Chapter 182

After the secret and scandalous relationship between Viscountess and Sir Peter was revealed, Iona found herself overwhelmed by an unexpected sense of crisis.

It wasn’t because her original plan now needed revision due to a miscalculation.

Iona’s real concern stemmed from something far more personal.

To sum up Iona’s primal anxiety in a few words, it was this:

Everyone, except her, seemed to be in love.

Whether those relationships were socially acceptable or not was another matter entirely.

‘Honestly, I’m probably better off in comparison,’ she thought.

Unlike those who nurtured their love in secret, Iona was in a legitimate marriage with Leroy.

It was an overwhelmingly advantageous situation for romance.

Surely, they spent more time together, with no outside interference, and yet, their progress seemed frustratingly stagnant.

To be more precise, their physical connection was intense, but the emotional distance remained ambiguous.

Moreover, they had even skipped the essential exchange of wedding vows after canceling their wedding ceremony.

‘...Perhaps we should have held the ceremony after moving to the duchy.’

But regretting it now was pointless—it was water under the bridge.

The excuse that they skipped the wedding due to her father's funeral was widely known, so changing her mind and setting a new date now wasn’t feasible.

Even if Leroy were to utter an obligatory "I love you," it wouldn’t mean much unless it was genuine.

‘Yes, sincerity is what matters.’

She had been putting off any action because she lacked the courage to express her true feelings.

Iona smirked faintly, a touch of self-mockery in her smile.

Despite Viscountess and Sir Peter’s immoral relationship, their unwavering passion had somehow sparked a new resolve within her.

Lifting her head slowly, Iona gazed ahead with newfound determination and spoke.

“The reason I’ve called you both here today is because I need to ask a favor.”

The two people seated across from her reacted in contrasting ways.

Yudia, the head maid, simply nodded in understanding, while Schneider, the head of the knight's order, blinked in confusion, his eyes darting around restlessly.

Yudia sent him a subtle, steady glance, and Schneider quickly straightened his posture again.

But Yudia shook her head, disagreeing as she spoke.

“I’m not so sure. I agree with Sir Schneider. In fact, the Duke was quite late to marry compared to others of his rank, and that was because he never had much interest in marriage to begin with.”

“It wasn’t just that he lacked interest—he had no thoughts of marriage whatsoever. And honestly, that was only natural, given the circumstances.”

“Sir Schneider,” Yudia interjected, casting a troubled glance in his direction.

The sudden introduction of such a sensitive topic created a slightly awkward atmosphere.

Iona tried her best to maintain her usual composure, choosing to remain silent. It would have been strange for her to step in and change the subject too abruptly.

Sensing Iona’s hesitation, Yudia realized it was necessary to steer the conversation in a more neutral direction. She carefully chose her words, aiming for a gentle approach.

“...Losing both his fiancée and parents at the same time was a great tragedy. Of course, Lady Viviana and the Duke were more like close friends, but... I believe that’s why he hesitated to start a new family.”

“I understand,” Iona replied calmly.

She knew what Leroy had gone through in the past and had heard the story directly from him. There was no room for misunderstanding on her part about the relationship between Viviana and Leroy.

Still, Yudia must have found it uncomfortable to mention Leroy’s former fiancée in front of Iona, even as a maid concerned for her mistress’ feelings. So, she continued carefully, as if trying to reassure Iona.

“For that reason... when I received the Duke’s order to prepare the master bedroom for you both, I felt a great sense of relief. The Duke had continued to stay in the room he’d used since childhood until then.”

This had also puzzled Iona.

When she first arrived at the duchy, she had assumed she would be moving into Leroy’s existing bedroom.

However, what greeted her was a newly furnished master bedroom, completely unused, as if it had been prepared specifically for their marriage.

Logically, as the head of the family, Leroy should have been staying in the master bedroom regardless of his marital status.

“Traditionally, when inheriting the title of Duke, one is expected to also move into the family master bedroom... but the Duke didn’t. He said he was more comfortable in his old room, but I believe there was also a reluctance to encroach on his parents’ space.”

Yudia’s voice was measured and calm, betraying no emotion, but there was a clear undertone of sympathy for her master, who had lost his family so early in life.

Iona now realized why, when Yudia had first shown them to their rooms, she had asked Leroy if he wished to continue using his old bedroom. It was all connected to this deep-seated reluctance from his past.

--- End Of The Chapter ----

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