Laughter and conversation continued throughout the meal.

The Duke was cheerful with excellent eloquence, and Claire, providing appropriate responses at the right times, made the atmosphere even more pleasant, which was rather unusual.

“Truly, Your Grace, your eloquence is irresistible.”

Claire surrendered, managing to stifle her laughter.

“Oh, I’m a bit outdated now. People these days call me old-fashioned.”

“Oh, outdated? Your Grace, if you’re outdated, who in the world would be considered modern? I wish I could stitch shut the mouths of those who call you old-fashioned with a needle and thread.”

Claire regretted her slightly inappropriate words spoken in the heat of the moment. However, when the Duke responded by widening his smile, she felt relieved.

The Duke extended a wine glass, and Claire lightly clinked her glass against his.

The clear sound, like that of a xylophone, lingered in the air and slowly dissipated.

Claire’s heart was filled with a brilliant romance. It felt like she had returned to her twenties.

“Now, we should start having more interactions with our daughter, shouldn’t we?”

“….”

The Duke’s words brought her back to her true age.

Claire stopped mid-sip, swallowing the wine with a gulp and placing the glass back down.

A tingling sound resonated, expressing her bitter emotions.

“Interactions? What are you talking about? She’s a child who has severed ties.”

“It’s because she’s young and doesn’t know any better, but shouldn’t parents be more understanding?”

The Duke urged with a smiling face.

“People pay a lot of attention to your relationship. It would look even better in the eyes of the world if the parents take the first step in reconciliation. Your generosity will be acknowledged by everyone.”

“….”

Claire was conflicted.

Reconciling with Liz would disrupt the plan of becoming the Duchess.

However, stubbornly insisting on her stance wouldn’t leave a good impression on the man she admired.

She found herself in a situation where she couldn’t do this or that.

So now, she decided to use her daughter and son-in-law as an excuse.

“Would she accept it? My husband stood firmly in the middle, holding his ground.”

“Don’t worry about that. If you extend the hand of reconciliation first, Her Majesty won’t have a choice.”

The Duke’s response wasn’t what Claire wanted.

But she didn’t want to disappoint the Duke, who was looking at her with an incredibly affectionate gaze.

Since the moment he allowed her to stay in the Duke’s estate, or perhaps even longer… Claire had been ready to listen to anything the Duke said.

“Alright, I understand. I’ll do it.”

Satisfied with her answer, the Duke decided to reward her.

“Do you still find it difficult to fall asleep at night?”

“Ah… a bit.”

“Well then, shall I put you to bed tonight?”

His low voice was suggestive, and his slightly parted lips were tempting.

Claire was completely captivated.

A carriage stopped in front of the Empress’s Palace.
The guard, who was waiting, opened the carriage door. As the door opened, a woman in a turquoise taffeta dress with a black veil covering her face received an escort and descended to the ground.

The woman, peeking through the veil, briefly surveyed the view of the Empress’s Palace and made a tsk, a disapproving sound.

It meant, “It’s not as impressive as I thought.”

Rosa came down the stairs and politely greeted her.

“Please come inside. Her Majesty, the Empress, is waiting.”

After saying so, she, as the guide, took the first step. Most guests usually followed behind the guide in such situations, so Rosa expected the same from this guest.

However, the woman didn’t even blink.

“It’s unacceptable for my mother to come all this way after so long.”

The woman expressed her displeasure, furrowing her brows.

“It seems like your master doesn’t even recognize the parents who gave birth to her.”

This was a reprimand directed at Liz, who hadn’t come out to greet her.

As Rosa had already grasped some information about the woman, she wasn’t particularly surprised.

She responded calmly.

“Her Majesty acts according to the royal laws.”

“Oh, I see. There must be a provision in the royal laws stating that those of lower status than oneself, even if they are parents, should not go out to welcome. I didn’t know.”

“It’s not like that….”

As Rosa was about to respond calmly once again, a voice came from behind.

“I’m here. Mother.”

The elegant Queen, adorned in a cream-colored dress, appeared with maids and court ladies in tow.

A relieved smile crossed Claire Verium’s face.

“I should have done this sooner.”

“Now, please come inside.”

Liz, standing about ten paces away, said.

Claire, who had been covering her face with a veil, removed it and handed it, along with her handbag, to Rosa. Rosa’s expression when she accepted these items was not particularly pleasant.

“That’s how it should be. Since Her Majesty, the noble Empress, has personally come out, it’s only natural. But…”

Claire blinked her long eyelashes slowly, provocatively challenging.