# 12
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“…Any sense of danger?”
"New clothes! Romance novels! What do you think this means?"
Kyle said sharply in frustration.
"This means that the Grand Duchess has changed her mind. Who knows? Maybe she has already set her eyes on another nobleman!"
Dress shopping, romance novels in hand – something unusual for her.
“Another man?”
For some reason, this thought sparked a strange feeling of resentment in Ian.
It was a fleeting feeling, though.
Ian quickly pushed him aside and responded flatly, “There seems to be a change in her feelings.”
Kyle clenched his fists in frustration, shuddering.
“You shouldn't be indifferent about this matter! Honestly, even if the Grand Duchess already had another lover, you wouldn't have a leg to stand on!”
Kyle lashed out at Ian.
"Anyway, I can't do this anymore. If you and the Grand Duchess break up, I will resign immediately!"
Ian's eyes turned cold, his gaze cold enough to freeze the air.
“Kyle.”
“What now?!”
“I don't think you've gotten paid this quarter yet.”
“If you're so eager to quit, I can help you pack your things now.”
Kyle nodded quickly, realizing his mistake.
“…What did you just say? Once, sir, forever, sir. I will serve you faithfully forever!”
“You're noisy. Get out.”
"Ah! Loyalty!"
Kyle realized the hidden threat in Ian's words, and hastily retreated from the office.
Ian watched him leave, returning his gaze to the towering pile of documents.
“For your sake! For the sake of the Grand Duchy at least, please treat the Grand Duchess better!”
“I abstained from it for your Highness and Father’s sake, but I can’t do it anymore.”
"… annoying."
After a long silence, Ian's pen finally began to move again, albeit slowly.
❖ ❖ ❖
Maybe it was because I was out all day yesterday and even walked in the middle of the night.
I completely blacked out without even realizing it.
When I opened my eyes, it was already past my usual wake-up time.
"Yes!"
I jumped up in bed and closed my eyes in surprise.
“I really slept like the dead.”
I didn't even dream.
Yesterday must have been stressful.
“Even if I get ready now, I will be late for breakfast.”
Breakfast starts at nine, and it is already past eight-thirty.
Even if I hurry, I'll end up at least half an hour late.
I stared at the clock for a moment before falling back into bed.
“…It may take some time to prepare.”
Ian always left the dining hall after breakfast anyway.
Why do I bother arranging my meal time with his?
Especially after the huge fight yesterday – it's better that we don't see each other.
“Ah, I'm still sleepy.”
I don't like to skip meals, so I'll go down a notch and have a light salad.
She slowly hid under the covers.
“Ah, the bed is the best.”
One of the things I appreciate more than anything else since I came into this world is luxurious bedding that practically puts me to sleep as soon as my head hits the pillow.
“Everything inside the mattress isn't just regular cotton — it's soft and cozy, like a cloud.”
I hugged the pillow tightly and closed my eyes.
"I should enjoy this idleness while I'm still the Grand Duchess. When will I get the chance?"
Rolling over, enjoying the soft sheets, I finally rang the bell to summon the maids after some time.
I showered and got dressed, and as expected, by the time I was finished, it was after ten o'clock.
“Well, Ian should be gone by now.”
Today, I can eat in peace.
“Wonderful, wonderful.”
With a light step, I headed towards the dining hall, only to suddenly stop at the unexpected sight in front of me.
“Huh?”
Ian was sitting in the large dining hall, which I expected to be empty, and he was clear as day.
He was carrying a newspaper.
'Why is he still here?'
I glanced at the lobby clock to make sure I hadn't misread the time.
It's already past ten o'clock.
Since his usual breakfast time only took thirty minutes, he should have left long ago.
'Did he sleep too much?'
I tilted my head and examined him cloy, but he didn't seem to be oversleeping. Judging by the fact that his meal was long over and all he had left was a cold cup of coffee.
After sensing my presence, Ian put down his newspaper and looked at me.
“You're late.”
“...yes....what?”
I was so startled that my voice cracked.
Feeling my face flush with embarrassment, I cleared my throat awkwardly, but Ian's gaze had already returned to his newspaper before long.
“…ahhm.”
I went to him shyly and sat to his right.
'He usually leaves on time, so why would he sit here drinking coffee for almost an hour?'
Even the coffee in front of him had cooled long ago, and there were no signs that he had actually drank it.
I hid my confusion, and asked cautiously, watching his expression.
“Um… why are you still here?”
“Why shouldn't I be here?”
His response was as curt and impolite as ever.
'Should I stab him with a fork?'
I had a brief moment of violent thought.
I thought about it seriously, but then I remembered that the knife next to him was also a weapon, so I quietly gave up the idea.
I'll let it go because he's a sword master.
She gave him an exasperated look.
“So, why are you still here?”
“You see, I had breakfast.”
I wondered if maybe he was going to apologize, but of course, that wasn't the case. This cold-hearted man won't change overnight just because we fought once.
“Ahm.”
I cleared my throat a few times awkwardly and straightened my posture.
Soon after, the servants brought my share of the meal.
When I was about to pick up my tools—
“Ma’am.”
"Yes?"
The moment he turned his head and looked at me, I froze. I completely forgot about the tools in my hand and just stared at him.
'Why does he have to be so annoyingly handsome, even now?'
With the sunlight streaming into the dining hall brightly, Ian's appearance looked particularly radiant this morning.
We exchanged glances for a while, then he put down the coffee mug and folded up his newspaper.
“I thought about that ‘training’ you mentioned.”
“Ah, yes.”
I answered cautiously, clicking my tongue inwardly.
It looked like the plans were about to be canceled from the start.
'What excuse will he use? Imperial capital? Or maybe a business meeting?'
Whatever his logic, it wouldn't work.
I was ready to defend my position no matter what he said. I tightened my grip on my fork.
But what he said next was completely unexpected.
“Let's do it the way you initially suggested – two weekends.”
“That won't… wait, what?”
She stopped mid-sentence, completely taken aback.
Did I hear that correctly?
“You're saying you're going to have weekend days?”
“Isn't that what you originally suggested?”
“Well, yes, but...”
I fully expected him to decline the offer, so I inflated the terms by doubling them.
Despite my stunned reaction, Ian remained calm, just watching me with an unreadable expression.
'Why did he suddenly become like this?'
What kind of wind was blowing in his head to make him act this way?
'Did he hit his head somewhere?'
She watched him earnestly, but his face looked disturbingly normal.
“If you don't want to, we can drop it.”
“No, that's not it.”
“I will consider it settled.”
“Wait, what?”
Before I could finish, Ian stood up from his seat.
Now that I looked, he was wearing his uniform, not just a shirt.
Wait a minute – so, he was postponing his trip to the Imperial Palace just to tell me this?
'Does he have extra time to spend or what?'
In my astonishment, the fork slipped from my hand.
Fortunately, I was able to catch it before it reached the plate.
Ian, unaware of my inner turmoil, straightened his clothes and looked at me.
“And ma’am.”
"Yes?"
“Let's try it—that 'effort' you talked about.”
"… What?"
“The give and take you mentioned. Let's try it.”
His voice sounded like a declaration of war, something completely different from him.
“I'll go now.”
I watched, mouth agape, as Ian left the dining hall with a look of indifference.
“…What happened to him?”