As is usual for celebration parties, the men in attendance began to leave the main party venue one by one.

It was more beneficial to spend time discussing family business and politics in a separate room, leaving the task of casual conversation at the party to the women of the family.

Crown Prince Trashi and Casius had also long since disappeared with other high-ranking nobles to hold meetings.

The central garden, left with only women, naturally began to form groups of people familiar with each other.

“My lady. Congratulations.”

“You will soon be Her Highness the Crown Princess. Hoho.”

“The precious position of the Empire indeed suits Lady Estilen the best.”

Larie, who once dominated the social world, was now at the center of many ladies, receiving congratulations.

Larie was thoroughly satisfied with receiving flattery from numerous ladies.

However, due to the words of one tactless baroness,

her elated mood disappeared in an instant.

The baroness seemed unable to contain her curiosity about Larie’s style that covered up to her neck.

“By the way, my lady. You’re wearing a style of dress different from usual?”

As her style was mentioned, Larie’s expression froze coldly. But, only for a moment, Larie quickly corrected her expression.

“Ahem. My throat hasn’t been well lately.”

Larie gently touched that area, making a delicate expression as if her throat was unwell.

“Oh my. Such a thing.”

“You should get better soon.”

Receiving concern from those around her, Larie smiled gently and raised her eyes that had been lowered in pretend pain.

As if she had never worn a delicate expression, she glared at the tactless baroness who had pointed out her style.

“Moreover. I am now the fiancée of His Highness the Crown Prince. Shouldn’t I dress modestly and properly, following the example of the elders in the imperial family?”

“……”

“I didn’t expect there to be someone here who doesn’t understand my intention to emulate the imperial family…”

Larie continued to stare at the baroness, lowering her eyes as if disappointed, and began to look at her pitifully.

Larie was not unaware that other noble ladies also found her attire strange.

The tactless baroness had become the target, but this was a subtle warning to everyone.

That pointing out Larie’s attire meant one was a fool who couldn’t even grasp the intention to be a model for the imperial family.

“Everyone knew.”

“Of course. Hohoho. We thought, ‘As expected of Lady Larie.'”

“We were impressed by how you’re already trying to set an example for the imperial family.”

It was natural that she always held the initiative like this.

Seeing the ladies fawning around her, Larie showed a satisfied smile.

“I’m so glad no one was unaware. This Larie was worried, you know.”

As Larie was engaging in friendly conversation with the surrounding ladies, making eye contact, Adeline came into her view. Adeline, who had been reclusive in social circles in the past, looked awkward being there.

Yet, seeing Adeline receiving attention among the many people just because she was a duchess made Larie’s blood boil.

‘I am the center of the social world.’

One flower of the social world was enough with herself. The sight of Adeline was rekindling Larie’s momentarily subdued anger.

“Come to think of it… Is anyone here who attended the Credion family’s wedding?”

Larie opened her mouth while staring in Adeline’s direction.

It was a fact known to all nobles that the duke and duchess had only signed the marriage document, postponing the wedding ceremony procedures. Yet, Larie pretended not to know and asked about the duke’s wedding.

The baroness who always followed Larie like a maid quickly responded to her words.

“It’s quite unseemly to say this, but…”

As the baroness hesitated, people began to subtly lean in to listen, pretending not to.

“Could it be that the duke was actually forced into marriage? And to have conceived an heir even before the marriage… Oh, how unseemly.”

“Oh my. Is that why they’re not even holding a wedding ceremony?”

“A wedding ceremony, which happens only once in a lifetime, is so important to a woman…”

“That’s right. Everyone knows that the relationship with the Credion family isn’t good.”

Although they claimed to be whispering, the ladies’ gossip was by no means quiet. It wasn’t difficult for these rampant mockeries to reach Adeline’s ears.

Thanks to the quick-witted baroness, Larie was quietly enjoying how the conversation was flowing according to her will. Once the atmosphere was sufficiently ripe, Larie deliberately raised her voice.

“Oh my. I thought it was the love of the century, but it’s just responsibility… We should at least be a support for the duchess.”

With a pitiful expression, Larie raised her handkerchief and dabbed at her tearless eyes.

Adeline had been watching this behavior from the beginning.

Larie’s obvious act and those cooperating with it looked like a well-rehearsed play. Adeline didn’t even feel angry at the sight.

It was just ridiculous to her.

Being treated like a duchess who couldn’t even hold a proper wedding ceremony.

She was not attending this reception as the commoner ‘Del’. She was clearly attending as Adeline, the only daughter of the Credion viscounty.

‘I didn’t expect such ridiculous public manipulation.’

Judging by how Larie reacted sensitively and attacked as soon as the crown prince was mentioned, she seemed quite irritated.

Adeline opened the fan she was holding to cover her mouth and quietly called Becky who was standing behind her.

