"I didn't know you even knew the butler's name."
At my words, Cedric nodded, his eyes slightly lowered. As a result, his hair fell forward and covered his brows.
"It's a name you can't help but know. He's the heir of a powerful family in the demon world."
"Oh, I heard that."
Cedric, who had been silent with a subtle expression, slowly parted his lips again.
"It seems like the two of you have become quite close."
I smiled and nodded.
"Adrian is helping me a lot. He's a truly loyal butler."
"We've already decided to go to the futures trading market in the North Central Market together tomorrow. I want to survey the investment products before they're officially listed."
"...Just the two of you?"
"Yes. I want to go quietly, but I feel like I might attract attention if I bring knights along."
"Adrian is also a mixed-blood demon, and as a member of a demon realm noble family, he has great magical power and martial arts skills."
Cedric was silent for a while, his expression thoughtful. Inadvertently, he frowned as if surprised by the astringent taste as he drank the tea he'd brewed.
When I let out a small laugh, he cleared his throat in embarrassment.
"For that reason, I think it would be better if I came with you."
"...You?"
"Yes. Even among mixed-blood demons, few have as much power as I do."
"Even compared to Adrian."
Seeing that he continued at length—which was uncharacteristic of Cedric—it seemed his offer to accompany me was sincere. I was troubled for a moment.
Of course, being alone with Cedric wasn't as uncomfortable as before... but it was true that the subtle tension I felt every time I was with him still remained. There would be a lot to focus on during the field trip. If I was going to concentrate, it was probably better to go with Adrian.
It was best to refuse firmly, but with a smile.
I smiled softly and waved my hand.
"No way. Is that really necessary? It's fine. You're busy."
"...Of course I'm busy."
"Right? So I'll just go with Adrian as planned..."
"Which is why, although it's inconvenient, I have no choice but to adjust my schedule."
Unlike his usual relaxed manner, Cedric quickly interrupted me.
"Why... go that far?"
I asked back with a puzzled expression, but Cedric quickly stood up as if he hadn't heard me.
"I'd better go back now. It's too late."
It had already been midnight when he'd first offered tea, but Cedric spoke as if the hour had suddenly grown late. He pretended not to notice me staring at him and started walking toward the stairs.
What, suddenly...?
I was watching Cedric with half-closed eyes when he suddenly stopped in front of the staircase and turned his head toward me.
"Tomorrow at two o'clock in the afternoon. I'll pick you up at the Dark Garden."
The next afternoon.
I was on my way out to the Dark Garden, escorted by Adrian. Perhaps because it was the day we were going to the futures trading market, I suddenly thought of Camilla—the real villainess in the original story.
By the way, Camilla will be back soon... shouldn't I be prepared for something?
Camilla Dmitry, my maid, and the original villainess. Like Duke Bold, she was someone I needed to keep my distance from.
It would be disastrous if I were caught between two villains and ended up dying for no reason.
While I was thinking hard, I asked Adrian beside me.
"Adrian, is there any way to dismiss the Grand Duchess's maid?"
"...Adrian?"
He wore an expression deep in thought.
For some reason, he seems to have no energy today.
I gently tugged on Adrian's arm.
"Adrian!"
"...Ah, yes. Did you call me, Your Highness?"
Adrian, who'd barely come to his senses, looked at me and smiled gently.
"Is there any way to dismiss my maid?"
"Ah, if it's a maid... do you mean Countess Camilla Dmitry?"
"Yes."
"Why do you ask? Didn't you have quite a close relationship with her?"
"...That may have been the case in the past, but not in the future."
I thought of the vicious Camilla, and my face hardened slightly.
"Just tell me how to dismiss her without a problem."
Adrian tilted his head with a troubled expression.
"Actually... the Grand Duchess's maid is also a noblewoman, so it's difficult to dismiss her carelessly."
"Especially Camilla—isn't she a star in northern society? She's going to make a lot of noise if it's not for a proper reason."
"But what if I really have to dismiss that woman?"
Adrian was silent for a while, his expression thoughtful. When he finally spoke, he still looked uncertain.
"If she disobeys Your Highness's words or causes great harm to the property of the Twins Grand Duchy, that can be used as grounds for dismissal."
"For disobedience..."
"But as you know, the odds of a noble lady who is extremely sensitive to social standing doing something like that are..."
"Very unlikely."
It was grim news. I wanted to distance myself from Camilla as soon as possible, but I couldn't help sighing when things didn't seem to go my way.
"Dismissal should be considered difficult in practice."
Adrian continued calmly, as if handing down a final sentence.
"Unless Camilla herself relinquishes her position as maid."
However, Camilla would never do that—she was desperate to take advantage of me, the Grand Duchess, to gain her own benefits.
