Upon hearing it, I realized Seo Yeon was not wrong at all.

Just having Reidox and the twins around would already be perfect. Only now did I understand what Seo Yeon meant.

“Isn’t it already perfect just having someone like you, Marquis, by my side?”

Seo Yeon covered her mouth and laughed, as if agreeing with me.

“I suddenly went to the modern era and came back here, spending some utterly bewildering time. The truly important things are actually very ordinary—the things we usually take for granted.”

That’s why those things became even more precious.

“You’ll be more devoted to daily life now, I suppose?”

“Yes. I must accompany Lucy during her queenly lessons, and since I mustn’t become the subject of gossip, I need to stay close and watch over her.”

Come to think of it, I remembered from the original story that Ameli, younger sister of Lady Barrett, had approached Kian Blake to avenge her deceased older sister.

Seo Yeon must have had the same thought as me, because she stared at me with her mouth wide open.

So we looked at each other and simultaneously shouted:

“Ameli!”

I nodded.

“But back then, Lady Barrett died at Diane’s hands—that’s why it happened. Now that Lady Barrett is alive, it should be fine, right?”

Still not entirely reassured, Seo Yeon rubbed her chin thoughtfully.

“Lady Ameli’s loyalty to Lady Barrett is exceptional, so it’ll probably be fine. But just in case, should we assign someone to watch her?”

“If the Marquis household—where the King’s fiancée resides—surveils another young lady, it’ll cause major scandal. Instead, how about keeping Ameli close by?”

Seo Yeon nodded, apparently pleased with my suggestion.

“That sounds like a good idea. I should soon invite the young ladies over and host a tea party.”

“That’s a good idea.”

Seo Yeon linked arms with me and leaned her head on my shoulder, as if impressed.

“If you weren’t here, Duchess, I wouldn’t have even thought of it.”

“You’re planning to host a tea party?”

“Yes.”

“Shall I come and help you a bit?”

“No, you’re busy—don’t trouble yourself.”

“True, if I’m there too, it might burden the young ladies greatly.”

Seo Yeon smiled pleasantly and nodded as if agreeing.

“By the way, I heard you’ll visit the Grand Temple in a few days to see Lady Blake?”

“Yes. I’ll also take the opportunity to visit my grandmother.”

“Please take good care of our Lucy.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll escort her very well.”

As we chatted, I was relieved to see Seo Yeon gradually regaining her former vitality.

Still laughing together, we stepped into the hallway to head home, when we heard someone making a loud commotion at the far end.

Listening closely, I recognized Jeremi’s voice.

“Reidox! Stop that—just teach me how to build muscle! Huh? Miss Roen has been staring at Durion’s body all day long!”

So Jeremi knew that lately Roen had been admiring Durion’s muscles!

Seo Yeon looked at me as if asking what that was about, so I awkwardly smiled and nodded as if to say, “Yes, that’s how it is.”

“That’s how it is.”

Seo Yeon found it amusing too, and together we covered our mouths and giggled.

We walked a bit further and greeted Jeremi.

“Welcome, Master Jeremi.”

“We meet here, Master Jeremi.”

After a brief greeting to Seo Yeon, Jeremi turned to me and widened his eyes in surprise.

“Duchess…! What are you doing here…?”

“Well, I came to visit Lady Seo Yeon.”

Jeremi glanced at me nervously, as if sweating bullets.

“H-h-have you, by any chance, h-heard what I just said?”

“Yes. I heard it very clearly, Master Jeremi.”

His expression looked extremely awkward. Probably because it’s a secret from Roen.

Sure enough, Jeremi scratched his forehead with a deeply troubled face.

“I’m sorry, Duchess…”

“You mean, please keep it a secret from Miss Roen?”

Jeremi’s mouth curled up as if I’d scratched an itch for him, and he nodded vigorously.

“Yes! Yes! Duchess, please, I beg you, keep it secret from Miss Roen. My… feet…”

“Fine. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear anything today.”

“Thank you, Duchess.”

“Then I’ll see you later at the Duke’s mansion. I’ll head in first.”

“Go ahead, Duchess!”

Jeremi’s voice had become very light.

I gave brief greetings to the twins as well, bid farewell to Reidox and Seo Yeon, and boarded the carriage to head to the Duke’s mansion.

Reidox, returning after sending off Yura, leaned his head against the wall, looking tired.

“Please! Please help me build muscle, Reidox!”

“Do you know how busy I’ve been catching up on delayed work lately?”

“Of course I know. And I also know you’ll make time for me, your precious friend, even amid your busy schedule.”

Jeremi gazed at him earnestly with rabbit-like eyes, but Reidox remained subtly unmoved.

“A mage wanting to build muscle? Jeremi, if your body gets too heavy, it’ll be hard to cast magic.”

Jeremi spat as he spoke, flaring up.

“You! You! Would you still say that if Seo Yeon kept staring dreamily at other men?! Huh?! Huh?!”

