The room filled with the fragrant scent of tea.
Dahlia stood by the window, basking in the sunlight streaming through the glass.
She rarely went outside, and this had become a habit of standing by the window occasionally to soak up some sunlight.
As Dahlia basked in the warmth of the sunlight for a while.
A maid entered the room with a trolley.
"Madam, these are the invitations and snacks that arrived today."
Dahlia, who had closed her eyes, opened them at the maid's words and turned around.
Seeing the pile of invitations on the tray, she unconsciously opened her mouth in surprise.
"Didn't we get this many yesterday?"
"Yes, it's probably because it's the social season."
The maid's voice was indifferent, as if this amount was quite common for the Seyer Duke family.
Thinking of reading each one and replying, Dahlia felt her shoulders tense again, which had relaxed for a moment.
But what could she do? She had no choice.
She had been so glad that she didn't have to participate in social activities, just like it was clear yesterday. Yet, the social activities she had reluctantly started now felt like a nuisance.
Dahlia, who clicked her tongue in annoyance, sat down and began to look over the invitations one by one.
"Lady Emenshire, Lady Dolce..."
Dahlia, who had been reading the names on the letters absentmindedly, straightened up when the next name appeared.
"Lady Roman, the Duke's daughter?"
It was a letter from Rachel.
Curious, Dahlia opened Rachel's letter ahead of the others.
Then, neat handwriting caught her eye.
[To the Duchess of Seyer,
As the weather warms day by day, I feel that spring has truly arrived.
How have you been, Duchess?
There were so many things I wanted to say that day, but I couldn't get them all out, and I regret that. Though we will meet soon at the palace, I would like to talk with you before then. So, would you like to come to our estate for a cup of tea? I look forward to your reply.
Your friend, Rachel.]
"Hmm..."
Dahlia, staring at Rachel's invitation, hesitated.
Being with Rachel always made Dahlia feel drained. But it wouldn't be bad to get closer to her, and in the original story, there weren't any major events until the birthday. Moreover...
'If it's her, she will surely help the Duke's injured body soon.'
"I want to clear up some misunderstandings."
She couldn't allow her husband, the male protagonist of this story, to be left with such shameful misunderstandings.
'If Clayton finds out, he will be so upset.'
As someone who knew his unjust feelings better than anyone, she couldn't just let it pass.
Clearing her husband's name was also part of a wife's duty.
After a moment of contemplation, Dahlia wrote a reply accepting the invitation.
* * *
The next day, at the Roman Duke's estate.
Rachel's estate was grand, befitting a noble family of the Duke, with only five such estates in the entire empire.
Passing through the towering iron gate, a massive estate surrounded by white walls came into view.
Unlike the Seyer Duke's estate, the flowers blooming in colorful patches gave off a distinctly springtime vibe.
The carriage sped along the path from the front gate to the estate and then came to a stop.
As the footman opened the door and Dahlia stepped out of the carriage, Rachel appeared, as if she had been waiting, and embraced her.
"Thank you so much for coming all the way here, Dahlia."
"I should be the one thanking you for the invitation, Rachel."
In response to her hospitality, Dahlia returned the smile, brighter than ever.
"Please follow me. I've set up a spot in the center of the garden."
Rachel, saying it would be a shame to stay inside when the weather was so nice, led Dahlia toward the garden.
"This is our estate's pride, the hydrangea garden. The hydrangeas haven't bloomed yet, but having tea right in the middle of it is truly delightful."
As she guided Dahlia to the table, Rachel added that she should definitely visit again in the summer.
Between the saplings, which had not yet bloomed, the charmingly set tea table evoked a feeling like playing house when she was a child.
If the area around them was surrounded by hydrangeas, as Rachel had said, it would surely be beautiful in the summer.
Sitting down at the table, as guided by Rachel, the maids rolled in a trolley and set out the refreshments.
As Rachel sipped the freshly brewed tea, she spoke.
"Actually, the reason I invited you to meet today is because I have something to say."
Rachel set down her teacup, as if there was something important she wanted to say, and paused for a moment.
What could she possibly want to say, taking such a long pause?
Unable to contain her curiosity any longer, Dahlia was about to ask, when Rachel spoke.
