But he quickly changed his expression and spoke nonchalantly.

“It can’t be helped. Have fun.”

“Thank you for understanding.”

Melly smiled and helped him put on his jacket. Looking at Melly’s face reflected in the full-length mirror, Edric thought.

‘I never imagined the day would come when I’d be pushed to the back burner.’

He felt subtly disappointed. But that alone wasn’t enough to explain the subtle feeling he was experiencing.

He tried to define his feelings throughout the carriage ride to the imperial palace.

And finally came to a conclusion.

The situation he was seeing was, for example, similar to shaking and mixing juice that had been left still for too long and developed layers. The seemingly firm relationship hierarchy had suddenly become ambiguous.

That feeling made him uneasy.

Just like when he saw Melly before finding her diary, when she was hard to grasp…

“…!”

Suddenly realizing the carriage had been stopped for too long, Edric turned his gaze and realized he had already arrived at the imperial palace.

He had been that focused on Melly. How long had it been since she had fully occupied his thoughts?

A year? Two years? Or for the first time since getting married?

He couldn’t tell. And it didn’t matter.

Edric got out of the carriage and walked purposefully towards his office, receiving salutes from the guards.

All the while, Melly continued to dominate his thoughts.

Her bright smile, her lively face. And… her attitude of not caring about him at all.

‘How dare she.’

For a moment his eyes narrowed and his plump lower lip curled inward.

It was a feeling of displeasure he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

‘It’s just for one night.’

Just like that night five years ago.

[This is the timeline separator]

The red brick building stood firmly on the ground without any cracks or breaks, and the ivy climbing its exterior walls emitted fresh greenery in the sunlight.

From the outside, her alma mater looked exactly as Melly remembered it.

But once inside, areas needing repair began to catch her eye.

“I’m truly sorry for showing you such a shabby place.”

Principal Olena, who was guiding the two, bowed her head with a red face whenever a worn-out spot was noticeable. As if it were somehow her fault.

Melly felt deep sympathy seeing the woman who had seemed so dignified during her school days now with hunched shoulders and a tired face.

She rummaged through her bag, intending to make a small donation. Annette grabbed her hand.

“She’s deliberately trying to evoke sympathy. Don’t fall for it.”

“Surely she wouldn’t do that.”

“I’m telling you, that’s exactly what she’s doing.”

Melly thought she couldn’t be that calculating, but Annette remained stubborn and led Melly away from Olena.

The two walked down the hallway.

It was break time, so students were out in the corridor. They shifted their gaze to follow Melly and Annette. Or more precisely, they focused on Melly.

Everyone seemed to know who she was.

“People are looking up to you.”

Annette said, sounding envious.

But what Melly felt from their gazes wasn’t reverence.

They were analyzing her.

‘What aspect of this person could have captivated Duke Pelton?’

And those gazes made Melly more uncomfortable than those of the socialite women.

Because it seemed they wouldn’t stop at analysis but move on to imitation.

‘Ah, so that’s how you can snag a handsome noble man.’

…That’s what they seemed to be thinking.

Melly didn’t want to give them false illusions. She grabbed Annette’s arm.

“Let’s go back now, Annette.”

“Why? The kids want to see more of you.”

“That’s why we should leave.”

Annette looked like she didn’t understand, but eventually went along with Melly’s wishes.

The two moved to a nearby tea house.

“I keep mooching off you every time.”

Annette looked apologetically at the tea and cake on the table. Melly smiled, shook her head, and pushed the cake plate towards her.

While enjoying the sweet dessert and tea and exchanging impressions about their long-awaited visit to their alma mater, Annette suddenly spoke up.

“Don’t you want to meet the other kids?”

“The other kids…?”

Annette mentioned the names of some friends to Melly.

“Actually, I meet with them regularly. There’s a gathering tomorrow. I’d like you to come too. The kids would be so happy to see you.”

The classmates Annette mentioned were friends who had also been close to Melly. It would surely be an enjoyable time, like meeting a few more Annettes.

“Sure, I’ll definitely come.”

Melly readily agreed.

She had been tired of high society, which appeared elegant and generous but would mercilessly tear someone down for the slightest mistake. Her friends would surely welcome and embrace her as she was.

That was the kind of human relationship Melly truly desired.

She repeatedly went over the meeting time and place to make sure she wouldn’t forget.

Returning home, Melly headed to Edric’s quarters, intending to casually inform him as before.

