# 26
**Chapter twenty-six**
Lady Audrey left with a satisfied expression, and as soon as she was out of sight, I turned to Anna and handed her the box, asking:
“Ana, do we have anyone in the palace planning to have a baby?”
"Hmm, I heard that the chef and his wife are thinking about having a baby. They're both getting older, so they're worried it won't be easy," she answered.
“Really? Then I should give this to the head chef.”
Since she said that the herbs were precious, selling them might bring in money, but it would be better if they went to someone who could really use them.
“Aren't you going to use it, ma'am?”
“I don't need herbs.”
I didn't want to go into explaining why it was impossible for me to get pregnant, so I casually brushed it off.
Anna blinked, her eyes widening, and her cheeks quickly reddened.
"Yes."
What is this harmful suggestive expression?
“You two are always so excited, so maybe you don't need herbs, right? Unlike you, who always looks tired, the Duke always looks refreshed every morning.”
“N-Not that!”
“I know, I know~,” Anna joked, unconvinced by my denial.
Since we were pretending to be a happy couple, I couldn't deny it any longer and kept my lips tightly pressed together.
At that moment, I heard rustling sounds.
I looked in the direction of the noise, and there was a red-haired man standing, looking somewhat surprised.
“……”
“……”
He coughed in embarrassment and adjusted his stance.
“Ahem! I’m sorry, I accidentally overheard your private conversation.”
When his eyes met mine, his face slowly turned red.
‘…It seems like someone else misunderstood.’
Although I felt embarrassed, I didn't think such a misunderstanding would be bad, so I gave up and silently accepted it.
“It's okay. We talked in a public place. There's nothing shameful about having a good relationship with your husband.”
“I am grateful for your understanding.”
The red-haired man placed his hand on his chest and bowed slightly before raising his head.
His smile was so cute, he looked like a puppy. Even I, who saw Harold every day, could tell he was a handsome man.
'Who is he? Is he noble?'
I didn't remember him from Diana's memories.
“I have an appointment, so I should be on my way, ma'am.”
“Yes, please, come in.”
The man checked his watch, looking apologetic, and nodded to me.
I waved my hand, indicating that there was no problem. As I was about to leave, I heard a crash.
The man had tripped over a stone.
"Are you well?"
“Haha, yeah. I’m always clumsy, so it’s not a big deal… I’m used to it.”
His ears were turning red. Embarrassed, he quickly got up and rushed towards the palace, clearly trying to leave the situation.
'He's used to tripping?'
For some reason, I felt a sense of familiarity with this stranger. It reminded me of myself during my dance training, when I was tripping over my feet.
* * *
“You're late for our appointment, but I see you're still as clumsy as ever,” Mrs. Mayer said, looking at the red-haired man affectionately.
“I had something come up on my way here.”
As he spoke, the previous incident passed through his mind. He rubbed his ear in embarrassment and tried to sit up, but almost tripped over his feet.
Mrs. Meyer let out a sigh as if there was nothing she could do about it.
“Even after 10 years, it still hasn't changed.”
“Haha…even after 10 years, you are still as graceful as ever, ma’am.”
He smiled awkwardly and sat across from her.
Even though he had spent the past ten years abroad, he had been following news of the empire. As such, he already knew that there was nothing wrong with her, but his gaze was still cautious and concerned.
As he glanced at her, his eyes suddenly turned to another person—a pink-haired lady who had married the terminally ill Duke.
He had heard a lot about Diana, the woman who was once involved in a tragic love triangle and poisoned her friend in a moment of jealousy.
'It's completely different from what I heard.'
Despite the rumours, she seems to get along well even with the servants...
“...what?”
“I'm sorry, I was lost in thought.”
He apologized, wrinkling his nose playfully, and Mrs. Mayer asked again,
“Have you fully returned to the Empire?”
“Yes. I was ordered back, so I don't think I'll be leaving again. Since I arrived early, I'll have to be quiet for a while.”
"This is great. The Empire needs you here. We can't leave you out forever."
Mrs. Mayer's smile was soft, her voice full of warmth.
“We are glad to have you back, Prince Andrew.”
“Thank you, ma'am.”
Prince Andrew, the red-haired man, kissed her hand in gratitude.
* * *
Kayden pressed his temple as he reviewed his papers. He hasn't been sleeping well lately, and it's starting to affect his ability to concentrate.
“Your Highness, how about we take a break for a while?”
“…Yes, that sounds good.”
Kayden agreed to his assistant's suggestion. Once the assistant left and he was completely alone, he loosened his tie in annoyance, feeling suffocated. He leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh, his broad shoulders relaxing as he exhaled.
Since he had attended the Marchioness Mayer's party, there had not been a moment when the tightness in his chest had eased.
'My decision was not wrong.'
Kaiden narrowed his eyes and repeated to himself.
Ella was the perfect woman to be a duchess. In contrast, Diana may appear to have changed, but this was clearly temporary. Hasn't he witnessed firsthand over the past decade what kind of woman she really is?
'It's all just an act to get my attention.'
That's the kind of woman Diana was.
Sooner or later, she would definitely break into this house, using her title as a duchess to beg for his love.
At that moment, the door opened without knocking. None of his aides would have committed such a breach of etiquette.
At that moment, Kayden was sure that it was Diana who had come.
However, standing at the open door was not Diana, but his older brother, Harold Wesen, dressed in a dark blue suit.
“You rose as if to greet me, but what is that face, Kayden?”
“…When did I get up as if I were pleased? I stood up because I was wondering what impudent person had dared to enter my office without knocking.”
“Is that so? Then let's go with it.”
Harold tilted the corner of his mouth into a crooked smile and entered the office. Without waiting for an invitation, he moved to the small sitting area inside the office and took the main seat.
Caiden neither invited him in nor offered him a seat, yet Harold's actions were as rude as ever. What angered Kayden the most was the commanding aura that Harold gave off, making his rude behavior seem completely normal.
This was the part that Kaiden hated the most. He felt that he could never surpass Harold unless his brother succumbed to his illness and died.
"And what brings you here without notice, brother? When I visited without notice, you kicked me out. Isn't that what they call 'double standards' these days? Do you even know what it means?"
Caiden hid his turmoil, sitting on the sofa with a calm expression, his expression impassive as he mocked Harold.
“It means, ‘When I do it, it's romance; when other people do it, it's betrayal.’ That's what it means, brother.”
Harold's crimson lips curved into a graceful smile, his cold blue eyes narrowing in amusement.
“Exactly. When I do it, it's romantic.”
He pointed to himself with a finger before pointing it at Kaiden.
“When you do it, it's treason.”
Harold brought his hands together and rested them on his knee before adding,
“I can do it. You can't.”
“….”
The veins in Kaiden's hand bulged violently, but he swallowed down the burning anger that rose in his throat, knowing that losing his temper here would only work to his advantage.
"Let's skip the pointless talk. What brings you here, brother?"
“For the first time, we're on the same page. After all, it's exhausting for both of us to spend so much time in each other's company.”
Harold crossed his legs and finally reached his visiting point.
“Kayden, stop interfering with ‘My Diana’.”