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Parties were always exhausting.

"It’s an honor to meet you, Mage Duchess!"

I hadn't even entered the mansion yet, and I was already feeling drained.

When did it start? Crowded places had become off-putting, and I couldn't help but question why I came whenever I saw someone trembling in front of me.

I was feeling that even now. A mix of weariness and pity filled my heart after seeing the stiffly saluting guard.

I wouldn't have come at all if it weren't for baby.

But what could I do? I had to overcome these minor issues for baby’s sake.

"Just a moment, please! I'll open it right away!"

I looked up without thinking as the guards hurriedly opened the main gate, sensing a familiar aura of mana.

Far off, on the balcony at the front of the mansion, stood a man and a woman.

Baby.

It was definitely my baby. I would never mistake his mana for another’s.

I used magic to enhance my vision, confirming that it was indeed baby. He seemed a bit surprised to see me, too.

It was worth coming, after all.

A smile naturally formed on my face. Seeing baby as soon as I arrived at the venue almost felt like he was waiting for me.

However, my satisfaction faded slightly when I saw the person next to him.

Lady Marghetta.

She was the woman sticking close to my baby. There was another woman beside him and not me.

I had expected it. I knew that baby and Lady Marghetta were close.

...Still, I found it irritating.

"There’s no need to open it. I'll enter on my own, so stop."

I spoke briefly to the busy guards and then used teleportation.

I had tried to brace myself, but seeing baby with another woman in person felt different than just knowing about it. It sparked an indescribable surge of emotion within me.

No, I knew exactly what it was. Jealousy. It was embarrassing, but I felt jealous of a much younger person.

It doesn't matter.

It was alright to feel embarrassed. It was okay even if I was feeling jealous.

That just proved how deep my love for my baby was.

"Baby."

The distance between baby and me closed in an instant.

He’s still the same.

Seeing baby's outfit nearly made me laugh. Wearing such attire at a formal occasion was so typical of him.

Meanwhile, the lady next to him wore a red dress.

It doesn't match.

Black and red? What an awkward match. If baby was wearing black, then shouldn’t he be enveloped in warm white instead?

"To see my baby as soon as I arrive? How lucky of me."

The bright red stood out too much and didn’t match baby at all.

"Were you waiting for me?"

After all, black went best with white.

"Fufu, I'd be pleased if you were."

Just like me.

***

I instinctively tensed up when someone grabbed me from behind, even though I knew that it was the Mage Duchess.

Magic really does have its perks.

Whenever I saw people traveling effortlessly by teleportation, I always felt tempted to become a mage swordsman instead.

Of course, magic was a matter of talent, and teleportation was a high-level spell, so it wouldn’t be easy.

Nevertheless, I casually responded to the Mage Duchess, who had initiated the conversation.

"I stepped out for some fresh air when Your Grace arrived."

"Is that so?"

The Mage Duchess’s ears perked up, a faint smile on her face. It seemed that she was in a good mood, judging by her truth-revealing ears.

It was really strange. The Mage Duchess disliked crowds, so much so that she barely attended the New Year’s Ball. It was rare for her to voluntarily come to a party, and even rarer to see her in a good mood.

"The air's getting chilly; let's go inside. The Invincible Duke has been waiting for you."

It was simply impolite to keep a guest standing on the balcony, so I ushered her inside.

I was a guest myself, but there was a pecking order even among guests. If you bumped into a duke, it was only fitting to assume the role of a servant.

"Yes, I've kept the host waiting for too long."

At my words, the Mage Duchess nodded slightly and began to walk.

The Invincible Duke had indeed been waiting a long time. It wasn’t just any guest, but one that was rare second only to the Wise Duchess. Because of that, the Invincible Duke was pleased to hear that she would be attending the party for his daughter.

However, it must be puzzling when a guest you were expecting didn’t show up. The Mage Duchess wasn’t one to jest about such matters, so she would arrive when the time was right.

"Hmm."

Just as we were about to re-enter the party, I heard a notably displeased sound.

"Your Grace?"

At the unexpected sound, I turned my head back to see the Mage Duchess looking downward.

Specifically, she was looking at where Marghetta and I were holding hands.

After a brief silence, the Mage Duchess spoke softly.

"You seem to be getting along well."

She was still smiling, but I could tell that her mood had shifted.

The tone tinged with displeasure, the slightly drooped ears—it would be strange if I didn’t notice the change.

"Thank you, Your Grace."

As I searched for the right response, Marghetta, who had remained silent until then, answered for me.

She smiled brightly as if she was genuinely thankful. However, considering the nuance of the Mage Duchess’s words, it didn’t seem like a real compliment.

