Sweet melody. Scent of sweet perfume. Elegantly dressed people. And…

“Your Excellency, you look tired lately. Are you fatigued because of work? If there’s anything I or my family can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask anytime…”

Edric looked towards one side of the banquet hall, letting his dance partner’s whisper go in one ear and out the other. Melly had rejected Count Ludens’ invitation to dance. Watching the man turn away embarrassed, Edric sighed.

‘It seems she still hasn’t overcome it.’

He remembered Melly’s predicament a few years ago at a ball hosted by Duke Claudis, when she accidentally stepped on his foot. He thought enough time had passed for it to be alright, but it appeared she still hadn’t escaped that nightmare.

“Father would consider it an honor to be able to help Your Excellency. I… feel the same way.”

“Thank you, Miss Lorraine.”

Edric replied indifferently to the indirect confession of the woman blushing shyly, and turned his attention back to Melly.

She was sitting alone in a corner of the banquet hall, scanning the ballroom like a spectator.

That empty gaze irritated Edric.

‘You’re the protagonist. Not a spectator.’

He gave Melly a sharp look.

But Melly seemed unaware that he was looking at her, as she was gazing elsewhere.

Edric changed direction with Miss Lorraine to see where Melly’s gaze was directed.

She appeared to be watching Count Ludens, whom she had rejected, dancing with another woman.

A man who, despite being the second son of a noble family, had entered a lower public office and was building trust with his diligent attitude.

His appearance, diligent and cautious to the point of being rigid, resembled Melly. So now, are you watching because you regret letting him go, or what?

He wished she would at least dance with someone else. Edric could no longer bear to see her repeatedly rejecting dance invitations.

Edric released the hand of the woman he was holding.

“I’m sorry, Miss Lorraine. I have some business with my wife for a moment.”

“Ah… yes. It’s… it’s fine. You don’t need to apologize…”

Miss Lorraine smiled awkwardly and bowed her head.

Edric walked across the vast ballroom where women’s skirts spread out like flower petals, towards Melly.

It was only natural that his words wouldn’t come out gently.

“Please, I’m begging you, can’t you stop being so stubborn?”

Edric’s angry face was reflected in Melly’s transparent eyes.

He was clearly furious.

[This is the timeline separator]

‘He’s angry. Because I kept rejecting dance invitations.’

Melly lowered her head.

“I’m sorry.”

“Come with me for a moment.”

He left only a cold instruction in response to Melly’s apology, then turned and strode away.

Melly slowly rose and followed him out of the banquet hall.

People were too engrossed in the waltz melody reaching its climax to notice them.

Edric was on the terrace.

His back, facing the moonlight, felt like an insurmountable wall.

As Melly approached, he spoke.

“You are the mistress of the Duke’s residence.”

“…”

“Not an invited guest, but the host. And of a major family event that happens once a year at that.”

“I know that too.”

Melly lowered her gaze and continued.

“That’s why I did it. I didn’t want to ruin an important family event.”

The “Ack-” sound of Duke Claudis still echoed in her ears. Every moment she attended a party.

‘I’ll try to dance next time.’

She wanted to say that if she could. But Melly knew herself well.

She was the type to make more mistakes when nervous due to tension.

Next time, there would be second and third Duke Claudises, and Edric would have to clean up her mistakes again.

“I’ll do everything else except dancing.”

Melly said with sparkling eyes.

“You saw today too, didn’t you? I explained the theme and landscape decorations of the party to people without making mistakes. Everyone understood without any problems. So…”

“I understand.”

Edric interrupted Melly’s words.

“Do that then.”

Melly looked puzzled at the sudden acceptance. But it wasn’t acceptance.

“Instead, don’t come to parties from now on.”

It was expulsion.

“That’s simple, isn’t it? You won’t have to dance when you don’t want to, and I won’t have to worry about things like this.”

“That… that’s…”

“Melisa.”

Melisa. That cold name cut off Melly’s words like a blade.

“You’re saying you won’t do the most important part of the party. People don’t come to listen to explanations, they come to drink and enjoy themselves.”

“…”

If he had angrily urged her to somehow make it work, she could have argued back.

His words were such a rational fact that Melly’s heart ached.

It was then.

“Your Excellency.”

Wilson, who had been wandering the corridor, spotted him and approached.

Then he cupped his hands and whispered something into Edric’s ear. Wilson had been acting like that for some time, making Melly feel even more distant from Edric.

“Tell them I’ll be there soon.”

Edric said. Wilson bowed respectfully and retreated.

“I should go back now. I can’t leave my seat empty for too long.”

He continued in a dry tone.

“What will you do? Will you return to your chambers to rest, or to the banquet hall?”

“…”

“If you don’t come back within five minutes, I’ll assume you’ve gone back to your chambers. And that you’ll continue to be there whenever parties are held in the future.”

His attitude was consistent.

Consistently saying that she was free to choose either option, but that the consequences would also be hers to bear.

“You…”

Melly called out to Edric, who had just turned around.

