Two hours ago.

Edric was having a profitable time with people who matched his caliber.

As always, conversations with those belonging to the same world alleviated his frustration.

Overall, the atmosphere wasn’t bad.

Until someone appeared.

As the mood was reaching its peak, a woman entered the hall.

Cheers erupted for the sensual woman who appeared wearing a mermaid dress with a deep neckline, her wavy dark brown hair swaying.

Clara Martina.

The Empire’s top singer. A woman with both beauty and singing skills.

But despite such amazing accolades, Edric wasn’t too pleased with her appearance.

Because she was the woman with whom he had been embroiled in romantic rumors three times.

Like all the scandals so far, it was an absurd rumor.

They had merely exchanged greetings, but it was said he looked at her with eyes dripping with love. That they spent a night of secret rendezvous at a hotel, avoiding people’s eyes. Further, that they had even set up house together.

He didn’t bother to respond to each one because it wasn’t worth it. The articles were so vulgar that denying them would rather lower his dignity.

It was truly fortunate that Melly didn’t make a fuss about it.

If she had gotten angry or demanded to know the truth, it would have been seen as not just distrusting him, but insulting him.

‘How dare they see me as such.’

At last, Clara Martina began to sing to the soft piano accompaniment.

Her voice was low for a woman. It wasn’t a very feminine voice. But to men tired of the nightingale-like tones of socialite women, it acted as another charm.

People couldn’t take their eyes off her.

Rich volume and deep appeal, appropriate facial expressions. And to her body movements gently swaying to the song, they didn’t even notice the cigarette ash falling and burning holes in their pants.

Finally, as the song ended and they came to their senses, they clapped hard and shouted. Clara covered her mouth and looked surprised at the thunderous applause filling the banquet hall. As if she hadn’t expected the response to be this passionate.

The innocent expression on the face of a professional who had performed hundreds of times moved people even more.

Clara bowed, gently pressing down the deeply cut neckline of her dress with a bright smile.

She came down from the stage, walked between the tables greeting people, and humbly expressed gratitude for the pouring praise. Gradually, her final destination began to reveal itself.

Baron Bertin, who was sitting next to Edric, quietly got up from his seat.

He was giving up his seat for an intimate meeting between Clara and Edric.

Everyone noticed her looking at Edric in between singing. Especially during the part where she passionately confessed love.

“It’s been a while, Duke Pelton.”

She said cheerfully as she sat down in the empty seat next to Edric.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you.”

Edric answered briefly, just enough not to be impolite, and picked up his glass.

As he put down his empty glass, Clara naturally refilled it and asked.

“How was my song?”

“I don’t think my evaluation particularly matters.”

She would have already confirmed it by the reaction of people clapping as if the banquet hall would collapse.

“It matters. Very much to me.”

But Clara boldly showed her affection and straightened her body.

This accentuated the curves of her beautiful body, with her chest protruding and waist slimming, enough to captivate anyone’s gaze.

Edric smirked and said.

“It was a good performance. Except for the slight strain in your voice.”

“I see.”

Clara winked and said.

“As expected, your eyes are accurate.”

“……”

“I guess I unconsciously put in a bit more effort because there was someone I wanted to impress.”

She gently placed her hand on Edric’s arm resting on the table.

People in the banquet hall side-eyed the two, conscious of this bold seduction.

They were certain that Edric would eventually fall for her. Of course. Beautiful looks and alluring gestures. If it were them, they would have fallen long ago.

But Edric’s gaze looking at Clara’s hand on his arm was indifferent.

The numerous women who had been blatantly seducing him so far. Clara’s actions were not much different from those women’s.

He withdrew his arm from under her hand.

It was a somewhat embarrassing situation, but Clara didn’t waver at all. Rather, she showed even more affection towards him.

After all, the most difficult man is the most attractive man.

As Edric took out a cigar from his cigar case, Clara lit it for him as if she had been waiting and said.

“It seems there’s a lot of talk about Your Grace and me in public.”

