As Biare had anticipated, the next day began with a pleasant morning.

Even a quick glance at the newspaper headlines revealed her achievements at a glance.

From the content that the Cheylo Trading Company had exclusively contracted the oil drilling rights in the western sea area to the fact that it was none other than the princess of the Ruschef family who had achieved this feat.

Biare raised the corners of her mouth in utter satisfaction.

Her father hummed a tune all morning and asked his daughter if there was any gift she wanted.

When Biare replied that she had only done what was natural as a member of the Ruschef family, the duke looked at her as if she was admirable.

To him, who still insisted that she should tell him if there was a gift she wanted, Biare responded with a faint smile.

Since today was a holiday for the Cheylo Trading Company, she was able to start her day more leisurely than usual.

Biare was working in her personal study, which the duke had given her as a birthday gift last year, a space that used to be used by the duchess.

She had been in charge of managing the internal affairs and budget plans of the duke’s household, which had been handled by the head butler in place of the absent duchess until now.

Managing the internal affairs and budget of the wealthy duke’s family was not an easy task, but thanks to Henderson’s meticulous work, she was able to learn the job quickly.

She was pondering the additional budget needed as Gaizen would soon come of age.

Someone knocked on the study door three times, to which Biare responded while looking at the door.

“Come in.”

The person who opened the door and entered was none other than her confidant, Joian.

After a brief bow, she approached her master and reported on the situation as per her previous orders.

“I have completed the investigation of the Verdeum territory as you instructed.”

“I see, did you find any clues about the incident?”

While Biare was solidifying her position in the Ruschef family, she had sent her confidant to the Verdeum territory.

Unfortunately, Joian shook her head, saying that nothing new had been discovered while investigating the incident.

No matter how different her life was now from the past, Biare still couldn’t uncover any information related to the Verdeum viscountess couple.

She had visited 34 Bernawood Street several times under the pretext of meeting Gaizen, but the situation was the same there.

Her heart grew heavy when she thought of the imperial family that had covered up the noble Verdeum viscount couple and knights being attacked by thieves, and the viscount family that had to accept it helplessly.

Although she had vowed many times not to just stand by and watch Dension continue his lonely fight, the answer to the problem remained unsolved.

She was filled with anger at the puzzling situation that seemed like a well-written script waiting for a completed play.

As Biare was biting her lip, lost in thought, Joian carefully spoke.

“However, there is one thing that concerns me.”

“What is it?”

“There was a rumor circulating among the Verdeum territory residents.”

“A rumor?”

“Someone who allegedly saw the suspected thieves that day said this. They were not residents of the territory.”

‘As expected, they weren’t just simple thieves.’

Biare wondered what Dension might be doing right now.

In the past, he would have just started to disappear around this time.

‘Sion, are you also getting closer to the truth?’

Unable to dare ask him or approach him, she was growing anxious with a frustrated heart.

“What about the emblem?”

“I went to meet that person, but they had already passed away, so I couldn’t confirm.”

“What? They died?”

“Yes. I also visited the bereaved family, but they didn’t seem to know the exact cause of death either.”

“I see, so that’s how it is.”

‘Are they still moving even now?’

There was one thing that had been bothering her mind all along.

It was the concern about whether the person who killed the viscount couple and the one who harmed Dension might be from the same organization.

No matter how much she tried to find out, she couldn’t get any information about the emblem on the cufflinks anywhere.

It seemed like all contact points with them had been completely cut off, leaving Biare to clench her fists tightly.

“Thank you for your hard work in finding out. You may leave now.”

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

After bidding farewell, Joian returned to where she should be, and Biare closed her eyes and thought of Dension.

‘Were you feeling like this back then too?’

Recalling what had happened in the past, she sank into deep contemplation.

A dark shadow fell over Dension’s face as he came out alone from the spacious imperial palace’s state affairs room.

Seeing his expression, Biare could guess what kind of situation had occurred inside and swallowed dry saliva with a heavy heart.

Although they had welcomed spring together for the second year since meeting him, the truth about the death of the previous viscount couple was still shrouded in pitch-black darkness.

