‘Well, His Majesty the Emperor might be angry from his standpoint.’

Especially regarding the succession of the duke title. If one stubbornly refuses when offered a duke title, not as a punishment, what would the Emperor’s position become?

‘But the Emperor’s anger can be appeased just by me attending the imperial ball?’

Is he that curious about me? I tilted my head and asked Cedar in a small voice.

“Have I been of help to you?”

“Of course. Thank you.”

“Hehe.”

At Cedar’s gentle voice, Hail once again wore an astonished expression.

I laughed softly, happy that I had been of help to Cedar.

‘Right. If the Emperor’s anger can be appeased by me appearing once in front of many people, I should endure it.’

And I have a goal too, don’t I? Namely, to surprise Diana!

‘Since she thinks I’m practically dead, she’ll really be shocked.’

Being a cunning child, she might change her attitude and approach me kindly.

‘I absolutely won’t accept it. We’re less than strangers now.’

I once again firmly locked the bolt on my heart.

Maggie, holding the light sky-blue dress Cedar had finally chosen, said:

“Strangely, I didn’t want to sell this dress to anyone this season. I guess it’s because the owner was already decided. It will suit the lady very well.”

“Isn’t it too fancy?”

“What are you saying? It’s a dress made just for you, my lady.”

The dress, made of several layers of fabric so thin it was almost see-through, had a mystical feel as if worn by a flower fairy.

“Then let’s alter it and try it on again the day after tomorrow. Thank you for your hard work.”

The person who worked the hardest seems to be Maggie, who brought all those fabrics and sample dresses.

Thinking this might be farewell, I stood up abruptly to say goodbye, but Maggie put on a serious expression again.

“But we need to prepare shoes, accessories, and a handbag to match the dress. Have you decided how to handle that?”

“That’s…”

I had nothing to say, as I didn’t even have a proper hair tie, let alone accessories.

After fidgeting with my fingers for a moment, a good idea came to my mind.

“This mansion! There are plenty of accessories and shoes in this mansion too. The ones your voluptuous lover used to use, Cedar!”

At my exclamation, Hail’s eyes almost popped out.

“V-voluptuous lover?”

Cedar sighed heavily and pressed his palm firmly on my head.

“Don’t say things that could be misunderstood. They’re my mother’s belongings.”

“Ah. That’s what you meant.”

“I was really surprised there.”

At Cedar’s answer, Maggie and Hail breathed sighs of relief.

I lightly bit my tongue. In my haste to speak, familiar words had slipped out.

‘Other people won’t overlook it so easily, so I need to be careful with my words.’

Since I’ll have to meet many people from now on… Ah, but do I really have to meet them? I’m really not confident.

Thinking about high society made me anxious again. As I was just crumpling the blanket, Maggie said with a bright smile:

“The Duchess’s accessories, I’d love to see them! I’ll take a look and match them for you.”

I looked at Cedar with a ‘is it okay?’ expression.

Cedar, who had been swallowing his displeasure for a moment, finally nodded briefly. I stood up from the sofa.

“It’s this way.”

The room was just as it had been when I first took out clothes to wear, as if no one had entered since then.

As soon as she saw the hanging dresses, Maggie immediately recognized when the clothes and accessories were worn.

“It seems the Duchess stayed here a long time ago. Those dresses have been out of fashion for quite a while.”

“Is that so?”

Is there any place that flows as unconcerned with fashion as the Academy?

The Academy is a place so unconcerned with the outside world that even news of Cedar Granite marrying me hasn’t reached it.

Maggie, who had already noticed the extent of my fashion knowledge while choosing the dress, diligently selected accessories on her own.

“Oh my, how pretty. These are good quality diamonds. They’ll suit the lovely lady well.”

“Isn’t it too big? It looks like it would hurt my neck if I wore it.”

“You jest.”

No, why does she think it’s a joke? I’m serious.

I looked with a sour expression at the large rectangular-cut diamond necklace Maggie had chosen.

‘Wearing such a heavy necklace, with my hair tightly bound, and having to endure for hours in the ballroom? It sounds too painful.’

What kind of enjoyment do they all find there? Wouldn’t it be more fun to sit around in comfortable pajamas drinking alcohol?

Maggie held out earrings and a hairpin as large as the necklace and asked:

“How about these? I think they’ll suit you well too.”

“I don’t know much, so I’ll follow the expert’s opinion.”

“Alright. I’ll do my best to choose for you.”