"Let’s head inside."

"Oh, yes."

Following Marghetta's response, the Mage Duchess led the way into the hall with an inscrutable smile.

...Is it because of our hands?

Caught off guard by the sudden change, I glanced at our intertwined hands.

Yes, that seemed to be the problem. It might be considered impolite for the young ones to show affection in front of an elder.

I made a mistake.

Had I become too casual with the Mage Duchess? Maybe I started to see her as my real mother after calling her that so often.

"Ma—"

"Let’s go, Carl."

Marghetta must’ve noticed what I had caught on to. I was about to ask about the Mage Duchess’s reaction, but she pulled me away before I could finish speaking.

Of course, I wasn’t physically weak enough to be dragged along by Marghetta's strength. Or maybe I was...

Shut up.

The expression I briefly saw on Marghetta's face was stern, like that of a veteran ready for battle.

Even her grip on my hand was unprecedentedly strong as if she was determined not to let go. Was it just my imagination?

Yes, I saw nothing. I heard nothing.

Instinct warned me that staying quiet was the best course of action right now.

***

The already bustling party began to buzz even more. It was as if mentos had been dropped into a bottle of cola.

With the arrival of a rare guest, the nobles started their subtle game of glances. However, only two dukes of similar stature had the right to approach this rare mentos.

"It’s a pleasure to see you in the mansion. Thank you for gracing us with your presence."

"It's been a while, Mage Duchess."

The Invincible Duke hurried over as the Mage Duchess appeared from the direction of the balcony, with the Iron-blooded Duke following close behind.

That's the hierarchy of years in practice.

I couldn’t help but think that after seeing the three dukes together.

Even now, the two dukes greeting the Mage Duchess were bowing repeatedly.

It can't be helped.

It was understandable. The Mage Duchess wasn't just any duke. She was already reigning as a duke even when the grandfathers of the Invincible and Iron-blooded Dukes were still in power.

That meant that they first met the Mage Duchess back when they were simply mere grandsons and weren’t even heirs. And since the duke they met back then was still a duke, it would be madness to treat her casually.

"I’m also glad to see you both looking well."

The Mage Duchess also responded with utmost formality. After all, addressing the two dukes informally here would be tantamount to declaring herself the ultimate elder.

...I pretended not to notice the dukes bowing even lower every time the Mage Duchess spoke.

"Isn’t this a rare sight? Perhaps this is the true charm of a party."

I threw a light joke to Marghetta, who had been looking serious since earlier. It seemed that she was in a bad mood, so I wanted to lighten up the atmosphere a bit.

"…"

The problem was the lack of any response.

"...Mar?"

I called her cautiously, but there was still no response.

It seemed that she had shut off not just her mouth, but her ears as well.

I couldn’t understand why. I would’ve apologized if she was angry with me, but that didn’t seem to be the issue since she was still holding my hand.

Why?

It was scarier when someone who didn’t normally behave this way started acting like this.

***

No.

No, no, no, absolutely not.

My grip tightened on Carl’s hand, and I found myself biting my lip.

He has to be mine.

This couldn't be happening. How could such a disaster strike so suddenly?

I felt like crying from the injustice, but I held them back. I shouldn’t show weakness in front of my enemy.

I was first.

I steadied my heart with this mantra.

It didn’t matter if the opponent was... a Duke...

What should I do...?

Thinking of the Mage Duchess’s status made my heart waver again.

I knew the power of a duke well. How could I not after living as part of a ducal family? Dukes knew the extent of their power better than anyone.

And that was why I knew that this was a terrible calamity.

Why does it have to be her?

It was an unforeseen disaster. I had entertained the possibility, but I never truly believed that it would happen.

Why does she like Carl?

But that possibility had become a reality.

I realized it on the balcony. The way she looked at Carl and her tone and gestures toward him. And then, how she looked at me.

It was clear. There was no way I wouldn’t see the emotions she so obviously showed.

Even now.

She was sneaking glances at Carl even as she exchanged greetings with the dukes. The affection in those glances was undeniable.

I bit my lip again. I had thought that this party would be a joyful occasion and a chance for the nobility to witness our relationship.

If I had known that this would happen, then I wouldn’t have come—

...No.

I shouldn’t harbor such weak thoughts. It was actually better this way. At least I discovered an unknown enemy.

Rather, this was a good thing. I could prepare now that I knew who my enemy was.

I can’t lose.

She was one of the dukes? So what? Was marriage all about status?

Carl had already promised me that we would go to Father as soon as the New Year's Ball ended.

I won’t lose.

Yes, there was no need to be so nervous.