The smile slowly faded from Eida’s face. Melly was so flustered by this situation that she didn’t know what to do.

She quickly spoke up.

“Bu… But that’s too big of a gift……”

Edric raised his hand to stop her words. He looked at Eida with a harmless smile.

“I’ve been thinking for a while.”

“……”

“Shouldn’t Melly have at least one piece of real estate of her own?”

At those words, Eida barely managed to lift her stiffly frozen lips and said.

“I see. I hadn’t thought of that. Yes. She can have it. She should.”

‘She could have ten, not just one. But.’

Eida hid her trembling hands under the table and thought.

‘But why that place of all places?’

That place was Eida Pelton’s favorite villa. If she could have it, she would have taken it long ago. The reason she couldn’t was because ownership of that place had been given only to the successive heads of the family for generations.

Such a place, a sanctuary for the women of the Pelton family, Edric was now trying to hand over to that thing.

To such a lowly thing.

She almost blurted out vulgar words. She almost fiercely objected.

But Eida knew well how ruthlessly Edric pushed through with things he had decided on. Hadn’t he made this impossible marriage possible?

He was the man who had raised a commoner-like noblewoman from the bottom to be the lady of the great noble Pelton family.

Unnecessary opposition would only make him more stubborn.

“Alright, do as you wish.”

She said, forcing a smile. For now, that was the best option in many ways. To proceed smoothly with future matters as well……

“Melly must be happy. Receiving such a precious gift for your wedding anniversary.”

“……”

“From now on, I’ll have to ask Melly for permission every time I go to the villa?”

Melly was mortified with discomfort and embarrassment at Eida’s joking tone.

“No. Mother, that place is yours……”

“It’s yours now.”

Eida cut off Melly’s words with a kind face.

“Since Edric is giving you such a wonderful gift, I can’t lose either. I’ll have to think about what gift to give you. Melly.”

“……”

Melly lowered her gaze with a shameful face. As she looked at her daughter-in-law, Eida’s fingertips mercilessly scratched the back of her other hand.

[This is the timeline separator]

“Why did you do that?”

Melly said, following Edric back to his office with small steps.

“I don’t need something like a villa, so just give it to Mother. It’s a place she likes, isn’t it?”

“I said it was an anniversary gift.”

Edric said without slowing his pace.

“Are you rejecting my gift?”

“That’s not it……”

“Or.”

Suddenly Edric stopped walking and turned around.

As Melly barely managed to stop just before burying her nose in her husband’s chest, catching her breath, Edric continued.

“Is there another gift you want?”

“I don’t want anything like that.”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“I see.”

“……”

“If you don’t want any gift, then quietly accept the gift I’m giving you.”

Edric said.

If you don’t want any gift….. He clearly said so.

“What if I do want a gift? Then, can I not accept the villa?”

At Melly’s words, Edric, who was about to turn around, stopped again.

He faced Melly directly and said.

“I’ll decide after hearing what it is.”

“……”

As Melly hesitated to speak, Edric jerked his chin.

“Tell me. What do you want?”

Melly answered slowly and carefully.

“I want to go on a date with you.”

“……”

There was no answer from Edric. He just stood with his arms folded, head tilted to one side, quietly staring at her.

Does that mean it’s unreasonable? Because he’s a man who values time more than money? Or is it too trivial to be worth mentioning?

Either way, it was the kind of thought he would have……

“Where?”

“……”

For a moment, Melly’s eyes widened round. It was an answer she had not expected at all.

“I asked where you want to do what.”

Edric asked again. There seemed to be a hint of irritation in his voice. If she delayed any longer, it felt like the opportunity would fly away. She quickly said.

“Milord Square. I want to watch the sunset there with you.”

“……”

Edric’s eyes narrowed thinly. This gaze was more complex than before.

What did he want to say?

‘Keep it moderate. You refused a historic villa and this is the vulgar place you chose?’

It seemed like he wanted to say something like that, but also not.

She couldn’t guess his thoughts.

[This is the timeline separator]

‘I’m thinking of giving her the villa as an anniversary gift soon.’

As soon as he said that, Mother’s expression froze coldly. Melly didn’t see it, but Edric did. Even the hand scratching under the table.

Well, it was an understandable reaction.

The villa in Renisis Hot Springs had never been owned by anyone other than the head of the family, the exclusive property of the Pelton family men.

For the first time, a woman not born a Pelton would own it.

Mother knew how great and groundbreaking an honor this was and was angry. But Melly, who was biting her lips and worrying about how to refuse without hurting anyone’s feelings, didn’t know the weight this gift carried at all.