“…”

Regardless of my opinion, Maggie looked so excited that I could fully understand why she had chosen such a profession.

“How about these shoes? Try them on.”

“They’re too big for me.”

“Oh dear. I really like the design, but it can’t be helped. I’ll find shoes in a similar style.”

Lady Briar’s feet were much larger than mine. Of course, since she was taller than me too.

Maggie insisted that shoes had to fit exactly and measured my foot size. Then she was surprised.

“My, your feet are small too, my lady. Sir Cedar’s palm might be bigger than this foot.”

“Is that so? Maybe.”

I’ll have to compare hands later.

And so the ball preparations were completed. Maggie finally gave a bright smile and said goodbye.

“I was worried about having to prepare in a hurry, but it’s fortunate we had accessories. Then I’ll see you the day after tomorrow.”

Hail insisted that Maggie shouldn’t carry the luggage and stepped forward to follow her.

Watching the backs of the two kind-looking people, I breathed a sigh of relief.

“It’s really fortunate that Sir Hail’s fiancée runs a dress shop.”

If I had to prepare for such an unfamiliar event suddenly by myself, I would have panicked.

At my words, Cedar sighed through his nose and replied calmly:

“That guy should repay the favor since he got engaged thanks to you.”

“It wasn’t thanks to me. The charm spell isn’t omnipotent. It might have helped, but they got engaged because Sir Hail and Maggie are a match made in heaven.”

“You’re a magician, yet you believe in things like fate?”

“There’s no particular reason not to believe, is there?”

In this world, special encounters that can’t be explained with words actually happen. Just like my marriage to Cedar.

‘The probability of marrying someone forcibly who happens to be born with magic powerful enough to recharge me is almost zero.’

Even if it was someone who could recharge my magic, the probability of them taking a liking to me is even lower.

Suddenly reminded of my encounter with Cedar, I nodded.

“By the way, seeing how many of your mother’s things are here, it seems she stayed here for a while?”

Until now I thought she came and went because it was her son’s house, but from the atmosphere between the two recently, it seemed Cedar wouldn’t have even let her in.

‘Maggie also said the dresses were out of fashion.’

Could she have stayed here several years ago? Cedar confirmed my guess with a light nod.

“For a short while. Mother stayed here before she became the Duchess. After Grisha’s mother was poisoned, the atmosphere was too hostile for her to stay at the main house.”

“Ah…”

I wondered why a wife loved by the Duke would leave the main house, even as a second wife, but it was because of the poisoning incident.

“Do you resent your mother?”

“I’m not sure. It’s not a comfortable feeling.”

“…”

Words of comfort didn’t come to mind. As I was mumbling with my lips, Cedar ruffled my hair with his large palm.

“No need to worry about it. It’s already long past, and I’m not suffering because of it anymore.”

“It’s not over yet. It’s natural to feel uncomfortable.”

“As you said, I was uncomfortable for quite a long time. But I’m fine now.”

“You’re fine now?”

I thought it was unexpected, but it seemed Cedar felt the same.

Cedar’s eyes widened slightly and he stiffened. Then, as if suddenly realizing something, he spoke slowly and clearly:

“Because you’re by my side.”

“Pardon?”

“You’re by my side now.”

“That…”

Does he mean it’s okay because he has a new family now? Or that my existence itself is comforting?

I couldn’t pinpoint it exactly, but I felt I understood what he meant.

After all, even I didn’t feel distressed hearing about Diana after becoming aware of Cedar’s existence.

I quietly intertwined my fingers and grasped Cedar’s hand. Then I said in a brave tone:

“Whenever you’re having a hard time, just tell me! I’ll help you.”

Cedar carefully explained things I didn’t know and became someone I could rely on to help me adapt well.

‘So now it’s my turn to help Cedar.’

Although limited to 30 minutes, I can now use magic when I recharge my power.

Just like burning the army ants, the things I can do when Cedar is in trouble have greatly increased.

‘So just trust in me.’

I put strength in my eyes and tried to make a reliable expression. Cedar burst out laughing at the sight of me.

“If I lean on you, I feel like you’d fall over in less than a minute.”

“That’s not true! My true worth may not be in strength, but my body has become much stronger lately, so I can last at least a minute.”

“Shall we test it?”

“Go ahead!”

I shouted confidently, but I felt a little nervous when Cedar actually said he’d lean on me. I put my hands on my hips and snorted, meaning ‘lean if you’re going to lean’.