‘What on earth does this mean…?’

Seira blinked her eyes for a moment, unable to grasp the reality.

The contents of the letter had reached her mind, but she didn’t understand it. So, hurriedly, she picked up the letter again to check its contents and hastily called for her maid.

“Miss?! What’s the matter? Oh, look at your pale face!”

“W-what does this mean…? I got a reply but I don’t understand…! Why is she being so cold to me? Huh? Do you know something? Huh? Huh? Huh?”

Seira, who looked like she might faint at any moment, had her maid hurriedly read the letter.

“Ah…!”

It seemed that the maid soon realized what the content meant, rolling her eyes, not knowing what to do.

“What on earth does this mean…? What did I do to deserve this? Huh? Tell me quickly if you know!”

“Well…”

Pressured by Seira, the maid helplessly explained the current situation.

It turned out that all the rumors about Luna that had spread throughout the society were a complete set-up, and to prove it, Seira had unfairly cornered Luna at the New Year’s party.

“Moreover, it’s said that Lady Peils found two gold mines and is even doing business with the Crown Prince… her image has greatly changed…”

Once the explanation was over, Seira, whose lips were quivering, grabbed the maid’s hand and shouted.

“But…! But it was them who first said Lady Peils was a bad person!”

Seira felt very wronged. It was not her but other nobles who first said that something was off with Luna.

They insinuated that the poor noble lady was trying to come between her and Fersen, shaking Seira’s heart. She picked up and spread unknown rumors here and there.

‘So now it’s all my fault…?’

She merely believed them. She thought Fersen’s actions were suspicious and that was understandable.

She had only listened to others and trusted them, but why was she the only one suffering this fate?

“…So, what should I do now?”

What should she do if everyone turns their backs on her? Seira, who had never been an outcast before, felt completely lost.

“Miss…”

Unlike the maid, there was no way out. Eventually, the helpless maid closed Seira’s shoulders.

As if it were a signal, Seira leaned into the maid’s arms and began to shed tears filled with complex emotions.

* * *

“Luna, could you check this outfit of mine?”

Descending the stairs, Luna turned her head at the Baron’s words, and saw that the nervous Baron slightly reddened his cheeks.

How could he have responded that he would go alone to the Marquis’s place looking like this? Luna smiled faintly and adjusted the Baron’s tie.

“You look great as always. Thanks to your regular exercise, your outfit fits wonderfully.”

It wasn’t a lie, he looked better than before. His complexion was good and he looked refined.

Once again examining the outfit that a servant had already arranged, Luna gave a thumbs up.

The Baron seemed satisfied and chuckled, just then, a familiar voice was heard.

“That’s right. You’ve always looked good, but today you look impeccable.”

It was Antes. Whether he arrived while Luna was descending the stairs, he came inside and complimented the Baron.

It seemed that a compliment from another person felt more heartwarming. The Baron’s smile deepened.

“Now, now. It’s time, let’s depart. Is the young lord thinking of going separately?”

“No, if you allow me, I’d like to leave my carriage here and ride along with you.”

“Allow you? I should be the one asking you to do so.”

Smiling lightly, Antes, who finished the gentle flattery, extended his hand towards Luna who was standing beside the Baron.

Taking his hand naturally, Luna was escorted to the carriage and sat beside Antes across from the Baron and asked:

“Speaking of which, what happened to the nobles who were scammed by Fersen? I thought they would expose the contract and cause a ruckus, but it’s quiet.”

Not just quiet, there was no mention at all. She thought there would be a big fuss as they failed to keep the contract with the Imperial Palace, but no one mentioned anything about it.

A mocking smile arose on Antes’s face. It wasn’t just quiet, it seemed like something had happened.

“The Duke seems to have persuaded them well. They have made a new contract using compensation for losses as bait.”

“…A new contract? Not cancellation?”

“Yes. Giving back half of the profits as compensation. Of course, they are splitting the compensation from a smaller profit compared to when they were dealing with me.”

It was a contract to provide half of their profits as compensation for losses. At a glance, it looked like a good contract for both the Duke and the nobles, but…

“But the amount is huge, isn’t it.”

It was unclear when nobles would be able to repay the compensation amount.

“So it’s almost like a lifetime contract. Well, it’s still a better choice than threatening and fighting with the Duke.”