Edric looked back at her over his shoulder. The moonlight had sculpted his white skin and straight nose bridge, making him look sharp. So Melly couldn’t easily say what she was about to say.

As she hesitated, Edric turned back again.

Melly watched his retreating back and thought about the words she couldn’t say.

‘You, why did you marry me if you’re going to be like this?’

[This is the timeline separator]

Melly returned to the banquet hall. She felt that if she returned to her chambers, her relationship with him would become irreparable.

A faint smile played on Edric’s lips when he spotted her among the people.

As if to say, ‘I knew you’d come.’

He was dealing with Lady Clurissa, a royal who had recently returned to her homeland after marrying a foreign nobleman. As Melly approached, he introduced her to the lady.

“This is my wife, Melisa.”

Melly greeted with impeccable manners. So as not to bring any shame to the name Melisa Pelton.

“She’s as graceful as I’ve heard.”

The lady praised Melly in a refined voice.

But Melly wanted to leave this place quickly. Because Lady Clurissa’s gaze, which had been scanning her, suddenly stopped at one spot.

“It’s such a pity.”

The lady shook her head as she looked at Melly’s belly.

“You should have a child soon, that would help you forget the pain of miscarriage.”

“…”

Miscarriage.

The lingering sensation, like a thorn in her shoe, kept pricking Melly. Unable to say anything because of it, Edric responded on her behalf.

“Melisa is young, so she’ll conceive soon. Thank you for your concern, Lady Clurissa.”

Melly suddenly came to her senses.

‘I’ll do everything else except dancing.’

She had promised that. So now she had to keep her promise.

“Thank you, my lady. I too hope that a child will come soon, as you say.”

She responded to the concern with a demure attitude.

Edric’s gaze shifted from Lady Clurissa to her.

Melly couldn’t tell what his gaze was like, whether it was warm or cold.

Because she had to use all her strength to suppress the emotions welling up inside her.

[This is the timeline separator]

It was a morning a few days later.

“What day is it today?”

Edric asked indifferently while adjusting his shirt collar, in response to Melly’s question about whether he would come early.

“Today… is our conjugal day.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

“…”

“I’ll try to come as early as possible.”

Just as she was about to feel disappointed, Melly’s mood improved with his words.

“Thank you.”

Melly said sincerely.

She had been worried that he might not observe their conjugal day due to their distant relationship.

Melly didn’t want to miss her fertile period. Her desire for pregnancy had become even more earnest after the recent encounter with Lady Clurissa.

After tidying up his appearance, Edric once again moved towards the cufflink display.

As he scanned the buttons with his eyes, Melly also scanned alongside him.

Suddenly, courage welled up and she spoke.

“Would it be alright if I chose for you today?”

Edric lifted his gaze from the glass display. He seemed a bit surprised by the sudden question.

After staring at her for a moment, he soon replied.

“Next time.”

“…”

“Today is an important day.”

“Ah… I see, I didn’t know.”

Melly forced a smile and lowered her gaze.

He took out amber buttons and attached them to his sleeves.

Melly couldn’t help feeling disappointed.

Because she had been mentally choosing those as well.

It would have been nice if she had been given the chance.

[This is the timeline separator]

It was early evening.

When she returned after finishing her bath, Oz was standing with a silver hanger beside her, speaking excitedly.

“Madam, come quickly and choose.”

On the hanger she brought were slips and indoor gowns made of silk, sheer, and crepe de chine fabrics, swaying gently at the slightest vibration.

They were all items that would beautifully enhance the mood of the conjugal night.

Melly gently stroked the fabrics with her fingertips.

The soft touch pleasantly stimulated her sense of touch.

“How about this?”

Oz held up a deeply plunging neckline garment.

Melly gave an ambiguous smile.

“I don’t think it quite suits me.”

While it might work for a woman with a voluptuous figure, such a chest-emphasizing outfit was off-limits for Melly.

It might even make what little femininity she had disappear.

Melly chose a black sheer slip, then changed her mind thinking it was similar to what she wore on the last conjugal night, and instead picked a short, pure white silk nightgown.

She thought it would be good to accentuate her slender thighs, which were her strong point despite her small chest.

Melly put on the slip and wore a robe of the same material over it, then sat at the dressing table and let Oz style her hair.

“Smile a little. Madam looks pretty when she smiles.”

At Oz’s words, Melly realized she wasn’t smiling.

Melly tried to pull up the corners of her mouth. Somehow, it was an awkward smile.

Suddenly, there was a knock, and Anna’s voice was heard from beyond the door.

“It’s time for your medicine, Madam.”

“Come in.”

Anna placed a porcelain cup filled with a dark brown liquid in front of Melly with restrained movements.

The amount seemed particularly large today.

“You need to increase the dosage before conjugal nights.”

“Ah, that’s right.”

They said that was necessary to safely conceive.

Melly closed her eyes tightly and gulped it down. She intended to swallow it before the bitter taste could be felt.

But because she swallowed too quickly, it refluxed into her nasal cavity.

“Cough…”

Melly’s pure white nightgown was ruined by the sudden fit of coughing.

Her throat felt as if it was on fire, terribly sore.