Knock knock−.

After knocking, she entered and saw him.

He was sitting in an armchair reading a book, as usual.

“I have something to tell you.”

Melly said as she sat down opposite him.

Edric nodded, keeping his eyes fixed on the book.

“I’m planning to attend a Roins Girls’ School alumni gathering tomorrow.”

She thought he would give permission without much comment, as usual.

“Where is the gathering?”

“At a restaurant on Delort Street.”

“Will you be there long?”

“…”

[This is the timeline separator]

It was just an impulsive question.

Originally, he had intended to simply give permission without fuss.

He could feel Melly staring at him intently, delaying her answer. She was clearly trying to figure out his intention behind such questions. Edric skillfully diverted her attention.

“If you’re going to be there long, wouldn’t the Pelton Hotel restaurant be better than a shabby diner?”

“…”

“Considering the prestige, that seems more appropriate.”

Even without looking, he could tell a resigned smile was spreading across Melly’s face.

Prestige. With that one word, Melly had understood Edric’s uncharacteristically persistent attitude.

“It’s fine. And the meeting place isn’t such a shabby restaurant. Of course, it’s not as good as a hotel restaurant, but it’s a place where we can stay more comfortably than somewhere that’s so formal.”

“…”

“Anyway, thank you for your concern.”

Melly ended with stiff words of gratitude and stood up.

Click−.

The sound of the lock engaging echoed coldly. And Edric’s gaze finally left the book.

His narrowed eyes held sharp light in their deep blue irises.

‘It’s just for one night.’

The current Melly was the same as she was then. Just like then, she had provoked his stubbornness.

[This is the timeline separator]

Oz applied makeup more carefully than usual and added accessories. Melly, who had been silently watching her appearance become more gorgeous and beautiful under Oz’s fingertips, called out to her softly.

“Oz.”

“Yes, madam.”

Melly spoke carefully so as not to hurt Oz’s feelings.

“Could you make the styling a bit more modest? I want to feel like a young girl again since I’m meeting old friends.”

“Oh, is that so? Well, that’s not bad either. Let’s see…”

Oz undid Melly’s hair that had been tied up high.

And then…

“How about this hairstyle?”

“Um, Oz.”

Melly showed her displeasure.

“Pigtails at twenty-four is a bit…”

“Ah, then how about this?”

After several trials and errors, the two agreed on a half-up hairstyle with a ribbon.

They matched the outfit accordingly, choosing a gray-green dress with a white collar. Adding a bonnet made Melly look as fresh as a young girl.

Melly was satisfied with her appearance as well. But unable to fully trust her own eyes, she wanted confirmation from Oz.

“Don’t I look a bit ridiculous? Like I’m dressed inappropriately for my age?”

“Oh my, what are you saying? It suits you so well, madam. Even more than usual…”

Oz, who had been praising without hesitation, trailed off.

She realized after speaking that it might not be a compliment. To say this simple attire suited her better than her usual elegant and dignified attire as a duchess.

Then Melly winked and said,

“It’s okay. I thought so too.”

[This is the timeline separator]

The meeting place was a family restaurant slightly away from the bustling area.

There were five people in the gathering, and Melly arrived last.

Annette’s words that everyone would be glad to see her were not wrong.

“Oh my, who do we have here?”

Cyrille was the first to spot Melly and hugged her. With her gentle personality, she had been the friend Melly was closest to after Annette during their school days.

“Goodness, Melly hasn’t changed at all in seven years.”

This time it was April who spoke. She too had been a close friend of Melly’s.

Then everyone else chimed in to agree.

Melly felt good. But then, Annette stepped in to scold the friends.

“That’s rude.”

“…”

“How can you say that the wife of a great noble is exactly the same as that small, introverted schoolgirl from seven years ago? It took me a while to recognize her.”

After a moment’s hesitation, the friends awkwardly changed their words.

“Oh… that’s right. Now that I look closely, you’ve changed a lot. You’ve become so beautiful. I mean… you were pretty before, but now you’re even more beautiful.”

Melly felt strange about the somewhat artificial praise, but soon forgot about it. Her mind became distracted by the barrage of questions that started as soon as she sat down.

“How have you been all this time?”

“Yes, tell us about yourself.”

Melly was about to answer happily.

“Well, I…”

“How big is your house?”

“How many servants do you have?”

“Is it true that entire clothing, shoe, and jewelry stores come to your house?”