Contrary to what Rubica was thinking, it didn’t take long to take care of Lord Sesar’s issues. He was so unconcerned, just as usual.

“I’ve gotten some really strong wild roses thanks to the goblins. Edgar, this time, I’m going to make beautiful roses that can last for a long time.”

He even bragged about his adventure, not knowing how Edgar was bubbling like lava on the inside in anger.

“Well, how long will it take for you to make those damn roses?”

“As for the gradation roses I promised to the duchess, it won’t take longer than two months. Haha!”

Edgar wondered for a second if he should grab the old man’s collar.

“And I heard you even ordered the adventurers to gather wild roses for me? Edgar, I was really touched. I didn’t know you cared so much about my work. I will make at least three roses that have never been seen before in just three months.”

Lord Sesar sounded truly touched and Edgar felt really, really tired. He decided to end this conversation here.

“Oh.”

Suddenly he recalled something. Rubica’s tea meeting. She was really looking forward to it, so he wanted her to befriend the other nobles and get settled in society.

“The rose you promised to Rubica, make it in three weeks.”

“THREE WEEKS? That’s too short.”

“Two weeks then.”

Sesar’s white beard trembled, but Edgar’s blue eyes didn’t move. He wanted Rubica’s tea meeting to be full of the roses Sesar would make, and he knew well on how to make scholars work. Although the botanist was moaning, judging from his previous works, it wasn’t impossible.

“Ha, okay. I will make it in three weeks.”

“You must bring enough flowers to fill a vase.”

Then, he pointed at the door with his chin. It meant Sesar should go back and get started. As soon as he left the room, Edgar assigned him a guard. Of course, that guard’s true work was to keep an eye on the old weirdo.

‘Really, I cannot to through a single day without any problems.’

Edgar sighed and looked at the clock. It was 11 o’clock already. He had to move fast, or he was not going to take a single step into Rubica’s bedroom. He then stood up.

“Your Grace.”

Carl, who had gone away, came looking for him. Edgar thought of ignoring him, but the butler looked quite urgent.

“What is it? Make it quick.”

“It’s, it’s about Her Grace’s belongings.”

“Shh, lower your voice.”

Edgar quickly lowered his voice lest someone might overhear and report it to Rubica. Carl thought he was being way too sensitive, but he quickly closed the door to get along with his master.

“Well, what about Rubica’s belongings? Has something happened?”

“I haven’t searched her room yet, but a maid said something a little strange.”

“What was it?”

“She asked if you really ordered Her Grace to get rid of the things her late mother left.”

“What?”

Edgar couldn’t believe he had done something like that. Making Rubica get rid of what belonged to her late mother? He could have told her to keep it safe in the family’s treasury, but telling her to get rid of them… it was just impossible.

“Why would I do such a thing? I’m not crazy.”

“Um, but I have my guesses. The ruby accessories she had when we first met her at the Berner Mansion, I think those used to belong to her late mother.”

Even a death sentence wouldn’t be that shocking, so much so that Edgar couldn’t even see straight.

“What?”

He could remember every word he had said back then. Sadly, his brilliant brain never failed to remember.

-Such accessories are only good enough for a baronet’s daughter. You’re about to become my duchess. You shouldn’t wear them.

He hadn’t liked Mr. and Mrs. Berner very much. Everything in that household had looked so… lame. He thought she deserved better, so he didn’t even imagine those accessories had belonged to Rubica’s late mother. She had been a count’s daughter, and she would have been called a lady even after her marriage. Moreover, in the nobles’ language, telling a count’s daughter she was only fit to be a baron’s daughter was a huge insult.

“Shit.”

If only he could, he wished to go back in time and beat himself hard. He wanted to punch his own face until his nose bled, break his legs, and snap his back, and even all that wouldn’t have been enough.

-Your Grace, can’t you at least be a little kinder?

He had ignored those who said that to him. When he was just slightly kind, people lunged at him like hungry lions, so he made himself an armor to protect himself. He hadn’t known he would get to regret not taking that advice.

