Even I would have been angry. Showing such a terrifying spectacle to those young children—any parent would be furious, and rightfully so. I should just grovel and apologize immediately.

Since it was already evening and nearly time for Kian Blake to sleep, I asked Vika Lamberst to put Kian to bed before heading to the front door.

I intended to grovel and apologize the moment Reidox opened the door, but instead, he bowed deeply to me first.

“Good evening, Lady Blake. I hope my sudden visit at this late hour hasn’t startled you. I was passing through the capital and stopped by briefly to express my gratitude.”

“Suddenly offering thanks? What happened?”

“I’ll explain gradually. But, is the Duke not at home?”

“The Duke is out on business.”

“I see. I had hoped to thank him as well—what a pity.”

“What is this about? Please, tell me.”

“I wanted to thank you because my twins have improved greatly. It’s all thanks to the Duke and Duchess.”

“Really?”

Reidox smiled gently, as if he felt somehow relieved.

“My twins normally fight more than ten times a day—it’s routine. But since then, whenever they start to fight, they glance at each other and stop. These are children who never used to notice such things at all.”

Though it’s good from a parent’s perspective that they no longer fight, I worried it might leave psychological scars on the children.

“It’s fortunate, certainly, but I’m concerned they might be acting this way because they were deeply frightened.”

“I thought the same, but aside from moments when they’re about to fight, they behave exactly as usual. The fact that they only stop when they’re about to fight—and only then glance at each other—is truly fortunate for me.”

Sikar Blake must have summoned that Death Knight illusion precisely to achieve this effect.

“I considered waiting until I visited your manor to offer my thanks, but I felt it proper to express gratitude sooner rather than later.”

I assumed he’d come to confront me, but instead he came to thank me—truly a relief.

It was fortunate that the twins had stopped fighting, but even more so, I felt grateful to Reidox for letting the matter pass so amicably.

“You’re very welcome, Marquis. Please come in.”

“Thank you.”

Normally, guests are received in the formal parlor, but since we’d previously taken tea in the living room while watching the children, I once again led Reidox to the living room.

I’m not sure if it started then, but I began to see Reidox less as a political ally united in placing Kian Blake on the throne, and more as a parenting comrade raising children together.

“I look forward to your continued support, Duchess.”

“I also look forward to yours, Marquis.”

“By the way, I bought a small gift on my way here.”

A gift? The word alone made my pupils reflexively dilate.

Reidox presented me with a small, elegant box smaller than the size of a hand.

Could it be jewelry? It’s oddly rectangular for a jewelry box. And why would Reidox buy me jewelry, of all things?

“I hope you like it.”

“I’m truly curious—what is it?”

I hesitated whether I should open it right away. Perhaps my curiosity was too visibly apparent, because Reidox picked up the box he’d handed me and said,

“You’re curious about the contents? Let me unwrap it for you.”

“Actually, I was just dying to know—thank you, Marquis.”

Reidox carefully unwrapped the box. As he began peeling back the wrapping, a delicate, sweet fragrance emerged. He took out a bottle of perfume and handed it to me, explaining,

“Frankly, I’ve never seen you socializing with other noble ladies, so I prepared this perfume. It’s currently fashionable among noblewomen—if you don’t wear it at social gatherings, people consider you out of touch. You might even become the subject of gossip.”

The topic of perfume was entirely unfamiliar to me, since the original story never mentioned high society customs.

Perhaps I unconsciously made a displeased face, because Reidox glanced at me cautiously and added,

“Ladies in high society are extremely sensitive to fashion trends. They consider those who fall behind uncivilized—it’s better to follow along.”

So I’m supposed to be called uncivilized just because I don’t spray this one stupid perfume?

“Especially lately, there’s been much gossip in society about the mysterious Duchess Blake. If you wear this perfume to the upcoming royal wedding, you should avoid becoming a topic of scandal.”

Since my own wedding was held unofficially without inviting guests, I suppose I’ve become endless fodder for gossip in that talkative social circle.

Ugh. Now I want to attend the royal wedding even less.

“The royal wedding, where this nation’s new queen will be crowned, is not far off.”

“The new queen remains veiled in mystery—we know absolutely nothing about her yet.”

“She is the younger sister of Lady Rafe, the Spirit Master.”

Reidox’s expression shifted to surprise, then he sighed admiringly.

“Ah, I recall you mentioned she can see the future. I didn’t realize she could foresee even this.”

Come to think of it, Hersia, Gillian’s maternal cousin, also attended Gillian’s wedding.

In the original story, Hersia later becomes Sikar Blake’s wife. During Gillian’s wedding, remnants of the deposed king attacked Hersia as a warning to Gillian—and Sikar saved her.

Will Sikar save Hersia again at this royal wedding?

But if he doesn’t, she’ll be unable to escape death simply for being Gillian’s cousin.

‘That would be terribly unfair.’

Gillian, son of Duke Bai Rion—the late king’s elder brother—had never once been raised in the royal palace. Hersia was the only daughter of the youngest child of Count Mobiat’s house, the family of Gillian’s mother, Grand Duchess Elisheia.

Simply put, she is the only daughter of Gillian’s youngest maternal aunt.

