While Avril felt like she wanted to disappear due to already standing out because of something strange, Fernand spoke to her with a gentle tone.

“I’ve been hearing rumors for quite some time now… I’ve visited Myrtle before, and truly, it has a mild climate and beautiful scenery. It is a wonderful town. What’s more, I never imagined a concert would be held in such a magnificent concert hall.”

“This is the town where my husband was born and raised. I had also been looking forward to returning to the estate. As for today’s festival, my husband, Samuel, and I have proceeded with the preparations with great excitement.”

Avril refrained from inquiring about the rumors. However, she did meet Dylan’s eye. He, in turn, presented him a smile.

“I hear that Lord Fernand is busy and will be leaving Myrtle later this day. Nevertheless, I hope you’ll enjoy your time in this town, at least while the music festival lasts.”

“Thank you very much.”

Fernand, having respectfully conveyed his gratitude to Dylan, once more turned to Avril for some reason.

“I suppose the Duke of Lancester will be quite busy, what with his returning to his territory after all this time? Lady Avril, might you be finding yourself with too much free time on your hands?”

“? Yes, I intend to take it easy.”

She had been fairly busy up until the music festival, but her schedule was open from tomorrow onwards. As she nodded, taking that into consideration, Fernand gave a delighted smile. Then, for some reason, he kept talking only to Avril.

“If you don’t mind, might you show me around this town?”

“Ehh?”

After a fashion… Or rather, Avril, who couldn’t be more married than she was, blinked.  This conversation had far too many points to call him out on.

First of all, even if the person were “Avril the villainess,” referring to a married woman by her first name by a member of the opposite sex in such a situation wasn’t common.

Furthermore, today Avril was the “Duchess of Lancester.” Despite that, he maintained such behavior.  And this was without taking the fact that Samuel was also present in this town into consideration. She didn’t understand why he designated herself for such a request.

Could he be one of Corinna’s playmates? Avril was about to trace back through her memories but gave up before she could and closed the “Corinna’s friends directory” inside her head.

Unfortunately, I can’t even confirm that. Corinna’s circle of acquaintances is too vast, and since it includes people of every category, I am unable to grasp its entirety…!

More than that, even Avril, who was usually slow to notice, felt something off about Fernand’s unnatural words and behavior.

There was no way Dylan hasn’t noticed this oddness.  She didn’t believe that her husband’s smile freezing to be her imagination.  Regardless—

I am the host of today’s music festival! I cannot possibly cause any trouble for Lord Dylan.

Avril, desiring to overcome this situation through her own power, showed a duchess-like smile.

“I appreciate your invitation, but I heard that Lord Fernand will be returning to the royal capital within this day. I, too, am not available today, so please ask someone else.”

“But in regard to having someone show me around, I would like it to be you.”

“!?”

It was an answer that resounded as though it had been whispered, as though he had been lying in wait to speak it. Then, against all expectation, he took Avril’s hand and lightly kissed the back of it.

Avril, having just put on a duchess-like smile a moment ago, had her eyes go round and turned red. She looked ready to jump back.

“…!?”

She’d been mistaken for Corinna and been accosted by men on numerous occasions in the past.

This man, however, seemed interested in Avril herself and was trying to get closer to her. At this experience that was unlike any she had felt before, she nearly began to doubt Fernand’s taste in women.

This is so strange. Could his gentleman truly like villainess and such…?

Only five seconds had passed since she decided to manage this situation herself but anymore was already beyond her. Just as she was thinking that, Dylan cut in, seemingly having reached his limit when Avril’s hand was kissed.

“My wife is close friends with the Marchioness of Brandner. I understand the feeling of wanting to get along with your mother’s friend, but my wife is busy today. Could you please, for today, spare her?”

Dylan’s words were gentle, but his eyes were not smiling. Avril blinked rapidly at the thorns contained within his words.

…Lord Dylan is treating Lord Fernand Brandner very much like a child… It’s very unusual for him to speak in this manner…

Sensing Dylan’s anger, Fernand allowed for embarrassment to be seen in his beautiful amethyst eye and displayed a smile as if to patch things over.

“Oh, no. I’m not so much interested in my mother’s friend. I’m interested in Lady Avril.”

“‘Duchess of Lancester.’”

“Eh?”

“It’s uncouth to call a married woman by her first name. As you are here representing your family, I want you to observe noble etiquette.”

Dylan’s firm voice drew the attention from those around them.

What was merely meant to be a greeting has somehow turned into something like a lover’s quarrel,was the impression Avril got from those watching. Her mind was racing as she grew flustered.

This didn’t appear to be Dylan’s first encounter with Fernand, but for some reason, Avril was caught in the middle of it despite having no acquaintance with him. She had never even exchanged letters with him or anything of the like.

She had no recollection of anything that would lead to being treated so familiarly by him.

Why did things turn out this way?

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