In the garden of Duke Ruschef’s mansion, azaleas and freesias were in full bloom, spreading a subtle floral fragrance.

Biare had been checking on it whenever she had time, but managing such a large garden was no easy task.

However, looking at the garden reminded her of how her mother always tended to it with affection, which put her mind at ease, so Biare also took care of the garden diligently.

As she was watering the garden with the gardener, she squinted her eyes in the warm sunlight.

“Young lady, a hat is essential in this weather.”

Biare nodded in agreement with his words.

“You’re right. But it’s nice to see the sun sometimes, isn’t it?”

In aristocratic society, pale skin was highly valued, so noble ladies and young ladies always went out with bonnets and parasols.

Biare, who found these processes cumbersome, had been reluctantly following Diane’s nagging.

However, on days like today when tending to the garden, it was clear that a hat was essential, as the gardener said.

“The azaleas and freesias are already blooming in the garden. Time seems to fly by so fast.”

“You’re right. Time does fly….”

Until recently, when she heard from the gardener that the daffodils had bloomed their first flowers, she hadn’t felt much excitement,

But now, seeing the spring flowers in full bloom in the garden, Biare wanted to capture this moment in her eyes.

Perhaps because this might be the most peaceful time for her from now on.

As if sensing their owner’s affection, other flowers were also starting to open their buds next to the fully bloomed ones.

“It seems the hyacinths are also preparing to welcome spring.”

‘Hyacinths….’

As the gardener said, a faint scent of hyacinth was tickling Biare’s nose.

The white hyacinths were plump and swollen, as if about to burst open their buds.

It felt similar to the scent of hyacinth that always emanated from Dension when she approached him.

“Oh, some of them have already opened their buds.”

Following him, she bent her head slightly and saw hyacinths that seemed to have just fully bloomed.

“Please continue to take good care of the garden like this.”

In the future, Biare would be fighting a difficult battle, and she felt that she might not be able to visit this garden for a while.

Unaware of Biare’s thoughts, the gardener nodded with a kind smile and replied.

“I will do so, young lady.”

After returning to her room, Biare called for Diane, who soon entered the room.

“Young lady, is there something you need?”

“Let’s get ready to go out.”

At this, she began to help Biare prepare for her outing without any objection.

It was now time for Biare to stage her first and last encounter with Dension, pretending it was coincidental.

As there were appropriate atmospheres and places for certain attire, Diane, who was helping with the preparations, carefully asked.

“Where are you going today?”

‘A place where the current Sion would go, not the past one.’

This was not Biare’s guess, but her certainty.

If Dension was aiming for a position close to the Crown Prince as well as the central government council, he would naturally approach Mateo Kaanderson.

As the Kaanderson family was an ancient family with the longest bloodline, they would have more connections and information than other families.

‘The Sion of the past would never have done this….’

The Dension she knew in the past avoided social events, so she thought he naturally wouldn’t go to such places.

However, combining the information she had recently obtained from Elmada, he was not the Dension she used to know.

Not only had he dipped his toes into central government politics, but he was also quite attentive to networking. Biare couldn’t help but swallow dry at his unpredictable actions.

“There’s a party at the Kaanderson mansion this evening.”

Biare, who hadn’t shown any particular reaction in front of Diane, answered with a calm smile.

“What? You should have told me earlier!”

Diane, who had thought it was just a casual outing, made a fuss saying it wasn’t so, and went into Biare’s dressing room to bring out a glamorous dress.

“Young lady, please change into this dress quickly.”

Until recently, when she went to the imperial palace to meet Ivan, Diane had seemed to be suffering internally for days.

Biare knew how much she cared for her, so she felt both grateful and sorry.

Therefore, Biare, who was planning to follow Diane’s words just for today, nodded and said.

“Today, let’s do as you wish.”

Seeing her personal maid visibly delighted at those words, Biare let out a small chuckle.

After completing all preparations, she conveyed her gratitude to Diane and sent her down to the lower floor first.

Then, she took out a pre-wrapped pocket watch from the mahogany desk drawer and carefully placed it in her purse.

