The sun had set without notice, hanging on the edge of the horizon.

Adeline, leaning on the terrace railing, gazed at the reddish-tinged sky.

Severus had left after his conversation with the duke.

She thought the marquis would somehow try to nullify this marriage.

The marquis’s reaction was more subdued than expected. At the end of their talk, he seemed to accept the marriage and left the duke’s residence.

“I understand your intentions, Duke. Adeline is Credion itself. How you treat Adeline is how you treat the Credion Marquis family. I’ll be watching.”

He added what seemed like a warning not to treat his daughter carelessly.

At first glance, it might seem like a father’s concern for his daughter, but Adeline knew the true meaning behind it.

To Severus, Adeline was just one of Credion’s chess pieces. A trump card, at that.

Originally, he probably intended to send her to the Crown Prince to gain political advantage.

He must have been angry that she went to the duke instead. That’s why he visited the duke’s residence.

The marquis likely finished all his calculations during that brief conversation.

The benefits she could gain by becoming the duchess, that is.

Thinking there was nothing to lose, he probably accepted the marriage. So he asked for Adeline to be treated as a member of the Credion family.

A dark shadow fell across her face.

Her father hadn’t changed at all. Just blood-related family.

She never expected familial affection from him, but seeing Severus so calculating just made her sigh.

To think that rumored engagement was true.

The more Adeline pondered Casius and Larrie’s engagement, the more questions arose.

Why on earth…

Why did he choose to marry her instead of the Estilen Count family?

While the Credion Marquis family was also prestigious, Estilen was no less influential.

If it was a long-standing marriage arrangement, the cost of breaking it off would not have been small.

That’s why she couldn’t understand it.

These were questions that wouldn’t be resolved unless the duke explained.

But Adeline didn’t want to face the duke.

She already felt betrayed by his dragging her before the Crown Prince without warning.

Moreover, she learned about the existence of his former fiancée from the marquis, not from him.

Adeline’s resentment towards Casius showed no signs of abating.

Just as she had avoided Casius for a while at the duke’s residence, Adeline began avoiding him at the townhouse as well.

Despite her obvious rejection, Casius never made the first move to reconcile.

His unyielding attitude only made Adeline lock her heart even tighter.

Adeline decided to see how long he would maintain this shameless attitude.

The townhouse was in an uproar due to Marquis Severus’s sudden appearance.

They thought a mere commoner, beautiful in appearance, had not only become the duke’s mistress but also secured the position of duchess.

To find out she wasn’t a commoner but a noble, the servants couldn’t help but be shocked.

“We should have recognized her when her hair color changed!”

“Doesn’t her eye color look exactly like Marquis Credion’s? I got goosebumps seeing them together.”

Moreover, she was the young lady of the prestigious Credion Marquis family in the empire.

Adeline Credion.

“Did the duke know? Is that why he wanted to make her his duchess?”

“No. Why would he have made her his mistress then?”

Her identity became an unavoidable topic of conversation among the servants.

The duke and the duchess.

Everyone expected their relationship, free of any obstacles, to be all roses.

However, after returning from the imperial palace.

It became rare to see the ducal couple together with one’s own eyes.

This was because, despite being newlyweds, they never spent nights together, and Adeline refused all meal times.

The maids even whispered about whether discord had arisen between the couple right after marriage.

For over a week, the ducal couple never seemed to cross paths. As if they didn’t exist to each other.

That day too, Adeline had just returned to her bedroom after dining alone.

Adeline’s eyes fell on the éclair placed on a small table.

The Atrans bakery logo sparkled on top of the chocolate coating generously applied.

Starting with the quiche, then the soufflé, and now today’s éclair.

She had been pleased with the desserts that seemed to target her tastes.

She realized they were indeed from Atrans, the bakery she frequently visited when she was at the marquis’s house.

How did he know to prepare desserts from the bakery she liked?

She was curious about the small dessert that had been placed there for three consecutive days.

Adeline gave a grateful look to Becky, who must have worked hard to buy the dessert every day.

