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“What on earth are you doing here?”
I blinked at the man who suddenly appeared in the garden at that moment.
Archduke Richard seemed angry for some reason.
‘The subjugation must have been harsh.
Now when I look at him, he seems to have lost some weight.'
Looking closely, I noticed his pale cheeks.
His features were already sharp and masculine, but the sharper lines highlighted his handsomeness.
While I looked at the Archduke with admiration, Marquis Spencer followed my example.
After a moment, his eyes widened with a welcoming gleam.
“Benedict, it has been a long time.
It has been three months since we met at the Hayden banquet.
I was worried about you.”
“Aiden, I should have asked you what you were doing here.”
This spontaneous greeting elicited a sharp response.
Anger emanated from his cold, impassive face.
'You call each other by your first names, so you must be very close.
Why are you criticizing him this way?'
I frowned a little.
The Archduke, though not usually friendly, seemed very sensitive today.
However, the Archduke's scowling demeanor did not bother the Marquis, and he calmly continued his speech.
“Oh, I met the Archduchess by chance in the garden and I was just saying hello to her first.”
"Greetings.
This seems strange."
With a short answer, his cold gaze fell on my hand, which was holding a napkin tangled with eggplant.
I flinched and examined the destroyed eggplant.
'Impossible...'
I wondered if the fruit I had destroyed was a symbol of Archduke Richard's residence, or an important spiritual heritage item.
It was an unlikely hypothesis, but given Mrs.
Perona's disturbed reaction when I destroyed the eggplant, it was not entirely impossible.
“I don't think it's unusual.
Anyway, it looks like you arrived earlier than scheduled.”
“I think that's what I should have said.”
I found myself lost in the distance, my eyes watching the exchange of conversation between the two men.
The sarcastic and cold Archduke Richard, and the gentle and affable Marquis, seemed very different from close friends.
“I was in a hurry to leave.
I couldn’t resist wondering about the nature of the Archduchess, who is said to have captivated you.
Now that I have met her in person, I can say that she is truly captivating.”
Marquis Spencer smiled at me.
I felt a little smug, so I rubbed the tip of my nose.
I'm really captivated, in the end.
“Ha!”
At that moment, the Archduke snored so loudly that a dove that had landed on a branch fluttered.
"family?"
His voice was startled.
He frowned, as if he did not quite agree with the Marquis's praise.
The Marquis's green eyes sparkled with a strange sparkle.
Considering the general atmosphere, he wasn't planning on having a duel here, right?
Reforms are also expensive.
I felt increasingly anxious, so I quickly jumped between them.
“Marquis Spencer, I apologize for my impudence in keeping you in the garden.
I will take you inside immediately.”
“Ah, that would be good.”
Thanks to my quick distraction, the doubt disappeared from the Marquis's face.
I breathed a sigh of relief.
If the Archduke doubted my attractiveness further, he would certainly doubt the sincerity of our relationship.
Led by Madame Perona, the Marquis headed to the reception room.
I looked at the Archduke's hair, stained with dust and sweat, and whispered.
“I will accompany the Marquis while the Archduke changes his clothes.
Please, come out slowly.”
“Ha!
As you wish.”
With an angry voice, he turned around and walked slowly towards the palace.
'I took the time to take care of him for you, so why are you like this?'
I shook my head, staring at his back, which was covered in a white layer of dirt.
∗ ∗ ∗
A moment later, in the Archduke's reception room.
“The tea tastes very good, ma’am.”
“Glad you like it, Marquis.”
I took a sip of black tea and smiled sheepishly.
It was because I had been feeling his burning gaze for a while.
'I didn't expect his eyes to hold a look of love, but this much, his gaze is deadly!'
I tried to ignore the Archduke's burning gaze.
He crossed his arms in disapproval, without blinking.
“It looks like dirt has been falling into your cup for a while.
Are you okay?”
Marquis Spencer sipped his tea and smiled.
The Archduke replied, frowning.
"Okay."
“That's fine.
But if you're not going to drink tea, why didn't you wash up first?