Reidox clicked his tongue pityingly.

“Does Miss Roen know you’re this chatty?”

“No, she doesn’t, so you better not tell her either. If you do, you die, I die, Reidox.”

“You must still find it quite exhausting pretending to be taciturn in front of Miss Roen. Poor friend.”

“I’m not pretending to be taciturn—I just… in front of Miss Roen…”

“You lose your words because you’re intimidated by her?”

“Yes. Something like that. Anyway, just teach me how to build muscle already.”

“Alright. Fine. I’ll teach you.”

Reidox, who had always insisted mages must never build muscle, now spoke as if surrendering.

So Jeremi was half thrilled at having made Reidox surrender, and half excited at the prospect of finally gaining muscle.

But soon, that expectation came crashing down.

The place Reidox took Jeremi to was none other than where the twins were.

Seeing the twins, Jeremi had a bad feeling.

“Why… why are we here?”

“Just watch the twins for half a day. Muscle will build up immediately. Kids, today Uncle Jeremi is going to play with you. Go play with Jeremi.”

Every time Jeremi had played with the twins before, they would cling to both his arms.

Remembering that, Jeremi stared at Reidox as if questioning his humanity.

“Reidox, since when did you become such an inconsiderate person?”

Reidox shrugged.

“Hmm. Since I became the twins’ father, perhaps?”

Jeremi shut his eyes tightly, anticipating the twins rushing over to cling to his arms.

But Lucy spoke with little interest.

“Is this the time for us to play? It’s study time. Could you please leave the room so we can study again?”

Reidox closed the door with a stunned look and hung his head low, while Jeremi teased him.

“Reidox, the kids seem all grown up already?”

“To think the children have grown up so much already…”

Seeing Reidox slumping his shoulders in disappointment after trying to tease him, Jeremi felt oddly sorry for him.

“Don’t be too disappointed. Lucy will soon become queen, and Luid will become the queen’s brother—it’s even better this way.”

“They’ve grown up so fast. By the way, you’re going to retrieve the Sacred Grass? Can the Marquis household help with anything?”

“No, it’s fine. Her Highness said not to accept help from others. In exchange for exempting Duke Blake, she forbade receiving assistance from anyone.”

“How very noble of her.”

“You just focus on getting along well with Lady Seo Yeon. Don’t go crying and whining again like last time searching for her.”

At that moment, a voice came from behind.

“Who said anything about crying and whining?”

The two men turned around in surprise to see Seo Yeon holding a large box.

Reidox, as if taking revenge for his loose tongue, jabbed Jeremi’s side and stammered,

“A-ah, nothing at all.”

Seo Yeon, though she had actually heard everything, merely smiled once as if pretending ignorance.

“These are brownies sent by Lady Hersia. Please try some.”

Inside the box, brownies were densely packed in small boxes.

When Seo Yeon opened one box and handed a brownie over, Jeremi—prompted by Reidox’s “I’ll deal with you later”—grabbed it absentmindedly and crunched it while speaking.

“Haha. As expected, the Marchioness has excellent culinary skills.”

“I didn’t make these—Lady Hersia sent them.”

“I see. So Lady Hersia has excellent skills.”

“The region where you’re going to retrieve the Sacred Grass is rugged terrain, right? If you can’t find food there, these energy bars will be useful—they’re not heavy and don’t take up much space.”

“Energy bars?”

“Food that gives you energy when your blood sugar drops.”

“Thank you for preparing these, Marchioness.”

“It’s still too early to call me Marchioness…”

“No matter what anyone says, you are the Marchioness. And soon, you’ll be Her Majesty the Queen’s mother.”

Seo Yeon looked at Reidox with glistening eyes. Reidox nodded as if agreeing with her, making Seo Yeon’s nose tingle even more.

Sensing Seo Yeon’s eyes quickly becoming moist, Reidox pushed Jeremi away as he stood up.

“Come on, we should go now, Jeremi.”

“Ah, yes, we should. I’ll visit again after I return, Marchioness!”

Seo Yeon wiped away her falling tears and bid Jeremi farewell.

“Travel safely, Master Jeremi. Please send my regards to Miss Roen!”

“Yes! Stay healthy!”

Seo Yeon stood there, watching until Jeremi completely disappeared from sight.

She felt happy and grateful to have returned to this place, where she could be with these dear people.

Lucy and Luid peeked out and watched Seo Yeon wiping her tears.

“Poor thing… should we go wipe her tears?”

When Luid sounded gloomy, Lucy shook her head.

“We decided we’re adults now, Luid. Adults pretend not to notice at times like this.”

Luid sighed deeply.

“Being an adult isn’t always good.”

“Children have to keep studying until they become adults, don’t they?”

Luid nodded as if no further words were needed, and went back into the room.

“Come to think of it again, being an adult seems better.”

Lucy chuckled and followed Luid inside.