"My marriage has been arranged. Actually, the talks about marriage started long ago, but now the wedding date has been set—right down to the day I leave the capital."
There was a trace of regret in Rachel's fingers as she traced the rim of her teacup.
At those words, Dahlia let out a short sigh.
'So, she's getting married to Duke Chaser now.'
The events from the original story were unfolding.
Well, meeting Rachel was supposed to happen much later in the original timeline.
After leaving the capital, Rachel likely wouldn't be able to visit for several years.
The northern regions were too far from the capital for easy travel.
"I've only just found a true friend in the capital... it's so disappointing."
"Indeed. I'm also very disappointed."
Dahlia didn't quite understand what there was to be so disappointed about after meeting for such a short time, but in social circles, such errors were best ignored.
Dahlia also played along, pretending to be suitably saddened, to match Rachel's tone.
"I thought we could become a little closer, you know."
This was sincere.
It was only a matter of timing—within this world, the two of them had been close, and perhaps because of that, among all the nobles Dahlia had met so far, no one made her feel as comfortable as Rachel did.
However, Rachel's face, which had been filled with regret, suddenly changed.
"Ah, I knew it! Duchess, you also feel that it's a pity we'll part ways like this, don't you?"
Rachel's eyes sparkled in a way that made Dahlia feel uncomfortable.
"Eh? Yes, it's a pity...?"
Ah, this familiar feeling. Something felt off.
"I knew it! I said I would spend my honeymoon in a townhouse in the capital! Isn't that exciting?"
"…What?"
I knew this was coming. Somehow, I had a bad feeling.
Half of Dahlia felt happy that Rachel wouldn't be leaving the capital, but the other half felt inconvenienced.
But Rachel, unaware of Dahlia's true feelings, continued speaking with a voice that was even brighter than before.
"Now that the capital is getting fun, wouldn't it be such a shame if I left? You heard about Lady Borsen, didn't you? After the humiliation she suffered at the cafe a few days ago, she hasn't stepped outside her estate. I wonder if she'll even show up for His Majesty's birthday this time."
There had been a lot of people at the cafe that day, so it seemed that some nobles were around.
Considering how quickly the rumors spread.
'I do feel a little guilty.'
Although it wasn't intentional, Dahlia couldn't help but feel a little guilty, as she felt partly responsible for Lady Borsen's humiliation.
So, thinking that she might have to deal with the woman again if she caused trouble, Dahlia lifted her teacup.
'I need to clear up Clayton's misunderstanding soon.'
As she had previously decided to figure out how to clear Clayton's unjust accusation, she was deep in thought at that moment.
Rachel, who had set her teacup down first, suddenly clapped her hands, as if she had just thought of something.
"Oh, right! I actually have a gift I want to give you, Dahlia."
"A gift?"
At the mention of a gift, Dahlia momentarily forgot about Clayton's misunderstanding and looked at Rachel with an eager expression.
"This will be a gift that the Duchess truly needs. It was very hard to obtain."
With Rachel speaking so mysteriously, Dahlia became even more curious. She quickly calmed her eager eyes, maintaining her composure as the Duchess.
She carefully opened the box Rachel handed her.
"This is...?"
Inside the box was a small glass bottle.
The purple liquid inside the transparent glass bottle seemed to emanate an ominous aura.
"It's Alysium."
"Alysium?"
"Yes. It's a fertility treatment."
"...Fertility, what?"
Seeing Dahlia stutter in confusion, Rachel continued with a slightly sinister smile.
"When you and the Duke are together, you can share it happily."
"Share it? What do you mean share?"
Contrary to Rachel's calm voice, Dahlia recoiled in shock, pulling her hand away from the box.
"Did I mention? My cousin was dealing with the same issue as you, Duchess. Recently, she got pregnant, and she gave me this as a wedding gift, saying it was a secret remedy."
"Haha... You received it as a wedding gift, but I couldn't just accept it carelessly..."
"No."
Rachel cut off Dahlia's attempt at polite refusal with a firm tone.
"I'm not even married yet, so there's no rush for me. But for you, Duchess, it's different."
"..."
"You're desperate enough to hide from people and seek out a doctor in secret."
Rachel's eyes looked somewhat teary as she continued speaking.
It seemed that clearing Clayton's misunderstanding might not be the best course of action after all.