With a short groan, Ariana fell onto the street.

Though a sharp pain ran through her, Ariana ignored it and hurriedly tried to get up.

Neigh!

But the horse’s charge was much faster.

Uncontrollable screams erupted from around them.

“Oh no! My lady!”

“What should we do!”

Ariana gritted her teeth and moved her body.

Everything happened in an instant.

Ariana stood up lifting her cumbersome dress skirts, and the horse that had rushed right up to her nose raised its massive front legs.

Lucas sat frozen like a stone, blankly watching the scene.

As people screamed and those anticipating a horrible scene tightly shut their eyes, it was at that moment.

Thud!

With a dull impact sound, the horse’s huge body fell sideways.

Thump.

Hearing the sound of the horse falling, Ariana slowly looked up.

“My lady.”

He extended his hand as he put his sword back into its sheath at his waist.

“Are you alright?”

Instead of taking the offered hand, Ariana blankly exhaled.

The face of the man she looked up at overlapped with the blazing afternoon sunlight.

Ariana half-closed her dazzled eyes at the brilliance, as if he were haloed.

‘…Dante?’

How could this man be here?

It didn’t feel real that her body had almost been trampled, or that this man had saved her.

Ariana slowly moved her lips.

“…Your Grace.”