Daniela stared at him as if spellbound, but soon turned away with a pout, recalling his cold behavior from a few days ago. Ashid’s expression hardened. Her clear intent to not even look at him stirred up a sudden wave of irritation. He grasped her awkwardly drooping hand, placed it on his arm, and said curtly,
“Let’s go, Madam.”
Startled, Daniela silently followed him out of the main residence. His gestures, helping her into the carriage with care, were polite.
As the carriage departed, Ashid pretended to look out the window while secretly glancing at Daniela. Her pale complexion made him worry that the antidote still hadn’t fully taken effect. Though he’d accepted this unavoidable invitation, a part of him wanted to turn the carriage around immediately, using her health as an excuse.
Daniela, leaning against the plush backrest of the carriage, stifled a yawn. Then, for some reason, noticing him sneak a glance, she suddenly spoke up.
“I have something to tell you regarding what we talked about a few days ago.”
“…?”
“Enchanto… I brought all the documents from my father’s study and started reviewing them. I’ve only read about half, so I can’t be certain yet, but… I think part of the letters he left behind are hidden in the Asland territory.”
The Asland territory—land the Duke of Enchanto had left to Daniela—was what he had called a “useless wasteland.” Daniela continued.
“I’ve been checking the documents whenever I have time, so I think I’ll find a clue by the end of this week at the latest—”
“That’s not necessary.”
Ashid suddenly interrupted her with a stern expression. Daniela blinked in confusion.
“…Excuse me?”
“I told you not to push yourself trying to find clues in a hurry.”
“…!”
“…Tch. No wonder you looked tired,” Ashid clicked his tongue in disapproval and stared at her face. Daniela felt both embarrassed and baffled by his gaze. She let out a hollow laugh and raised her voice slightly.
“Ha! You’re the one who told me to hurry and find them!”
“When did I? I never said that. I only said I wouldn’t let you go until you found them all.”
“Isn’t that the same thing? Once I find all the clues, the contract ends automatically, and then you’ll throw me out without hesitation!”
Daniela confronted him, and Ashid frowned as he replied,
“It’s the opposite.”
“…What?”
“I meant that our contract would automatically extend until you find all the evidence the Duke of Enchanto left behind.”
“…!”
“Don’t say it’s a breach of contract. You were the one who set the three-month term from the start, not me. From the beginning, I didn’t care how long it would take, as long as we got solid proof in the end.”
He paused for a moment, then emphasized again.
“So there’s no need to strain yourself trying to find those letters too quickly.”
“…!”
“Right now, I want you to focus on recovering your health more than anything else. Understood?”
Hearing those words, Daniela’s dazed gaze slowly softened as her cheeks flushed red.
She was embarrassed. She had misinterpreted his words, twisted their meaning, and stubbornly pushed herself.
At the same time, Ashid’s firm declaration—“I won’t let you go”—sounded suspiciously like something a possessive male lead in a romance novel might say to the heroine.
‘No way, come on. That can’t be it.’
She quickly shook her head to dismiss the thought. The man before her was destined to fall in love with Camellia. Surely, there was no deeper meaning to his words.
She brought a cold hand to her blushing cheeks, then shyly glanced at Ashid and spoke in a small voice.
“Okay… Thank you for worrying about me.”
“You’re welcome.”
After all, a husband worrying about his wife was only natural. Ashid thought so as the corners of his lips faintly curled upward.
Not long after, the carriage carrying the two arrived at the entrance to Duke Lambert’s main residence.
The mansion was grand, reflecting the status of its owner, yet retained an air of elegance and grace.
As Daniela entered through the front entrance with Ashid, the mansion’s head butler greeted them.
“Welcome, Your Grace the Grand Duke, and Your Grace the Grand Duchess. We’ve been expecting you.”
He bowed respectfully and led them to the cloakroom, where guests would remove and leave their outerwear before entering the banquet hall.
Ashid waited for Daniela to take off her cloak, then hung it up for her before removing his own and placing it beside hers.
A few minutes later, the butler returned and guided them to the banquet hall.
As their arrival was announced, Duke Lambert, the host, approached to greet them.
“Welcome, Your Grace the Grand Duke, and Grand Duchess. I trust you’ve been well?”
“Thanks to you,” Ashid replied curtly and stiffly.
The Duke exchanged a warm smile and a handshake with Ashid, then bowed politely to Daniela. She curtsied slightly in return.
He then escorted them to the long table where the formal dinner would take place.
Ashid and Daniela’s seats were placed directly to the right of the Duke.
As she walked over, receiving polite greetings from the nobles already present, Daniela noticed an empty seat directly across from her, to the Duke’s left.
‘Whose seat is that?’
Meanwhile, Ashid, who instantly recognized the missing guest, muttered under his breath with displeasure.
“…Damn it.”
Startled by his ominous curse, Daniela glanced at him—just as a servant at the banquet hall entrance announced loudly,
“His Highness Crown Prince Adrian Eirik Castria has arrived!”
Simultaneously, Adrian entered the banquet hall with his entourage. With his dark brown hair slicked back to reveal his forehead, and a white ceremonial uniform adorned with golden epaulets on his shoulders and chest, he was strikingly handsome.
‘Oh.’
Daniela marveled, purely impressed. He looked just like the male lead she had imagined while reading the original novel.
Ashid, now further annoyed, glanced down at her with a scowl. The moment he saw the empty seat, he’d suspected this. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he whispered,
“You’re staring at Adrian openly while sitting beside me. Aren’t you afraid of the rumors?”
‘Ah, right.’
Realizing her slip, Daniela quickly turned her head away. No matter how intriguing Adrian was, she wanted no part in scandalous gossip.
Only then did Ashid’s expression soften slightly. He coldly turned his gaze to Adrian, who was approaching them.
Smiling warmly at the nobles who greeted him, Adrian’s expression stiffened slightly upon seeing Ashid and Daniela.
Clad in a sky-blue dress with a white rose crown, Daniela looked serene and beautiful. She seemed healthy, too. Perhaps that’s why—for the first time—Adrian felt self-conscious, arriving alone without a partner while she stood beside Ashid.
He tried not to show his feelings and spoke with a gentle tone.
“It’s been a while, brother. Daniela.”
“Feels a bit too often for ‘a while,’ don’t you think?” Ashid replied dryly.
“Please don’t say such harsh things, brother. If not for the social season, when would we even have the chance to see each other and exchange greetings?”
Adrian gave a bitter smile at the frosty reception.
Ashid snorted softly. What annoyed him more than anything was how Adrian’s gaze kept drifting to Daniela—more so than even at the imperial princess’s party.
He said mockingly,
“Attending alone tonight?”
“Yes. …As you know, things turned out that way.”
“I imagine your aides were loudly urging you to find a new fiancée. If you’ve someone in mind, why not propose to her now instead of sending flowers to another man’s wife?”
The smile vanished from Adrian’s face.
He answered in a cold, firm voice,
“That’s not something you need to concern yourself with.”
“Oh? But I am concerned. Like you said, I am your brother, after all.”
Ashid smirked, twisting one corner of his mouth. The icy stare from Ashid and Adrian’s emotionless gaze clashed in a silent battle of wills.
