My heart was pounding so hard I couldn’t possibly sit still any longer, so I quickly slipped into the palace under the pretense of going to sleep.

I heard Sikar Blake calling after me, but I pretended not to hear, yawning as I hurried forward with quick steps.

Since we shared a room, entering the palace didn’t mean I could escape him.

If this were the duke’s manor, I might have gone to Kian Blake’s room, but here, truly, I had nowhere else to go.

Just as Sikar had his study, I did have a separate sewing room—but it was packed with fabrics and supplies, making it impossible to sleep there.

In short, I was utterly stuck sharing a room with Sikar Blake.

They say if your heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute, it’s tachycardia—and that’s exactly where I was. Sikar had just come out of the bath and walked in again, shirtless.

Startled, I immediately covered my eyes—but by then, I’d already seen everything.

Peeking through my fingers, I accidentally locked eyes with Sikar, who was shaking his still-damp hair while looking at me.

I quickly rolled onto my side and pulled the blanket tightly around me.

“I’m sleepy, so I’ll go to bed first. Sleep just hit me all of a sudden….”

Truthfully, thanks to Sikar standing right in front of me, stripping and moving about, I was more wide awake than ever.

After a bit more rustling, I heard Sikar sit down on the bed beside me.

“Yura.”

The fact that he suddenly called me by name meant he’d clearly made up his mind today.

Sure enough, Sikar suddenly wrapped his arms around me from behind.

“Today is the day we promised.”

I tried to pretend I hadn’t heard, pressing my lips shut—but Sikar spoke right against my nape, his warm breath tickling me so much I squirmed involuntarily.

“I’m just… too sleepy today….”

“Then I’ll put you to sleep.”

Why on earth was he offering so willingly? Had he really decided to turn over a new leaf?… Of course, that turned out to be another hasty assumption.

The lips of Sikar, who claimed he’d put me to sleep, brushed against my shoulder.

T-this can’t possibly be how you put someone to sleep?

I quickly pulled my nightgown back up over my shoulder and turned to face him.

The moment I turned, I was met with Sikar’s softly glistening lips.

For a second, I felt like I couldn’t breathe, so I immediately lowered my gaze.

“This… is more likely to wake me up….”

Sikar gently grasped my chin and lifted my head. His face was now right in front of mine.

“I never said I’d put you to sleep immediately.”

My heart was hammering, but with Sikar’s arms tightly around my waist, I had nowhere to run.

“Let’s at least talk first—”

“Talking is a waste of time.”

As expected… He doesn’t listen!

Sikar didn’t even give me time to think of anything else. He immediately pressed his lips to mine.

Despite his bold, forceful movements, the hand supporting my head was steady, and the hand caressing me was endlessly warm and gentle.

After a deep kiss, he pulled back slightly and gazed down at me intently.

“If you dislike it, just say so. I won’t do anything you hate.”

I couldn’t say anything. Seeing Sikar smile at me with such warmth and tenderness—so unlike his usual self—only made my heart pound even harder.

Sikar, watching me like this, kissed my forehead and whispered,

“I love you.”

Then he pulled me into his warm embrace. His arms felt so peaceful and warm, sweet and dreamlike.

He whispered “I love you” dozens of times, calling my name over and over—as if he feared I might vanish from this overwhelming happiness that sometimes felt too unfamiliar.

Our night was long, beautiful, and precious.

I felt I would never forget this dreamlike, sweet night—this long night filled with whispered happiness.

Our first night together, brimming with profound emotion and love.

A few days later, a small banquet was held to commemorate our arrival at the palace.

It was small by palace standards—no different from a manor-hosted gathering, so preparations were quite extensive.

Thus, I rose early in the morning to prepare the outdoor banquet area.

In the past, I would have left everything to Andrea—but since we’d entered the palace where Kian was, I had no choice but to take charge myself.

From the smallest dish to the flowers arranged on the tables, everything passed through my hands.

It wouldn’t have been possible alone, but Andrea was there to help.

“I couldn’t have decorated this beautifully without you, Andrea.”

“Everything was prepared by you, Madam. I merely offered advice. Now that outdoor preparations are complete, it’s time to prepare yourself to greet the guests. I’ve instructed Mei Li to have everything ready—please go inside. I’ll handle the rest.”

“You’re right. I was so focused on the guests’ arrival, I completely forgot to get ready myself.”

Andrea smiled gently.

“Fortunately, if you start preparing now, you won’t be late, Madam. Please go in quickly.”

“Alright. I should.”

“Mei Li will have everything prepared and be waiting for you.”

“Understood. Thank you for your hard work.”

True to Andrea’s word, Mei Li had finished all preparations and was waiting for me. As if she’d been anticipating my arrival, she completed my hair, makeup, and dressing in less than thirty minutes.

Such remarkable improvement.

Mei Li was the type who worked even harder whenever praised.

“Mei Li, this is astonishing! Royal beauticians would weep in envy.”

Predictably, Mei Li’s eyes softened with touched emotion.

“Madam… Such undeserved praise. I’m so moved! I’ll work even harder from now on!”

Mei Li hurried outdoors without even looking back—not because she was busy, but because she wanted to immediately brag to others about being praised by me.

