He was with his companions.
Perhaps due to the considerable distance, the two people seemed unaware of their presence.
Sitting side by side, the two were facing each other and smiling.
“…Huh?”
Carol let out a dumbfounded sound.
“…The Duke said he had an appointment today, but he’s here.”
Noah laughed awkwardly, “Haha,” while glancing at Carol. Noah also seemed unusually flustered, as if he hadn’t heard about the Duke’s schedule for today.
“Sis.”
Unlike Dylan, Kevin, seemingly with no intention to interfere, whispered calmly into Carol’s ear.
“It’s that person.”
The one he said he saw yesterday.
“Ah…”
Carol let out a small groan.
Hair that shone as if it had condensed all the light in this world, sky-blue eyes that revealed themselves with every blink.
Even without being told who it was, she recognized them immediately.
‘Elisha Chesworth.’
It wasn’t strange for the two of them to meet.
Carol was well aware that the Chesworth family was helping with the Duke’s business.
If she asked the Duke, he would likely casually say that he had some business to attend to.
But Carol was momentarily at a loss for words at the sight of the two, who looked like a painting.
Just like when Margaret Chesworth came to the Duke’s Mansion, the thought that an enormous fate had finally brought these two together dominated Carol’s mind.
That’s why she couldn’t speak.
“They might be meeting because of me. She’s my divine power teacher.”
Noah explained, tugging on Carol’s sleeve. Still, Carol couldn’t say anything.
Teacher.
So she had become a teacher for the Duke’s family, just like herself.
Whoosh.
The wind brushed against her cheek. The sound of leaves colliding could be heard. With every shadow that wavered, it felt as if Carol’s heart wavered along with it.
“Teacher?”
The Duke suddenly raised his head, as if sensing their presence.
Among the people, the Duke’s gaze first fixed on Carol.
Carol gripped the hem of her dress.
‘It’s not like they were doing anything strange, I just saw them alone at the temple.’
She trusted the Duke. But this uneasiness in her heart was because she had momentarily thought how well-suited the two looked together.
“…Let’s go.”
Carol turned away just like that. As if she hadn’t seen anything.
“Carol, aren’t you going to greet them?”
Noah asked nervously, noticing Carol’s unsettling attitude.
“He’s with a guest.”
Did her voice come out calm enough? Her mind fully understood the situation. But she felt that if she spoke now, she might show an emotional side, and she didn’t want to display such an appearance.
She didn’t expect her habit of always holding back would manifest even here.
****
It was so quiet around the gazebo, entwined with flower vines tended by professional gardeners, that not even an ant seemed to pass by.
“Ahem.”
While it was originally a place where people rarely passed, it was a spot specially cleared for the Duke.
Fortunately, she wasn’t having her divine power extracted while standing like yesterday, but this place was famous for secret rendezvous among high-noble children, which made her feel oddly uncomfortable.
Elisha observed the Duke, who was openly thinking of something else in front of her.
Elisha was very objective about her own appearance.
If Edward Winternox was the most eligible bachelor in high society, Elisha Chesworth was the most eligible bachelorette.
Not only unmarried gentlemen of marriageable age but also men with partners often couldn’t take their eyes off her.
‘The Duke must be the only one who looks at me as if I’m an inanimate object.’
She liked that expectation-free gaze.
If he liked her, it wouldn’t be because of her appearance or family background.
So she had even imagined how it would feel if his indifferent gaze turned passionate towards her.
But that was also a thing of the past.
Now, she was more curious about the person who had made the Duke like this.
“Will you be attending the banquet hosted by the Royal Princess this time, Duke?”
“I’m still considering it.”
The Duke replied, clearly showing his reluctance.
“What about your partner this time? I heard you have to bring one this time?”
“So that’s why you asked about the banquet. What did you hear from His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“Through my sister.”
The Crown Prince had already suggested to Margaret Chesworth that she should go with the Duke if he didn’t have a partner.
But since Margaret would soon be going to the west on the Crown Prince’s orders, that suggestion was as good as directed at Elisha, not Margaret.