Upon arriving at the banquet hall, Biare was taking in the faces of the celebrities.

As the Kaanderson family was an ancient family with a long bloodline, many of those they invited also had noble bloodlines.

Since they rarely held parties, it was no easy feat to be invited to a party hosted by the Kaanderson family.

Biare thought that if it weren’t for the Elmada social club, she wouldn’t have had any connection with Mateo.

‘But to think such a family would host a party.’

Biare already anticipated the reason why the Kaanderson Duke family had hosted a party for once.

It would be to announce that the Duchess was with child and to celebrate this.

Biare planned to quietly congratulate them, then give Dension a gift as a token of gratitude and return to the mansion immediately.

Eventually, Mateo announced the heir with his wife, and all the nobles gathered there wished them blessings.

However, Biare, who had hardly had a chance to meet Dension, had to let out a shallow sigh.

‘Where on earth is he….’

Giuseppe, who had approached her side, spoke to her with a fresh smile.

“Were you here, elder sister?”

“Yes, it’s been a while.”

With his tall stature and handsome features, he was a man who knew how to smile refreshingly.

Biare remembered Gaizen teasing him, saying he had become much more popular since coming of age.

When he was young, she had been worried about Giuseppe getting along with her somewhat rough brother, but she was amazed at how he had grown up so well.

Suddenly, a question came to Biare’s mind, and she looked intently at the champagne glass she was holding and asked.

“Giuseppe, you were closest to Gaizen, weren’t you?”

At this, Giuseppe, startled, looked around and then answered in a voice just loud enough for her to hear.

“I’m saying this because Gaizen isn’t here… but elder sister, you absolutely must not tell him, okay?”

Biare, who let out a careless laugh at his quite serious attitude, urged him to continue.

“Alright, go on and tell me.”

“It’s unseemly to say it myself, but yes, elder sister.”

“But is this something to be so careful about?”

Giuseppe nodded, saying it was obvious, and furrowed his brow as if thinking of Gaizen.

“Think about how he would react if he heard this.”

“Well, that’s true.”

“So what did you want to say?”

The quick-witted Giuseppe seemed to have noticed that she had a separate point to make.

“When you were young, did Gaizen ever say anything unusual?”

“Unusual? What do you mean?”

“I was wondering if there was anything that came to mind from your childhood.”

After adding that she was asking because she was reminiscing about the old days, Giuseppe, who had been looking at her strangely, seemed to be pondering his childhood deeply.

Then, as if nothing particular came to mind, he shook his head and said.

“I think Gaizen just grumbled every day about not wanting to do something?”

“Not wanting to do what?”

“I don’t know the details either… but it seems like he always said he didn’t want to do something.”

“…”

As Biare’s face darkened with worry for her brother, Giuseppe rather jokingly added.

“Maybe it was homework? Even though he liked to play, he did well with the tasks he was given, didn’t he?”

‘Yes, and that’s why I think I didn’t look after that child enough.’

When she saw Gaizen trying hard to fulfill his role despite grumbling, she thought he was a deep and diligent child.

However, thinking about the past times that the young heir had endured alone, her heart ached terribly.

Biare was lost in thought about how she could alleviate the pain he had been experiencing all this time.

“Don’t tell him I asked about him…”

“Of course I won’t say anything. So you should keep it a secret too, elder sister.”

At this, Giuseppe nodded as if it were obvious and said quite seriously.

“Keep what?”

“As much as I hate to admit it, that Gaizen is my best friend.”

Biare smiled softly as she watched him speak jokingly while linking arms.

“Alright, I understand.”

She was truly grateful that Giuseppe was Gaizen’s friend.

As she was heading out of the banquet hall to take a brief rest after her conversation with him ended,

She saw a familiar back in the distance and started to approach excitedly, but suddenly stopped her steps.

‘Ah, this might be awkward for him.’

Biare took a deep breath in and out, then approached his side with a prim expression.

“You look tired, Marquis Verdeum.”

“…Why is the princess here?”

He was frowning with a sullen expression, as if things weren’t going his way.