The duchess opened Mabel’s door with hurried steps. The duchess urgently called for her youngest daughter.

“Mabel, no, Belloka!”

“Ugh, what is it?”

Mabel, who had been sleeping in on the weekend, poked her head out. Her cheeks, where she had brushed aside her messy hair, bore deep imprints from the blanket.

“Quickly go to your elder sister.”

“Mother, if you have an errand, you can send a maid… Why me…”

“Because you need to go to the temple! Your father’s eyes were blazing. Quickly tell Amara to return home without being noticed by others.”

“What on earth is all this fuss about?”

Mabel puffed out her cheeks.

The duchess pushed Mabel out of bed. Reluctantly getting out of bed, Mabel grumbled irritably.

“What am I supposed to do!”

“Judging by your father’s reaction, there’s clearly some problem with this. If he finds out your elder sister went there, he’ll be furious.”

“Ah, ah. I got it!”

Mabel stomped her foot in irritation. As she coaxed Mabel out, the duchess heaved a sigh of relief.

Whether she knew her mother’s feelings or not, Mabel, pushed by the duchess’s urging, arrived at the temple.

Mabel grumbled about attending such bothersome events. Resentment welled up towards Amara for wasting her precious weekend.

The ceremony was just ending. Mabel, who had been lingering in front of the hall where the ceremony was held, craned her neck looking for her elder sister.

“What does elder sister find so appealing about this…”

Just then, some nobles who recognized ‘Belloka Andres’ greeted her. Mabel received these greetings warmly and kindly, exercising patience.

‘How annoying, talking to me and making a fuss.’

Around the seventh such greeting Mabel received, Amara appeared.

“Elder sister?”

Finally spotting Amara, Mabel pushed through the crowd. Amara, too, upon seeing Mabel, waved her hand with a welcoming expression.

“Oh my, Ma… Belloka! What brings you here?”

Amara quickly bit her tongue.

“Mother told me to bring you back. She says to come to the duke’s residence. You’ll come with me, right?”

Mabel spoke as gently as possible. But, as if to indicate this wasn’t a request, she grasped Amara’s wrist. People around glanced at Mabel and whispered as they passed by. Words like Belloka, Mabel, and empress were mixed in what she heard.

‘This is why I didn’t want to come out.’

Just as Mabel was turning her head in annoyance.

Amara, in turn, grasped Mabel’s wrist.

“Alright, Belloka. Let’s just say hello and go. Can you wait a moment?”

“As long as you need.”

Mabel smiled sweetly. At times like this, even the burden of being from a ducal family is really annoying. As Amara was saying goodbye to her acquaintances, saying she had to leave now.

Something caught Mabel’s eye.

It was a radiant silver hair shining in the sunlight. And below that, beautiful features in perfect harmony could be seen. Also, the indifferent gaze staring somewhere with a languid expression. Everything that made him up was harmoniously beautiful. A perfect creation.

Mabel’s lips slowly parted. Mabel murmured in a trembling voice.

“…An angel?”

If not for the languidly moving bright red pupils, she might have thought it was a statue. He turned his head towards Mabel. Their eyes met. The angel immediately turned away, but Mabel was frozen.

It was a shock enough to make her forget who she was.

*

“There are really a lot of people.”

“Ah, can I stand next to you now?”

Edward glanced sideways slightly. A faint smile appeared on his previously stiff face.

People approached Edward.

“Duke Vincent. It’s been a long time. I heard that you exerted your influence to make this happen. Have you secured the monster fur, by any chance?”

“I have no intention of profiting by selling monster fur.”

Edward retorted.

The biggest thing Vincent could gain from this affair was honor. Especially in a situation where the Central Temple had cooperated with Edward to even overturn doctrinal interpretation.

It was better to stand by like an observer than to act like a merchant trying to profit by selling monster fur.

“Then does that mean you don’t have any fur?”

He held back a laugh as he watched the noble trying to confirm again.

