The butler smiled contentedly and nodded as soon as their eyes met. Since there were many around to handle things for him, the Grand Duke rarely did anything with his own hands. Just like the rumors that painted him as a killing machine, he was only swift when it came to that, nearly useless in other matters.

“My lord, it’s time. Shall we get going?”

“Already?”

As soon as he heard the butler’s words, the Grand Duke sprang up from his seat and hurried toward the door. Due to his large frame rising so suddenly, the chair nearly toppled backward with a loud crash. Without so much as a glance back, the Grand Duke quickly walked out of the study.

The weather was fantastically clear, and the strong sunlight that filled the garden seemed to signal the arrival of summer. For someone who normally only cared whether the weather helped or hindered his victory, such sentiments were entirely new.

Javier always made sure that Leila wouldn’t feel lonely by paying attention to many details. He allowed her to roam freely around the estate without any restrictions and even redecorated the once barren garden, wanting to add more attractions to the dreary residence.

“Once more flowers bloom, perhaps you might enjoy dining out there.”

“She doesn’t have a pollen allergy, does she? Check that first.”

“…Yes, my lord.”

The butler nodded, proud as he watched the Grand Duke, who showed such meticulous attention exclusively to the Grand Duchess. Not only flowers, but more information about her was needed. Even though it was a remarriage, not a first, the Grand Duke frequently showed a different side of himself.

They now had to find out about possible allergies to flowers, trees, and even animals. The butler could clearly imagine Javier memorizing all of it, from beginning to end, once informed.

The Grand Duke, who had never cared a whit about others unless it involved killing them, was now showing this much interest; it was moving even for the butler. He hoped it would continue this way. As he glanced at Javier’s face, brightened since taking a wife, the butler swallowed a laugh.

“Since it’s a rare dinner shared by husband and wife, I told the kitchen to be extra mindful.”

“Good.”

It had already been two weeks since Javier’s wedding. Though he already knew Leila’s true identity, she continued pretending to be Yuria. She feared that revealing the truth or trying to run away would mean betraying the Viscountess, who had taken her in as an orphan.

Since then, the two of them had lived like an ordinary married couple, hiding the truth. Leila became the Yuria Draven everyone expected, remaining by Javier’s side. Because of this, she had to wrestle daily with uncomfortable dresses and shoes, but living as a lady instead of a maid wasn’t all bad.

“My lord, it’s this way, not that one…”

The butler called out to Javier, who was heading toward the stairs, and pointed in the opposite direction. That staircase led not to the dining room, where they were supposed to meet, but to Leila’s bedroom.

Only after the butler called out did Javier realize his mistake, and he turned around with a sheepish expression.

Though his mind knew he should head to the dining room, his feet had moved instinctively toward Leila. The moment he realized his foolish mistake, Javier let out an embarrassed laugh and hurried to the dining room.

“Ahem, I must be more excited than I thought.”

“It happens.”

The butler chuckled in agreement. On the battlefield, Javier was flawless without a single mistake. But when it came to caring for someone and attending to the small things, he was new at it—and full of awkward blunders.

Though he had served him for many years, the butler had never seen this side of him before. He stifled his laughter and opened the dining room door they had finally reached.

If someone who usually skipped meals while immersed in other matters suddenly looked forward to dinner with his wife, a little mistake was understandable.

“…You’re earlier than expected. The madam will need another thirty minutes before coming down. Will that be alright? I could inform her and have dinner begin sooner—”

“No, it’s fine. Leave her be. There’s no rush.”

“…Understood.”

Just as expected. Seeing the unprepared table, the butler spoke cautiously, knowing Javier had arrived thirty minutes early. Contrary to expectations that he’d express frustration at being made to wait, Javier’s voice was perfectly calm.

He had completely shed his usual distaste for waiting and now even appeared relaxed. As Javier sat down as if ready to hum a tune, the butler glanced toward the kitchen.

Unlike the composed Javier, the servants panicked upon seeing him arrive thirty minutes early. Though he was not particularly picky about food, anyone who knew his true nature would find it strange not to be alarmed in this situation.

As Javier, seated at the head of the table, adjusted his attire and sensed the rising commotion, his eyes narrowed sharply. His gaze was so chilling that the servants, sensing a storm was imminent, scrambled frantically to prepare the meal.

Though it was his own early arrival causing the fuss, no one dared to voice their frustration.

“Tsk.”

Gasp! The sound of people sharply inhaling echoed throughout. Javier caught every one of them, and his frown deepened.

He disliked those who did nothing to help and only worsened the cold atmosphere. Why were they making such a scene now when they usually acted like they didn’t even exist? Javier suppressed his rising irritation and took a deep breath.

“It’s almost mealtime. Why is there nothing on the table? Move quickly.”

With a fearsome expression and a chilling tone, Javier finally broke the silence. His voice, low and heavy, filled the dining room like the call of death. The servants, more tense than usual, scrambled into action.

Regardless of how frightened the servants were, Javier’s thoughts were solely on Leila.

He looked forward to seeing her in a thinner dress suited for the warming climate of the Grand Duchy. Her petite frame and delicate lines would surely suit the summer attire beautifully.

Crash!!!

“Gasp!”

A faint smile played on his lips as he thought of Leila, until the veins bulged on his temple. A servant, startled by the rare and gentle smile on Javier’s face, had dropped the tableware with a loud clatter.

‘Could I have imagined it? Did I really just see our master smiling shyly like a young boy…? Was I hallucinating from stress and fatigue?’

The servant who had been approaching to set the table had seen Javier’s smile and was so shocked, he tripped and fell. The clattering utensils rolled across the floor, further amplifying the already cold atmosphere.

“…Bring me a knife.”

“Master.”

“M-Master! P-Please have mercy! I was wrong, it’s my fault!”

The moment Javier asked for a knife, the servant—whose mind was flooded with images of his life flashing before his eyes—fell flat and began to beg. The butler, sensing Javier’s rare wrath, tried to intervene, but Javier would not tolerate the one who had ruined his mood.

In his hand was a knife, one of the utensils the servant had spilled. An ordinary carving knife transformed instantly into a weapon when held by Javier.

“M-M-Mercy…!”

Flattened so thoroughly he seemed to melt into the floor, the servant desperately pleaded, hands clasped.

Thud, thud… Like the approach of death itself, Javier’s slow footsteps crushed the servant with primal terror. Trembling and unable to scream, the servant begged again.

“M-My lord, just once… Please show mercy…”

“Your Grace, I apologize for being late…”

“You must have been very nervous to fall like that. Come now, get up. The floor is cold.”

Thinking he was surely doomed, the servant reflexively lifted his head, and instead of a grim reaper, he saw a gentle and kind man standing before him.