Benson and Helena exchanged glances and subtly distanced themselves from Ione.
“Do you think His Grace brought her here without knowing?”
“It’s possible,”
Helena replied, her face turning pale as she nodded to Benson’s whispered question.
“But even if His Grace was unaware, shouldn’t His Majesty the Emperor have stopped it?”
Benson let out a long sigh, his voice still low with frustration.
No matter if she wasn’t his destined ‘
fated partner
’
—she still became his Grand Duchess. How could they treat her so poorly?
The more he thought about it, the angrier he became.
“This is just… absurd…”
Benson muttered under his breath, loud enough only for Helena to hear, but his face suddenly went pale.
The black herb.
Now wasn’t the time to grumble about the Emperor’s decisions.
They had fed the Grand Duchess, whose magical core was already unstable, a substance steeped in demonic energy.
It was a miracle she was still alive.
Realizing what Benson meant, Helena turned ashen.
“This won’t do. We have to inform His Grace immediately.”
“Yes.”
When it came to magic, there was no one more knowledgeable than the Grand Duke.
He was blessed with the power of dragons—magic incarnate.
Even a skilled physician couldn’t solve a magical imbalance.
Ending their conversation, Benson hurriedly called for Ione.
“Your Grace. I’m relieved you’re awake. Might I trouble you to meet with the Grand Duke?”
“The Grand Duke? Why?”
“It won’t take long.”
“And where is he?”
Just as Benson was gently urging her and Ione was asking questions—
“I’m right here.”
A voice that shouldn’t have been heard just yet echoed from the doorway.
Startled, Ione turned her head.
And there he stood—Adrian, breathtaking as ever.
For a moment, she was utterly speechless, then instinctively slapped a hand over her mouth.
What is this timing?!
“You’re always looking for me, it seems.”
It’s a misunderstanding. You’re imagining things.
“So…”
Words surged to her lips, but Ione clamped her mouth shut.
She hadn’t even properly washed yet—just a quick wipe with a wet towel. And now, to run into
him
looking like this?
She didn’t even have the heart to complain.
Her face flushed red as she managed a stilted greeting.
“H-Hello…”
Forget going dark—I might die of embarrassment first.
Lost in mortified thoughts, she didn’t notice Adrian’s hand until it gently touched her forehead.
“Wha—!”
“You felt warm again.”
Because her face was so red.
At that point, Ione nearly burst into tears.
Of all times for her dazzling husband to appear—it had to be when she looked this shabby.
Does being a previous-life heroine mean having zero dignity now or what?
Silently screaming, Ione pulled her blanket up higher.
She wanted to hide her face but feared doing so might betray her feelings.
Ugh.
A groan escaped her lips, a reflection of her misery.
Just then—
“Your Grace, even if you’re husband and wife, you can’t just barge into her room like this.”
Helena stepped forward, shielding Ione with her body.
Thanks to her, Ione's disheveled state was hidden from view, and she felt a wave of relief.
Whew.
While she exhaled quietly, Adrian responded in his usual cool voice.
“This
is
the Grand Duchess’s room.”
“Even between spouses, basic courtesy is essential.”
“Was I being discourteous?”
“Not exactly. I just mean… it would be nice if you could be a bit more considerate toward Her Grace.”
Despite his frosty tone, Helena answered calmly and clearly.
She’s incredible. She’s actually standing up to Adrian and saying what she wants to say.
Ione, watching from behind Helena, couldn’t help but admire her.
She’d known Helena was strong—but this strong?
And somehow, it felt like Helena was standing up for
her
.
The way she stepped forward, protecting Ione from embarrassment, made Ione’s heart stir.
She’d always felt like the world was against her.
Her father was weak, her mother frail.
They weren’t people she could lean on—they were people she had to protect.
So Helena’s actions left a deep impression.
“By the way, how did you know Her Grace was awake?”
Helena asked.
“I didn’t,”
Adrian replied.