“Those accessories, Rubica’s cousin took them with her to the Academy, right? Carl, send a man on a mana stone carriage. I want them back immediately.”

“But Your Grace, if I remember right, those accessories all had rubies.”

“Yes.”

“And the cousin took all of them.”

“Yes, Rubica gave them to her cousin named Angela.”

He recalled how that girl named Angela had angrily glared at him. However, Rubica had stopped her, saying she was fine with it. Why didn’t he do something? He was the biggest idiot in the world.

“Isn’t it strange that a maid knows about it?”

Edgar nodded.

“So, I asked how she found out about it, and she said she learned this after Ms. Solana accidentally found another accessory Her Grace kept in secret.”

“Another accessory? She kept it in secret?”

“Yes, she has said nothing about it till now as Her Grace asked her and the others to not tell you about it. She said it was linked to a golden chain and it looked just like a ring.”

“A… ring?”

For a moment, Edgar wondered if he was breathing. Everything looked so fuzzy, and Carl had to quickly grab him.

“That may not be the case. I asked her what kind of ring it was, and she said she couldn’t see it well as she was far from it.”

“You’re right. It can be just a normal ring.”

Edgar took a deep breath. It could be nothing, but it was a ring and it bothered him.

“What did Elise say about it?”

“She has a heavy mouth. More than that, she is one of Her Grace’s most trusted friend… I couldn’t ask because I feared Her Grace might get to hear about it.”

“Okay then, where did she find it?”

“In the second drawer of the bedside cabinet, right next to the bed.”

“The bedside cabinet…”

He had been seeing that piece of furniture every day, but he didn’t imagine that something so important was hidden in it.

“What do you want to do?”

“I should check it myself.”

Edgar managed to come back to his senses and replied. This involved her, so he couldn’t have anyone else do it. He had to either ask her or check it himself.

“Your Grace?”

And to do that, he had to go to the bedroom, but he hesitated for a long time.

‘But what if that’s just an ordinary ring?’

Then nothing would change. He would try to find another lead, but their relationship would be the same.

‘… but what if it’s the ring my nurse gave to me on that day?’

His mind turned black and he couldn’t think more. His brain, which usually worked too well, refused to think more. Probably a lot was going to change between him and her.

‘I rather wish it is just an ordinary ring.’

Edgar hesitated for a long time, then he slowly walked to the bedroom. He usually ran in haste, but today he walked slowly. For many times, he stopped, looked up at the ceiling, sighed, and shook his head.

“Why is he doing that?”

“I don’t know. Doesn’t he always run to Her Grace’s room?”

Carl glared at the servants and they shut their mouths. However, Edgar was almost out of his mind and couldn’t even hear them murmuring among themselves. He arrived in Rubica’s bedroom, looking like a criminal that was about to get the death penalty.

“Madam, His Grace is here.”

A maid said that more than once, but no reply came.

“Your Grace, it seems she’s already asleep.”

She had fallen asleep already? Another 30 minutes was remaining till their promised time. Normally, Edgar would have been disappointed, but today, he was relieved.

“Okay then, I should go back. It’s late.”

He turned with a relived heart, but Carl grabbed him.

“Your Grace.”

He didn’t have to say more. He was clearly saying Edgar had to go and see as he would eventually need to learn about it. Edgar agreed with him, and it would be better to go through it now.

He wasn’t a person who delayed things, but then, why was he feeling like postponing this? He just wanted to live a normal life, just like he was doing now. Having a short conversation with her after the sunset, having dinner with her, and seeing her fall asleep… that was enough. He didn’t wish for more. He even thought he was fine with not being able to walk during the daytime as long as he could enjoy that.

“If you’re afraid, I’ll look for it later when she is not in the room.”

However, the butler’s suggestion woke him up.

“No.”

He sounded cold like the winter frost. This was between him and her, so he couldn’t let anyone else get involved in this just because he was afraid. He couldn’t run away just because he was enjoying the present.