WARDV13

CHAPTER 13

‘Right… this is a stage.’

Remembering the reality I had momentarily forgotten, I smiled faintly and gently leaned on him.

Not in a way that seemed overly dependent—

But just enough to look like we were clearly lovers.

“Welcome back, Your Highness.”

Despite it being the first time the servants, apart from the butler, had seen me, none of them seemed surprised.

It seemed Idris had already explained our relationship to them.

“Nothing happened while I was gone, I assume?”

“No, sir. Shall I prepare some tea?”

At the butler’s question, Idris seemed to ponder for a moment, then turned to me.

“Would you like to look around the estate? You’ll be visiting here often.”

“Sure.”

I nodded readily.

Our relationship was still awkward, so acting in front of others was somehow less uncomfortable than being alone with him.

“Let’s go in.”

Idris naturally took my hand and led me into the mansion.

But I flinched at the sudden contact.

‘His hand… it’s warm.’

Maybe it was because it had been a long time since I’d had such close contact with anyone, but the warmth of another person still felt unfamiliar.

‘I guess, like Idris said, I’ll need to get used to it.’

I had instinctively pulled back, but then cautiously held his hand in return.

And his large hand wrapped securely around mine.

‘This is all just an act.’

Yet the warmth between our hands felt real.

It tickled at my fingertips.

After touring the mansion with Idris, we finally stepped out into the garden.

It was late winter, and the sunset bathed the garden in a barren stillness.

But the tightly planted trees hinted at the stunning bloom that would come in spring.

“In spring, we often have tea over there in the pergola…”

Just as Idris was showing me around the garden, his aide emerged from the mansion.

‘His name was… Heather, I think?’

As he approached, Heather made eye contact with Idris and then quietly stopped to wait.

Sensing the silent signal between them, I decided it was time for me to discreetly excuse myself.

“Go ahead and talk. I’ll look around a bit more.”

“It’s getting cold now that the sun’s set. Wouldn’t it be better to go inside?”

“I’m fine.”

Leaving Idris behind, I walked over to the gazebo he had just pointed out.

‘What a beautiful estate.’

The grand duke’s mansion we had toured together was far too splendid and elegant to be a bachelor’s home.

‘Which actually suits him somehow.’

As I briefly glanced at Idris standing out even in the bleak winter garden, my eyes shifted to the gazebo.

Then, one of the carvings caught my attention.

‘…A butterfly?’

Suddenly, I remembered spotting a few butterfly motifs while touring the mansion earlier.

Butterfly patterns weren’t unusual in noble houses—they were rather common, in fact.

‘But usually, they reflect the lady of the house’s taste.’

Which is to say, it was odd to see such motifs in a house owned by an unmarried man.

And though butterfly designs were usually subtle and easy to miss, the reason I had paid attention to them was something else.

‘Come to think of it… I saw a butterfly just before I returned to the past.’

Maybe it had been a hallucination in the face of death, but that image had remained vivid in my memory.

Seeing it now made the miracle of this second life feel all the more real.

After spending my life vaguely dreaming of becoming a butterfly, I was reborn at the moment I had given up everything.

Or rather, I had been reborn—

With wings to soar, and the power to do so.

‘I can’t let this miracle go to waste.’

Resolving myself once more, I began planning my next move.

‘I’ve already caused a scandal, so next is…’

Ideally, Peidan would grant me a clean divorce and return my dowry—but knowing that bastard, that was unlikely.

Still, I couldn’t just sit around waiting for him to accept the divorce.

‘First, I need to secure more emergency funds.’

Since I didn’t know how Peidan would retaliate, I needed to prepare on my end.

And how would I secure those funds?

As I lifted my gaze toward the bare winter trees, one of them shimmered faintly.

When I looked around the gazebo, a bench began to sparkle too.

Staring at this radiant world only visible to me, I smiled in satisfaction.

‘This power exists for moments like these.’

The next phase of my plan was already getting exciting.

A little later, Idris returned after his talk with Heather.

“It’s quite late. Would you like to stay for dinner?”

I reflexively meant to decline, but then—

Growl.

My stomach answered before I could.

“……”

“……”

In the silence that followed, I gave up and murmured in a small voice,

“…I suppose I will.”

Idris burst into laughter.

Following him to the dining room, we were greeted by a full-course meal.

“I didn’t have much time to prepare since it was a sudden invitation, but I hope it suits your tastes.”

I flinched at the sight of the table.

‘…This is way more luxurious than what I usually eat for dinner?’

If this was what he called “nothing special,” what did he serve when he actually prepared?

“Thanks for the meal.”

Drawn in by the enticing aroma, I set aside all thoughts and began eating.

I was so focused on my food for a while—

It wasn’t until I took a bite of the panna cotta dessert that I noticed something felt off.

Coming back to my senses, I realized both Idris and the butler were watching me.

‘Oops… I’ve been too focused on eating.’

Maybe it was a grudge from my past life, but I had a tendency to lose control around delicious food.

Of course, this meal was good enough to wipe out any other thoughts.

‘Ugh, they probably think I’m weird.’

Peidan hated women who ate a lot.

“Women with big appetites are like animals who act on instinct—it’s so unattractive.”

Thinking back now, I wanted to shout: And what about you, huh? Did your oh-so-logical brain lead you to cheat, you beast?

But back then, I had just accepted it. Pathetically.

‘Not anymore. Guys who say crap like that? Instant discard.’

Still, I couldn’t help feeling awkward, so I gently put my spoon down and tried to play it off.

“…Ahem. Sorry. The chef’s skills are just so incredible, I couldn’t stop eating.”

“No need to apologize. A host is happy when a guest enjoys the food.”

Idris truly didn’t seem annoyed—but I still felt self-conscious.

Especially because of that smirk on his face, like he’d found something to tease me with.

“If you’d like, I can have some packed for you to take back to the hotel.”

I scoffed.

Ha. Like I’d fall for that just because of dessert?

“Then I’ll take two, please.”

…Honestly, it was the best panna cotta I’d ever tasted. I couldn’t say no.

Apparently not expecting such a shameless answer, Idris blinked—then burst out laughing.

Feeling flustered by his reaction, I quickly added,

“I just thought I’d share it with my maid waiting at the hotel. I want her to taste it too.”

“Is she someone you’re close to?”

“She’s been with me since before the marriage. Like a sister, really.”

After a brief pause, he instructed the butler,

“Prepare some to take to the hotel later.”

“Yes, sir.”

With the order given, the butler left, and I resumed eating my dessert.

This time, I made sure to glance up occasionally, leaving room for conversation.

But then—

‘That look… way too intense.’

Idris wasn’t even touching his dessert. He was just smiling in that signature way of his—staring only at me.

‘Was the way I ate really that strange…?’

Flustered again, I looked for a topic to shift his attention.

‘Something to talk about…’

Looking around, I suddenly found it—in the dessert spoon I was holding.

There was a butterfly engraved into the handle.

“Do you like butterflies?”

At my casual question, the playful smile on Idris’ face vanished instantly.