“You declined the Renesis villa?”

Mellie almost hiccupped as Jeyna shouted angrily.

“Lady Pelton, that’s not right. Declining the Renesis villa? Do you know what kind of place that is?”

“What… kind of place is it?”

Jeyna told Mellie that if she became the owner, the attitude of the noblewomen who look down on her now would change 180 degrees.

“And I could have borrowed it too. Do you know how good the hot spring water quality is there? They say even the worst skin diseases heal completely after soaking in that hot spring for a few days.”

Despite Jeyna’s efforts to rant about what an amazing fortune Mellie had kicked away, Mellie just laughed.

“I’m sorry, but I don’t regret it at all.”

To Mellie, becoming the owner of a historic villa meant nothing.

Compared to the ray of light that had finally begun to appear in her life trapped in a tunnel of endless indifference, the satisfaction material things could provide felt merely hollow.

Jeyna clicked her tongue, looking at Mellie as if seeing an unfamiliar species, but…

“Well, since you’ve decided that, I have nothing more to say. I just hope you don’t regret it.”

She ended the conversation about the Renesis villa like that. Though she still seemed to have some lingering regrets.

“Instead, next time we meet, I’d like you to tell me in detail about the scenery there. Milord Square, I mean. I want to imagine what it looks like from your perspective.”

Come to think of it, even the picture of Milord Square that Jeyna had drawn before was from Francis’s perspective. Mellie suddenly became curious.

“Why don’t you see it with your own eyes and draw it?”

“That’s because…”

She chuckled and continued.

“I can’t trust my own eyes. Unlike you, I often distort reality.”

“In what way?”

“Hmm, let’s see…”

Jeyna looked around, searching for an appropriate example.

Suddenly her gaze stopped wandering and fixed on Mellie.

She said with sharp eyes gleaming:

“For instance. You believe you’re happy now, but in fact you’re not as happy as you think. Or you look like someone who’s brainwashing themselves into believing they’re happy. Something like that.”

It was a strange thing to say.

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

“I mean you don’t look particularly happy right now. Separate from being in a good mood. And you know that fact too.”

Still incomprehensible words, but enough to spark a strange sense of defiance in Mellie’s heart.

Mellie refuted with feigned nonchalance.

“You’re certainly distorting reality.”

To say my happiness is fake. That I’m deceiving myself. How could that be?

“Anyway, I’ll tell you when I get back. Exactly as I saw it. Then you’ll know, right? Pictures don’t lie.”

“Alright.”

Mellie gave a light greeting and turned away.

She was happier than anyone right now. So happy it was almost frightening.

Until just the other day, she had vowed to be faithful to her role as a duchess and locked the door to her heart.

She thought she would live wearing a mask like someone without emotions.

She decided to pretend not to be hurt even when in pain, to act pleased even when displeased. What’s so hard about that? Everyone else does it.

Surprisingly, it was a simple matter.

All she had to do was smile in front of people.

She just had to pretend to have more than she actually possessed, and stand tall with her chest out as if she had a weapon or two to threaten others inside.

Never cower. The more you do, the more people in this social world want to crush you rather than sympathize.

Mellie was determined to armor her heart like that.

She thought that was the only future left for her now.

She thought there would be no future of chatting quietly while enjoying the evening scenery with her husband.

Either endure the heat of an intense relationship, or bear the chill of terrible indifference. She thought there were no other options.

But.

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

‘Alright, let’s do what you want for this wedding anniversary.’

Edric readily agreed. He gave her the small happiness of everyday life.

He showed her that there could be a comfortably warm temperature between them, not just hot and cold.

‘If this isn’t happiness, then what is?’

Suddenly Mellie felt her chest tighten. She also felt dizzy and nauseous, as if seasick.

It must be because she’s so happy, too happy.

Her lowly body can’t keep up with the sudden excitement of emotions.

Just as pictures don’t lie, the body doesn’t lie either. Therefore, I am happy.

It’s not like pretending to be happy as someone said. Nor is it exaggerating emotions by mistaking ordinary things for great consideration.

She was simply, purely happy.

It felt like the whole world was congratulating her on her happiness.

It even felt like the floor was rising up to embrace her.

Mellie let the soft carpet caress her cheek.

The fluffy feeling wasn’t too bad. The dizziness and nausea had subsided considerably.

But why was Jeyna shouting?

“Hey, Lady Pelton! Wake up! Mellysa!”

“……”

How much time had passed?

The hazy consciousness suddenly felt the rough texture of a summer blanket and became clear.

