“If you have beauty and wealth like Rebecca, it won’t be long before you start dating a nice gentleman.”
“...”
“Unlike me, who lost not only my husband but also my property and the reputation of my vassals... Ah."
Lobelia, who belatedly realized that she had habitually lamented her miserable situation, hurriedly stopped what she was saying and looked at Cedric.
It was clear from the silence that followed that he was displeased.
Lobelia blinked her eyes, not knowing what to do, and then barely opened her mouth.
“I ended up complaining about something in front of a busy person. I am truly sorry, Your Highness...”
Lobelia seemed to think that Cedric was offended because she was robbing his of valuable time.
But what really offended him was something else.
'If you have beauty and wealth like Rebecca, it won't be long before you start dating a nice gentleman.'
Those were clearly words said by Lobelia, who did not know their circumstances, to sympathize with the Grand Duke who hoped for the happiness of his ex-wife.
Even though he knew that it was a time when his mood continued to sink.
“Your Highness, I have something urgent to tell you.”
An aide who had left the office during the interview with Lobelia quickly went to see Cedric.
The aide was scratching his eyebrows and hesitating, and a troubled look was evident on his face.
"That is... Her Highness, no, I received a message from the knight who was hidden in Rebecca's mansion...”
When he heard her name, Cedric jumped up from his seat without realizing it.
After learning that people were threatening Rebecca through a series of events, Cedric became overly worried about her leaving his castle.
So, without Rebecca's knowledge, he had his bodyguards disguised as some of the mansion's occupants and protected her.
Receiving a call from those knights must mean that something has gone wrong.
Cedric's face became tinged with nervousness.
“What’s going on?”
“Yes, the flue came and it was... Duke Bold appeared and threatened Rebecca...”
“...What?"
Blood appeared on Cedric's angry forehead.
“What on earth were the knights doing while the situation was like that?”
The aide quickly lowered his head and quickly continued the rest of the report.
“They thought she was at the mansion, so they were watching the area, and later they realized that Rebecca had disappeared...."
Cedric was furious at the guard knight's careless handling of things.
But what was important to him now was Rebecca's safety, not persecuting them.
He tried to run out immediately, but an aide caught him.
“Your Highness, Duke Bold has already been dealt with. Fortunately, someone came to Rebecca’s rescue before any bigger troubles occurred.”
“... Ha, yes. Who has accomplished what even a guard knight could not do?”
Cedric's words were filled with sharp thorns.
The aide, who knew that the thorns would become sharper after hearing the next words, closed his eyes tightly and spoke as if he were giving a straight report.
“Monter... He is called the Count Monter.”
“Adrian?”
“Yes,”
“Unlike me, who lost not only my husband but also my property and the reputation of my vassals... Ah."
Lobelia, who belatedly realized that she had habitually lamented her miserable situation, hurriedly stopped what she was saying and looked at Cedric.
It was clear from the silence that followed that he was displeased.
Lobelia blinked her eyes, not knowing what to do, and then barely opened her mouth.
“I ended up complaining about something in front of a busy person. I am truly sorry, Your Highness...”
Lobelia seemed to think that Cedric was offended because she was robbing his of valuable time.
But what really offended him was something else.
'If you have beauty and wealth like Rebecca, it won't be long before you start dating a nice gentleman.'
Those were clearly words said by Lobelia, who did not know their circumstances, to sympathize with the Grand Duke who hoped for the happiness of his ex-wife.
Even though he knew that it was a time when his mood continued to sink.
“Your Highness, I have something urgent to tell you.”
An aide who had left the office during the interview with Lobelia quickly went to see Cedric.
The aide was scratching his eyebrows and hesitating, and a troubled look was evident on his face.
"That is... Her Highness, no, I received a message from the knight who was hidden in Rebecca's mansion...”
When he heard her name, Cedric jumped up from his seat without realizing it.
After learning that people were threatening Rebecca through a series of events, Cedric became overly worried about her leaving his castle.
So, without Rebecca's knowledge, he had his bodyguards disguised as some of the mansion's occupants and protected her.
Receiving a call from those knights must mean that something has gone wrong.
Cedric's face became tinged with nervousness.
“What’s going on?”
“Yes, the flue came and it was... Duke Bold appeared and threatened Rebecca...”
“...What?"
Blood appeared on Cedric's angry forehead.
“What on earth were the knights doing while the situation was like that?”
The aide quickly lowered his head and quickly continued the rest of the report.
“They thought she was at the mansion, so they were watching the area, and later they realized that Rebecca had disappeared...."
Cedric was furious at the guard knight's careless handling of things.
But what was important to him now was Rebecca's safety, not persecuting them.
He tried to run out immediately, but an aide caught him.
“Your Highness, Duke Bold has already been dealt with. Fortunately, someone came to Rebecca’s rescue before any bigger troubles occurred.”
“... Ha, yes. Who has accomplished what even a guard knight could not do?”
Cedric's words were filled with sharp thorns.
