Chapter 36……………………….
“Ha….”
Trisha let out a hollow laugh.
What was this sudden provocation now?
“You sure talk a lot for someone I just saved.”
“If you saved me, then you should take responsibility all the way through. Don’t you think?”
It was an outrageously shameless answer, but strangely, it wasn’t unpleasant.
I really am hopeless.
Trisha swallowed her laugh and picked up her pen again.
“I’ll play with you after I finish writing, so wait.”
“What am I, a dog?”
“You’re pretty similar.”
“In the sense that I wait for my owner?”
“In the sense that you don’t listen to other people.”
Trading words like this made it feel as though she’d returned to the past.
Back when every day was peaceful, and she truly believed that peace would last forever.
Sadly… she could never go back to that time.
Just then—
As Trisha finished the letter and set down her pen, Millard’s pale finger brushed her cheek.
Trisha froze, then slowly lifted her head.
“You didn’t wipe away all your tears.”
Millard’s finger moved gently, wiping beneath her eye.
“It’s… nothing.”
“……”
Millard turned his head and fixed his gaze out the window.
Trisha, too, awkwardly kept her eyes on the paper, pretending to scribble something more.
The hand that had touched her was cool and dry.
And yet, Trisha felt as though the warmth spread from the corner of her eye to her entire face.
***
“Eddie! Why are you only now— Ah, Your Grace.”
The one who greeted Trisha upon her return after spending some time with Millard was Regaina.
“Your Grace, you’re here!”
Jane, who had been forced to return early because of Edwin, came running.
Trisha asked as though she knew nothing.
“Where is Edwin?”
“His Highness the Grand Duke hasn’t arrived yet.”
At that, Trisha’s gaze shifted to Regaina.
“Princess.”
Trisha slowly turned toward her.
“Did something happen during the banquet, perhaps?”
“Well…”
“Edwin isn’t the type to stay outside alone and silent until this hour.”
That was a lie.
Even before Regaina came, Edwin often enjoyed the nights of high society alone.
Though he changed a bit after she arrived.
After Regaina entered his life, Edwin never went out alone at night.
Wherever he went, he was desperate to keep her at his side.
But today… he was alone.
And what that meant was obvious.
He’s losing interest in Regaina.
Regaina must have sensed it faintly as well.
Trisha waited calmly for her answer.
Regaina seemed to choose her words carefully.
“Nothing really happened at the banquet. Except… Her Highness the Imperial Princess said a few things to me…”
“Her Highness Hestia?”
“Yes.”
Regaina nodded cautiously.
“This may sound strange, but… she seemed displeased that you weren’t present.”
Regaina’s words were very subtle.
“And she said there weren’t enough people to attend to her…”
It almost sounded as though Hestia regarded Trisha as nothing more than a maid.
“What does that even mean?!”
“Jane.”
At Trisha’s warning, Jane bit her lip and stepped back.
“Was that all?”
“Yes. Nothing else happened.”
Trisha stroked her chin, deep in thought.
“Then perhaps Edwin’s mood is sour because of something else.”
“Yes… I think so.”
“I assumed it was because of the banquet when he said he wasn’t feeling well earlier.”
“…Earlier? You met Eddie earlier?”
“Yes. I ran into him by chance while taking some fresh air outside.”
“By chance…?”
“Yes. By chance.”
It truly was coincidence, but Regaina didn’t seem to believe it.
She must be anxious that Edwin, losing interest in her, might return to me.
Trisha had spoken deliberately, aiming for that effect.
“Oh right— I heard you visited the Seventh Consort’s palace?”
“H-How did you…?”
Regaina asked without thinking, then immediately realized how foolish it sounded.
Trisha had said she met Edwin.
Then of course, he must have been the one who told her.
Regaina ground her teeth internally.
Trisha only offered a meaningful smile, as though she could read her thoughts.
“Did you enjoy the visit?”
Regaina stayed guarded at Trisha’s probing tone.
Trisha trailed off briefly, then smiled softly.
“It must get lonely being away from your homeland for so long…”
She curved her lips gently.
“I truly hope… you manage to endure it well.”
Regaina forced a smile, struggling to suppress her disgust at the apparent sincerity.
***
From the next day onward, Regaina’s standing within the Grand Duke’s estate changed.
Not only had she attended the imperial palace as Edwin’s partner, but she had also begun managing the household alongside Trisha.
「This is truly wonderful, my lady.」
“…Do you really think so?”
Regaina sighed heavily as she sat down.
Leona, seated beside her, scribbled on paper.
「Did something happen? You even brought back the Seventh Consort’s diary.」
“Yes. I brought Mother’s diary. But what use is that?”
Regaina’s lips trembled, her brow furrowing as though even speaking these words bruised her pride.
“I think Edwin is already tired of me.”
Her expression turned icy.
“I think he’s about to abandon me.”
「But the imperial banquet—」
“That felt like the last time!” Regaina shouted before Leona could finish writing.
“What do I do? If I’m thrown away like this, it’s truly the end…”
「That’s only your assumption, my lady.」
Leona calmly wrote.
「No one in this estate knows what the Grand Duke truly intends.」
Tears gathered in Regaina’s large eyes—beautiful enough to shake any man.
“Do you really think so?”
「Yes. And now… isn’t it true that you no longer have to cling only to the Grand Duke?」
Regaina blinked.
Leona was right.
As long as she wasn’t about to be cast out immediately, there was no need to be so consumed by Edwin’s favor.
“Yes… you’re right, Leona.”
Leona handed her a handkerchief, and Regaina wiped away her tears.
“Edwin already brought me before His Majesty the Emperor. He can’t cast me aside so easily. He’s not the type to do anything that would damage his pride.”
Besides, affection was relative.
If she couldn’t rise higher herself…
She could simply pull someone else down.
Then the result would be the same.
Leona wrote down someone’s name.
Regaina checked it and shook her head.
“No. That’s too dangerous.”
Regaina rose and walked toward the balcony. Leona followed.
And then she saw—
Exactly who stood at the end of Regaina’s gaze.
***
Marchioness Devon had been unusually sharp lately.
After losing the Emperor’s favor, and even Edwin’s trust, her position in the Grand Duke’s household had become like a candle in the wind.
“I greet you, Aunt.”
Naturally, Regaina’s visit was unwelcome.
And yet she couldn’t drive her away.
Because I don’t know how Edwin will respond.
Humiliating as it was, the Marchioness now had to watch her nephew’s mood carefully.
She could not treat Regaina lightly, now that she had become Edwin’s partner, met the Emperor, and begun interfering in the household affairs.
To monopolize Edwin’s affection alone… a snake-like girl.
Despite that, she maintained her usual composure.
“So, what is it you wished to see me about?”
With what remained of her pride, she spoke with stern dignity.
“I think I made a mistake.”
“A mistake?”
“…About the ring.”
At Regaina’s words, one of Devon’s eyebrows rose.
To bring up the very incident that had caused her to lose Edwin’s trust…
Devon wanted nothing more than to throw the tea in her face, but she endured.
“That matter should already be over.”
“What if it isn’t over yet?”
Anger flickered across Devon’s face.
Just as she was about to explode—
Regaina leaned in and whispered first.
“Aunt… do you know who has that ring now?”
