“It doesn’t match….. How does it not match?”

Francis shrugged at Melly’s question. Whether in the past or present, he was the same in making people curious without giving a clear answer.

He saluted like a cheerful young man, placing the edge of his hand on his forehead, then disappeared around the corner.

And before she could ponder the riddle he had left behind, Jeina appeared again.

“Did you have a nice chat?”

She asked with a bright smile.

For a moment, the rumor that had been circulating in high society as an established fact came to mind.

It was said that nobles secretly lend their homes as meeting places for those with whom they are close.

Jeina’s attitude was so natural that it made one wonder if she might be one of those people.

“Jeina, I think it’s rude to arrange meetings without the person’s consent.”

“I know. But he was so eager to meet you that I had no choice.”

Jeina replied, sounding wronged by Melly’s rebuke. Feeling that there was no point in getting angry anymore, Melly just sighed.

Jeina asked in a subtle voice.

“Were you surprised? That my painter turned out to be an unexpected figure.”

“…”

“Well, who would have guessed? That the rising new painter was that Adel young master who had given up his position as heir to a prestigious family.”

Jeina explained to Melly in detail how she met him and came to sponsor him. If she wasn’t lying, their relationship was more straightforward than expected. They were merely friends and had a teacher-student relationship with shared interests.

Melly glanced at the door through which he had disappeared.

‘It doesn’t seem to match you well.’

The meaningless words came to mind again.

In what way did they not match?

It was oddly bothersome to ignore it as nonsense.

Yesterday afternoon, after hearing the news of the Crown Princess’s pregnancy, she had tried to take the medicine she had stopped for a while, feeling disturbed. But before she could swallow even a sip, nausea welled up and she spat it all out.

Maybe the medicine didn’t suit her, as he said. Perhaps that’s why the rejection reaction appeared only now. Or maybe it was a divine message telling her to give up on pregnancy altogether…

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Though the Andert Marquis’s residence had long disappeared from view, the unsettling aftertaste left by Francis continued to follow her, clinging to the rear of the carriage.

Suddenly, she regretted it.

Rejecting Edric’s suggestion to take the car instead of the carriage.

If she had, she could have quickly escaped from Francis’s persistent ghost.

Melly turned her eyes to the window, partly to change her mood.

Having just entered a bustling area, there was much to see. Shops were lined up in rows, and people were busily going in and out of store doors.

Among the shops was a confectionery store that Melly had been eyeing.

Perhaps due to the energy expended from the sudden meeting, she craved something sweet.

“Could you stop here for a moment?”

Melly said to the coachman.

She got out of the carriage that had stopped at the side of the street and walked towards the confectionery shop.

Passing through the people and entering the entrance, the sweet scent of butter pleasantly soothed her nerves.

Melly put pastries into the basket handed by the clerk. She also tasted a few of the sample pastries laid out. At this moment, it seemed nothing could interfere with her happiness.

That’s when it happened.

Melly stopped putting pastries in the basket as someone tapped her shoulder.

Turning around, she saw a woman staring at her.

“Who…”

“Melly.”

That name magically pulled memories from Melly’s mind.

“Annette!”

She was Melly’s best friend from Roins Girls’ School, which her mother Jasmine had sent her to, even rejecting Duchess Pelton’s offer to provide a home tutor.

“How long has it been? About two or three years?”

“What do you mean, two or three years.”

Annette rolled her eyes at Melly’s words.

“It’s been since we graduated from school.”

“…”

Melly’s eyes widened at those words. It had already been seven years since they graduated from school.

“We haven’t been in touch for that long.”

A bitter smile spread across Melly’s face.

“What does it matter if it’s been a few years? The important thing is that we’ve met again.”

Annette laughed casually and patted Melly. She made people feel comfortable, just as she always had.

The two moved to a table and began to share stories about how they had been living. They got along well, as if the seven-year gap didn’t exist.

Melly discovered something about herself she hadn’t known.

She had thought that she didn’t like meeting people and talking to them.

But as she talked with Annette, she realized how starved she had been for conversation with someone who truly understood her. Talking with someone who sincerely listened and empathized made Melly feel refreshed to her bones.

As the dessert plates emptied, Melly said,

“Is there anything else you want to eat? I’ll buy, so choose whatever you like.”

“It’s okay. I have money too.”

“I know you have money. I just want to buy it for you.”

When Melly insisted again, Annette surrendered.

She called the clerk and ordered additional cake, as well as separate orders for the children. She said the children were entering their growth phase and had voracious appetites.

She said she would pay separately for the children’s desserts.

“It’s okay. I’ll take care of it all together.”

“You don’t have to…”

Annette put her wallet away, looking apologetic.

As they left the shop, the two said their goodbyes.

“Let’s meet again soon.”

“Sure.”

“No, let’s set an actual date instead of being vague.”

Melly readily agreed to Annette’s suggestion. Vague promises often go unkept.

The two laughed as they set a time to meet.