“……”

“Rumors like I’m Your Grace’s mistress, or that the house I’m living in now was obtained by Your Grace.”

Clara lamented, resting her chin on her hand and watching the cigar smoke dispersing faintly.

“When it’s not like that at all.”

“……”

“It’s just my one-sided love.”

Her direct confession sounded even more seductive, enhanced by the power of her innate voice. Enough to make even those around pretending not to pay attention turn their heads.

“Your Grace.”

Clara’s gaze calling Edric became more profound. Her slightly parted red, plump lips were tempting, and her hair swept to one side accentuated her smooth and elegant neckline.

She appealed in a soft voice, exuding her femininity to the fullest.

“No matter what people say, I don’t want anything from Your Grace. Your Grace is the head of a household and the dependable husband of a beautiful duchess. How could I possibly come between that?”

“……”

“I just want to be Your Grace’s friend. A friend you can talk to about anything without hesitation. You know, like those worries you can’t even tell your spouse.”

“……”

“Everyone has some worry they can’t speak of even if they seem perfect on the outside, right? Or maybe they want to curse and mock someone but can’t because of the image they’ve built up.”

Clara concluded in a confident voice.

“I can listen to all of that. As Your Grace’s true friend.”

She spoke with an assured attitude, as if she knew all too well about the contradictions of the nobility, even though she wasn’t a noble herself.

Edric put down the cigar held between his fingers. Then he stared at her blankly.

An emotional trash can where one could empty their base thoughts. Suddenly, Melly overlapped with her who willingly volunteered for that role.

‘Tell me.’

‘……’

‘Even if I can’t give you a solution, I’ll listen.’

A woman who listens carefully to every word he says, yet perfectly seals them within herself so that not a single word leaks out.

A woman he doesn’t have to worry about developing a negative perception of him due to his vile inner thoughts.

A consistently calm and serene woman.

“Miss Clara Martina.”

At Edric’s call, the woman’s gaze sparkled with hope. It was a look as if she was certain that her appeal had finally worked.

“Yes, speak, Your Grace.”

“Only do what you can handle.”

But at Edric’s words, her tightly drawn lips returned to their original position.

“…Pardon? What do you……”

“Listening to someone’s inner thoughts as they are, that’s not something just anyone can do.”

“……”

“It’s something only my wife can do.”

If Melly is real, this woman is fake.

If she is a deep lake, this woman is water in a shallow basin.

One that immediately bounces back anything thrown into it. So.

“Focus on what you’re good at. That’s my advice to you.”

“……”

Clara chewed her lips, her face unable to hide her wounded pride.

Edric stood up and turned to his colleagues who were watching how this situation would unfold.

Then he said to those who flinched as soon as their eyes met his.

“We’ll continue this at the duke’s residence.”

Melly suddenly seemed great. So he wanted to boast about her to everyone. He wanted to show everyone his wife’s calm and sincere demeanor, so that after today, no one would dare suggest another woman to him.

In a situation where everyone was accompanied by their wives or lovers, it seemed unnecessary for him to keep adhering to principles.

Edric came out of the banquet hall, passing through the bewildered faces of the gathering members. Just then, a chef was heading somewhere pushing a trolley loaded with freshly baked snacks.

He stared at the fragrant buttery biscotti with an unreadable gaze for a moment, then beckoned to a nearby manager.

“Yes, Your Grace. Is there anything you need?”

Edric nodded towards the trolley and said.

“I’ll buy all of those.”

“Ah, those are already reserved for another room……”

The manager rubbed his hands together with a troubled face. Edric put his hand into his jacket’s inner pocket, took it out, and held it out in front of him.

The manager reflexively cupped his hands.

Then gold coins poured onto them with a clinking sound. It was more than ten times the price of the snacks. There was no reason not to obey the order.

“Ah… Understood. I’ll have them packed up right away, Your Grace.”

Edric smiled with satisfaction as he watched him hurry over to the chef to instruct packaging.

The image of Melly looking at him with a moved expression was vividly drawn in his mind.

It was natural.

Because it was her favorite dessert.