Come to think of it, Samuel did describe his eldest brother as a “playboy.”

If that’s the case, perhaps he knows of Corinna, or of Corinna passing herself off as me, and wants to play with her once? Even so, something about that didn’t make sense to Avril.

It’s been two years since Corinna made a name for herself as a villainess, so something feels a bit odd about that…

Meanwhile, before the bewildered Avril, Fernand awkwardly raised his hands after having been rebuked by Dylan, shook his head, and took some distance.

“That’s a misunderstanding. I simply just wanted to get along with the duchess.”

“I see. Well, in that case, I’d like you to treat her with appropriate restraint. Otherwise, might you not end up displeasing your fiancée as well?”

“Hahaa. My fiancée? She’s a woman chosen by my family, everything between us is nothing more than a formality. She shouldn’t have any reason to be angry even if I speak with a young and lovely duchess.”

The interaction between Dylan and Fernand suggested a certain degree of familiarity. However, that didn’t mean they were close friends. In fact, there was a sense of distance between them. They should have been of the same generation, so up until now, they must have had interactions that couldn’t be avoided.

Fernand, having been firmly blocked from Avril by Dylan, gave a regretful wink.

“How unfortunate. In the past, I never had the chance to play, as one might, with Lady Avril Allingham,who was known as a villainess. I wanted to ask her to be my partner just once, but she seldom appeared in the royal capital. And while I waited, I received word that she had become the wife of the Duke of Lancester. That was a surprise.”

Avril was about to explain that the true villainess was her younger half-sister, and that she had married as a substitute, but instead restrained herself and unintentionally gave a smile.

“Wasn’t that for the best?”

“Eh?”

“When I visited the Kingdom of Claughton, everyone said that if you met Villainess Avril, you’d be ruthlessly striped of all your possessions and left with nothing.”

“Eeh? About you? I do think you’re pretty, but you don’t seem like such an evil woman.”

Ghe—

She wanted to borrow Corinna’s prestige, but Fernand’s expression made it painfully obvious he didn’t believe her in the slightest. Avril quickly regretted what she had said and wanted to leave that place as soon as possible.

While that was happening, Dylan’s arm ended up wrapped around Avril. Perhaps he was weary of the unreliable exchange, but the strength with which he held her shoulder was firm. Avril simply entrusted herself to it

She felt Dylan’s body stiffen slightly at her action. Fernand’s expression twitched in disbelief at the sight.

“…Um, Dylan Lancester… your assets aside, you seem to be in the same state as having all your belongings stripped away.”

“It’s by no means unpleasant.”

“I’m becoming more and more interested in Lady Avril Allingham.”

“Uhm, I—”

Avril was already married. She was the Duchess of Lancester.

Just as she was about to tell him she wanted him to stop referring to her by that name, the same way Dylan had, Fernand winked and walked away.

Avril, left in a situation where he had escaped from her, stared blankly for a moment, and then frowned.

 “What in the world did that gentleman want to do? I can’t believe he’s Samuel’s older brother.”

“…I’m sorry this ended up in a way that you were dragged into it, Avril. He’s an acquaintance of mine from when I was young.”

Dylan’s words were as might be imagined. Being the sons of a duke and a marquis, the two had most likely interacted with each other.  He continued.

“Various things have happened, and it seems like he doesn’t think well of me.”

“Various things?”

“Well, quite various. They’re not really something worth going out of my way to talk about, but I need permission to talk about them. I’d appreciate it if you could give me some time.”

“I understand.”

Dylan was being vague, but if it had been anything serious, Alexandra or another would have let her hear about it ahead of time and before the situation had developed as it had.

In other words, the cause was something rather trivial, yet also something they didn’t want Avril to hear.

Generally speaking, whenever that sort of trouble arises, it surely includes relationships with women…

Dylan even went so far as to propose a contract marriage with a villainess just to ward off women. She had never heard anything about it before, but he might have gotten caught up in trouble involving women.

However, she had difficulty imagining Dylan proactively having something to do with a woman, nor did he have a reputation for romantic escapades. That was precisely why his marriage to a woman called a villainess became a hot topic. Although, that point wasn’t one Avril worried about either.

Right now, this isn’t something I should press him about.

Even though it was on her mind, she decided to forget about it for the time being. That was when she was spoken to again.

This time, it was by a count and countess who owned a territory relatively close by. She and Dylan welcomed them, as they had come to the music festival as a family, and while exchanging suitable conversation with them, the count awkwardly brought up a topic.

“By the way, we caught sight of the former duke earlier, Lord Brandon Lancester. I’m glad to see he’s doing well.”

“…The former duke?”

The count had probably felt he had to bring up the subject since he had seen him. However, Dylan’s gaze sharpened, it sharpened in a different sense than the one he had directed at Fernand earlier.

The count and countess gave soothing smiles at his reaction, as if to say, “We may have said something unnecessary.”

“Yes. He seemed to be greeting the honored guests here in this foyer, but… he no longer seems anywhere to be found.”

With that, the two hurriedly moved away. Watching the backs of the count and countess, Dylan let out words as though groaning.

“…That’s suspicious…”

“Yes. No matter how spacious the foyer is, if the former Lord Duke had been present, he should have definitely stood out. I can only imagine he was making rounds greeting guests while avoiding us.”

Avril nodded.  She thought the same.

The former Lord Duke was not scheduled to attend the music festival, nor did he give any indication that he would. No, considering how he came to interfere with my and Samuels’ preparations, it would be a different matter if he thought of himself as one of the people involved, but…!

“In any case, Lord Dylan, the performance will begin shortly. Let’s go inside the hall.”

“Yes. I just hope he won’t do anything unnecessary.”

Avril and Dylan nodded to each other.

Meanwhile, the invited guests who were in the foyer all watched with surprise as the Duke and Duchess of Lanchester made for the hall.

The small commotion earlier with the heir of the Marquis of Brandner; the sighting of the infamous former duke who was widely rumored to be a lecher; Dylan’s marriage to a villainess said to have been summoned in by the former duke; and amid all that, Dylan’s instinctive gesture of firmly protecting Avril.

Dylan’s behavior, combined with those surrounding circumstances, was enough to solidify the impressions the onlookers had regarding “the Duke and Duchess of Lanchester.”

—Dylan Lanchester, just as rumored, had been made into putty by his new villainous wife.

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