Chapter 26
Lady Audrey left with a satisfied expression, and once she was out of sight, I turned to Anna and handed her the box, asking,
“Anna, do we have anyone in the estate who is planning for a child?”
“Hm, I’ve heard that the head cook and his wife are considering having a child. They’re both getting older, so they’re worried it won’t be easy,” she replied.
“Really? Then I should give this to the head cook.”
Since they said the herbs were valuable, selling them could bring in money, but it’d be better if they went to someone who could truly use them.
“Aren’t you going to use them, my lady?”
“I don’t need herbs.”
I didn’t want to go into explaining why it was impossible for me to get pregnant, so I casually brushed it off.
Anna blinked, her eyes growing wide, and soon her cheeks turned red.
“Ah.”
What’s with that suggestive, mischievous expression?
“You two are always so heated, so you probably don’t need herbs, right? Unlike you, who always looks exhausted, the Duke always looks so refreshed every morning.”
“Th-That’s not it!”
“I know, I know~,” Anna teased, not buying my denial.
Since we were pretending to be a happy couple, I couldn’t deny it any further and kept my lips tightly pressed together.
At that moment, I heard rustling sounds.
Looking in the direction of the noise, a red-haired man stood there, looking somewhat startled.
“……”
“……”
He cleared his throat awkwardly and straightened his posture.
“Ahem! I’m sorry, I accidentally overheard your private conversation.”
As his eyes met mine, his face slowly turned red.
‘…It looks like there’s one more person who misunderstood.’
Although I felt embarrassed, I didn’t think such misunderstandings would be bad, so I gave up and accepted it silently.
“It’s fine. We were the ones speaking in a public space. There’s nothing shameful about having a good relationship with your spouse.”
“I’m grateful for your understanding.”
The red-headed man placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly before lifting his head.
His smile was so gentle, he looked like a puppy. Even I, who saw Harold every day, could tell he was a handsome man.
‘Who is he? Is he a noble?’
I didn’t recall him from Diana’s memories.
“I have an appointment, so I must be on my way. My lady.”
“Yes, please, go ahead.”
The man checked his watch, looking apologetic, and nodded to me.
I waved my hand, signaling that it was no trouble. As I was about to leave, I heard a thud.
The man had tripped on a stone.
“Are you okay?”
“Haha, yes. I’m always clumsy, so it’s not a big deal… I’m used to it.”
His ears were turning red. Embarrassed, he quickly got up and rushed towards the mansion, clearly trying to leave the situation.
‘He’s used to tripping?’
For some reason, I felt a sense of kinship with this stranger. He reminded me of myself during my dance practice, when I kept tripping over my own feet.
* * *
“You’re late for our appointment, but I see you’re still clumsy as ever,” Lady Mayer said, looking at the red-headed man with affection.
“I had something come up on my way here.”
As he spoke, the earlier incident flashed through his mind. He rubbed his ear in embarrassment and tried to sit down but nearly tripped over his own feet.
Lady Mayer let out a sigh as if she couldn’t do anything about him.
“Even after 10 years, you still haven’t changed.”
“Haha… Even after 10 years, you’re still as graceful as ever, my lady.”
He smiled awkwardly and sat across from her.
Though he had spent the last 10 years abroad, but he kept up with news from the empire. As such, he already knew there was nothing wrong with her, but his gaze was still careful and caring.
As he glanced over her, his eyes suddenly shifted to another person— a pink-haired lady who had married to the terminally ill duke.
He had heard much about Diana, the woman who had once been involved in a tragic love triangle and had poisoned her friend in a moment of jealousy.
‘She’s quite different from what I’d heard.’
Despite the rumors, she seemed to get along well with even the servants…
“…What?”
“Apologies, I was lost in thought,”
He apologized, scrunching his nose in a playful way, and Lady Meyer asked again,
“Have you fully returned to the empire?”
“Yes. I was ordered to return, so I don’t think I’ll be leaving again. Since I arrived early, I’ll have to lay low for a while.”
“That’s great. The Empire needs you here. We can’t have you staying abroad forever.”
Lady Mayer’s smile softened, her voice full of warmth.
“We’re glad to have you back, Prince Andrew.”
“Thank you, my lady.”
Prince Andrew, the red-headed man, kissed her hand in gratitude.
* * *
Kaiden pressed his fingers to his temple as he reviewed his paperwork. He hadn’t been sleeping well lately, and it was starting to affect his ability to concentrate.
“Your Highness, how about taking a break for a while?”
“…Yeah, that sounds good. Call me when you need me.”
Kaiden agreed to his aide’s suggestion. Once the aide left and he was completely alone, he irritably loosened his cravat, feeling suffocated. Leaning back in his chair, he let out a long sigh, his broad shoulders relaxing as he exhaled.
Ever since attending Marchioness Mayer’s party, there hadn’t been a moment when the tightness in his chest subsided.
‘My decision wasn’t wrong.’
Kaiden narrowed his eyes and repeated to himself.
Ella was the perfect woman to be a duchess. In contrast, Diana might appear to have changed, but it was obviously temporary. Hadn’t he witnessed firsthand over the past decade what kind of woman she truly was?
‘It’s all just an act to get my attention.’
That’s the kind of woman Diana was.
Sooner or later, she would undoubtedly barge into this townhouse, using her title as duchess to beg for his love.
Just then, the door burst open without a knock. None of his aides would commit such a breach of etiquette.
In that instant, Kaiden was certain it was Diana who had come.
However, standing at the open door was not Diana, but his elder brother, Harold Vissen, dressed in a navy suit.
“You got up as if you were welcoming me, but what’s with that face, Kaiden?”
“…When did I ever stand up like I was pleased? I stood because I was wondering which impudent person dared to enter my office without knocking.”
“Is that so? Then let’s go with that.”
Harold tilted the corner of his mouth into a crooked smile and stepped into the office. Without waiting for an invitation, he moved to the small sitting area within the office and took the main seat.
Neither had Kaiden invited him in nor offered him a seat, yet Harold’s actions were as brazen as ever. What infuriated Kaiden more was the commanding aura Harold exuded, making his insolent behavior seem entirely natural.
That was the part Kaiden hated most. He felt like he could never surpass Harold unless his brother succumbed to his illness and passed away.
“And what brings you here unannounced, Brother? When I visited without notice, you threw me out. Isn’t this what they call ‘double standards’ these days? Do you even know what it means?”
Kaiden masked his agitation, sitting down on the sofa with a composed expression, his expression calm as he mocked Harold.
“It means, ‘When I do it, it’s romance; when others do it, it’s an affair.’ That’s what it means, Brother.”
Harold’s crimson lips curved into a graceful smile, his cold navy eyes narrowing with amusement.
“Exactly right. When I do it, it’s romance.”
He pointed to himself with a finger before turning it toward Kaiden.
“When you do it, it’s an affair.”
Harold clasped his hands together and rested them on his knee before adding,
“I can do it. You can’t.”
“….”
The veins on Kaiden’s hand bulged violently, but he swallowed the burning anger rising in his throat, knowing that losing his temper here would only work to his disadvantage.
“Let’s skip the pointless talk. What brings you here, Brother?”
“For once, we’re in agreement. After all, it’s exhausti
ng for both of us to spend too much time in each other’s company.”
Harold crossed his legs and finally got to the point of his visit.
“Kaiden, stop meddling with ‘my’ Diana.”