The aide, who knew that the thorns would become sharper after hearing the next words, closed his eyes tightly and spoke as if he were giving a straight report.
“Monter... He is called the Count Monter.”
“Adrian?”
“Yes,”
He mumbled, and as expected, Cedric’s eyes gradually took on a colorful glow.
“Why was that person by Rebecca’s side?”
His anger and anxiety were evident in the words that slowly flowed from his mouth.
Seeing him clenching his fists and swallowing his anger and anxiety, the aide could barely keep his mouth shut.
“It turns out that the owner of the building right next to Rebecca’s mansion is Adrian. It seems that after Rebecca bought the mansion, he bought the land next to it using Adrian's borrowed name..."
Cedric tilted his head looked up at the ceiling and laughed.
“...Ha."
For a moment, he just stared at the ceiling blankly, as if he was beyond angry and dumbfounded.
His muscles stood out above his square jaw.
“That fox-like bastard...”
“Perhaps because you live alone, I can feel Rebecca’s unique atmosphere.”
Adrian, who was sitting in front of the table, slowly looked around the interior of the living room and smiled softly.
“My atmosphere?”
I followed him and took another look around the living room.
"Well...Isn’t it too simple to call it Rebecca’s atmosphere?”
Adrian let out a happy laugh at my joking words.
“I’m saying that it resembles Rebecca’s vibe now, not before.”
“...”
“It’s cozy, yet comfortable.”
I raised my head again and looked at him in a pleasant low voice.
Adrian's mood was quite different from before.
He, who seemed to have boyish beauty and freedom, disappeared somewhere for a while, and before I knew it, only a man, who had become the proper head of a family, was in front of me.
It was around this time that I began to feel strangely impressed by his neatly trimmed short hair.
Just then the door opened and a maid came in, lit a candle on the dinner table, and bowed her head.
“We’ll bring the meal inside soon.”
I smiled and nodded.
Since he is a friend I haven't seen in a long time, I keep repeating that I need to be more careful.
Adrian stared in silence for a moment as the maid answered that she understood and headed outside again.
“Did Miss Mina end up staying in the dark mansion? I understand she cared a lot.”
“Oh, that can’t be possible.”
I smiled and shook my head.
“Mina followed me to this mansion. Although she has been away from the mansion for a while now for a date.”
“Ah, it looks like Mina has finally found someone good for her.”
A happy smile spread across Adrian's lips as he remembered his former colleague.
When I saw that, I realized once again that our memories had become the past.
Although I felt somewhat sad, I pretended to be calm and cleared my throat.
“It may not be as good as what we had at Twins Castle, but our chef’s skills are not bad. Ah... But don’t expect too much.”
Then Adrian joked that he never missed the food at Twins Castle, where he worked hard as a butler.
When I nuzzled my lips and asked him if it was that difficult to be around me, he playfully pretended to be worried and then shook his head.
“It can’t be. In fact, it was the opposite.”
“..."
“I didn’t want to leave that place because Rebecca was there. Of course, there were heartbreaking moments, but I was happy enough to want to endure even that.”
At that time, I was quietly looking at Adrian, who was smiling softly.
Just then, the workers who had prepared the food lined up in the reception room.
Soon, the dishes they brought were placed on the table in order.
The menu included grilled northern-style whole potatoes topped with herbs and carrots, goose-breast steak topped with wine sauce, and a salad made with bell peppers.
Most of the employees went out again as soon as they put the dishes they brought on the table.
Lastly, only the employee who brought us freshly baked bread poured wine into our glasses and carefully stepped aside.
“It looks delicious. Thank you so much for treating me so kindly.”
“There is no way Count Monter would be happy to be treated like this. Rather, it is not enough...”
Adrian repeatedly shook his head saying no.
Then his eyes immediately turned to the plate with the steak on it.
“This was a food that was especially popular at Twins Castle, right?”
“Oh, you remember?”
For some reason, I started chattering with joy.
"That's right. Whenever this steak was scheduled to be served, I repeatedly asked for one more.”
"Haha. Yes, you did.”
“This special sauce was so delicious. That’s why I received a special recipe from the chef before leaving Twins Castle.”
As I spoke seriously with my eyes wide open, Adrian burst into laughter again.
“What a visionary and wonderful solution.”
Adrian couldn't help but smile for a while, his eyes widened like a half-moon.
I glanced at him sullenly and spoke bluntly.
“What is the secret? When did I come down from my position as Grand Duchess?”
For a brief moment, Adrian's smile faded slightly.
“Ah, out of habit, I did that...”
“Why was that person by Rebecca’s side?”
His anger and anxiety were evident in the words that slowly flowed from his mouth.
Seeing him clenching his fists and swallowing his anger and anxiety, the aide could barely keep his mouth shut.
“It turns out that the owner of the building right next to Rebecca’s mansion is Adrian. It seems that after Rebecca bought the mansion, he bought the land next to it using Adrian's borrowed name..."
Cedric tilted his head looked up at the ceiling and laughed.
“...Ha."