“Could you tell the duke to come pick me up? Make sure he comes inside here.”

There was only one reason for calling Casius, who had gone to talk with other noble men.

To show the nobles here, including her former fiancé. To prevent any more false rumors about her from spreading.

‘Besides, it’s almost time for the party to end anyway.’

A small crack appeared between Larie’s brows as she watched Becky leaving after receiving Adeline’s call.

She emptied the champagne glass she was holding and approached Adeline.

“Duchess, are you leaving already?”

She glanced at the clock placed next to Adeline and smiled.

“Well. It might be a bit overwhelming for you who just returned to the capital. It’s been a while since you’ve been to such a social party, right?”

Although she spoke as if worried about Adeline, in reality, she was asking if a noble lady was tired from just this level of party.

The expressions of the surrounding ladies subtly changed at the words criticizing Adeline for trying to leave before the party ended. As if they had grasped Larie’s intention.

“That’s right. I’m a bit tired.”

“Oh dear, what a shame. I heard that after the party, His Highness the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Empress would be serving tea. Duke Torpeo would probably join as well.”

‘Tea?’

She hadn’t heard anything about a private gathering after the party.

Larie put on a surprised expression as if she had read Adeline’s subtly changed expression.

“Oh my. Didn’t the duke inform you? I’m sure I sent a letter to the duke.”

“……”

“Since you’re leaving early, it can’t be helped. We’ll have to catch up with you next time, duchess.”

Larie was smiling mischievously.

Seeing her smile so nonchalantly, it seemed she had already anticipated that Casius wouldn’t have informed Adeline.

Adeline silently swallowed a sigh.

She pondered why there had been no word, but soon realized such worries were meaningless.

It was then, as she was facing Larie. The sound of steady footsteps stopped behind Adeline.

Even before Adeline could turn around. A thick arm immediately wrapped around Adeline’s waist.

“Did you call for me, my lady?”

A familiar deep voice, as if seeping into her ear.

“You said you wanted to go home.”

Where she turned, there was Casius, who had arrived at some unknown time, gazing intently at Adeline.

The surrounding ladies were already blinking their eyes in surprise.

Once a party started, noble men usually left their seats and never returned to the reception hall.

Yet, he came running at once because Adeline called.

Perhaps because of this, Casius was receiving the gaze of all the noble women.

Of course, even Larie, who had been facing Adeline, couldn’t take her eyes off Casius.

“It’s cold. As the day is ending, I’d like to go home now.”

In fact, it wasn’t that cold. No, it was nonsense to say it was cold.

There were plenty of ladies wearing thin silk dresses that revealed their collarbones even in the middle of winter.

Moreover. The party venue was the central greenhouse garden, so it didn’t make sense for Adeline to be cold.

Larie frowned at Adeline’s answer.

Her gaze towards Adeline seemed to say, ‘You’re cold in that outfit? Such an obvious ploy.’

But what did it matter? Adeline could already imagine Casius’s predictable response.

“That’s why I told you not to wear that dress, didn’t I?”

As expected. A smile slowly spread across Adeline’s lips.

“I guess we need to change boutiques.”

Casius immediately took off the tailcoat he was wearing and draped it over Adeline’s shoulders.

The eyes of the ladies watching him personally put the jacket on Adeline wavered.

To think that the cold-blooded Torpeo Duke, rumored to be made of iron, was personally putting a jacket on his wife.

And he even came back to the reception hall at just one word from Adeline.

Even Larie’s lips trembled, as if unable to believe the scene before her eyes.

“The carriage is ready, my lady,” said Becky, who had approached at that moment, addressing Adeline.

Adeline took the hand the duke extended. And just as she was about to leave, she stopped and looked up at Casius, asking,

“You’ll come with me, right?”

“Of course.”

Casius responded by kissing the back of Adeline’s hand.

Adeline and Casius looked like a perfect picture to anyone watching. The surrounding area stirred at the sight of the two looking like a loving couple.

“The two of them seem to get along very well?”

“I know. I’ve never seen the duke look at someone with such affectionate eyes before.”

It was then, as the two turned to leave.

“Duke Torpeo. Didn’t you hear the message that Her Majesty the Empress would be looking for you after the reception?”

“……”

“I’m sure I personally sent a letter to the duke!”

Larie, who was questioning him, approached the duke closely.

Casius’s gaze towards her was indifferent. After remaining silent for a moment as if lost in thought, he slowly opened his lips.

“Did such a letter come to me?”

“Th-That’s…!”

Larie’s face crumpled miserably as she looked at Casius, who was acting as if he was hearing this for the first time.

“I don’t remember. Lady Estilen, please convey that to the Empress.”

But Casius seemed to pay no attention to Larie as he turned around and led Adeline by the hand.

As she walked with him, a subtle smile appeared on Adeline’s lips.