SEM 35

#035

The gold of the invitation signified it was from the Emperor, and the silver meant it was from the Empress.

She had expected Rozella to make a move, but she hadn’t thought an invitation would arrive this quickly. It made sense—Rozella must’ve felt like she’d walked into the trap Eliana had set, which would make her anxious.

Seeing Eliana holding the invitation and shaking it slightly, she realized once again: she’d have to start working together with Eliana again.

“Thank you for the invitation, madam.”

Grady gave an exaggerated courtly bow to Eliana. She sighed, her shoulders rising and falling in response to his over-the-top gesture.

As Eliana turned away, Grady quietly followed at her heels—then suddenly took her hand.

“Ah!”

Startled by the sudden physical contact, Eliana turned toward him. At that very moment, as if he’d been waiting for it, Grady brushed her lips with his. Their eyes met mid-air, filled with shock, but she didn’t avoid the kiss.

No, it was such a fleeting moment that she didn’t even have time to avoid it.

“Kyaa!”

A shriek came from the maids outside who had been gathering laundry when the sudden rain started. Eliana’s face, flushed red, turned pale. The electrifying warmth left on her lips felt like a blade piercing her heart.

Grady laughed as he looked at her pale face.

“Did I ever tell you?”

He gently brushed her lips with his thumb, smiling slyly. Her waist, caught in his large hands, burned like it had been seared by fire.

The maids may have looked on enviously, but Eliana wanted to hide in a hole from sheer embarrassment.

“What… are you talking about?”

To regain her composure, she clenched her fists until her nails dug into her palms. Still, she asked as if unaffected, avoiding his gaze.

“That Rozella’s hobby is monitoring my every move!”

Grady lightly touched her slightly parted, red lips, never taking his eyes off hers.

Even under the dark sky pouring with heavy rain, her eyes shone bright blue.

“Maybe… maybe this is why.”

His finger slowly traced up from her lips, gliding over the bridge of her nose and cheekbones, finally arriving at her eyes.

“The maids have already withdrawn.”

“I know.”

Eliana tried to push away Grady’s hand, which was caressing her face, but he was quicker.

As he reached toward her eyes, as if to stroke them, Eliana closed her eyes.

BOOM!

Thunder and lightning crashed as if the rain alone couldn’t ease the weight of the clouds.

Each time lightning flashed, Eliana’s face lit up and dimmed again in rhythm, her eyes still shut.

Even with her damp eyes no longer in view, the pounding in Grady’s chest didn’t subside.

“Am I finally losing it?”

Grady mocked himself. He didn’t like seeing his twisted reflection in her watery blue eyes.

“…Your Grace.”

When the shadow looming before her disappeared, Eliana opened her eyes and called out. Behind Grady, who stood with his back to the window, lightning flashed again.

“My stomach doesn’t feel great. I’ll have to postpone the invitation.”

Grady abruptly pulled away from Eliana and raked his hair back roughly.

“Huh?”

Eliana looked at him in disbelief, startled by the absurd excuse. Grady quickly turned away from her blue eyes that looked like they had soaked up all the rain.

“I think I’m coming down with something.”

He pounded his chest with a fist and took a deep breath, waving a hand toward her, the other covering part of his face as if to hide his confusion.

“Are you all right?”

“No.”

Without even meeting her gaze, Grady turned and quickly disappeared from sight.

Left alone, Eliana let out a hollow laugh and looked down at the invitation in her hand.

“What am I supposed to do now?”

Left all alone, she started walking.

As Eliana slowly wandered through the Grand Duke’s corridor, she glanced out the window. Grady, who had claimed he wasn’t feeling well, was pushing himself into the carriage.

Raindrops splashed against the ground and bounced back into the air, splattering dirt onto Grady’s trousers.

“Huh?”

For just a moment, as he was climbing into the carriage, Grady looked at the window where Eliana stood. The coachman hastily shut the door, but both had clearly seen each other.

Through the pouring rain, the Grand Duke’s carriage—bearing the Cryver insignia—sped off.

“Damn it, it must’ve looked like I was running away.”

Grady muttered to himself, leaning back against the seat. It was as if he had used being unwell as an excuse to escape.

“She’s not going to think I’m avoiding her… is she?”

Twisting about in the empty carriage, Grady fell into anxious thought. The raindrops beating viciously against the tiny window felt like mockery.

Meanwhile, after confirming Grady had left, Eliana returned to the drawing room and stared blankly out the window.

“Are you all right?” Emma asked gently.

Eliana turned her head away from the rain. The teacup meant for him sat alone and desolate across from her.

“Of course.”

She nodded like it was nothing. Emma quietly poured tea into her cup.

Eliana’s drawing room was smaller than the others, cozy and charming. It was attached to her bedroom—not for receiving guests, but for her private use.

“That’s why I insisted you eat at the table…”

Emma cautiously began, trying to read Eliana’s mood.

“Does he often eat in his office?”

“When he works with Maurice, he almost always eats in there.”

Emma smiled softly as she pushed a plate of cookies toward Eliana. The head maid clearly cared for her deeply.

“The cup has lost its owner.”

At Eliana’s comment, Emma moved to clear Grady’s untouched cup—but paused when Eliana spoke again.

“Why don’t you be its new owner instead?”

“…Pardon?”

Emma, who had bent over to collect the cup, froze and looked up.

But Eliana’s face was calm, unfazed. Gone was the flustered woman from the hotel—only poise remained.

“I can’t leave the estate work to you forever, can I?”

It had been a month since she married Grady. And yet, Eliana still held no role in managing the estate.

Emma’s hand trembled as it held the cup. Eliana gestured toward Grady’s seat with her chin.

After hesitating for a moment, Emma cautiously perched on the sofa’s edge. Her posture was clearly unsteady.

“I think it’s time I start managing Grand Duchess duties. I can’t wait forever.”

Eliana lightly shook the silver invitation in her hand—an invitation to a tea party from Empress Rozella.

“It’s only been a month since the wedding. Shouldn’t you focus on settling in first?” Emma tried to coax her with a gentle smile.

The rain roared outside. A draft snuck through a closed window, causing ripples in the tea.

“Head maid.”

“…Yes, Your Grace.”

From the very beginning, Eliana had addressed her kindly by name. But now, for the first time, she called her by title and lowered her gaze.

“Why does the head maid get to decide that?”

Emma’s eyes widened at Eliana’s words.

Calmly lifting her cup, Eliana sipped the now-lukewarm tea, tilting her head slightly.

She shrugged, as if she genuinely didn’t understand the maid’s reasoning.

“Your Grace…”

Emma tried to smile to lighten the mood, but Eliana didn’t budge.

This was the woman who had, through two marriages, elevated a baron’s house to a respected viscountcy.

The world called her a man-devouring seductress, but under the strict training of Viscount Hoffman, she had mastered the virtues and etiquette of a noble lady. Yet even so, she had no real power in this household—a clear sign of intentional exclusion.

“Were you carefully treading the line between me and Empress Rozella?”

“I don’t understand what you mean.”

Emma lowered her gaze to hide her expression, but Eliana didn’t relent.

“Maybe playing this tug-of-war, staying neutral, is the smartest way to maintain control between us.”

“Please don’t make unfounded accusations, Your Grace.”

Emma trembled as though she’d suffered a grave insult, gripping her hands tightly in her lap.

“I’ll commend you for keeping our marriage a secret.”

“…”

“Well, I suppose that way I get to save face too.”

Eliana’s eyes, void of emotion, bored into Emma’s. Emma was the first to look away.

“Bring me the employee roster and the estate’s financial ledger. Immediately.”

“Your Grace!”