FLNL 27

And then—nothing happened.

Maia gently slid the door shut and climbed onto the bed with weary steps.

From that point on, she took the initiative to distance herself from Lord Keppel—the current Marquis Keppel.

…No matter how blameless he might be, she simply couldn’t interact with him the same way she had before. Not after what his family had done. It was impossible.

Maia curled up, hugging her knees.

What was the point of revisiting the past now?

If there was one unfortunate thing for Maia, it was that the Duke of Western happened to be close friends with the Marquis Keppel.

The nobles the Duke typically associated with were more or less fixed.

The Second Imperial Prince and current Grand Duke Adelstein. And Marquis Keppel.

These young, charismatic men were all roughly the Duke’s age and were among the very few heirs to noble lineages and titles considered the highest in the Empire. Naturally, they seemed to get along well.

In any case, Maia had found herself in several uncomfortable situations since then.

Though she couldn’t fully read his thoughts, Marquis Keppel never stopped her from avoiding him—and so things had passed without further incident.

“I’ll send a reply to the duke’s estate. Let’s call it a day.”

“Ugh, why is this happening again…?”

Maia pressed her throbbing forehead with both hands and let out a long sigh.

One matter had barely settled, and now another one was beginning to stir.

Three days later, a letter arrived from the Keppel household.

It stated that the Marquis would attend the hunt—and that his younger sister would be accompanying him.

Fine. Let them come. Just don’t enter the Duke’s estate.

Maia prayed earnestly.

But…

“After the hunt, I plan to have the party stay at the duke’s estate for a few days.”

That utterly unhelpful Duke Western intended to let the Marquis and his entourage lodge at the estate.

She was doomed.

Maia began furiously contemplating places to escape to during their stay.

She could return to her family home, but ever since the incident at the trial, the Duke had reacted almost bizarrely sensitively to her absence from the estate—there was no way he would allow it.

Should she get Rihi involved? She considered it briefly but quickly shook off the idea.

“The Duke has sent word that he will return this evening with the Marquis and his guests after the hunt. Shall I prepare your attire?”

…As if her head weren’t already a mess.

If she asked the ever-perceptive Rihi for help, Rihi would definitely ask what had happened between Maia and the Marquis in the past.

“…No need for anything fancy. Just let me know when everything’s ready.”

If Rihi were to find out why Maia, at just ten years old, had fled to her maternal family after less than a year in the capital…

“…It would be a disaster…”

She could already picture Rihi, with a blank expression, tearing down the ceiling above the Marquis and his sister’s heads while feigning surprise: “Oh my, faulty construction?”

…No matter how awkward things were, she didn’t actually want to end their lives.

“Madam, dinner is ready.”

“Alright.”

Maia got up from the bed.

It was nearly time to face those dreadful faces with a smile again.

Maia waited in the hall to greet the returning Duke Western, lost in tedious thoughts.

The Marquis Keppel and his entourage… At least Grand Duke Adelstein had gone back to his estate…

Just imagining the others made her head throb.

Marquis Keppel had long been one of the main clients of the Mayus Merchant Guild, which had been run by Maia’s maternal family for generations.

Since childhood, he’d visited her family’s home several times a month with his parents.

But the real problem wasn’t the Marquis.

“Your Grace, you’ve returned.”

The old butler’s deep voice echoed. Maia looked toward the wide-open front door.

“The rest will be arriving shortly.”

“We’ve been preparing since midday.”

Duke Western, usually dressed in dignified formalwear, was in his hunting outfit today, having just returned from a monster hunt.

His long, dark blue hair was tied and damp with sweat, strands clinging messily as they fluttered. Several buttons on his ivory shirt were undone, revealing his chest.

Startled by the unexpected sight, Maia flinched and quickly looked away.

It was absurd for a married couple, but throughout their marriage, he had never once shown her a disheveled appearance.

So it was only natural that her face flushed.

“…Maia.”

It seemed the Duke had spotted her too.

Maia cleared her throat a few times and slowly approached him.

“Welcome back.”

The Duke gazed down at her silently.

“…Was everything alright in my absence?”

“Nothing out of the ordinary. And you, Your Grace?”

Maia could never understand why nobles insisted on going out once a month to risk their lives monster hunting. But her husband clearly belonged to that incomprehensible group.

As a formality, she asked about his well-being while glancing behind him—he seemed to have returned alone.

“…I’m fine. And…”

The Duke’s trailing words made Maia look up.

“There’s something I’d like to give you. Not now, but later, when there’s time.”

When their eyes met—his slightly blushed face turned away from her.

“…Alright, as you wish.”

Maia replied flatly. That wasn’t what she was curious about.

“Aside from Marquis Keppel, who exactly is in the group?”

The Duke, handing his coat and hunting rifle to the butler, turned and replied,

“Lady Keppel, Marquess Bastilo, and Count Layan. You’re already acquainted with Lady Keppel, I believe.”

Acquainted, huh?

Maia’s expression twisted subtly.

“…What lovely guests we have.”

“Your Grace!”

A clear voice interrupted her sarcastic comment and echoed across the hall.

An unbearably familiar voice.

Maia turned her subtly twisted gaze toward the woman smiling brightly behind the Duke.

“Lady Keppel? Why are you alone?”

The Duke asked, puzzled.

The woman stepped into the estate, her light brown curls fluttering in the wind beneath the setting sun.

She smiled as she replied with her cheerful voice,

“My brother and the others had to stop due to their horses suddenly becoming exhausted, so I arrived a bit earlier. The Duke’s estate is always so elegant—like a solitary birch tree blooming on the Erdisia snowfields.”

Wearing hunting attire that still managed to accentuate her charm, she approached the Duke warmly, then turned her amber eyes to Maia.

“So the Duchess is here as well.”

Maia saw a subtle shift in the expression behind that smile.

She twisted her lips and stared at the woman—an old enemy.

“It’s been a while, Duchess. Have you been well?”

As if she had no idea about the recent royal trial over the poisoning attempt by Maia’s head maid.

Maia smiled as she replied.

“Not really. The effects of the poison haven’t fully faded yet, so I wouldn’t say I’ve been well. What about you, Lady Keppel?”

“I’m always the same—managing the household and attending social gatherings on behalf of my brother. Speaking of which… why haven’t you been attending any lately, Duchess?”

A casual remark that deliberately jabbed at the Duke estate’s sore spot caused the room’s atmosphere to chill instantly.

The servants exchanged glances nervously.

Maia looked calmly at Lady Keppel.

Her lively complexion had transformed into one tinted with sorrow—a fragile image that would draw pity from anyone.

“Since I have dear friends who stay by my side, there’s little reason for me to find strength in socializing. I do hope you’ll join me sometime and reconsider, Duchess.”

Lady Keppel smiled with eyes curved.

Maia glanced at the Duke watching them from behind.

“Now’s not the time to discuss that. How has Marquis Keppel been?”

Maia gracefully redirected the conversation. Lady Keppel’s gaze flickered.

“My brother… ever since that shocking trial, he’s been so worried about you he can’t sleep. Weren’t the two of you rather close once?”

At that, the Duke’s face turned noticeably cold.

Close, my foot. Maia bit back a scoff and smiled sweetly.

“Close? You flatter me. The Marquis was simply civil for the sake of potential future business. Oh my, look at the time. I mustn’t keep you standing here any longer…”

She signaled a maid behind her.