“Then?”
“I came to check on her.”
“To think you’d come out of concern!”
Helena sounded as if she might faint from admiration.
Ione snorted silently.
If only she knew he already dropped by earlier. She’d probably keel over.
She hadn’t seen much yet, but it was obvious the Grand Duke’s staff adored him.
Ione peeked at Adrian.
He showed no reaction to Helena’s excitement.
Maybe he was used to this kind of praise. Or maybe… he didn’t even realize she was being so enthusiastic.
But Ione didn’t have time to dwell on it.
“Actually, Her Grace was on her way to see you,”
Helena said.
“Me?”
The moment Helena finished speaking, Adrian stepped aside.
Just one step.
But with it, he came into full view—and that made Ione nervous all over again.
“Yes, Your Grace. But please wait just a little longer.”
Adrian didn’t reply to Helena’s continued insistence.
His silence was sharper than any rebuke, and it made Ione shrink into herself.
Then Helena took a bold step forward, fully shielding Ione again.
“She hasn’t finished getting ready yet, so please, as a gentleman, wait in the drawing room.
”
…Wait a second?
Ione tilted her head slightly.
She’d thought Helena was perfectly composed, but wasn’t her voice trembling just now?
“Courtesy, is it?”
Adrian asked.
“If you please.”
“How long?”
“I’ll hurry. Perhaps Your Grace might enjoy a cup of tea in the meantime?”
“Then please, hurry,”
he replied, mirroring her words.
The moment Adrian left, Ione covered her mouth with both hands.
“Your Grace?”
Helena had turned back—and seemed alarmed by Ione’s expression.
“Your Grace?”
Ione knew she should lower her hands, but she couldn’t.
She felt like if she spoke now, she might say something very strange.
“I’m fine,”
she managed.
“You were startled, weren’t you? His Grace… well, he’s still learning about proper decorum. But he’s quick to learn…”
“No.”
“Pardon?”
“That’s not it…”
Her voice caught. She hesitated.
Helena stepped closer, softening her expression.
“It’s alright, Your Grace. The Grand Duke may not be what the rumors say—actually, no, he’s
not
what they say.”
She clearly wanted to speak positively about Adrian, but she stumbled over her words.
And somehow, that made Ione laugh.
“Helena, it’s okay. You don’t have to defend him so hard.”
“No, I mean—people really do misunderstand His Grace…”
“I know. At the very least, I know he wouldn’t draw his sword without reason.”
Her emotions, which had been teetering on the edge, settled down.
Helena’s flustered concern had brought her back to herself.
But now it was Helena who looked taken aback.
“Your Grace… you really know?”
“Don’t worry. I’m not misunderstanding him.”
I’ve read the book, after all. I know exactly how cold and rational the male lead is.
Ione shrugged playfully.
“Really, it’s fine. Now, can you help me get ready? Didn’t he go to wait for that cup of tea?”
At her light-hearted nudge, Helena sniffled and nodded.
“Yes, Your Grace. I got so carried away chatting—I’ll assist you properly now.”
“Good.”
Adrian stared down at the empty teacup before him and scoffed quietly.
A cup of tea, huh.
She still hadn’t come.
He’d only stopped by to see how she was doing—just a quick look, maybe a brief greeting.
And yet—
“Still…”
He ended up stuck here.
With a sigh, Adrian stood.
He would’ve liked to greet her in person, but since Helena insisted it was “
improper
,” he figured he should just leave.
Without a second of hesitation, he walked out of the drawing room.
Thud.
The heavy wooden door closed behind him.
Only the empty teacup remained.
And it was then that Ione finally entered.
“Oh…”
Benson had urged her to meet with the Grand Duke, so she’d hurried as much as she could.
She already felt that his mood might’ve soured after being turned away from the bedchamber several times under Helena’s claims of “
impropriety
.”
So she’d rushed—
But it had been for nothing.
He was already gone.