For a moment, he just stared at the ceiling blankly, as if he was beyond angry and dumbfounded.
His muscles stood out above his square jaw.
“That fox-like bastard...”
***
“Perhaps because you live alone, I can feel Rebecca’s unique atmosphere.”
Adrian, who was sitting in front of the table, slowly looked around the interior of the living room and smiled softly.
“My atmosphere?”
I followed him and took another look around the living room.
"Well...Isn’t it too simple to call it Rebecca’s atmosphere?”
Adrian let out a happy laugh at my joking words.
“I’m saying that it resembles Rebecca’s vibe now, not before.”
“...”
“It’s cozy, yet comfortable.”
I raised my head again and looked at him in a pleasant low voice.
Adrian's mood was quite different from before.
He, who seemed to have boyish beauty and freedom, disappeared somewhere for a while, and before I knew it, only a man, who had become the proper head of a family, was in front of me.
It was around this time that I began to feel strangely impressed by his neatly trimmed short hair.
Just then the door opened and a maid came in, lit a candle on the dinner table, and bowed her head.
“We’ll bring the meal inside soon.”
I smiled and nodded.
Since he is a friend I haven't seen in a long time, I keep repeating that I need to be more careful.
Adrian stared in silence for a moment as the maid answered that she understood and headed outside again.
“Did Miss Mina end up staying in the dark mansion? I understand she cared a lot.”
“Oh, that can’t be possible.”
I smiled and shook my head.
“Mina followed me to this mansion. Although she has been away from the mansion for a while now for a date.”
“Ah, it looks like Mina has finally found someone good for her.”
A happy smile spread across Adrian's lips as he remembered his former colleague.
When I saw that, I realized once again that our memories had become the past.
Although I felt somewhat sad, I pretended to be calm and cleared my throat.
“It may not be as good as what we had at Twins Castle, but our chef’s skills are not bad. Ah... But don’t expect too much.”
Then Adrian joked that he never missed the food at Twins Castle, where he worked hard as a butler.
When I nuzzled my lips and asked him if it was that difficult to be around me, he playfully pretended to be worried and then shook his head.
“It can’t be. In fact, it was the opposite.”
“..."
“I didn’t want to leave that place because Rebecca was there. Of course, there were heartbreaking moments, but I was happy enough to want to endure even that.”
At that time, I was quietly looking at Adrian, who was smiling softly.
Just then, the workers who had prepared the food lined up in the reception room.
Soon, the dishes they brought were placed on the table in order.
The menu included grilled northern-style whole potatoes topped with herbs and carrots, goose-breast steak topped with wine sauce, and a salad made with bell peppers.
Most of the employees went out again as soon as they put the dishes they brought on the table.
Lastly, only the employee who brought us freshly baked bread poured wine into our glasses and carefully stepped aside.
“It looks delicious. Thank you so much for treating me so kindly.”
“There is no way Count Monter would be happy to be treated like this. Rather, it is not enough...”
Adrian repeatedly shook his head saying no.
Then his eyes immediately turned to the plate with the steak on it.
“This was a food that was especially popular at Twins Castle, right?”
“Oh, you remember?”
For some reason, I started chattering with joy.
"That's right. Whenever this steak was scheduled to be served, I repeatedly asked for one more.”
"Haha. Yes, you did.”
“This special sauce was so delicious. That’s why I received a special recipe from the chef before leaving Twins Castle.”
As I spoke seriously with my eyes wide open, Adrian burst into laughter again.
“What a visionary and wonderful solution.”
Adrian couldn't help but smile for a while, his eyes widened like a half-moon.
I glanced at him sullenly and spoke bluntly.
“What is the secret? When did I come down from my position as Grand Duchess?”
For a brief moment, Adrian's smile faded slightly.
“Ah, out of habit, I did that...”
He had a blank face as if he was reliving something he had forgotten.
For a moment, he seemed to feel better and a smile appeared on his face.
"That's right. Rebecca is no longer the Grand Duchess of the Twins.”
Adrian was silent for a moment, biting his lower lip slightly as if he were controlling the movement of his lips.
For a moment, a faint breath escaped his lips.
“If I dare confess how relieved that fact makes me... Do you think you would find me terrible?”
A faint sense of anxiety seeped into his always brilliant blue-violet eyes.
“...I missed you.”
He confessed as if spewing out something he could not suppress.
“Your voice, your jokes, your beautiful smile. Everything... I missed you so much.”
One after another, his sweet voice melted into my ears like soft yet rich chocolate.
“I took your misfortune called divorce as my comfort. And I waited the whole time.”
“...”
“This is the moment when I can confidently face you.”
“...Adrian.”
I called his name, feeling something unfamiliar.
“Rebecca, I want you...”
That moment when Adrian continued speaking with a desperate expression, as if he was denying my call.
“Ma’am!”
Along with an urgent call coming from outside the living room door, I heard a series of words that should not yet be heard in my mansion.
“Outside the door, His Highness the Grand Duke...!”
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