Mellie realized she had collapsed right after saying goodbye to Jeyna.

She had no memory from then until now.

Mellie tried to open her eyes to figure out where this was and how she had gotten here.

“How is it? How does it seem?”

At Jeyna’s sudden voice, Mellie had to abandon that thought. No, actually it was because of another person’s voice that followed.

“Well, it seems like anemia. Or maybe orthostatic hypotension.”

“Shouldn’t we contact the duke’s residence even now?”

“Let’s wait a little longer.”

“A little, a little. Just how long do you mean by that, Francis? I’m dying of anxiety here.”

Mellie hesitated at the seemingly comfortable conversation.

She was tempted to keep pretending to sleep out of curiosity to find out exactly what kind of relationship these two had. But feeling it was stuffy and impolite, she opened her eyes.

Francis was looking down at her.

He clearly knew she had been awake. When their eyes met, he smiled slightly. But Jeyna was different.

“My lady, Lady Pelton, are you alright? Are you conscious now?”

Jeyna asked Mellie with a pale face, over and over.

“I’m fine. I seem to have fainted for a moment due to dizziness. I’m sorry for causing unnecessary worry.”

“Yes, you really should be sorry to me. When I think about how shocked I was then…”

As Jeyna sighed in relief, stroking her chest, Mellie looked at Francis.

She had a feeling he was the one who had carried her unconscious self from Jeyna’s studio to here. But she didn’t want to confirm it.

“Thank you. I’m indebted to you.”

Mellie said.

He didn’t humbly deny it, saying he hadn’t done anything. In that respect, Francis was very similar to Edric.

Mellie tried to get up.

“Lie down a little longer.”

Francis stopped her.

His hand hovered in the air above Mellie’s chest. It seemed like silent pressure saying to lie back down if she didn’t want his hand to touch her chest.

Mellie certainly didn’t want that.

She released the strength in her arm that had been propping up the mattress, with an uncomfortable expression.

“Jeyna. I have a favor to ask, could you bring some warm milk with a spoon of honey?”

Francis said to Jeyna.

Jeyna looked back and forth between Francis and Mellie, then nodded. Mellie found the path of that gaze quite unpleasant.

As soon as Jeyna left the room, Mellie said:

“Why on earth did you send out Lady Andert…”

“Are you still taking that medicine from last time?”

Her reproach was cut off by Francis’s abrupt question.

“The medicine from last time?”

It took a moment for her to realize what he was talking about.

He was referring to the medicine Eida had made.

“No.”

Mellie shook her head. Her hair rustled against the starched pillow. She said again:

“I’m not taking it. Could this be withdrawal symptoms from that?”

“Well. It could be.”

Francis spoke ambiguously. Well, the ambiguity was natural. What would he know, not being a doctor?

“Anyway, withdrawal symptoms aren’t bad, so don’t give up and keep quitting the medicine. Understood?”

But he gave instructions like a doctor.

Mellie couldn’t understand why she should listen to this quack’s instructions, but not wanting the conversation to drag on, she just nodded.

“And eat lots of beef.”

“…?”

“Since you seem to have anemia.”

Anemia. An unfamiliar diagnosis.

Mellie tended not to be weak despite her delicate build. She also didn’t get dizzy when standing up suddenly after squatting.

But Mellie felt neither the means nor the need to prove that she was unexpectedly healthy.

She wanted to end this unwelcome encounter as soon as possible.

“Alright. I’ll do that.”

She said compliantly, then looked at him with wary eyes and said:

“May I get up now? My husband will worry if I’m late.”

She was concerned his hand might cross the air above her chest again. But his hands were comfortably folded in front of his own chest.

“Will he really?”

Francis asked.

The subtle implications irritated Mellie’s nerves.

“Of course. What husband wouldn’t worry about a wife who doesn’t come home until late?”

“If that’s what you want to believe.”

“……”

Francis. He was still the same.

He skillfully and unpleasantly pricks at people’s nerves, then steps back as if he had no such intention and watches for a reaction.

Mellie, feeling annoyed, abruptly got up. As he had said, she must have had anemia because her vision blurred as soon as she stood.

When she staggered momentarily, Francis supported her. It was a straightforward consideration. But Mellie twisted her body to shake off his hand.

“I’ve been very rude. Young Master Francis Adel.”

Mellie was all the more politely formal the more displeased she felt. Even using his old surname.

And she turned her back, intending to leave this place as soon as possible. At that moment, Francis suddenly asked:

“Is there anything I can help with?”