“Grace, huh?”
At that single word that slipped from her lips, Roel’s eyes widened.
Who did she just say?
For a moment, he thought he had misheard. That woman just dared speak that name here.
After Lady Grace’s preserved body disappeared, everyone had lived in fear for quite some time.
The Grand Duke had changed completely. His cold, empty gaze was that of a man who lost everything. No one dared make a sound in his presence. The atmosphere in the residence grew heavier with each passing day, until it became a place where not even a trace of warmth remained.
Grace was the reason it all began. And yet, she just spoke her name so casually right beside the Grand Duke himself.
“Pfft.”
“—!”
Roel’s mouth fell open. A sound he never expected to hear had come from the Grand Duke himself. He was certain that His Excellency would immediately order the woman to be removed.
He smiled?
Even after seeing it with his own eyes, Roel still couldn’t believe it. In all the years he had served the Grand Duke, had he ever once seen the corners of his lips curve like that?
The only expression Roel had ever known from him was that hollow, emotionless gaze. At least, that was how he was before he left for the capital...
What in the world is going on?
Watching the Grand Duke’s eyes soften as he looked at the woman, Roel found himself staring blankly.
“Anyone can see she’s Grace.”
W-was that casual speech?
Roel’s eyes widened even further. He thought they couldn’t possibly open any wider.
Tap.
“—!”
A hand lightly tapped his shoulder. When Roel turned around, he saw Del smiling faintly despite his pale complexion, as if he understood exactly what Roel was feeling.
“I’ll explain later.”
“Ah... yes.”
For once, the quick-witted Roel answered with a dazed expression.
“Ah! I’m sorry!”
Before anyone noticed, Yuness already stepped in front of Kainel.
“I didn’t mean to... Goodness, why did I do that?”
Her face flushed red as she lowered her head in embarrassment, clearly unsure what to do.
“Something kept coming to mind... Ah, I’m truly sorry!”
“.....”
Even as Yuness continued apologizing, Kainel remained silent. He stared at her for a moment before turning away.
“Wow.”
Seeing Ceres, who was staring in amazement, Kainel chuckled.
“I’ll hear the report later.”
“Pardon? Ah, yes.”
“Let’s go inside.”
“Wow...”
...Stop staring already.
Kainel took Ceres’s hand and led her inside. The sight left everyone there, including Roel, completely stunned.
Everyone knew the Grand Duke had an extreme aversion to physical contact. He hated even having maids or attendants help him dress. But now, he just reached out first and took another person’s hand.
No one could take their eyes off Kainel as he walked away with Ceres, who was still staring at Yuness and murmuring “wow” over and over again.
***
“Isn’t it too sweet?”
“It’s delicious!”
Ceres gently patted Julia’s head as the girl sat beside her, happily sipping her warm cocoa. Then she turned her gaze toward Kainel.
He had been sitting there with his lips pressed together, lost in thought. She had a pretty good idea what was on his mind.
“She was just like Grace.”
She was talking about the woman they had met earlier, Yuness.
“How can someone look so much like her?”
Seeing Ceres marvel at the resemblance, Kainel shook his head.
“Now isn’t the time to be amazed.”
“Why not? Anyone would have believed it.”
“.....”
“Don’t you think it’s like she was reincarnated?”
“...Reincarnated?”
Kainel clicked his tongue.
“If she really is the one...”
...then that means you’re the fake. Was that really something she should mention so casually?
When Kainel first saw Yuness, he couldn’t look away from her.
Everything about her, from her hair to her fingertips, was exactly like Grace. There wasn’t even the slightest difference from the woman he remembered. It was as if she had come back to life and was walking toward him again.
“Kai.”
The moment that nickname left her lips, his heart ached. It was as if a tamed creature instinctively responded to the appearance and voice of its master.
“Wow.”
If he hadn’t heard Ceres’s voice of amazement beside him, he might have continued staring at Yuness for much longer.
“She called you Kai.”
That was a name only Grace would ever call him.
“With that face and voice... who wouldn’t believe her?”
“You...”
Kainel clicked his tongue at Ceres’s calm response. She was acting as though this had nothing to do with her at all. He had predicted this.
“The choice is yours.”
“.....”
As expected, that was her answer. She quietly sipped her tea without another word.
There she goes again.
Kainel let out a silent sigh. It was a side of Grace he had seen many times before. She was always the one who offered advice and helped him and Artia, sometimes like an older sister and sometimes like a parent.
But there were moments when she became colder than anyone else.
When she decided it wasn’t something she should interfere with.
At those times, no matter what foolish choice he or Artia made, she would never reach out to help.
So she plans to do the same this time.
She was leaving the decision entirely in his hands.
Even if I decide she’s fake...
“Oh, is that so?”
...she would simply leave.
Without excuses. Without unnecessary explanations. She would respect his choice and walk away. And then, she would never see him again.
Because when Grace chose to be cold, she could be colder than anyone else. Even toward Artia and him.
“Do you know why I hate illusion magic?”
“Why are you suddenly bringing that up?”
At Kainel’s unexpected question, Ceres looked at him in confusion.
She already knew that, compared to other monsters, he was especially vulnerable to those that created illusions. But she couldn’t understand why he was suddenly talking about it now.
Kainel didn’t seem to be asking because he wanted an answer either. He simply looked at her and shook her head. Another long sigh escaped him.
“I’ll try to handle it this time.”
“What are you talking about?”
Handle what? Ceres tilted her head, still confused by his vague words. But Kainel only gave her a faint smile.
***
Rustle.
For a long while, the quiet office was filled only with the sound of pages turning.
Thud.
After finishing the reports, Kainel looked at the woman seated across from him—Saintess Yuness—with a hint of interest in his eyes.
“So the epidemic has been contained?”
“Yes. There haven’t been any new patients.”
The answer came from his aide, Del. Although he only just returned, he continued his report without hesitation, as if he already grasped the entire situation.
“The confirmed death toll is 130. Around 300 patients are still receiving treatment.”
“Hmm.”
All of this happened within just fifteen days. In that short time, the number of patients surpassed 1,000, and more than 100 lives were lost. By the time the news reached Kainel, the situation had already escalated to that point.
“Fortunately, thanks to Lady Yuness, the epidemic didn’t spread any further.”
The one who appeared when the situation was at its worst was Saintess Yuness. With her unique ability, she was able to treat the patients quickly and prevent the epidemic from reaching other regions.
“Oh, no. Many others helped as well. I couldn’t have done it alone.”
Yuness, who had been sitting quietly, shook her head at Del’s words. She refused to take all the credit. Del smiled softly before continuing.
“Although there are still many patients who haven’t fully recovered, it seems the immediate crisis has passed. We’re still investigating the cause of the outbreak and the name of the disease.”
After finishing his report, Del stepped aside.
“Hmm.”
Kainel stared at Yuness, whose cheeks were slightly flushed. Under his gaze, her face grew even redder.
A blushing Grace... It was certainly a sight he never expected to see.
“I... I’m sorry!”
She lowered her head. Unlike Del, who was startled by her sudden apology, Kainel simply watched her in silence.
“Your Excellency must have been surprised when I called you ‘Kai’... Ah, I’m sorry.”
She sighed. After hesitating for a moment, she bit her lip and continued.
“I’ve been dreaming for a long time.”
“Dreaming?”
“Yes...”
Still looking hesitant, she cautiously studied Kainel’s expression.
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