/
There was nothing really wrong with the old saying that time is medicine.
The great commotion caused by Count Jacob’s visit had also subsided as winter deepened.
It was only a pity that the customers who had become fans of Duke Vanice and increased the sales of the cafe stopped visiting.
According to rumors, some of them are hanging out in front of the Duke’s residence or something.
But that wasn’t all bad either.
“Ah, it’s so nice to finally be able to have coffee here. In the meantime, I asked for takeout and drank coffee in my house while thinking about what I was doing to do.”
The young lady, who had been a regular customer every other day until Duke Vanice started driving around fans, pursed her lips and grunted.
“If you’re not going to settle down from the morning, you should pack it up and go. What the hell is up with them, right?”
Beside her, her sister-in-law helped.
“It’s a good thing for Miss Bertin, but

I felt it was really unfair. This was our favorite cafe from the beginning!”
“I’m glad you’re back like this.”
I smiled lightly.
Of course, it was upsetting to see sales decreasing sharply, but it was not bad.
Didn’t the regulars who were lost because of fans come back like this?
Ring, ring.
The doorbell rang.
Looking up I saw the old lady coming in as always, with her upright back.
“Welcome.”
I answered with a big smile.
“Shall I prepare your usual?”
“Yes.”
The old lady nodded impatiently, then sat down at the table and approached Elodie, who was absorbed in painting.
“Little Lady, how are you?”
“Good!”
Elodie’s eyes sparkled.
‘Poor thing.’
I clicked my tongue inside.
As soon as the public interest waned, I took Elodie to the café as before.
The inconvenience to the old lady and Mrs. Devaka was a problem, but it was also difficult to separate from Elodie, who was depressed every morning.
“Today, I brought a puzzle to put together with the Little Lady.”
The old lady took out sets of puzzles from her bag.
One made of a hundred pieces seemed appropriate to finish for the morning hours that the old lady always spends in the Cafe.
‘I’m really thankful.’
I smiled.
Now everyone knew Elodie’s identity.
Everyone was impatient because they couldn’t wait to see her, but when they came close, they addressed her as Princess and used polite speech.
Even Mrs. Devaka told her son, Paul, to use a title of honor when speaking. Deep down, I wanted Paul to be friends with Elodie, but I didn’t stop because I fully understood their feelings.
‘Because Duke Vanice
is that infamous.’
It’s already been four years since Duke Vanice lost Elodie and became half-deranged.
Meanwhile, his reputation had deteriorated beyond repair.
Of course, his reputation is not exactly okay from the point of view of someone who was almost killed by him.
In any case, it will be difficult to treat with familiarity the daughter of such a Duke without blood or tears.
But now, the old lady, who was laying out the puzzle pieces on the table with Elodie, treated the child without any hesitation.
As if Elodie was a normal kid next door.
‘I have to give her something.’
I started putting the cookies that the old lady didn’t even order into the tray.
As I put the food on the table, the old lady opened her eyes like a surprised rabbit.
It seemed to be similar to when Elodie was surprised, so a chuckle came out.
“What’s all of this

take back what I haven’t ordered.”
“I brought it for you to eat with Elodie. If you concentrate on solving puzzles, you will get hungry.”
“

”
The old lady shook her head slightly.
It was the old lady’s peculiar signal used when giving an affirmative answer.
In the afternoon, similar to the morning, a small routine continued.
The other thing was that Elodie was lonely again because the old lady went back.
‘

’
I inadvertently raised my head to look at the door, then paused.
It was because I realized that I had subconsciously expected Duke Vanice to open that door and come in.
‘Calm down, Aria Bertin.’
I scolded myself.
Duke Vanice, who last appeared a month ago, was in very poor condition. Maybe he could not have returned to his original state even after some time.
In that case, as promised, the Duke would not be able to approach Elodie’s side, but would only send a letter.
‘Still, there was no letter

.’
I swallowed drily.
In fact, I expected that a New Year’s greeting card would arrive on New Year, but there was nothing in the mailbox.
Had he fallen into such madness that he couldn’t even write a letter?
The eerie appearance of the Duke, which I had seen that day, was reflected right in front of my eyes.
It’s obvious that he was out of his mind to the point where he couldn’t think rationally, but he was holding out only for Elodie.
For that, he gave up his high pride and knelt in front of me.
Even the last handshake


I closed my eyes tightly and opened them.
Even if I keep thinking about Duke Vanice, nothing could be solved.
I knew very little about black magic. It was only to the extent of knowing it as the ability used by the villain described in the novel.
So the Duke’s problem had to be solved by the Duke himself.
How long has it been?
Finally, after a long day, Elodie and I went home from work.
“What shall I make for you today?”
If I had to point out the biggest difference between living alone and making anything, and living with Elodie, it would be the preparation of meals.
I can’t make Elodie eat a meal roughly prepared with leftover food like I used to eat, right? Although I can’t make three meals a day that are as nutritious as the experts do, I wanted to at least make a menu that Elodie wouldn’t feel sick of.
Nevertheless, there are times when I can’t think of a menu for dinner, and that is today.
“Anything!”
Elodie answered in a bright voice.
I shook my head.
“Anything is the hardest, Elodie

”
“It’s okay. Anything Aria makes is really delicious, anything is good.”
Instead of answering, I stroked Elodie’s head.
The pure sincerity felt in Elodie’s words was not just pleasing, but I couldn’t express it.
After a while, we arrived at the alley where our house was.
‘

!’
My eyes widened on their own.
It was because I saw a black figure leaning against the wall.
With his large hat pulled down and the collar of his overcoat raised, the only visible part of the man’s face was his nose and chin.
Of course, it was a very handsome nose and chin that seemed to erupt its presence even from tens of meters away.
“My Lord, what are you doing here?”
I bit my tongue with a snap.
It was because my true heart came out even before greetings.
“Uh

”
The Duke sounded embarrassed.
“I thought I covered my face quite well with this.”
“I can see your nose and chin, of course I know it’s it’s Your Grace the Duke.”
“Just with that much?”
“

”
I hesitated for a moment.
Should I really say this with my own mouth?
However, since I thought that Duke Vanice might get seriously injured with a half-assed disguise, I felt the need to tell him what he needed to know.
“It’s rare to see a handsome nose and chin. So if you’re going to disguise yourself, wear a mask all over your face. Don’t cover half of it in such a vague way.”
Upon hearing that, the Duke of Vanice took off his hat.
I instinctively looked into his face and was relieved.
His dark red eyes were calm, and the color of his face was also very different from that of a dying person.
His mouth drew a small arc.
“Being too handsome is also a problem.”


What?
I doubted my ears for a while.
But even thinking about it again, it was clear what Duke Vanice meant.
An embarrassing self-praise.
“Wow

really

”
I was about to say that he was unlucky for a moment, but I barely came to my senses.
“You have high self-esteem.”
“Self-esteem?”
Duke Vanice was now openly grinning.
“I was just telling the truth.”
It was not wrong, but I didn’t have the energy to refute it.
I just decided to change the subject. More precisely, I went straight to the point.
“So, what’s the matter?”
Duke Vanice’s face became a little stiff.
“

I wanted to say sorry.”
“What?”
I blinked my eyes.
I was very embarrassed, the Duke didn’t do anything to me that obliged such an apology.
‘What has he done without my knowledge?’
He continued in a hesitant tone.
“Because of that day

I scared you.”