‘This is already the fourth time…’

She couldn’t understand why the imperial family wouldn’t approve the retrial of the Verdeum family case.

Biare was equally dismayed thinking about him inwardly suppressing his crumbling feelings.

Despite the incident occurring in a prestigious viscount family, there was no sign of resolution even after several years.

Moreover, with the death anniversary of the previous viscount couple approaching, the whispers about them in social circles would become more bustling around late spring.

Knowing that he certainly wouldn’t be okay, Biare decided to keep her mouth shut after some deliberation.

She simply shared her warm touch with Dension’s cold hands.

As always, Dension apologized to his lover who didn’t ask anything out of consideration for him.

“I’m sorry, Bia.”

‘What are you sorry for, you fool.’

Biare sometimes felt like he was drawing a line, even though it would be nice if he relied on her even a little.

Of course, she couldn’t help but feel hurt by this, but she didn’t show it.

She only hoped that her silent presence by his side would provide even a small comfort.

“You’ve worked hard. Let’s go now, Sion.”

Biare gave a gentle smile to her lover and patted his back nonchalantly.

Because she knew well how difficult a time he was going through right now.

It had already been nearly three years since Dension became a viscount, and leading a family was no easy task.

Since becoming a viscount at seventeen, he didn’t forget to take care of his vassals, becoming a lord worthy of Verdeum.

After the incident with the previous viscount couple, he worked hard to rebuild the collapsed knights of the viscount family and govern the territory.

He regularly inspected the territory, listening to the stories of the residents, and sometimes searched the surroundings for any missed clues.

Until now, he had been consistently requesting an audience with the emperor or making government reports to request a retrial for the viscount family’s case.

Yet, the emperor of the Marta Empire had never properly granted his request even once.

It would have been nice if the Ruschef family could have been a strong supporter for the Verdeum viscount family at times like this, but the duke had already been in a friendly relationship with the imperial family for a long time.

Biare couldn’t understand why her father swore loyalty to such an emperor.

He had firmly refused her request several times, saying it was a political issue, even though it was from his precious daughter.

Since Dension was also aware of such complicated family circumstances, they had tacitly maintained silence on this issue.

‘Sion, I’m sorry I can’t be of help.’

Biare, who had been quietly observing him with his still poor expression, decided to take special measures.

She decided to take Dension to the greenhouse arboretum not far from the duke’s residence.

Arriving at an unknown place led by her hand, he blinked his eyes, to which Biare burst into laughter.

The greenhouse arboretum was a place introduced by a gardener who had built a friendship while tending to the garden of the Ruschef ducal residence, and it was a place Biare liked.

When her mind felt stuffy, she would visit this place that emitted fragrant flower scents, and just looking at the blooming flowers seemed to gradually calm her unsettled heart.

That’s why her small wish was for it to be helpful to Dension as well.

In the vast greenhouse arboretum, flowers that could be seen even out of season were growing in abundance.

‘He’ll surely need time to organize his thoughts alone.’

The Dension she knew would return to the mansion and immerse himself in work to escape from his contemplation.

This was probably the reason why his complexion had been poor for the past few days.

When he felt uneasy, he tended to push himself hard.

As his lover, the least Biare could do was to allow him to put down some of his mental burdens and rest in a space she loved.

While Dension was wandering around the arboretum with his gaze on the flowers, she slowly moved away from his side.

‘I wonder what kind of flower would suit Sion.’

She recalled the conversation the young ladies had at a tea party, saying that receiving flowers could change one’s mood.

As Biare wandered around the arboretum, she finally found a flower she liked and asked an employee to make a bouquet.

Holding the lush bouquet she received, Biare slowly walked towards him, who was looking for her not far away.

When Dension spotted her, he smiled brightly and waved his hand.

‘Thank goodness. He seems to be feeling a bit better.’

Hiding the bouquet behind her back, Biare approached him with a bright smile.

“Bia, where did you go?”

To Dension’s seemingly worried question, Biare, smiling shyly, answered after a slight pause.

“Well, you see…”