Chapter 38
“Mm.”
When I opened my eyes to the rising morning sunlight, I was lying in my own bed.
Startled, I sat up straight. What happened? I was definitely with Michael last night.
Confused, I looked around—and realized I was still wearing the same clothes as yesterday.
Maybe we’d gone to the villa late at night, talked for a while, and then I’d fallen asleep.
As I scratched my head, I noticed something on the living room table.
When I got up and walked over, I saw a simple sandwich and a bottle of milk sitting neatly on top.
Next to them was a note—written in Michael’s familiar handwriting.
You must’ve been tired, so I brought you home last night while you were asleep.
I prepared a sandwich and milk—have them for breakfast before work.
I’ll come to the gallery tomorrow morning too.
—Michael
“What the…?”
I couldn’t help but smile faintly as I looked at the note.
Staring at the carefully arranged sandwich and milk, I sat down on the sofa and picked them up.
As I took a bite, my cheeks flushed hot.
After finishing the sandwich and milk, I headed to the gallery for work.
I’d woken up a little later than usual, so I was a few minutes late, but I was in a great mood.
Maybe because I’d slept so deeply after yesterday’s long day of closing the shop and horseback riding.
My muscles were sore from riding again after so long, but still—I felt refreshed.
While I was sweeping the gallery floor, the door opened and Michael came in.
“Oh—Michael?”
I’d already seen in his note that he planned to visit, so I wasn’t surprised—
but I didn’t expect him to come this early. My eyes widened.
“You’re early. I thought you’d come after opening hours.”
“Did you sleep well last night?”
“Ah.”
“You didn’t wake up once all the way home. Must’ve been really tired.”
I smiled faintly.
“I guess so. I was already exhausted, and riding after so long must’ve knocked me out completely.”
“Do you remember what I said last night? They were pretty important things.”
He suddenly asked, and I tilted my head.
“What did you say?”
“…You don’t remember?”
His eyes widened.
“You heard me and even responded.”
“Hmm, I don’t know… What did you say, exactly?”
I tilted my head again as if puzzled, and his expression visibly fell.
Seeing his face, I couldn’t help but laugh softly. For some reason, I wanted to tease him.
Still holding the broom, I stepped closer.
“I had your sandwich this morning—it was good.”
He was tall, so I stood on tiptoe and leaned toward his ear, murmuring—
“And you… really acted like you were my husband.”
“…What?”
Michael froze for a second, eyes going wide—
and before he could react, smooch.
I kissed him lightly on the cheek. His eyes grew even wider as I slowly lowered myself back to the floor.
“I should probably sweep the front of the shop now… See you.”
I mumbled, walking out casually. My own cheeks were red, too.
After Cassia left the shop—
Michael stood there, dazed, long after the chime of the door faded.
What… what just happened?
The soft, almost electric touch still lingered on his cheek.
He slowly turned his head toward the window.
There she was—sweeping the storefront with a completely shameless look on her face.
“Wow… she’s really something.”
His face turned bright red, and his knees gave out. He sank down where he stood.
Actually, Michael had come to the gallery that day for another reason.
He wanted to help me, since I’d been struggling to run the place alone.
“You’re saying you’ll help with work today?”
“Yeah.”
Michael’s face had calmed down a bit, though a faint blush still colored his cheeks.
“Yesterday I saw how tough it was for you alone. I wanted to lend a hand.”
“…But it’ll be hard for you. You can’t use magic in front of customers.”
“I don’t care—I just want to help. I don’t like seeing you wear yourself out.”
Honestly, he’d probably never even washed a dish in his mansion.
Knowing how exhausting the work could be, I wasn’t sure he’d manage well.
And part of me worried about putting him through unnecessary hardship.
“…Alright. Then let’s do this—you can help just for today.”
“Just for today?”
“Yes. If you think you can handle it, we’ll talk about continuing.