But I can't keep that woman by my side, so what do I do...
Well, if I thought hard about it, would I find an answer?
I shook my head and turned back to Adrian.
"But Adrian, what were you thinking about that you didn't hear me calling you earlier?"
When I asked, Adrian smiled slightly, touching the back of his head as if embarrassed.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. I had trouble sleeping last night... I must have zoned out for a moment."
"Trouble sleeping? Why?"
"Oh, that's..."
"Look at your face."
Just as I grabbed Adrian's arm and pulled him closer, an unfamiliar carriage came into view at the entrance to the garden. But at the time, I was so absorbed in looking at Adrian's face that I didn't have time to examine the carriage any further.
"Y-Your Highness..."
"Let me see."
I tried to remove Adrian's hand, which was trying to cover his face. Then I grabbed his face with both hands and began to examine him properly. Adrian finally gave up with a resigned expression—even bending down slightly as if to let me inspect him comfortably.
As I got a little closer, his gaze kept drifting toward the sky.
"I really don't think you slept a wink. The area under your eyes has darkened slightly."
"Your Highness, this is a little... I'm embarrassed."
I could see redness slowly rising on the back of Adrian's neck. Eventually, even his ears turned red, and for some reason, a sense of playfulness arose in me. After letting go of Adrian, I glanced at him suspiciously and walked back toward the Dark Garden.
"Why are you looking at me like that, Your Highness?"
"What on earth did you do last night that kept you awake? Why are the areas under your eyes puffy?"
"Well, that's...!"
Although I'd meant it as a joke, Adrian looked more embarrassed than I'd expected.
Could it be that he met a lover?
Of all the love stories, the most interesting ones were other people's love stories.
The corners of my mouth turned up slightly—I felt like I'd discovered something unexpected and fun.
"Actually, last night... I couldn't sleep because I was so excited."
Adrian spoke quietly, as if reciting a confession.
Ooh? As expected, I was right. It was a moment when I kept walking, waiting for Adrian's love story to continue.
When I glanced over casually, I saw the unfamiliar carriage from before stopping nearby.
It looks like a luxury carriage, but it doesn't have a family crest engraved on it. Is it a merchant's carriage delivering expensive goods?
As the distance from the carriage gradually closed, Adrian, who was walking next to me, suddenly stopped.
"Your Highness. The reason I couldn't sleep last night..."
Adrian seemed determined to continue his sentence, but he still hesitated, his lips moving a few times. His face looked somehow dejected.
"The reason is... I was excited about the fact that I could go out into the city alone with Your Highness today."
"...?"
"I thought it would be really fun to be with Your Highness."
The playfulness that had been on my face slowly faded away. Whether voluntarily or unwillingly, I was the one who'd canceled my plan to go out with Adrian.
I thought Adrian would actually be relieved because he didn't have to work with his superior.
Who knew he'd been looking forward to going out with me so much?
Well, he was someone who'd shown signs of a crush on me since the first time we met.
With a secret feeling of regret rising, I slightly bit my lip. Adrian's sweet voice rang softly in my ears once again.
"So it's true that it's disappointing, but... on the other hand, I feel fortunate."
"About what?"
Adrian, who was looking at me, gently raised the corner of his mouth. He wore a subtle expression that seemed to hold both joy and bitterness.
"Seeing that you're going out together today, it seems the relationship between Your Highness and His Highness the Grand Duke has been restored to some extent."
"Ah..."
"I'm truly relieved."
The bright afternoon sunlight shone behind Adrian's back as he smiled.
Adrian's smile shone even more gently in the scattered light. I looked up at his beautiful smile for a moment, then lightly patted his arm.
"Adrian."
"Yes?"
"Next time, let's go out alone like this—just the two of us."
A faint emotion flashed through Adrian's blue-violet eyes.
"Really...?"
He let out a deep breath, then spoke playfully, as if warning me.
"Then you must keep this promise. You know that, right?"
After the divorce was announced, it was a promise I'd keep so regularly that Adrian would get bored.
When I find a new mansion, I plan to take you as my butler, Adrian.
I continued talking to Adrian with a smile on my face.
"Haha, of course. Maybe sooner than you think..."
Creak!
Suddenly, I heard the sound of a window opening behind me. The sound seemed to come from the carriage parked nearby.
As I unconsciously turned my head, I first heard a familiar yet dangerously attractive bass voice.
"You're having quite an interesting conversation."
A man leaning with his arms resting on the window frame of the carriage in a relaxed manner. It was none other than Cedric. He looked at me and Adrian for a while, as if observing us, with blue eyes whose true intentions were unreadable.
Then one corner of Cedric's mouth slowly curved upward.
"Did I interrupt you two's fun time?"