After pouring in the nutritional supplement and gulping down some water, I noticed Mari, who was standing beside me, wearing a wistful expression.
I couldn't understand why she always looked at me like that whenever I took my supplements.
Could it be that she wants to try them?
“...Um, do you want some?”
But even when I subtly offered, she just refused, saying, “No, it’s fine. How could I take that?”
Having been turned down again, I awkwardly sniffed once.
Oh, by the way, I wonder if Hetheson has figured something out?
During our last outing, I had briefly mentioned the Hosan fruit to Hetheson.
I suggested that the strange condition of my body might be due to the Hosan fruit.
“Hmm. That sounds somewhat familiar,” he replied.
“Really? Then do you know anything about its effects or how to consume it?”
“No, not really.”
“Why do you say you don’t know that so confidently?”
I explained how I had been consuming the Hosan fruit and hinted at collaborating on researching it together.
Fortunately, Hetheson seemed to have a strong curiosity and sense of duty, accepting my proposal with enthusiasm.
“If we discover something, let’s keep in touch through letters... Oh. But how do I get the fruit?”
“...For now, try looking it up in literature. Or come over sometimes and pick some secretly. I’ll keep watch for you.”
“I’m scared to go to the Duke’s place... but alright. Call me when you have some free time.”
Thus, we formed an alliance over the Hosan fruit.
It was all to help resolve Dante's cold hands and to break the ancestral curse of short lifespans that plagued the Richter family.
The stomach-nourishing supplement he hurriedly prepared for me wasn’t exactly a token of our alliance... rather, he said he had prepared it in advance for me.
It was quite touching.
I played with the dew on my glass while turning my gaze out the window.
Underneath the clear blue sky, my herb garden and Dante's flowerbed stood out among the neatly arranged gardens.
Oh dear, damn it.
Seeing that made me feel like another headache was coming on.
Cold water and banging my forehead; none of it seemed effective at all.
* * *
Finally, the long-awaited day of the royal visit has arrived.
“Phew. How do I look?”
“You look perfect. Like a flawless duchess.”
“Okay. So that means I look decent?”
Fortunately, I chose to wear the most elegant dress among those that arrived just in time.
My hair was styled modestly yet elegantly so as not to stand out too much, and my makeup was done in a way that looked natural as if I hadn’t worn any at all—making me resemble a true duchess.
Great. The exterior preparations are done for now.
I went to check on Dante's preparation status discreetly.
“I’m here, Serafina.”
“Wow. It’s really lively today.”
“It seems everyone is busy... but I didn’t think it was noisy. Is it very loud?”
Hearing Dante respond seriously made me relax and correct him with a light clap.
“No. It’s your face that’s noisy. Your beauty is exceptionally striking today. It feels like there’s a beauty festival every day.”
“Ah.”
With a short sigh, Dante began fiddling with his neck.
Oh my. He must be embarrassed.
I realized this was his habit whenever he felt shy.
But really, today his looks are strikingly impressive.
His black hair is only partially styled back; is he trying to pull off both sexy and cute at once?
And he succeeded remarkably well at that.
Other than that, he wore a neatly pressed white shirt and a light-looking bow tie—it was enough to elevate his aura significantly.
What an impressive husband he is!
For now, it seems I could successfully establish dominance based on appearances alone.
As I indulged in various thoughts internally, Dante broke through his shyness and spoke up softly.
“Serafina, your face is quite something too.”
...Oh no.
I momentarily lost my words.
“If you say it like that, it sounds like my face is really in chaos.”
“Oh. Isn’t that so?”
“It’s somewhat not... but since you understood what I meant, it's fine.”
Right. Good things are good things after all.
I tightly linked my arm with Dante's. I could feel his solid muscles contract slightly before slowly relaxing again.
With our bodies touching, I felt an intense sensation coursing through me that made my cheeks flush for no reason at all.
But that's beside the point now.
What matters from here on out...
“It’s time for us to head out. Are you ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“Good! We’re going to show the royal family just how happy and fun we are living together—better than anyone else! Let’s go!”
With fiery enthusiasm, we moved forward.
Soon it would be time for the First Princess and Second Prince to arrive.
* * *
“Hmmm. Somehow it feels like the atmosphere has changed here too.”
Inside the carriage crossing through Richter Manor's garden,
Chelsea murmured while half-covering her face with a fan as she looked around the garden.
It seemed much less desolate than before; now it felt more alive somehow.
In the midst of this observation, her eyes narrowed as she noticed something peculiar—a patch of land resembling a field tucked away in a corner of the garden.