I don't mind waiting a little.”
This is correct!
In my heart I agreed with the Marquis.
I even subtly made him black tea to give him time to preen.
Instead of washing, the Archduke sat motionless in the drawing room, covered in dust, and staring angrily.
It was ruining the precious sofa.
The Marquis' remark surprised the Archduke, so he furrowed his eyebrows and quickly picked up the teacup in front of him.
“I've had enough tea.”
“……!”
I opened my eyes wide in surprise.
He sipped the hot tea in one go.
'Oh my God, how could he drink something so hot so simply?'
There was dust floating on the tea, falling from his body!
I looked at him with genuine concern.
"Are you well?"
“Even in revelation and under the guise of flute arrows, we eat well.” (Even in the mud and in the shower of fiery arrows, we eat well.)
“Hmm, it looks like your tongue was burned.”
I sighed lightly at the Archduke's strange stubbornness.
“He says he's fine, so there's no need to worry, ma'am.”
The Marquis smiled softly.
He had known the Archduke for a long time, so he seemed familiar with this matter.
Then he turned to the Archduke and continued his speech.
“As I said, I can introduce you to Count Bonita from the Kingdom of Grace.
He is the owner of the Watch Guild.”
"Good."
“He is a very demanding person, I will have to accompany him.”
"Good."
"But that's all.
I can't guarantee anything after that.
However, I don't know what you want."
“….”
The Archduke looked at me.
He knew I was planning to get into the watch industry, but he wasn't entirely sure how I would succeed.
The Marquis watched the Archduke closely.
His astuteness seemed to indicate that I, not the Grand Duke, were to lead this.
Then the Marquis made some remarks about the Watch Guild and Count Bonetta.
After a moment, after finishing his cup of tea, he got up and put on his clothes.
“We're leaving in three days, right?”
“As you see fit.”
The Marquis quickly turned to me and smiled.
“Thank you for the tea, ma’am.
I look forward to seeing you in three days.”
“Okay, then, I'll bid you farewell...”
As I stood to bid farewell to the Marquis, the Archduke suddenly rose from his seat and interrupted me.
“No, I will say goodbye myself.”
“This is the first time in ten years that I realize how much you care about me.”
"prattle."
The Archduke nodded gently to the Marquis, pushing him onto his back.
For some reason, he seemed wary of my approaching the Marquis.
I narrowed my eyes at him.
‘I heard that the Marquis is managing the Archduke’s investment…’
I had a passing thought, perhaps he was afraid I would steal the good investment he was managing after he recovered his fortune.
After all, it would be impossible to manage the divorcing spouses' divided assets simultaneously.
'He's trying to preemptively block his rivals.'
I nodded, my thinking making sense.
I've heard the Marquis is a capable businessman, anyway.
“I should definitely become friends with the Marquis.”
I muttered with a malicious smile, while thinking about increasing my wealth.
***
Three days later.
Archduke Richard was busy preparing for his trip to the Kingdom of Grace.
Marquis Spencer had also arrived at the Archduke's house early in the morning with his entourage.
“As you ordered, ma’am, I have prepared only two carts.”
“Thank you for your hard work, Victor.”
Following my order to reduce travel expenses, Victor carefully selected the entourage and equipment.
His notebook was full of notes for this trip.
“The maids accompanying Her Excellency the Archduchess and the luggage will travel in the small carriage.”
“Then, I'll take the big cart...”
He looked at the Archduke as he answered.
Victor and another soldier had said they would travel on horseback as escorts, leaving Archduke Richard and Marquis Spencer behind.
“I prefer the horse to the cart.”
The Archduke answered frankly.
Naturally, everyone's eyes turned to the Marquis.
The Marquis was caressing the neck of the stately white horse he had brought.
It was a beautiful horse that seemed to be able to cover long distances with ease.
“Then, Your Excellency the Young Marquis, you will also ride a horse—”
When Victor was about to write it down in his notebook, Marquis Spencer smiled at him.
“No, I prefer the cart.”