She had barely met Gillian while growing up and attended only as a cousin at his wedding—yet she faced such a death. Though she had been promised to another man, under pressure from Gillian, now king, she was forced to marry Sikar Blake.

Sikar, too, married Hersia solely to strengthen ties with the royal family.

Thus, even after marriage, she remained perpetually neglected and lonely—until the man she’d loved before marriage sided with Kian Blake, and she met her death at the hands of the militia he led.

In the original story, Sikar, aligned with Gillian, saved Hersia—but now, I couldn’t be sure he would. If he didn’t, her pitiful life ending in death was painfully obvious.

Reidox noticed my suddenly darkened expression and asked what was wrong, but since discussing Hersia required speaking with Sikar first, I deflected with a casual smile.

“It’s nothing. I just hope Gillian’s wedding concluded without incident.”

“By the way, didn’t Jeremi Iker visit here recently?”

“When do you mean? His last visit was a few days ago. He was the one who decorated the magic room you saw earlier.”

Reidox lowered his head as if recalling something, wore a pensive expression, then pursed his lips in frustration.

“Jeremi said something rather unsettling. I’ll tell you once I’m certain.”

“Feel free to share whenever you’re comfortable.”

“Agreed. I shouldn’t speak inaccurately about uncertain matters.”

Jeremi was always prone to saying odd, awkward things. Given that Reidox—who knew this better than anyone—found it unsettling, Jeremi must have truly said something strange.

I was curious what it was, but knowing Reidox’s cautious nature, I didn’t press him. I could only wait until he chose to speak of it himself.

As I conversed with Reidox, a concern I’d been harboring resurfaced.

“Marquis, excuse me, but may I ask a small favor?”

“Please, speak.”

“Regarding the training room—Luid was so startled he hid behind Kian’s back.”

“I see.”

“Given Luid’s personality, that must have been deeply embarrassing for him, right?”

Reidox nodded slowly and emphatically.

“Likely so. Luid is very prideful—he probably felt as if Kian caught him in a moment he never wanted revealed.”

“So, could you perhaps pay a little more attention to the two boys?”

“Certainly.”

“I mean, not just observe them—please actively help them grow closer and more comfortable with each other.”

Reidox sighed uncertainly and let his shoulders slump.

“I’m not sure I can do it well. Teaching children academically comes easily to me, but matters like this—I find them difficult. Parenting, it seems, is the hardest thing in the world for me.”

“Parenting is the hardest thing for anyone. Then… perhaps I could come and help you?”

Reidox’s eyes sparkled as if he’d met a savior sent to rescue him.

“You mean you’d help my children get along better? My children are so difficult that even nannies with decades of experience give up on them—are you sure you’re alright with that?”

Of course I can handle it—I was a daycare teacher. Mediating between fighting children is my specialty.

Granted, the children I used to care for were around three or five, while these are seven—which is a hurdle—but knowing the protagonists’ temperaments, I’m confident I can be the finest nanny in this world.

“Just send the children to my ducal manor occasionally.”

“That’s not difficult at all.”

“So, is that a promise?”

Only then did Reidox smile brightly.

“Certainly, Duchess. I’m deeply grateful. I’ll revisit your twin ducal manor as soon as the royal wedding concludes.”

“Thank you, Marquis.”

“No, I should be thanking you.”

After discussing heavy matters, we naturally began laughing while talking about the children—and just then, Sikar Blake returned, having gone out to find Veronia.

“I can hear your laughter all the way to the front door.”

A chill emanated from Sikar as he suddenly appeared. It was unclear whether it was from the cold outside or his own aura—but it sent shivers down my spine.

“I’ve returned from my errand, Madam.”

Durion, who followed him in, bowed to me and glanced sideways at Reidox—but thanks to prior persuasion, he didn’t grab him by the collar or neck as he used to.

“Welcome back, Durion.”

“Then I’ll head to my room.”

Durion bowed formally to me and retreated to his room. It looked as though he feared staying any longer might make him unable to restrain himself from grabbing Reidox by the collar.

Sikar frowned as he stared at Reidox.

“What reason does a Marquis have to visit at such a late hour?”

“That’s…”

“Never mind. I’ll find out through my wife—your explanation isn’t necessary.”

“I wished to thank the Duke. Thanks to him, I’ve felt much more at ease.”

“Children usually forget things the moment they turn around—but if this stuck, it seems the twins aren’t complete fools after all.”

Seeing Sikar standing there with an uncomfortable expression, Reidox walked over to where he stood and said,

“Then I shall take my leave. Have a peaceful night.”

“Go ahead, Marquis.”

Sikar didn’t respond. He watched until Reidox completely disappeared, then scowled and said,

“You were far too familiar with Reidox. Let me make this clear—our Happy only ever recognized me. Had it served anyone else as master, I would have killed them.”

‘…This terrifying man.’

“I—I only recognize you too!”

Perhaps it was the sheer lethality of his words, but that sentence burst reflexively from my mouth.

‘Ah. Humiliation.’

Sikar lifted one corner of his mouth, clearly pleased.

“If you don’t wish to die, keep loving only me from now on.”