“Alright then, see you there tomorrow.”

Melly got into the carriage in a cheerful mood. Annette waved goodbye as she saw her off. The carriage departed.

Inside the moving carriage, shadows gradually began to fall across Melly’s face.

It was because of Edric.

He wouldn’t allow her to meet Annette again.

Because he wanted his wife to associate only with the refined noble ladies of high society.

But Melly wanted to continue meeting her somehow.

The brief encounter with Annette had left Melly feeling incredibly fulfilled. She wanted to maintain this feeling…

“Oh!”

Suddenly she realized there was no need for such worries at all.

‘From now on, do as you please.’

He had clearly said that. He had promised to support whatever she wanted to do.

So Melly could meet whoever she wanted without having to be cautious.

Passing through the mansion gates, Melly puffed out her chest confidently.

She announced during dinner, as if making a declaration:

“I’m meeting a friend tomorrow.”

Edric’s utensils paused for a moment.

[This is the timeline separator]

Friend.

The person Melly could call that wasn’t in high society.

“Which friend?”

“Annette. Annette Felice.”

As expected.

One corner of Edric’s mouth rose crookedly.

“A friend from Roins Girls’ School, I see.”

A classmate from a school attended by lower nobles with difficult circumstances.

“That’s right. I happened to meet her today and we talked. It was so nice to see her. So I thought we might meet often from now on.”

“…”

Edric’s brow furrowed at the not-so-welcome news.

She had been trying to please him for a while after the birthday party incident the other day. Why was she suddenly acting out?

But he had no right to stop her.

‘You’re free to do whatever you want now. I intend to support you in doing what you want.’

He had declared so with his own mouth.

He had no choice but to agree.

“Do as you wish.”

“Thank you.”

Melly flashed a bright smile.

She seemed to be in a very good mood. But Edric felt a strange unease at this unexpected development.

Though he had given her freedom under the guise of neglect, his feelings were complicated as he watched her become more carefree instead.

He looked at Melly a little more seriously than usual.

As always, Wilson approached to give a report, but it didn’t register well in his ears.

[This is the timeline separator]

Melly’s face, having met Annette again, sparkled with a vitality it had never shown before.

The two linked arms and walked like in the old days, bursting into peals of laughter.

Melly was continuously delighted as she heard anecdotes and episodes from their school days that only the two of them knew about.

Back then, although her self-esteem might not have been high, she had lived entirely as herself. She wasn’t the woman who now fretted constantly about falling out of Edric’s favor.

Melly felt as if she had regained her lost self through her meetings with Annette.

The two met often after that.

At first, they met in quiet suburban tea houses or restaurants, but gradually moved towards the bustling areas where shops were concentrated. It was because Annette said she needed to do some shopping on her way back.

Roins Girls’ School was a school for lower nobles like Melly. And Annette, having married a lower noble of similar circumstances after graduation, was still not well off.

Knowing this situation well, Melly occasionally paid instead while Annette was taking time to search for her wallet.

“Oh my, look at you. No, absolutely not.”

“It’s okay. Let me do it just this once.”

“…I’m not sure if this is alright.”

Annette put her wallet back in her bag, looking apologetic.

And such occurrences became more frequent.

Melly didn’t mind at all.

Rather, she felt a joy welling up from deep within her heart every time she did something for Annette. At such times, she was no longer a worthless existence. She was a beneficial being who was helpful to someone.

“Is there anything else you need?”

“No, that’s…”

Confidence made her even more perceptive. Melly sensed a strange lingering in Annette’s words and urged her with a smile.

“It’s okay, tell me.”

“Actually…”

Annette, with an embarrassed face, confessed to needing a few more daily necessities.

Once, she gazed at a dress shop window for quite a long time. Melly’s heart ached at the wistful look in her eyes, as if she were looking at something she could never have.

“Your birthday is coming up soon, right?”

“Yes… but why do you ask about my birthday?”

“Let’s go in. I’ll buy it as a birthday present.”

Melly grabbed Annette’s arm and pulled her.

“Are you crazy? It’s not like that. I was just admiring how pretty it was…”

The two had a brief tussle at the door, but Melly won this time too. Annette pretended to give in and let Melly pull her inside. When they left the store, she had three or four shopping bags in her hand.

“Thank you, Melly. I’ll give you an even nicer present for your upcoming birthday.”

“Sure. I’m looking forward to it. You must give me one.”

Melly playfully reciprocated Annette’s words.

She gained confidence and vitality.

[This is the timeline separator]

Now she was no longer swayed by every word or action of Edric’s even at home.

“I think I’ll be home early today, let’s have dinner together.”

He suddenly suggested while fixing his clothes in front of the mirror, preparing to leave for work.

Melly said with a troubled face.

“Ah, I’m sorry. I don’t think I can today.”

“…”

“I’m supposed to visit our alma mater with Annette today. We’ll probably be late since we’ll have dinner and tea.”

For a moment, Edric’s face hardened.