Though I’d meant it as encouragement, Mei Li truly had skilled hands—her work exuded grace and elegance.

I should stop just praising her with words and quickly buy her that shawl I’d been thinking about.

Pleased with my hair and makeup, I stepped out of the room—and bumped into Durion.

Durion, too, had changed into a handsome suit for the banquet.

“Durion, you look very dashing in that outfit.”

Durion chuckled awkwardly, scratched his head, and then dropped a strange comment on me.

That is…

“Madam, your complexion has improved ever since you began sharing a room with the Duke.”

I flushed slightly and smiled awkwardly.

“Is that how it looks? I think it’s more because I’m now living in the same palace as Kian—my health has simply improved lately.”

I thought I’d smoothly deflected that—when Vika Lamberst, impeccably dressed in a leather suit, walked out frowning as if his tie bothered him, and delivered a fatal blow.

“Well, of course your complexion is glowing—you’re making love with the Duke every day, aren’t you?”

Then I remembered something I’d forgotten: Vika’s ears were far too sharp.

Thanks to that, my face grew hotter and hotter.

Gillian’s issue had been resolved—surely it was time to release Vika from his oath? Why was he still bound by it?

“Durion. Is the Duke still at court?”

“Yes. He said he’d return after finishing business with the Chancellor.”

He mentioned having work again today—it seems the discussion is dragging on.

“Madam! Guests are arriving!”

“Oh. Right! I’m coming out now!”

Carriages were lining up at the entrance of Daisy Palace. I lined up Vika and Durion neatly beside me and said,

“Guests are coming—prepare to greet them.”

“Yes, Madam.”

The first to arrive were Seo Yeon and the twins. Next, Hersia, followed by nobles and their children, descended one after another from their carriages.

Seeing me lingering at the entrance as if waiting for someone, perceptive Vika spoke as if he knew exactly whom I was expecting.

“Jeremi Iker and Roen will be here shortly—they’re helping with the reconstruction of the abandoned palace under the Duke’s orders. Please go inside.”

“The prison palace?”

“The palace where Gillian will be confined.”

What? They’re building a palace for imprisonment?

“Wait, Master Vika. I’m not sure I heard correctly—so Gillian will be imprisoned in the palace, but they’re reconstructing it?”

“Yes. They’re rebuilding one of the abandoned palaces within the royal grounds so Gillian can reside there.”

“What on earth…?”

Reconstructing a palace to confine a deposed king who could be executed without question? What’s going on?

Knowing Sikar’s character, he wouldn’t grant Gillian such a privilege without reason.

I’ll have to ask him about it later.

“Understood, Vika. Now, let’s go eat.”

As I walked toward the banquet table, I noticed the rows of packages at the mansion entrance and hurried to Andrea in surprise.

“Andrea. What are all these?”

“Gifts from today’s congratulatory guests, Madam.”

Calling them mere congratulatory gifts was an understatement—they were overwhelmingly abundant. Accepting them all might stir unfavorable public sentiment.

It was obvious rumors would spread like wildfire: “Rare gifts flood the Duke’s residence day and night—the adoptive parents of His Majesty!”

We couldn’t let that happen.

“Andrea. Take out every single congratulatory gift we’ve received.”

“Madam… What do you mean? It sounds as if you’re refusing the nobles’ gifts congratulating the Duke and Madam on entering the palace….”

“That’s right. We won’t accept them. So take them all out.”

Andrea looked utterly bewildered about my reasoning—but knowing her place, she didn’t press further.

“Understood, Madam.”

Rejecting all these gifts would spurn the nobles’ goodwill. We might win public favor, but gaining noble trust would be difficult.

There was only one way to refuse without diminishing the nobles’ dignity.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have a strong voice—so I called for Durion.

“Yes, Madam. You called?”

“Durion, from now on, please relay my words to the assembled nobles. Can you do that?”

“Of course. Not just the nobles here—even if you asked me to shout it to the entire world, I’d do anything you command, Madam.”

Durion was truly such a reliable person.

“Thank you, Durion.”

Then I did something I’d never dreamed of doing before.

I stood before all those people. Me—who had never once stood before a crowd in my entire life—stood before well over a hundred nobles.

Of course I trembled, and my heart pounded—but unlike before, I didn’t feel breathless or as if I might die.

Thanks to Durion, Sikar’s loyal retainer, standing firmly beside me, I could endure even though my legs shook.

“Durion. Relay my words exactly to the nobles.”

“Yes, Madam.”

“Today, here at this gathering, I offer my deepest gratitude to the esteemed guests who came to celebrate the Blakes’ entry into the palace. I also sincerely appreciate the heartfelt sentiments behind your gifts. To commemorate this meaningful occasion, I intend to use the congratulatory gifts you’ve sent me for good causes. Specifically, I propose using them—in the names of all assembled nobles—to aid the impoverished. What are your thoughts?”

Durion, who had been brimming with enthusiasm to deliver my message, suddenly gaped in astonishment.

“What’s wrong, Durion?”

Durion looked utterly flustered.

“S-sorry, Madam. It… it was too long—I forgot it all.”

Ah, right. It was too long.