She had this thought every time she saw him, but her husband was very tall.
Even against a burly servant, he was more than half a head taller, so he stood out wherever he went.
The comparison itself was meaningless on a day like today when a small maid stood next to him.
The maid looked like a cicada on an old tree.
‘Since I’m a little taller than average…’
The height difference was still quite extensive, but Yelena thought she looked good with him.
While Yelena was thinking about it, the carriage set off.
She looked away from the window, touching the soft, high-quality seat that seemed to absorb most of the shaking of the carriage.
“Let’s go quickly.”
The horseman was driving the carriage as slowly as possible in case the noble lady felt uncomfortable.
At Yelena’s urging, the horseman picked up speed.
* * *
“Yelena!”
The carriage left the duchy and headed west for five and a half hours.
Six hours later, including a brief break in the middle, Yelena arrived at her destination.
“Rosaline.”
A small, thin body hugged Yelena tightly.
It was a powerful force that didn’t match the body’s physique.
“How long has it been, Yelena? I missed you so much!”
“It’s nice to see you, but…my ribs hurt, so could you let me go?”
“Oh, sorry.”
Rosaline smiled and relaxed the arms that had taken Yelena’s upper body into custody.
Yelena thought for a moment that her upper body size had slimmed down a little.
“By the way, my Yelena gets thinner every time we meet.”
“It’s probably because of you.”
“Huh?”
“Nevermind. It’s been a while. How are you?”
Yelena visited none other than the estate of her friend, Rosaline.
To be exact, the estate was owned by her husband, Count Max, who married Rosaline last year.
It was Rosaline’s first meeting since she married and left the capital.
‘I didn’t expect to see you again like this…’
Married and reunited as someone’s wife.
Rosaline replied while Yelena was caught up in subtle sentimental feelings.
“Of course I’m fine. What about you? How are you? I just heard you got married not long ago…”
Rosaline trailed off before cautiously adding.
“Should I call for Mielle and teach her a lesson?”
It was a question of whether she was forced to marry Duke Mayhard on behalf of Mielle.
Yelena swallowed a bitter smile at her friend’s question.
‘That’s how it looks in other people’s eyes.’
She felt a little sorry for Mielle as well.
It was the stigma of selling a cousin for oneself.
Of course, Mielle’s character would not have missed such an opportunity if it actually came.
But that was not how Yelena’s marriage should look.
‘I’m here to catch them all today.’
Yelena shook her head as she recalled today’s plan.
“It’s fine. That’s not the case, so let’s get going.”
“Are you afraid I’ll kill Mielle if I step on her? You know me. I’ll step on her enough so that she won’t die.”
“Rosaline, don’t you know me? Am I the type who will get married just because Mielle forces me?”
Rosaline’s mouth was tightly shut.
She blinked her eyes.
“Was it not like that…?”
“That’s right. Now, let’s go in.”
Soon after, Yelena and Rosaline entered the estate, side by side.
As they walked down the corridor, Yelena opened her mouth, “About what I asked for…”
“All the preparations are ready in the parlor. We only have to go right there.”
“Thank you.”
Rosaline glanced at her friend with a complex expression.
She did as Yelena requested, but in fact, she still didn’t know why Yelena asked for such a favor.
While Rosaline was agonizing over whether to ask now or later, the door that led to the parlor was suddenly in front of them.
‘I’ll have to ask you later.’
That was when Yelena, who was standing at the door, said to Rosaline, “Rosaline, I’d like to ask you for one more favor.”
“Huh?”
“From now on, no matter what happens in there, you must never step forward. Please stay put. Can you do that?”
At Yelena’s words, Rosaline became frightened.
‘What are you going to do?’
Right now, a tea party was underway inside the parlor beyond the door.
It was a place where many noble ladies of each estate were invited.
“Yelena… just one thing. No murder.”
“It’s not like that.”
Yelena entered the parlor, leaving behind a terrified Rosaline.
Those sitting and chattering around the round table turned their attention to the appearance of a new person.
“Oh, this is…?”
“Let me introduce you to Miss Yelena… no, Duchess Mayhard.”
Rosaline stepped forward and introduced Yelena.
The eyes of the ladies immediately focused on Yelena.
“That person…”
“If it’s Duke Mayhard, that’s the monster…”
“Shh!”
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