Would it really be like that? How can one live in this world so naively? The people eavesdropping on the conversation around were also just looking at Edward.

“I have nothing.”

Only then did those gathered exchange smiles.

Of course Edward doesn’t have any. I do. Thinking this was his chance, he moved away from Edward. As he was hurrying, intending to leave the temple alone, he saw a figure he absolutely did not want to see.

Mabel.

Mabel was staring blankly at something.

While Theodore and I were struggling, she must have been living in luxury at the villa, right? Just as her parents arranged. Branded as the 2nd Prince’s match from birth, she’s been living in the mansion until now.

Seeing that they now have an adopted daughter called Belloka, that must be her new name.

Since Belloka Andres is attending the Royal Academy, they must be keeping up appearances. Unlike Mabel, Belloka probably hasn’t received education until now. The Royal Academy would have been the most plausible option to fill that empty space.

Duke Andres was someone who could devise such meticulous schemes.

The woman next to Mabel was Amara Andres Phyllis. The sisters came together.

“Belloka! Let’s go now, okay?”

“Wait. Wait a moment, elder sister.”

Reflexively turned his back at Mabel’s words. What on earth is she looking at so intently… Ed, ward…?

The moment he realized that Edward was at the end of Mabel’s gaze, his eyes turned towards me. And Mabel’s gaze, following Edward’s, also turned towards me.

This is really an unwanted situation.

Edward curved his lips crookedly.

“What is that?”

Mabel’s voice stuck in my ear. That’s what I want to say. I quickly turned and fled the scene. So as not to be caught by anyone.

*

Mabel, dragged by Amara’s hand into the carriage, stared blankly out the window.

“Who was that angel?”

“What? What angel. Was there an angel statue there?”

Amara retorted irritably.

“How could there be?”

Mabel glared fiercely.

“You know, that man with silver hair and red eyes. Who is that man?”

“Ah.”

Amara leaned back against the seat.

“Come to think of it, he does look exactly your type. That’s Duke Vincent.”

Her voice had a faint trace of amusement. Amara shrugged her shoulders. Her smile deepened as if she found the current situation amusing.

“Duke Vincent…?”

“Yes. The duke.”

“Damn it.”

Mabel moved irritably. She had thought he would be suitable as her lover. She had no intention of giving up her position as empress, so she wanted to have everything.

But the moment she heard the words Duke Vincent, all her dreams turned to bubbles. If Duke Andres found out, he would surely foam at the mouth.

Mabel stomped her foot.

“Ah, how annoying!!”

“Geez. What a temper. You need to fix that personality of yours.”

“You should talk!”

Mabel spoke sharply and crossed her arms. The fact that she couldn’t have such a man infuriated Mabel. Amara watched this scene with calm eyes.

Everyone in House Andres was watching Mabel with uneasy eyes. Mabel’s marriage to the imperial family was already a settled matter.

Soon it would be Mabel’s, no, Belloka’s new birthday. Surely the princes would attend as well.

What if Mabel made a mistake there?

“Hey, the princes will be coming soon. Are you going to act so disgracefully then too?”

“…No.”

Mabel grumbled.

“Hey, be careful. Don’t forget we almost ruined the family because of you not long ago.”

Amara had a lot to say too. Because of that incident, there were even rumors in high society that House Andres Duke would really close its doors. Yet Mabel is still selfish. Judging by how Duke Vincent caught her eye.

‘If it were me, I’d be too ashamed to show my face.’

Mabel was lost in thought for a moment.

Still, with looks like that, isn’t he worth having just once? The thought of other girls inferior to Mabel having that superior man made her blood boil. Mabel licked her lips.

‘It’s fine as long as I don’t get caught.’

That was Duke Andres’s motto. Whatever you do, it’s fine as long as you don’t get caught.

Mabel leaned back in the carriage with a slightly relaxed expression. Amara observed Mabel with uneasy eyes.

‘Ah, she’s going to cause trouble.’

A sigh escaped involuntarily.