Lexion let out a quiet laugh as he looked at the small lips pouting like a disgruntled baby bird.
“Young Master, if you're planning something, you should check your condition first. You need strength before you can accomplish anything.”
Ashdel had remained perfectly still even while a hand much larger than Aunt Milena’s was ruffling his hair.
But at the next words, his pink eyes widened.
“You've been neglecting your health on purpose because you want Lady Milena to worry about you. I know.”
“That’s—!”
It was a secret.
How did he know?
“Don't get excited. Your fever will go up again.”
Back in the appearance of the knight Hubert, Lexion pulled the blanket all the way up to Ashdel’s chin.
Surprisingly, his touch was gentle.
“Are you going to tell Auntie?”
Round pink eyes stared up at him.
Lexion pressed a finger firmly against the boy’s forehead.
“Weren’t we allies? That would make you a traitor.”
“Hmph. How am I supposed to trust a playboy?”
Ashdel trusted Lexion about as far as he could throw him.
Especially because he was suspicious that the man might try something with Milena.
Puffing out his cheeks, he muttered,
“You said you don't care whether they're men or women. Isn't that why all the men in the capital consider you a public enemy? Don't tell me... married women too...?!”
“Shh—”
The child still smelled faintly of milk, and yet he was talking about romance.
It was hardly an appropriate topic for someone his age.
Lexion lightly covered his mouth with a finger.
“Young Master, just go to sleep. You're sick because your mana is leaking. Lady Milena seems to think it's just a cold.”
With a casual wave of Lexion’s hand, drowsiness washed over Ashdel as though by magic.
Fighting to keep his eyes open, the boy asked,
“How... did you know? About my condition...?”
His voice was barely audible.
Lexion merely shrugged.
“Because I've experienced it too.”
A meaningful answer.
Ashdel wanted to ask more—
But sleep overtook him before he could.
“Did you find it...?”
Did you find it?
He needed to hear the answer.
But he was already drifting away.
Watching the child fall into peaceful sleep, the smile vanished from Lexion’s face.
“No. Not yet.”
A cold anger lingered beneath his low voice.
He had searched every secret location Ashdel had shown him.
But he still hadn't found what he was looking for.
The Grand Duke’s castle was enormous.
There could still be hidden places left unexplored.
Or perhaps—
There was a location even Ashdel didn't know about.
“Where the hell did he hide it?”
He had to find it.
The jewel that contained the source of Callion’s power.
If the power everyone believed belonged to the Grand Duke—
Had actually been stolen from someone else...
Would anyone believe it?
To reclaim that stolen power, Lexion had risked everything and infiltrated the castle.
Yet so far, he had gained nothing.
...Well, not nothing.
One adorable little Young Master.
And—
One infuriatingly distracting young lady.
The moment Milena’s proud face came to mind—the way she constantly said things no one expected—a small laugh escaped him.
Night deepened.
It was time to move.
Within the darkness, Lexion began walking.
Just like he had on the night of the Grand Duchess’s memorial service.
While Milena wandered the halls silently cursing Callion—
He too moved unseen.
“His Grace is unavailable.”
“Ha. I literally saw him walk inside five seconds ago.”
The Grand Duke’s orders were absolute.
A mere count’s daughter had no authority to oppose them.
The same applied to his one-sided proposal.
No matter how many times she rejected it—
His will could not be overturned.
Still, she had to make her refusal clear.
That was why she had come.
And yet—
The knights were blatantly lying to her face.
“If you have business, please relay it through the Head Butler.”
“......”
As always, contempt.
As always, dismissal.
But the feeling swelling inside her wasn't the familiar anger.
It was humiliation.
As long as she loved Callion, she had believed she could endure anything.
At least—
Until the spell erased those feelings.
“Tell His Grace this for me.”
Milena's voice turned icy.
“I understand his intentions perfectly. Make sure he knows that.”
“...I shall relay the message.”
The rebellious obsession she once had was gone.
Only firm determination remained.
Leaving the hesitant knights behind, Milena turned away, the hem of her mourning dress billowing behind her.
Amazing, Lariette.
Your magician truly is talented.
Her lingering attachment to Callion had vanished completely.
But the humiliation remained.
Ever since buying new dresses in town, she hadn't touched her old wardrobe once.
The dresses Lariette would have worn.
From now on, she intended to wear only black.
It was her silent declaration.
Her refusal to yield.
As she strode away, footsteps followed behind her with steady rhythm.
Several days had passed since she first tried to meet Callion and had been blocked by his knights.
This ridiculous situation needed to end.
“Do you hate it that much?”
The unexpected question made Milena stop.
The man walking beside her continued.
“I heard marrying the Grand Duke was your lifelong dream.”
What an impossible man to understand.
After watching everything happen, now he was asking that?
Milena sighed and resumed walking.
“Do I really look like someone who's in love with the Grand Duke?”
“No.”
The answer came immediately.
Without hesitation.
A small smile appeared on Milena’s lips.
“Exactly. I’m not.”
He knew.
He knew the truth.
And yet he still asked.
Because he was curious?
Strangely enough, it was comforting to have someone look at her without prejudice.
Maybe it was because they'd spent so much time together.
She had grown somewhat accustomed to him.
“I stayed here for five years because of Callion.”
Her voice softened.
“But once that shallow feeling shattered, I finally understood.”
She spoke slowly.
“This place was never meant for me.”
She had realized it far too late.
But she intended to correct it now.
Lariette must have cast the spell for precisely this moment.
For the day Milena needed to return to herself.
That was why she had said—
When the fifth white rose is placed upon my coffin.
“This is my way of saying I won't covet my sister’s place anymore.”
Her gaze drifted forward.
“People think I'm desperately trying to attract the Grand Duke’s attention.”
A bitter smile crossed her lips.
“But they're wrong.”
She had done enough to erase suspicion.
Now it was time to leave.
The wedding was approaching quickly.
The moment Callion signed the contract—
There would be no turning back.
“You asked if I hate it.”
Milena's smile turned cold.
“The thought of marrying my brother-in-law makes me sick.”
Silence followed.
Lexion seemed lost in thought.
Then he suddenly said something unexpected.
“If you truly hate it, there is a way.”
Usually, Hubert—the version of him she knew—was quiet.
Today, however, he was strangely talkative.
Milena stopped again and looked up at the knight beside her.
A way?
The question was written plainly in her eyes.
Lexion opened his mouth.
“If the marriage contract had another man's name written where the Grand Duke's should be... wouldn't that solve everything?”
“......”
Blink.
Her long eyelashes fluttered slowly.
Milena studied him carefully.
As if trying to read his intentions.
Feeling her gaze, Lexion looked away.
Wait... does she think I'm flirting with her?
That's not what I meant at all—
Just as he was about to explain—
Milena spoke casually.
“Oh my. That's actually my plan.”
“…What?”
“I was planning to steal the contract and find myself a husband for one year.”
Lexion was speechless.
Milena’s emerald eyes curved into crescents.
“Intruder.”
She smiled brightly.
“Please cooperate until I leave this place.”
And for the first time in a long while—
Lexion Silvert found himself completely at a loss for words.