“Becky. Do you go to Atrans every day? It must not have been easy.”

“Atrans?”

Becky asked, seemingly not understanding Adeline’s question.

“This dessert. It’s from Atrans, isn’t it?”

At her question, Becky seemed to finally understand and answered.

“Ah. Secretary Eric always leaves it before he goes.”

What it meant for Eric to leave it was clear.

That Casius had prepared it.

Adeline’s bright smile at the sweet dessert awkwardly froze.

It must not be easy to get, given its high popularity.

‘Does he stand in line to buy it every day?’

She could see that Casius was making a gesture of reconciliation.

But how did he think he could handle this situation with just desserts?

It wouldn’t be him standing in line, but a servant.

Adeline put down her fork and fell into thought.

As Adeline stared intently at the dessert with her arms crossed, Becky took a step closer to her.

“My lady.”

Becky cautiously asked.

“I don’t know why you’re angry with His Grace, but wouldn’t it be good to forgive him now that he’s making such an effort? This effort, I mean.”

Becky pointed to the glistening éclair.

“A long cold war between newlyweds doesn’t look good, you know.”

Adeline couldn’t disagree with Becky’s gentle persuasion.

But she wasn’t appeased.

It would be right to apologize in person for what he did wrong, but who would know if he took care of her like this behind her back?

There was a mountain of unresolved misunderstandings.

“Becky, please prepare.”

Soaking in hot water made her feel much refreshed.

After finishing her bath, Adeline completed her preparations and entered the bedroom.

An unexpected figure was in the bedroom.

It was Casius, who hadn’t been seen as she avoided him.

Adeline’s eyes narrowed at his sudden appearance.

He looked at the dessert on the table.

The éclair, barely touched with just a small corner missing, maintaining its shape.

“Why didn’t you eat it all? Wasn’t it from a place you liked?”

Though she didn’t know how he knew about the dessert shop she frequented when at the marquis’s residence, the first thing he said upon seeing Adeline after so long was about the dessert.

Adeline was exasperated.

“Do you think I have time to leisurely eat cake now? When I don’t know when I might die.”

“I told you I would protect you.”

Seeing Casius still questioning as if he had done well, Adeline felt her anger rising.

“Please leave.”

Shaking her head irritably, Adeline turned away as if she couldn’t stand the sight of Casius.

Just as she was about to head to the bed, ignoring him.

“I’m truly sorry.”

He spoke with difficulty.

At his words, Adeline’s steps came to an abrupt halt.

Did the great Casius just say he was sorry? Adeline couldn’t believe her ears.

“I didn’t mean to put you in an awkward position, I wanted to let the Crown Prince know you were my woman. I overstepped due to my greed.”

Casius, who had suddenly approached, was now right behind Adeline, who had her back to him.

His large hand enveloped Adeline’s shoulder.

Something warm touched her back, and his hair tickled the back of her neck.

Unable to turn Adeline around, he continued speaking while leaning on her back.

“Casius Mile Torpeo.”

His large hand tightened its grip.

“I swear on my name that I will protect you, Adeline, no matter what.”

His hand, unable to fully embrace her, gripped her tightly.

That hand, trembling, could be felt clearly through the thin fabric.

Those few words promising to protect her no matter what.

Though just words, they were melting Adeline’s heart like spring sun melting snow.

Something hot welled up deep in her heart. She wanted to hold his finely trembling hand.

Just as Adeline reached out her hand.

“I won’t appear before you until your heart is ready.”

Casius distanced himself from Adeline after leaving those parting words.

When his warm hand that had grasped her shoulder disappeared, Adeline felt a sense of emptiness.

That hand that had rested there briefly, how could it make her feel so hollow, as if something that had always been there was taken away?

Adeline quickly turned around and approached him.

“Your Grace.”

She didn’t want to call him Casius. Despite her slightly softened heart, she still had unresolved questions.

“There’s still one more unanswered question, isn’t there?”

As Adeline began, Casius looked at her as if he didn’t understand.

“You had a fiancée, you said.”