He hoped that the situation would deteriorate drastically, thus he gave such advice, but unfortunately, they made the right decision in the end.

But in the end, only the nobles who betrayed Antes and sided with Fersen suffered losses.

Had they stayed quiet, they could have lived quite comfortably, but due to their futile greed, they kept switching sides and ended up living a slave-like life for the rest of their lives.

“I don’t like that the Duke’s family got through the crisis without much trouble. I wish they reflected on this incident, but it seems like they got away scot-free.”

Later, Luna, with a wary eye wondering what trick will be pulled next, looked at the button on Antes’ blue coat.

Not to peek at the flesh, but his tie was so loosely tied that her eyes naturally went there.

“Hold on a moment.”

Then Luna reached for Antes’s coat lapel, then started buttoning it up to the neck and fixing the tie.

Ordinarily, it wasn’t a strange outfit, but it didn’t suit the formal occasion.

“…!”

Suddenly coming close to his face and fiddling with his tie, Antes held his breath for a moment.

Fortunately or unfortunately, Luna who often fixed the Baron’s tie, very familiarly and quickly tidied up Antes’ lapel.

She smoothed out his now neat lapel, finishing it perfectly, and then smiled softly with satisfaction.

“Now you look a little neater.”

Why are people so abrupt? Of course, giving a notice doesn’t mean there won’t be surprises.

Until then, Antes who had been blankly staring down at Luna’s face, slowly exhaled the breath he had been holding.

Then, raising his hand, he began to fiddle with Luna’s hair, pretending to be calm.

“It seems like your hair dressing isn’t finished either.”

“Really?”

No. Actually, her hair was very neatly brushed, but Antes affirmed and needlessly fiddled with Luna’s hair.

“Did it frizz? Strange. I washed and dried it early in the morning, and brushed it hard.”

“It’s not so much frizzy as you seem a little frazzled.”

The subject was omitted, but it was Antes who was frazzled. Luna, oblivious to this, hastily asked him to tidy it up and entrusted her hair to his hands.

“Hmm, hmm…”

Anyone could see that the two were openly displaying affection, and the Baron let out a soft cough with a smirk at the sight.

All along, Laura, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, was also repeating in her mind, ‘Oh my, oh my goodness! Our lady is now dating without caring about other people’s eyes!’ and she cupped her cheeks with her palms.

* * *

At that moment, the Marquis’s residence was almost in a state of emergency. All the physical preparations to greet the guest were completed, but they weren’t mentally prepared yet.

“Mother, father. As I said before, the only person who can handle that idiot is Lady Luna.”

So, it’s crucial to make a good impression on the Baron who will visit today, Rosemary repeated the same phrase for the hundredth time.

If it were a usual day, they might have retorted, but today the Marquis and Marchioness also shared the same sentiment with Rosemary, so they nodded quietly.

“Yes, we understand.”

Although she had a pretty face and a kind heart, on top of that, after the gold mine, now a diamond mine was discovered. She was indeed a great match for Antes.

So, pondering on how to look better in front of the Baron and Luna, the butler who was walking around the mansion giving instructions to the servants, rushed to find the Marquis couple.

“They seem to have arrived. They are passing through the main gate.”

Upon hearing this, Rosemary and the Marquis sprung up from the sofa and hurried towards the entrance.

There was nothing as important as the first impression in the meeting between people, so the Marquis and Marchioness, creating a very warm atmosphere, waited for the Baron’s carriage to stop in front of the entrance.

Shortly after.

“Welcome. Welcome, Baron Peils.”

As soon as the carriage stopped and the door opened, the Marquis couple and Rosemary greeted him politely.

“Thank you very much for welcoming me like this.”

The Baron hurriedly got out of the carriage and greeted them.

Having exchanged quite pleasant first greetings, the Marquis and Marchioness, maintaining a gentle smile, turned their gaze to greet Luna who was about to get off the carriage next-

Unexpectedly, it was Antes who appeared from the carriage, escorting Luna who was getting off. Seeing him, the Marquis’s family froze, and Antes glanced at them as if it was quite inconvenient.

‘Wait, why is my brother here…?!’

They hadn’t received any news of him coming!

Imagining Antes ruining a cheerful and laughter-filled dinner, Rosemary unconsciously stepped back.