If not, you can stop after today. I can always find someone else—I don’t want you overworking yourself.”
Michael hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
I gave him a quick rundown of what to do, and he memorized it quickly.
Once we opened, customers began lining up, and we dove into the chaos.
Even though it was his first time, Michael handled things surprisingly well.
He wasn’t as quick as Nick used to be, but he worked steadily and calmly, taking care of whatever came his way.
Watching him sometimes from the side, I couldn’t help but smile.
There was a quiet grace about him—careful, composed, and radiant in his own way.
He reminded me of Diana.
Different in personality and features, but there was still something about him that glowed the same way she had.
If Diana had grown older, would she have looked like him now? I wondered.
The day passed in a blur as we served customer after customer.
But amid all that, we overlooked one thing.
“Excuse me, could we talk for a moment?”
A curious journalist had come to the shop.
Hannah Cooper showed up just before closing.
The last customer had left, and after flipping the sign to [CLOSED],
Michael and I had just started splitting up the closing tasks.
Then the door opened—and Hannah walked in, wearing a smug expression.
“May I have a word with you, Duchess of Whidrian?”
At the title Duchess of Whidrian, my brow twitched as I looked at her. She went on.
“Actually, from the moment I first saw you, I thought you looked familiar.
You just didn’t seem like an ordinary commoner—there’s a certain grace about you.”
“What exactly are you implying?”
“Count Michael Allison, correct?”
I asked, but she ignored me and turned to Michael.
He regarded her calmly, though there was a flicker of curiosity in his eyes.
“Excuse me, but what’s your relationship with each other?”
Hannah smiled slyly. We didn’t answer. She continued.
“The scandal between the Duchess of Whidrian and Count Allison
would attract just as much attention as the Third Prince’s past affairs, wouldn’t it?”
So that was her angle. I smiled faintly.
“You’re saying that if I refuse your interview request about the Third Prince,
you’ll publish a scandal about me and Count Allison instead?”
“Exactly.”
Hannah nodded.
“Whether you realize it or not, you’re quite famous in high society.
And Count Allison—an unmarried noble at his age—is, too.
A story about the two of you would be huge. Everyone would eat it up.”
“…”
“Of course, I could publish both stories—but I’m offering you a choice, out of courtesy.”
I looked at her. She simply shrugged, confident and smug.
Silence stretched between us. After a moment, I sighed softly.
Her eyes narrowed, studying me. Michael remained quiet, observing.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Hannah… sorry, but everything you just said is wrong.”
I raised my head to meet her gaze. She blinked in surprise.
“First of all—I’m a commoner now, just like you.
I formally divorced the Duke of Whidrian.”
“Divorced?”
Her eyes widened.
“So the rumor about you leaving the divorce papers behind at the duchy was true?”
“Yes. I left the papers, and recently the divorce was finalized by mutual agreement.”
“…”
“Well, technically I still have Bennett blood in my veins,
but I’ve been estranged from the family since my parents passed away long ago.
You must know that much if you’ve been digging into me.
I’m practically a commoner now.”
“A divorce… You actually divorced him…”
Hannah began furiously scribbling in her notebook.
“May I ask why you divorced him?”
“That’s personal. And for the record, I didn’t agree to an interview.”
Hannah’s expression faltered; her hand trembled slightly as she held the notebook.
I went on.
“Second—I’m not in a relationship with Count Allison.”
Michael glanced sideways at me.
“I was close with the late Duchess of Whidrian since childhood,
so I’ve known Count Allison for many years.
After my divorce, he stopped by the gallery to see me and decided to help out, that’s all.”
“…”
“If you publish a baseless article and it harms Count Allison’s reputation—
you might just lose your head, Hannah.”
Her gaze flickered toward Michael, who simply looked at her in silence.
I could see the faint tremor of unease in her eyes.
Finally, I added,
“And I still have no intention of giving an interview about the Third Prince.
So, would you please leave now?”