Although it was called a suggestion, no one could consider the Crown Prince’s suggestion as merely a suggestion.
“Isn’t it natural to be curious?”
“If she wants to.”
Elisha was at a loss for words at the Duke’s response. She was surprised that the decision lay with the other person, not the Duke.
She had always thought that the higher the nobility, the more they considered their wives as possessions.
“…That’s not a precise answer.”
“It’s not a problem if I go alone.”
The Duke spoke nonchalantly, as if he would easily disregard the Crown Prince’s words.
A smile spread across the Duke’s once winter-like face, perhaps thinking of her.
Just as she was observing that smile, she suddenly felt her divine power being drained. She bent over, suppressing the pain. Cold sweat trickled down her forehead.
“It’s done.”
The Duke grinned as he received the perfume bottle.
“Good work.”
At those words, accompanied by the scraping sound of the chair being pushed back, Elisha glared.
“Well then…”
“After exerting myself for the Duke’s request, surely you’re not going to leave so abruptly?”
“I can’t keep a busy person.”
“Thanks to you, I have some time to spare.”
“…Is there more to discuss?”
A hint of annoyance flashed across the Duke’s face. Normally, she wouldn’t have detained him, but what Elisha really wanted to ask about wasn’t the Duke’s partner.
Elisha glanced around needlessly.
“Yes. About my sister.”
Elisha recalled her sister, who had been acting dazed recently, as if lost in thought.
“Speak.”
As the Duke sat down again, Elisha seized the opportunity to ask.
“Has something happened to my sister?”
“…What do you mean?”
He had planned to entrust the management of affairs in the capital and the new business at the royal palace to Louis Walden and Margaret Chesworth. So if something had happened to her, it would be troublesome for the Duke as well.
“Lately, when my sister comes back from work, she acts like someone who’s lost her mind.”
“Isn’t she just tired?”
At the Duke’s indifferent response, Elisha’s eyes flashed as she nervously tapped her fingers on the table.
“No. It’s more like she’s lost her soul. She definitely looks like something has happened.”
“If you’ve asked and she’s not answering, isn’t it right to wait?”
“I know, but I’m worried.”
When Margaret was engaged to the Duke, Elisha only attended parties that the Duke didn’t go to because she was overly conscious of her surroundings. She thought Margaret had gotten much better since working under the Duke, but she still always cared about others’ opinions.
‘But for my sister to be walking around in a daze?’
Something must have happened. No matter how grave an expression Elisha put on, not knowing was not knowing.
“Everyone around her acknowledges her, and she’s doing her part well.”
Even at the Duke’s cliché answer, Elisha persisted.
“To be precise, she started acting strange after returning from that one party she attended recently.”
“Ah.”
The Duke let out a small exclamation. When he couldn’t attend parties, the Duke not only sent a representative but also a few additional people to observe the overall situation.
While receiving reports, he recalled hearing about two people who had behaved differently than usual, though it didn’t seem significant at the time.
[That day, Lady Chesworth rarely attended the party, and Viscount Walden was also there. The two, who don’t often meet, were both drunk on the terrace, and Viscount Walden escorted the Lady home.]
The seemingly insignificant words he had dismissed now fit together like a puzzle.
“Do you know something?”
The Duke remained silent for a moment, taking a sip of tea.
“Well…”
“My sister won’t say what’s wrong. Could it be workplace bullying or something…?”
“Rather than bullying, consider the opposite possibility.”
“It seems like you know something?”
If the dog could fulfill its role and disappear, there would be nothing more pleasing.
But he couldn’t easily speak about others’ affairs.
“…”
“I’m right, aren’t I?”
Elisha gripped the Duke’s arm tightly. Her determination to hear the truth burned strongly.
“It’s not certain, just a guess.”
“Even if it’s just something on your mind, please tell me.”
“…”
“I’ll go as your partner to the party. I am that rumored fiancée, after all.”
She thought he would answer if she went this far. It was a kind of proposal for a trade.
But instead of an answer, something unexpected came out of the Duke’s mouth.
“Teacher?”
Elisha belatedly turned her head, following the Duke’s gaze.