She demanded an alternative not even worth considering.

‘I want to go on a date with you.’

A date. She refused the villa just for that?

And that wasn’t the end of it.

‘I want to watch the sunset with you at Milord Square.’

Milord Square.

Isn’t that the place where she spent more time with another bastard long ago?

Edric still had that moment as a terrible memory. He felt like his pathetic self, who had wandered around looking for Melly in a disheveled state, was still imprinted somewhere there.

But even so, he couldn’t entirely blame her, because he knew it was a wish she had longed for for a long time.

[A walk, sunset, Milord Square, wanting to share all of this with Edric Pelton.]

He had seen her heart.

He saw Melly’s feelings for him in the scattered letters filling her diary.

Edric was the only person who mattered to Melly. The other bastards were nothing.

He thought it would be right to grant his wife’s wish at least once, since she only looked at him so longingly.

Besides, that square had been transformed into a sophisticated complex space through the redevelopment project he had overseen a few years ago, so it was no longer a vulgar and lowly place.

There was no reason not to go.

“Alright.”

“……”

“We’ll do as you want for this anniversary.”

Edric said. Melly’s eyes shook with unbelievable joy. Tears of emotion pooled transparently sparkling under her eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you so much. Darling.”

Melly said.

Edric seemed to know what the next words would be.

“I love you, Edric.”

He could now guess the timing of those words just by looking at her eyes, lips, and chest swelling as she took a light breath.

She was expressing her love for him with her whole body.

But he didn’t say it again today.

‘I love you too, Melly.’

Why should I?

She’s already dying for me without saying such words.

People tend to want more rather than being grateful when given something. People get upset over one mistake despite a hundred good deeds.

But it’s also human nature for a frozen heart to melt with one kind action despite a hundred cold treatments.

Which is more beneficial? Isn’t it obviously the latter?

“Then let’s rest.”

Edric moved away, leaving her behind.

He plans to keep saving the words ‘I love you’ for the future.

If he can maintain this absolute superiority with that.

[This is the timeline separator]

The next afternoon, Melly visited Jeina.

Jeina’s side had sent her a letter requesting a visit.

Melly wasn’t keen on it, but she had no choice since she received the letter in Edric’s presence.

He was pleased to see Melly building a relationship with Duchess Andert, who dominated the art world.

Fortunately, Jeina was alone and showed no sign of calling anyone.

Melly relaxed and had refreshments with Jeina.

“I have something to show you.”

When the teacups were empty, she stood up. She led Melly to her studio. And showed her a new work she had recently painted.

After quietly gazing at the painting, Melly gave her honest impression.

“Isn’t the color scheme too dark for depicting a clear day in the countryside? It looks somewhat gloomy.”

Jeina looked surprised for a moment, then said.

“You’re quite unique, Madam.”

“……”

“You have a perspective that can see objectively in any situation.”

At those words, Melly tilted her head to one side and asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Actually, I showed this painting to a few people before you. They all say it’s bright and sunny. But only you accurately guessed what I intended.”

Jeina said, looking at her painting as if caressing it with her eyes.

“The title of this painting is ‘Shadows on a Clear Day’.”

“Ah……”

She had guessed correctly again unintentionally.

‘At this point, should I believe it’s not coincidence but inevitability?’

Melly shook her head with a smile. Coincidences could repeat a few more times. It would be foolish to consider it skill and become arrogant.

“I just said what I saw. I didn’t particularly think about it.”

“That’s precisely proof that you have a good eye.”

“……”

“Being able to see things objectively even when excited is a very special ability.”

Even when excited……

Just as those words seemed somewhat meaningful, Jeina narrowed her eyes and asked.

“Did something good happen? I’ve been wanting to ask.”

I tried not to show it, but it must have been noticeable.

Melly said with a shy expression.

“Um, I’m going on an anniversary date with him. At Milord Square.”

“Ah…… I see.”

Jeina nodded as if her guess was correct and asked.

“That’s enough to make you happy. You’re a modest person after all.”

She continued, teasing not unkindly.

“So? Is that all? Nothing else? Like a gift?”

“No.”

Phew-.

Jeina pushed out her lips as if disappointed.

“Duke Pelton is stingier than he looks. Trying to get by with just a date and no gift for your anniversary.”

The atmosphere suddenly turned to criticizing him. Melly hurried to defend Edric.

“Oh, that’s not it. He said he’d give a gift, but I said I wouldn’t accept it.”

“What did he say he’d give?”

Jeina asked without much expectation.

“The Renisis villa.”

“……!”