“It seems you've been here before?”
“I came once when I was little. Back when the current duke was just a kid; my father sent Isaac and me here to play together.”
She kept her gaze fixed on the mysterious patch of land as she replied.
Despite her nonchalant answer, Joshua continued their conversation without missing a beat.
“A playmate? That doesn’t seem fitting at all.”
“Yeah. It didn’t fit at all. We lived here for a month but didn’t even acknowledge each other until the end. Isaac even got into fights with the former duke; though I can’t remember why.”
That thunderous fool has been causing trouble for more than just a day or two.
As I hummed this thought, the carriage came to a stop.
The two exchanged light glances before stepping out of the carriage.
“Well then, shall we take a look? Let’s see how well our duke and duchess are living.”
Joshua clicked his tongue at Chelsea, who gracefully closed her eyes.
Though she was his sister, there were times when she felt serpent-like to him.
‘By the way, I wonder if that woman is doing well.’
Standing before the massive Richter Manor, Joshua thought of the duchess.
He recalled how fragile she had looked, trembling at the wedding ceremony, and wondered how she was managing here.
In his imagination, the duchess appeared even thinner and more haggard than at the wedding.
Knowing how painful it was to endure life in an unwanted place made him wish for her to have some good fortune every now and then, without even realizing it.
...Yes, that was certainly true.
“Thank you so much for visiting us. My husband and I have been eagerly looking forward to this.”
“Oh my. I didn’t expect such a warm welcome.”
“Of course! It’s only natural to welcome you. The princess and prince have come to congratulate us, after all. Hoho.”
“Hmmm. The duke must be very happy and reassured to have such a wonderful wife.”
What on earth is this scene?
Joshua couldn’t hide his astonishment.
The frail woman he had expected was nowhere to be found.
Instead, there stood a bold woman who effortlessly handled his serpent-like sister with a smile.
Her cheeks, which he had anticipated would be pale, were now bright and lively, and her green eyes sparkled like summer foliage.
The terrified expression he had seen at the wedding felt like a distant dream due to such a transformation.
Chelsea poked Joshua in the side as he stood there dumbfounded, his expression vacant.
It was an unspoken pressure for him to stop looking so foolish.
Only then did Joshua manage to regain his composure.
“Well then, since both of you must be hungry, let’s go have a meal.”
“Sounds good. Let’s go quickly, Joshua.”
“Yes, sister.”
He wore a dazed expression again as he walked behind the affectionate duke and duchess linking arms.
Moreover, the surprising events didn’t end there.
The dining table, which he had expected to be cold and tense, turned out to be surprisingly cheerful.
The Richter family had always harbored strong resentment toward the royal family.
Furthermore, considering that his sister Chelsea was someone who resembled an unconquerable conqueror wherever she went, he thought mealtime with his father and all his brothers would be just as uncomfortable.
However, his expectations were completely off base.
“Oh my! The princess is so entertaining!”
“What are you saying? The duchess is far more interesting!”
Hahaha. Hohoho.
Though Richter and Joshua hardly spoke up, Chelsea and Serafina’s conversation filled the room with enough liveliness on its own.
“By the way, I saw something interesting in the garden earlier. It looked like some kind of field…”
“Oh! That’s my vegetable garden.”
“Your vegetable garden?”
The voice filled with curiosity belonged to Joshua.
He had kept silent with a gentle smile throughout but couldn’t hold back his surprise this time.
Serafina chuckled lightly and nodded her head.
“Yes. It’s my own vegetable garden. I mainly grow herbs.”
“Oh my! What a unique hobby!”
“It does seem that way? But it’s actually quite fun and rewarding once you get into it. It’s also good for mental health. Lately, my husband has been helping me too.”
Cough cough.
Chelsea coughed lightly after taking a sip of tea while listening to this revelation.
She had been so surprised that she nearly choked on it.
After some time covering her lips with her handkerchief and coughing, Joshua slid her a glass of water.
After wetting her throat with water, Chelsea wiped her mouth lightly and her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Duke Richter tends to a vegetable garden? Oh my goodness! May I take a closer look at that garden? It would be wonderful if the duchess could show me around.”
“Yes. I’ll guide you there. Let’s go after we eat.”
“I’d love to join as well; is that alright?”
Joshua chimed in with a gentle smile, and Serafina responded with a smile of her own as she nodded in agreement.
“Of course! Absolutely.”
After their meal, the three headed toward the vegetable garden as promised.
Dante had some urgent matters to attend to for a moment, so it was decided that only the three of them would explore the garden together.